Virtues of Hazrat Maulana Mahmood Hasan

Virtues of Hazrat Maulana Mahmood Hasan

As a philosopher-poet has rightly said:

'Either king knows the value of pearl or knows the jeweller!'

The jauhari who understood the qualities and virtues of Shaikhul Hind was his disciple and associate Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madani. He came into Shaikhul Hind's contact when he was still a child. Later on, he was enrolled among Shaikhul Hind's students and came to know him from close quarters. Then from Madina to Malta and from Malta to Deoband and within Deoband during his lifetime till Shaikhul Hind bade farewell to this mundane world, Maulana Madani observed closely every moment of Shaikhul Hind's life, and also the twists and turns that came into his life.

Writing about Shaikhul Hind, Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madani describes him as a spiritual entity as well as a great Islamic scholar. And one who would have these two qualities, says the Jauhari (Maulana Madani), his moral standing would undoubtedly be very high. Comprehensiveness of any entity demands that it carry greenery and fragrance within itself- » was the freshness of thoughts and ideas that did not allow autumn to touch Shaikhul Hind's life, rather kept it evergreen and fragrant as well.

Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madani writes:

"Whoever saw Shaikhul Hind and observed his moral standing from close quarters must have known that the Nature's generosity had bestowed upon him such a large heart that it would have taken the seven seas in its fold. He got benefited from Bahr-e Imdadi (great Sufi saint Haji Imdadullah Muhajir Makki).but didn't harangue it. He drank to the fullest of his capacity from the Qasmi (Maulana Abul Qasim Nanautavi) fountain of knowledge and digested it. He puffed in the mist unlimited from (Maulana Rasheed Ahmad Gangohi) cloud but never got inebriated. He never boasted of himself, never indulged in profane talk, never let steadfastness go out from the hand and never left the path of Shariah in his life. He never rested although he became thin due to the hard work.

In a poet's words:

Having a cup of Shariah in one hand and the love for the Creator in the other,
The art of combining the two is but impossible task for an ordinary and worldly person.

The lingering fragrance of spiritualism always captivated his heart and mind, but never crossed the boundary of dignity. His deep involvement with the Chishtia and Sabriya Sufi order used to sizzle within him and light up his surroundings like a shining thunder and burning embers everything around, but like a burning candle he only shed the light and never sighed or complained of its heat. The mysteries of mysticism used to uncover their faces before him, but he never let the voices be heard by ordinary persons.

He did not exercise self-restraint only for spiritual attainment. Though an interpreter of Hadith, Fiqh, and an Islamic scholar par excellence, he did not count himself as one amongst the great scholars. From his appearance and demenour one could quite see that here was a great scholar, a guide and unique personality of his own time. With simplicity and humility, he led his life; a rare person even among the pious people. That was the honour of this life. I have witnessed and heard Shaikhul Hind's companions and contemporaries say that in humility and simplicity he surpassed not only the contemporary Ulama but also his mentors. Nobody can refute that all his actions and deeds were for the sake of Allah and there was not even a shadow of selfishness in what he did. In the light of the saying of the Prophet (SAW) "whosoever showed humility for the sake of Allah, Allah will exalt his status," it becomes apparent what a great status Shaikhul Hind had in the eyes of Allah.

There is no doubt that whatever Shaikhul Hind attained was due to the blessings of Maulana Nanautavi (RA) and Maulana Gongohi (RA). It was due to his own great efforts and the benevolence of Allah that he became an extraordinary scholar and a spiritual being.

Shaikhul Hind's large-heartedness, forbearance and resilience left his acquaintances astonished. The petty behaviour and ill treatment that can infuriate even the most tolerant of persons did not bring a frown to his forehead Although he could never compromise with the violation of the Allah's Commandments being perpetrated before his eyes, he stood rock like, one who could never be shaken by the hardships in the fight against evils of the society.

Due to Shaikhul Hind's extraordinary quality of forbearance, the short-sighted people often called him a hypocrite. When they came to know the truth about Shaikhul Hind's character, they were dumb-struck and realized their mistake.

The nature had bestowed upon him the uniqueness of intelligence of mind and the sagacity of heart as well. Those who spent some time in his study circle and were aware of intellectual abilities of other Ulama, would know this Arabic couplet very aptly fits here:

There is nothing beyond the reach of Allah, If He wishes,
He could wrap the intelligence of the whole world in a single mind.

Whenever someone tried to show off his own knowledge and gave discourse in poetic and literary language in Shaikhul Hind's presence, only awe and surprise became his lot. Maulana recited so many Persian and Arabic poems that the person could not but be astonished. Besides, the Nature had bestowed upon him the aptness of temperament to differentiate between pure and impure, right and wrong. He composed poems of a high standard that were appreciated by scholars; even critics of poetry were astonished by their quality.

It was one among the several generosities of the Nature that Shaikhul Hind's heart was filled with Islamic compassion, religious fervour and the community service. He could not have been satisfied merely as a Madrasa teacher or as a hermit sitting comfortably at the seat of a Sufi order (Khanqah). The manliness of a freedom fighter and the spirit of community service in him would have made him restless even there. His concern for the honour of the religion made his task easy. His compassion for the fellow human being would turn his enemies into friends while the incompetent amongst his own created chasm between Shaikh and his people. The compassion for his community and the nation never allowed him to think about his old age and life-threatening ailment. Once he chose the path of struggle, he had no other choice, and for that matter he never cared for wealth, his prestige, comfort, or near and dear ones.

Maulana Madani's writings do not give all details. Facts are there, but proofs for them have not furnished. Proofs for all the details would require hundreds of pages.
Yet another Jauhari who well realised the high quality and value of Shaikhul Hind was Maulana Syed Asghar Ali alias Hazrat Mian Saheb—a jurisprudent, an interpreter of the Prophet's sayings, a reliant to his Creator, a hermit with the sense of duty, a clean and pious man and a complete guide from whom students of Darul Uloom and other God-fearing people as well got benefited year after year. Though he kept himself aloof from politics, he went on testing and understanding Shaikhul Hind at all phases of his life. He authored the book titled: "The Life of Shaikhul Hind' that was written just after his death. The book cited evidence of Shaikhul Hind's educational, spiritual and behavioural virtues.

As far as courage, optimism and other virtues were concerned, Shaikhul Hind was unique among his contemporaries. An ordinary teacher of a Madrasa is sitting in a tattered mat and teaching students, who are attired in equally tattered clothes. There is no pomp and show in what e does. He, however, keeps his eyes on the happenings in nook and corner of the world. His heart is full of concern for the have-not. His heart is full of blazing fire that wants to engulf and bum out each and every colonialist. He is empty-handed, without any wherewithal virtually, no arms and ammunition to wage a war. Yet he is engaged in a fight against the armed forces of that great power called 'Great Britain' in whose dominion the Sun never sets. His aim is to liberate his beloved country from the yoke of foreign rule. Nothing that is less than total freedom attracts him or is acceptable to him. The question of 'minority' and 'majority' does not arise before him. His politics is derived from the teachings of the glorious Qur'an:

"How may a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave'."

The very situation in which he lives and is faced with proves that a handful of the British are actually ruling over the millions of Indians. And it is a story only of four centuries that small bands of Europeans march out of their hamlets and conquer and overpower Red Indians in America and our own people in India. These bands were neither God fearing, nor friends of humanity. Their sole aim was to make money. However, they had come to know the secrets by which a minority could overpower the majority, and they made it a habit to apply these wherever they went. And the secret of that success was selflessness—that is, willingness to sacrifice everything, even the life itself, for the attainment of the goal.

Shaikhul Hind was an Indian. To liberate India, his beloved country, and to make her march ahead on the road of progress was his duty. He knew and said those who come along and join hands would be discharging their duties; those who won't join in, could not escape the blame for not doing their duties. He, as an individual, was obliged to do his duty and it was this sense of duty that inspired him to take action. When he was released from the prison in Malta, reached India and saw the countrymen were engaged in freedom fight, he expressed his happiness and remarked:

"There is no doubt that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'la has made our compatriots (Hindus), who are in a great majority in the country, our supporters. I give great importance to the unity and cordial relationship of the two communities. And considering the present critical time in which the freedom movement has entered, I greatly appreciate whatever efforts were made or are being made currently by the leaders of the two communities."

When the war between Turkey and Germany on one hand and the allied forces {France, Russia and Britain) on the other began, people were celebrating the news that the Turks and Germans were winning the war. Shaikhul Hind too became happy occasionally at such news- However, he expressed his apprehensions and fears and predicted right in the beginning of the war that America might side with the allied forces and change the course of war. And this was what happened. America at last jumped into the fray, sided with and supported the allied forces with all her military might and turned the German and Turkish victory into a great defeat.

During a few days of his stay in Mecca, on his way to Taif, Shaikhul Hind had noticed that something was amiss. When he reached Taif, he found his colleagues and associates satisfied that Sharif-e-Mecca was loyal to the Turks. There was no hint of any turmoil or coming events in Taif. However, Shaikhul Hind was not very satisfied with his stay in Taif and often insisted on leaving the city. And suddenly Sharif-e-Mecca revolted against the Turks. And on his instigation and under his pressure, Bedouins started attacking Taif.

The city came under fire from all corners. Only then Shaikhul Hind's associates realised why had he been insisting on leaving the city. The coming reality was totally out of their vision and grasp. But it was not out of the grasp of Shaikhul Hind. It was this courage, this vision and his complete understanding of the political scenario that made him unique among other contemporary Muslim leaders. He was unique not only in his time, rather India remains bereft of a leader of his caliber even today. And it was for this reason that stalwarts like Hakeem Ajmal Khan, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Maulana Shaukat AH, Maulana Hasrat Mohani and Maulana Obaiduilah Sindhi took allegiance at his hand.

By Maulana Syed Mohammad Mian