Sixteen Stitches In Caliph Umar's Garment

Weekly speech at Tableeghi Markaz, Tolichowki, Hyderabad
Published in Muslim Murasu, February 2013

Man is formed when two drops meet. A long history goes before this. Blood cannot be made in laboratories. Man is spread in wind, land and water before his birth.
Allah gathered all Rooh (soul) from first person to last person. This included Prophets, Auliyas and everyone else. Allah asked. Surah Ahraf, 7, verse 172 – ‘alastu birabbikum’. Am I not your Lord. ‘qaalu balaa. Shahidnaa’. Yes You are, we do testify. That day we did not have face, body or shape. Seeing and hearing are properties of Rooh. We heard and answered.
The knowledge that Prophet (sal) brought is related to this. We cannot realize it through research or rationality. People rejecting Allah are misleading others. They believe only what they can see. There is no soul in the knowledge that man emphasizes. Kabr (graveyard) can either be a chamber of hell or a garden of heaven. But if we dig, we cannot feel the heat of hell or the fragrance of heaven.
The things that Prophet revealed belong to another world. Doing Amal (good deeds) will not be easy unless we bring faith on unseen things. Imaan bil gaib. A shopkeeper will receive a customer pleasingly only if he believes he will buy something worthy. Window shoppers will not be taken seriously.
Missionary work will strengthen our faith. People believing Mushahida, things that are visible, are away from Imaan. People will be standing around when a person dies. But no one can see angels or the soul departing. Our struggle is between what we see and what we are told. Everyone on the earth are blind. Only Prophet saw angels, Shaitan and hidden things. It is not wrong to be a blind. But wallowing and persisting in blindness is wrong.
Quran starts with aleef, laam, meem. Set aside your knowledge and experiences. Then you can understand this Book. A person often coming to mosque is a Moomin. Prayer is evidence that he surrenders to God. Companions of Prophet were very average people. But they were transformed to rule the world. Once Caesar shuddered on hearing the name of Umar (rali). Abu Huraira (rali) narrates: ‘Umar was giving Kutba. I saw sixteen stitches in his dress’.
Safina was a companion of Prophet. ‘Safina’ means ship. He was once carrying the luggage of all parties in the caravan. Prophet felt happy about him and called him ‘Safina’. We should follow this guidance and help our fellow travelers.
There is a Hadees in Mishkat Shareef. Safina once got lost from the caravan. He was alone and faced a lion. He became happy that he has received Allah’s help. “I belong to Prophet’s Ummat. I am lost from my companions”. Lion showed him the way. He rejoined his companions.
Islam did not spread through political might. Prayer and fasting cannot be brought under political power. Politics will not give the power of Imaan. Go to every house and proclaim Allah’s praise.
Surah Muddashir, 74, verses 1 to 3 – ‘ya ayyuhal muddashir kum fanzir wa rabbaka fakabbir’. Praise your Lord. See the message given to Prophet. Work among men in the daytime and indulge in prayer at night. Surah Muzammil, 73, verses 1 and 2 – ‘ya ayyuhal muzammil qumillaila illa kaleelan’. Stand for prayer at night. Reaching people and proclaiming the message is only vessel. Soul in that vessel is Tahajjad prayer. Prophet used to pray Tahajjad at night.
Surah Muhammad, 47, verse 7 – ‘in tansurullaha yansurkum wa yushabbit akdaamakum’. If you aid Allah, He will aid you and plant your feet firmly. Surah Ala Imran, 3, verse 160 – ‘in yansurkumullahu falaa gaalibalakum’. None can overcome you if God helps you. This is Allah’s promise.