Islamic Saints’ Passion for Reforming the Ummah

Our pious predecessors devoted their lives in reforming Muslims. Some, by their effective pieces of writings and some by their inspirational speeches and some by both ways reformed the Muslims. Understand this fact in this way that these blessed people emerged as spiritual physicians. Their righteous gatherings are like a clinic for which no token is required, nor is there any long queue and nor is there any fee, but rather there is a unique system. When the people, misled by the darkness of disbelief and wrongdoings, approach in the court of these blessed saints, then they are immediately granted Madani pearls extracted from the Quranic Ayahs, Tafaseer, Ahadees, interpretations, admonitory parables etc. Through these Madani pearls, the non-Muslims embrace Islam whereas countless sinful people have the privilege to repent.

Our pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی would not miss any opportunity of calling people towards righteousness. Even when walking or travelling, they would convey the call to righteousness and would remain impatient to invite people towards good and prevent them from evil.

Sayyiduna Ibraheem Bin Bashshaar رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ تَـعَالٰی عَـلَيْه has stated: Imam Abu Yusuf Fasawi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ تَـعَالٰی عَـلَيْه and I were going to Syria when a person suddenly came and having said Salam to us, he said, ‘O Abu Yusuf! Give me some advice.’ Listening to it, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ تَـعَالٰی عَـلَيْه wept and said conveying the call to righteousness, ‘O brother! Undoubtedly, frequent passing of days and nights indicate that your body is weakening, your age is ending and every moment, your death is fast approaching. O my brother! You must not be satisfied unless you have known for sure that you would have a good end. Never get heedless because you do not know whether you would enter Heaven or Hell, and whether Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is pleased with you because of His mercy and bounty or is displeased with you because of your sins and heedlessness. O feeble man! Do not forget what you actually are. You were an impure droplet in the beginning and would be a rotten corpse in the end. If you are unable to realize the depth of my advice now, you would soon realize when buried in your grave where you would feel ashamed of your sins but it will be of no use.’

Saying this, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ تَـعَالٰی عَـلَيْه became silent and began to weep. Overcame with emotions, the advice-seeking person also began to cry. The narrator goes onto say that both of them wept so much that they became unconscious. Seeing this, the narrator also wept.

(Zamm-ul-Hawa, pp. 437; summarized)

A pious saint was passing through some area in Baghdad. He saw a young man who was making Wudu incorrectly. The saint explained to him very affectionately, ‘O young man! Make Wudu correctly. May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ bestow grace upon you in the world and in the Hereafter!’ Saying this, the saint went. After Wudu, the young man who was very impressed by the call to righteousness conveyed politely to him, went to the saint and sought advice from him. (Conveying the call to righteousness) the saint gave him three Madani pearls of advice:

1. Learn it that the one who gains the Ma’rifah [i.e. true recognition] of the Creator of the universe, will gain salvation.

2. One who remains fearful in terms of religion (i.e. he fears Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ) he is protected from destructiveness.

3. One who adopts asceticism [i.e. disinterest] in the world will feast his eyes on the reward granted to him by Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ on the Day of Resurrection.

(The saint then said): ‘Should I not tell you something more?’ The young man replied, ‘Do tell me.’ The saint said: Anyone having three characteristics has perfected his faith:

1. One who enjoins good and also acts accordingly.

2. One who forbids evil and also refrains from it.

3. One who protects Divinely-declared bounds (i.e. carries out the commandments of Shari’ah and refrains from Shari’ah-prohibited deeds).

The saint further asked, ‘Should I tell you something more?’ The young man replied, ‘Why not?’ The saint said, ‘Get uninterested in the world and develop interest in the Hereafter. Adopt truthfulness with your Creator عَزَّوَجَلَّ in every matter. You will gain salvation with other salvation-gaining ones.’ Saying this, the saint went away. Then the young man enquired about the saint so he was told that the saint was Sayyiduna Imam Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ تَـعَالٰی عَـلَيْه.

(Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 1, pp. 45, amended)

Remember! Reforming the wicked people i.e. enjoining people towards righteous deeds is not a new or some ordinary job, rather, this is such a marvellous act which has been performed by the blessed Ambiya عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام gracefully. Thereafter, when the chain of Nubuwwah came to an end, the blessed Sahabah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی عَـنْـهُم and blessed saints رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی took on this noble responsibility. Overwhelmed with great keenness and fervour, when these distinguished personalities started preaching, they were not welcomed with the shower of rose petals and floral garlands but, in return of this favour, they were subjected to extreme brutalities, wrongful imprisonment and even the body skins were ripped off. They were dragged on the blazing sand; arrows, swords and spears were pierced into their bodies but even then, these blessed people did not care for their lives in the way of Allah and many of them also embraced martyrdom. In short, the glorious way that these Allah-loving people showed for the noble obligation of reforming people is truly matchless.

جسے نیکی کی دَعوَت دُوں اُسے دیدے ہِدایَت تُو

زَباں میں دے اَثَر کردے عطا زورِ قلم مَولٰی

The world is impermanent. In the present age, tolerance, forgiveness and politeness seem to have disappeared. All that is left is the mud of evils, horrors, signs of torments, storms of turmoil and strife, consecutive earthquakes, grief, despair and wicked successors. Evil effects have emerged in the land and sea because of their misdeeds. You must not follow those who spent lives fulfilling their desires and were deceived by high hopes. We pray to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ that He عَزَّوَجَلَّ includes us in those who keep their vow, recognize their actual abode and are always prepared for it.

(Tareekh Dimashq li Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 35, pp. 208, Raqm 3907)

On page 67 of 692-page book Mukashafa-tul-Quloob, publication of Maktaba-tul-Madinah, it is stated: Sayyiduna ‘Utba-tul-Ghulam رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ تَـعَالٰی عَـلَيْه was a young man and was a notorious sinner and drinker (before repentance). One day, he attended the gathering of Sayyiduna Hasan Basri رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ تَـعَالٰی عَـلَيْه who was commenting on the following blessed Ayah

اَ لَمۡ یَاۡنِ لِلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤ ا اَنۡ تَخۡشَعَ قُلُوۡ بُہُمۡ لِذِکۡرِ اللّٰہِ

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: Has not the time come for the believers that their hearts should be humble for the remembrance of Allah ?

(Part 27, Surah Al Hadeed, Ayah 16)

He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ تَـعَالٰی عَـلَيْه delivered such effective and emotive Tafseer of the abovementioned Ayah that attendees were moved to tears. Standing up, a young man said, ‘O the honourable Shaykh! Will Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ accept the repentance of a big sinner like me, if I repent?’ He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ تَـعَالٰی عَـلَيْه said, ‘Of course. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will accept your repentance and forgive your sins.’ When Sayyiduna ‘Utba-tul-Ghulam رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ تَـعَالٰی عَـلَيْه heard it, he began to scream with his body trembling and face turning pale. He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ تَـعَالٰی عَـلَيْه then fell down, unconscious. After he regained consciousness, Sayyiduna Hasan Basri رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ تَـعَالٰی عَـلَيْه approached him and recited these couplets whose translations are as follows:

1. O young man who has disobeyed the Creator of ‘Arsh! Do you know what torment awaits sinners?

2. For disobedient people, there is a thundering Hell; and on the Day of Judgement, they will incur Divine wrath.

3. If you are satisfied with the Hell-fire, then undoubtedly keep committing sins. Otherwise, give up sins.

4. In exchange of committing sins, you have pawned your life. Now strive for salvation.

The noble act of calling people towards righteousness and preventing them from evil is a blessed Sunnah of Ambiya عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام method of Blessed Sahabah and the practice of blessed saints رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی. Having inspired by the way of preaching of the blessed saints رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی the entire families embraced Islam and the big sinners came on the path to reform. Our pious predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی while calling people towards righteousness, used to weep even sometimes they would fall unconscious. Great spiritual and scholarly personality of 15th century Shaykh-e-Tareeqat, Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـه served Islam in such an incredible way regarding reforming Ummah that the blessed scholars appreciate the great Islamic services rendered by him. The Glorious Quran Pak also mentions with praise those fortunate people who call others towards righteousness. May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ by virtue of blessed saints’ passion for reforming Ummah grant us the passion of reforming Ummah.

اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِه وَسَلَّم

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد