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IT
is a strange scheme of things the Creator and Administrator
of the universe employs. He nourishes a priceless pearl in
the belly of a worthless shell and sets it in the crown of
a king; He hides a diamond in the countless grains of sand
of a desert that is then coveted by the richest and wealthiest;
He places a stone in the heart of mountains that reaches the
height of fame once through the hands of a jeweler; He blossoms
flowers with so sweet a fragrance that draws every traveler.
The respected person who has recently joined the caravan of
martyrdom was one such hidden flower and one such invaluable
jewel.
He was born in a little known, underdeveloped village where
the children tend goats to boost their hungry parents’
income, or enter public school with dispirited dreams. The
people who suggested the name “Nizamuddin” would
have had their best wishes at heart, but even they would never
have dreamed the share the Distributor had written for him
for disciplining an ummah torn with confusion and disunity
and of serving deen and people of deen.
Only he who is master of His decisions knew the future. He
may deprive the sons of claimants of knowledge and wisdom
for the service of deen and He may accept the posterity of
workers, unlettered people, even sons of Hindus and Sikhs
for the service and propagation of His deen. He does not look
at the family tree nor intellect or acumen; He does not consider
wealth, lands or beauty; but yes, true desire is what counts.
The desire-less remains deprived even if they seem to have
much and the desirous are given even if they seem to have
naught. Vanity bows to their humbleness and wealth curtseys
to their poverty.
What else but true desire held the hand of this poor and unknown
lad of Shamazai and took him to the pillars of knowledge of
the time in Karachi. He came there as a student and traveler
and then made Karachi his own………sadly, Karachi
did not own him. This city that yesterday made men, now takes
men. The land of Karachi has guzzled the blood of countless
humans but is still thirsty for more. There was a time when
jungles were scary, now cities are creepy. What else but fear
and terror will reign in a city that does not value its benefactors,
educators, and builders?
The higher-ups of knowledge, the alchemists, whose company
turned ordinary stone to the philosopher’s stone, recognized
the hidden worth of this young man who had come to Karachi
with the true desire for knowledge. The years went by and
the process of turning into a philosopher’s stone continued
and at last the time came when the taught became the teacher,
when the decreed was elevated to the position of the decreer,
when the student of the knowledge of Hadith was crowned with
the coronet of Sheikh ul Hadith (teacher of Hadith).
Lots of `Ulama become well known and respected and a haven
for people, but very few of them would have had the fortune
to gain the position in so short a time that Hazrat Mufti
Shamazai (rahimahullahu) gained. Generally speaking, he was
renowned in the fields of teaching and verdict giving when
he was in Jamiah Farooqia, but it reached legendary heights
in Jamiah Uloom Islamiyyah Binnori Town. Allama Shamazai was
in charge of Specialization in Jurisdiction, the Head of Darul
Ifta, and Sheikul Hadith. But his person was not bound to
the Jamiah alone, but the whole of Pakistan was reaping his
benefits. What movement was not linked to him? What religious
institution did not call him their patron? What mujahid, preacher,
or faithful server of deen was isolated from his affections?
He did not own a madrasah but all madaris were his, he did
not belong to a group but all groups were his. He was naturally
content, open-handed, and polite…humiliation, discouragement,
hate, and enmity were forbidden in his sect. He never turned
anyone empty-handed. Other scholars of the day tried many
a time to caution him, some openly criticized that such a
degree of courteousness that any and everyone was using his
name, was claiming his patron ship for his group, was writing
his name on their letterheads, was claiming his book to be
“approved” by him, was inadvisable. But Mufti
Sahib was powerless at the hands of his good manners and politeness;
he would say, “What can I do? I just can’t say
no.” Many a worker of Islamic organizations were helped
secretly without anyone the wiser.
Distance lends charm, but the proof of any person’s
good nature is when the people living with him day and night
attest to his piousness, forbearance, dignity, big-heartedness,
and purity. Today’s code is to blow one’s own
trumpet, to boast of one’s real or imagined achievements.
To show a good nature in a gathering, in a journey, for some
days or weeks before guests or companions is easy, but to
maintain this good nature and moral superiority in the crests
and troughs of life through long years, through the ups and
downs of existence, is difficult. Here the proof is given
by a personality who is far from hypocricy or hyperbole. I
mean respected teacher, Dr. Abdur Razzaq Iskandar. He says,
“I have never seen Mufti Sahib in anger in a long companionship.”
This does not mean that he never got angry; his passion at
the sacrilege of deen and those of deen was something to see.
But for his own being, or the disregard of his suggestions,
he was immune to anger. You only need to look at the last
press release of his life that was given in response to the
“pronouncements” of a despotic ruler who urges
the people to stay away from religious leaders, targets madaris
for criticism, assigns Hudood (Islamic Law) to human ingenuity,
uses the words “religious fanatics” again and
again for the sincere lovers of Islam. Have another look at
the press release. You will find each and every sentence bursting
with the honor of Imaan and you will feel that in a country
where no one has the right to hold up his head, it’s
a wonder he was allowed to live for so long.
Consider; a person who issues decrees of jihad against America
sitting on his mat, the servant of Allah who publicly denounces
those demeaning Islam, and who was openly and internationally
considered an ally of those who drink deeply from the vessel
of Islam; how long would he be tolerated? How long can a dauntless
being be allowed to walk the streets and criticize an enslaved
country? This passion and fervor was all for Right and Righteous;
for his self, he was unflustered. In spite of being appointed
on several designations of honor and esteem in the prized
Binnori Town University, humbleness and self-sacrifice was
apparent in each gesture. Close companions tell that in the
life of Shaheed-e-Islam, Hazrat Ludhyanwi (rahimahullahu),
after delivering his dars on Sahih Bukhari, Mufti Shamazai
used to proceed to “Babur Rahmat” to serve him.
This humility and poise was apparent also in his conversation
and speeches. He used to discuss even the most grave and serious
topic in a dignified way. It was not his way to shout and
be out of control. He talked in a rational and clear manner
that went from the ear straight to the heart and even the
contestants were moved to concede the depth of meaning and
truth.
The righteous, their hearts heavy with the going of one scholar
after the other, were glad and thankful to Allah to have a
leader that guided them from the khanqah to the darsgah, from
politics to jihad, from the persecution of mistaken sects
to matters of jurisdiction and discourse; a guide who was
aware of internal and external enemies; who was alert to the
intrigue of hypocrites. But who knew that the righteous would
be deprived of this merciful protection so soon and the burden
on their souls would be made heavier?
It is another matter that the departed, departed in such a
manner that the remaining are envious. Supplication and entreaties
with his Lord during the night, dhikr and recitation of the
Quran at daybreak, the tongue fragranced, the heart luminous,
an intention of teaching the most righteous book after the
Quran…and then eve descended on the one who gave the
lessons of light……….oh! But what does my
pen write? Why eve? This is the beginning of a new life………a
life that will never see the end, a life that has a dawn but
no dusk, a life that is apparently death but which is actually
a nations salvation.
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