Thursday, December 25, 2008

NAJWA E A'ANSOO

Saughat- e -a’ansoo leke aya hoon aza’ ki majlis me
yehi hadiyah- e- azadari hai meray MOULA ki pasand


( this is the extempore composition by my artist friend Bhai Noorudin Amarjee conveyed over phone, as I told him of Aqa Moula’s reception bayan mubarak, and my intention to write on the subject)

On hearing Aqa Moula’s bayan at the Mombasa airport (courtesy DB Net) I started reflecting on the bayan wherein Aqa Moula, at the very start, brought into focus, his aspirations and purpose, by stating ‘ su najwa arz karso – tamara a’ansoo na najwa ne lewa ayo chhu…..’ This address was not confined to the mumineen of Mombasa and all those who have been blessed to be with Aqa Moula (TUS) in the Burhani Masjid and its precincts, but mumineen worldwide.

So every mumineen in all earnest should, at first become aware of what Aqa Moula (TUS) is requiring of them during this Muharram, what will make him please and earn his satisfaction and blessings.

Once you become aware and focused, as to what is expected of you by your Moula this A’shara, whether you are blessed to sit at his feet in Mombasa, or you are sitting in a very small congregation in Modasa (Gujrat) it does not matter, unless you are able to weep profusely on the Martyerdom of Imam Husain (S.A.) on the burning plains of Karbala.

I agree it is easy said than done, no sermonizing here, one has to be practical.

First step is becoming aware of what is required of you, next your personal assessment of yourself. Human beings are all different, there are people who can shed tears easily, yet there are others who find it difficult to cry. I have observed many blessed mumineen, who at the mere sight of Aqa Moula tend to shed a lot of tears, others are equally emotional and moved, but tears do not come that easily, and there is a scientific explanation to it. ( to get my point straight, I will confide to you about my sister, who has grown up children of her own and stays in Pune. Now whenever, she comes to see me off at the station, I fail to understand, but as the train leaves the platform, she starts crying !!!)

It is for this reason, that Aqa Moula says, that ‘rovu na aavtu hoi, to Nazrul Mukam mano, mane yaad karo, maro chehro tamarni nazar samne rakho…’
So the first step is precisely do that.

Once you are focused, the next step is ‘m’arefat’ for whom, you are shedding your tears, and why are you shedding year after year. I will just state one of the many reason, as often said by Aqa Moula (TUS) ‘ mumineen tame mara Moula Imam Husain na matam ane rova matej paiyda thaya cho, tamara paiydais no maqsad Imam Husain par a’aho jari karvoo che’ ( Note: these are not the exact words, but the spirit of the bayan mubarak is conveyed)

Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin Moula in his munajaat has beautifully articulated the sentiment of, forever remembering Husain (s.a.) in the following words:
WA AZKURU MOULAYAL HUSAINA DAA LANA, BE SAJDATEHE INDASH SHAHADATAY SAEELA (I always remember Moula Husain (s.a.) who during his shahadat remembered us in his Doa)

So it becomes obligatory and part of living faith for a mumin to shed a’asoo and do matam. During the bayan at the airport Aqa Moula recited the verse from Ya Sayedas Shohadaee - fizi aya nafse fizi ...

So once you become aware and focused, the next step is m’arefat and Muqaadas Moula Syedna Taher Saifuddin (RA) helps us in doing so, in the following verse :

AZHAL HUSAINU YUNADI, BAEENA JUMOIL AADI, INNIBNU TAHA WA SAADEE, MUNZO SALASEEN SADEE, ATLOOBU SHURBATA MAEE, WALAHFATA YA HUSAINA, YA SAYEDASH SHOHADEE.

(On the day of Ashaura before Shahadat, Husain (s.a.) performed the duty of Hujjat with enemies and asked. Don’t you know I am the son of that Nabi (s.a.) whom Quran has addressed as Tahaa and Suaad ? I am thirsty since last three days. I only ask of you just one sip of water. O Husain our grief upon you, O leader of the Shohada)

Believe me my young friends, when ever I recite the above verse, I am over whelmed by a surge of emotions, and tears flow as the entire scene of helplessness of an exalted Imam unfolds.

In an instant my mind recalls all those rightful people, who in order to uphold the truth, have suffered at the hands of tyrants. I recall Moulai Raj walking in the mohallas of Ahmedabad in ‘fakiri libas’ to save the souls from going astray, I recall Moulai Hasanfir, who because of his knowledge and piety, earned the enmity of the courtiers and was martyred. Spirituality suffered, knowledge was trampled by worldly and naïve people wielding position and power. It is important to connect your thoughts and feelings.

At times recalling your meanness, your turning away a needy mumin bhai, wrongful use of your power and position to hurt a fellow human etc: in short recalling your sins and wrong doings and repenting, as you do matam, releases emotions and a torrent of tears. Just try it out this Muharram.

One is bound to shed tears on reciting the following verse, as to what the enemy did.

LAM YASMAU MINHU QAWLA, WAIZ SHAQU MA SAQAWLA, BAL QATALU MINHU MAWLA, AAMAL BARAYA TAWLAN, ALA ASHADDE ZAMAEE, WALAHFATA YA HUSAINA, YA SYEDASH SHOHADAEE.

(Enemies did not listen to his call, due to cruelty and enmity none of them gave water, but they killed him in the extreme of the thirst, one whose ahsaan covered the whole Universe. My unlimited sorrow and grief upon you, O leader of the Shohada.)

( Excerpts taken from my article entitled THE TRAGEDY OF KARBALA IN THE CONTEXT OF MARASIYA YA SYEDASH SHODAEE) www.hikmaah.com

Thus, I have tried to share with you my reflections and thoughts on the subject, and Allah willing I hope many will surely benefit.

I have also been reading on the subject of crying and the experiments being carried out at St: Paul Ramsey Medical Centre in Minnesota.

Emotional tears are the response which only humans have, for only humans can weep. Ashley Montagu concluded that, weeping contributes not only to the health of the individual, but also to the group in a sense of community and that it tends to deepen involvement in the welfare of others.

Tears are secreted by our lachrymals – tiny sponge like glands, which rest above the eye against the eye socket. It physical benefit is that it lubricates the eyeballs and eyelids.


In experiments, it has been found that emotional tears after watching a sad movie, helped in the excretory process, which removes toxic substances that normally build up during emotional stress.

However, it was not the case with tears that flowed on account of cutting onions. Tears serve as an evolutionary survival function. Crying is therapeutic, tears help us heal and are valuable aid to restoring inner calmness and peace.

Book Refrence: William Frey :Crying –the Mystery of Tears
Gregg Levoy : Tears that Speak – Psychology Today
Ashley Montagu : The Evolution of Weeping- Science Digest

I have merely mentioned the above to make the readers aware of the importance that the scientific community is giving to the study.

However, we mumineen are not so mindful and concerned with the benefits that we receive at personal level, but are main concern and purpose is to earn the ‘khusi’ of our beloved Aqa Moula, and we know for sure what barakat and bounties we are to be blessed with in ‘akherat’ for shedding a’ansoo on Imam Husain (SA)

I conclude with the doa –

‘ baqi rahe Burhanuddin az-hurmat-e-a’ansoo’ Ameen.

NEW HIJRI YEAR 1430 MUBARAK AND MOHANNA TO ALL.
ILTEMAS UL DOA DURING THE DAYS OF A’SHARA AND SPECIALLY ON THE DAY OF A’SHURA.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Dear Asgar Uncle, as always u were v practical and easy in making the core point get staright to where it shud.. jazakallah..
You can also join for free at facebook's group created specially for Waaz Talaqqi..


M Huzaifa Shk Abbas
Mumbai - India

Anonymous said...

very well conveyed. Looking forward to read more from you during Ashara.
May Allah grant our Aqa Moula (TUS) a long and healthy life, and you grant great health and motivation to continue such work.

Anonymous said...

Salaam Asgaruncle,
Well done sir no words to explain internal feelings we expect more during ashura please keep it up.
May Allah grant our Aqa Moula (TUS) a long and healthy life, and you grant great health and motivation to continue such work.


Thanking you
Dr.kutub laxmidhar

Moiz Rangoonwala said...

Dear Asgharbhai, Your article is very aptly written. An incident during the time of Imam Ali Zainul Abedeen S.A. reminds me the sanctity and significance of Aansoo.
One day ,a mumin mukhlis went to the Hazrat of Imam Ali Zainul Abedeen S.A. He had some hajat to be fulfilled. The attendant in khidmat said: "Imam has just gone into Namaz".
" When Shall he manifest back"? enquired the mumin. "Tomorrow morning" . Attendant replied casually.
"Why tomorrow, why not after Namaz is over"? Mumin asked anxiously . "Don't you know that this is night and Imam does Ibadat through the entire length of night till it dawns?"
Mumin as he was very hopeful decided to look forward to Imam's appearance till the morning.
When it dawned, Imam after retiring from his Ibadat came across the mumin and enquired about his well-being. Mumin narrated to Imam the entire story about him and said he had waited for him throughout the night. Imam was taken aback a little and patted him softly saying "what were you doing sitting outside the whole night"?
Mumin very humbly submitted that as he thought about Imam's Ibadat, it took him to the tragic days of Karbala when Imam Husain S.A. the father of present Imam had performed the Ibadat-e-Sajada-e-Akhir inthose crucial moments as he was put to death by sword of the enemy. Thus mumin said that he wept profusely for Imam Husain in a part of the night and hoped for his hajat to be fulfilled.
As mumin raised his sight , He found Imam Ali Zain-ul-Abedeen in tears, ferevently asking for a favour from mumin. Mumin in pur-khulus manner pleaded: "Maula,ghulam is present for any khidmat that you may assign".
Imam with tears in his eyes said to the mumin: "'will you please exchange your "Aansoo" with my ibaadat by night"?. Mumin too with tears in his eyes very humbly showed his readiness but could not resist to come up with his quest : "why"? Imam Ali Zainul Abedin S.A. who for his "Ibaadat-Sheaa'ri" is known as "ornament of performers of prayers" said to the mumin:" Your one Aansoo-the tear is more than equivalent to my whole Ibaadat by night because such was the tragedy of Karbala wherein my glorious father Imam Husain's radiant Head was dismantled from his body in the quest of saving His Nanaji Prophet Mohammed S.A.'s Islam". Mumin submitted:"Truly".
Let's all of us gift this "Najva-e-Aansoo" to our Beloved Aqa Maula T.U.S. who in his true right of being Dai of Imam Husain S.A. sought the Najwa-e-Aansoo from mumineen in his inaugural address at Mombasa for moharram of 1430 A.H.
May he live till the day of Qayamat with hurmat-e-aansoo for "Najwa-e-Aansoo".

Mohammedi saifuddin Rangoonwala.gle

Mustafa H. Mandasorewala said...

Dear Bhai

very Good said, we all must only cocentrate on the words our Bawa Mushfiq especially in these days

Regards
Mustafa H. Mndasorewala
Karachi- Pakistan