The Amir of Ahl al-Sunna’s life
The Amir of Ahl al-Sunna’s first Madani Qafilah and the writing of Call to Righteousness
Mawlana Safdar Ali Attari Madani
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه Dawat-e-Islami has worked to propagate Islam and rectify the Umma since its inception. Via Madani Qafilas, it brings beleaguered and misguided members of society onto the upright path. These Madani Qafilas have always been a staple of Dawat-e-Islami, travelling since the organisation’s advent.
The Amir of Ahl al-Sunna, Mawlana Ilyas Attar al-Qadiri دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ describes the first Madani Qafila by saying:
The term “Madani Qafila” was not coined at first. These were initially called “dawra.” The first Qafila was for four days and organised by Haji Baqi Raza. I travelled with him to Gujjo (a town in Sindh). Dawat-e-Islami was known in Gujjo beforehand, yet I told Islamic brothers not to introduce me to others, not tell them I am Ilyas Qadiri. If people knew who I was, we would not be able to follow the Qafila schedule.
An Interesting Event
The shaykh continues by saying:
During the Madani Qafilah, I met a clean-shaven Islamic brother. He said he wanted to attend a weekly gathering in Karachi and meet me. He explained how the large gathering would make it difficult for this to happen. I held my laughter and continued listening to the brother, who was unaware he was with the very person he wanted to meet in Karachi.
After offering ʿIshāˈ salah on the final day of the Qafila, I delivered a speech. As I recall, there were four adults and three children, totalling seven people. As I spoke, somebody showed me their watch, signalling for me to stop. After we left, the people of Gujjo learnt I had stayed in their town for four days. They then came to Karachi to meet with me.
A member of Dawat-e-Islami’s Central Executive Committee, Haji Muhammad Ali says regarding another Madani Qafila:
In 1993, I travelled on a Madani Qafila to a village named Ghulamullah, located near Thatta. We departed after fajr salah from Shaheed Masjid (Karachi). Haji Baqi led our group, which included the Amir of Ahl al-Sunna, Sayyid ʿAbd al-Qādir, and Haji Gul Aḥmad Qādirī.
After some discussion, we left Shaheed Masjid, went to Lee Market, and took a bus to Thatta. From there, around 17 of us sat in a Suzuki pickup truck. Due to the extreme heat of summer, we wanted the Amir of Ahl al-Sunna to sit in the shaded passenger’s seat. Yet, he refused and said he would rather sit with Islamic brothers. One of them used his shawl to provide cover for the shaykh from the Sun.
Arriving at the masjid we were to stay in, we found pigeon feathers laying scattered therein. We saw the shaykh cleaning the masjid and following the instructions of the Qafila leader. It was also during this time Call to Righteousness was written. We traversed the neighboured calling people to righteousness alongside him, and after ʿIshāˈ salah, he was successful in bringing individuals to the masjid who normally missed their salah.
“O Allah! Make their hearts submit to You!”
During this time, some youngsters had travelled from afar to take part in the Madani Qafila. They made wudu and began learning how to offer salah from the shaykh. He said, “We must learn how to pray correctly, and we certainly will. But as it is ʿIshāˈ time, whoever has not prayed must do so first.” As these young people fell into prostration, the shaykh raised his hands and made this dua, “O Allah! Their bodies have submitted to You. I ask You to now make their hearts submit!”
When this Madani Qafilah returned, a practical method of calling towards goodness was introduced in Shaheed Masjid, whereby Islamic brothers went door to door. This was a new matter at the time and many were amazed at this.[1]
When was Call to Righteousness written?
The Amir of Ahl al-Sunna said regarding this:
Call to Righteousness was written during this Qafilah in 1993. We were a group of friends. We thought, “We may call people to goodness, but what should we say when we meet them?” The term “nēkī kī dawat” (calling to righteousness) was perhaps coined at that point.
After discussion, we agreed that whatever is said should be relatable and acceptable. If the listener does not come with us, at least our message is clearly conveyed. A multitude of things were suggested for this. Ultimately, I authored Call to Righteousness, and this is how we began calling people to righteousness.
The original message was lengthy and contained difficult words, so it was simplified and shortened to a few lines.”[2]
The Central Executive Committee Head, Haji Muhammad Imran Attari said to the shaykh, “I affiliated myself with Dawat-e-Islami in 1991, and I still remember you giving me a paper and telling to make photocopies of it. It had the nēkī kī dawat message written upon it with green ink, which was first memorised by brother Sufyan from Gulistan-i-Mustafa.”[3]
Naiki ki Dawat (Brief)
The current nēkī kī dawat is:
We are sinful slaves of Allah and followers of His beloved صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Undoubtedly, life is short. We get closer to death with every passing moment, and soon we will enter our dark graves. Salvation is in obeying the commands of Allah and practicing the Sunna of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.
Dawat-e-Islami’s Madani Qafila has come from …….. to the ………… masjid in your area. We have come to you seeking to convey a call of goodness.
A lesson is being delivered in the masjid and we encourage you to attend. (If they are not ready to go, say:) If you cannot go now, offer maghrib salah at the masjid and a speech will be delivered thereafter اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه. It is a request that you try your best to attend. May Allah grant you and I goodness in both worlds. اٰمِیْنْ.
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