Month: June 2023

THE EVENT OF BROTHERHOOD-MUWAQAAT

After migrating to madina the Mohajareen (the Migrants) and the Ansars (The Local Helpers) became so friendly with one another as if there was no difference of the tribe or the place of origin between them. It appeared that all of them belonged to one large family. They treated their properties as common, their honor and respect as common, and shared their happiness and sorrows together. This was a true example of unity and integrity. To make these bonds stronger, the Prophet (s.a.) repeated the establishment of brotherhood between individuals of the two groups as he had done with the persons at Makka. This created closer bonds between individuals and they forgot the differenc of origin and the tribal affiliations..

In the view of experts, brotherhood can be strong only between individuals of the same nature. If the natures are different, and the individuals come together for whatever reason, the togetherness will be temporary. The Prophet (s.a.) kept this factor in mind when he established brotherhood between individuals from the two groups. He closely studied the natures of the individuals before declaring them brothers. When he saw that any two persons had a lot in common, he named them brothers. Therefore in Makka, Abu Bakr and Omar were named brothers, Othman and Abd ar Rehman ibne Auf, Talha and Zubair ibne Awam were made brothers. Their brotherhood is evident from the events of the Khilafat, Shura and the battle of Jamal! Similarly in Madina keeping in mind the natures of the individuals Hazrat Abu Bakr was created the brother of Kharija ibne Zaid, Hazrat Omar of Otban ibne Malik, Hazrat Othman of Aus ibne Thabit, Abu Ubaida of Saad ibne Ma-aaz, Abd ar Rehman ibne Auf of Saad ibne Rubiah, Zubair of Salama ibne Salama, Talha of Kaab ibne Malik, Ammar ibne Yassir of Qais ibne Thabit, Salman Farsi the brotherof Abul Darda. Thus whoever appeared of a similar nature to that of another person, they were declared brothers. It was also borne in the mind that the two persons were of the same level of capability and intelligence. On this occasion the Prophet (s.a.) named about forty five or fifty Mihajirs and an equal number of Ansars as brothers.and tied them in the bonds of brotherhood. But he didn’t find any one who could be declared a brother to Ali (a.s.). Perhaps it wasn’t possible too, because at the Feast of Ashira, It was already declared that Ali (a.s.) was the brother of the Prophet (s.a.). But to renew the bond, in Madina too, the Prophet (s.a.) declared Ali (a.s.) his brother! Therefore Ibne Abdal Bar writes:

“Once the prophet (s.a.) established brotherhood between the Mohajirs, and at another time between the Mohajirs and the Ansars. On both these occasions he told Ali (a.s.) he was his brother in this world and in the Hereafter!”

Ref: Isteaab, Vol 2, Page 273

This brotherhood doesn’t mean the common Islamic brotherhood that, according to the Verse, “Innamal momenoon aquwat – the Muslims are all brothers”, all the believers are brothers to each other. But this brotherhood is of a higher level and and a reflection of nearness and attachment between the two persons. If this was the common bond of friendship, then Ali (a.s) already enjoyed it because of being a Muslim and of the same descent as the Prophet (s.a.).Then what was the need of public declaration of their brotherhood? Then there was no reason that when he was not included in the roster of brotherhood at the beginning for him to complain about it! When the Prophet (s.a.) created the companions as brothers and didn’t mention Ali (a.s.) at that time, he approached the Prophet (s.a.) with tears in his eyes and said, “O Prophet (s.a.)! You have named the Mohajirs and Ansars as brothers, but you didn’t think me deserving of this honor!” The Prophet (s.a.) embraced Ali (a.s.) and said:

“Oali (a.s.)! You are my brother

In this world and

In the Hereafter.”

Ref: Tirmizi, Vol 2, Page 143

This brotherhood not only brightened the ancestral brotherhood between the two, but also proved the superiority of Ali (a.s.) over the mohajirs and Ansars. It also highlighted the similarity between the superior character and nature of Hazrat Ali (a.s.) as that of the Prophet (s.a.). When Ali (a.s.) has been declared by the Prophet (s.a.) as his brother, it proved that he was the only person amongst the Muslims deserving of that position! This choice is not because of the ancestral affinity but it is on the basis of identical qualities of the two persons. Hazrat Ali therefore considered this brotherhood with the Prophet (s.a.) as a great privilege and when he was holding the reins of government, he once went up the pulpit and said:

“I am Allah’s creature and

The brother of

His Prophet (s.a.)”

Ref: Tareeq Abul Fida, Vol 1, Page 127

Habits and Uniqueness

He was a real devotee, wise and, had a keen foresight. He used to pass the whole night in the prayer of Allah. He had very good control over anger (for this, he was known as Kazim-one who drinks out his anger). He used to find out the needy people in Medina and send them money during nights. The beneficiaries never came to know where from the money used to come. Whenever any needy person came to him, before his speaking a word, he used to give him money. He was so humble and polite that he would offer his good wishes to the person before the person greeted him. If he came to know that the person who came in front of him had come with an intention to hurt him, he would help him and give him money.

(Masa’alik-ul-Sa’alikin)

Hazrat Shafiq Balkhi’s Narration

Let us quote a description of a high-grade seer about Hazrat Imam Musa Kazim’s unique virtues like worship, submission, oneness and purity of heart. Hazrat Shafiq Balkhi says, “While going to have a holy visit to Harmain Taiyyebin during Hijri 149, I halted at Qadisiya. I was observing the habits and way of life of the people there. My eyes touched a handsome young man. He had a white sack-cloth covering his dress. He was shoed and, was sitting a little away from the people. I thought he must be from the group of seers, Sufls. I thought he did not want to obstruct the people’s activities. Oh my Allah! I thought I would pursue him. I went to him with this thought. When he saw me going towards him, he said, ‘O’ Shafique!’ And he went away. I was wonderstruck that he took my nameand told me what was there in my heart. (He never knew me). Thinking that he must be a real seer, I thought to follow him and tell him, beg him to pray for my forgiveness. I hurriedly followed him, but, he disappeared from my vision. Even after many efforts, I could not find him. After that, when we were offering our prayer in the valley of Fiza, I saw him praying. His eyes were full of tears, and the whole body was trembling. I again went to him with a view to requesting him for my forgiveness. At that very moment, he completed his prayer, turned to me and told me, ‘O’ Shafique

Translation: “Undoubtedly, I am the forgiver for one who begs from the bottom of heart, who has faith in Oneness of Allah, the Almighty, who does

good deeds and avoids the forbidden means and ways.” “He recited this verse and went away from there. I thought him to be an Abdal (One of the stages of seer’s path-Sufi Manzil). He declared the thought of my mind, twice. When we reached Mina, I saw him standing there with a glass in his hand. He wanted some water. All of a sudden, the glass was fallen in the well. He stared towards the sky and recited this verse, ‘O’ Allah, you only are my sustainer. You do give me water when I am thirsty and food when hungry. You know, I have nothing more than this glass of water. Please do not deprive me of it.’ I swear by Allah! I saw that the water of the well came up to his toe, he extended his hand and took a glass of water from it. He performed ablution and offered four Raka’at prayers. Then, he filled the glass with the dust, stirred and started drinking. I went to him and offered greetings. He responded. I said, ‘Can you please give me something from the blessings of Allah, the Almighty if left’? He said, ‘O’ Shafiq, Allah has always been kind and blissful towards us openly and internally. You maintain good faith in Him. He gifted me the glass and went away. I tasted it. By Allah! It was as delicious as nectar, fragrant and sweet gram-flour liquid. I had never tasted such a sweet food throughout my life. I totally quenched my thirst with it and got absolutely contented. Due to its divine richness, for many days after that, neither I was hungry U Mukarrama. When thirsty. I did not see him till I enter Mecca people reached Mecca Mukarrama, one night, he was seen near the Zamzam well, weeping and offering his prayer very

respectfully till dawn. Then he offered his morning prayer, took tawaf around Baitullah Sharif. After this, when he was going out, I followed him. When we were out, I saw that he was absolutely in a different form. I saw that there were his friends and slaves with him. All of them encircled him and started paying their greetings and respects. I asked one of those people, ‘Who is this young man?’ He said, ‘He is Musa bin Jafar bin Muhammad bin Ali bin Hussain bin Ali bin Abi Talib.””(Ravaz-ulRaiha’an, Ma’akhuz Az Raah-e-Aqidat and Jaame’-ul-Manaaqib). This episode is narrated by, Ibn-e-Javazi in his book-Masiyar-ul-Giram, Janabzee in his book, Ma’almul Atartul Nabuvvat and Amharmazi in his book, Kara’amat-e-Auliya.