Tuesday, 25th Rabīʿ al-Ākhar
He (Syedna Mohammed BurhanuddinRA) was the gatherer of the exalted and exquisite virtues of the upstanding duʿāt mutlaqīn. He attained the most pleasant and pure attributes of the noble hudāt. He expended his self in seeking the happiness of Allah and the happiness of his beloved, paying no heed to the ridicule of those who scoffed at him from amongst the oppressive adversaries. He eradicated the sources of their falsehood with the sword of his divine inspiration forged from the purest of minerals. He fully seized each and every good opportunity to disseminate the standards and signs of the faith. He clarified through his sermons and discourses, the essence of miracles and all that towards which he guided was the spring of truth, while all else is nothing but mirage and imagery. It is by his love that ascension from this world to the realm of the intellect is possible. Great is the good fortune of the one who comprehends his exalted stature, remembers him and becomes aware of the flaws and shortcomings of his slanderous and defaming adversaries.
He was the dāʿī who rose like a resplendent sun in the firmament of faith, following his predecessor who were luminous stars. The one who utilises his senses of hearing, sight, taste, smell and touch in his obedience and purifies his conscience and actions with his love, is indeed rightly guided and fortunate. While the one who does not love him and does not obey him, has surely condemned his soul and turned his fortune into misery. He was the dāʿī who, from the sky of his mercy, sent down waters of his wisdom, cultivating with it in the land of Dawat, splendorous meadows and gardens of guidance. By revealing lofty truths and sublime secrets, he filled its reservoirs. Allah aided, guided and inspired him, enabling him to maximise each good opportunity in his days and nights. He dedicated both to the service of his beloved, aʾimmat tahirīn to whom he was vicegerent. We were enamored by his gracious beauty and his praiseworthy traits and nothing made us happy save his audience and entering his presence. He was singular in his beauty, unrivalled and matchless. Those who are committed to something other than his love, then their guidance is but error and aberrance. Is there anyone amongst humanity who matches his magnificence and solemnity? Undoubtedly, his walāya (love) is provision for his devotees on the day of their return. Is there anyone like him in his preeminence, dignity and perfection? Time itself was one of his servants and the forceful oceans were but a portion of his munificence. Benevolence was his companion, knowledge his occupation, faith his conduct and guidance his speech. He smiled before bestowing and granted before being asked. Angels were his attendants and aides. He quenched parched students with the cool waters of his knowledge. He never said no to the one who asked of him, or sought his wealth. Even the ocean fell short when compared with him in benevolence. Who can peer with him in his generosity and in his munificence? His venerated grave is indeed a garden amongst the gardens of heaven and a shield for his followers from hellfire. Countless are his radiant miracles and astounding glories, how brilliantly they shine from his blessed, sacred grave.
Allah endlessly and incessantly blesses those who are honoured with his ziyārat or take a vow in his name. Many ill were cured by its blessings and many fever-stricken were healed by consuming sacred items from his grave. Never did someone in need come to his blessed mausoleum but his desires were fulfilled and he returned full of happiness and never did someone take a vow in his name, but his desires were fulfilled and he came back full of delight.
He was the most guided amongst the rightly guided, the most preeminent amongst the distinguished. The 52nd dāʿī in the chain of the auspicious duʿāt mutlaqīn, our sovereign and our beloved Maula, Abu al-Qaidjohar Mohammed Burhanuddin. May Allah prolong the life of the miracles of his blessed grave and the astounding marvels of his sacred sepulchre until the day of qiyāmah.
When the time of his demise came near, the land of our hearts shook with tremors and they were burdened by the trepidation of grief and sorrow. Our tongues were rendered speechless from uttering, ‘What is the matter with it!’ Our aspirations were left unfulfilled and we were unable to narrate the events that had unfolded. Voices were raised in lament and wail, the intensity of which moved all others to tears. Hearts were shattered even before garbs could be left in tatters and deeply rooted, firmly entrenched mountains melted away. The luminous moon of virtues had set and the ocean of mercy had run dry. A storm of grief was brewing in men. Why not! For indeed he was the burhān of the noble five who wept profusely. He was heir to the essence of Imam Ali Zain al-Abidin’s bukāʾ. May Allah’s salaam be upon him and upon his father, Imam Husain, the tyrannised. Whenever he (Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin) addressed, with his vivid expression, the people of Medina in a mournful manner: O people of Madina! O people of Madina! An eruption of grief like the day of qiyāmah would take place with Mumineen circumambulating him, just as Sauhan did around Imam Ali Zain al-Abidin. How heart-wrenching was his voice as he recited the verses of Maulatona Umme-Kulthum, in her elegy:
‘O Madina of our grandfather, do not accept us!
For we return with (nothing but) remorse and grief.
Behold! O our beloved grandfather, we are grief-stricken,
indeed we are afflicted in our noble father.’
May Allah increase his sacredness and may He shower upon us his intercessory blessings and benedictions.