History takes place. History repeats. The repetition of the historical incident itself becomes history. This holds true in the restoration of al-Jame’ al-Anwar in Cairo, by the 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq Syedna Mohammed BurhanuddinRA. 16th Imam, Maulana Haakim Bi AmrillahAS built this historic and ornate Jame’ in Misr. History repeated itself when Syedna Mohammed BurhanuddinRA restored it to its original glory in the year 1400H. History was created at every stage of the restoration phase. There were nine miracles that manifested during restoration just as Allah has bestowed His nabi MoosaAS with nine commandments.
One of the nine is uncovering of Historic Tablet. Originally, Imam Haakim Bi AmrillahAS had placed this tablet above the main entrance of the Jame’; on the inner wall. As the years went and the Jame’ was subjected to various tyrant behaviour, the tablet went missing. The tablet was a live testimony to many a truth; like:
- This Jame’ was built by Imam Haakim Bi AmrillahAS
- Imam Haakim Bi AmrillahAS never claimed ilaahiyyat
- Allah has promised that Aale MohammedSA after being deprived of their right to Khilaafat will inherit this earth by His divine wish and order
Due to purposeful envious negligence, the Historic Tablet got shattered into pieces. Its whereabouts were not known. Many European travellers have recorded in their travelogues the presence of this Tablet in the Jame’. Their works possess its sketch, too. The name of ImamAS existed on the pulpit and on the minaret, but, the Tablet was missing.
Though now out of human sight, but the Tablet was very much before the eyes of Almighty; protected and preserved, awaiting ripe time to be revealed.
During restoration, the courtyard (sehen) of the Jame’ was being cleaned. Mammoth task of Nazaafat in Jame’ al-Anwar was taken up enthusiastically. While removing dirt and debris, a piece from the Tablet was stumbled upon near the entrance of the Jame’. This was not just a coincidence. It was rather the very time that was awaited for centuries. Verily, it was the dua Mubarak of Syedna Mohammed BurhanuddinRA and Syedna Aali Qadr Mufaddal SaifuddinTUS was on one of his many inspectoral visits there.
The piece was presented to Syedna al-Dai al-AjalTUS. He was overjoyed. Though, the contentment he felt then can not be fathomed here by words, but, the light in his eyes then could indicate what this piece meant to him, to Syedna Mohammed BurhanuddinRA, to Duat MutlaqeenRA, to Imam Hakim Bi AmrillahAS himself, to his predecessors and his successors; to one and all; albeit to Fatemi history.
The first piece to be found bore the barakat of Imam Haakim Bi AmrillahAS’s name reading as; م بامر; the last letter of Imam’s laqab sharif’s first word and the following word of it.
م from حاكم and بامر from بامر الله (حاكم بامر الله)
Rightly describing this episode with the light of taa’id, Syedna Aali Qadr Mufaddal SaifuddinTUS stated,
“The first piece of the Tablet bearing the inscription م بامر from the name of Imam HaakimAS attracted several other pieces and proved to be a link for connecting them. The incident bears testimony to lofty secrets hidden beneath it. Syedna Mohammed BurhanuddinRA used to put his hand with the initials of his Mubarak name reading as م ب. Hence, م بامر signified that he has been commanded (received امر ) by the ImamAS to collect the pieces of the Tablet and restore his Jame’. He did as commanded and placed the Tablet where it belonged; proclaiming that ImamAS has indeed approved and acknowledged his khidmat for his Jame’.”
Later, when Syedna Mohammed BurhanuddinRA visited the Jame’ during restoration, the first piece of the Tablet was presented to him. By the barakat of his presence there, one more piece was found with inscription reading as, “حيم ونريـ”. حيم were the last three letters from بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم; whereas, ونريـ formed the beginning of this verse:
ونريــد ان نمن على الذين استضعفوا في الارض و نجعلهم ائمة ونجعلهم الوارثين (القصـص: 5)
And we wished to do a favour to those who were oppressed in the land, and to make them rulers and make them inheritors. (28:5)
Thence, one after another more pieces were found from the museum located in the Jame’s courtyard. After completing various procedures required, the museum handed over to us total of six pieces. These pieces enabled the completion of the Tablet as they clearly pointed towards its content:
- It started with بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
- بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم was followed by the Qur’anic verse (28:5)
- The name of ImamAS who built it
- And a couple of other text pieces
Not just the text, pieces from the ornate design of chain adorning the border along the Tablet were also found. Chain symbolizes continuity of A’immat TahereenAS. One-third of the Tablet adorning the Jame’ wall today is original. Remaining part has been reconstructed in ancient Kufi script based upon the designs and texts found in the pieces reclaimed.
Behold! The transformation had set in. Restoration of this magnificent Jame’; specifically the pieces of the Tablet falling into place announced arrival of an era that will witness huge gatherings and large congregations of Mumineen thronging towards Hazrat Imamiyah that is the real Jame’; one who gathers. An event after another, an occasion marked with gathering larger than before became a norm in the Burhani Era. History was repeating; nay, history was in making.
It was year 1406H. Syedna Mohammed BurhanuddinRA travelled across many countries. From Muharram al-Haraam till R. Akhar, each occasion proved to be historic. Mumineen flocked to him from far and wide to be a part of history. Those with enmity, hatred and purposeful envious intentions were hatching a plan to shatter the harmonious solidarity of mumineen.
Syedna Mohammed BurhanuddinRA inaugurated the gold & silver door erected at the entrance of room adjacent to Zarih Mubarak of Ra’s al-Imam al-HusainAS housing the pious barakaat of RasulullahSAW. From there he flew to Karachi before returning to Mumbai on the 13th Jumadal ula. Same day, after offering Magrib namaaz in Masjid-e-A’zam, he went to Raudat Tahera for ziyarat. Wa’z majlis was scheduled to be held there. However, after performing ziyarat, MaulanaRA headed back to Masjid-e-A’zam and preside over the majlis. Mumineen from all over India and abroad had gathered there to take a glimpse of their beloved maula and to offer tehniyat to him on his historic safar. The atmosphere was serene. All mumineen were ears to what maulaRA was preaching. All souls were captivated by his enchanting zaat mubarakah.
Then, a huge bomb exploded in the vicinity of Raudat Tahera; just opposite to its eastern entrance. Sound was deafening. Glass doors of Masjid-e-Fatemi shattered. Intensity of the bomb was such that houses located on higher floors of buildings till southern entrance of Raudat Tahera experienced several damages.
However, muminee sat glued to their maulaRA’s hazrat imamiyah. Nothing deterred them. Nothing disturbed them. Nevertheless, the incident was to create history. Allah protected his Dai, his masjid, the Raudat Tahera and eventually the mumineen who had gathered in their safeguarding shadow.
Hudood Kiraam of Dawat stood before their maulaRA assuring that elements against Dawat will never ever win on any front. They along with mumineen proclaimed their unconditional and truest allegiance to maulaRA.
A historic day was planned. “The Day of Thanks Giving.” Mumineen huddled towards maulaRA flaunting their expression of love, of gratitude towards Allah and of readiness to endure all hardships in the face of defending their maulaRA. It was a spectacular procession that started from Raudat Tahera marching in peace towards Badri Mahal where maulaRA graced them with his eternal salaami from his gurfah mubarakah. People from all walks of life stood appreciative of our attire, our appearance and our discipline. Angels must have praised mumineen’s muhabbat and tafaadi.
History repeated. Repetition created history. Just as the pieces of the Tablet came together and found a lofty place on the walls of Jame’ al-Anwar; mumineen gathered in the feet of their beloved maulaRA to be at the pinnacle of existence.
The history comes alive when we throng towards our beloved maula Syedna Aali Qadr Mufaddal SaifuddinTUS. With his salaami he lifts us to heaven. With his nazaraat he removes our shortcomings. His gentle words bless us with shafa’at. May he live life full of health and vigour till the day of qiyamat. Aamin.
