Day: January 29, 2023

Mathematical Problems

1. The Equal Division of Seventeen Camels Without Friction Three persons had a dispute about the division of seventeen camels. The ratio of their share was 1/2, 1/3 & 1/9 and they could not divide the figure of seventeen proportionately without friction.

Finding no way out they wanted to cut one camel into pieces for the purpose of the correct division, but before acting upon this last alternative, they took their problem to Hazrat Ali (A), for they were sure it was he who was capable of solving their problem.

Hearing their problem Hazrat Ali (A) asked them if it was agreeable to them to add one of his own camels to their seventeen camels and make the total eighteen. As they agreed to it, he gave half of the total number of the camels i.e., nine to the first man (1/2 of the total), and six to the second man making 1/3 of the total, and two camels to the third man which is 1/9 of the total. Thus all the three men got the camels divided according to respective shares, the total amounting to seventeen only. Thereafter he took back his own camel. Thus he solved the problem of dividing the seventeen camels proportionately according to their respective shares to their satisfaction and displeasing none of them and without cutting one of the camels into pieces. (Nasikhut Tawarikh vol. 3, p. 757).

2. The Problem of Eight Breads

Two persons while travelling on a road sat under the shade of a tree for lunch. One of them took out of his big five breads and the other took out three breads out of his bag and put them near the five breads of his companion making the total number of the breads to eight. They had not yet started eating when a third person happened to pass by them.

Invited by the first two, the third man also sat with them and shared their lunch and while departing after meal, he gave them eight Dirhams against the share of the food he had taken with them.

After he had gone, the first two travellers started quarrelling about their portions in the eight Dirhams. One of them who had five breads claimed to have five Dirhams reasoning

that it was his due, but his companion who had three breads did not agree to such a division also reasoning that the stranger who had shared their food had not given them the eight Dirhams to them to share proportionately according to the number of breads they had. Moreover, he argued that the share of the stranger was equal to each of their own. Therefore, he claimed that what the stranger had given them had to be divided equally. Finally they decided to approach Hazrat Ali (A) for a decision between the two. Having heard the case Hazrat Ali (A) first advised them for a compromise and when they did not agree, particularly the one who had three breads, he solved the problem as under:

He said to the one who had three breads and had taken the case to him with the claim that half of the eight Dirhams, i.e., Four Dirhams was his due share:”If you want a righteous decision in the case you should have only one Dirham which is your due actually. When requested to explain he enlightened him as follows:

He asked him; “Had you not had only three breads and your companion five of them?” When he replied in the affirmative he said; “The total of the breads you both had i.e., eight divided into three bits comes to twenty four. And as you say the stranger shared your food equally he should have eaten eight bits, i.e., only one of the nine bits of your breads, seven of them eaten from other’s, that is why you should have only one Dirham for only one bit of the eight bits of breads which the stranger ate.

Feeling uneasy at the above decision of Hazrat Ali (A) the claimant who had taken the case to him agreed to the compromise he had advised for and to the offer of three Dirhams made by his companion. (Zakhaerul Uqba, p. 84, also Kafi)

INCIDENT AT THE HOUSE OF HAFIZ RAMZAN

Whilst once returning from the tour of Satrakh as usual according to his old custom Sarkar waris resided in the house of Hafiz Ramzani. Ramzani Saheb looking sorrowful and restless, expressed with great respect and humility that they has not eaten anything from morning as they had not a single pie for expenditure, He felt acutely sorrowful and helpless as he was unable to serve our Saint Sarkar Waris con soled and advised him to be patient saying, ‘Ever since my younger days I am accustomed to starve. When God our cherisher sends us food we will eat. Have you not heard that the exquisite dish in Divine Larder is starvation? God bestows his choice dish on those who submit to his will. Perform two sets of thanks giving prayer (one set of prayer standing on genu flexion and prostration. “The style of reading is in the first set (rakat) read the chapter(Surah) “wad-u-ha” and in the second set the chapter “Alamnashraha”. After the completion of Namaz in the posture of prostration recite for seventy times “Hasbunallaha wa-Neimal Vakil Neimul Maula wa-Neiman-Naseer.” Your name will be included in the list of God’s friends.

Whilst Haji Saheb was busy in performing prayer news came that Raja Sarandeep Singh had celebrated the Holy Prophet’s Nativity. Munshi Ghulam Dastagir Saheb has sent the food. Hafiz Saheb placed all the dishes before our Saint and insisted that he should eat it first but our Saint requested him as it was not against table etiquette that Hafiz Saheb should eat first. Later Hafiz Saheb declared that from that day onwards due to Divine favour he never starved and in some way or they other food was always available.

There are many instances of our Saint’s trust in God which portray the grand and dignified example of his reliance on Divine favour. He has repeated many a time that God is a true creator and an absolute sustainer.

The commandment of our saint is “be patient even if you are starving. God is all knowing omniscient. He also said, to whoever it is destined you will surely get it, whoever trusts God He surely helps him.

Man however far he may be from his house is always anxious, thinks of his wife and sends the amount earned by his labour. But one who is as near to you as your jugular vain would He not think of you like a husband worries about his wife?

Trust in God is all prophets tradition. Make God your counsel.

God is responsible for your food.

Trust in God is opposite of avarice.

Trust in God is a symptom of modesty, The sense of the moral conclusion of our Saint is his sterling qualities of trust in God as a superfine quality. The miracle of trust in God of our Saintits rays of light on others, makes them his votaries gifted with this quality, which becomes inherent in them.

THE REVERENT OF THE PAST PROPHETS

Prophet Muhammad was the descendant of Prophet Abraham. It was said that he resembled his grandfather Prophet Abraham in appearance. Through the Qur’an, he taught his followers to respect all the past Prophets, such as Prophets Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, and made belief in their Prophethood an essential tenant of faith without which a person cannot be declared a Muslim. He taught his followers not to create any disparity between him and the other Prophets as they were all sent by God.¹

I Set forth by al-Bukhārī in al-Ṣaḥīḥ, 6:2534 $6518. Muslim in alṢaḥīḥ, 4:1845 S2374.

मुफ्ती – ए-अल्लामा सैयद मुहम्मद रियासत अली कादरी ( बानी इदारा

तहकीकात इमाम अहमद रज़ा) लिखते हैं: एक दफा का वाकिआ है कि उर्स रिज़वी के मौके पर एक गरीब सैयद साहब जो अभी जवान थे और दीवानों जैसी बातें करते थे तशरीफ ले आए और कहा, मुझे पहले खाना दो मुंतज़मीन ने कहा कि अभी नहीं इतनी देर में सैयद साहब आलम दीवांगी में हज़रत मुफ्ती आज़म हिंद की खिदमत में जाने लगे उलमा ने उनको रोका मगर किसी न किसी तरह वह मुफ्ती आज़म हिंद की ख़िदमत में हाज़िर हो गए और फरमाया देखिए हज़रत यह लोग मुझे खाना नहीं देते, मैं भूखा हूँ और सैयद भी हूँ। यह सुनना था कि हुज़ूर मुफ्ती आज़म हिंद खड़े हो गए और इन सैयद साहब का हाथ पकड़ कर अपने पास तख़्त पर बिठाया डिबडिबाई आंखों से फरमाया कि हुज़ूर सैयद साहब पहले आप ही को खाना मिलेगा यह सब आप ही का है वह सैयद साहब बहुत खुश हुए और हज़रत मुफ्ती आज़म हिंद ने जनाब साजिद अली ख़ाँ साहब को बुला कर फौरन हिदायत फरमाई कि सैयद साहब को ले जाइए और उनकी मौजूदगी में फातिहा दिलवाइए और सबसे पहले खाना उनको दीजिए तबर्रुक फरमा लें तो सब को खिलाइए अब क्या था साहब अकड़े हुए निकले और कहा देखा मुझे पहचानने वाले पहचानते हैं।

हुज़ूर मुफ्ती आज़म हिंद को जब यह मालूम होता कि उनके घर में कोई सैयद आया है तो बहुत खुश होते…. मैं ( सैयद मुहम्मद रियासत अली कादरी) अपने बरेली के कृयाम के दौरान जब भी आपका नियाज़ हासिल करने गया तो आपने मुझे कभी अपने पाईंती बैठने नहीं दिया बल्कि अपने पास बिठाते और मेरे बड़े साहबजादे सैयद मुहम्मद उवैस अली को अपने पास बुला कर बहुत ही प्यार फरमाते थे। (इमाम अहमद रज़ा और अहतरामे सादात)