Sadness and Rejoice: Farewell to Shehrullah & the Dawn of Eid

بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم

رَبَّنَا أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا وَآيَةً مِّنكَ ۖ وَارْزُقْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ

'O Allah our Lord! Send us from heaven a thaal set (with viands), that there may be for us – for the first and the last of us – a solemn festival and a sign from thee; and provide for our sustenance, for thou art the best Sustainer (of our needs).'

(Surat al-Ma’ida: 114)

This article was written by Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin in 2014.

In the doa for bidding farewell (wada’) to Shehrullah, Imam ‘Ali Zainul Aabideen SA personifies the holy month of Ramadan as a guest that had come to visit us and is now sadly departing; a guest like no other guest. In the doa the Imam prays salaam on the departing month, ‘assalaamu ‘alayk – farewell O month of Allah… assalaamu ‘alayk O best of times, O best of months, assalaamu ‘alayk – because of you our wishes are now within reach… assalaamu ‘alayk you gave us solace when you approached, and then left us wanting when you departed, assalaamu ‘alayk – in your company our hearts softened, our sins lessened, assalaamu ‘alayk – you helped us against the Shaytan, O friend who made easy the paths to good favor… assalaamu ‘alayk you approached us full of barakaat and washed away all our khatiyyaat (sins), assalaamu ‘alayk – you are anxiously awaited before you come and sadly missed even before you depart…’ It seems like just yesterday that we looked upon the month of Shehrullah like a small child looks up on a tall, steep, mountain to climb. It was a month in which we were reminded of our fundamentals beliefs and values.

We, mumineen, are fortunate that we have someone to help us and guide us, someone who shows us the path to reach the top of the mountain. In the saya of Syedna Qutbuddin TUS we have prayed, fasted, and cleansed our hearts and character. The daily droll of life that fogged our hearts was cleared and replaced with sincerity, peace, contentment, hope and connection. We say farewell again, to this month that has left us – again – better human beings, more connected to Allah Ta’ala and more connected to each other. Syedna’s wasila, doa and munajaat have reached all our souls, his vision has refocused our attention on aakherat and the afterlife, his faith in Allah Ta’ala has inspired us to stand tall and to look to every climb with enthusiasm and courage. Syedna’s peaceful piety and dedication to ‘ibaadat in the midst of a harrowing storm has set an example for all of us to try and follow. A selection of photos from Syedna’s Ibaadat in Shehrulalh have been posted on fatemidawat.com – inshaallah we also hope to post a selection of video excerpts from Syedna’s wasilas and his bayaan on the 19th of Ramadaan. It was also inspiring that in many distant towns and cities many mumineen gathered and prayed Imamat namaz with the raza and doa of Syedna Qutbuddin TUS. The gatherings were focused on ‘ibaadat, and those who congregated were bound together by sincerity and courage. We received messages from mumineen all over the world that their Shehrullah was incredibly fulfilling. May the valor and courage of those who lead namaaz with the raza of Haqq na Dai encourage and strengthen all those who believe in Syedna Qutbuddin TUS in their hearts. We praise and thank Allah Ta’ala – Alhamdolillah – that we completed the full thirty days of fasting in Ramadaan as directed by the Qur’an and explained to us by our hudaat. The Quran states, after you complete the specified number of fasts ”then say Allah-u-Akbar in thanks for the guidance that you received” (Surat al-Baqara: 185):

وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

Indeed it is for this reasons that Muslims all over the world say takbeera (Allah-u-Akbar) in Eid. Our hudaat have guided us that it is imperative to complete the 30 days because each day represents an Imam who we must acknowledge by our roza. In the first takbeer we say “Allah-o-Akbar, Allah-o-Akbar La ilaaha illa Allah” – proclaiming Allah Ta’ala’s Greatness and Oneness. In the second we repeat “Allah-o-Akbar Allah-o-Akbar” and say “wa lillahil hamd” – praise and gratitude is for Allah Ta’ala. In the third and final takbeera we say “Allah-o-Akbar ala ma hadaana”, offering gratitude for the hidaayat that we received to do roza and bandagi in this holiest of months. As daunting as the 30 days seemed at the beginning here we are at the dawn of Eid. The fortitude and forbearance through the long days of fasting and long nights of ‘ibaadat, are rewarded in the feeling of fulfillment and rejoice of Eid. As daunting as our times are now, as long as we persevere according to the guidance of our mawali kiraam and Dai-z-zamaan, and we are strong in conviction and devoted in prayer, the break of the dawn of Eid is not far away. Forbearance, Sabar, is rewarded always by Allah Ta’ala ‘bi ghayr hisaab’ – without any measure (Surat al-Zumar: 10):

إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ

May Allah Ta’ala reward us for our forbearance in the month of fasting and may He reward His Dai ‘without measure’ for His unmatched forbearance in these times of Sabar.