Reflections
With the waʿaz mubarak taking place in the historic south Indian city of Hyderabad, al-Dai al-Ajal Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS told us that the word ‘hayder’ means lion. It is also of course, the name of Amirul Mumineen AS, known as ‘Hayder-e-Karraar’ – the unrelenting lion.
At Khaybar, Maulana Ali AS proclaimed:
انا الذي سمتني امي حيدرا * اكيلكم بالسيف كيل السندرة
In the first half of the verse he states, ‘I am the one whose mother named me Hayder’. Another meaning for Hayder is ‘slayer of snake’ and in his infancy Maulana Ali AS killed a snake while in his crib. It is also related that he killed a snake while wading through water during the battle of Khaybar.
Syedna al-Dai al-Ajal TUS recited a verse in praise of Aimmat Tahereen AS
انتم لحيدرن الكرار اشباله * انتم لطه النبي المصطفى افرخ
You are to Hayder-e-Karraar, his lion cubs; You are to Taha, the Prophet Mustafa, his birdlings.
Syedna TUS mentioned that al-Dai al-Ajal Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA said to his son, al-Dai al-Ajal Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA, ‘In this period of satr, you must protect the den of Dawat like a lion’.
Aali Qadr Maula TUS related select incidents from the era of the imams. In one instance, when an illusionist had been brought to the court of Imam Aamir AS and astonished those present by seeming to lift a laden thāl remotely, the imam commanded a figure of a lion embroidered in a drape to come to life within the court and come at the imposter. Syedna TUS stated that those who have the love of ‘Hayder’ in their hearts cannot be affected by any form of bewitchment.
A dispute arose as to the succession of Imam al-Mustansir AS and one of the tests to determine the rightful heir was the ability to raise the sword of Zulfiqar and wear the imam’s shield. The challenger was unable to do so but refuted this as proof of the imamate since it was a matter of physical strength. So Imam Mustaali AS offered for him to command the Imam’s lions to attack the imam to which he retorted that since they were his own trained lions they would not do so; let him instead command his own lion to attack the imam. When he ordered his lion to attack it instead came wagging its tail and stood before the imam head bowed. Imam Mustaali AS then commanded the same lion to attack the challenger, his master, who fled the scene.
There are some 500 words for lion in Arabic. The oldest lion to live (on record) was 29 years old, although their normal life span is around 13-15 years. A lion’s roar can be heard up to five miles away and it can smell its prey from a considerable distance as well. A lion has sight that is five times more powerful than humans and his hearing and sense of smell are also very strong. By scent alone he can determine how long ago his prey may have been at any given location.
In the course of the shahadat of Imam Husain AS, Syedna TUS recounted the tale of the majoosi upon whom a lion was about to pounce and who then recalled how his neighbours always intoned the names of Ya Ali and Ya Husain in times of difficulty. At that moment, in the wild, he called out ‘Ya Husain!’ and before him came a figure upon a horse before whom the lion prostrated and then turned away. The blood-stained person upon the horse was Imam Husain AS, and the day was Aashura.
In relation to Imam Hasan AS, Maulana Minaam TUS spoke of when the imam stopped at Mosul when returning to Madina from Kufa after the treaty. Here he was received with honour by the governor and hosted by a man claiming to be a follower of his but harbouring enmity. Whilst at his home the man made attempts to poison the imam which failed and thus he called for help from Muawiya. The caliph sent a poison the likes of which would leave no one who took it alive but en route the courier was attacked and killed by a lion. His camel and belongings were found by another follower of Imam Hasan AS and in them was found the poison and a letter addressed to that man. When the governor was informed, he asked Imam Hasan AS whether he should be arrested but the imam replied that it was not becoming for him to bring shame upon the one in whose home he was being hosted. Nevertheless, the governor had the man arrested and executed.
In the course of this waʿaz mubarak Syedna TUS outlined a Mumin’s daily schedule. Reading from the words of Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA he began by saying one should start with the shafa prayer if possible, the morning prayer was, of course, obligatory and then one should have a proper breakfast. Following which, one would prepare the children for school or college before setting out for work. After the afternoon prayer and lunch, a short nap. After returning home one should ask after the children, their school, their work and after one’s wife. Then there would be dinner and some more conversation before going to sleep contentedly. Maulana TUS added that, just as one takes a nap after lunch, so too should one take a walk after dinner – even if it is just the length of a stick.
Narrating the shahadat of Maulana Abdullah AS, Syedna spoke of how he returned to Imam Husain AS whilst in combat carrying the head of an enemy warrior, bringing his horse and speaking of thirst. The enemy were so wary of him that none of them attempted to approach him alone but banded together to attack him.
May Allah Taʿala grant Syedna Aali Qadr Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS long life and evergreen health until Qiyaamat.
– www.jameasaifiyah.edu
