One of the ways that the seeds of discord was sown amongst Muslims was to created doubts in people’s minds and ridicule certain practices. One such area is the ‘Aulia Allah” (the friends of Allah, the saints)
I KISSED THE FEET OF A HOLY MAN
About one quarter of the Quraan narrates the history of the holy people of Allah.
From these narrations there are many verses that show that the best way to Allah’s blessings is through his holy people. Not only the followers of Hazrath Moosa (AS) but even his enemies asked him to ask Allah for His blessings.
“O Moosa! On our behalf call on thy Lord in virtue of His promise to thee: If thou will remove the plague from us, we shall truly believe in thee… But when we removed the plague from them…they broke their word.” 7:134
“We directed Moosa by inspiration when his thirsty people asked him for water: Strike the rock with thy staff: out of it there gushed twelve springs…” 7:160
Many people used to come to Hazrath Essa (AS) because they were blind or they were leapers and they used to ask him to help them. Hazrath Essa (AS) helped them to recover because this was Allah’s gift to him.
“…and thou heals those born blind, and the leapers, by My (Allah’s) leave and behold thou brings forth the dead to life…” 5:110.
When it came to the Prophet Muhammed Salallahu Alayhe wasallam, he helped his people most of the time before they could ask him. On numerous occasions while on missions he blessed wells that were almost dry. After his blessings, these wells not only provided the people with plenty water, but also continued providing water even to this day.
Once the food for a journey was exhausted and the people were in great need. They asked the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe wasallam permission to slaughter the riding camels and he agreed. When Hazrath Umar (RA) heard about this he asked the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe wasallam to bless the food that they had instead.
The Prophet Salallahu Alayhe wasallam then asked them to pool all the food that they had together and he asked Allah to bless the food. He then told the people to take as much as they liked and they took until they were all satisfied.
The Prophet Salallahu Alayhe wasallam then said: “I bear testimony that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and I am His Apostle.” Bukhari Vol 4 Hadis 225.
Even while in Medina the companions of the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe wasallam asked him on a daily basis for his blessings.
“Anas bin Malik (RA) reported that when Allah’s Messenger Salallahu Alayhe wasallam had completed his dawn prayer, the servants of Medina came to him with utensils containing water, and he dipped his hand in every container: and sometimes they came in the cold dawn (and he did not feel reluctant in acceding to their requests even in the cold weather) and dipped his hand in them.” Muslim Vol IV chpt.19.
The Hadith books state that the 12th Imaam and Hazrath Essa (AS) will be responsible for bringing about truth and justice to our world once again. Even on the Day of Reckoning people would go to their Prophets and ask them to ask Allah for His Mercy. This task would finely be allotted to the Prophet Muhammed Salallahu Alayhe wasallam and by his intercession we would be forgiven. Bukaharie Vol 6 Hadis 242
In life we often seek the help of others in our daily lives. Eg. A person may be going through a difficult financial situation and he seeks the help of a friend or the bank. We cannot say that the person is committing shirk because he seeks the help of others beside Allah.
Similarly we cannot condemn a person that seeks to get close to Allah through the help of a holy person. In worldly knowledge we often serve apprenticeship in order to perfect our skills and learn the practical aspects of our vocations.
So what is wrong with a disciple serving internship under the guidance of a Sufi master? What is wrong with a person asking a holy man to ask Allah to help him?
Ironically, seeking help and guidance through the help of a pious person is something all Muslims pray for in every rakaat of every namaaz.
“…Show us the straight way, the way of those on whom thou has bestowed Thy grace….” 1:6\7
Seeking help from Allah’s chosen people, especially for knowledge and spiritual guidance, is necessary. It is important therefore that we should associate with a holy person in our life so that we could learn the finer points of Islam.
“And He (Allah) listens to those who believe and do deeds of righteousness…” 42:25
Although prophethood has come to an end with the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe wasallam, holy men were still present during every era thereafter.
After the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe wasallam, the 11 Imaams, his Companions, the Tabien, the Tab Tabien and the saints continued with this mission of guiding and helping people.
Even today such people exist and we need them, perhaps more than ever, to help us through the difficult times that we live in.
This aspect of Islam, the holy men, is where the strength of Islam lies (Remember Karbala) – This, is where the science of Islam lies (they will challenge mindsets, rituals and dogmas) – This, is where the deeper knowledge of Islam lies (Tarika, marifa and hakika).
All this talk about putting our heads down to the feet of a holy man reminds me of the predicament of shaitaan. He bowed down to Allah only and refused to bow down to anyone else even when Allah SWT asked him to do so. Do we also have this same kind of pride?
So who are the holy people that we should follow, how can we recognize them and what makes them holy? Read more about this subject in our other articles.
Peace & Blessings be upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam
Published by Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi
Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi was founded by Dr Hakim Hazrath Khwaja Sayed Shareef Ahmed Ali Shah RA (lovingly known as Hazrath Poona Wale Shah Saab RA)
Author: Mohammed Hassan Gaffoor (WhatsApp +27849101486)