Auliya - Ambassadors of peace

Allah Ta'ala says in the Holy Quran:

 

And the (favorite) servants of the Most Kind (Lord) are those who walk gently on the earth and when the ignorant (i.e. impolite) people say to them something (unlikable) they (get aside) saying: ‘Peace.’  Surah Furqan (25:63)

 

In this verse of the Holy Quran, Allah Ta'ala is describing some of the characteristics of His distinguished servants, who when they walk, walk with dignity and whenever anyone speaks harshly with them, they talk peacefully and do not return evil with evil, but instead return evil with good.

 

They don’t reply to oppression with oppression, but instead forgive the oppressor.  They give the message of peace with their character.  They don’t terrorize the one who terrorizes, but teach him peace and mercy.

 

Hadhrat Qadhi Sanaullah Panipati (May Allah shower His mercy on him) writes in the Tafseer of the aforementioned verse:

 

Translation:  Hadhrat Mujahid (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  This means such precise talk through which they remain safe from hurting others and falling into sin.  Hadhrat Maqatil bin Hibban also said the same.  Hadhrat Khwaja Hasan Basri (May Allah be well pleased with him) says:  If any ignorant person talks unreasonably with them, they patiently bear it and don’t resort to rashness.  (Tafseer Mazhari, Vol. 7, Pg. No. 46, Anwar Ut Tanzeel Wa Asrar Ut Taweel Lil Baidhawi, Surah Furqan-63)

 

In light of this, Hadhrat Abul Hasanaat Muhaddith-e-Deccan (May Allah shower His mercy on him) advises us:  If any ignorant person starts troubling and wants to hurt you, then you don’t become an ignoramus along with other ignorant people and start competing with them, but leave this to Allah Ta'ala.  (Mawaiz-e-Hasana, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 206)

 

This has been described as the practice of the Muslims, in particular the saints and other pious servants of Allah Ta'ala. 

 

We are presenting some examples of how they gave the message of peace with their character, how well they replied to those who oppressed them and how great sacrifices they made for the sake of peace.

 

Islamic laws are laws of peace

 

Let this be clear that our religion is called: Islam.  Those who follow it are called Muslims.  The purport of both these words is peace.  It becomes obvious from the name of the religion of Islam and its followers that the teachings of this religion carry nothing but peace and security for the populace.  This religion teaches this and the followers of this religion are also ambassadors of peace.  Their speech and character is also of peace and their daily activities are also of peace.

 

This is a truth that Islam is a religion of peace and brotherhood, which gives the lesson of doing good to all.  Islam is the one, which showed human beings and humanity their status and worth.  It gave them justice, equality and love.  The success of humanity is not in gathering the wealth of the world, it is not in constructing skyscrapers and snatching the rights of others to gather property, wealth and respect for oneself.  Instead, if humanity desires peace, it can get it only by accepting and implementing the timeless principles of Islam.  It can travel on the path of success and achieve real success only by acting upon the golden rules given by Islam.

 

This religion is one of peace and solace.  The messenger of this religion is "Raoof" and "Raheem," affectionate and benevolent.  His teachings are of peace and security, of harmony and empathy, of humanity and dignity, which is the best ideal for the creation.

 

The saints are those who act upon these teachings.  Only by virtue of their glance, people start acting upon the teachings of Islam.  The populace enforces the Shariah on themselves by virtue of their company.  Their incidents and anecdotes grant steadfastness to the faithful.  Faith reaches its zenith, people become steadfast and one learns the nuances of performing good deeds.  A good character becomes second nature to them.

 

The doorsteps of the saints are centers of love and harmony

 

The Sahabah acted upon the eternal guidelines and principles of the Holy Quran and Sunnah and the Saints kept this mission alive.  They continuously propagated the peaceful message of Islam in each corner and crevice of the world.  These elders dealt with the populace with sympathy and empathy.  They not only joined with them in their happiness, but partook with them their sorrow as well.  They presented exemplary ideals of serving the creation.  They did not restrict Tasawwuf to a personal spiritual journey, but turned into a movement of love and harmony.  This is the reason that the shrines of saints are present in every part of the world.  Every nation and individual offer flowers of devotion there.

 

The Emperor of India, Hadhrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti (May Allah shower His mercy on him) took up residence in Ajmer.  A dervish bereft of any worldly possessions, settling down in an alien city itself proves that the custom of that pious dervish was to spread peace and love.  That is why even today everybody looks at Ajmer with sincere love and devotion.

 

The fact is that the Saints returned oppression with mercy and benevolence.  They would reward even their enemies with good wishes.  These people dealt harshness with kindness.  They cooled the fire of terrorism with their character.  They blew out the fires of prejudice with justice and nondiscrimination.  

 

[In the next part, some anecdotes of the great saints will be presented]