In one of his Ashara Mubaraka sermons in London, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS mentioned the wonders of the world and while expounding on their rareness and the affection and liking they attract he referred to the mumineen and graciously stated: ‘haqeeqatan wonders of the world tame sagla cho’. The words reflect Moula’s high regard and eternal love for mumineen who are more rare and unique to him than the wonders of the world.
The words of Moula TUS brought to my mind a day in the year 1990 when Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin’s RA visited Toronto, Canada for the second time.
Out of many sharafs, which included hosting Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS at our humble house, I was also blessed with the fortunate opportunity to perform khidmat and accompany Moulana Mohammad Burhanuddin RA to Niagara falls.
Even during the trip to Niagara falls, Burhanuddin Moula RA would attend to munineen and spend time listening to them. For the same purpose, Moulana Mohammed Burhanuddin RA’s three-day trip to Niagara was shortened to one day as a mumin bhai presented him with an araz to visit his house.
Moulana RA left the Marriot Hotel leaving behind the whole caravan which included all the Shehzada Sahebo and other members of Qasre Aali.
After Moulana RA had left, I was present at the hotel when Busaheba Amatullah Aisaheba QR and Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS were discussing what everyone should do as Moulana RA had left. Busahea QR, the light-hearted soul that she was, suggested to Mufaddal Moula TUS: ‘tame rokai jao’ to which Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS replied: ‘yahan rokai ne su karye, yahan to koi zyarat bhi nathi’ and expressed his wish to be with Moulana Mohammed Burhanuddin RA.
It was late in the night and I was driving Mufaddal Moula TUS and Amatullah Aisaheba QR back from Niagara; just three of us. Every once in a while, Mufaddal Moula TUS would inquire if I am feeling okay and comfortable driving. In one instance, Moula TUS woke up and asked: ‘bhai tame theek cho? Tamne neend to nathi awi rahi?. ‘Nai Moula’, I softly replied. Moula TUS added with a radiant smile: ‘Jo tamne neend awe to ghaari roki lejo aney yahan coke che, aankh ma charakjo to neend nai aawe’.
Astonished and amazed, I nodded with a smile.
Years later, we were driving to Dallas from Toronto, which is approximately a twenty-hour drive. My son and I had decided to take turns in driving through the route. My son was played out and it was my turn to take the wheel; however, I was equally tired as I had not rested enough when my son drove.
It was 2:30 am and just as I began to drive, I felt extremely sluggish and drowsy. My son had just slept and I had to find a way to drive through for at least a few hours before asking him to drive again. I took Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin’s RA name and in that very moment, words of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS came to my mind: ‘Jo tamne neend awe to ghaari roki lejo aney yahan coke che, aankh ma charakjo to neend nai aawe’.
I grabbed a coke, splashed some of it on my face, and started to recollect and relive all those blessed moments I had spent with Moula. We reached Dallas and I had been driving for more than ten hours without a sign of fatigue or weariness.
As I narrate this, I realize today that more than the coke, it was the recalling of all those beautiful memories of Moula that brought about a breath of fresh air and enkindled a sense of vigor within the spirit.
That is exactly what memories of Moula do to mumineen; refresh their hearts and souls.
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Sheikh Hakimuddin Bhai Shakir
Toronto, Canada
In the means of shukr and zikr, anyone who is willing to share his/her’s acquaintance, incident or any experience with Moulana Muqaddas RA or Moulana Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS can mail it to dm@tazkerat.org & md@tazkerat.org
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