‘Wa-l-Naashetaate Nashta’
Today’s waaz mubarak was filled with divine nashaat, an energy that vitalized us all. The energy with which al-Dai al-Ajal Syedna Aali Qadr Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS empowers a Mumin has its source in the bukaa’ and maatam upon Imam Husain AS. This remarkable form of everlasting energy, despite being in the form of grief and lament, leads to temporal, spiritual and eternal happiness and contentment. Hence, over 50 years al-Dai al-Ajal Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA would repeatedly pray that ‘May Allah keep Mumineen happy and prosperous, and show them no grief but that of Imam Husain AS.
It was upon witnessing the rewards of this nashaat, that those who had not attained it questioned their Lord on the day of Qiyaamat. They watched as select individuals rode above them on khail bulq – horses with irregular patches of two colours. These horses emerged from a tree in Paradise and were adorned with opulent saddlery and reins. ‘Why have you given them such honour?’ they asked. The reply was that ‘during their lifetime they had ‘fasted while you had not, they woke in the middle of the night to pray, while you slept, they spent their wealth while you showed miserliness and they sacrificed themselves for Allah’s cause while you acted with cowardice’.
During Lailatul Qadr, Maulatona Fatema AS used to sprinkle water upon faces of children, so that they remained energetic and were not denied of its khair (good). Likewise, during their satr, Aimmat Tahereen AS, appointed such Duat Mutlaqeen that they continued to lead Mumineen towards all forms of khair. Expanding on Rasulullah’s AS hadeeth mubarak ‘There is no choice of horse better than a dohm, while there is no partner more appropriate than one’s paternal uncle’s daughter’, Maula TUS stated that dohm are horses that are black in colour, valued for their strength, they understand their rider’s temperament, comprehend their gestures and are quick to obey them. Aimmat Tahereen AS chose their Duat Mutlaqeen AS and these Duat Mutlaqeen carried Mumineen towards the best of both worlds. The actions of Duat Mutlaqeen have always been in accordance with the wishes of Aimmat Tahereen and will always continue to be. Duat Mutlaqeen are the Imam’s khail bulq, and if the rider is Imam Zaman AS, how can one even contemplate that a Dai would err or stumble. During our childhood we are taught the nasihat of Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin RA ‘My Maula is the Imam, and in his hands are my reins’. This verse and its fundamental concept is ingrained in us from an early age.
Maula TUS narrated how upon hearing the neighing of Rasulullah’s SA horse, Murtajiz, Jibraeel smiled. When asked why by Rasulullah SA, he replied ‘Why shouldn’t I smile, for the neighing of the horses of Muslimeen fill adversaries with fear and trepidation. Rasulullah’s horse was named Murtajiz because of its melodious neigh. For fifty years, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA, conveyed to us the neigh of Imam Husain’s AS horse, Zul Janah, by which Mumineen attained solace and contentment while adversaries shuddered.
Continuing with the zikr of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA, Syedna al-Dai al-Ajal TUS expounded upon the ayat shareefah ‘Wa al-Naashetaat Nashta’. Al-Dai al-Ajal Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA related this ayat mubarakah to Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA in 1365 H, while he was in Sidhpur and Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA was in Dohad for Ashara Mubarakah. Tafsir writers mention that this aayat refers to groups of firishta that draw out souls from bodies. Similarly, they mention that this ayat refers to horses that travel from one city to another in times of war. Amirul Mumineen SA stated that Naashetaat refers to lassos used to round up horses in order to train them. Maula stated how Syedna Burhanuddin RA used the lasso of mohabbat to draw Mumineen to him and then trained them according to the tenets of sharia. This lasso is not a restraint but is the snare of love.
Syedna al-Dai al-Ajal TUS stressed that the impact and results of efforts done with energy and enthusiasm is of a completely different outcome to those done without it. He directed Mumineen to make sure that they remain active throughout their life and in this regard proper diet and exercise is vital. In accordance with Rasulullah’s SA directive, Maula encouraged Mumineen to teach their children archery, swimming and riding. He added that prior to the Industrial Revolution, man’s daily routine provided him with the exercise he required. However, automation has changed our lifestyles, and now one must specifically take out time for exercise. He mentioned how consistent exercise has been shown to prevent illnesses and diseases even those such as cancer. These efforts are made so that when one’s death draws near he departs from this world in a state of nashaat and energy. For Amirul Mumineen AS counsels ‘You are he who when born was crying, while all those around him were filled with happiness and delight. Act for your soul, for on the day of your death, when all around are crying, you are filled with happiness and delight. It is for this reason that one should tend to his physical self and ensure that all his organs remain healthy. Rasulullah SA states that ‘I despise a person who is lazy and lethargic when it comes to worldly matters, for he will be more lazy and listless when it comes to matters pertaining to the Hereafter’. One way of maintaining energy is by consuming a proper breakfast. Acknowledged by nutritionists as the most important of the day, the Lisan al-Dawat word for it, nashtah also happens to be a take on the Arabic word nashaat. Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA stated that an early breakfast is like a nail for the solidity of the body. A proper breakfast aids in concentration, helps one’s metabolism and improves cardiac health. Maula added that an energetic wife is one who tends to her husband’s breakfast and other meals with enthusiasm.
Syedna al-Dai al-Ajal TUS also mentioned that one should make the most of the early period of the morning. This time prior to sunrise is one in which one should stay awake. When a learned person lies asleep during this period the ground beneath him cries out in protest. In practical terms the work one can accomplish during this time would take several hours at other times of the day.
Another form of becoming energised and energizing others is by the simple act of smiling. This cheerfulness is a prime trait of a Mumin. Maula narrated the incident between Nabi Eesa AS and Yahya Nabi AS. Nabi Eesa AS was always cheerful while Nabi Yahya AS was morose. Yahya Nabi AS asked Eesa Nabi AS ‘do you not fear Allah’s wrath?’, to which Eesaa Nabi AS countered ‘Do you not have faith in his mercy?’. Ultimately, since both were Allah’s nabi, He duly proclaimed that ‘The dearer of you two is the one who is cheerier.’ Similarly, when Maulana Ali AS, jumped from the roof of the Kaabah, he smiled after landing on the ground. Rasulullah AS saw this, and prayed ‘May Allah keep your face smiling’, alluding to the fact that his descendants Aimmat Tahereen and in their seclusion the Duat Mutlaqeen, would continue to energise Mumineen with their smile and acts. Such was the radiant and cheerful countenance of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA that even a glance of his countenance would rid Mumineen of all grief and sorrow. He would greet all who he came across with a smile. While traveling by air, after having taken his seat he would turn towards his fellow passengers and greet them all:
Syedna al-Dai al-Ajal TUS directed us to carry out all our activities with energy, be it namaaz or our trade or professions.
The Duat Mutlaqeen are the steeds of Imam al-Zaman AS. They inform Mumineen of the shahaadat of Imam Husain AS in the manner in which Husain Imam’s horse Zul Janah went to the tents of the Ahle Bait AS. His horse exhibited remarkable traits of understanding and loyalty: it knew where and when to stop on the 2nd of Moharrum, yet it was unstoppable on the day of Ashuraa’. It refused to even take a sip of water seeing that its rider was hungry and thirsty for three days. Maula repeatedly mentioned that ‘Imam Husain’s horse was no ordinary horse’, alluding to the misguidance of those who consider his Dai Mutlaq as an ordinary man. In line with this, Syedna al-Dai al-Ajal TUS revealed one of the many reasons behind Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA repeatedly narrating the Inshiqaaq al-Qamr miracle (Splitting of the Moon) which took place at the hands of Rasulullah SA: despite seeing it with their own eyes his adversaries defiantly denied that any occurrence had taken place and maintained it was just magic on a grand scale.
When Imam Husain AS was first presented with a selection of horses to choose from, he chose Zul Janah. The horse knelt on his fore legs so that Imam Husain AS could ascend. This same horse, on the day of Aashuraa’ understood that since Imam Husain AS had sheathed his sword that he now wished to descend for which he once again lowered his fore legs. Finally, he doused himself in the mubarak blood of Imam Husain AS and neighed as he returned to Imam’s camp to inform the Ahle Bait AS of the shahaadat. The Duat Mutlaqeen are conveying the sound of that neigh today. It energises us for themaatam and lament upon Imam Husain AS which ultimately grants us the joy of najaat (salvation).
Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS is Imam al-Zaman’s AS loyal and faithful steed who is carrying us in the direction of spiritual and material well-being, culminating in us reaching the khidmat of Imam al-Zaman AS. May Allah Ta´ala keep this radiant and smiling countenance amongst us until the Day of Qiyaamat and may every Mumin continue to derive eternal energy and enthusiasm from him.