In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful

The Teachings of Mehdi-Maud (A.H.S)

Essay by: Sabahat Mahmood
(Editorial Note: This is the article written by a 13 year old girl)

The topic for today's essay is, 'The teachings of Mehdi-Maud (A.H.S) and the formation of a good virtuous society'. Let us first put a glance at what society is and what its present structure is.'

A society is a collection of people having more or less common rites and rituals; common morals and principles; common needs and aspirations; and various institutions like trade, commerce, industries, educational centers etc. There are various norms and principles on which it stands.

The present society is mostly worldly. People are running more and more after worldly pleasures. The morale of the society has gone too low. Religious principles do not hold any great importance for men. Instead, they quarrel and fight in the name of religion. Characterless people commit all types of crimes. They kill people, steal and loot things. Terrorist use bombs to destroy man and material. Man has become man's enemy. Vices are averting the virtues. There is injustice and animosity filled every where. We are living in a very wretched and shameful condition.

Should we continue living in this kind of a society? Now should we think of reforming it? Yes. But how can we do that? First we must try to find out the root cause of all the evils that are prevalent in today's modern society. A deep thinking leads us to the fact that the main cause of all these evils is worldliness and religiouslessness. Wordsworth has said that the world is too much with us, late and soon. The present condition is comparatively worse. Quran has time and again warned us against the love for worldly life and its possessions. Prophet Mohammed (P.B.U.H) and Mehdi Maud (A.H.S) have asked us to stay away from the love for this world, be religious and restrain oneself from all sins and crimes.

Hazrath Syed Mohammed Jaunpuri, the Imam Mehdi-e-Maud (A.H.S) was the khalifathullah, the khatim-e-vilayat-e-Mohammadia, Masoom-unil-khata and Taab-e-taam of our Prophet Mohammed Mustafa (P.B.U.H). The Quranic message was taken up by Immamana (A.H.S) and the people were given, Farayaz-e-Vilayat that are as binding and obligatory as the teaching of the prophet (P.B.U.H), as per the Quranic Ayats.

Now, what are these Farayaz-e-Vilayat, and how they influence the people's life? These are the teachings and Farameens of Mehdi-e-Maud (A.H.S), which would guide people on the right path.
We shall in brief try to discuss these teachings and its impact on the society. But before doing so I would like to stress that Farayaz-e-Vilayat are not only for Tark-e-Dunya faqirs, but are to be followed by all the Mahdavis if they are to become highly civilized and cultivated humans who can work for the betterment of society and humanity.

Mehdi Maud (A.H.S) condemned worldly life with all its possession and taught his followers to take up Tark-e-Dunya which means self denial and makes a man free from all self centered passions, pleasures and love for this world. A greedy life is forbidden because it makes a man selfish, miser and worst of unmindful of Allah. This type of life is declared unlawful by Allah and the Prophet (P.B.U.H). Allah says in Quran, "But as for him, who feared to stand before this Allah and restrained his soul from lust, lo! the garden will be his home". Therefore, Tark-e-Dunya means giving up forbidden things and controlling one's ego.

Allah said in Quran, "Oh! ye who believe, has fear of Allah and keep the company of the truthful (Sadikeen)." Mehdi (A.H.S) has declared it obligatory to keep the company with sadikeen and Murshideen, for they alone can guide people in the right direction and make Allah's zikr and ways of reaching Him easy.

Zikr is continuous and regular remembrance of Allah. It comes in Quran, "When ye have performed the acts of worship, remember Allah, sitting, standing and lying." Mehdi Maud (A.H.S) made zikr, one of the most important duties and obligations of the momin and said that anything that is likely to interfere with zikr is Haraam. Its main purpose is to keep the heart constantly towards Allah for it would guide us on the path which Allah has blessed and would keep us away from the path of those who go astray.

Tawwakal, complete trust in Allah, is declared obligatory by Imamana (A.H.S) in the light of Quaranic teachings. Allah says in Quran, "Have trust in Allah, if you are a momin." After making some efforts, leaving the result on Allah, is the ordinary grade of Tawakkal. But the highest grade is to surrender oneself before Allah, without making any effort, and to accept what ever comes with grace and satisfaction. This would certainly demolish the pillars of dishonesty, greed and selfishness that are prevalent in our society today and would give rise to God-fearing, true, honest and selfless momins.

When we hear about some extra-ordinary human being, we try to learn more about him and if possible, to have a look at him, similarly, when we acknowledge the greatness of Allah who is all powerful, and knowing and present everywhere, and worship with total devotion, then it is natural to develop anxiety to see Him. This desire is known as 'Talab-e- deedar-e-khuda, which Mehdi (A.H.S) has declared it to be a farz or an obligation. Allah said in Quran, "The one who is blind in the world would be blind in the hereafter." It means that the man who does not have Allah's vision in this lifetime, then even after his death, in the hereafter would be denied this opportunity. Imamana (A.H.S) has said that a momin is one who sees Allah with his eyes or in his heart or in his dreams or atleast develops an intense desire for Allah's vision and continues his quest. But to reach such spiritual heights and the vision of Allah, one must pray with sincere devotion, give up worldly pleasures, observe Tawwakal, practice Zikr and leave the result on mercy and grace of Allah then Insha-Allah, all the people would keep themselves away from the forbidden deeds and make our society a place filled with love peace and harmony.

Ushr is one tenth of a person's income that is to be given away to Murshideen and the needy in the name of Allah. Allah said in Quran " O, ye who believe, spend of the good things that ye have earned". Mehdi (A.H.S) has made ushr a compulsory duty on all his followers. The ushr can be used to change the economic phase of our society. there are Murshideens and faqirs who don't even get two meals a day, so many people who have to get their daughters married and many more who do not have enough money to educate their children. By taking out ushr from our income and giving it to the poor and needy we can help them to overcome their problems and difficulties and at the same time achieve love, grace and mercy of Allah.

Sawiyat is another principle of Imamana (A.H.S) that is closely related to ushr. Sawiyat means equal distribution of the futuh received. During Imamana's time all the futuh received was equally distributed among the inmates of the Daira according to their need. Even during our Prophet's (P.B.U.H) time sawiyat and ushr were given. This practice will keep people away from being selfish, greedy and miser at the same time help many needy people.

Tawaba or repentance is a must for all the believers. We must seek the pardon of Allah promising not to commit these sins again. The Quran says, "Oh! believers confess your sins before Allah and seek His pardon". Thus when a person realizes his sins and seeks Allah's forgiveness with a true and firm faith, he won't commit that sin again and won't get deviated by his ego on worldly lust.

The life of Imamana (A.H.S) was the following of Kitab-ullah and Rasool-ullah. He practiced what he preached. He inculcated in his followers intense love for Allah and a deep desire for his vision. Apart from this he emphasized on Hijrath and Jihad. He opposed accumulation of wealth for tomorrow. Once he received 2nd sawiyat after the first, so he gave away the 1st saying that a momin does not accumulate. He led the most exalted noble life.

The principles and teachings of Mahdawia constitute the highest ideals in society. A perfect follower of these principles would become God-fearing and develop true and deep adoration of Allah. He would also believe in tolerance, have love for truth, pity the oppressed and at the same time become kind, generous, honest compassion and will adopt nobler thoughts and modes of life. If each Madavi of our society will abide by these principles, then our society will become the best place to live in and set an example for all others to follow.

I would like to conclude my essay by quoting what Moulana Abul Kalam Azad has written about lives and principle of Mahdavis. He had said that it seemed as if the angels that descended from heaven to purify the earth.