Al-Laahu Rabbu Muhammadin Salla 'Alaihi Wa Sallama

Allah Subhaanahu is the Creator and Nourisher of Saiyyidina Muhammad

(Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam), and sends peace and salutations to him).

PRELUDE

To tell the truth. I am a mere seeker after knowledge in the fields of religion, spirituality, and scholarship. The smattering of knowledge of letters and words and of the ways to use them well that has come to me is mostly because of my environment and because of my kind parents, paternal grandfather, maternal grandmother and teachers and divines. These revered and respected personalities have guided my understanding at every stage of my life.

Since my childhood, I have been somehow involved with book and pen, Madrisahand maktab,religious and spiritual discussion and observation. I have already lived three decades of my life, and I am conscious that I have yet to cross deep oceans while life is very ephemeral, very undependable. All the same, what with my own desire and longing for it and the determination to achieve it, what with the kindness of my elders and the prayers of my associates, I have every hope that I will, 'Insha Al-Laah,be crowned with success.

Before also, I was greatly distressed by the thought but it much increased in intensity when lately I visited African countries. I witnessed the strange phenomenon among the adherents of Islaam living in my own homeland and far away from the homeland that they are after their own apron. Why point accusing fingers at others. Even the so-called wayfarers of the road to Madinah, the preachers claiming to disseminate truth and truthfulness, and the self-proclaimed standard-bearers of peace and security, are, by their tongues and pens and deeds, putting to shame their own Millatand group, their own mosque and pulpit.

My heart bleeds when I speak of the tragedy of wasting our energies in mutual recriminations and mutual tussles. What a pity that controversy and difference centers round our own center and axis! The Islamic faith cannot be comprehended without the holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam), yet we are differing on interpreting and explaining and praising the great and glorious personality of the Prophet himself (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam).

It is my leemaan (faith) that my Prophet (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) is like a mirror. He is a mercy unto the worlds, a light personified and a great intercessor (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam). He conferred humanness upon men who used to be worse than beasts, and by his excellence of character changed hates into loves. The teachings and training of this holy and noble Prophet (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) raised those who walked in the dust behind the cattle to be the leaders of mankind. Yet, the fact is that I have not found a believer in any other faith saying so many contradictory things about the founder of his faith, things, which may be categorized as disrespectful, insolent and foulmouthed. Perhaps, people of any other Millathave not tolerated such an attitude as we ingrates have tolerated for our perfect guide and greatest benefactor (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam).

It is most incomprehensible for me why those who make the blessed personality of their Prophet, with whom Prophethood has come to an end, the butt of criticism and of belittling. And are so firm in their thoughts and beliefs and do not like the magnificent Prophet (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) of Al-Laah Subhaanahu and do not like to honour and respect him, insist on being called the followers of such a Prophet.

In having faith in the Prophet of Al-Laah Subhaanahu and in following his deeds and sayings we are not to be guided by our self-made rules and principles but by the guidance provided by the Qur'aan and the Sunnat. Our relationship with the Prophet is not like that with a philosopher, a thinker, a teacher, or as between a ruler and the ruled, between a king and his subjects, between a conqueror and the conquered and between a master and his slave (under duress). But as between a guide and a wayfarer, a Prophet and his follower, and, above all, between a beloved and a lover. Intense love is the basis of our relationship with the holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam). He is our master, and our slavery has not been bought or purchased but is a voluntary one. This relationship is that of intense love, although he is also our conqueror, our ruler, our king and our greatest teacher. A Mu’mins love teaches him love and respect, and when it is a question of love it is insolence even to look towards the beloved what to speak of lifting a finger at him. It is a matter of bowing down to him totally. A gentleman, the station of him who is the beloved of Al-Laah Subhaanahu Himself is something very different. How excellent, indeed, is that station!

"Ishq se Ho Jaa'e Mumkin He Wagarnah 'Aql se

Keya Muqaam-e-Mustafa He Faislah Dushwaar He.''

(It is possible to do so through love, otherwise with intellect It is difficult to determine the station of beloved Mustafa (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam).

People tell me: "Let them say whatever they may wish to say, let them talk whatever nonsense they may wish to utter. But you should maintain silence, and only talk of unity. Let it be whatever is happening. Man has set foot on the moon and these Maulveesare still quarreling over the sighting of the moon". People tell me. "Talk of modernity, make Deen(religion) a bit modern. Introduce new tunes and change old ways. This is the age of speed and of travelling at speed. Why are you still enmeshed in old problems, old controversies?"

The times have, of course, changed, but not to the extent that man has become independent of man and the fire of honour and defence of honour and vanity and egotism in him have been extinguished.

This ever-growing addition of new and still newer things, this construction of cities with high-rise buildings, this superiority of machine and technology, this grandeur, all of this is, indeed, very amazing. Man has much deviated and greatly strayed. His eyes are dazzled by the splendour of new lights. But has man also changed? Has he begun to walk on his head?

Listening to the fulmination’s and intrigues of the Mul-laasagainst their beloved (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) the word honour seems to have lost all its meaning. If such statements were to be made about the ancestors, the family traditions and customs and practices of these very people they are sure to be inclined to pick up a fight. If someone's loved one were to be upbraided by some one else he would not go to a Muftee(an expounder of Muslim law) to obtain a fatwa(religious verdict) or to a Qaazi(judge) to inquire about the law in this regard. He himself would pick up a dagger and give no quarter to that insolent, foul-mouthed person.

Such is the case with relationship founded on the basis of ordinary relationship of blood and social lives. But it is an altogether different matter when the matter concerns a Prophet, and that, too, the Prophet of the Prophets (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam). The relationship between a Prophet and his follower is altogether different from any worldly relationship. The matter-concerns the heart, not of mind. This is a relationship of spirit, of spirituality, of truth, of security and of love. How can an ardent follower of the Prophet remain silent over insolent utterances against his beloved? This is the greatest torment. It has been the way of the ingrates for a long, long time and, lately, it has perhaps become much more severe.

This is not a case of opposition for the sake of opposition. To be different is something different; to be in opposition is something altogether different. The basis of all these accusations and differences is the intellect of these wretched people. But what is human intellect? How well the poet of the East, late Allamah Muhammad Iqbaal, has put it:

"Guzar Jaa 'Aql Se Aage ke yeh Noor Chiroagh-e-Ranh

He Manazil Naheen He"

(Pass over intellect because this light only Illumines the path but is not the destination).

With the passage of time, human intellect has attained to great heights. Because of its marvels, man is, today, flying in the skies like birds.

Man has endowed himself with wings. He has, in a manner of speaking, created men of iron (robots) who work with greater diligence and with greater alacrity. His voice has now attained such volume that a man speaking at the North Pole can be heard at the South Pole. Man's most wondrous achievement is that distances have shrunk. Man has shortened the world, eastwise, westwise, northwise and southwise. He can breakfast in the east and take his midday meal in the west. But with all this power and sway man is today still helpless, still limited, and still insignificant. He has wiped out epidemics from the face of the earth, but is still powerless over death. He has brought nature under his sway but is still unable to control storms, typhoons and volcanoes. Man's intellect has not yet been able to solve the problem why lines on one man's palm are not the same as on another man's. This is only a small matter. The most wondrous thing is this universe itself: this earth, this moon, these stars, these rivers, these mountains, these planets, this mystery of morning and evening, this changing of seasons, this rainbow, this milky way, this flood of colour and light. What are they, why are they, and for whom are they meant?

Death and life and this system of the universe is beyond man's intellectual grasp. Almighty Al-Laah has, of course, endowed man with intellect, but not to an unlimited extent. Those who crossed their limits got much more involved. The eye can see only as much as it has been allowed to; the mind can think only as much as it can bear; beyond that, his veins would burst.

Intellect is not the goal. Had it been so, man would have reached his destination after the passing away of thousands of generations. Intellect may be the way, never the destination. As the poet has said:

"Shaayed 'Usay 'lshq Bhee Na Samjhe Jis Karb Me 'Aql Mubtilaa He"

(Perhaps even love cannot comprehend the anguish which intellect undergoes.)

Intellect must undergo anguish, for intellect is of little worth. It begins to pant after unrevealing seven vistas. Love is a destination by itself. Love is the excellence of man and this universe is a mere illusion for the lover. The lover is a universe unto himself. Love is the reality; it is the way, it is the destination; and it is the elixir of life and eternal. Intellect is the beginning; love is the ultimate. Intellect represents quantity; love represents quality. Love is quality; love is the culminating point. Intellect is doubt; love is certainty. In short, intellect is sometimes denial and sometimes affirmation; love is affirmation through and through. Intellect is a dream; love is its interpretation. Intellect is a mirage; love is a reality; (Intellect does not mean insolence, slander, accusation and abuse). Ask Hazrat Bayazeed Bistaami(May Al-Laah have mercy on him) about the station of love. It is said that "his soul flies in the world of souls for 70 thousand years and even then says that the limit of the excellence of the holy Prophet Mustafa (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) cannot be fathomed."

We the moderns recognise the Master of Madinah not through intellect but through love. Faith is love. Accusations and differences are the products of intellect. Love does not behave like this. Love is total obedience and assent. Love does not think; it sees the glory and the beauty of the beloved. It hears the command and obeys it. It is fascinated by every act of the beloved. It is part of its beloved's existence, its shadow, and its reflection.

Our Prophet (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) is the last Master sent to this earth by Almighty Al-Laah. He is the Prophet to men, to angels' to jinns,to houriesand to ghilmaan.He is the Prophet to mountains and to dales, to water and to earth. The True Creator sends Duroodand Salaamto him, swears by his locks and his face, calls obedience to him as obedience to Himself and allegiance to him as allegiance to Himself, his hand as His own hand and following him as following Himself, gives the good news of Paradise to his slaves and warns those who deny him with the tortures of Hell.

"Deoband to Bareilly" isthe narrative of the journey of darkness to light, of imperfect intellect to true love. This very essence of faith, this love of the Prophet (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) is the distinctive feature of the Bareilvis. They say:

"Me tuo Maalik Hee Kahoon Ga Keh Ho Maalik Ke Habeeb

Ya'nee Mahboob-o-Muhib Me Naheen Meraa Terra"

(I will go on calling you master, for you are the beloved of the Master.

Between the loved and the lover there is no question of shin and mine).

On the other hand, the way of Deoband is unbridled intellect. They say: "The sort of knowledge which is with the Prophet of Al-Laah (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) isalso with animals" (May Al-Laah protect us)

Comparison and competition is only for those who are concerned with intellect. The message of this dust form under the feet of the progeny of the Prophet is an invitation to love. The standard set by intellect itself does not tolerate equality between the ignoramus and the knowledgeable, so how can equality between the Prophet and his followers be accepted. The followers and the Prophet both are humans but this Prophet is such a human who is incomparable and uncompared. He is unique and singular than all others. Nobody is equal to him, nor can reach his station. The Creator Himself says about His Prophet: "He does not move his lips with his own volition. His lips move only when a revelation (wah 'y)from Me descends upon him". The Prophet (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) in his own truthful tongue himself says: "I am not like you (Lustu Misalakum)."

When the Qur'aan asks the holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) to declare "I am a man like you", it is meant to be a symbolic expression. If it were to mean equality in humanness then Prophethood also should be denied. For it is not given to every man to have all the qualities and characteristics and excellences so necessary for Divine revelations to descend on him, or for the conferment upon him of the status of Prophethood. This Qur’aanic passage may be interpreted by intellect in various ways, but, in truth, it should be interpreted only in this way: man should not, like the Christians do, take the Prophet of Al-Laah for Al-Laah Himself (after seeing him perform excellences and wondrous deeds). The Prophet has appeared in the garb of man; he is in no sense Al-Laah.

I ask these people of intellect that if they insist on equality with the Prophet then they should show even one glimpse of the human traits of the Mustafa.To claim equality with the holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam), to call the Prophet to be a mere man, is, to my mind rank insolence and infidelity. The Holy Qur'aan itself tells us that calling the Prophet a man like ourselves is the way of the infidels. No where in the Qur'aan and Hadeeth there is a command that the Prophet should be called a man like ourselves. In fact, it is said very clearly in the Qur'aan that we should never call the Prophet in the same way as we do one another.

I feel somewhat relieved of a heavy burden of debt, which I had been carrying me for a long time. But I have still to do much in this connection, for I do not know how many aspects have been left out. Take it as the first installment. The rest I will, Insha Al-Laah, do in stages.

I have tried to answer the votaries of intellect in their own language, in the language of arguments and proofs, of logic and ratiocination. As for myself, the answer to all questions lies in love and in love alone.

'Aql qurbaan kun ba peshe Mustafa (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam).

"(Discard intellect in your approach to Mustafa (Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam)."

But this is a matter of love, and those who can see only what is obvious cannot understand it.

The doors of this faqeerare open for all those who, on reading this book, find something, which has to be explained. Reference of every book and testimony for every reference has been given. These books are generally available. To slander or falsely accuse somebody is not the way of a Mu 'min.We all have to get to the meezaan(scales) one day. If you keep this in view, all your judgments will be on the basis of equity and justice. Otherwise can the destination of the grave be far away?

Kaukab-e-Noorani Ra Ahmad Shafee'

(May Muhammad Sallal Laahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam be the intercessor on behalf of

Kaukab Noorani Okarvi (Ghufira Lahu)