REFORMATION THROUGH COMPANIONSHIP

[ummtaalib]

Dr Abdul Hay ® relates an incident of a certain young man, who he saw in the Masjid, crying bitterly while making Duã. Dr Abdul Hay ® became much affected by the sight of the young man and took him to be a Wali of Allah. At that very instant, an old man with poor eyesight and feeble, shaky legs, walked past him. Due to old age, his legs were weak and uncontrollable as a result of which he accidentally bumped into the young man. The young man, who resembled a great saint, suddenly jumped up and fumed; “O unworthy blind fool, can you not see where you walk? You are so old, yet you hurt me!” His hands are spread out in supplication before Allah, while his tongue is engaged in harshly swearing the poor old man.

 

Dr Abdul Hay ® who had witnessed the entire scene, was shocked at the young man’s attitude. He said; “I thought him to be a great Wali, but he turned out to be Shaitãns grandfather.” Therefore, reformation of the self is of utmost importance.

 

Many people believe that one can be reformed merely by reading and studying great books like Sahih Bukhãri etc. If this was the case, why did Allah Ta’ãla send messengers to people? It was solely for their guidance and reformation by means of cleansing and purifying their hearts.

Firstly the Nabi fulfils this duty and thereafter his deputies follow suit. One cannot understand books without a teacher. This is a process of teaching and learning. For the book of Allah, people of Allah are created.

In the commentary of Surah Fãtiha in Ma’ãriful Qur’ãn, Mufti Shafi ® has written; “To understand the Book of Allah, it is necessary to have men of Allah.”

 

The fuel which provides the strength to act upon the book of Allah will be attained from the bosoms of these pious people. If a Nabi were alive, this knowledge would be attained from his bosom but since the door of Prophethood is closed it will be attained from the bosoms of his heirs.

Shaykh Rashid Ahmad Ganghohi ® said; “Why do you think I became Bay’at to Hãji Imdãdullah ®? It was not to learn Masã’il from him. With reference to Masã’il he will ask the Ulamã. The reason for taking Bay’at was to gain the fuel of strength and Taufeeq to act upon everything that I have learnt.”

 

Just imagine, even such great Ulama were not, independent of the people of Allah. Therefore friends, for one’s reformation, contact with a reformer is absolutely necessary. It is not enough merely to have friendship and companionship with them, to keep them informed about one’s spiritual condition is the actual purpose of the relationship.

 

Whatever advice they give, one should act upon it. The rights of companionship are not only feeding the people of Allah with good food and imagine that one has fulfilled their rights. Actually it is informing them of one’s condition and thereafter be obedient to their advice with sincerity.

 

TarbiyatusSãlikeen

Editor

Shaykh Mufti Zubair Dudha

Published By

Islãmic Tarbiyah Academy

45 Boothroyd Lane,

Dewsbury. WF13 2RB.