The Legacy of Islam in India
Historically
speaking, Islam spread in the Indian subcontinent through a gradual process
lasting over centuries. While South India, Kerala in particular, witnessed the
advent of Arab traders and early Muslim merchants from Yemen as part of the
organic process of international trade in those early days of Islam in the
seventh, eight, and ninth centuries; the North of India witnessed powerful military
struggles for political dominion and the Muslim armies succeeding in
establishing themselves as rulers in this vast land. Delhi, the capital city of
India, has thus been a major centre of the Muslims over the millennia. Muslim dynasties, including the Grand Mughals, ruled over Delhi for over seven centuries before the British colonial era began in the subcontinent.
With
the establishment of Muslim empires in India and the relative peace it brought
into the region from the political turmoil in the extended neighbourhood of
India, many Sufi saints and their disciples from different parts of the Islamic
world began to travel to India and began settling down here, thereby triggering
in its own way conditions for the spread of Islam through the nooks and corners
of India.
Among the major Muslim saints and sages of the medieval era, Godly
men who settled in and around Delhi and other parts of North India, one can
count several illustrious names: Hadhrat Qutbuddin
Bakhtiar Kaki (ra), Hadhrat Mueenuddin Chishti Ajmeri (ra)(1132-1236); Hadhrat
Faridudin Shakar Gunj(ra) (1212-1269); Hadhrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dehlvi (ra)(1233-1325);
Hadhrat Shiekh Ahmad Sarhindi (ra) Mujaddid Alf Sani (1563-1624), Hadhrat
Shah Waliullah Muhaddis Dehlvi(ra)(1703-62),
etc.
Prophecy on 'Mahdis' in India
Many
of these great servants of Allah (swt) sang in ecstasy, drinking from the cup
of Divine revelations, sharing Good News about the arrival of other Men of God
in the Later Days. Many prophecies and glad tidings regarding the future of Islam
are to be redeemed in the fullness of time through several processes in the
Indian subcontinent, including the prophecies regrding the advent of Imam Mahdi
and the second coming of Jesus (as), etc. Hadhrat Ni’matullah Shah Wali Dehlavi,
in his famous Diwan, spoke about the advent of the Promised Massih and Mahdi in
India. Very many years before the events, he spoke about the Signs of the
Times. In a book published in 1851, Arbaeen-fi-Ahwaal-al-Mahdiyyeen, Hazrat Shah Ismail Saheed (ra) included this poem about the arrival of a Guided One (Mahdi) in
India:
I see the power of the Creator and I see the plight of
the age.
I do not say all this by reading the stars:
Nay! I relate what God Almighty has told me.
In
Khorasan, Egypt, Syria, and Iraq; I see sedition and wars.
Everyone
is in a wretched state, even the highest and the best.
I
hear a strange story: I see grief and sorrow everywhere.
But do not grieve, for in the midst of
these anxieties,
I envision the joy of meeting the
Sweetheart.
When the unfruitful winter is over,
I envision the rising of the sun of a
happy spring.
When his tenure comes to its
successful end,
I
see that he will be succeeded by his illustrious son.
I see
the name of that illustrious personage written
And I
read: Alif, Ha, Mim, and Dal.
I see
that he is the Mahdi and the Messiah of the age
And he
is the champion in both capacities.
I see the whole world has become like
one big city;
And
his justice is the fortress for one and all.
The 'Links' with the Promised
Massih (as)
The
Promised Massih Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian in the last century
clarified that Divine words and prophecies have multiple layers of meaning and
it is often futile for it to conform to human imaginations or the fulfilment of literal
interpretations and that no one can object to the Will and Wisdom of Allah
(swt) in the realization of Divine words. He confirmed that he is indeed the
Promised Massih and Imam Mahdi of the Fourteenth Century Hijri while also
précising that “there will be several Mahdis” as he noted in his Book “Heavenly
Signs”:
“Undoubtedly,
people have greatly erred in understanding the Ahadith that mention the prophecy of the Holy Prophet (sa)
about the coming of a person named Mahdi. In general, it has been erroneously assumed that the word
'Mahdi' invariably refers to 'Muhammad son of ‘Abdullah' who has been mentioned
in some Ahadith. But a
careful study reveals that the Holy Prophet (sa) has foretold the coming of
several Mahdis…. In
short, it is a definite and proven fact that several Mahdis are mentioned in
the Sihah Sittah…” ----(The Heavenly Sign, pp.22-23, Trans.by MA Ghauri,
London: Islam International Publications Ltd, (2005); First Urdu edition in India in 1892.
A 'Massih' for Our Times
Consider
two signs in the poem written by Shah N’imatullah Wali alone. It speaks feelingly about
a time:
“In
Khorasan, Egypt, Syria, and Iraq; I see sedition and wars.
Everyone
is in a wretched state, even the highest and the best.
I
hear a strange story: I see grief and sorrow everywhere.”
“I see the whole world has become like
one big city;”
Among contemporary political analysts,
and also historians, there is little doubt that today the Islamic world is
facing the biggest crises of its 1400- year old existence. Due to the
internecine warfare and sectarian killings all across the Muslim world, hundreds
of thousands of Muslims are subjected to genocidal practices, or reduced to
statelessness and refugee status in foreign lands or face horrific internal
displacement, with Muslim women and children especially vulnerable to all sorts
of abuses and humiliations. All of this is happening at a time the world has
become like one big city and that the processes of globalization are
irreversibly in place. Hence, there is little to argue on the question of ‘time’ for the advent of an Elect of GOD. The Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah of this era, Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius comprises within his whole personality, character, background and context as well as the time of his appearance the fulfilment of so many glad tidings that are steeped in the Islamic tradition about the appearance of a Divine Elect in the Later Days- Mahdi, Massih, Imam, Muhyi-ud-Din, Khalilullah, Khalifatullah, Mujaddid, Qamaran Munira, etc.
In the Fifteenth Century of the Islamic
Calendar, Allah (swt) has once again redeemed His promise to raise a servant of
His, with Roohul Quddus, to
strengthen the Deen in this morally darkened era of ours where Islam and
Muslims find themselves in much trouble and humiliation; to raise a Mahdi who
will bear witness to the days of the Holy Prophet (sa) of Islam through his
preaching efforts and spiritual practices, offering a glimmer of hope for the
survival of true believers amidst the clouds of severe trials for the Muslims. He
is part of long chain of Godly men who have from Allah (swt) to bear witness to
the ultimate purpose of life in this fleeting world.
Like
the sacred traditions indicate, Hadhrat Sahib (atba) is indeed an ‘Ahmad’ himself,
being Munir Ahmad; he is also the ‘spiritual son’ of the previous Massih and
Mahdi, Hadhrat Ahmad (as) and has a lineage that connects him firmly and
squarely with India and yet has such deep connections in the Africa of Hazrat
Bilal (ra). Despite not being very wealthy or extremely affluent, Allah (swt)
brings about circumstances and provisions for him to reach out to people in the
farthest corners of the earth, having travelled already to almost all parts of
the Indian Ocean region, thereby displaying in the process the Messianic
quality of being a ‘Travelling Messenger’. Meeting people and explaining the
fundamental principles of true spirituality; writing a Grand Commentary on the
Holy Qur’an that runs into thousands of pages; Being taught by Allah (swt)
Himself to speak about spiritual verities of the most exquisite kind; Hadhrat
Saheb (atba) is indeed the Guiding Light of Tawheed
in this era, Alhamdulillah, Soumma
Alhamdulillah.
The Khalifatullah in Delhi
It
is against this profound backdrop of spiritual prophecies in the Islamic tradition
concerning the arrival of a Guided One in the Later Days in India that one has
to view the arrival of the Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad
Azim Saheb (atba) and the blessed members of the Household to India and Delhi in
the last month. For those of us who have been in regular touch with him in
recent years, there is a deep and legitimate satisfaction that the opportunity
to meet and personally interact with him and live in his company for at least some
days in our own land and home, has come as a very, very special gift from Allah
(swt), Alhamdulillah, Soumma
Alhamdulillah. Indeed, it is the fulfillment of the deepest spiritual wishes
one can cherish in this small world: living in the presence of a Messenger of
Allah (swt). The
Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Hadhrat
Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius and the blessed members of the
Household travelled from Agra to Delhi on the morning of January 26, 2017. And
in Delhi, they reached at the Railway Station named after the great saint of
Islam, Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia (ra). Drizzling rains greeted the Team at the Station,
with the winter-chill still not ebbing away from the season in North India. Hadhrat
Khalifatullah (atba) and family stayed at the Aravalli International Guest
House of the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.
On the same occasion, Hazrat Ummul Mu'mineen Nasira Beebi Saheba recited the Urdu Poem: "Ya Khuda..." This revealed poem, taught and revealed by Allah (swt) to His Elect, way back in the beginning of the Divine Manifestation, on 13 June 2002, is already on the Youtube Channel and can be accessed here. At the 2016 Ijtima of the Siraj Makin, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) gave a commentary and explanation on this poem. To understand the background, context and meaning of this revealed prayer, one can access the video recording of the exposition here.
Because
of the winter chill and the thick fog in the mornings, the Days came alive rather
late in the day for the Delhiites. Yet, those who went for a morning walk found
many other members of the University community, briskly taking a scrawl in the
sprawling campus. Winter chill or summer heat, some people would not want to
leave the pleasure of a morning walk. Having had breakfast in the morning,
Hadhrat Saheb (atba) and family members took a quick walk down the road to
reach the modest dwelling space of our brother and his family. Being the
Friday, every one returned to the House again at around 12.45 pm to offer the Jum’ah Namaz and Hadhrat Khalifatullah
(atba) delivered the Jum’ah Qutubah/ Friday Sermon from the house and thereby
also fulfilled a personal wish of this humble reporter.
The Friday Sermon of 27 January 2017 spoke about the significance of Salat for the attainment of spiritual merits and the removal of character
failings. By relying entirely on Allah (swt) and beseeching only to Him about
one’s needs and for provisions, one can find resolution to one’s material
problems and also more importantly, make progress in the spiritual life. It is
as the spiritual exemplar and role model that Allah (swt) His messenger and
other Elects of God. It is by following the Holy Prophet (sa) and the Khulafatullah who are raised by Allah (swt)
in His Infinite Wisdom in every age through Divine revelations- whenever Allah
feels a need to remind and strengthen Tawheed-
that one can accede to the Exalted presence, Insha Allah, Aameen. It is this
extraordinary possibility that lies wide open through the coming of a
Khalifatullah (atba) in the person of Hadhrat Sahib, Alhamdulillah, Soumma Alhamdulillah. May Allah (swt) enable each
one of us to be aware of the spiritual possibilities on offer.
A passing thought did cross the minds of some of us while we were there at the Jum'ah Masjid at Delhi: it is the same place that the Promised Massih Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian had once visited in the year 1891. His visit was a very controversial event. and it took place under very trying conditions, with all the religious claims of the Promised Massih (as) under fierce challenge by the Orthodox Ulema in Delhi, with the crowds being incited by unscrupulous elements to go for attempt to murder the Holy saint, no proper debate could take place at that time. History notes that when the Promised Massih (as) visited the Mosque, he sat near the Mihrab. The picture on the right is that of the spiritual son of the Promised Massih (as) in this era, Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius, sitting at the Jum'ah Masjid Minbar.
At
the Mosque, we offered the Nafal
Namaz and later walked around to see the entire Mosque building. Foreign
tourists, including many Muslims from different parts of the Islamic world,
were seen looking around and admiring the architectural design of the Mosque.
Within the building complex, we were also shown certain cultural artefacts, designed to
invoke sacred memory of the Holy Prophet (sa) and the great Islamic devotional
past. However, we were not sure and remain unconvinced about the historical basis
of these artefacts being claimed to be originating from the times of the Holy
Prophet (sa), especially since the validity of the claims made by the
exhibitionist remain to be critically scrutinised or examined by independent
experts.
On
the morning of January 29th, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) once again
acceded to my request and came along to have a view of my modest faculty room
in the University and offered Duah for
the University and also for the progress of this humble self. Hadhrat Saheb (atba)
also shared with me a very interesting dream or vision he has had made many
years ago, of sitting or visiting a major university and speaking with
professors there.
On
Monday, the 30th morning, it was time to say ‘Salaam’ and ‘goodbye’ for the time being,
as Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) and Team had to go back to Mauritius through
Chennai and Dubai: miles to go and flights to catch up to continue the work in
other places, Insha Allah. For those
of us who have to stay and go back to our respective lives also, it was a sad
moment: to realize that the days of staying close by, travelling along and
listening to Huzur (atba)- all that is moving away from us. May Allah (swt)
crown this Divine mission's sincere efforts with the glorious laurels of His pleasure and satisfaction; and May
we all be enabled to partake of the Divine Blessings on offer in this era in
full measure, Insha Allah, Aameen.