'A Maula has Passed, A Maula Remains' (Part 2)
16 April 2017
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
مولاكَ مضى ومولاك بقي
'A Maula has passed, A Maula remains.'
Imam Mu'iz Li-deenillah AS
This article was written by Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin in 2016.
Syedna al-Qadi al-Nu’man RA, the author of Da’aimul Islam and many other Dawat Kitaabs, served the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th Imams. He was especially close to Imam Mansur SA and Imam Moiz SA. In his insightful and inspirational kitaab al-Majalis wal-musa’iraat, Syedna al-Qadi al-Nu’man reflects on his years in service of the Imams and narrates his strong feelings following the wafaat of Mansur Imam SA. The following is a paraphrase of al-Qadi al-Nu’man’s narration:
"When Mansur Imam was inflicted with his final illness, I was overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. Moiz Imam was my approach to Mansur Imam in his lifetime and I relied on him in all matters. Whenever I met Moiz Imam I enquired about Mansur Imam, he would reassure and comfort me. One day Moiz Imam sought permission for me to enter Mansur Imam’s hazrat with a number of Mumineen. When I entered the room I realized the illness was severe and the weakness was bearing down on the Imam. My heart melted. I continued to meet Moiz Imam and enquire about Mansur Imam and he kept reassuring and comforting me but the anguish on his face could not be hidden. The anguish had altered his beaming and radiant face. Day after day I saw the anguish multiply in Moiz Imam’s face. So much so that my fear and anxiety for Mansur Imam was now surpassed by my fear and anxiety for Moiz Imam.
On the day of Mansur Imam’s wafaat, I met Moiz Imam but I did not know about Mansur Imam’s wafaat. When I saw that Moiz Imam’s face was normal and was as I used to see it before Mansur Imam’s illness started to weigh on him, I rejoiced assuming that Mansur Imam’s health had improved and happily enquired about him. Moiz Imam replied, “Nu’man, if this sun, this moon, these stars, this sky, this earth and these mountains are transient and evanescent/fleeting, then what do you expect for human beings? As Allah Ta’ala has said, ‘each and every soul will taste death’ (Surat Aale-Imran: 185). ‘All that exists will perish save His wajeh’ (Surat al-Qasas: 88). I realized that Moiz Imam was informing me of Mansur Imam’s wafaat and I nearly collapsed on the floor. I saw people were around me and regained my composure. I left with a choking sorrow and with tears flowing from my eyes until I came to a place of solitude I was alone and wept uncontrollably. I remained like this for days, and whenever my heart was heavy, my fortitude failed and went to that place of solitude to weep.
The news of Mansur Imam’s wafaat then became known. Day after day I saw that Moiz Imam was resolute in sabar and appeared stronger. I knew very well how close Moiz Imam was to Mansur Imam and for that I was extremely anxious for Moiz Imam’s wellbeing after Mansur Imam’s wafaat. I realized that Moiz Imam’s fortitude and steadfastness was due to the strength of the Imamate that had now passed to him. I, however, could not control my grief and sadness. Moiz Imam’s sabar and his fortitude eased some of my pain.
I think Moiz Imam must have seen my state of inconsolable sadness and sorrow. One day he sent me a note in his own blessed handwriting: “Nu’man, seek refuge in sabar and solace. Your Maula has passed and your Maula remains. You will find in me what you found in him. I was your path to him and your path to me will remain clear inshaallah. Rest assured and be comforted and anticipate all good from and find solace in what you seek from us.
As I struggled with grief, with the strength of Allah’s ta’yeed Moiz Imam consoled me."
After the wafaat of the 51st Dai Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA, Syedna Khuzaima Qutbuddin RA was in the khidmat of the 52nd Dai Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA day and night. During that time of overwhelming grief, Syedna Qutbuddin did araz to Syedna Burhanuddin these words of Imam Moiz “your Maula has passed, your Maula remains” (maulaka mada wa maulaka baqi).
Following the wafaat of Syedna Burhanuddin just a short two years ago, we sought refuge from our grief in sabar and sought strength from Syedna Qutbuddin. We remembered these words “your Maula has passed, your Maula remains.”
Barely having come to terms with the wafaat of Syedna Burhanuddin, today we face the reality of Syedna Qutbuddin’s wafaat. The grief is insurmountable. Syedna Qutbuddin’s memories and presence will remain with us till our last breath. Syedna Taher Fakhruddin’s TUS fortitude and steadfastnessare due to the strength of the Daiship that has now passed to him. Our sorrow is inconsolable. But in this heartbreaking time, we seek refuge in Syedna Qutbuddin’s successor and say “our Maula has passed, our Maula remains.”
May Allah Ta’ala raise Syedna Qutbuddin’s ruh Mubarak in the highest echelons of Jannat. May he continue to bestow us with his nazaraat from the ruhani hazrat of Imamuz-zaman SA. May his life continue to inspire us to follow his example with resolve and fortitude.
May Allah Ta’ala keep Syedna Fakhruddin in his hifazat till the end of days. May we draw strength for sabar from his Imami strength. May we continue to see in him Maulana Qutbuddin’s noor and suroor.
May we find solace in what Moiz Imam advised Syedna al-Qadi al-Nu’man on another occasion after Mansur Imam’s wafaat, “even if the physical (jismani) hallowed person is no longer in front of our eyes and has risen to Allah Ta’ala’s remhat, the spiritual (ruhani) essence continues without interruption.”
