Knowledge of the Invisible

 

Rasheed: Well! I agree  with whatever  you have said but one thing disturbs me and that is, Allah SWT says in Holy Quran: La yalamu alghaiba illahu - Nobody knows the hidden things accept Allah.  The knowledge of the unknown is known to Allah alone and no one else can know about it. These are the words of Allah SWT -can they be untrue?  If they are true then whatever you said is against them?

 

Hameed: Firstly I would like to know from you whether the Satan  possess the knowledge of the unknown or not? If he does not , then how he misleads the  people?

If he possess, then the Satan having the knowledge of the unknown and Saints not possessing it is beyond my understanding.

 

Brother! Let me tell you knowledge is of two kinds: Own knowledge (illme zati) and Bestowed knowledge (Ilme  wahbi)

Regarding ‘Ilme Zati’, Allah SWT said in the holy Quran: All the type of knowledge of skies & earth is for Allah only. Allah SWT has ordained the knowledge of the unknown, apart from the other beneficiaries that are allotted by him to the mankind on the Earth. Regarding  Prophet Isa  PBUH it is stated in the holy Quran  that he spoke in cradle about his mother chastity of his, he prophesied about his prophet hood, he also told them that he knew whatever they eat or drink and store in their houses. So this is the state of a holy Prophet.   

 

 I will quote one more incident of Khizer, In Surah:  "Al Kahaf" it is clearly given in detail - Khizer told to prophet Moosa PBUH indeed you would not be able to stay with patiance." Inaka lan tastatiyu ma ah sabra".

 

Translation: So they found one of Our servants. On whom we had bestowed mercy from Ourselves and Whom We had taught knowledge from Our own Presence.That Moosa  said to him: “May I follow thee on the footing that thou teach me something of the (higher) truth which thou hast been taught?” The other said: “Verily thou wilt will not be able to have patience with me.”

 

Tafseer: Prophet Moosa (PBUH) not understanding the full import of what he was asking, makes a simple request. He wants to learn something of the special knowledge which Allah SWT bestowed on Khizar (A.S). Khizar (A.S) smiles, and says that there will be many things which Moosa will see with him, which Moosa will not completely understand and which will make Moosa impatient. The highest spiritual knowledge often seems paradoxical inspired.

 

When Khizar and Prophet Moosa (PBUH) were in a boat Khizar made a hole in the boat, slew a young man and rebuilds a falling wall. At the query of Prophet Moosa (PBUH) Khizar gives a satisfactory explanation of the strange things that he had done.

 

Don’t you call this the knowledge of the unknown? Is this not proved with the holy Quran? To understand this needs a lot of common sense.

 

Look Own knowledge (Ilm-e-Zati) is the knowledge that belongs to only Allah SWT but it is accorded to His special servants as well. When it is given by Him then how can it be named as infidelity or polytheism.

 

Rasheed: You have not yet quoted a single act of Companions and their successors seeking help from the holy Saints.

Hameed: A sick man can take medicine from a doctor but instead if he avoids taking it and stay sick, it is not an intelligent act. When the God has given us food and still if someone wants to be  starving it is mere foolishness. Similarly when Allah SWT has granted power to His special servants to benefit common men then why should not we benefited from it? The Hadith from ‘Hisn-e-Haseen’

 

 

 

 

 

 

Translation: If anyone is in need of help then he/she should call out like this: “O Servants of Allah help me.”

 

Imam Tabrani reports the author Hadith as:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Translation: “If someone among you loses something and you need help then you should call out, O Servants of Allah help me. For there are some servants of Allah whom you cannot see”.

The following Hadith is reported by Ibne Sani through Ibne Masood:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Translation: When someone among you loses a cattle on a plain or a forest then one should ask for help, O servants of Allah please stop my cattle from fleeing away. Certainly there are servants of Allah on the plain/forest as well and they come to the callers rescue.

 

Tabrani reports that Prophet SAW said: “when someone among you loses something then you should call out, O servants of Allah help me.”

 

From the above tradition seeking help from Allah’s friends and holy Saints is permitted by Prophet SAW. Similarly these traditions are quoted by Mulla Ali Qari and Faqruddin Razi. As these traditions are quoted in different styles at different places they are considered as “Hadith-e-Asah” (Most correct Ahadith). Imam Jalaaluddin Siyuti, Imam Nawawi, Hafez Jazri and Mulla Ali Qari have critically approved them as true. And one more Hadith is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Translation: You plead your wants to the kind people of my ummah. You will be rewarded with food and attain salvation.

 

Tabrani quoted this in his book ‘Ausat’ through Abi Sayeed khudri.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Translation: Plead your goodwill and wants with good looking peole (that means Holy people). This was quoted by Tabrabni in ‘Kabeer’ through Ibne Abbas R.A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Translation: Certainly there are people whom Allah SWT has chosen to fulfil people’s wants and necessities and they are at peace. This was quoted by Tabrani in ‘Kabeer’ through Hazrat Ibne Omar R.A.

 

Muhaddis Shah Waliallah Dehalvi’s Rh has written in his book‘Hujjat Allah Al Balegha’ shows that good & virtous spirits get mixed with groups of angels and help the human being in there  needs. Ibne Mubarak Azzohad & Hakeem Tirmidhi in ‘Nawadirul Usool’has reported through Ibne Abi Duniya that spirits of true muslims are in Barzaq and they can move every where between the earth & sky, while spirits of infidels lie in prisons (Hell).

 

Rasheed: Maulana! although some of the Ahadith you mentioned are correct  too, you have not mentioned  any clear proof regarding seeking help from holy Saints?

 

Hameed:That seeking help itself was practiced by Companions of the holy Prophet (PBUH) and it has come in various Ahadith and the benefits gained by the people is not hidden then how can seeking help from Saints is something to this is an accepted truth questioned? When the companions of the holy Prophet (PBUH), theologians and great Saints had practiced it specially when we do agree that Allah SWT is the most Powerful and the Almighty. The power of hearing is the favour granted by Allah SWT and the power to help people in their needy hour is again a blessing given by Allah SWT. Then how can it be called infidelity or against faith? There is one saying from ‘Bukhari Shareef’ reported by Abu Huraira R.A :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Translation: Whoever becomes my friend’s enemy I wage a war against him. The devotees that obtain my access are the one which worship not only the obligatory things but also doing the things that I adore which include supplementary prayers. So through performing supplementary prayers a devotee obtain so much access to the extent that he becomes my beloved and when he becomes my beloved I become his power of hearing with which he hears,I became his vision with which he sees,I became his hands through which he holds and I became his legs through which he walks. I  give him all that he asks for. If he asks me for shelter I grant him so. This Hadith is quoted in chapter ‘Zikarullah’ in ‘Mishkat Shareef’.

 

To understand friends of Allah is  a very difficult thing because they are those people  who had given even the eminent theologians a tough time in accepting how Allah SWT becomes hearing power and vision of the devotees. However one thing is clear that to whomsoever holy saints look to and listen to is beyond our sight and hearing.

 

 

The power of Allah explicit from the holy saints the same thing is mentioned in the above Ahadith.

Whoever has enmity with my friends is my enemy, and he should get ready to wage a war against me and then Allah SWT addresses his dear people: “I became their hand, their legs, their hearing and their vision.” That means Saints are my those beloved devotees that if you do not listen to them or help them then be ready to wage a war against me.

 

“Allahumma Inna Nauzu BiRizaka Min Sakhatik”

'O' Allah we seek your refuge from your wrath & ask for your blessing

 

Brother! I am your friend and being a friend its my duty to think of your welfare all the time. I will tell you my observatious. If you want to take an haunted person in front of  a holy person, he won’t come and tries to hide himself , because he is afraid of him. Similarly, Satan scares from holy Saints because he cannot misguide those who visits the holy places.

 

Regarding plea Ibne Qayyim in his book ‘Al Kabeer’ and another book ‘Al Sunnat Wa Al Bidath’ has quoted some incidents. Interested people can read the above mentioned books to clear their doubts.

 

Taqi uddin Al Sabki in his book ‘Shifa-ul-Asqam’,& Imam Qastalini in his book ‘Mawahib Samuri’, Qazi Ayaaz in his book ‘Al Shifa Shareef’ with the Sanade ‘Hasan’ have quoted this incident: Once Caliph Mansoor visited the grave of Prophet SAW. Imam Malik Rh was also present there at that time and he said: “O  Mansoor Allah has taught us to respect and taught us not to raise our voice above Prophet’s SAW's voice and praise those people who lowered their voices in the presence near the Prophet SAW. Prophet’s SAW reverence is the same as it was in his life time.” Caliph Mansoor questioned: “I am facing Qibla while praying (Dua) should I face Prophet SAW and pray Dua?” Imam Malik replied: “Why are you turning your face from Him who is the medium of your father Adam (PBUH) on the day of judgement. Turn towards Him and pray he is the basis of your intercession. And then Imam Malik recited this 'Ayath' of the holy Quran:

 

wa- law 'anna -hum 'idh z.alamo anfus -hum jaa'o -ka fa- istaghfaro 'allaah wa- istaghfara la- -hum ar- rasol la- wajado 'allaah tawwaab(an) rah.em(an)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Surah Nisa : A:64)

 

Translation: If they had only when they were unjust to themselves come unto thee and asked Allah's forgiveness and the Apostle had asked forgiveness for them they would have found Allah indeed Oft-Returning most Merciful.

 

In the book ‘Safat-ul-Safwa’ written by  Ibne Jauzi that Bishr Ibne Haris who is called Bishar-e-Hafi (Barefooted Bishr) is a famous successor to companion (Tabayeen). When he was asked about Maroof-e-Karqi Rh he said: “If a person wants his supplications to be answered he should go to the grave of  Maroof-e-Karqi and pray.” Similarly Ibrahim Al Kharli (Rh) and Imam Ahmad bin Hambal Rh have regarded the grave of Maroof-e-Karqi (Rh) as ‘effective antidote’ that is to pray here is definitely answered.

 

Do not forget that Tabayeen’s words are acceptable and meant for all. The first and foremost to be accepted words are of Ahadith (sayings of the Prophet) followed by Sayings of the Companions (Aqwaal-e-Sahaba ), then Sayings of the Successors to the Companions (Aqwaal-e-Tabayeen) and finally sayings of the Successors of the Successors to the Companions (Aqwaal-e-Tabe-Tabayeen).

 

You consider us as deviators but for you Ibne-Taymia and Ibne Qayyim are good and are on right path therefore I will quote few of their sayings on the same topic.

 

Rasheed: Please proceed.

 

Hameed: Ibne Qayyim in his book ‘Al Kabaair’ under the chapter of ‘Al Sunnah  wa Al Bida’ reports from Hafez Salqi and sent the recorded matter to Yahya bin Ataf that an old man from Damascus who had spent a few years of his life in Hijaz says: “Once upon a time I went to Medina’s market to buy some wheat flour.  The shopkeeper ask me to curse&disgrace the shaikains only then I will give you wheat flour. I could not control myself and I said: “Those who curse &disgrace the shaikhains Allahs wrath will fall upon them,.” As he heard this he slapped so harshly that my eye crumbled. I  went the Prophet’s Mosque and told the incident to my friend who used to lives there. He took me towards to ‘Mawajeh-e-Shareef’ (in front of Prophet’s grave) and said “As Salamu Alaikum Ya Rasool Allah! We are sufferers  have to come seek your refuge. Help us.” I slept in the night and to my surprise I wokeup in the morning I found my eye much better than before”.

 

One more incident which Ibne Qayyim has quoted in relation to excellence of shaikhains that Shaikh Kamaaluddin bin Adeem has mentioned in history of Halab (Tariq-e-Halab) that Abu Abbas bin Abdul Wahid informed him that a pious noble person known by name Omar bin Raini and he says: “I was in Medina at the time of Aashura I went to Hazrat Abbas R.A where a large number of Shiaites used the Dome to gather. I stood near the door way and said “I want to hear something in the praise of Hazrat Aba Bakar R.A and Hazrat Omar R.A.” He wanted to tell them that you have recited in the praise of Ahl-e-Bait now you recite something in the praise of Shaikhains. Listening to this a man came to me and said: “you sit and wait for some time. I sat there, After coming back he took me towards his house. I thought that it was tenth of Muharram so he wanted to give me something. When we together entered his house he ordered two of his servants to tie my hands and arms and beat me. Later he ordered them to cut my tongue. When the tongue was separated from my mouth he said: “Go and get your tongue repaired whose praise you wanted to listen to.” Saying this he thrashed me out of his home. I came near the grave of Prophet SAW with plea in my heart and pleaded: “Ya Rasool Allah I lost my tongue in the love of your friends. If your friends are true then return my tongue back. My whole night passed in pleadings. And in the mid-night when I stood up I was surprised to find my tongue as it was before. The man who had ordered to cut my tongue became a monkey, and his family members have repented from shia faith and changed. This incident is recorded on the 29th page of the book ‘Sulah ul Iqwaan’ by Shaikh Mohammed Sayeed Afandi.

 

Rasheed: I agree with whatever you said but like polytheists worship idols, similarly Muslims worship graves. Then how can you distinguish between both of them?

 

Hameed: Brother! Look whatever you have said seems to be true but here you are getting deceived and it is natural that you are getting deceived for stone and soil are alike so do are grave and idol but the noteworthy point is that help is not asked from the grave but from the inmate of the grave and the relation of the inmate of the grave with the grave has been discussed earlier that once Prophet Mohammed SAW went near the grave of Mus-ab bin Umair R.A and said “As Salaam u Alaikum Ya Mus-ab” then he turned towards Companions and said “he is alive” he will answer to all those who send Salaam on him till the day of judgement.” This Hadith shows that spirits of the dead wherever they are they remain associated with their graves. And this Hadith also confirms immortality of the holy spirits.

 

We have already discussed in detail about seeking help from holy saints in the chapter ‘Iyyaka Nabudu Wa Iyyaka Nastayeen’ that seeking help from holy Saints is not polytheism or infidelity but you have always been mistaken that it is worship though worship is all for the Almighty Allah SWT. Allah’s Power and Might is His own whereas the power and might found in others is granted by Allah SWT. Polytheism is when the power (found in others) is thought to be owned and not when considered granted (by Allah SWT). However I have cleared every thing earlier and now there is no need for further clarifications.

 

Rasheed: Brother! I could not understand how you consider holy Saints to be alive like Martyrs?

 

Hameed: As we have quoted earlier a Hadith in which our Generous Prophet SAW has categorized different levels of Martyrs that are described in detail in ‘Tay-ul-Farasiq’. And this Hadith has been reported in ‘Sahih Muslim’, ‘Musnad Imam Ahmad’, ‘Muwatta Imam Malik’, and ‘Jama-e-Tirmidhi’- that those who die of pleurisy, plague, gastrointestinal disease, fever are martyrs. Those who wish martyrdom whole heartedly is also a martyr. A person who fast three days a month, perform Salaat-ul-Dhuha before (noon prayer) and protected ‘Witar’ is a martyr.

 

Majority of Saints perform ‘Witar’and of the prayer a regular ,‘Salat-ul-Dhuha’ before (noon prayer) and fasting for 13, 14, 15 of every lunar month three days (Ayyaam-e-Biz) a month. And some Saints used to do mystical exercise and constant starvation had weakend their stomach and they die of gastrointestinal diseases. Then how come they are not Martyrs and how can we question their immortality. Further more when Martyrs are alive then Truthful (Siddiqueen) whose rank is higher than that of Martyrs (Shuhada) can be doubted on being alive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Surah Al-Hadeed)

 

And those who believe in Allah and His apostles they are the Sincere (Lovers of truth) and the witnesses (who testify) before their Lord: they shall have their Reward and their Light.

 

Now we can never know who is among siddiqeen and who is a martyr by knowing there biography of life we can say that they are Friends of Allah . Secondly, Allah SWT says in holy Quran:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Section 7 of Surah Al Anbiya)

 

My servants the righteous shall inherit the earth."When the earth is inherited by the rightous servents of Allah, then the administration of the earth also will be given to them

 

As we have quoted a Hadith earlier that there are about thirty ‘Abdaals’ who govern the earth. It is due to them that the rainfall occurs, food cultivated, success and livelihood of people is only because of them. Allah SWT has granted them the earth and they rule the earth on His command and control all the happenings of the world.

 

 

Saints are categorized into different types based on their ranks:

1.   Ghouse

2.   Autaad

3.   Abdaal

4.   Qutub Al Aqtaab

5.   Qutub

6.    Wali

 

These ‘Autad’, ‘Abdaal’, ‘Aqtaab’ and ‘Auliya’ are allotted a particular region and they are responsible for that particular region. Like we have different ministers in our system of administration to perform different tasks at different levels- city level, state level and country level. It is nothing but decentralization of power. The Supreme power is, but, God. Similarly there are different posts in the system of Allah SWT. Whatever is being mentioned here is in the light of sayings of theologians and Saints. Till 700 H there were no contradictions or denials in this theory. Seeking help from Saints or visiting their graves was never considered contradictory or taboo. The contradictions or denials arose only after the advent of 700 H.

 

Rasheed: Generally people do sing and absurd activities near the graves of holy Saints and I am sure, even you too  would like to condemn it?

 

Hameed: Certainly we feel bad when we see common man doing absurd activities near the graves of holy Saints.As you are unable to make correct  the ignorant people similarly we are also helpless. What is more derogatory is that in the present age Muslims are miles a far from the Islamic Law (Shariat). All the men around wear their pants covering their ankels. Although it is prohabited in the following hadith:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Abu Hurayra R.A  reports that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "a man who wears his lower garment dragging below his ankles is a resident of hell."

 

(Sahih Bukhari)

 

In another Hadith it is also said that such a person Salaat is also not accepted.

 

Another Hadith narrated by Abdullah bin Umar:

 

“Hadith to be written here.”

 

I happened to pass before Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) with my lower garment trailing (upon the ground). He said: Abdullah, tug up your lower garment. I tugged it up, and he again said: Tug it still further, and I tugged it up to shanks.

 

(Sahih Muslim)

 

When Allah’s decree and Prophet’s commandments are not obeyed by the rich - poor, literate - illiterate, even then the whole world works why not the wrath of Allah SWT will fall on such a dwelling. Sadly enough we do not look at these things seriously.

 

Once I enquired a man whether he used a tissue (in olden days pieces of bricks ormud were used) after urination? He said: “No”. I replied: “then your Salaat is incorrect, because when you go for bowing (Ruku) or prostration (Sajdah), due to muscular pressure on bladder there is a chance of urine drops coming out. When they come out your ablution is gone. And so is your Salaat. Similarly one should use a piece of tissue after motion. Using a piece of brick is clearly indicated in Fiqah (jurisprudence). If there is no brick available then how can one cleanse without it is also shown. Similarly many people are unaware of Ablution, Salaat and way of Tayyamum etc.As they have not studied the jurisprudence. So this is the state of Muslim, their cleansing and their Salaat. And sad enough there are no people to teach them. More so we find every where translation of holy Quran being lectured but tutors themselves are not aware of Jurisprudence. There are many things whose solutions can be found in detail only in Jurisprudence, where only reading the translation is not enough. I have seen many great interpreters of holy Quran and oraters who give long speeches but when questioned regarding an opinion (fatwah) they go to theologians and enquire with them. The theologians go through the books of jurisprudence. The question is when every thing is detailed in the holy Quran and it is the source of all other books, then how come they do not refer the holy Quran?

 

I want to give my friends a very friendly advice that before teaching the translation of the holy Quran, teach your offsprings about Jurisprudence, which is taken from holy Quran. The noteworthy point is every one cannot understand the holy Quran in its clear essence. The present state of Muslims is because of ignorance of true Islamic teachings.

 

Similarly people visit graves of the holy Saints to bless and benefit themselves but by doing stupid things like prostration, bowing, circumambulation etc, certainly their activities are absurd and irriligious.

 

The truth is people who visit graves of holy Saints should busy themselves in the love of Allah SWT and these graves are actually reminder of Allah SWT. They should read Quran and send Darood to the holy Prophet SAW. They should free their heart from stupid things that corrupt them so that their hearts enlighten with celestial light and the inmates of the graves will then be attentive towards them. Whatever task is beyond their reach they should appeal to holy Saints and they in turn appeal in the court of Allah SWT and their task is fulfilled without much effort.