Rang-o-Noor (BY SA'DI)

INCIDENTS OF SYED AHMAD SHAHEED

Allah is very Kind, very-Benevolent and very-Affectionate. He showers big rewards on His slaves if He wills. O, yes, sometimes man gains so great blessings without effort that he is steeped in delight, surprise and gratitude. A few days ago, I also faced such an incident. There was a voluminous book in my mail. On the first day, I had not the chance to open the mail. On the second day, when I opened the mail, I visited the book which comprised almost two thousand and five hundred pages. Its name was, "Incidents of Syed Ahmad Shaheed ". In order to cover the entire book in one volume, the publishers have printed it on a very thread-like paper. Hence, one is to be very careful while turning over he pages lest two pages should be turned over instead of one. It is not the compilation of one writer rather it comprises tales of the companions and relatives of Hazrat Syed Ahmad Shaheed collected at the orders of the late Nawab of the state of Tonik. Most of the incidents are told by venerable Deen Muhammad who was the servant of Hazrat Syed Baadshah. This book was written in numerous bulky registers and was kept safe in "Takiyah Raoy Braily" the native town of Hazrat Syed. Who would publish so bulky book and how? Hence, the lucky ones used to go to Takiyah Braily to have a look at it or read some parts of the book. The Thinker of Islam Hazrat Maulana Syed Abu-Hasan Nadvi also belonged to the family of Hazrat Syed Baadshah. He studied that book completely and paid tributes in the following words;

"I started reading the Registers of "Incidents of Ahmad" comprising numerous bulky volumes word for word. The time spent in the study and precis of this treasure was the best period of my life. Those circumstances and incidents would cast reflection upon the heart. The incidents that had been written in simple Purabi language, time and again, touched upon the music of the heart, conveyed the heat of belief to the heart again and again and provided healthful washing to the eyes. I experienced the effects of the company of the Accepted Believing people while turning over the pages and studying the incidents and very clearly felt that I was spending that time in Believing spiritual surrounding. I don't know what efficacy would have been in holy souls and company of the people in the study of whose incidents and in turning over the pages of the Registers of those people is so great efficacy?" (Preface to the Incidents of Ahmad)

Then it so happened that a lover of Hazrat Syed Ahmad Shaheed of this period i.e. Hazrat Syed Nafees-ul-Hussainy published this useful book. Now this book is easily available in Lahore and every Muslim can get benefit from it according to his capacity. One of my close companions who is also the successor of Hazrat Nafees-ul-Hussainy has sent me this book. I had not the information of its publishing due to my concealment. For the first two days, I kept having a cursory glance at the book. I was of the view that I would not be able to find time to read this voluminous book in my appointments. Hence, I studied many pages of the book at different places. It is written in the book that Hazrat Syed Ahmad Shaheed invited many people to him and inspired them with his own holy breaths. Afterwards, the people kept praying for Hazrat syed Ahmad all their lives. In the same way, I found myself inclined to the study that book and uptil now, I have studied more than one third of the book in a very short time. May Allah grant me with the capacity to study the entire book and benefit form it well! Amin! This is a very good book. You have read the words of Hazrat Syed Abul-Hasan Ali Nadvi . Now what need of witness of some other else after him? As the book comprises tales, tales of a number of unnecessary things have also been included in it. Salutations and tributes to the companions of Hazrat Syed that they have endeavoured to record his points otherwise many important points are also deleted in minutes. Allah be thanked, I am getting great solace from the book. , Allah blessed Hazrat Syed Ahmad Shaheed with several blessings. He was the greatest of all the Aqtaab which is a very elevated position of the holy saints. Hazrat Syed Ahmad Shaheed was the one whose supplications were granted. Thousands of people benefitted from his supplications. He was convinced of getting every of his problem solved through supplications. Whenever someone's individual or collective issue came upon, he would expose his head and supplicate for him very humbly and beseechingly. Allah would certainly grant his prayers. Hundreds of such incidents are written in this book. Hazrat Syed was very anxious about the correction and reformation of the people. He would instruct the people to avoid polytheism. Bida' and sins and would take an oath of pledge for this sake. A number of Pagans embraced Islam at his hand. Numerous Raafizees repented and became the members of Ahl-e-Sunnah Wal-Jama'h. Millions of sinners repented of sins at his hands and pledged to lead a true Islamic life. Such incidents have been described very efficaciously in this book. Actually, Hazrat Syed Ahmad Shaheed had forgotten his Self. Not to speak of his heart, Remembrance and love for Allah had prevailed upon his senses. Therefore, whichever step he took, Allah's mercy and assistance welcomed him. Not only in the sub-continent, his spiritual beneficence had reached Tibet, China, Bukhara and Afghanistan even in his life time. So much so, numerous baseless licentious women pledged an oath of obedience with him and became great saints in the way of Allah. Hazrat Syed Ahmad Shaheed was very keen about prayer and Masjid. He made so many Muslims staunch establishers of prayers and populated so many depopulated Masaajid. He himself would very keenly sweep the Masaajid, get new Masaajid constructed and populate them. You will find strange incidents about this aspect of the life of Hazrat Syed Ahmad Shaheed in this book. Much more is also mentioned in this book but more than all this is Hazrat Syed Ahmad Shaheed's love for Jihaad in the way of Allah. Allah-o-Akbar! Hazrat Syed did not consider any activity and state equal to Jihaad. He was always in search of finer weapons. He would himself put on weapons. When some of his disciples objected to it, he got furious and admonished them, "If you harbour any objection against Jihaad, Jihaad weapons or bearing, you will lose everyting. Jihaad is the sacred activity for which Allah ordered His Prophets and it is only due to the blessings of Jihaad that the power of the Pagans is broken and Islam spreads." Hazrat Syed used to say, "O people, if there had not been Jihaad, I do not know, in which state we would have been. It is the blessing of Jihaad that all of us are Muslims." This book is an important and detailed document on Jihaad. Hazrat Syed says at many places, "A person may become a saint or Qutab but position and degree of Jihaad is highest of all." Hazrat Syed's special disciple and successor Hazrat Haaji Abd-ur-Rahim has also mentioned a few sayings with authenticity in this book. Hazrat Haaji Abd-ur-Rahim is the great teacher of Hazrat Haaji Imdaad - Allah Muhaajir Makki who is the Sheikh of all the Dayo Bandis. In the 13th century AH, when the Muslims had been gripped by negligence, deviation and slavery badly, Allah sent Hazrat Syd Ahmad Shaheed as their Mujaddid. Hazrat Syed Ahmad had knowledge, spirituality as well as Jihaad. Moreover, Allah had blessed him with a special efficacy and capacity. He also knew the sequence of the Islamic dictates as to which activity is more important than the other. In this book, there is ample material for the correction and training of the Mujaahideen. In the same way, there is also lessons for the baseless elements who do not determin any strong direction for Jihaad rather they begin to throw stones at every barking dog and do not let any organization grow organized and strong. Hazrat Syed Ahmad was a mad lover for Jihaad. In spite of being so great leader of Spiritualism, he kept it under Jihaad but in spite of so mad love for Jihaad, he did not let his followers put on weapons on many occasions and at times, he entered into Covenent with his opponents. At many places, he warned the passionate people with him, " Beware, no attack or disorder otherwise we shall punish or expel you from the organization." Some people may have separated themselves saying, "Syed Ahmad firstly talk of Jihaad. Now where has his sense of honour slept?" But there is no mention of the people who made a few people separate from Hazrat Syed Ahmad by objecting to his nice diet and fine dresses. The people of that age were, no doubt, lucky that they got leader, Imaam and Amir like Syed Ahmad shaheed . Those people were fortunate who availed themselves of that opportunity, sided with Hazrat Syed and embellished their lives in the hereafter. We have not got the age of Hazrat Syed Ahmad Shaheed but we have got a precious book named "Waqaai Ahmadi" comprising his sweet tales. We can reform ourselves in the light of the teachings in this book. O Allah, grant us with the power and capacity to do so!

Translated by: Abdullah