Friday, 21st Rabīʿ al-Ākhar
His (Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA) golden era manifested the histories and marvels of his noble predecessors, while his exalted virtues encompassed all their lofty qualities. A day in his life was a dynasty of other rulers and his boundless knowledge encompassed the heavens and the earth, healing hearts and ridding them of the bane of doubts. Whenever he would set foot on a land struck with famine, it would turn verdant, its pathways would open and Allah’s devoted servants would be able to tread upon it with ease. He was a divine magnet, who would draw towards him the auspicious manuscripts, clothings and coinage of the aʾimmat Fatimiyīn and their duʿāt mutlaqīn.
He was appointed by the imam of his age as his hijāb (mantle) and designated as his hujjat and bāb. His Lord made him the house of worship for the one true deity and the door of repentance at which, and for whom prostration (sujūd) is obligated. It is obligatory to combine his remembrance with the remembrance of his imam and in order to perpetuate the offering of gratitude to the imam it is essential to offer gratitude to him. Whoever realises that his exalted stature cannot be perceived nor fathomed by thought and contemplation, has indeed adhered to piety and righteousness.
He was a benevolent and munificent king and with his wisdom, forethought and patience he ensnared virtuous souls. Likewise, by capturing stray and scattered allusions and allegories he rid the land of Dawat from wickedness and distortion and laid the grounds for blessings and sanctity. Tirelessly he endeavoured in disseminating knowledge and safeguarding it day and night, in a befitting manner and incessantly planned and organised the upliftment of the living standards of Mumineen openly and subtly. Repeatedly, he sent upon them from the skies, abundant showers and made rivers of gold and riches flow for them. How magnificent he was! A Maula who with his eternal knowledge and divine conduct combined the two worships just as he attained the honour of two shahādat by sacrificing his precious self throughout his lifetime in order to attain the pleasure of his mawālī aʾimmat tāhirīn, with whom Allah is pleased and then carrying out jihad against their enemies who have left the fold. And through the preeminence of noble character and the honour of virtuous deeds he ensured harmony between two disciplines. Likewise, by enlightening the people of his Dawat and guiding them towards gathering merits in this world and the next, he led them towards the two good fortunes. By him their souls became refined and eternal and became noble and heavenly personas.
Each obedient Mumin should weep, lament or express feelings of sorrow upon the sovereign who possessed all exalted traits, a lion who attained all nobility, whose feet were set atop celestial stars. He ascended towards the abode of eternal peace, praised by all and now resides in the companionship of angels and in the divine heavens with its inhabitants yearning and longing for him. There, in that everlasting dwelling he will be in the presence of Ahmed, the master of the burāq. He chose the day of Friday – the gatherer of all dispersed strengths – as the day of his journey and the five weeks that have passed since his demise bear testimony to his unceasing subtle benedictions and apparent blessings.
Aah! Upon him and Aah! Indeed his absence is an affliction that arouses pain in every fiber of the being and this farness brings forth an outburst of grief in the wailers. It is a calamity in which it is befitting for the eyelids to shut, for the heart to stiffen, for the innards to shred and for the chest to burst. It is a woe that has made my days restless and has exhausted my patience. Surely, he was a wise, hands-on and renowned leader exalted from any calumny. He was unique and singular, of pure and pristine origins, worthy of purification. Should the likes of Burhān al-huda (Proof of guidance) pass away and hearts are not harrowed by grief and anguish? Verily our previously honey-like days have turned bitter as a colocynth.
He was the Dawood of his age possessing the authority of delivering the final verdict and iron melted for him in undoing the knots of predicaments and solving the complexities of intellectuals. He was well-versed in all forms of knowledge and learning; its skills, types and domains. He was also the Suleiman of his era, for Allah had bestowed him control over realms and made the love of his virtues abundant in the hearts of the common and special, the ignorant and learned. He taught him the speech of the birds and the art of wisdom and perfected him in the attributes of knowledge and blessings. He was the Yusuf of his time, resembling him in his charming countenance and good conduct; like him in the exactness and precision of his apparent and hidden auspiciousness and awe. He was Ayyub of his age in enduring pain, forbearing illnesses, patience during trials and tribulations and expressing gratitude for blessings. Hence, all the virtues of Allah’s beloved were manifested in him and in his presence they had all returned. If he had been a contemporary of Rasul Allah he would have been no less than Salman and Miqdad. Or had he been in the battle of Siffīn he would have been no less than Maulana Malik al-Ashtar in his charges and valour. Or would he have been in Karbala, his pure and sincere efforts and jihad would have pleased Imam Husain. His everlasting tears on Imam Husain were surely an act of worship that secures the betterment of the hereafter for worshippers. Behold! As he states:
‘I will continue to weep upon him sacrificing myself,
I will continue to mourn him, expressing grief,
I will continue to call out his name
and by doing so I will seek the garden of heaven.
I will continue to weep upon you, my Maula Husain!
My tafādī (sacrifice) for you is eternal, my Maula Husain!
My Maula! My Maula Husain!
He is the solemn dāʿī, our sovereign and beloved Maula Abu al-Qaidjohar Mohammed Burhanuddin. May Allah prolong the life of his worship till the day of qiyāmah and may He elevate his eternal abode. And may He sustain us with his intercession and solace.