33. Most of the believers did not go to the houses of the conformists (muafiqs) for meals.

34. It is narrated by Bandagi Miyan Larh Shah (RZ) that while Imam Mahdi (AS) was returning to his daira from the Jami' Masjid in Khorasan, a local man, whose house was on the way, requested him to please come to his house. Imam Mahdi (AS) replied: "Pardon me." He repeated his request many a time and the Imam's reply was the same every time. Imam Mahdi (AS) did not go to the house of anybody. But he permitted the brothers (of the daira) to go. Some of the companions did go.

35. It is narrated by Bandagi Miyan Shah Dilawar (RZ) that somebody in Khorasan invited Imam Mahdi (AS) for a feast. But the Imam did not go. However, he permitted Miyan Dilawar (RZ) and others to go. While Miyan Dilawar (RZ) did not go, the other brothers went. Later, Miyan Salamullah (RZ) was angry and took Miyan Dilawar (RZ) to task. He said that everybody had gone but Miyan Dilawar (RZ) did not go. Imam Mahdi (AS) heard the angry conversation and asked why Miyan Salamullah (RZ) had kicked up a row. The companions reported all the details to Imam Mahdi (AS). The Imam (AS) then said: "Those that did not go did very well." This narration was Quoted by Miyan Rukn bin Hasan (RZ), who had heard it from Miyan Abdul Malik (RZ).

36. It is narrated that Bandagi Miyan Shah Ni'mat (RZ) has said that whoever plays host to this servant (of Allah), he does not do it for the sake of Allah; his objective is to please this servant. And he, who invites the indigent (fuqara) to a feast, does it for the sake of Allah, because this servant eats at his house.

37. It is narrated that if Allah gave any of His seekers the courage, he would bring and give something to Imam Mahdi (AS). Imam Mahdi (AS) would accept such offerings from some people; to some others, the Imam used to say: "You eat it, stay in the daira and strengthen yourself. And give when the strength to depend (solely) an Allah is attained."

38. It is narrated that Miyan Ilahdad Hameed (RZ) had something with him. He offered it to Imam Mahdi (AS). The Imam said: "Keep it with you." Miyan Ilahdad (RZ) kept it in trust with him. But always he used to say: "This servant is like a carrion-eater (murdar-khor) among the indigent." This, despite the fact that Imam Mahdi (AS) took away all that from Miyan Ilahadad (RZ) and returned it to him to keep it as a deposit on trust.

39. It is narrated that, when the companions (of Imam Mahdi (AS)) saw Miyan Ilahdad Hameed (RZ), they used to run away from him, as the crow would fly away on seeing the bow. But they became happy when he gave away whatever he had to the Imam. Before that, they used to tell him: "You stink of carrion." And Miyan Ilahdad Hameed (RZ) himself used to say: "This servant is like a carrion-eater among the indigent (fuqara)."

40. Be it known that Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) and this servant, Vali bin Yusuf (RZ) (the author) were standing at the door of Bibi Fatima (RZ), daughter of Imam Mahdi (AS). A brother came and said that he had asked Miranjeo why he went along with Miyan Hassan. Miranjeo retorted: "Your respected elders (buzurg) go." Bandagi Miyan sent for him and asked: "With which worldly people had this servant gone?" Miranjeo said that he had not said it with reference to him. Bandagi Miyan said: " Who is the respected elder of these brothers of the daira?" Then he again said: "Go and get employed somewhere. Hold me responsible if you incur my loss as a result to giving up sycophancy."

41. Be it known that some people from the daira of Bandagi Miyan Shah Ni'mat (RZ) used to go to the houses of the conformists (sympathisers of the Mahdavis). The Shah gave them the journey expenses and expelled them from the daira, saying that a mangy camel should be isolated so that other camels are not affected by itch.

42. It is narrated by Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) that he advised the Bariwals and some other conformists not to give anything to those who went to their houses and not to humiliate them. They (the Bariwals) told him: "What can we do? They pester us." Bandagi Miyan told them that this was the right of the people who had confined themselves in the path of Allah, as Allah says: "(Give in charity) to the poor that are engaged in the cause of Allah (or in the social or moral uplift of their people) and are hindered thereby from going about the world (to earn their living). He who knoweth them not, taketh them for well-to-do folk because of their bearing of self-respect; thou wouldst know by their visage; they ask not of men with importunity; and of whatever you may give in charity (to such), assuredly, Allah will take cognizance" (S. 2 : 273 SAL). The migrants were not happy at treating kindly and entertaining people (who went to the houses of the worldly people).

43. Allah had sent four hundred tinkas (local coins) to Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ), and a person was bringing it. Bandagi Miyan Syed Yusuf (RZ) took the money from the person who was bringing it. But Bandagi Miyan did not demand it (from Miyan Syed Yusuf (RZ)). Some of the people who benefited (sadqa-khor) from Bandagi Miyan were such that when money came from many places, and was collected by non-seekers of Allah, they did not make any claim. An important (terah-kalasy) deposit (amanat) on trust was made. Without any orders, the whole amount was misappropriated. But any one of Bandagi Miyan's (RZ) followers did not stake any claim.

44. During the time of Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ), we (the author and his fellow fuqara) did not go anywhere in Sulakhkhanpur without (Bandagi Miyan's (RZ)) permission. Now we have become like animals which go anywhere they like. (Even) if the murshid prohibits them, they do not avoid going (anywhere).

45. It is reported by Miyan Abdul Qadir (RZ) that a brother came from Ahmadabad and conveyed the salutations of Syed Mustafa alias Ghalib Khan to Bandagi Miran Syed Mahmood (RZ). Bandagi Miran (RZ) became very angry at why he went there and brought the salutations of a worldly man."

46. It is narrated that the daughter of Sultan Mahmood (RZ) (of Gujarat) wrote a letter to Bandagi Miran Syed Mahmood (RZ). Bandagi Miran lamented very much at his name being mentioned in a letter by a worldly person, although she was among the conformists (sympathisers of Imam Mahdi (AS)).

47. If any brother were to go to the house of a conformist and the latter sent salutations to Bandagi Miran through him, the brother was so scared of Bandagi Miran (his murshid) that he would refuse to convey the salutations and say that the murshid would admonish him why he had gone there and brought the salutations.

48. Some of the seekers of Allah were such that when they went somewhere for some work or when the murshid sent them somewhere, and a rich man were to give them something on their way, they would not accept it. They did so because the quality of the person's self (nafs) was like that of a dog. If some one were to give it a morsel of food, it turns its attention to him, goes to his house, bows its head and wags its tail.

49. It is narrated that during the reign of the Prophet's first Caliph, Abu Bakar Siddiq (RZ), a companion of the Prophet came to him wailing and lamenting and said "During the period of the Prophet, I had found an amorous young woman, loaded with (lots of) jewellery, alone. The whole night I protected her, and at down I reached her to her house safely. Now, thoughts occur to me why I did not rob the woman of her jewellery." Hearing his story, Caliph Abu Bakar (RZ) too started lamenting and said: "That was the time of the Prophet, that such (evil) thoughts did not occur to you: and this is our time that they now occur to you."

50. It is narrated that Imam Mahdi (AS), Bandagi Miran Syed Mahmood (RZ), Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ), Miyan Ni'mat (RZ), Miyan Nizam (RZ) and Miyan Dilawar (RZ) did not go to the house of any person (outside the daira) either as a guest or to meet the sick or to express condolences. But they used to go to the houses of the inmates of the daira inside the daira.

51. It is narrated that Bandagi Miran Syed Mahmood (RZ) used to stay at the Bhelot daira along with his companions. (About three leagues away from this village) there was a small town. Many of the followers (muafiqan) of Imam Mahdi (AS) used to stay there. A follower, Malik Latif too stayed there. He used to invite Miyan Salamullah (RZ) (maternal uncle of Bandagi Miran Syed Mahmood (RZ)) every day to come to his house as a guest. Miyan Salamullah (RZ) used to make excuses (to avoid going to his house, lest Bandagi Miran overheard the invitation and took him to task). In short, one evening, he went after the sunset prayers (Maghrib) and returned before the night (Isha) prayers. Bandagi Miran came to know of the episode after the return of Miyan Salamullah (RZ) and he (Bandagi Miran (RZ)) severely rebuked him saying: "Why did you go there? I will break your house into pieces and throw you out of the daira. O uncle, I will not give any respect to you." After this, Miyan Salamullah (RZ) removed his turban and put it around his neck, and fell on the feet of Miranji Syed Mahmood (RZ), saying: "It was my mistake. Please forgive me." He did not show his face to Bandagi Miran Syed Mahmood (RZ) for over a month and a half. This, inspite of the fact that he was the maternal uncle of Bandagi Miran and a companion of Imam Mahdi (AS).

52. It is narrated that Bandagi Miyan Shah Ni'mat (RZ) had imprisoned some people because they used to go to Jalor to buy provisions and some of the followers of Imam Mahdi (AS), who resided there, used to take these inmates of the daira to their house and feed them. Miyan Ni'mat (RZ) rebuked them and ordered that their provisions should be brought by others, because "their hearts will not be content without going to the houses of the people." Bandagi Miyan Shah Ni'mat (RZ) even expelled some of the inmates of the daira after giving them the expenses of the journey for the reason that they used to go to the houses of the followers of Imam Mahdi (AS) (outside the daira).

53. Somebody went to Fateh Khan and told him that he had come from (the daira of ) Bhelot. Fateh Khan said: "Beat him." He himself lunged to thrash him, and started beating him with wooden slippers. Some people said: "Why do you beat an indigent (faqir)." Fateh Khan said: "I beat him so that nobody else should dare to take the name of the Bhelot daira, even by mistake."

54. Be it known that Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ), Miyan Ni'mat (RZ), Miyan Malikjeo (RZ), Miyan Dilawar (RZ) and Malik Ilahdad (RZ) stayed at Jalor for some years. They did not go to anybody's house as a guest. Nobody was happy at any seeker of Allah going to the houses of the followers (muafiqeen) for meals.

55. Be it known that Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) went to Naharvala to visit Malik Ma'roof (RZ), who was sick, and stayed there for some days. But he did not go to anybody's house as a guest. If somebody hosted him, he would bring the meals to the place (where Bandagi Miyan was staying).

56. Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) went to Naharvala from Khanbel for the Eid prayers. Malik Sharfuddin and the Bariwals came to receive him. They took him to the house of Malik Sharfuddin (to stay there). As long as he was there, people who wanted to host him would bring him his meals to the house of Malik Sharfuddin. Bandagi Miyan (RZ) did not go to anybody's house for the meals.

57. Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) went from Jalor to Khambait (Khambhat). The followers of Imam Mahdi (AS) there offered some money to Bandagi Miyan, who refused to accept the money, and said: "I have not come here to collect money. I have come for the sake of Allah."

58. It is narrated that Imam Mahdi (AS) had said that there were believers, hypocrites and infidels in his daira as they were in the daira of Prophet Muhammad (SLM). But Allah would not allow them (the hypocrites and the infidels) to die in the daira. Hence, (the author says), we should be much afraid (and careful).

59. It is narrated that if somebody asked Imam Mahdi (AS) for a piece of his apparel or footwear, he would say: "Take this and use it and do not keep it in the house (as a memento). Even if you wear the skin of this servant (of Allah), you will not achieve salvation (najat) unless you act according to what I have asked you to do."

60. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) told Fatima (RZ) (his daughter) "Act (do good deeds) and do not rely on the fact that you are my daughter."

61. And Allah has said: "So when the Trumpet shall be sounded, the ties of kindred shall cease…" (S. 23 :101 SAL)

62. Imam Mahdi (AS) has said: "Allah will not ask you whether you are the son of Ahmad or of Imam Mahdi (AS). Allah will ask for (good) deeds with love and devotion." Hence, O brother! Look at the commandments, and do not rely on being inside the daira or on that we will achieve salvation as charity (sadaqa) from Imam Mahdi (AS)."

63. And for him who has (great) love and devotion towards Allah, besides Prophet Muhammad (SLM) and Imam Mahdi (AS), it is obligatory to remain in the company of those who are either malakuti (angelic) or jabaruti (heavenly) or lahuti (of divine presence).

64. Allah has said: "Then We have given the Book (Quran) for inheritance to such of Our servants as We have chosen; but there are among them some who wrong their own souls; some who follow a middle course; and some who are, by Allah's leave, foremost in good deeds …" (S. 35 :32 SAL)

65. Hence, the person who goes out of the daira, abandoning their company, and becomes a seeker of the worldly life, and dies in seeking it, dies a hypocrite or an infidel. And the person who has great love and devotion to Prophet Muhammad (SLM) and his companions (RZ), and Imam Mahdi (AS) and his companions (RZ), and he intends to come out of the world, his house and his own existence (hasti), and is fully perfect and truthful in this desire, no judgement of infidelity or hypocrisy should be made on such a person. It should not also be said of him that he died out of and away from the daira. This, because Imam Mahdi (AS) has given glad tidings to some persons who had not migrated with him. Such people have been very few and far between. This is His Exaltation. One should not make a precedent of it.

66. It is narrated that there were many hundreds of seekers who had abandoned the world in the daira of Miyan Malikjeo Muhajir (RZ). Bandagi Miran Syed Mahmood (RZ) said that Miyan Malikjeo (RZ) should remain in the company of Imam Mahdi's (AS) migrant-companions (RZ). This, in spite of the fact that Miyan Malikjeo (RZ) used often to say that the person, who does not bring every day some new news from Allah. To such a person (Miyan Malikjeo (RZ)), Bandagi Miran Syed Mahmood (RZ) advised so (to go and remain in the company of the migrant-companions of Imam Mahdi (AS)). Who, then, dare institute a daira and call it a daira of Imam Mahdi (AS)?

| TOP | HOME |