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Excerpts taken from Hazrat Shaykh Talha Qasmi Naqshbandi Damat Barkatuhum’s discourses( Continuation –Part-2)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

This servant of Allah was disappointed in the Ummah after making every effort expressing his state (Quranic verse) “now it is time to save one’s ownself”, bid goodbye to India and moved to Madina. This I narrate the history of Hazrat Maulana Ilyas Saahab (RA). Maulana Ilyas Saahab (RA) is not a strange personality for this weak self to say the least. The childhood of this weak self is spent such that we used to study in the Madarsa of a small village, all we knew was Delhi’s headquarters was Nizamuddin and nothing other than that until such time from when we can remember we did not know (anything else about Delhi). Once an Aa’lim (Islamic Scholar) came to our village, having heard that he has come from Delhi I went to meet him with reverence. I asked him, “You have come from Delhi? You must be meeting Maulana Inamul Hasan Saahab (RA), Hazrat Maulana Umar Saahab Palanpuri (RA)?”. To this he replied I am very busy and do not get time to visit Nizamuddin Markaz (headquarter). I responded with surprise, “You stay in Delhi and you do not get time to visit Nizamuddin Markaz then why do you stay in Delhi?”.

The childhood of this weak self is spent like this with the desire that Allah continues to tie these bindings (of being associated with Allah’s blessed servants) till the grave. Darul Uloom’s (Deoband) entire duration (of studying there) was spent such that when we had a few days holiday we would visit Delhi. Neither were we interested in Qutb Minar nor did Taj Mahal interest us and these places do not interest (me) even to this day or some other place too. Alhamdulillah approximately 20-25 years ago had the opportunity to visit your city Bangalore (where the lecture is being delivered) a few people who were together said, “we are going to visit Mysore would you like to join us?”, to which I replied “I won’t go to visit (for entertainment) if even Allah takes (me) for his work then I will go else I will not go. It is Allah’s blessing and I say this in gratitude that the prince of an Arab country sent a letter saying am sending the visa come and visit my country for a few days with the intention of a holiday if you like it, then stay here. This weak-self had replied then that I don’t intend to visit for a holiday if even Allah makes me visit for his work then InshaaAllah I will be happy to do so, thank you for your visa. Whatever few days (two, three, four or more) were got e used to spend in Delhi in Nizamuddin therefore the awareness is aplenty. My father (RA) may Allah bless him (Aameen) during the days of studying whenever there was an Arab Jamath (for Tabligh) visiting he would make me leave studies and accompany the Arab Jamath saying more than studies this is important for you (going with Arab Jamath).

Ziyārah of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) in Masjid-e-Nabawi

Hazrat Maulana Ilyas Saahab had migrated to Madina from India. It is a long incident, Allah’s prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said in a dream, ‘Come close to me”. Hazrat Maulana Ilyas Saahab started spending the entire day in Masjid-e-Nabawi, this is when the Masjid-e-Nabawi, used to be closed in the night. I have seen times when the doors of Masjid-e-Nabawi used to be closed in the night and (people used to) stand at the gates to be the first ones to enter the masjid and get a place in the Rozatul Jannah. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) then again advised (Maulana Ilyas Saahab) in a dream, “Ilyas (RA) come more close to me”. Hazrat Maulana Ilyas Saahab sought the suggestions of the religious elders of Madina on what should I do now? The elders of Madina (during those days rules were not as strict) went to the Amir (governing authority) of Madina and requested him to allow Hazrat Maulana Ilyas Saahab to stay inside the masjid during the night and the gates be closed when he is inside letting him stay inside the masjid (during the night). Thus Hazrat Maulana Ilyas Saahab was given permission.

Hazrat performed Iti’kaf in Masjid-e-Nabawi, the masjid used to be closed from outside, that servant of Allah used to be all alone in Allah’s house. It is during this time that he saw the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “Ilyas, go back to India, work (of deen) will be taken from you”. People are chosen in this manner by Allah. Hazrat Maulana Ilyas Saahab said, “Huzur (SAW) I had made every effort possible but it did not yield any results, what will I do there (in India)?, the Prophet SAW replied “think about my initial days in Makkah, do what I used to do in Makkah”. Meaning the Ummah has come to a stage where there is a need for work to be done from scratch therefore begin work from where I had begun.

When Maulana Ilyas Saahab (RA) returned to India he started doing taskheel (asking people to go in Allah’s path), “leave for 4 months, leave for 40 days”, his teachers started saying, “Ilyas what has happened to you? We give sermons and lectures for hours and no one turns up for namaz in the masjid, what are you saying leave for 4 months?”, Hazrat Maulana Ilyas Saahab (RA) replied, “I will not make them leave, the one (Allah) who wants them to leave will make them leave, I have been instructed to give Azan (call towards Allah), I am standing, I have been asked to call towards Allah, I am only following instructions”. Today we can see in the entire world, can anyone count the number of people leaving for 4 months? It cannot be counted, this is where the work is being started from, it is from here that Allah made the work begin from where Ambiya (عليه السلام) would always begin their work (calling towards Allah). But what was Hazrat Maulana Ilyas Saahab’s vision, where will this work reach? (to that) I will narrate an incident and then begin the talk on the subject (for today). Hazrat Maulana Ilyas Saahab said, “InshaaAllah, I have begun the work which when comes to life then madaaris (Islamic schools) will get students, Khanqah (place of spiritual reformation) will get disciples (from the incidents of Maulana Ilyas (RA)). Who can say these were different in his eyes (Dawah, Taalim and Tazkiyah) meaning this is the beginning of the work, that is where the work begins, may Allah always keep us joint with the beginning of the work (Dawah) it is from these chests that we have been fed milk, very unfortunate is one who forgets his mother, I and then entire Ummah has been fed milk from the chests of the work of Dawah (Tabligh) and the Ummah will continues to benefit from this lake. May Allah give us the ability to show gratitude (for this work – Aameen) but my brother during our bachpan (childhood) we used to walk holding our father’s finger then will we continue to hold our father’s finger when we turn 55 (symbolic of growing older). Hopefully all of us understand this.