Continuing what has become a tradition since 1434 H, a recording of the 52nd al-Dai al-Mutlaq, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin’s RA waʿz mubarak was relayed around the world on the occasion of Milad al-Nabi SAW this year. The waʿz mubarak was delivered in London in 1416 H in what was then a near-completion Masjid e Husaini, adjacent to the final resting place of Busaheba Amatullah Aai Saheba QR.
In his waʿz mubarak, Syedna al-Muqaddas RA explained the significance of the inception of the Mohammedi era, one which is singularly remarkable in that five personages born of Allah’s radiance are present at a single time. Mohammed, Ali, Fatema, Hasan, Husain, Allah’s salawaat and salaams upon them, are the five As’hab al-Tathir, people of purity, around whom Rasul Allah SAW draped the Shroud of Purity. This act was not a mere physical act of taking a shroud and covering them, for what meaning would this have? It’s meaning is that these five are manifestations of the radiance of Allah Taʿala and the ‘draping of the pure shroud’ allowed physical eyes to perceive this radiance. We continue to perceive this light, to comprehend its magnificence by virtue of the Imam of each age and their Duʿat Mutlaqeen.
Milad al-Nabi SAW 1416 H (1995) marked the first anniversary of the passing of Syedna Burhanuddin’s RA beloved consort, Busaheba Amatullah Aaisaheba QR, who passed away on its eve. Syedna al-Dai al-Ajal RA spoke with deep affection for his late wife, describing her as ‘loving and beloved’, from whom he derived peace and quoted a verse written by al-Dai al-Ajal Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin RA from his eulogy of his own consort, also named Amatullah, wherein he says;
“..For then I see in her visage the sun and the moon”
Syedna al-Muqaddas RA prayed that Busaheba attain whatever she desired in paradise and joined with it his prayer for the fulfilment of the wishes of all of the assembly.
Burhanuddin Maula RA described the birth of Rasul Allah SAW in some detail. During each month of the pregnancy angels would come in service of Rasul Allah’s SAW respected mother, Maulatona Amena AS. In a dream, Maulatona Amena AS was told that she is carrying the leader of the ummah and that when she came to deliver him she should recite the verse,
I safeguard him by The One
From the evil of every jealous soul
She was also told to name the newborn, ‘Mohammed’ and then she saw a radiance which spanned out from her and illuminated the entire world.
Following Rasul Allah’s SAW birth, Maulana Abdul Muttalib SA brought him into the sacred precincts of Bait Allah and recited these verses:
Praise to Allah who has bequeathed me
This child of pure and pious garbs,
Who rules from the cradle over all
I seek his protection by the virtue of the House of corners.
So that I may see him develop and mature
I seek his protection from every person of malice.
When Rasul Allah SAW was but two years of age, his father Maulana Abd Allah AS passed away, and shortly afterwards his mother, Maulatona Amena binte Wahab AS departed for her heavenly abode. Maulana Abdul Muttalib SA tended to the upbringing of the prophet, whose advent brought about a season of spring for the entire world. Syedna Burhanuddin RA pointed out that the Rasul Allah’s SAW birth took place shortly before the coming of the full moon indicating the perfection and radiance of his ascendancy. He then stated that Maulana Abdul Muttalib SA brought Rasul Allah SAW into Bait Allah following his birth while Maulana Ali AS was born inside Bait Allah.
As Maulana Abdul Muttalib’s SA demise drew near he entrusted Rasul Allah SAW to his son and Maulana Ali’s AS father, Maulana Abu Talib SA, also known as Zu al-Kifl (the Nurturer) for his upbringing and nurturing of Nabi Mohammed SAW. Maulana Abdul Muttalib SA addressed his son:
My counsel to you, O, Abde Manaf (Maulana Abu Talib) after my passing,
Tend to the One, who after his father, is distinct and unique.
Maulana Abu Talib SA would give preference to Nabi Mohammed SAW over all his other children, as Syedna Burhanuddin RA stated, ‘Mohammed ne mufaddal karta’, since mufaddal means the one given pre-eminence over others’.
Syedna al-Muqaddas RA then proceeded to expound upon select verses of Sura al-Najm:
فَكانَ قابَ قَوسَينِ أَو أَدنىٰ
And was at a distance of but two bows or (even) nearer (53:9)
In the above verse, Nabi Mohammed SAW is described as having reached a closeness of ‘two bows’ to Allah, ‘or nearer’. Syedna Burhanuddin RA recounted how his illustrious father, Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA explained the meaning of ‘or nearer’ in his distinctive, ‘practical’ style as Allah having assimilated the Nabi into his eyes and in his heart: ‘aanko ma wasāwi lida!’
Syedna Burhanuddin RA mentioned the misconceptions regarding the buraq, the mythical creature upon which Rasul Allah SAW is said to have ascended through the heavens on the night of his miʿraj. He then narrated how Rasul Allah SAW came across two palaces identical in each and every aspect save their colour, one was green and the other red. Jibraʾeel revealed that the green palace was of Imam Hasan AS, who would be slayed with poison, while the red was that of Imam Husain AS, who would be martyred, by the sword, on the plains of Karbala.
As an example of Rasul Allah’s SAW concern and affection for his grandson Imam Husain AS, Syedna al-Muqaddas RA recollected to Mumineen the set of counsels that the Nabi Mohammed SAW once conveyed to him. “Sleep on your back”, he said to him affectionately, “for it will flatten your stomach.” Rasul Allah SAW continued, “When you have water, drink it in small sips, for it will help digest your food.” Syedna Burhanuddin RA added that some people down an entire glass in one go! “Apply kajal an odd number of times, for it will sharpen your eyesight”, the Nabi SAW continued. He also instructed Imam Husain AS to anoint his hair with oil every other day if he wished to follow the Prophet’s SAW own practice and tradition. Nabi Mohammed SAW further counselled his grandson to wear new shoes, for they were the male equivalent of anklets, and that he should renew his turban (paghri), for it is the crown of the Arabs. “When you prepare a meat dish”, he told him, “make sure to increase its broth so that if you are unable to offer your neighbour meat, they may partake from its broth for the broth is one part of the meat”. Syedna al-Muqaddas RA explained that extra broth allows a single tarkaari to become two. Rasul Allah SAW continued, “If you wear a ring, make sure its stone is either a ruby or carnelian for they are blessed; whenever a man sees his reflection within these stones, his radiance increases.” He added, “A single namaz while wearing them is equivalent to seventy’.
Towards the end of the waʿz mubarak, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA enjoined upon Mumineen to adhere to the tenets of Islam and specifically called upon the ‘young generation’ to follow in the footsteps of their forefathers and not let the ‘atmosphere’ and ‘surroundings’ of the world around us weaken their faith. He stressed the importance of filial piety and that despite the agedness of parents and the educational attainments of their young and upcoming children, the presence of elders is a source of barakat and blessing. He then encouraged Mumineen to continue to benefit from the Ilm of Aale Mohammed SA stressing that ‘knowledge is light; knowledge is intellect’. He then directed Mumineen to benefit from the 177-verse qasida written by Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA in which he expounds upon the philosophy and theory of the intellect. Syedna Burhanuddin RA stated that despite all the advances man makes using his intellect, even to the extent of being able to land on the moon, he should never forget the One who has bestowed him with that ability and intellect to do so. He mentioned that it is a lofty qasida, and Mumineen should read it and seek to comprehend it adding that when the former President of India, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan came to visit, select verses, translated into English, were presented to him.1
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The Eid of Milad al-Nabi, is one of the greatest Eid for Muslims. The birth of the Nabi Mohammed SAW heralded the dawn of a new era for mankind. As Mumineen, we have been blessed with the leadership of Nabi Mohammed’s SAW Duat Mutlaqeen, especially the Nabi’s namesake, al-Dai al-Ajal al-Fatimi Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA. Syedna Burhanuddin RA led the community for fifty years and fostered an era of spiritual, cultural and material regrowth. In Syedna al-Muqaddas’ RA counsel, we hear the Nabi’s SAW, and in his devotion to Imam Husain’s AS remembrance and zikr, we see the prophetic love for his grandson manifest before our eyes. Today, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS continues this legacy of leadership, calling towards the faith that Nabi Mohammed SAW established over 14 centuries ago; his zeal for adherence to the Prophetic sunna never diminishes, his devotion to Islam and its core values of love, brotherhood and humanity never wanes. May Allah Taʿala grant him a long life in pristine health until the Day of Qiyamat.