95. Allah says: "Let there be a band of people among you who shall call men to goodness, and enjoin what is recognized on all hands to be good and forbid what is considered to be evil. And these are they who will be a force for progress." (S. 3: 104 SAL)

Allah says: " Ye (the immediate followers of the Prophet) are a band of good people raised up to be a model for mankind. Ye enjoin the right and forbid the wrong and ye repose faith in Allah… (S. 3: 110 SAL)

Hence, the faithful (mumineen) should command the performance of good and right deeds and prevent evil doing. They should advise and advice benefits the faithful.

As Allah says: "Yet continue to warn them, for this will assuredly profit the believers." (S. 51: 55 SAL)

96. And Quran should not be listened to with indifference. Allah says: "They only listen light-heartedly to every fresh admonition from their Lord." (S. 21: 2 SAL)

And Allah further says: "Verily, herein is an admonition to him who has a heart, or gives ear while he is heedful." (S. 50: 37 AMD)

Allah says: "Therefore admonish (thy people); for admonition hath its effect -He who fears (Allah) will heed (the admonition); But the hardened sinner will disregard it-He who will have to enter the great Fire..."  (S. 87: 9 to 12 SAL)

Allah says: "We sent down through the Quran a healing and a mercy to the believers, which causes distress to the wicked." (S. 17: 82 SAL)

Again Allah says: "Had We sent down this Quran on a mountain, thou wouldst certainly have seen it humbling itself and crumbling down for the fear of Allah…" (S. 59: 21 SAL)

Allah says: "Even if there were a Quran by which mountains could be set in motion or the earth traversed (briskly) by means of it, or the dead made to speak, (they would still not have believed in Allah). Aye! All Sovereignty belongeth to Allah…" (S. 13: 31 SAL)

Allah says: "Whenever the name of Allah alone is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter feel disgust; but when others (their deities) are mentioned, they feel joy." (S. 39: 45 SAL)

Allah says: "As for those who have rejected it (this Scripture), alike it is to them whether thou warn them or warn them not. They will not repose any faith therein. Allah hath let them (by their behaviour) seal their hearts, and their hearing; and a veil lieth over their eyes; and for them awaiteth a severe chastisement." (S. 2: 6 and 7 SAL)

Allah says: "They said, 'It is all the same to us whether thou admonish us or not…" (S. 26: 136 SAL)

O son of Adam, My skies are placed in the air, without a pillar or a prop, from one of My many names. And your hearts will not stand firm on even one of the thousands of advices of My Book. O people! No ailment or disease will put away death. A stone does not become soft in water. Similarly, an advice does not influence hardened hearts. As Allah has said: "Has not the time come yet for those who have professed belief to humble their hearts at the thought of Allah and of the truth which He hath sent down, that they should not be like those to whom the scriptures had been given before and whose life-time had been prolonged but whose hearts nevertheless hardened since many of them were perverse." (S. 57: 16 SAL)

Allah says: "He whose breast Allah hath opened to Islam, indeed hath light from his Lord. So woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah. It is such as these who are clearly in error. Allah hath revealed the fairest of utterances, a Book, the different verses of which are consistent with each other, some repeating themselves (in one form or other). The very skins of those who fear their Lord do creep at it (when it is recited to them). But at the remembrance of Allah, their skins and their hearts do soften. This is due to Allah's guidance. Thus it is that He guideth whom He pleases; but whom Allah leaveth in error, there shall be for him no guide". (S. 39:22 and 23 SAL)

Allah says again: "How strange it is that they do not still ponder on the directions of the Quran! Are their minds closed to reason?" (S. 47: 24 SAL)

Allah says: "… Speak of the Quran (in the manner of Quran) to those who fear My warning." (S. 50: 45 SAL)

Allah says: "(Such people are lost to the sense of understanding, and are as good as dead; so) thou canst not make the dead to hear, neither canst thou make the deaf to hear any call, when they willfully turn back from it;…" (S. 30: 52 SAL)

Allah says: "And be not like those who say, 'We are listening', and yet they do not, For, the vilest beasts in the sight of Allah are those (men) who are dead to the sense of hearing and speech, and decline to understand. Had Allah found in them the slightest urge to do good, He would certainly have made them hearken (to truth), but even if He had made them do so, they would certainly have turned back, since they are averse (to hearken to any truth)". (S. 8: 21-23 SAL)

97. Hence, O friend, our hearts have been sealed and have become perverted.

98. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said: "Listen, Verily there is a small chunk of meat in the bodies of the sons of Adam…."

Allah says: "Say (O Prophet (SLM)! To thy people what Allah saith), O My servants who have indulged in excesses, despair not of the mercy of Allah! for, all sins doth Allah forgive. He indeed is graciously Merciful! And turn ye to your Lord in repentance and resign yourself to Him before any chastisement overtakes you, for ye shall not then be helped. So before any chastisement overtakes you suddenly when you least expect it, follow that excellent (Book) which hath been sent down to you from your Lord." (S. 39: 53-55 SAL)

Allah says: "And We have divided the Quran into various sections that you mightest recite it to men with slow deliberation; and (it is why) We have sent it down (not all at once in its entirety but) piecemeal. Say, ' Whether they (all believe in it or do not believe- those who are truly endowed with the knowledge of what had been delivered before (wherein the advent of the Prophet had been foretold), will bow down in reverence whenever it (Quran) is recited to them;' And exclaim, 'Exalted be our Lord! Verily, the promise of our Lord is made good.' And they bow down weeping, and this deepeneth (increases) their sense of humility." (S. 17: 106-109 SAL)

99. It is said in Hadith that one should weep when Quran is being recited, and if one cannot weep, one should act as if one is weeping. -Umdah.

Allah says: "We sent down through the Quran a healing and a mercy to the believers… " (S. 17: 82 SAL)

And in Hadith, it is said that where there is no healing for one from Quran, there is no healing for one at all. Hence, the listening to the recitation of Quran heals diseases.

Allah says: "And when the Quran is recited, then (O believers!) listen to it in silence, in order that you might receive mercy." (S. 7: 204 SAL)

And kafirs do not bow down after listening to the recitation of Quran.

Allah says: "And that they do not bow down (pay due attention) to the Quran when it is recited." (S. 84: 21 SAL)

Allah says: "They alone are believers whose hearts thrill with the thought of Allah whenever His name is mentioned, and whose faith in Him increases as His revelations are recited, and who place implicit trust in their Lord, who observe the (prescribed) prayers, and give to others out of what We have provided them with. Such indeed are the true believers; their due places of honour lie with their Lord as well as His forgiveness, and generous means of sustenance." (S. 8: 2-4 SAL)

Allah says: "Allah hath revealed the fairest of utterances, a Book, the different verses of which are consistent with each other, some repeating themselves (in one form or other). The very skins of those who fear their Lord do creep at it (when it is recited to them). But at the remembrance of Allah, their skins and their hearts do soften. This is due to Allah's guidance. Thus it is that He guideth whom He please, but whom Allah leaveth in error, there shall be for him no guide…" (S. 39: 23 SAL)

100. It is stated in Hadith that Allah makes Hell forbidden to the person whose body hair stands on end from the fear of Allah Almighty.

Allah says: " Do they not ponder on the Quran?…"  (S. 4: 82 SAL)

In other words: one should think with deep concentration to comprehend and extract the real meaning thereof. Had this Quran been from (a source) other than Allah, there would have been many contradictions and differences in it.

101. Know it very well that in the body of the sons of Adam, there is a small lump of flesh; when it is good and in order, the whole of body remains healthy and good, but when it becomes malignant, the whole of the body becomes diseased. And that lump of flesh is the heart.

102. Hence, O friend, the heart, that has fallen a prey to the lust and love of the perishable world and useless persuits, becomes malignant and lifeless (murda). If one were to give sermons and all the advice the Quran and Hadith and sayings of all spiritual guides and the narrations of Imam Mahdi (AS) and his companions to such a heart, it will not benefit from all that. He will not accept the advice and will not come to its senses but will dread such things. He will not be able to listen to advice, because his heart would have become lifeless because of the accursed attribute and the lust and love of the worldly desires.

As Allah has said: "(Such people are lost to the sense of understanding, and are as good as dead; so) thou canst not make the dead to hear, neither canst thou make the deaf to hear any call, when they willfully turn back from it;…" (S. 30: 52 SAL)

103. Hence, our hearts have become harder than stone. As Allah has said: "Yet your hearts hardened thereafter, and became hard as rocks or harder still; and indeed there are rocks from which gush streams; and some there are out of which, when cleft, water issues forth; and indeed some there are which fall down through fear of Allah. And Allah is not heedless of what you do." (S. 2: 74 SAL)

104. Hence, the heart, which has become inert, hard, sinful, deaf and dumb, cannot hear, because its ability to hear has been impaired, as Allah has said: "When Allah, the One and Only, is mentioned, the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter are filled with disgust and horror; but when (Allahs) other than He are mentioned, behold, they are filled with joy!" (S. 39: 45 SAL). And when the stories of the world and the people of the world and useless matters are talked about, they listen to it with rapt attention, glee and joy and relish it. Why not! The fragrance of a flowerbed causes the death of the worms of the filth, while the stink of the filth and faces prolongs its life; hence, its enjoyment.

105. Shaikh Fariduddin Attar has written a poem in his book Asrar Nama, that a sweeper (who used to clean toilets) once passed through the locality of the perfumers. The scents of the perfumes reached his brain. He fell unconscious, and was in throes of death. The perfumers brought all sorts of scents and rubbed into his nose. His unconsciousness increased. A doctor incidentally reached the spot. He placed some filth near the nose of the sweeper. Immediately, he became conscious.

106. O friend, of what consequence is our life that the stink of worldliness does not enter our heads! It reaches the brains of the hawks, even if it is enjoying the fragrance of meeting the beloved; or of the garden of the desire of the love and devotion to Allah has reached its head; even if he has tasted like the honey-bee the honey of the gnosis of the Supreme; and the expanse of his heart is free from idolatry of all kinds. The stink has reached even him. Then who am I that the stink of worldliness does not reach my brain?

107. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said that the bread of the rich is leavened with the blood of the indigent (fuqara).

108. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has also said: "Do not be deceived by the spotlessly white bread of the rich; verily, it is leavened with the blood of the Muslims and the oppressed, and the tyrannies they have suffered.

109. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said that Allah will clip with the scissors of fire both the lips of a person, who feasts off the (dining tables) of kings.

110. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said that soon a time will come when the religion (deen) of any person will not be safe unless he runs protecting his religion from one village to another, and from one hillock to another, from one rock to another, like the fox which runs evasively. He was asked when would such a thing happens. He replied: "When one cannot earn one's livelihood without sinning against Allah. When such a time comes, it would become permissible to live with a woman without marrying her." "What kind of a time would it be, although you have enjoined marriage?" he was asked. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) said: "When such a time comes, a person would be murdered at the hands of his parents. If the parents are not there, he would be killed by his wife and children. If he has no wife and children, he would be done to death by his kinsmen." The companions of Prophet Muhammad (SLM) asked: "How can this happen?" The Prophet replied: "People would accuse him of poverty and he would work harder than he could , take more trouble than he could, to earn more, and, in the process, he would die. Poverty is also understood by this. A man with family and children will not be able to be content without earning and meeting (with the rich). As such he would not be able to earn his livelihood without disobeying Allah." This is not what is happening today. This situation had existed long before now. This is reproduced from the book Kifaya Shu'bi.

111. It is reported by Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar bin Aws (RZ) that he had heard Prophet Muhammad (SLM) as saying: "Verily, the state (of affairs) would soon be that there would be migration after migration. Hence, pious people would go to the place from where Prophet Ibrahim (AS) (Abraham AS) had migrated."

112. In another narration, (the Prophet is quoted as saying that) the good people among the inhabitants of the earth are the strict followers of the place from where Prophet Ibrahim had migrated. The mischievous people from among the inhabitants of the earth will be swallowed up by their earth which gives them in ransom (fidya). On the Day of Resurrection, they would be with monkeys and pigs.

113. In Mudarik, it has been stated under the Quranic Verse: "…I will assuredly remit their evil deeds from them those who had to flee their country or were driven out of their homes and have suffered in My cause, and have fought and fallen….," (S. 3: 195 SAL) that migration would recur during the Last Era (Aakhir Zamana), as it had occurred during the early period of Islam.

114. Under the Quranic verse, "But they who have believed and emigrated and struggled in the cause of Allah may hope for Divine grace; and Allah is Gracious, Full of Mercy." (S. 2: 218 SAL), it is stated in Tafseer-e-Zahidi that migration persists and it has not been abrogated. And it has been argued on the basis of Quran that there is no hope of (Allah's) Mercy (Grace) without migration (hijrat). Allah has said: "As to those who, due to persecution, have to leave their homes for the sake of Allah, We will surely provide them with a goodly abode in this world, and a greater reward in the next, if only they could realize it-They, who were steadfast (in the hour of trials) and had full faith in their Lord." (S. 16: 41-42 SAL). Allah says in Quran: " Say (O Prophet!) to My believing servants, 'Be mindful of your Lord. For those who do good in this world, there is a good recompense: and spacious is the earth of Allah-indeed those who endure with patience (the trials of life ) shall be rewarded without measure." (S. 39: 10 SAL) This means that all those who did good deeds in this earthly world, will get good (reward) in the Hereafter. This good (reward) is entering the Paradise. It is such that it cannot be defined. The expression, 'Wa 'arzullahi waasi-ah (and spacious is the earth of Allah)' means that for the people who practice excess of excellence (ihsan-performance of good deeds), there are no excuses; even if they come up with the excuse that they cannot continue to live in their homeland (watan), (you) tell them that the earth of Allah is wide and spacious, there are many cities and that they can shift to other cities, and follow the Prophets and the virtuous in migrating, so that they can progress in excellence and obedience to a degree almost equal to the prophets and the virtuous. And it is the patient and enduring (sabireen) that suffer the agony of leaving the homeland and the kith and kin and prefer obedience to Allah and increased good deeds in the face of all kinds of torments. They will be rewarded for their good deeds without limits. And it is reported by Hazrat Ibn-e-Abbas (RZ) that there is no room for any accountability there (in the Hereafter).

115. And it is narrated by Hazrat Malik Illahdad (RZ) that Imam Mahdi (AS) migrated from Gujarat to Khorasan in Afghanistan. On the way, he explained the Quranic chapters Anfal and Tauba or Baraat. The Imam's companions, who had accompanied him from Gujarat, started lamenting bitterly and said that their condition was being spoken about. Hence, O friend, ( Think over it.) how much more bitterly should those who have not migrated lament? These migrants should not befriend those who prevented them from migrating, because they (the hinderers) had been inimical to them (the migrants), because the former kept the latter away from migration and the company of Prophet Muhammad (SLM). Allah has said in Quran: "O ye who believe! Of your wives and your children, there may be some who are not well disposed towards you, so beware of them. But (it will be well) if ye overlook (their behaviour) and forgive them and are lenient; for Allah Himself is lenient, the Merciful. Your wealth and your children are only a source of trial. But Allah-with Him lieth a great reward (if ye could bear the trial worthily). So be mindful of Allah with all your attention, and bear (the Prophet) and obey, and give alms; this will do you good; for, those who save themselves from their own greed, eventually prosper. If ye lend Allah a generous loan (help the poor in a generous manner), He will double it to your credit and also forgive your shortcomings, for, Allah is the Appreciator of good deeds, the Forbearing'-The Knower of the hidden and the manifest, the Mighty, the Wise." (S. 64: 14 to 18 SAL). This is to prevent people from disobeying Allah for the sake of their wives and children and their riches. These Quranic Verses were sent down (by Allah) in respect of Awf bin Malik Ashja'yi (RZ) and a group of the believers. We (the author) have already stated that this surah was revealed in Makkah. These Verses are about Awf bin Malik (RZ). When this group wanted to migrate, their wives and children would come to them lamenting and saying: "Whom are you handing us over to, and whom are you leaving us with? The whole city is full of the infidels. They too are our enemies." On hearing this, the hearts of those intending to migrate melted and they refrained from migrating. They then paid no attention to the commandments of Allah and His Prophet (SLM).

116. (As stated earlier,) this Verse was revealed at Makkah. Those who had migrated to Madina earlier came to know of this and its contents later. They read the Quran and became sad. Then they decided that if Makkah was conquered and they returned to that city, they would not go to their homes and would not talk to their wives and children and punish them with the pangs of their separation. When finally, Makkah was conquered, bringing it into the possession of the Prophet (SLM), his companions (RZ) came to the city, every one of them went to his house. But the members of this group did not go to their homes. The wives and children of the members of this group came to them but they did not talk to them. The wives and children went to the Prophet (SLM) and repented. Then a Verse was revealed in which Allah has said: "…But (it will be well) if ye overlook (their behaviour) and forgive them and are lenient; for Allah Himself is lenient, the Merciful." (S. 64: 14 SAL) If you pardon them and do not resort to vendetta and forgive them, verily Allah is forgiving and causes others to forgive.

117. This Verse was revealed in favour of Awf bin Malik Ashja'yi (RZ), whose wives and children prevented him from migrating (with the Prophet) and participating in jihad (holy war). Allah has said in Quran: "Your wealth and your children are only a source of trial, But Allah-with Him liath a great reward (if ye could bear the trial worthily)." (S. 64: 15 SAL) Some, who were left behind, intended to migrate. Some gave up Makkah with (the use of force) of the sword. Some others gave ransom in kind and migrated. Still others were scared of their lives and property and did not migrate. So much so that Allah revealed the Verse: "Alif. Lam. Mim. Do men think that they will be left alone on their merely saying, 'We believe,' and will not be tested?" (S. 29: 1 and 2 SAL). All migrated. There were about forty or fifty who did not migrate. Hence, Allah revealed the Verse: "O ye who believe; Of your wives and your children, there may be some who are not well disposed towards you, so beware of them…." (S. 64: 14 SAL).

118. Hence, O friend, know that the idle shirkers (of military service during war) could not harm you. Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RZ) has said that this (verse) is in respect of the forty or fifty persons of Makkah. And it is, that when Prophet Muhammad (SLM) ordered his followers to migrate, a group of his companions migrated, while another group did not obey him because of their children and property. Then Allah revealed this Verse: "…And they who having believed have not left their homes, they shall have no right of protection from you until they too flee their homes…" (S. 8: 72 SAL) This shows that there would be no friendship and relationship with them until they migrate. When there is no relationship, there shall be no inheritance between them.

119. Hence, Adam bin Ilyas (RA) has informed us, and, in turn, he was informed by Shuaib who was informed by Abi bin Vail who has reported from Huzayfah bin Yaman (RZ) that the hypocrites of the contemporary period are worse than the hypocrites of the days of Prophet Muhammad (SLM). Those hypocrites opposed surreptitiously; but the contemporary hypocrites opposed openly (for instance, they shave their beards, they do not say their daily prayers, they consume intoxicants, resort to usury and bribery, they convene parties for dances by prostitutes in marriages, a father and his son jointly attend the dance parties and cast sinful looks on the same female dancer, religious leaders and preachers attend such dance parties, they come to such meetings covering their faces with a piece of cloth and sit in separate rooms-all of which is tantamount to permitting and encouraging ordinary people to continue their sinful activities). Allah says: "And of Arab nomads round about you, some are hypocrites, and indeed even among the people of Madina, there are some who (are) adept in hypocrisy. Thou knowest them not (O Prophet!) We know them. We will chastise them two-fold, and thereafter shall they be given over to a severe chastisement." (S. 9: 101 SAL) (See also Pickthal whose translation of this Verse is given below); Allah says: "And among those around you of the wandering Arabs there are hypocrites, and among the townspeople of Al-Madinah (there are some who) persist in hypocrisy whom thou (O Muhammad (SLM)) knowest not. We, We know them, and We shall chastise them twice; then they will be relegated to a painful doom." (S. 9: 101 MMP)

120. The hypocrites are such that they are sitting with you and ostensibly they are His (Allah's) devotees. (Hence, Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has decreed as hypocrites those people who did not participate in migration and jihad). Allah has said: "Has not the time arrived for Believers that their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of Allah…" (S. 57: 16 AYA)  He said like that.

121. When the companions of Prophet Muhammad (SLM) had received their share of the war-booty from Khaybar and Fadak and other places, and of zakat ( poor-money) from the Arabs of the deserts of Yemen, they found peace and comfort in Madina, developed their relationships, and they came in contact with various people, their hearts turned towards worldly desires to acquire property and to marry and beget children, and, on the basis of that, there occurred some defects in their daily performance of prayers and some affliction dogged their good times; they turned to merriment and loud laughter, often meeting people to cultivate friendship-so much so that Allah disliked their behaviour and frowned upon them by revealing the Quranic Verse (referred to above) and said: "Has not the time arrived for the Believers that their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of Allah…" 4 All this is the Truth and not falsity.

122. It is narrated that Ibrahim Adham (RA) was asked: "Why is it that we supplicate Allah and He does not answer our prayers?" In reply he said: "The reason is that you know Allah and do not obey Him. You know His Prophet but do not act according to his word or deed (sunnat). You read and recite Quran and do not act according to its commands. You eat the good things (ni'math) granted by Allah but you do not thank Him. The Paradise has been decorated for those who obey Allah but you do not demand it. The fire has been lighted in the Hell with yokes of fire for the sinners but you do not give up (sins). You know that Satan is your enemy but you are not hostile to him. You know that you have to die one day but you do not make preparations and provision for it. You bury parents and children but you take no warning (ibrat) from it. You do not shun your shortcomings but look for the shortcomings of others. When a person is like this, how could his prayers be answered?"

123. It is narrated that a person came to Ibrahim Adham (RA) and said: "O Shaikh, I have done great harm to myself. Please give me advice so that I can make it my leader." Ibrahim Adham (RA) said: "If you like, follow my advice on six points. After that, whatever you do, you will incur no loss. First, if you sin, do not eat the food provided by Him." "He is the only Provider. Where would I get the food if I do not eat His food?" asked the man. Ibrahim Adham (RA) said: "It is not proper that you eat His food and sin against Him. Secondly, go away from His country, if you want to sin." "The whole universe is His. Where can I go?" He asked again. Ibrahim (RA) said: "It is not proper that you live in His country and sin against Him. Thirdly, if you want to commit a sin, go to a place where He does not see you." "He knows all the secrets," he said. Ibrahim (RA) said, "It is not proper that you sin in front of Him. Fourthly, when the Angel of Death (Malak-al-Maut) comes, ask him to give you time to repent (tauba)." " How can I do that," he asked. Ibrahim (RA) said: "Repent now if you are not capable of preventing the Angel of Death. Fifthly, when Munkar and Nakir come, send them away." "This too cannot be done," he said. Ibrahim (RA) said: "Keep your answers ready for them. Sixthly, when, on the Day of Resurrection, the angels come to take the sinners to the Hell, you tell them that you will not go to Hell. Are these things correct or not?" The questioner said : "All that you have said is correct. I repent forthwith." And he remained true to his repentance.

124. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) said: "O Aishah, if you want to meet me, take from the world only as much as a traveler takes provisions for his journey. Avoid sitting in the company of the rich. And do not leave hanging much cloth that needs lifting."

125. The narrator says that everything appeared lighted the day Prophet Muhammad (SLM) entered Madina and everything became dark on the day the Prophet died. "And we did not clean our hands from the soil, verily, we were there during the burial when our hearts changed and the attention of our hearts (or minds ) turned towards the world," the narrator said.

126. Be it known that Faqir Vali Yusuf (RA) (the author of INSAF NAMA) went to Jalor to meet Bandagi Miyan Shah Ni'mat (RZ) from the daira of Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) and stayed there for a few months. Probably the day (I went there) or the day after, Syed Darya Shah, son of Syed Hameed, came from the fort of Jalor and sent for me. I asked him to take permission from Bandagi Miyan Shah Ni'mat (RZ). Syed Darya Shah requested Shah Ni'mat (RZ) to allow me (to go with him). Miyan Ni'mat (RZ) said: "Miyan Vali would not eat anything but he would incur a loss of three paisa (local currency). And even slippers cannot be repaired by spending that amount." Miyan Darya Shah came to me laughing. I asked him why he was laughing. Miyan Darya Shah told me what Bandagi Miyan Shah Ni'mat (RZ) had told him. After this, Miyan Darya Shah said: " Shah Ni'mat (RZ) may be considerate and give permission, if you are with me." Then Miyan Darya Shah and I together went to meet Shah Ni'mat (RZ). He told us also the same thing that the slippers would be worn out and I would incur a loss of three paise. After that I stayed in Shah Ni'mat's (RZ) daira for a few months.

127. When I (Vali bin Yusuf, the author) decided to go to Gujarat, Miyan Sultan Shah said: "Syed Darya Shah would be sorry. Let us go to the Fort (of Jalor)." Another resident of Jalor too was repeatedly inviting me everyday to visit his house. Miyan Sultan Shah used to say that "It was the month of Ramazan." We went to his house. After dinner, we went over to the Fort. We stayed there for the night and came down from the Fort the next morning in a manner one would surresptitiously come after stealing or quarrelling or murdering. We came to the daira in the same manner. For some time, I was scared that Shah Ni'mat (RZ) might have come to know or might come to know of our visit. I used to tremble in my heart at the thought of it.

128. O friend, that too was the time when the seekers of Allah used to behave like that, (although it was to fulfill the desire of a seeker); I had no personal work. If a seeker of Allah were to go to the house of a rich man, or were to offer a thing sent by a rich man, (the murshids) would not accept it. If he were to insist on giving it, they would never go to his house again. Alas, now our condition has become like the quatrain of Masood:

QUATRAIN:
I am Masood, son of Sulaiman/
That I am the slave of bread/
If bread is shown to me in the East/
I will open my mouth in the West.

129. Someone asked Hasan Basari (RA): "Have you seen the companions of Prophet Muhammad (SLM)?" Hasan (RA) said: "Yes." "How were they?" he was asked. He said: "Had the companions (RZ) of Prophet Muhammad (SLM) seen you, they would have called you kafirs (infidels). If you had seen them , you would have said they were lunatics."

130. It is narrated that Bhai Miyan Somar went from Jalor to the house of his parents-in-law in Gujarat some two or three times. He probably went to the houses of the believers (musaddiqeen). The kinsmen of his tribe used to live in the daira (of Shah Ni'mat (RZ)). Shah Ni'mat (RZ) came to know that Miyan Somar was returning to his daira. He sent one of his companions for over a distance of a league and a half to tell him (Somar) not to come in the name of Shariat to the daira (locality) of the fuqara (indigents). After that Miyan Somar took the oath of triple talaq (divorce) that he would not go out of the daira without the express orders of Bandagi Miyan Shah Ni'mat (RZ). Know it with exactness that the practice of Imam Mahdi (AS), his Caliphs and the seekers of Allah was strictly this. Any practice other than this is innovative (bid'at). If I were to write more narrations on this topic, it will become a big book.

131. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said: "Become a companion of Allah, and if you cannot become one, then be in the company of those who are close to Allah."

COUPLET:
If your love (for Him) is true, you will necessarily obey Him/
Verily, a friend is obedient to (his) friend.

Allah has said: "Say: 'If Ye do love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins; for Allah is Oft - Forgiving, Most Merciful.' Say: 'Obey Allah and His Apostle': but if they turn back, Allah loveth not those who reject Faith (kafirs)." (S.3: 31 and 32 AYA)

132. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said: "My progeny (aulad) are those who follow in my footsteps."

133. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said: "Bring to me your deeds and not your pedigree (nasab)." It is said that Paradise is for him who obeys, even if he were a negro slave, and the Hell is for the sinner even if he were a Syed Qurayshi.

134. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said: "The dignity of the residence is from the resident."

135. Be it known that if somebody brought a worn-out shirt (kurta) to Bandagi Miyan Shah Ni'mat (RZ), the latter would say: "It is better you give a new one. May Allah help you."

136. It is reported by Miyan Shah Ni'mat (RZ) that there were some seekers of Allah. People used to call them zindiq (infidels). And they asked the executioner to slay them. He took them to the place where criminals were executed and asked one of them to come forward to be beheaded. He came and bowed his head to facilitate the slaying. Immediately, the second one came and insisted that he should be beheaded first. A third one came and asked to be beheaded first. The fourth repeated the exercise. The fifth one also insisted that he be beheaded first. The executioner said: "Beware. The sword is sharp." They replied: "We are aware. You go ahead with your job." After this, the puzzled executioner asked: "What is your objective in your saying like this?" They said: "The objective of everyone of us is that while you behead me, the others continue to remember Allah. This would be my personal loss. But even one breath of our brothers would not go waste." The executioner said: "So this is your religion (deen)." He became a Muslim immediately. He ran to the king with his unsheathed sword and said; "You are an infidel (zindiq) who decrees that these people are infidel (zindiq)." He narrated to the king all that had transpired between him and the (fuqara). He summoned them and asked: "Why do they call you zindiq?" The fuqara replied: "You know best." The king said: "I will ask you a question and you must reply." "Why not!" the fuqara said. "For how much (property) is the zakat (obligatory)?" the king asked. "Whose zakat? Yours or ours," the fuqara asked. The king said: "That is why your are called zindiq. Tell me the zakat that is obligatory under Shariat." They replied: "Five dirams in two hundred dirams." The king asked: "What is your zakat?" The fuqara said: "If we accumulate two hundred dirams, we have to add five dirams to that amount and give it away in charity in the way of Allah. In addition to that, we have to suffer five whip-lashes because it is not legitimate for the seekers of Allah and those who trust in Allah (mutawakkileen) to accumulate (wealth)."

POEM:
I reached the capital of the king by interpretation (taveel)
I was busy a long time in achieving/
O boy, listen to the reality of your situation (hal)/
Your talk is just the knowledge of warfare (jadal)/
Many of my nights culminated into the day
(that is, I remained awake the whole night)/
I achieved nothing but the lust of avarice/
The knowledge that is not destined to give you the gnosis (ma'rifat) of Allah/
This is not that knowledge; where are you going?/
O Sa'di, clean the slate (louh) of your heart from (all) that is non-Truth (ghair-e-Haq)/
The knowledge that does not show the path of Allah is ignorance/
The knowledge that does not remove your ignorance from you/
Ignorance is a hundred times better than such knowledge.

137. Allah has said in Quran: "So know (O Muhammad SLM) that there is no Allah save Allah,... La ilaha illa Llah" (S.47 : 19 MMP). It is said that the meaning of knowledge is to know, that is, to know the Truth.

POEM:
When your knowledge is far away (distant) from your practise (amal)
Then Islam is rare in your city/
Do not become proud of your knowledge and practice/
Understand that all your things are scattered dust/
All your knowledge is a concession (rukhsat) or trickery (hila)/
And this trickery will become your fetters.

138. The person who is proud of the excess of his knowledge and devotional services (ibadat) will never achieve the realisation (ma'rifat) of Allah. Iblis (Satan) was the teacher of the angels. Twenty thousand ink-pots were there in his school. There the pen used to write the Unity (tauheed) of Allah. (His pride of excessive knowledge and worship undid all his virtues).

139. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said that, on the Day of Resurrection, the greatest punishment would be given to the scholar ('alim) to whom Allah did not give any benefit of his knowledge.

140. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) said: "I seek Allah's protection from unprofitable knowledge."

141. It is reported that a man from among the Children of Israel had collected eighty book-cases, but had not derived any benefit from the knowledge.

142. It is reported by Miyan Dilawar (RZ) that Imam Mahdi (AS) had decreed as apostates persons who had gone back to Gujarat. Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) and Miyan Ni'mat (RZ) talked about it and said: "We too had gone to Gujarat. What about us?" Miyan Ni'mat (RZ) asked Imam Mahdi (AS) about it. Imam Mahdi (AS) was absorbed in meditation (muraqaba) for a moment and then said: "(Allah) commands that they are among the well-liked (maqbul)."

143. In short, all the companions and migrants of Imam Mahdi (AS) were not happy about the seekers of Allah going to the houses of the supporters (muwafiqeen of Imam Mahdi (AS)) for meals. They used to advise the supporters not to humiliate the servants of Allah (bandagan-e-Khuda) and not to waste their money and property (by inviting them for meals). If they (the rich) wanted to spend (their money) in the path of Allah, they should give it to those fuqara (indigent persons) who trusted in Allah and had become improvident (of their future financial needs). The rich will not benefit from it. They humiliate themselves and the servants of Allah and ruin their (the fuqara's) trust in Allah (tawakkal). They should not have any dealings with a faqir if he were to come to their house, lest it becomes his habit.

144. It is narrated that Imam Mahdi (AS) said: "A faqir who is waiting for futuh (alms) is not a mutawakkil (one who trusts in Allah).

145. Imam Mahdi (AS) said that if any faqir from among the inmates of a daira went to the house of a rich man and if the latter gave anything to him or sent anything to the daira through him, it was not futuh (alms). It should not be eaten. Even the murshid of the daira should not take it.

146. Imam Mahdi (AS) has said that anything that reaches the servant (banda) of Allah on its own (without the exercise of authority-ikhtiar) in accordance with Shariat, is halal (lawful).

147. It is narrated in Minhaj-al-Abedeen that as reported by Ibn-e-Mas'ood (RZ), Prophet Muhammad (SLM) asked: "Do you know who is a ta'ib (penitent)?" "No," said (the listener). The Prophet said: "If a servant (banda) repents and his enemy is not reconciled with him, he is not a penitent. If a person repents and his dress does not change, he is not a penitent. If a person repents and his company does not change, he is not a penitent. If a person repents and he is not contented (qina'at) and his worldly desires do not diminish, he is not a penitent. If a person repents and does not have control over his tongue or speech, he is not a penitent. If a person repents and does not increase his grace and refinement, he is not a penitent. If a person repents and his food does not change, he is not a penitent. If a servant assumes these attributes, verily, he is a penitent (ta'ib)." His penitence is complete.

148. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said: "Beware of the kings; if they are opposed to you, they will kill you and if they conform (muwafiqat) with you, they will mislead you."

149. Imam Mahdi (AS) always used to say in guidance (hidayat): "Hand over your zat (nature, self) to Allah. Do not engage yourself in talk with others. Do not desire anything. Do not have an iota of want (ihtiyaj) from the persons created by Allah (makhluq) and from none but Allah. The group of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (SLM), known as As-hab-as Suffah, had all those attributes, as they were assigned (the duty) of strictly following Prophet Ibrahim Khalilullah (AS) (Abraham AS). Allah says: "And who is better in faith than he who resigneth himself to Allah and doth good to others and followeth the faith of Abraham (Ibrahim), the staunch in faith?..." (S.4: 125 SAL) Allah says: " And who can be better in religion than he who submits his face to Allah and is sincere and follows the faith of Ibrahim, the upright?..." (S.4: 125 AMD) In other words, he was of Allah under all circumstances.

150. Hazrat Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ), in his discourses for da'wat (missionary call), would recite these couplets:

COUPLETS:
Allah accepts those from His worshippers/
Who do not see themselves in the path of Allah.
Become dust, so that flowers grow out of it/
For, the place for the manifestation of all is none other than dust.
You will never become the lion of the wilderness of (Ultimate) Reality/
Unless you wander like a contemptible and wretched pye- dog of the bazaar.

151. Imam Mahdi (AS) often used to recite the couplet:
You will never become the lion of the wilderness of (Ultimate) Reality/
Unless you wander like a contemptible and wretched pye-dog of the bazaar.

152. Imam Mahdi (AS) always used to say, "We are wretched," every time he recited the couplet:

MASNAWI:
In the days of Mustafa (Prophet Muhammad (SLM)),
these four qualities/
Were manifest always in his companions/
Hunger, risking one's life, humility and poverty/
When these four come together, the fifth is nearness (to Allah).

153. Allah says: "People ask for My consent, and, O Muhammad, I ask for your consent."

154. Prophet Moses (AS) narrates as Allah has said: "So he (Moses)...murmured, 'O my Lord! I do stand in need of the good Thou mayest grant me." (S. 28 : 24 SAL) Moses (AS) said: "O Allah! I am indigent (faqir). I am poor. I am sick." In reply Allah said: "O Moses! Faqir is he who is not destined to have One like Me. Sick is he who does not have a healer like Me. Poor is he who does not have a friend like Me."

155. Allah said: "O Muhammad (SLM), if you want to have refinement and charm (halawat) of Faith (iman) keep your soul (nafas) hungry, make silence obligatory (upon your tongue); also make fear obligatory for your soul (nafs) always. Also make trouble obligatory (on your self). Never take any rest. If you follow this regime, maybe you will be safe; otherwise, you will be among the damned and doomed."

156. It is narrated by Bashir Ibn-e-Haris (RZ): He said: "The servant (banda): recites: 'Iyyaaka na-'budu wa Iyyaaka nasta-'iin;' (Thee only do we serve (or worship) and Thee only do we ask for help).' 2 Then Allah replies: "O Servant, you lie. Neither do you worship Me nor do you seek help from Me. If you were to worship Me you would not have given preference to your desires over My consent (raza). Had you sought My help alone, your lands, your eatables and your wife and children would not have been a source of your peace and tranquility (sukun)."

QUATRAIN:
Neither do we want a disciple (murid) who chants sacred names daily (wazifah)/
Nor do we want one who is an ascetic (zahid) or who has memorised the Holy Quran (hafiz)/
We want a pious man (sahib-e-dil) or one who is consumed with the fire of (divine) love (sokhtah jan)/
We want one whose house and property (maal) are burnt.

157. Imam Mahdi (AS) too has not permitted anything (worldly) but has condemned worldly things with references to the Quranic Verses (as proof).

158. Be it known that during the midnight journey to the Heavens (Mi'raj), of Prophet Muhammad (AS), Allah said: "O Ahmad, if any servant (banda) says his daily prayers as much as all the people of the earth and skies do, lives without food like the angels, takes his food like knowledgeable saints and mystics ('arifeen) and puts on garments made of sheep-skin, but keeps even a bit of love, or a (slight) sign or praise for the world or has pride or power (governance) over the worldly things or more or less, the love of jewellery or beauty, he shall not be an attendant in My house. I would remove My love from his heart (or mind). And My Blessings and Salutations on you. But I will make his heart dark, so much so that he will forget Me. I will not allow him to relish the taste of My love. O Muhammad (SLM)! My Blessings on you. Act according to my will and be the seeker of My Pleasure and teach the same to your people (ummat) because their salvation (najat) lies in them." (S. 1 : 4 SAL)

159. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) said: "On the Day of Resurrection, nations of people whose good and virtuous deeds will be of the magnitude of mountains will come but they would be ordered to be taken towards the Hell." He was asked: "O Prophet of Allah, did they not say their (daily) prayers (namaz)? Did they not observe (obligatory) fasts?" Prophet Muhammad (SLM) said: "Yes. They said their prayers. They observed their fasts. They would wake up very early (in the morning) for their devotional services (ibadat). But when a little of the (charms of the) world were revealed to them, they got excited." Hence, Imam Mahdi (AS) has forbidden (his followers) from leaning towards people who had such traits, cultivating their friendship and going to their houses. Allah says: "And lean not on the evil-doers (zalim) lest the Fire lay hold on you also. You have no protector save Allah, for ye can have no true help from anywhere else." (S. 11 : 113 SAL)

160. And it is narrated by Imam Hussain (RZ) that Allah has kept religion (deen) between two things; do not rebel and do not incline towards those people who have oppressed. Otherwise, Fire will touch (envelope) you.

161. Abu Sufyan (RZ) has said that there is a valley in the Hell which will house those indigent (fuqara) who used to go to meet the sultans.

162. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said that the fly that sits on filth is better than the scholars (ulema) who go to the kings.

163. And it is narrated by Auzayee that there is no one more detested by Allah than the scholar ('alim) who goes to meet the ruler, that is the scholar who is associated with the rulers.

164. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said that he who supplicates for a longer life of an oppressor; verily, he is reconciled to his disobedience of Allah, on this earth.

165. And it is said that (the Prophet) was asked whether drinking water should be given to a thirsty oppressor who is about to die in a jungle. The Prophet said: "No." He was told that the oppressor might die. The Prophet said: "Leave him till he dies." This is in Mudarik.

166. Scholars and mystics have said that seeing the face of an oppressor (zalim) will blacken the heart (qalb, which also means mind).

167. They have also said that with the company of the worldly people, the heart dies; and when the heart of a believer (mumin) dies, we seek Allah's protection from him, may be he has become a stone or a lump of clay: he starts saying what he likes.

168. According to another saying, it is not permitted for the indigents (fuqara) to sit in the court of the kings, because their heart dies from the company of the kings.

169. It is narrated by Hazrat Ali (RZ) (son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad (SLM) and his fourth Caliph) that the company of the kings is a temptation (fitna), and a killer-poison, which has no anti-dote.

170. In respect of establishing the mystic's spiritual path (suluk) and spiritual exercises (riyazat), Hazrat Ali (RZ) has said that one should give up the company of the rich and the kings and also one's carnal desires.

171. Hazrat Hasan Basari (RZ) quotes Amir-ul-mumineen Hazrat Ali (RZ) Ibn Abi Talib as saying that when one sees a person who unnecessarily meets other people and is desirous of worldliness, and that, simultaneously, he also claims to be a seeker of Allah, then rest assured that he is an infidel (zindiq) and an apostate (mardud) and a thief of religion, and a highway robber.

172. Abu Yazid (RA) is reported to have said that the seeker of worldliness can never become a seeker of Allah, and it is shirk (idolatory or assigning partners to Allah) for those traversing the path of Allah to have friendly association with the people of the world.

173. Hazrat Junaid (RA) said that in every religion, having friendly association with the people of the world and going to and meeting the kings and rulers is haram (prohibited) for the indigents (fuqara).

174. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said: "Protect yourself from the kings: they will kill you if they become hostile to you and will mislead you if they become your associates (muafiq).

175. Allah told Prophet Muhammad (SLM): "And keep thy soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face; and let not thine eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; nor obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds." (S. 18 : 28 SAL) And in another Quranic Verse, Allah has said: "Strain not thine eyes towards that which We cause some wedded pairs among them to enjoy, and be not grieved on their account, and lower thy wing (in tenderness) for the believers." (S. 15 : 88 MMP)

176. Hazrat Ali (RZ) has said that a bad faqir (indigent) is he who goes to the door of the rich and a good rich man is he who comes to the door of the indigent (faqir).

177. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said that if the mystics (salikeen) go to the doors of the kings, both the mystics and the kings are bad; but when the kings come to the doors of the mystics, then both the kings and the mystics are good.

178. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said that the scholars (ulema) are Allah's honest (servants) as long as they do not cultivate relations with the kings. Avoid them when they do cultivate (relations with the kings). Verily, they are the theives of the religion and they are robbers.

179. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said about whoever goes to the houses (of the rich) and partakes meals there, that " Do not be deceived at the loaves of white bread of the rich people, because these are leavened with the blood of the Muslims and oppression against them. And if a person eats from the dining tables of the kings, Allah will clip his lips with the scissors of flame."

180. It is narrated that when Imam Mahdi (AS) migrated from Jalor towards Khorasan, he enjoined upon his followers not to take anything from the (agricultural) fields within the borders (of the country) of Muslims to eat. But when he entered the boundaries of the country of the polytheists, he permitted them to take something if they became distressed (muztarr) in dire need to eat because they were at war (harabi) with Muslims. Imam Mahdi (AS) has given this concession to people who were kalima-go (Muslims who recited the kalima: La ilaha illa Llah). As Allah has said in Quran; " The desert Arabs say: 'We have believed.' Say thou (O Muhammad): 'You have not believed, rather say: We have submitted to Islam, while faith has not yet entered into your hearts..." (S. 49 : 14 AMD). Imam Mahdi (AS) explained this Verse in this manner: "Whoever says: 'There is no Allah but Allah and Muhammad (SLM) is His Prophet (SLM),' no jiziyah (a tax collected from non- Muslims exempted from military service for protecting them against crime) would be collected from him, he would not be compelled to work without wages and his women will not be taken in possession (tasarruf) without (performing the ceremony of nikah-marriage). At least this much of respect should be given to the people who have recited the Muslim confession of faith."

181. Be it known that Hazrat Syed Khundmir (RZ) did not take any booty after the war (at Khanbel) and instructed his followers not to take any booty from his opponents, inspite of the fact that the opponents had treated him and his followers, the Mahadavis, in a very despicable manner.

182. Further be it known that, in Jalor, a war was fought between the Biharis and Mandozais, in which the Mandozais were defeated. The Biharis looted their houses, properties and grains. Some people (from among the Mahdavis) purchased food-grains from the Biharis and brought them into the daira. Bandagi Miyan Malik Ilahadad (RZ) (the head of the Jalor Daira) made them return the food-grains, because the grains belonged to the people who recited the Muslim confession of faith (kalima-go) and had been looted by the Biharis, although everybody knew that the Mandozais, business was usury. They oppressed Baqqals, poor and aged people. Despite all this, he made his followers return the (looted) food-grains.

183. How can anyone oppress people who recited the Muslim confession of faith, accepted Imam Syed Muhammad (AS) (of Jaunpur) as Imam Mahdi al-Mau'ood (AS) and joined the companions of Imam Mahdi (AS) in the prayer congregation (jamaat). How can anyone take anything from them? How can they be made to work without wages (begar)? These people were our brothers because they had reposed faith in Imam Mahdi (AS) and they are lisani Musalmans (Muslims who had orally affirmed their faith in Imam Mahdi (AS)). Therefore, the followers of Imam Mahdi (AS) should not harass them, as a shepherd does not harass his flock.

184. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said that the supplications of an oppressed person, even if he is a kafir, are accepted (by Allah), and even if it is after a long time.

185. In the chapter on prohibition (Bab-e-Nahi) as narrated by Anas bin Malik (RZ), Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said that he had seen during the night of Mi'raj (his midnight journey to the Heavens), some people whose lips were being clipped with the scissors of flames. He had asked Archangel Gabriel (AS) (Jibrail AS) who these people were. Gabriel (AS) said: "These are the preachers (waiz) of your followers (ummah), who advised others (to be virtuous) but they did not practice what they preached."

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