Because, I miss you…

I really have no idea where to begin from, and I’m not sure if people would like to read it, but I’d like to notify the readers, that, this essay is as a small gift of thanks to my friend, Rasheeda.

There’s no once upon a time in this story, I’ve known Rasheeda since I was a kid. It’s simple; I and Rasheeda have been living in the same area since childhood just until yesterday. We have known each other since we were babies crawling here and there in the masjid. Then we joined the madrasah and had our own girls group of the mohalla (area). Time passed and we used to play with each other/ be with each other for like every day.

When teenage hit us, there came times for sleepovers and gossips. Girls will be girls, there’s no denying it. So, there used to be cat fights (amongst all of us), I don’t mean physically, but saying stuff and cold wars, that kind. But even then, I don’t know why or how we still stayed along in a group.

In all of this growing part, we graduated from schools, and then from colleges and got into universities (except me, still in college – no comments on that) . We enjoyed getting older, because now no aunties will tell us not to sit in separate thaals and go to our moms (Just kidding! :D) Taking the oath of misaaq was one part of growing up, because it really meant we have to be serious towards studies and life, and we have to act mature, somehow all those parts in life went well. I believe growing up brought us closer to each other’s heart.

Naturally, no one can live without friends, even if we don’t say it, we want our friends to listen to our scored goals and the missed ones too, and our times of hardship and happy days, we like it when they appreciate, and are consoled even if they just keep a warm hand of comfort on our shoulder. At the end of teenage, our ‘girly-group’ transformed  into a ‘club’, our park walks became dining out on occasions, our gossips jumped from who hit whom to who went out with whom, but, one thing remained the same, we laughed the same way like we did when we were kids.

Although our physique changed and we became different people now, but we stayed together, we enjoyed each other’s company, actually relished it, it was something special, actually it IS something special that I can’t define.

Time ran so fast it came to the part of engagements. Well, Rasheeda was the first one to get engaged from our group. We were all happy that now we are adults and have become mature with time. Who knew that we will all miss being together one day?

Day before yesterday, it was the last function of Rasheeda’s wedding, sorry if I’m jumping from engagement to the wedding, but it seems like she got engaged just some time ago and now, she is happily married.

I don’t know Rasheeda if I was ever a good friend to you, but you ARE to me. You might laugh now, I couldn’t sleep right now, I miss you. I miss you singing 9XM songs, I miss your smartness, I miss your cries, I miss you being bossy, I miss your enthusiasm, I miss dancing in the rain with you, and I miss your smile, I really miss you – already.

I think about your home, it’s such a big part of my childhood, I miss you being there. Apart from all the differences we have had, you were a really good friend to me, and to see you away I really don’t know how to react. I will miss your place beside Fatema – Muslim in the thaal. I will miss you every time as I pass by your building (which will be every day).

Yesterday as I hugged you the last time, I really didn’t want to let go of you, you are so much to me, you don’t even know. I know we haven’t been like best friends and all, but even then I will miss you like A LOT (Have I said this like the hundredth time till now?)

Life is really bitter sometimes, I really don’t want to be away from you.

I’d like to quote some lines to you;

I pray that your each and every day passes with a light heart, that no troubles bother you because I know you are great at tackling them 😉 .

I wish that every day you light the days with your radiant smile, and live a happy contented life under the Saya Mubarakah of both Maula. Ameen.

May Allah grant our Maula a long, healthy and prosperous life till the Day of Judgement. Ameen.

Take care.

With lots of love,

Yours truly,

Ruqqu.

Inni Wallahe Ohibboka Ya Maula!

As it dawned on Wednesday, 2^nd September 2015, my home seemed like a fish market, we all were in a hurry to get to Hyderabad. All in all, we left home by almost 7.30 am. The plan was, that Syedna Ali-Qadar Mufaddal Saifuddin Maula TUS was directly coming to Hyderabad from Karachi airport.

We reached in time and got the sharaf of waaz of Urus Mubarak of Syedna Idrees Imaduddin Maula RA in Hyderabad; in bayan Mufaddal Maula TUS explained the position of a leader. He (TUS) told that the leader is like a lion, the protector from evils, the King of all, He whose one roar can make everyone silent. And, when I read this quote I knew exactly what Maula TUS tried to tell us, ‘I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.’ ~Alexander the Great

Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay in Hyderabad while Maula TUS was there, and came back to Karachi by evening, none of us knew if the city of Karachi will get His blessings too, but on the inside everyone prayed that He would bless our city too. By weekend, we knew the stay in Karachi for a few days was confirmed, and the arrangements and preparations had begun as soon as the news came in.

On Monday morning, 7^th September ’15, Maula TUS flew to Burhani Industrial Park and then Burhani Recreational Park in helicopter; the parks were inaugurated by His Holiness. Around 1.15 pm, Maula TUS came to Karachi.

In the evening of 7^th, thousands of mumineen did deedar of Maula TUS at Naadil Burhani. Each heart was rejoiced as Maula TUS gave salami to the crowds in the ground. The cricket match of Saifee Burhani Games commenced. While the match went on, Maula TUS enjoined on mumineen to keep this ground as a ground, since health is very important, and no other thing should take this ground’s place.

I and my few friends hurried to Hasani Masjid- Clifton, where Maula TUS would offer Magrib/ Isha prayers. Luckily, we got through the excited crowd and prayed after Maula’s Imamat.

Then, on 8th of September, Tuesday, the day began with Fajr prayers in Taheri Masjid – Sadar. After the prayers and deedar, the MSB staff, students and alumni proceeded to Al-Madrasa-Tus-Saifiyah-Tul-Burhaniyah Hyderi campus, last minute work was going on for Maula TUS’s arrival in the madrasa.

In not more than 18 minutes, Mufaddal Maula TUS did an overview of the whole school, He TUS looked inside every classroom, every lab. Since I was standing by the counter, where shehed (honey), water, and many things were kept for shifa, I was right in front of Maula as he said shifa to all the things, never in my life have I ever been so close to Maula TUS. And then, Zohar Asar prayers were offered in Husami Masjid – Barakaat-e-Hyderi.

Later that night, Governor of Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad conferred doctorate degree upon Mufaddal Maula TUS in a convention organized by University of Karachi (KU) at Governor House.

9^th September started with Fajr prayers in Adam Masjid – Old Karachi, and at night Saleh Masjid was blessed with Magrib/Isha prayers in the night of Milaad Mubarak of 51^st Dai Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA. A noorani procession was held in Naadil Burhani, the sight was amazing, and the cries of ‘Maula Maula’, ‘Maula Aik Nazar’, ‘Labbaika Ya Dai-Allah’ and ‘Inni Wallahe Ohibboka Ya Maula’ are still ringing in my ears. The Moukib (procession) was truly something that the mumineen of Karachi will never forget.

The day of Milad dawned on us, and the news which none of us wanted to hear was clear to us when Maula TUS gave wada nu salam (the last words) to all of us. When I heard the waaz, I felt every word, every zikr, every sentence was meant for my soul. Many of us did deedar from the terrace of Masjid, which was like the do or die thing but at that moment no one cared, the want of Aik Nazar gave us the spirit.

As I sat for jaman (lunch) with my mohalla friends, we came up with a plan to do last deedar as Maula TUS would leave for airport from a zyafat nearby. We, and many mumineen stood on the road waiting for Maula TUS as He’d come towards the car. Not once, not twice, not even thrice, it was definitely more than that, I ran after the car, seeing the last salami of Maula today, my feelings can’t be put to words. As much as I’m thankful, my heart is grieving on Maula TUS’s departure.

This safar has changed me like no other, I guess, some things can never be explained, and maybe never be understood by any other person, except Maula TUS himself.

As these days pass, I wish to do His deedar again and again, until there is no other day.

May Allah, grant our Maula TUS, a prosperous and healthy life till the day of Judgment. Ameen.

Amate Syedna Maulanal Mannan,

Ruqaiya Mulla Mustafa Lokhand Wala.

The pressure cooker!

Remember the movie ‘3 idiots’; the part where Rancho (Aamir Khan) says to his Principal that; “the place where we study is a university, not a pressure cooker”? Well, to be honest, even if it’s not the institutes that put that pressure, the mind always does.

We humans are always fighting; fighting for money, fighting for power, fighting for a rank and fighting to make a place- to make a name in this world. So basically, life is a pressure cooker.

In every part of life, may it be our childhood- adolescence-old age, we encounter difficult situations. At that very moment, it seems like that is the most crucial time of our life, with or without that thing, makes our future.

In childhood, I guess we all have done a lot of troubles and hidden from our parents for doing it. My favorite action used to be emptying toothpastes. I used to relish doing it and I never wanted to get caught (like obviously). I used to act all innocent in front of my mom, and getting a bad lecture from my mom would be like life and death situation to me; taking saliva down my throat would be even so painful to me. Now that I think of it, I laugh over it.

Today, I fear examinations, I fear losing my dream, the dream that I see in all my loved ones’ eyes; I fear of breaking them. I think all the time, what if I don’t do good enough, what if this, what if that and these questions drive me crazy eventually. It’s said that, “ من ذن بك خيرا فصدق ذنه – man zanna bika khairan fa saddiq zannahu” (when someone has good expectations from you, you should make them come true). As I thought of this saying, I went back past to last year when I was about to give the second year of the O levels Examinations.

Before the exams had to begin, the school principal told us a small story of a deaf frog (I hope I remember it right). I don’t remember his exact words, but the plot of the story was that; there was a race held among frogs, at the end of the race they had to climb a hill. Many frogs took part in that race and among all the kinds of frogs, one was deaf. Well then, the race begun and all the frogs bing-boinged and jumped along the race-track. There were a lot of cheers and a lot shouting from the crowd while the participants were climbing the hill. Soon, the race came to an end. Do you know who the winner was, it was the deaf frog. The principal – Janab Ash-Shaikh Ammar Bhai – one of the persons who had a lot of expectations from us, gave each of us a lesson. He told us that in all our times when we want to achieve something big, there are going to be people criticizing us for what we do; never listen to them, listen to your heart, to your Allah who created you, He is your right guide. The only reason the deaf frog won the race was, he couldn’t listen to what people said, he didn’t hear the criticizing comments passed by them- the only reason he won was – he was ambitious. He was dedicated to his goal and he earned it. It was a lesson for me to learn and remember whenever I would be fighting with the pressure cooker.

So then, I learnt this that; no matter how much and how loud we whine, life is always going to be a pressure cooker, be the stubborn potato and never let it boil you!

Ruqaiya Lokhand.

In the Abadi Saya of Maula Burhanuddin Aqa R.A…

There is a time of our life which we never forget, our school times, right? We spend a lot of time at school and there are memories of all the kinds from school. For me, it just won’t be school memories. For me, it would the thanda saya (cool shade) of Muqaddas Maula Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin Aqa R.A.

Al Madrasa tus Saifya tul Burhaniyah, the institution well-established by Maula Burhanuddin Aqa R.A- the institute, that has changed lives of hundreds, as Maula R.A states in one of his Bayaan Mubarak “ Al Madrasa will endeavor to see that its students acquire knowledge from childhood in consonance with Deen. When its pupil leaves the school, his educational preparedness and standard should be so high, that he may be eligible for admission to all the esteemed higher educational institutions of the world. At the same time his thinking and mental faculty would be so trained and disciplined that he would be spared from vices of worldly education, which normally hampers efforts to reach standards of perfection.”

Thinking over the Kalimaat Nooraniya I now think back to the time I came to madrasah. In class 2 I got admission in madrasah or should I say I got the ne’mat (blessing) of being under the Saya Mubaraka of Maula R.A. Each wall, each brick of madrasah reminded of Maula R.A’s Zaat Mubarak. Each achievement in madrasah was appreciated and each painful misery was made forgotten with ease. What is it about madrasah that makes this happen or should I say, what is it not about madrasah which wouldn’t benefit you?

Each day in madrasah began with Maula’s zikr and tul-ul umr dua. Throughout the day we were taught and nurtured in Nazaraat Raheemiyah of Maula R.A as each class had a picture of Maula R.A right in the front, over the class board. It was, as if, Maula R.A himself taught us everything, it was his picture that consoled us in our problems and his tabassum that assured us that he is proud of our achievements.

We were granted with the most wonderful teachers who groomed us and taught us everything. From the part that how should one eat, to the part that how should one perform khidmat. It all came from Maula, from madrasah, from all the teachers even the ones that did not teach us in class, but gave a lesson to learn in each act.

As the final year will soon come to an end, our class teacher Janab Al-Sheikh Huzaifa Bhai gave each of us a paper. He instructed us to write our names and pass it to the one on our left. We were supposed to write whatever we want to about each other as a farewell comment. The idea rejoiced us but it also reminded us that the year in madrasah of learning each day was coming to an end. The difference that madrasah made in our lives is remarkable. We all did khidmat of both the Maulas together; we recited duas and did araz our hadayah in Hazrat Aaliyah being one. And, there was one significant day we all used to await each year. It was the day when we celebrated Milaad Mubarak of Burhanuddin Maula R.A (the Izhar-ul-Masarrat program). Different competitions were held of card making and thali making and what not. We all used to attend this day in Libas-ul-Anwar and it would be the most momentous day that we would have each year.

However, this year came with a difference. The 40 days of Ta’budaat had begun and preparations of the Milaad programs had started at school when we heard that, “Maula Burhanuddin Aqa ye hamesha no araam farmayo che.” The heart pounded vigorously, the mind couldn’t picture the thought and all I could do so was cry. I cried like I had never cried in my life. It was as if everything that I had is gone, well it had indeed. As Maula says ‘Man Lahul Maula Falahul Kul’ (je na pase Maula che ehna pase saglu che). The news baffled my ears that had I heard it correct, was it the news of my Maula that he had closed his eyes forever from this mortal world? As I saw Maula’s picture in front of me I just looked at him and cried ‘Maula ap padhari gaya? Maula hame ye apni waat na suni hamne maaf karjo’.

In a few days when madrasah re-opened after Maula’s wafaat I knew things would be so different. We came to assembly and recited Dua and qaseeda Mubaraka inscribed by Aali Qadar Maula in Maula R.A’s Shaan Mubarak. The walls of madrasah were mourning; there were silent cries that surrounded us. How could one bear the thought of losing Maula forever?

Each day as I entered madrasah, it was Maula’s madrasah that sedated me in such times and the very picture of our Mushfiq Pidar Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin Aqa R.A and his Mansus Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS who after Burhanuddin Maula R.A is our Sahara in our lives, consoled me. This showed the significance of the fact that it’s Maula’s yaari that has given me the strength each time in my life and will do so…

Today whoever I am, whatever I have achieved it is because of Syedna wa Maulana Mohammad Burhanuddin Aqa R.A and Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin Maula TUS. Before coming to madrasah I was like any other child but today I am one of leaves of the tree that Maula R.A had planted and has taken care of. I was a different person back then but the knowledge I acquired from madrasah, is the one that has brought me here. Now, when I discuss something with people and if one likes my taswwur, they ask me, “Madrasah ma parho cho?” I smile back and I answer “Ji, Al Madrasah Tus Saifiyah Tul Burhaniyah ma parhu chu”.

It is this institution of Maula Burhanuddin R.A and Mufaddal Maula TUS that has given me respect and has taken me beyond the limits of achievements that I for one couldn’t and can’t do on my own. It is the name itself that comes after madrasah that opens all the doors to me, and, I know for sure wherever I may go their Saya and yaari will always be there for me.

As I end this, I would like to Araz Shukr na Sajadaat to Burhanuddin Maula R.A and Mufaddal Maula TUS who have made me capable of doing things which seemed so difficult to me that are now made so sehel (easy) with their Dua Mubarak. And, also I’d like to thank all the people – the teachers, the juniors and seniors, other staff members who have taken me closer to Maula at each step I took. They have always supported me and given me confidence and have made me believe in myself.

Nevertheless, the time has to go on and soon we’re going to finish our schooling from madrasah. And as I said in the beginning it just won’t be school memories that I’d miss, it would also be the Saya of Maula R.A and Maula TUS that protected and took care of me.

May Allah grant our Maula Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin Aqa R.A Aala Darajaat in Jannat-ul-Firdous and may Allah grant our Maula, our Saya, Syedna Mufaddal Safuddin Maula TUS a long healthy and prosperous life till the day of judgement. Ameen.

May we, the parts of the Shadaab darakht always do khidmat of Maula Saifuddin TUS so that may Burhanuddin Maula R.A be proud of us.

 

Amate Syedna Maulanal-Mannaan,
Ruqaiya Mulla Mustafa Lokhand wala.