Our Imams and Dua’t - Exemplars Of Virtue, Piety, Prayer, Self-Restraint, And Selflessness

'You have indeed in the Rasulullah a great exemplar.'

(Surat al-Ahzab: Ayat 21)

This article was written by Mazoon-ud-Da'watil-Gharra' Syedi Dr. Abdeali Bhaissaheb Saifuddin AAB in 2017.

Shehre Ramadaan is a month of prayer, piety, selflessness, and self-restraint. Imam Ali Zainul Abedeen says in his doa that it is “a month of fasting, a month of Islam, a month of purity, a month of purification, a month of prayer.” Our Awliya Kiraam have always been our muqtada and our exemplars in this aspect and in all aspects. Rasulullah SA prayed at night until his feet complained to the Almighty and asked Him for relief. Amirul Mumineen SA spent all his considerable wealth to provide food for the entire city of Kufa.

This highest level of virtue, piety, prayer, selflessness and self-restraint is found in our Awliyaullah. It is therefore the paramount duty of each Imam, and in the satr (seclusion) of the Imam, each Dai, to prepare, select and appoint a successor like himself to carry forward the mission at this highest level; to ensure that Dawat continues, and that the ‘ilm of Aal-e-Mohammed is carried forward to the next generation. It is through this ‘ilm by which the knowledge of how to live a life of prayer, piety, selflessness, self-restraint and virtue are perpetuated. The true Dai will always perpetuate and be an exemplar for the highest level of virtue, piety, selflessness, self-restraint and prayer.

In the history of Dawat, whenever Imams and Dais have wielded political power and wealth, such as Rasulullah and the Fatemi Imams, it has always been for the perpetuation of Dawat and the welfare and well-being of Mumineen. Subversions and fitnat have always happened because of those who wished to usurp and wrongfully take over the leadership of Dawat to fulfil their ambitions of worldly power and wealth. These worldly ambitions drove the fitnat after the wafaat of Rasulullah SA, when Dajjal rose against Mansur Imam SA, when Sulayman made his false claim against Syedna Dawood bin Qutubshah RA, and many other fitnats that have occurred in the history of Dawat.

And it also holds true today, as usurpers attempt to control Mumineen through persecution, intimidation, and a stranglehold on their lives. There is no virtue, piety, prayer, selflessness, or self-restraint to be seen. In fact, there is no humanity, as demonstrated by their celebration of the death of Syedna Burhanuddin’s Mazoon with firecrackers and effigies. There is only a lust for more power and more wealth. Far from perpetuating Dawat, there is a dishonoring and violation of its fundamental principles. Far from the welfare and well-being of Mumineen, there is more and more extortion and persecution.

The 53rd Dai al-Mutlaq Syedna Khuzaima Qutbuddin RA was unchallenged in ‘ilm, an unequalled paragon of virtue, piety, self-restraint, selflessness, and above all, prayer. He spent more than 50 years serving as Mazoon of Syedna Burhanuddin RA, in the face of attack and opposition from the family of Syedna Burhanuddin RA themselves. In his tireless and ceaseless efforts for Mumineen’s well-being and welfare he gave them his time, his doa, and his wealth.

Syedna Qutbuddin’s successor, the 54th Dai al-Mutlaq, Syedna Taher Fakhruddin TUS, is the mirror image of his father. In ‘ilm, virtue, piety, prayer, selflessness, and self-restraint, he exemplifies Syedna Qutbuddin RA; he is his true janasheen and waris in all aspects, much like Syedna Qutbuddin RA was a true janasheen and waris of Syedna Burhanuddin RA. It is apparent to Mumineen when they hear his bayaan, when they see him, when they see and follow his guidance, and when they benefit from his benevolence.

May Allah Ta’ala give longest life till Qiyamat to our Dai our Maula Syedna Taher Fakhruddin TUS and may He give all Mumineen the strength, conviction, courage, and clarity of purpose, to follow the example of our Awliya Kiraam: Rasulullah SA, Amirul-Mumineen SA, the Imams and the Dais, especially the Dai of our times, Syedna Taher Fakhruddin. May He give us all the strength to try our utmost to be virtuous, pious, selfless, and self-restrained, and above all always pray to Allah Ta’ala with pure-intent (ikhlaas), especially in this mubarak month of Ramadaan.