Reverence To The Holy Prophet

Q. A person asked a question that according to a tradition of the Holy Prophet, a Saint does not die. He is only transferred from one abode to another. Whereas according to the Holy Quran all living beings have to have the taste of death. Is it not a contradiction between the Quran and the tradition of the Holy Prophet?

 

A. The word `Nafas' is derived from `Nafsaniat' which means carnality or carnal desires. When a person is separated from carnal desires, he is said to have died. A mystic attains his status (saintliness) after denying to himself all the carnal desires. Thus the tradition corroborates the Quran and does not contradicted it. Whosoever has carnal desires shall taste death, but whoever subdues these carnal desires only undergoes a change. Now look at a martyr's life. He is content to have a firm belief in the teachings of the Holy Prophet, then he fights the war following the injunctions of the Prophet and sacrifices his life in the way of God. He would not have gone to war if he did not have complete faith in the teachings of the Holy Prophet. Thus God has enjoined upon these people to give up worldly pursuits. The Quran says:

"God has enjoined upon the believers to change the course of their pursuits that is that earlier their attention was engaged by worldly pursuits but now they should turn their attention towards `God".

All these injunctions are meant only for the humble slave of the Holy Prophet, while the status of the Prophet himself is higher than that of all the other Prophets. How could we use the word death for him or believe that the angel Israel came to him? If we use the word death for a martyr, we become infidels. How can we claim to remain Muslims after using this word for the Holy Prophet.

The Holy Prophet said, "O companions! there will come a time when people will recite the 'Kalima' but they will all be pretenders to Islam". The companions asked, "How come, “O Prophet of God?” The Holy Prophet answered: “They will recite the 'Kalima, offer prayers, but they will suffer from the following four bad habits, i.e.

  1. Lying
  2. Violation of trust
  3. Going back on their word
  4. Using foul language whether in anger or jest.

These four habits turn a person into a hypocrite.” The injunction of the Holy Prophet is true. Anyone suffering from one of the aforesaid habits is a hypocrite or a dissembler and not a believer.

When a person is not a true believer, how can be expected to show proper respect towards the Holy Prophet?  All the mystics/saints are true believers and they understand and show proper respect for the Holy Prophet. Until a person becomes a true believer, he will not be able to understand the respect due to the Holy Prophet.

When a person recites the ‘Kalima’ he becomes a Muslim but not a “Momin” or a believer. To become a true believer, a person has to abstain from the four evils mentioned above. After abstaining from these for evils, he attains piety. After he has become pious, the Quran itself addresses him. The Quran is a book in the form of an address, as if it speaks. It says

(I show the path of righteousness to the pious.
Come! And I’ll show you the path of righteousness)

But a person who is not pious is likely to misinterpret the Quran when he studies it. The Quran enjoins:

(A lot of people (who are not pious) will be led astray by this Quran, and many others (who are pious) will be shown the path of righteousness by this very Quran)

A man attains piety only after quitting the four sins mentioned above and the Quran provides guidance only to the pious. A person becomes a ‘Momin’ or a true believer only after he has found the path of righteousness. It is only after a person has become a ‘Momin’ or a true believer, that he attains an awareness or relocation of the real status of the Holy Prophet. Ultimate salvation lies in attaining an awareness of the status of the Holy Prophet.

In fact many different translations of the text of the Quran in circulation in the world are leading to the creation of many sects. Briefly sectarianism is the result of different translations of the text. The only authentic translation of the Quran is the one by the mystics. The other translations are not correct. The Holy Quran is only one and is true, but there is veneration for it these days.

Prayers are offered without covering the head. What kind of prayers are these? Offering of prayers is a tradition of the Holy Prophet. Did the Holy Prophet ever offer prayers without a headgear (God forbid)? No, not at all. So, offering of prayers with the head uncovered is not in accordance with the tradition of the Holy Prophet; rather it amounts to a challenge to the Holy Prophet that while he never offered prayers without a headgear, but we have done so. How then could we claim to be his followers? Such conduct amounts to a show of gross disrespect.

It is surprising that a person can spend thousands of rupees on his dress, but he can not spare say, ten rupees to buy a piece of cloth to cover his head. Such conduct amounts to making a mockery of the Sharia (teachings) of the Prophet of God. Such prayers are no prayers at all.
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    Published by:

    A Humble Servant of the lovers of the Messenger of Allah, Makhdoomzada, Syed Mohammad Amir Qasim Shah

    Translated from Urdu to English By:

    Mr. Abdul Qayum, Chief Interpreter, Mr. Jahanzeb Shah, Interpreter, National Assembly Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan.