Man's Share in the Divine Attributes of Al - Rahmaan and Al - Rahim
Imam Al - Ghazali ( ra) states:
"The share of the servant in the name Al - Rahmaan lies in showing mercy to the negligent servants of Allah , by way of dissuading them from the path of disobedience towards Allah , through advice and counseling , by way of gentleness and not harshness , treating the sinners with the eye of mercy, and not with the eye of contempt ; letting every sin perpetrated in the world be as if his own sin , so sparing no effort to remove it to the best of his ability : all out of mercy to the that sinner , lest he be exposed to the wrath of Allah , and so deserve to be removed from closeness to Him."
"The servant's share in the name of Al- Rahim lies in ( not ) turning away any needy person , except by fulfilling his needs , to the extent of his ability, nor abandoning any poor in his neighborhood or city , except by undertaking to relieve their poverty - either from his own wealth or reputation or otherwise by interceding on his behalf with another . If he is unable to do all that , he should assist the poor person by prayer, and by showing grief on account of his need, in sympathy and compassion towards him, as though he was sharing in his misfortune and need. "
( translated from the Arabic text: المقصد الأسنى شرح اسماء الله الحسنى ، للأمام الغزالى )
The History Of Qunoote Naazilah
The Qunoote Naazilah began in the fourth year after Hijrat in the month of Safar. The tribe of Ri’l, Zakwaan, Usayya and Banu Liyaan requested help from Rasulullah Sallaluhu Alayhi Wasalam against the enemies. These tribes claimed to be Muslims.
In response to this request, Rasulullah Sallaluhu Alayhi Wasalam dispatched a contingent of 70 Sahaabah, all of whom were Qaaris (experts in the recitation of the Qur’aan) to assist them.
These Sahaabah used to earn their livelihood by collecting and selling firewood during the day and their nights would be spent in Ibaadat.
When this group reached a place called ‘Bi’r Ma’oonah’, they were ambushed by these very tribes who claimed to be Muslims and had requested assistance. In actual fact, these people were not Muslims.
All these Sahaabah were slain by these people. Before they were so brutally massacred, they made Du’aa unto Allah to inform Rasulullah Sallaluhu Alayhi Wasalam about their plight. Allah did so through Wahi (revelation). When the Prophet Sallaluhu Alayhi Wasalam received this tragic news, with tears in his eyes, he informed the Sahaabah, saying, “Your brethren have been slain.”
Thereafter, for one month Rasulullah Sallaluhu Alayhi Wasalam recited the Qunoote Naazilaah in the Fajr Salaah, cursing these tribes and asking Allah for their destruction. After a month the Qunoot was stopped. Hadhrat Anas Radiallahu anhu says that this was when the Qunoot was first started.
TRANSLATION OF THE QUNOOT
Maulana Ilyas ra Emphasises On Ilm & Zikr
One day after Fajr when a big congregation of in this effort [of Dawah & Tabligh] actively part-taking gathered in Nizamuddin’s Masjid and Hadhrat Maulana [Muhammad Ilyas Kandhalvi]‘s health was so weak, that laying on bed he could not even utter three four words in an audible voice, he demanded a special servant through who he conducted the whole congregation:
“All your Tabligh activities will be of no avail if, along with them, you do not pay proper attention to Ilm (knowledge) and Dhikr (remembrance of Allah). Ilm and Dhikr are the two wings without which one cannot fly in these surroundings. What is more, if Ilm and Dhikr are neglected, this endeavour may become a new source of mischief. Without Ilm, Islam and Iman are a mere formality, and without Dhikr, Ilm is darkness. Effluence is produced in Ilm by Dhikr and the real fruits of Dhikr are gained only when Ilm, too, is there. The Devil often makes the ignorant sufis his tools. The importance of Ilm and Dhikr should therefore, not be overlooked in this regard otherwise the Tablighi endeavour will end up in waywardness, and, Allah forbid, you will be in great loss.”
Hadhrat Maulana’s meaning of this guidance was that the ones working on this path should not understand the effort and struggles, the journey and migrations and the offering and sacrifices in line of Tabligh-o-Dawat as the essential work like nowadays it has become common. Instead learning and teaching of Deen and bringing the habit of Allah’s remembrance and understanding the building of a connection with these as one’s important obligation. In other words they should not become only “Sipahi” [Soldier] or Muballigh [Propagator] instead seekers of Deen’s knowledge and Allah-remembering servants, too.
[Malfoozat Hadhrat Maulana Muhammad Ilyas (Rahimullah) by Maulana Muhammad Mansoor Nu’mani, pg. 38, Malfoozat #35]
Fire in Mina
"None of you can be a believer till he likes for his believing brother what he likes for himself."
Bukhari & Muslim
An event concerning Hazrat Shaikh Rahmatullah Alayh:
In 1398 A.H., a violent fire erupted at the site of Mina during Haj. Owing to extraordinary disabilities, Hazrat Shaikh Rahmatullah Alayh’s stay was in a house, (tents being the usual accommodation for people making Haj), which was located far away from the place where this accident took place. The rest of Hazrat Rahmatullah’s relatives and friends were staying in the endangered tents of Hazrat Rahmatullah Alayh’s special Khadim, Al Haaj Malik Abdul Haq. Upon receiving the news about the fire, Hazrat Shaikh Rahmatullah Alayh at once engaged himself in making dua, and instructed others to do the same. Many tents caught alight and huge losses of life and property were sustained. By the Grace of Almighty Allah, when the fire was extinguished, I went to Hazrat Rahmatullah Alayh’s residence and found him weeping bitterly. I conveyed the good news that the fire had been extinguished and added, “Hazrat! Alhamd-o-lillah, no loss was incurred in our tents. All the tents of relatives and friends are safe”. Hazrat Rahmatullah Alayh responded with a deep hurt and grief-filled voice, “The tents that burnt were also mine”.
Extracted from Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Rahmatullah-Alayh’s Adherence To The Sunnah And Love For Rasulullah (Sallalahu Alayhi Wasalam) by Hazrat Sufi Iqbal Rahmatullah-Alayh
