Tableegh (Noble Da'wah) - A Guide to Happiness and Peace

5. Ijtemas

Visharam Ijthema and demise of Moulana Umar Saheb Palanpuri

Myself and Janab Ghayazuddin sb., were sent from Chennai  on behalf of Railways to accompany our elders from Markaz Nizamuddin for Visharam Ijtema.

In the Markaz, a jamath of our elders from Markaz left for AGRA  early in the morning for an ijtema in which Moulana Umar Sb. Palanpuri was also one of them, but I saw Umar Saheb Palanpuri being taken to the first floor in a chair around 10 am or so.  I was told that his health deteriorated and hence came back.

We were taking lunch with Moulana Yousuf Ceyloni sb., who was pretending to be eating with us but suddenly he excused himself, went inside the Masjid and started performing salah and was weeping.

We did not know the reason but the Qadim said that Moulana Umar Saheb Palanpuri expired.  On that night only we were supposed to start by Tamil Nadu Express for the Visharam Ijtema in which Moulana Umar Saheb Palanpuri, Moulana Ahmed Lot Sb., Professor Nadir Ali Khan Sb., Moulana Suleman Jhanji sb., Moulana Saad sb., and Moulana Zubair Sb., were scheduled.

Immediate mashwara (discussion) was held and it was decided that except Moulana Saad Sb., and Moulana Zubair Sb, others will start without waiting for the Janaza prayer of their beloved saathi  of years, Moulana Umar Sb.   Later, both of them came by flight.

During the journey, wherever the train halted, people came to see the AKABIR (the elders) and gave gifts of eatables, fruits, biscuits, Halwa etc.,  Moulana Ahmed Lot sb., said “whatever gifts we receive in one station should be given in the next station after taking that much required by us”, which we did.

In all the stations, Suleman Jhanji sb., alighted inspite of his knee pain, sat with those came to see us, gave them a small lecture on Allah(SWT) and the benefits of following Deen.  Moulana Ahmed Lot sahib said to him “you are earning a great reward!”.

Alhamdulillah, Visharam Ijtema was an eye opener for many of the people whose life changed from Zulmath to Hidayath (Darkness to Light).

Rourkela

Our Jamath was in Rourkela of Orissa State.  We had new faces in our jamath.

One young man by name khalil also came with us who did not have one hand and instead, a plastic one.  He said, “when I was travelling in a bus, there was an accident and I lost my hand.  Had the   small portion of flesh near the shoulder remained, Ameer Sb., I would have got finger movements but since it was cut up to shoulder, my artificial hand is not of any use”.

One brother by name Habeeb was attached to me in cooking on my turn.

I asked him whether he had any experience with cooking.  He said no.  Then I told him to start cutting onions and I will do the other things.  Normally, while cooking, we used to memorise a Dua or a small Surah (chapter of Quran). After some time, I saw him in tears.  I apologized for having given him a difficult task which will irritate the eyes.  But I found he was silently crying.

He said, “Brother, I am a businessman, I leave home early and return only after 6 pm.  I have five children.  My wife does the cooking, looks after the children, washes the clothes but when I return from my work, I shout at her if the food was not upto my taste and I throw the plate on her face.  She never used to say anything, in fact she will seek apology.

Only now I realize how tough is cooking, washing clothes and cleaning the vessels.  On my return, I will ask her to forgive me and brother, Insha Allah I’ll try to help her in her household work!”