Travelling in the path of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has been a practice of the pious predecessors. It is a very beneficial and effective means of promoting call to righteousness. In most parts of the world, the message of Islam was propagated by the travelling of Islamic scholars, saints and preachers. Following the same strategy, اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ , the Madani work of Dawat-e-Islami has reached around the globe. Fortunate are those Islamic brothers who have aroused religious enthusiasm among millions of Muslims in various countries by travelling, promoting call to righteousness and laying the foundations for Madani activities. Passion for offering Salahs, love for Sunnahs, inclination towards virtuous deeds and hatred towards sins were developed. Even disbelievers embraced Islam. Moreover, thousands of Masajid and Madaris, without exaggeration, were built in the world through these preachers. Teachings of Quran and Sunnah were learnt and taught. Millions of people benefited from it. Moreover, Madani activities such as weekly Ijtima’aat, Dars, speeches and call to righteousness were started. After sowing the seeds of righteousness and returning from the journey, these preachers may be comfortably sitting in their homes or may be engaged in their worldly affairs; but righteous deeds are continuously being recorded in their books of deeds. It has been mentioned in a blessed Hadees: The one who calls towards guidance, he will attain reward equal to the reward of all those people who followed him; and due to this, the reward of those people will not lessen at all.(Sahih Muslim, Hadees 2674)
I have gone on numerous journeys abroad along with Nigran-e-Shura, Haji Muhammad Imran Attari. During our journey to South Africa and England, اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ , I observed and learnt a lot of things. I still remember that Nigran-e-Shura was scheduled to deliver a speech at a place in South Africa. Quite a large gathering was gathered there. People were chanting slogans very enthusiastically. It was an amazing spiritual environment. After the Ijtima’, I congratulated Nigran-e-Shura for the success of the Ijtima’. Upon this, he replied that “few years back, I delivered a speech at the very same place. At that time, there were only around two dozen people here. But اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ, there were so many blessings in the Madani activities after that Ijtima’ that today, there was no space to even set foot in such a big Masjid, in its adjacent hall and even outside.”
Madani work of Dawat-e-Islami was promoted so quickly in South Africa that approximately forty-five (45) Madani centres have been built there today within a short span of almost eight to ten years. Previously, there were only two Madani centres. This success has been achieved by the grace of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and by the virtue of Nigran-e-Shura travelling there every other year; as well as by means of the efforts of the Islamic brothers of South Africa. Moreover, there was a South African city where the Muslims could not purchase land for the construction of a Masjid despite making efforts for various years. When Nigran-e-Shura delivered a speech there, instilling mindset for it, then arrangements were made to acquire a site for Masjid within the next twenty four hours. Now, اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ , a Masjid has been built there, and 5 times Salah and Madani activities are being carried out there. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ , this is the mercy of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ on Dawat-e-Islami. Those who make efforts, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ does not let their efforts go in vain.
With the intention of increasing my knowledge, making observation and learning immensely from the preachers of Dawat-e-Islami and with other good intentions; I arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, through an international airline via Dubai (United Arab Emirates) on 3rd October 2017. From Bab-ul-Madinah (Karachi) to Dubai, the Nigran of Overseas Majlis and member of Shura, brother Abdul Habib was with me. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ , we conversed on Shar’i rulings and organisational matters of Dawat-e-Islami. From Dubai to Turkey, Nigran-e-Shura also accompanied us. The Nigran of the Overseas Majlis, brother Abdul Habib was appointed as the Ameer of Qafilah. During both journeys, in view of the Shar’i rulings on meat, we kept waiting for the special food. But we had not informed the airline staff about it by the stipulated time, so we could not get the special food. As a result, we had to subsist only on fruits and plain sandwiches. From Dubai to Istanbul, we continued discussing various issues and matters with Nigran-e-Shura. We had very useful and fruitful discussion on important matters including the Fatawa issued by Dar-ul-Ifta Ahl-e-Sunnat, Mashwarahs regarding Majlis Tahqeeqat Shar’iyyah, making the books and booklets of Dawat-e-Islami more attractive, topics of the speeches of the weekly Ijtima’aat and ways to prepare them, translation of Dawat-e-Islami’s books into other languages, Madani work in Europe and Turkey, serving Syrian migrating Muslims and especially the protection of their faith.
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ ! Our whole journey was spent while talking about the great purpose of conveying the call to righteousness, serving Islam and promoting the Divine teachings, which is a great way of doing the Zikr of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. It is stated in the Glorious Quran:
لَا خَیْرَ فِیْ كَثِیْرٍ مِّنْ نَّجْوٰىهُمْ
اِلَّا مَنْ اَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ اَوْ مَعْرُوْفٍ اَوْ اِصْلَاحٍۭ بَیْنَ النَّاسِؕ-
Most
of their (secret) consultations do not contain any benefit, except (the
consultation) of the one who commands charity or goodness or peace-making
amongst people.(Part
5, Surah An-Nisa, Ayah 114)
اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ ! This discussion aroused enthusiasm, increased knowledge and provided awareness to various fields of serving Islam.
After arriving in Istanbul, we offered Zuhr Salah at the airport. Then we arrived at a hired place where Madani activities are performed. A renowned and active Islamic scholar from Turkey was already present there. He was extremely pleased about the religious services of Dawat-e-Islami. He insistently and repeatedly invited us to come to his Masjid, but our schedule was so tight that no adjustment could be made. Hence, we humbly apologised. Other Islamic scholars also came and became very happy. After offering Asr Salah, we had a light meal and went to a Masjid to offer Maghrib Salah, where Nigran-e-Shura delivered a short speech after the Salah. Preachers were doing simultaneous translation in Arabic and Turkish.
After the speech, there were arrangements for meeting brothers. In this meeting, numerous Turkish people participated. I witnessed amazing scenes of respect and reverence shown by these people dressed in pants and shirts. All people remained sitting in a respectful manner from beginning to end. A Peer Sahib [spiritual guide] who was also present there became very pleased with the conversation of Nigran-e-Shura. He kept supplicating and gave full permission and even invitation to carry out Madani activities in his area. After offering ‘Isha Salah, we had dinner at an Islamic brother’s house and rested there. There was nothing like that rest; I and brother Abdul Habib had been awake for the last 36 hours. Whereas, somewhat similar was the condition of Nigran-e-Shura too. But the sleep we caught up in the midst of the night in the state of tiredness after the journey and continuous work proved to be very short. We had to get up just after three or four hours, because we were scheduled to go to the blessed shrine of Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub Ansari رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ and, for this purpose, we were to offer Salat-ul-Fajr over there. Therefore, we offered Salat-ul-Fajr in the Masjid adjacent to the blessed shrine and were privileged to visit the blessed shrine after Fajr Salah. Visitors gathered there in a large number. There was a graveyard nearby. The gravestones had writing on them in old Turkish script, i.e. in Arabic style. A short distance away, there were also the shrines of other blessed companions too.
(To know more about this journey, please read the next episode).
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