In the plant kingdom, the date tree is in a league of its own. Its roots hold steady even in the most muddied soil. It bears fruit not just when there is plenty, but even when the land is parched and bereft of water. Whereas other trees may survive when their tops are cropped, the date tree, similar to humans, cannot.
Similarly, the ruby is a gemstone which is set apart from its fellow minerals and stones. When smelted in a furnace, others disintegrate or fall apart, but a ruby’s lustre only becomes more radiant.
There is something unique to both the date tree and the ruby. They both rise above their peers through distinct and unique qualities. Mufaddal Moula spoke of each being the example to which others in their classification aspire to.
We all start our lives as children who imitate and try to mimic the ways of our elders. We educate ourselves through learning through the example set by others. It’s only natural. In fact, every animal and plant mimics and imitates its predecessor. Our genetic code is encoded with the information of the past. We cannot help but follow.
Therein lies the challenge. Who or what do we follow? Mufaddal Moula, elucidated this simple yet crucial aspect of living today when he spoke of ‘uswat hasana’, a paragon of excellence, a perfect example whose existence and consequent submission to is the bedrock of our faith.
Allah has spoken of Ibrahim and Rasulullah being the best examples of those who should be followed. There are three conditions by which emulating and following holds any substance. Firstly, total and complete trust is required. Secondly, a mumin should submit control of every aspect of his life to Moula and finally, in every instance he should look toward Moula. Only if these conditions hold can a mumin be said to have made Moula the paragon of excellence by which he lives his life.
Mufaddal Moula spoke of Moulana Ali. Having been born only forty days earlier, he was suffering from conjunctivitis. As a last resort, his uncles took him to a Christian monk who resided in a monastery with his fellow monks. The tale is a long one, but towards the end, the monk said “Take him away, for only he can heal himself.” As he said that, the infant Ali, rubbed his eyes with his own fingers and in an instant had healed himself. Then Mufaddal Moula spoke of what happened during the fall of the fortress of Khaybar. Rasulullah was informed that Ali was suffering from conjunctivitis. This time though, Ali went to Rasulullah and as he did so, Rasulullah, after wetting his fingers in his own mouth, applied them on Ali’s eyes.
As with every action of Moulana Ali, this act too was not devoid of symbolism. Ali showed the world that in following Rasululllah and doing so in the right manner, there is nothing but benefit to be gained.
When Jabir was fortunate enough to reach Madina in order to do Rasulullah’s ziyarat, he travelled from Kufa in Iraq to Arabia almost instantaneously. Moulana Ali showed the way through light which beamed from his finger. When conveying his experience, Jabir said that “When Moulana Ali asked me if I wished to do Rasulullah’s ziyarat, I did not doubt him for a moment.” This is Ali! There could be no room for doubt.
In analysing this riwayat, Mufaddal Moula explained with both affection and firmness, that when following Moula’s firmaan, one must do so wholeheartedly. You cannot be of two minds. If you sport a beard, then do so with “confidence”. If you wear a rida, do so with “confidence”. If you grudgingly implement practices espoused by Moula and are constantly questioning the validity and feasibility of it, then there is no point. He could not have been clearer. He said that if you wear a rida but then concern yourself with what people will say or how they will look at you or that they will point fingers at you, then there is nothing to be gained. Instead if you take upon yourself to do what Moula wishes, then you will see nothing but the light.
It’s all or nothing. There is no grey area. We have to give ourselves wholly to Moula. We need to stand firm and tall, with our roots firmly embedded in the wishes of Moula and we need to remain strong, just like the ruby, for our value, our self worth, can only grow even when faced with the most dire criticisms and consequences.
Mufaddal Moula recited the Shahadat of Ali Akber. Mumineen wept inconsolably as Mufaddal Moula spoke of Ali Akber’s tears as he embraced his six month old brother and told him he would never see his elder brother again. As Ali Akber went into the battlefield, thirst overcame him but never, not once did he seek water from the enemy. They even offered him water, but Ali Akber, the grandson of Moulana Ali, did not take a sip of water, for he knew, “Moulaj paani aapse” – only Hussain could give water. Ali Akber could have taken water from anyone, but he didn’t. Hussain gave Ali Akber what he wanted and more.
When Mufaddal Moula said that only Hussain could give Ali Akber water, it wasn’t that no one else had water. However, as far as Ali Akber was concerned all the water that the Yazidis offered was nothing but dust. Furthermore, we clearly know that Hussain did not give water to Ali Akber but that did not prevent him from quenching the thirst of Ali Akber. Ali Akber knew what he should want and that it could only be given by Hussain. Hussain gave him the ring of Rasulullah and his own parched tongue. Ali Akber’s thirst was quenched. If only we had the cognitive faculty to comprehend the significance of this single act.
If we think about it, for a mumin, the only water there is - or in other words - the only thing worth striving for, is that which Moula gives. Everything else is worthless. Mufaddal Moula is redefining our preconceived notions of everything in our life. One could expand endlessly, but one example which Moula gave was that of education. Knowledge is only knowledge if attained with Raza and Dua of Moula. It may appear as knowledge, but knowledge ceases to be knowledge if acquired through other means, means which are antithetical to the ways of Moula. If we follow him, we will see the light.
The matam and buka of a mumin is replete with meaning and substance. When we do matam, it is not just an expression of grief. Someone taught us, showed us, how to do matam. Others may slash themselves with blades or don black garbs, but mumineen emulate the one Moula they know they should emulate. We do matam and buka as how Moula shows us. Any other form of zikr or gham of Hussain is just not matam or buka. Remember Moula, hear Moula, see Moula and with every breath and every movement, follow him. His only wish is that we not only become like him, but become him.
Dua ni araz
Abde Syedna wa Mansoosehi TUS
Adnan Abidali
Jamea Nairobi
Disclaimer: The reflections noted here are purely my own. I am fully accountable and responsible for any and all inaccuracies with references to Mufaddal Moula’s waaz Mubarak and humbly seek his and Aqa Moula’s maghferat for any such shortcomings.
