Urs of Pious Predecessors

When Hassan Raza’s father, ‘Mr. Dawood’, was leaving for the market, Hassan Raza also joined him. Mr. Dawood bought milk more than the usual quantity. Upon this, Hassan Raza humbly enquired his father: Dear father! Why did you buy a lot of milk today? Father replied: My son! It is 11^th of Rabi’-ul-Aakhir today and the blessed Urs of great spiritual guide of Qadiriyyah Sufi order, ‘Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-A’zam Abdul Qadir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ‘ is marked on this day. In connection with the blessed Urs, we will also arrange Niyaz gathering at our home. So, I have bought comparatively more quantity of milk today so that we manage this occasion gracefully.

Hassan Raza: Dear father! What is an Urs?

Father replied: My son! Generally the term ‘Urs’ refers to ‘wedding’ in Arabic language.

Annual gatherings of Fatihah held on the demise date of the pious predecessors is also called ‘Urs‘ in Islamic terminology. The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: When the [blessed] questioning angels [Munkar and Nakeer] test the deceased and he [the deceased] succeeds, they [blessed angels] say: ‘نَمْ کَنَوْمَۃِ الْعَرُوس لَا یُوقِظُه اِلَّا اَحَبُّ اَھْلِه اِلَیْه’ i.e., ‘Sleep like the bride who is not woken by anyone except the dearest of her family. (Tirmizi, vol. 2, pp. 337, Hadees 1073) Since the [blessed] angels use the word ‘Aroos’ for them, so, that [blessed] day is called ‘Urs. (Mirat-ul-Manajeeh, vol. 1, pp. 134)

This is for the reason, a great number of devotees visit the blessed shrines of the blessed companions, Taba’een, pious predecessors and blessed scholars on the date they depart this life and the shrine pilgrims attain blessings. The admirer and devotees arrange spiritual gatherings for their Isal-e-Sawab in the vicinity of the blessed shrines and at other places. In these Islamic gatherings, besides reciting Holy Quran, Na’at, and Zikr-o-Azkaar, the Islamic scholars and the preachers, through their speeches [Bayanaat], give information about the commandments of Almighty Allah, Sunnahs of Blessed Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, life history and introduction to the pious predecessor resting in their shrines. So the Islamic scholars and honourable preachers also spread the blessed Islamic teachings of the pious predecessors. Thus such spiritual gatherings are called ‘Urs of the pious predecessors’.

On 11^th of Rabi-ul-Aakhir, the blessed Urs of great spiritual guide of Qadiriyyah Sufi order, Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-A’zam Abdul Qadir Jeelani رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, is marked with great respect and reverence. Many devotees of Ghaus-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ also term this grand event ‘Bari Ghiyarveen Shareef’.

Hasan Raza humbly asked his father: Dear father! What benefit can we have by marking the blessed day of the ‘Urs’?

Father replied: My son! You have asked a very good question. There are various benefits of marking the blessed day of the Urs of the pious predecessors:

1 The greatest benefit is that Almighty Allah showers His mercy upon us. It is stated in a narration that Divine mercy descends at the time when the pious predecessors of Allah are remembered. (Hilyat-ul-Awliya, vol. 7, pp. 335, Raqm 10750)

2 By the blessings of remembering and listening about the blessed qualities of the pious predecessors, we develop devotion to these blessed personalities. The advantage of this is that we will attain the companionship of these blessed people on the Day of Judgement because the one who has devotion to the beloved ones of Allah to please Him عَزَّوَجَلَّ will have the blessed company of these blessed figures.  

3 By the blessings of marking the blessed day of the Urs, we gain the information about the blessed life of pious predecessors that how they spent their entire lives following and obeying Allah Almighty and His Blessed Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.  

4 Likewise, after listening to the parables of the pious predecessors describing their piety, abstinence, Islamic knowledge and the acts of righteous deeds, we also develop strong eagerness for performing virtuous acts and carrying out good deeds.

 May Allah Almighty grant us Taufeeq to mark the blessed day of the Urs of the pious predecessors for attaining their blessings as well showing devotion to them.

  صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّماٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن