In the early 19th Century

in Surat, Sayedi Sadiqali Saheb

entombed in his lucid and

easy to understand

and relate to Nashihatsfor Posterity

Haqaiq truths,

Noble and desirable human traits

Amaal ma’roof

The pitfalls of this world

The valaayat and maa’refat

of Dai ul Mutlaq

NASHIHAT OF SAYEDI SADIQ ALI SAHEB

The name of Sayedi Sadiqali Saheb is synonymous with nashihat, and here I am trying to bring into focus the beauty of it, and trying to propagate the nuance of his works.

A humble attempt, so that the youngsters can be motivated to read and reflect on his works. In our majlis the nashihats of Syedi Sadikali Saheb are rendered frequently.

The compilation of nashihat has been published in the year 1399 H .

Syedi Sadiqali Saheb has in all written 53 nashihats, one the 54th is an incomplete work. His works have been written during the asre maimoon of three Doat e kirams (RA)

2 Nashihats during asre maimoon of Syedna Yusuf Nazmuddin saheb (R.A.)

42 nashihats during the asre maimoon of Syedna Abdo Ali Saifuddin saheb (R.A.)

9 nashihats during the asre maimoon of Syedna Mohammad Izziduin saheb(RA)

Syedi Sadiqali Saheb has left behind for posterity, the ever radiating, soul sustaining, akhlaq enhancing, tafadi and ikhlas infused work.

His kabre mubarak is in Begumwadi- Surat, and whenever I happen to be there, I make it a point to do ziyarat and recite aloud a few verses.

Each of Syedi Sadikali Saheb’s nashihat ends beautifully with verse infused with the valayat of the Dai -uz –Zaman. In this Burhai Daur each stanza of tafadi and outpouring of ikhlas refers to our beloved Aqa Moula (TUS)

I share with you all my reflections on a few of them. Hope this presentation of mine ,will encourage you all to recite and reflect more frequently

In the second last stanza of the very first nasihat ‘seekhaman man eh dildar dana - khule tari saadat na khazana’ beginning with ‘e Najmedeen sikandar na e saani ………….

He is seeking Moula’s ‘nazar’ – why is he seeking because he is doing ‘jafeshani’ – gulami ma kare che

jafeshani - So your efforts should be there not merely your Moula’s ‘mehrbani’ –

I should also deliver, there is something expected from me, I should play my part.

See the beauty of the words - ‘saram ehni che tamne roze-mehsar’

I have done ‘jafeshani’ I have done valayat with a thankful heart, and now for my human shortcomings and failures, every human has his baggage, no man is perfect. Moula I am confident that on the Day of Judgement on Roze Mehsar you will surely do my ‘shafa’at’ because you will not like me to wallow on that day in shame.

‘ane har daur ne har kor under’ Now we all know the meaning of daur – an era, but what is ‘kor’ –

so if you do not read you do not know, if you do not seek you do not get, as simple as that.

In order to acquire knowledge you have to go to the right source, and it is Aqa Moula’s karam and ehsanats that in each city he has deputized his Amil and given him raza to dispense knowledge to the true seeker. You have to attend ‘sabaks’ to know the meaning of the word ‘kor’ and take it from me, for I know what little I know that the meaning is baffling. Similarly the comparison of the exalted status of Moula to Aashir Mudabbir is purlutf haqeeqat.

So my humble request to my young friends to make ‘niyat’ to attend sabaks to get blessed with the radiance of Fatemi uloom and ‘a’daab’ so that in the words of Syedi Sadiqali Saheb in his very first Nashihat I request the youngsters .....

Sikhaman maan eh dildar dana Khule tari saadat na khazana.

In his second Nashihat Syedi Sadiqali Saheb refers to Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin Moula (R.A.) as a garden of Jannat and in truth the sweet drink of hauze Kauser, his status is exalted as the sky and in mercy he is like an ocean.

He beseeches his Moula to unburden him from the miseries of sins by his shafa’at because of his exalted position in the eyes of his Lord.

The last stanza of the third Nashihat beautifully alludes to the personality of Syedna Abdoali Saifuddin Moula (TUS) .

He states that who can narrate the fine traits of the beloved of Aai Ratan (Busaheba) who is in fact a ‘farishta’ of the Realm on High who has taken the bodily attire. He is like a pearl of the ‘tasabih’ alluding to the everlasting and continues ‘silsila’, and the body is merely an oyster holding that everlasting and radiating pearl.

His radiance is such, it outshines the radiance of the sun.. Syedi Sadiqali Saheb alludes to himself and declares that in the khidmat of such a Moula is in fact our sovereignty. His gulami is our stead to cross over to jannat, overcome the obstacles of this existence

The last stanza of the 4th Nashihat begins with the words – ‘eh kul doato na khan na nilam

The Dai e hazir is compared as the most precious stone, and our prayers are answered because of his presence. Syedi Sadiqali Saheb alludes to the riwayat of Nabi (S.A.) on his last Haj pilgrimage when he faced East and called his Doat ‘aleyka Ikhwani’ my brothers.

Yusuf Nabi’s brother, is how he compares Syedna Abdoali Moula and goes on to say that he is the Brave (Rustam) of Ale Nabi and the Death knell for the wrong doers, the munafekeens.

At the same time Dai is a source of succour for the true believers who have fallen on hard times and very kind and merciful. Syedi Sadikali Saheb ends by saying that may his khidmat be accepted by one who is the sword – ‘saif ‘ of Ahlul bai’t.

The 5th Nashihat ends with the verse stating that you have taken the bodily attire to set an example and by your actions, you have overcome the baser bodily elements. Abdoali Moula (RA) was in his youth when he ascended the exalted position of Dai ul Mutlaq.

Here Syedi Sadiqali Saheb alluding to his youth, says that the farishtas seeing his noble qualities, are saying that he has attained buzurgi. The general multitude seeing your excellent qualities, say that you are the ‘Khuda’ of this earth.

Comparing the torrents of blessings being showered by Dai to rain bearing clouds, he states that the clouds pale in comparison to his ‘faiz’ and goes a step further to proclaim that even the 7 seas pale in comparison.

Sadiq Ali saheb proclaims his ‘ududiyat’ by stating that by offering sujood after sujood

ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF A

FEW STANZAS FROM THE NASHIHAT

Duniya ni tu raghbat

thi

Saadguru farmavi gaya teh likh hirda ni takhti ma

Engrave deep within your heart, the preaching of the wise,seek not to benefit from this world devoid of goodness, for those who are born are sure to die, in the grind mill of death,always my dear, remember Allah, whether your tide be low or

high, for Allah shall not forsake those who beseech Him all the while, the rest shall surely perish, except His cherished ones.

Countless have departed, without leaving a trace, into this world they came, but failed to win His grace,departed they as raw as when from their mother's womb came, to drink the empty cup of death, and suffer pangs of regret, thousands like them have ceased to be, buried deep down the pit, take heed my dear and mend thy ways, in the days that are left.

The universe without Allah, are pointers of death,we have been drawn into this being only to die,the honey here is laced with poison, and we are deceived,none is spared the fatal bite of hooded death, (black cobra)this world is a deceiver, offering a pinch of joy and a bowl full of

tears,my dear, do never fall in love with this ever changing world.

The chosen of Allah, remain immersed only in His benign presence,into this world they come, but remain detached,in the eyes of these 'avliyaas' this world is a test,death to them is but an awakening,' insans' are not those who

merely die,these seekers of truth, came to this world, but were not drawn

towards it,they are ever living, have not died, having abodes in heaven.

duniya ni tu raghbat thi ……

From your bosom, remove away worldlinessdouse the fire of craving with Godliness,let tears of repentance flow, to wash away the sinsand do direct your heart, on the path of virtue,the life that remains is most precious,save it by repentance, which is an ocean of

goodness

If you care to see, this world is bereft of virtue,it appears to be so inviting, but is poison concealed,everyone is seen to be engrossed in its false dazzle,my people, do seek the hereafter,this world a mere passage, through which we pass,to finally arrive and assemble in the hereafter that is to last.

Remove the fat of heedlessness from your eyes,see with a foresight, and contemplate on this world,where lakhs have been torn apart by clutches of death,to dust they have returned, being lowered in graves,in spite of being a witness to this, you get deceived,you naive, why a mere drop of honey attracts you so.

‘ek pal na tu Khuda ne e banda visarje…..’

Do not for a moment be unmindful of Allah,let your hearts be covered with the colour of His

Oneness,by repentance, do lessen the burden of your sins,and with good deeds increase the wealth of your

bounties,so that your soul stands perfected in your lifetime,to finally reside in jannat, as also the world heaps praises

Each day death stretches its arrows on its bow,and aims at countless new breeds of humanyour presence here is merely like a lightening,a flash to be engulfed, in the darkness of the grave.A hundred years is in fact a mere dream,the civilization does surely deteriorate, each passing day

Be careful from now, as this is life's final stage,mould your body in the difficult task of prayers,listen, distance your heart from haughtiness,turn the charger of your soul, towards His Oneness.With overflowing tears rinse away the sins,with hidden qualities of repentance, wash away the stains.

The verses from this nasihat are often recited in dawat majlis, for in it Syedi Sadikali saheb in his own unique and appealing way brings out the pathos of Karbala with the words - 'guzri che karbala ma ajab tor ni bala...'

How heart wrenching the words :'gar marta to pani pilavee ne martaShabbir upar na buthi chhuri ne guzarta'

I do not have the heart or the expertise to translate the most poignant verses, but I humbly request all those who have access to this nasihat, to spare some moments and do tilawat of a few verses followed by doa for umre-darazi of our beloved Aqa Moula (TUS) whose each and every kalaam is a glowing nasihat to mumineen.

Syedi Sadiqali Saheb in his own unique way of rendering , makes us do ma’refat of our Aqa Moula (TUS)

The nasihat ends with the verse:

"Dai che pan ginaye che goya Imam maChe muktada azal thi salaat o siyaam maMazmoon hiqmato na che jena kalam maArwah ni haj yakeen che jena salaam ma(Saifuddin)Burhanuddin na chera ma hi Rab nu che

vuzudKarze jukhi ne ehne tu Sadiq Ali sujood"

I admit I have not been able to do full justice to the beauty and depth of the Nasihats, the reading of which in original lisan ul dawat brings tears.

We mumineen are fortunate to be in this glorious Burhani Daur and the words of Syedi Sadiqali Saheb are ringing true in the personality of our beloved Aqa Moula (TUS)

Hope my reflections will motivate readers to reflect more and more on the treasure trove of knowledge contained in the Nashihat of Syedi Sadiqali Saheb.

asgar fakhrudin

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