Download PDF: [S] The Test of a Sayed

Allama Sayed Shareef Murtaza Husain Baghdadi – may Allah be pleased with him, who was born in Samarkhand, was considered as one of the foremost scholars of his era. He was also financially well off. In fact, Sultan Khaqaan actually sent him as his emissary to the Khalifah in Baghdad Shareef.

 

It was also Allama Sayed Shareef Murtaza Husain Baghdadi’s – may Allah be pleased with him – habit to spend large sums of money every year on the ‘Ulama by inviting them and also feeding them. Once, he arranged an invitation for these ‘Ulama in a large garden. However, Sultan Khaqaan also wanted to come to this gathering. However, Allama Sayed Shareef Murtaza – may Allah be pleased with him – refused to allow the Sultan to appear in this gathering. He also mentioned that he will never be prepared to arrange such activities as dancing, singing, etc. merely for the pleasure of the Sultan. If he did this, he would be earning the Divine Displeasure of Allah Almighty.

 

When the sultan heard these remarks, he sent out the order that Allama Sayed Shareef Murtaza – may Allah be pleased with him – be captured and imprisoned. However, it is mentioned that he remained so hidden for one complete month that the Sultan or his soldiers could not find him even though he looked everywhere for him.

 

One day, the Sultan made a public announcement that he had pardoned Allama Sayed Shareef Murtaza – may Allah be pleased with him – and when this scholar appeared in the palace, he was captured and sent to jail. All his wealth and property was also taken away from him.

 

When Allama Sayed Shareef Murtaza – may Allah be pleased with him – saw this, he mentioned to those close to him, “There is no doubt that a person who is from the Ahle Bait, will one day also have to face such difficulty and test. There is no doubt that people used to always praise me and sometimes I used to suffer from this doubt whether or not I am a Sayed. However, after going through this difficulty, I am now completely satisfied that my family lineage certainly meets that of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.”

 

Allama Sayed Shareef Murtaza – may Allah be pleased with him – was also made to starve in jail without any food or water and in this manner, he passed away. However, till his final breath, he remained steadfast and firm.

 

It is also reported that after Allama Sayed Shareef Murtaza – may Allah be pleased with him – passed away, a person named Abul Abbas Jouhari saw him in a dream. He also saw that in front of Allama Sayed Shareef Murtaza – may Allah be pleased with him – a large table of food had been laid out but refused to eat any food. When the people around the table asked him the reason, he mentioned that he was waiting for his son to arrive. Only then would he partake of the food. And this is exactly what happened, a few days later in the month of Ramadaan, his son was martyred by Khaqaan Khidr bin Ebrahim. (Tadkiratul Huffaaz, 111)

 

This is also a great lesson from the lives of the ‘Ulama. They suffered from immense trials and tribulations at the hands of those in power but they remained firm as a mountain. This is certainly not the behaviour of any ordinary person. In fact, even the mountains have remained in a state of awe when they have seen the firmness of the ‘Ulama of truth.

 

This statement of Hadrat Allama Sayed Shareef Murtaza – may Allah be pleased with him – that those who are Sayeds would certainly face such trials and tribulations in this world is also based on solid testimony. The act of facing endless trouble, trial and tribulation has been one of the distinguishing features of the rightly guided people of the Ahle Sunnah wa Jamaah. The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has stated that, “The most severe test and trial comes to the Prophets. Then those after them who have immense status.” This becomes a test for them in life.

At the same time, these blessed people would certainly be graced with immense reward and stature in the Hereafter and because of this, the greater the reward, the greater the test and trial. When such people display patience and firmness in the face of such difficulties, they will certainly achieve such immense status that even the Angels would be surprised when they see this.

 

A poet has stated that, “No one has achieved any name without test and trial. When a diamond is cut a hundred times, only then does it become a valuable piece of jewel.” (Ruhuni Hikaayat)