Prologue
This travelogue has been inked by Hazrat Shaykh Maulana Sayyed Mohammed Talha Qasmi Saahab DB himself in Urdu, the transcript below is an English translation of the text by Hazrat DB’s disciple.
Please, will the readers note any reference hereon in the transcript of Hazrat DB refers to Shaykh Sayyed Mohd Talha Qasmi Saahab DB.
The travelogue covers Hazrat Shaykh DB’s four-day trip to Qatar in June 2019 soon after Ramzan at the behest of one of his disciples in Qatar, who, it is understood, had never met his Shaykh. It is the yearning to meet one’s Shaykh and benefit from his company that helped the people of Qatar receive this bounty from Allah.
The translator is conscious of the fact that language has its barriers in trying to express and bring forth the message intended thus. More so since each language has its own nuance and finesse that may or may not be true for the language it is translated into. The translator believes this is ever so true for Urdu, that has an elegance, a flair seldom found, is immaculate in its rhythm, sound and etiquette, an ocean full of mannerisms, that is perhaps second to only Arabic, as it were. Should the readers, who are well equipped to understand both Urdu and English transcripts, recognize a shortcoming in the translation it is requested to help the translator become aware of such an occurrence. The translator is well aware of the conspicuous absence of ability in his efforts and would therefore welcome advice, as may be appropriate. Any error thus should only be attributed to the translator and not the original author of the travelogue, the reverend Hazrat Shaykh DB.
Day 1, 9th June 2019
The journey began from Mumbai airport through the Indigo flight to Doha scheduled at 11:55 am, reaching Doha at 12:30 pm (Doha Standard Time – DST). The following men, brother Sayyed Nematullah, Maulana Yasir Saahab (etiquette and manners in Urdu dictate one be referred to as ‘Saahab’ as a sign of respect), brother Mohammed Masood, were present at the airport to greet and welcome me. The forenoon Salah was performed at the airport Masjid and then we travelled to brother Nematullah’s house. Brother Nematullah is a software engineer, an employee of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Qatar, and a resident of Haasan in Karnataka, India. Maulana Yasir Saahab is an alumnus of Darul Uloom Deoband, leads Salah in a Masjid, a Khalifa of my Shaykh, Hazrat Maulana Zulfiqar Ahmed Naqshbandi DB. Brother Masood too, is a resident of Bangalore (Karnataka, India), a civil engineer. May Allah open doors of Halaal (lawful) sustenance for him. I rested a while after Asr Salah.
We visited my dear Khubaib’s (may Allah protect him) house after Isha Salah. Brother Khubaib has been associated very closely, being a very noble young man, has memorized the Quran and is an alumnus of Jamiatul Falah, Azamgarh (UP, India). He has been inclined at making efforts towards religious causes, calling people towards Allah (Daawah), is always engaged in ensuring his own and children’s religious and social well-being, and has been leading Salah and working as a teacher in the department of memorization of the holy Qur’an for a long while in Doha,. The meeting with a few young Indian scholars gathered at brother Khubaib’s house, was very engaging and rather long. These gentlemen were very conscious of the current affairs in India and infirmity of the Muslim community at large. The discussion was varied covering a multitude of topics.
Dear Khubaib’s (may Allah protect him) maternal grandfather, Hazrat Maulana Saleemuddin RA, was my mother’s maternal uncle, a very pious, intellectually equipped, educated and a man of spiritual elevation. The hearts of people who sat in Allah’s remembrance with him would come to life (be spiritually awake). His efforts and contribution in religious spheres witnessed him travel the length and breadth of the country. During the last days of his life, he was resident in a city in Madhya Pradesh (India), from where he began his journey to the hereafter. He was paralysed and had restricted movement for quite a many years (before his parting from the world), however, was an epitome of patience and forbearance, always pleased with Allah Much further he was conscious of the spiritual well-being of the visitors, who did so to ask after his health. At the afternoon Salah on a Friday, he left this world in the state of remembering his creator (implying his blessed spiritual state). The burial was due to be performed in the night. Since the nights were darker (than usual) four lanterns were arranged to ensure there was light in the graveyard. Soon as the bier reached the graveyard, all fire tubes in the four lanterns burst that turned them off. Nevertheless, the graveyard was lit, as is the state on a full moon night. People began to search for the moon from amidst the trees, it did not occur to anyone that there’s no moon sighted in these nights. The graveyard was lit alike until the end of the burial process and people leaving. An aficionado of the Maulana RA, Master Zahid Saahab narrates, ‘To descend Maulana’s body in the grave, I went down in the grave first, soon as the body was kept in the grave, every ounce of the grave saw light to itself as if it were lit by a very powerful search light. He tried to turn around and search for the source of the light (outside the grave), he found that the light originated from within the grave. This incident had quite an effect on brother Zahid so much so that he fell ill (with temperature) for many days. When the heart is illuminated and alive (spiritually), this Noor (light due to illumination) accompanies the carrier in the grave. This Noor (light) is not seen by the naked eye of the general populace. When Allah wishes so, he has people see it, to show the reverence (and spiritual state) of his servant and also for people to imbibe a lesson. The Prophet SAW, would beg for this Noor from Allah every day. The first words of the lengthy supplication of the Prophet SAW, seeking this Noor, are:
“Allahummaj’al fi Qabri Noora wa fi Qalbi Noora!“
“This blessing is received through the permanence of Zikr (remembrance of Allah) with Taqwa (abstinence from sins).“
“Rabbanaa Atmim Lanaa Nooranaa Wagfir Lanaa, Innaka Alaa Kulli Shai’in Qadeer!“
“Our Lord, perfect for us our light, and forgive us. Indeed, you are powerful over everything.”
(Surah At-Tahrim, Ayah 8)
However, it was then brought to our notice, a lot of people are waiting to meet the traveler at brother Nematullah’s house. First amongst the present were, Maulana Talha Saahab Jaunpuri (UP, India), Maulana Ishtiyaque Saahab Gauri Fatehpuri (UP, India), Qari Abdullah Saahab and many former teachers of Madrasa Arqam Khaadipaar, Bhiwandi (near Mumbai, India). A few of these gentlemen had some questions in their minds. Maulana Ishtiyaque Saahab represented these questions and I was able to respond in a satisfactory manner. Maulana Ishtiyaque Saahab and I belong to the same town. He is an alumnus of Jamia Arabia Hathaura, District Banda (UP, India) and has been amongst the loved students of Hazrat Qari Siddique Ahmed Bandhwi RA. He has been a resident of Doha for a long time, leading Salah in a Masjid.
Day 2, 10th June 2019
The next day, we were invited for breakfast at Maulana Nadeem Saahab’s home. Maulana Nadeem Saahab is a son of a very sincere and kind friend’s brother of mine; Maulana Sayyed Waliullah Saahab, who is resident in Nizamabad and hails from Telangana. Maulana Nadeem is an alumnus of Darul Uloom Deoband and has been blessed with a very pleasing personality, a government employee in Qatar for many years besides being the soul of the academic and literary gatherings there.
There was food for soul and body in abundance at Maulana Nadeem’s house. We returned to the host’s house with our body, soul, heart and sight spiritually enlightened enriching our hearts and bodies with immense spiritual strength. The series of meeting visitors continued at the host’s house, resting at intervals. The evening, along with Maulana Ishtiyaque Saahab, we arrived at the meeting place of Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al-Thani to meet him, who managed the religious affairs of Qatar during his time. Shaikh Al-Thani was substantially instrumental in bringing ease to the scholars and preachers of the time, this was evident from the narratives of the people in the gathering. The discussion (which understandably was done in Arabic) brought forth Shaikh Al-Thani’s views and close watch on world affairs, Islamic teachings and its effect on the Muslim world. Maulana Ishtiyaque Saahab took me to his home for a short while at the conclusion of the meeting and then to the host’s house thereafter.
Day 3, 11th June 2019
The third day, Maulana Talha Saahab Jaunpuri DB had arranged for a rather luxurious and elegant dinner. The time after Zohar and Asr spent in the individual meetings. Maulana Feroz paid a visit along with his son-in-law after Asr Salah. Maulana Feroz is an exceptionally well-cultured man of elevated character and a scholar in word and deed. He has been a cherished student of my late Father (RA), our ties have always been akin to being brothers, elder to me by many years, has become very weak too, due to a prolonged illness, and undergoes dialysis every alternate day. Citing his ill health, I wanted to pay a visit to him, however it was Maulana Feroz’s affection, nobility and magnanimous self, did not allow me to do so, even after persistent requests, he came to visit as against me travelling by himself. The two of us became nostalgic for a long while. He bid adieu being teary-eyed, asking me to promise of being available for a longer duration in the future (in Qatar). Maulana Talha Jaunpuri had invited many scholars to an elegant dinner in a hotel, where I met Maulana Zubair Saahab, Maulana Ismail Saahab, Maulana Ata Ur Rahman Saahab and a few too many notable spiritual personalities. As was Maulana Talha Saahab’s preference, there was a discourse of half an hour on “Zikr of the Heart (spiritual)”. This was followed by supplication and then dinner. The scholars were very affectionate. Maulana Ismail Saahab, who has been a resident of Qatar for many years and has been instrumental in inviting many scholars and Mashaaikh (friends of Allah) to Qatar, helping the local residents and expatriates of the sub-continent benefit from them, was crying the entire duration of the discourse. The elevated manner in which he expressed his views and feelings after the discourse was beyond my prestige and stature. We had travelled in Maulana Ishtiyaque Saahab’s car and returned to the host’s house in it. The lack of rest, due to the occupied schedule of the whole day, had me very tired. I remember reciting the Dua only, after placing my head on the pillow and then the eyes witnessed the light for Salah at dawn.
Day 4, 12th June 2019
The fourth day was the last day of the visit. Dear Khubaib had expressed his desire of visiting his house once again therefore we had breakfast at his home. The return to the host’s house had a few visitors, thus meetings continued. After finishing Zikr and Muraqabah (remembrance of Allah) post Asr Salah, I visited the seashore with brother Nematullah and brother Masood for a little while. Alhamdulillah, the seashores here are safe from the ignominious (shameful) acts (influenced by the western world) that has become the norm in the other middle-eastern countries in the geography. May Allah protect them in the future too! Maulana Nadeem Saahab paid a visit after Asr Salah and others followed suit after his departure. Yours truly advised everyone to refrain from sins and make Zikr a part of their lives which continued until late in the evening. After Isha Salah too, there were visitors, meetings continued until 11:30 pm perhaps, which is when I lied down to take some rest. I woke up at 12:45 am, performed optional Salah and then was engaged in remembering my affectionate and merciful creator thereafter. This was followed by getting ready to leave for the airport. Brother Nematullah, bother Masood and Maulana Yasir accompanied me to the airport leaving from the host’s house at 1:30 am. Maulana Ishtiyaque Saahab had already arrived at the airport and waiting for us. The queue at the check-in counter was rather long, however, Maulana Ishtiyaque Saahab had already called after his son’s friend, who is an employee of the police department serving at the airport. Due to his assistance, the check-in process was done in no time without the need to wait in the rather long queue at the check-in counter. We took the boarding pass and walked to the Masjid at the airport, which was very beautiful and spacious. There was still considerable time for dawn to break therefore I performed two ra’kahs of optional Salah and got engaged in Zikr-e-Qalbi (remembering/being conscious of Allah in the heart). I performed the two Sunnah Salah after the call for dawn (Azan) and waited for the congregation. The Imam (Salah leader) Saahab perhaps hailed from Bangladesh, his Quran recitation was so enticing that the heart wanted to keep listening to it. After Salah, I had to leave for immigration and bid adieu to the hosts who had come to bid farewell at the airport. This was done with supplications and tearful eyes. After the immigration and security check processes were completed, I found the same gentleman waiting for me inside, who had helped during the check-in process. He took me to the boarding gate with as much affection and respect. Since there was a delay in the flight schedule, he had me sit near the gate and said his goodbyes.
Dear Umair Momin was waiting at the Mumbai airport along with his two sons. I reached home at about 2:30 pm or 2:45 pm and was very exhausted. However, since it was the day of the Majlis (weekly gathering in Bhiwandi) therefore left for the Masjid after a short while. It was after 11:00 pm when I reached home after meeting the many visitors who had arrived for the Majlis.
Qatar is a small, clean, prospering and very beautiful country, situated close to Saudi Arabia in the middle-eastern geography, where the population count has more expatriates than original inhabitants. The Islamic culture and mannerisms are visibly seen in the atmosphere that is endorsed by the Royal family and preferred by the common populace alike. Perhaps this very virtue has become their offence in this day and age, due to which the neighbouring Muslim countries have opted to boycott Qatar. May Allah protect this country and the entire Muslim world at large.
It is my supplication for the people of Qatar (hosts and other visitors), in exchange for the love, affection and respect bestowed by them may Allah bestow his love, bless them with his awareness and bounties of this world and hereafter in abundance.
Sayyed Muhammad Talha Qasmi Naqshbandi
June 2019
