A forum for all the Warsi’s across the globe

IZAT-E-WARIS

Chapter IV

The question now arises: What was the purpose of his life and were the times in which he lived and moved particularly favorable for the birth of a saint?

The history of India after the first half of the nineteenth century is closely connected with the history of England. The government of the country having been taken up by the Crown, it was natural that the scientific and intellectual activities of the great Victorian age should have their influence over this country. It was the dawn of English education among us. The impact of Western ideas after long years of mental lethargy in the East brought about a rude awakening. So far as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh were concerned the appearance on the scene later of the reputable champion of the Western civilization and culture – Sir Syed Ahmed Khan – revolutionalized the whole Muslim community. In his anxiety to model the rising generation on Western lines he applied the pruning knife to religion first. An attempt was made to reject the ancient theories and traditions and to explain away the rest in terms of European science and philosophy. The new movement, termed by the orthodox as the "naturalistic" movement, threatened to shake the foundations of the faith. But nature always adjusts its forces. In the midst of this welter of ideas when materialistic tendencies were growing on one side, a dazzling spectacle of spiritualism was presented on the other. Haji Saheb was not a hierophant or a preacher. He did not oppose the spread of English education. An interesting story is told of an interview between Haji Saheb and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. Haji Saheb happened to visit Aligarh. Sir Syed on hearing of his visit, sent a message to him requesting for a private interview, and he was asked to come in the evening. Sir Syed arrived late in the evening after dinner and knocked at the door. One of the servants inquired as to who was there. The visitor answered that it was the Satan. Haji Saheb got the door opened at once and received him most cordially. The interview lasted longer than usual. Sir Syed complained about that the members of his own community called him a heretic or even an infidel. Haji Saheb rejoined that a Syed could never be a disbeliever in God and added: "I am not at all opposed to English education, but faith, love and sincerity are great essentials". Haji Saheb was as popular with the anglicized youth as with the people of the older generation. English-knowing men flocked to him by hundreds and sat at his feet. He is the first Sufi darwesh who crossed the seas and visited Europe as he is also the first to have attracted the English-knowing class. His existence which covered the greater part of the century was a practical protest against the supremacy of matter over mind and he represented a type of godliness and righteousness before which the disturbing forces of unbelief gave away.

The work of initiation was carried on till the last moment of his life, and he passed away on the 7^th of April 1905 after a brief illness. One stands in awe and pictures to oneself the four score years of self-imposed suffering, the seven days fast, the barefooted journeys, the endless wanderings, the wakeful nights, the ceaseless breathing of the name of God, the heart filled with love and head bowed to the Maker in absolute resignation! He was a monarch in the domain of Sufism. His great humanity and his wide sympathies enabled him to break from the artificial bonds of religion and to make the people of different castes and creeds shake hands with the followers of his sacred order. He achieved by the silent force of example what was never accomplished by the tongue or the sword. His mission was to teach the love of God as well as universal love. He did so by practicing what he preached, rallying men of conflicting creeds under a common banner, conquering all earthly desires and by merging the finite in the infinite, thus fulfilling God in man.

He was buried on the spot where he died. It is now marked by a splendid monument – one of the finest in Oudh – erected in his memory by some of his devoted followers. The flight of steps leading to the tomb are worn daily by the footsteps of a stream of pilgrims, but the gathering is the largest on the occasion of his death anniversary when a religious fair is held at Deva. The cult continues to progress, for every year at the time of the Urs.

On Haji Saheb's death a dispute arose about succession which resulted in a law suit and the creation of a trust. It is recorded on good authority that he made a formal declaration to the effect that no one was to be appointed his successor. He used the following words: "Love is better than formal righteousness. My creed is love and a lover has no successor". It is not necessary that every Sufi darwesh or Shaikh must have a successor. The principle underlying the appointment of a Sajjada Nashin originally was that he should continue the spiritual line by carrying on the esoteric teaching of his predecessor in addition to imparting theological instruction; for in the early days of Sufism a monastery or a mosque was partly used as a seminary also. It was an indispensable qualification for a Sajjada Nashin that he should at least be a man of outward piety, besides learning. If a Shaikh failed to nominate a successor none was appointed. Sometimes one of the disciples best qualified for the purpose was elected by the majority of the members of the sect. The office has been degraded these days owing its conversion into a source of gain, and it has lost its pristine sanctity.

I cannot end without making in humble reverence the confession that I have not been able to do justice to the subject, for the simple reason that Haji Saheb belonged to that great company who are the true servants of God, but who are far removed from our understanding as they are near to Him.

 

Acknowledgement:

This paper was originally written and published in 1922 by Syed Iftikhar Hussain Warsi Kakorvi on the personal request of Sir Richard Burn. Keeping in view the modern English in practice now a days, we have made a few minor changes in it.