By
Imam Ahle Sunnat ,His highness
Moulana Shah Ahmed Raza Khan Qadri Barelvi
Translated & simplified By
Alhaj Mohammad Moazam Ali
M.Sc. (Alig) B.com. F.I.C.A. A.B.T.I. (London)

The First Doctrine:

Almighty Allah, His Holy Presence and Characteristics

He is one, He has no partners whatsoever. He is Unique in His words and deeds. He is the Creator of all creatures. He is alone in His presence and kind. None is like Him (He is possessor of Singularity in His characteristics), with respect to number or quantity, or quality. In fact no partners can be associated with His presence.

He is the Creator of all material and non-material things and even all actions and deeds of creatures are directed by Him and are under His control.

His actions are not governed by the principle of cause and reason nor are they subject to any purpose or motive because He does not need anything whatsoever in the form of any benefit for Himself.

He is Omnipotent and capable to do anything which He wills (intends).

He does not need any instruments or tool to perform His actions. He is needless of any body or organs such as brain for thinking, eyes for seeing, and ears for hearing. He hears everything which is spoken in the lowest possible voice, He is competent to see and feel extremely microscopic things without any visual aid. His presence is free from the body or material existence.

He is Near (Nearest that the Dorsal Aorta) by means of his superb Omnipotence and supreme Knowledge and exalted Mercy. This nearness is not subject to measurement of distance.

He is King (The King of Kings of what is there in the skies and the earth and what is between them, rather the entire Universe). He does not need any helper for the performance of His deeds. He is the Absolute Ruler, Master of everything. He is competent to do whatever He likes or intends.

He does not need the services of any adviser. He is all Powerful and Owner of all countries and their governments He is not accountable or answerable to anybody in respect of His actions, possessions, ownership, government etc. His rule is absolute and everlasting.

Life and Word, Hearing and Sight, Determination and Power and also knowledge are the personal characteristics of Allah. In addition to this "Causing to be" and Creation and Providence are attributes of Allah (such as giving death, enriching, making poor,  fashioning the Universe and developing every thing gradually, step by step upto its final stage of completion in accordance with the laws of Nature and providing them according to their state food and providence or needs of livelihood are Allah's attributes). There are attributes which are concerned with creatures and these are called additional attributes or attributes of performances. These attributes have to be considered as subsidiary to the "Cause to be" and Creation and the negative characteristics which "can not be" and "can never be", for example, He is not ignorant, He is not humble, powerless and incompetent. He is not united with any thing like ice which can become one with water when it melts. In short, in His personal attributes, additional attributes and for the absence of Negative attributes, He is Unique from the very Beginning to Eternity.

As His ancient Person or self is existing from the very Beginning and shall exist for ever, likewise His attributes are also ancient, ever existing and eternal. Every thing save His Person and His attributes, is incidental and mortal, for it was not existing in the Beginning. Everything except Him is brought into existence by Him. Therefore Beware! That anybody who claims that the attributes of Allah are creation or incidents is in fact gone astray-strayed to the maximum extent (to be called infidel).

His person and His attributes are free from all defects and shortcomings firstly as well as lastly.

When He is the Collection of all the exalted attributes and He is the Most Skilled in all sciences and best qualities then it is absolutely impossible that any defect, fault or imperfection may exist in Him. Even unskilled and harmless things may not exist in His Person. He is free from any example of His kind or any opposite, or image or resemblance, or like state (condition) or magnitude. His self is free from the limitation of Time (He is Omnipresent, and Omnipotent).

When it is the Fundamental faith that the Person of Allah is Ancient, existing from the very Beginning and Eternal then all His attributes are likewise existing from the Beginning to Eternity and it has to be believed that His self is free from all incidents or locations in which movement from one place to the other is involved. Further His attributes should be regarded to be invariable and free from any change or alteration. It is impossible that His characteristics in anyway be resembled into the characteristics of His creations. So believe firmly that His Person is free from all incidents and needs which are essential for the human beings (or any other creatures). He does not have a father nor He is possessor of son. He is not of the same kind or of same species of any other existence. He is not congenial or fellow-creature of anyone. He is Ancient and Self-Existing, not born like the creatures. He is Matchless and None can be compared with Him. None is His equal or alike. He is free from any example, likeness and Image. He is celebrated due to His quality of being a Preserver and on account of His Divinity. His exalted-self is free from any comparison with other persons. Similarly, His attributes are free comparison with the qualities of others. His every skill is supreme and His every attribute is superb. Any creature irrespective of its highest position can not be a partner in anyway to His authority of Person.

It is obligatory on every Muslim that he should believe that "There is no deity except Allah and that He is One, Needless and there is no partner unto Him." This is true in respect of His Person as well as His attributes. Nothing is like Him or of His species (either His good names or in His commandments, or His actions). Is there any other name for Him or He accepts assistance of anyone in His work or anybody else beside Him is the Creator? Absolutely not. None is His partner in His kingdom/sovereignty.

As His Person is not resembled in any other persons, His attributes are also not resembled in any of His Creatures.

In some cases when the names A'alim (Knower Hakeem (Wise) Haleem (Clement) Kareem (Kind) Sami (Listener) and Baseer (Seer) are used in respect of some other persons then these are worldly coincidences and it is not the defacto partnership in the attributes of Allah. There is no resemblance between their actual meanings. For example the knowledge and authority of Holy People may just have a worldly resemblance with the knowledge and authority of (Divine Power) of Allah but it does not mean that there is any kind of partnership in His knowledge or Power and of the said Holy People. His mysterious Privacy has no approach whatsoever. No bird can flap its wing or enter its abode without His knowledge or power He is possessor of all greatness and Pride. He is the possessor of the most supreme exalted status and honour among all existences inclusive of the class of angels, Jinns, human beings, and any other creatures. None is free from His supplication All are needy of His grace and bounty and in their expression and discourse they are affirmers of their humble and low status and are in fact beggars in His presence for their wants and needs. They stretch their needy hands begging His bounty and grace. All the creatures on the earth and the skies beg for their needs and desires from His Merciful Presence. All the existing things in fact owe their existence to Him because everything on the earth or on the skies or whatever is between them is mortal and He and He alone is Everlasting and Eternal.

His existence is singular as Hai (Alive) and Qayyum (Self-Subsisting). He is singular in His Presence in the capacity of Hai (Alive) and Qayyum (Self-Subsisting) being Azli (Existing since the very Beginning) and being Abadi (Eternal). All other existences are credences and reliances. In case we believe in them then only we can claim to exist otherwise not. All the existing particles and atoms have a kind of unknown relation or attribute. Accordingly We become aware of the selves/persons such as "I" "We" "He", "She" "It" and "They" and comprehend the concepts of "is existing" "was existing" etc. If we annul the unknown relation between all Existing things and Allah as aforesaid then the statement saying "is existing" becomes "Is not existing", similarly, "was existing" will mean "was not existing". Thus the existence of all will be logically converted into non-existence. It is just an image or reflection of the rays of His luminous Existence that every particle of this Universe conspicuously displays its splendour manifestly before our sights, and every particle of this world thus presents before us the luster of His Omnipotence and complete authority.

If we ignore the above said unknown relation between all the particles of this Universe and His real and Holy Existence even for a while then all the Universe will seem to be a dismal and distressed dream, exists, or a desolate waste or unpopulated land wherein nothing exists. So in the context of existences there is only One Existence that is of His True Person and the rest of the things are existing as an image of His Divine Existence. In the order of Universe He is the Luminous sun and all the worlds are His mirrors. If this bountiful relation is abandoned, then all the Universe will be confronted with total and instantaneous ruin. In fact many images of His Divine light have assumed different names. The Person of Allah is Real One. There can be no change or variance in His Divine Person. However according to the number of appearances His different forms have many many names and they have countless effects. The light of His Unity has unlimited brilliance and splendour and in front of this brilliance both the eyes of the body and the eye of wisdom are blind and in addition to it this can not be explained in words or perceived by human wisdom.

He is not such a singular or Unique existence which has been constituted by adding components thereby forming a single object,  or He is not a Unique thing which can be resulted into its components or parts like the man or any single being which in made up of flesh, skin, blood and bones or any other organs and regarded to be a unique compounded thing which can be resolved into components of which it is made or constituted. This is the speciality of every being but the Person of Allah is free from any body or body components.

His Divine person is neither descended in any other body nor any other person is transmigrated in Him or attached to Him. Otherwise (Let Allah Forbid it) He would have come down from the peak of Oneness to the lower status of duality or partnership. It is He; none is existing except Him. "He is Subhan (Hollowed) and Exalted from what they associate (unto Him)." This bountiful verse repudiates the association to His Divinity and elucidates that none is partner in his Divinity, God-head and Providence. "It is He Who is deity in the sky and deity in the earth". Thus He is Allah of the dwellers of the heaven and the residents of the earth. Leave apart partnership in the God-head and Providence, none can claim a share into His skillful attributes, "None is like Him". This verse also denies any association with His Existence. Thus His Person is free and His attributes are free from any kind of association. He is exempted from all those non-sense things which the polytheists and ignorants attribute unto Him. The Truth lies in the fact that He deserves His existence and all others are His shadows and images. From the term "Unique Existence" the possible meaning and explanation which can be conceived by us is that, His Existence is One and His Presence is also One and all other existing things are His spectacles and mirrors of His Existence and that they do not possess any original existence of their own. Beware! And again Beware! That I, and thou, We and you, this and that, can never be Allah. This is in fact a false belief of the "Ahlelttehad" (Family of Union) which is a sect of infidels. The first doctrine of Our religion is Towheed "Oneness of Allah" or "Unitarianism" which is believed by all the followers of Islam and the Owners of the True Faith.

The Second Doctrine

THE MOST AALA (EXALTED) AND THE MOST AWLA (HIGHEST)

In addition to the fact that His Bountiful Person is free from comparison with other persons and His supreme attributes are exempted from any kind of likeness with the attributes of the others, It is He, Who by virtue of His perfect wisdom inclusive of His Mercy invented (created) the Universe (Except Himself) according to His ancient knowledge possessed by Him since Azal (the very Beginning). He conferred the robe of honour of existence to the Universe, and created His bondmen and provided them, ears, eyes, hands, legs, and tongues etc. and inspired them about the ways to use them, then bestowed upon them the highest standard of a noble essence called wisdom. This wisdom made the humans superior to the animals in their rank and status. Further there are lacs of such matters which could not be perceived or encompassed by the wisdom of the human beings so He raised the prophets among them and revealed the scripts and explained each and every minute thing to them so that no room was left for the human to offer any lame excuse whatsoever. He divided the mukallafins (The elaborators) into two sects who could carefully execute the religious laws and were capable to be addressed by commands and prohibitions. They possessed matured senses and wisdom. One of the sects consists of owners of the paradise who accepted the truths and the other sect consisted of the owners of Hell who had shirked or hesitated to accept the truth.

Paying due regard to the benefits availed (from the image of His Divine Existence) by the Owners of Paradise they are bestowed upon a special share out of His skillful attributes. The doors of prosperity and welfare are also opened for them in this world and also in Hereafter. They are given the special knowledge and bounty. He taught us what we could not learn in schools and Darul-uloom (Educational Institutions) "He taught the human being what he did not know". "And it was the great favour of Allah on you". Allah rewarded man with various kinds of favours and adored him with innumerable graces and bounties. He ornamented and fashioned the heart and spirit body and soul, the outer self and the Inner self of man with good moral qualities and attributes. He purified humans from vices and sinful conducts. Thus He guided mankind to follow the path which leads to a position near to His Presence. All these things were the propitiatory offerings or sacrifices for the welfare of the people on behalf of a most auspicious and blessed person. Allah has selected him as His most special beloved and bestowed upon him the supreme amiability. The pleasure and approval of Allah is sought by all the creatures and even by His prophets and His messengers and also by His close angels. Allah has made him the centre of the cause of creation saying "be done" (command of Allah for creating anything) He is adorned him and dressed him with high ranking robes of honour so that all the members of the Universe are bound to rest under his shade of Protection by seizing his bountiful skirt. All intimate favourities of Allah until they establish a conjunction with this holy source and make him their mediator and supporter in the Presence of Allah they can not have an approach unto Him.

Allah has kept the keys of all the treasures of knowledge and authority, counseling and disposal in his holy hand. He made all the dignified persons like pieces of moon or bright stars among all other people so that the dignified persons receive divine light from him and fill the skirts of their garments with the light of discernment and cognizance. They should not dare to utter words of ego or of personal prestige in his presence because Allah has bestowed on his person such reverences and honour and has elevated his eminence to such a height that even the height of the thousands of Divine thrones have became lower to him. The greatness of other people grew extinct before him and has in fact disappeared in the infinite vastness as a shilling which is thrown in the endless wilderness is lost. Allah rewarded him with such a vast and abundant knowledge that the proven and the latest sciences have proved to be the droplets of such canals which are taken out of the ocean of his personal knowledge. Allah showed him all the Earth from East to West, and the Universe from the throne down to the land Surface.

Allah has made him a witness of the angels of skies and the earth and also a seer of details from the first day until the last day; as to what was existing therein and what would exist in them in future. He provided all information to him both visible and invisible consisting the detail starting from the very Beginning of the Universe upto Eternity (Except what He will) only Allah knows as to how much infinite and endless knowledge He gave to him. This knowledge knows no bounds and has no limits. Only Allah and His beloved know the full details about the vastness of such delegated knowledge. Allah gave His beloved such supreme power of sight that it encompassed all the six directions (say, front and back, right and left, and up and down). All the events of Universe seemed to be happening in his presence instantaneously from the beginning of Universe upto the Day of Resurrection as if he watched them in his palm. He watched all the future events of the world which would occur till the last day. As a token of the authority of Allah and one evidence of the dignity and honour of His prophet this gift of abundant knowledge should be deemed to be abnormal or excessive. The hearing faculty of His beloved was so powerful that he could hear clearly any sound produced at a distance of five hundred years walk (of hundreds of light years). So far as his authority is concerned, it will not be exaggeration to tell that it happened to be pattern or mirror of His divine authority. The orders of His beloved are complied with in both the Upper and the Lower worlds. Allah pays regard to his opinion while operating His absolute rule of creative authority. If he utters "Qum" (stand up) then by the Will of Allah dead become alive, If he points at the moon it splits into two, what he wills the same is the will of Allah and Allah's will is his will.

The mandate of absolute caliphate and its command has been read in his name and his coin was minted and his sermon has been promulgated throughout the Lower world soaring up to the Upper world. Thus he is the absolute deputy and Caliph of Allah and all the world is under his command and disposal. He is competent to do as per his will and pleasure to give anything to any body or to fetch back any thing from any one. None can avert his command and how can one dare to do so when his command is as good as the command of Allah? All the world is under his rule and he is the master of the people. One who does not regard him as his master he is deprived from the relish of his sunnat, tradition of Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). The angels of the skies and the earth are under his control. All the land is his property and all the paradise is his estate. Whatever is given to anybody in the world and hereafter is given to him right from the throne of his ambiguous court. The keys of paradise and Hell are given to him. The provision and welfare and all other rewards are distributed through the media of his court. The world and the Hereafter constitute parts of his gifts and rewards. So besides all the gifts of Allah all the bounties of the world and Hereafter of body and soul, big or small are rewarded through his rewarding agency by virtue of his generosity, his mediation and his medium. What Allah rewards is in fact given by his hand and it shall continue to be given like that for ever till eternity. Through his sacred hand are bestowed on us all the favour of religion and millat (belief/faith), Islam and his tradition, counsel and worship, abstinence and cleanliness, knowledge and cognizance. In short all the worldly bounties are received through him. In the same manner all wealth and fortune, cure and health, honour and elevation, offsprings, and luxuries and all other worldly bounties are given through the agency of his sacred hands.

So said A'ala Hazrat Raza,

"Without his medium Allah's bounty of any kind
Impossible absolutely, wishful thought of blind".

He is the absolute ruler and all except Allah are his subjects and except him there is no other rule in the world. His orders are promulgated to be complied with by the angels of the skies and the earth and the creatures of Allah are bound to follow and obey him. He is of Allah and whatever belongs to Allah is his belonging.

I shall call you master, you're sweet heart of Master For
there's no "mine and yours" between beloved and lover.

All heads are therefore bowed before him and all needy hands are stretched in front of him. All are needy of him and he in his turn is needy of Allah. He is the right heir of the Divine court and all the world is provided livelihood through his agency. The Holy Quran is a scripture of praise and applause for him and at every place his name is mentioned along with the name of Allah.

For thee We've elevated thy remembrance
Made thy mention superb and high thy reference.

All the laws of religion, and the commands and prohibitions are within his competence and all of them are entrusted to him. So he is capable to issue any orders according to his sweet will and pleasure and his commands are laws of religion so he can declare anything lawful for anybody and pronounce anything unlawful for anyone whom he wills. He can even exempt anybody from any religious obligation or duty. In fact he is the embodiment of the religious laws. In short he is incharge and absolute authority of the Divine Organization of Allah and all the rulers/monarchs of the world are beggars and needy in his presence. And do you know Who is he?

• He is Syed-ul-Mursaleen (Chief of the messengers/prophets, the guide of the guides).
• He is Khatim-ul-Nabi-een (The last of the Prophets).
• He is Rahmatul-lil-Aalameen (The Blessing of the Worlds).
• He is Shafi-ul-Muzne'been (Intercessor of Sinners).
• He is Quaid-ul-Muhajjeleen (Guide of the shining blondes).
• He is Sirillah-hil-Makhzoon (The secret of the Allah the Almighty).
• He is Dur-illah-hil-Maknoon (The pearl of Allah, precious and hidden).
• He is Suroor-ul-Qalbil-Mahzoon (The support or Consolence of the broken heart).
• He is A'lime "ma-kana, wa ma yakun" (Aware of all the past and the future) and He is Tajul atqia (The Crown of the man of virtues and righteous deeds).
• He is Nabi-ul-Amadia (The chief and leader of the prophets).
• He is Muhammad-Al-Mustafa (Muhammad the selected one).
• He is Rasul-e-Rab-bil-A'alameen (The prophet of the Raiser of the worlds).

(Allah sends His greeting unto him and his family and his friends

and blessings and safety until the Day of Resurrection).

Even though he possesses all these supreme attributes still, "he is the bondmen and needy of Allah" and as Allah says: "What is in the sky and the earth beg Him." One should never under any circumstances think, dream or doubt that in any way he (The Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) is like and resembled in the Person, Existence or Attributes of Allah in any way for it is a thought of infidelity (polytheism and disbelief). However all the skill and qualities which could be perceived or conceived by human mind were acquired by him and no other living creature or human being can dare to claim equality with him either in his rank or his status. He never tried to go ahead or to step forward from the limits of bondmanship and the basic needs. So how can one think or imagine of his having a resemblance with Allah or stage a comparison between him and the Person and Attributes of Allah? The men of faith can never even think or dream of such likeness or resemblance.

Infact the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) could not fully offer thanks for all the bounties and favours bestowed upon him by Allah, because every act of thanks is rewarded by another favour and this becomes an infinite series of thanks giving and grant of bounties. The bounties and favours of Allah on the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) are innumerable and not at all countable. Allah said: "O' Prophet no doubt every coming moment for you will be better from the past moment and thus hour by hour your rank and prosperity shall be elevated".

The Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) acquired the rank of "Qaaba Qausain" (Two cubits length from Allah even less than that). It is such a destination which could not be reached by anybody so far nor it can be reached in future. The Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) said: "on the night of Ascension my Rab (Raiser) dragged me so near that a two cubits or less than two cubits distance remained between us".

It was just a distance for the name's sake.

"Oh false points of possibility, confused in First and Last!
Ask where it came from and rushed away so fast?"

He saw His Person with human eye and heard Him without medium, fully awoke and from very near. None of the prophets or the near angels could ever reach so near to Him. The litter of Laila (beloved) covering billions of destinations which can not be perceived and which were beyond comprehension witnessed the new sceneries and novel colours. Sense of understanding was lost in the vastness and power of sight was narrowed. In nearness he felt remoteness and in farness he sensed proximity and the feeling of separation seemed to be relish of Union or Conjunction. It was a destination where wisdom and conscience had attained their summit and could not understand anything further. No guessing and imagination work could bear fruit and they were afraid to be led astray.

"There was neither the trance of "when and where", or a mark of   "here and there". "There were in fact no stages milestones, no way-farer's company to share".

The secret which was concealed by Allah then, how could it be understood and how could one dare to go ahead to ponder on it. It was, as if a pearl floating, covered under a shell which was unaware of the moisture. O ye ignorant people, leave its knowledge to its Possessor and pass through this difficult plain with safety for the horse eloquency is caught by reins to narrate the heights attained by the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and to explain about his rank and proximity with Him. However it can be mentioned that he is boss of all creatures and a bondman of Creator, His worship is infidelity, but worship of Allah without paying respect to him is incredulous and worthless. Faith is the name of his love and Paying tributes to his greatness and the act of paying respect to him is preferable to every obligation after faith. And a Muslim is he, whose duty is to mention without fail his name always with the name of Allah.

(Greetings unto him, his family and his companions forever.)

The Third Doctrine

THE SUPREME CHIEFS OF THE EXALTED ASSEMBLY

Next to the exalted person of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) is the rank of all the prophets and the messengers; Greetings and Blessing unto all of them. Though they possess some preferences one on the other, but none besides them, even if he is a saint or an angel or holy companion or may be a member of the household of a prophet can ever attain the rank and status of a prophet irrespective of the nearness of Allah which he/she attains. None can be more beloved and more friendly with Allah than the prophet. They were the Supreme Chiefs of the Exalted Assembly. In fact they were so exalted that the Rab-ul-A'alameen (Raiser of the World) commands the Master and the Chief of the Prophets "Such are they (the prophets) who are guided by Allah, so follow them, who are guided" They are those who were guided by Allah so the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) was asked to follow them. Allah also reveals at another place in Quran "Then follow the religion of Ibrahim the Hanif (Upright). It was the (Ibrahim) who left all those who claim falsehood and bent towards the true religion". In short all the prophets are honourable and respectable and their dispositions are most high so it is oblilgatory on us to respect them. Their slight denial or the act of finding faults with them or any act involving their contempt or any kind of insolence in their presence tantamounts to infidelity. This kind of action against the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) is also regarded to be the disbelief in Allah. Further any comparison between them and the pious caliphs on the basis of equality or preferring any pious caliphs over a prophet is also an act of apostasy and atheism. It is a permanent obligation on the Muslims so they always look upon the prophets with such respectful attitude which they actually deserve. Beware! That even one hundredth part of such respect can not be pronounced on others. So Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radi Allaho Anho) who happened to be the bondman of Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) was ordered to follow their path (of the prophets) and to follow them in all other respects. Let our (human) wisdom beware that there is absolutely no chance of argument in this regard.

The Fourth Doctrine

THE UPPER CLASS OF THE FAVOURITE ANGELS

After the class of the blessed prophets and messengers there exists the upper class of the favourite angels for example, our chiefs and Helpers are:

1. Hazrat Jibrael (Alaihis Salam) (Gabriel) who was responsible to bring the revelations of Allah to the prophets.
2. Hazrat Mikael (Alaihis Salam) (Michael) who is responsible for causing rainfall and supplying provisions to Allah's creatures.
3. Hazrat Israfeel (Alaihis Salam) who will blow the trumpet on the Day of Resurrection.
4. Hazrat Izrael (Alaihis Salam) (The Archangel) who is entrusted with the work of fetching out souls of living beings.
5. The Bearers of Divine throne.

(Greeting of Allah and blessing be unto all those angels.)

None of the favourite saints can reach their elevated dignity nor attain their high place. Any insolence or contradiction with them is of the same kind of infidelity as it is mentioned in respect of the insolence against the prophets and the messengers of Allah. Out of these favourite angels Hazrat Jibrael happened to be the teacher of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). Allah reveals "He (the Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) was taught by the possessor of strong forces and a Mighty person" (Jibrael)". Hazrat Jibrael (Alaihis Salam) happens to be the perfect exhibitor of the grandeurs of Divinity. He is compete in all respects according to the standards of strength of body, of wisdom and of sight. He was the bearer of the burden of the revelation of Allah. He is able to reach within a flinch of the eye upto Sidra-tul-muntaha (the stop of ascent in the seventh heaven). He has so much sagacity and insight of faith that he managed to descend with the revelation of Allah and with full honesty carried out his duty. Under such circumstances how can he be a pupil of anybody. In which case his teacher would have been the grand teacher of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). It is he (Jibrael) whom Allah the Almighty has referred to as the gracious messenger and honest resident. It means that he is the most honourable in the presence of the most Exalted Possessor of the divine Throne. He is the leader of all the supreme angels. All the angels happen to be his subordinates and obedient. He was the trustee of the revelation of Allah and none can question about his trust and his performance of the duty of conveyance of message which was free from any possibility of a mistake whatsoever. We can not accuse him of any lethargy or negligence. He was capable to carry out his duty as a messenger. He was a perfect guard of the divine secrets and lights. He enjoys the highest rank among the angels and is the most favourite, dignified and respectable. Except the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam), Hazraat Jibrael (Alaihis Salam) did not serve anybody. According to a tradition he led the troops of angels who participated in the Battle of Badar and fought as a soldier in the army of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). If the great companions and dignified saints have a chance of his service then they should regard it to be a great honour and pride because in that case they would be regarded to be the servants of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) (who have to be served and obeyed by dwellers of both the worlds).

The Fifth Doctrine

THE HOLY COMPANIONS OF THE CHIEF OF THE PROPHETS (Peace be upon him) AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF ROPHET'S HOUSEHOLD (Radi Allahu anhum).

Next to the favourite angels the most respectable and high ranking ones are the companions of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and the members of his household (May Allah be pleased with all of them). Among them are included.

1. Hazrat Butul, most beloved of the prophet, Lady of the Paradise, Banu (Princess) of the world, boss of the women of faith, Bibi Fatima Zahra (Radi Allaho Anha).
2. The two reverend princes of this holy daughter of the boss of the two worlds, the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). They were the two stars within the divine sight of the Holy Throne.They were the pieces of the moon of Imamat of the celestial globe.They were the beautiful flowers of the garden of purification. Both were Qurrat-ul-Ain (comfort of the eyes) of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe wasallam). They were the bountiful leaders and the fortunate martyrs. They were righteous men and possessors of pious hearts. They were the two moons, the two purified men of faith namely Abu Muhammad Hazraat Imam Hassan and Abu Abdullah Hazrat Imam Hussain (Radi Allah A'nhum).
3. The Mothers of the Ummat (Men of faith), The ladies of the Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam), the pious wives (Radi Allah A'nhumah) of the Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam).
4. All the Holy companions (Radi Allah A'nhum) of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) who had the credit to see the holy countenance of the Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) who lived like Muslims and died like Muslims, irrespective of the fact whether they were men or women, adults or children. Then dignities and ranks of these holy people can only be judged by those who know the honour and the exalted position of the Chief of the Prophets (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam).

The heart of a Muslim is in fact illuminated by the lights of discernment and wisdom and his eyes possess the sight of the beauty of Allah. He follows the truth and leads the life of truth and he dies for the truth and it is his nature to always accept the truth and nothing less than truth. He acquires bright inheritance from the midday sun. The true lover of Allah after acquiring the divine power saves his beloved from any bad company. And Allah is capable to do everything and the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) is His beloved and the boss of all other men of Allah. In fact he is their chief, their boss and their crowed head. And It is He Who is capable to do every thing as He will. Can He not appoint assistants and friends of His most honourable and most esteemed beloved Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam)? Sure, He does; He is Almighty and Omnipotent. So He has done the favour and has appointed and selected the Holy companions of His Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam).

So beware! That any one who dares to taunt or reproach such reverend persons then he denies the skill and the authority of Mighty Allah or he regards His power to be defective and incomplete and tries to find fault in the most exalted ranks and honourable status of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) which is bestowed upon him by Allah. It is indeed an act of great rebellion and insolence against the most beloved prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) of Allah.

The Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) said about his companions "Allah, Allah in respect of my companions, do not make them targets after me. So one who loves them, then he loves them for the sake of my love. And one who is their enemy he is their enemy on account of enmity with me. One, who troubles them then he troubles me and one who troubles me in turn he troubles Allah. And one who troubles Allah then it is near that Allah will seize him (for torture)."

So Beware, O outcasts, O strayed people. You have built up hostility and enmity in your hearts against the pious and illustrious Imams, (leaders) about whom the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) had said in clear words as cited above.

Allah the Almighty has also revealed about them "Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Allah". It means that Allah accepted their obedience and sincerity {of the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum)} They offered thanks to Him for His favours and bounties given to them So let the followers of other sects say whether Allah and His Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) has included only the names of Hazrat Ali Ibne Talib (Radi Allaho Anho) and the holy grandsons of Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) Imam Hassan and Imam Hussain (Radi Allah A'nhum) in the list of the Holy Companions and has excluded therefore the names of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq, Hazrat Umar Farooq, Hazrat Usman, the mother of Momins Bibi Ayesha Siddiqa, Hazrat Talha, Hazrat Zubair and Hazrat Mua'awiya (Radi Allah A'nhum)?

About Hazrat Talha (Radi Allaho Anho) the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) said,

"This is Jibrael (Gabriel) He greets thee and says that on
the Day of Resurrection he will accompany thee during
all the horrors of that Day."

And about Hazrat Zubair Radi Allaho Anho the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) said,

"This is Jibrael (Gabriel). He greets thee and states that he will
be with you on the Day of Resurrection until he turns away all
the flying sparkles of the Hell from your face."

Hazrat Jalaluddin Sewti writes in his work "Jamaul-Jawamay" that this Hadith (saying of Prophet) is authentic.

As regards Hazrat Mua'awiya (Radi Allah Anho) we believe that he was the first Monarch of the Muhammadan State for whom there is a reference in Towret. Saying,

"Born in Mecca, the immigrant to Madina and
King at Syria."

So Kingdom of Amir Mua'awiya (Radi Allaho Anho) is in fact the state or dominion of Islam.

Has Allah excluded the other Holy companions from the list of companions and has the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) has whispered in the ears of other sects any such thing that the companions of Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) actually mean the people other than those who are mentioned above?

"O you outcasts, (Allah forbid) why you taunt And abuse them. Unfortunately you do not know that this kind of enmity with the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum) of the Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) is in fact the hostility against the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) himself and infliction of any trouble on them means that you trouble Allah which will be punished by the everlasting torture of Hell.

But O Allah let your blessings and everlasting bounty be bestowed upon the sect of the pious followers of Sunnah who pays due regard and offers the greatest honour to all the associates of the illustrious company of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). The sunni sect has adopted these things as a tradition. It is the doctrine of the Sunnis that all the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum) are the stars of the heaven of guidance and the planets of the sky of honour. They believe that every member of the class of Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum) is the chief of the pious and the righteous persons. They are men of justice and of life upright. They are the crown heads of all their followers till the Day of Resurrection. They include all the administrators of justice, lovers of justice, pious, righteous and upright people. Any exalted saint irrespective of his spiritual elevation can not reach to the lowest rank of a Holy Companion. None of the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum) belong to any low category.

The other members of Muslim Ummah who possess gold equal to mount of Ohad may never be equal to the value of two kilograms of barley possessed by the holy companions" So said the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) as a sort of comparison between the honour and esteem of the ordinary Muslims and that of the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum). The nearness in the sight of Allah enjoyed by the companions is not at all attainable by others. Whatever high ranks the companions did enjoy could not be acquired by any other Muslim. Therefore all the scholars of Sunni sect and also all the Sunni (Ahle-Sunnah) firmly believe that these companions of Holy Prophet (peace be upon them) had been highly virtuous, pious and God fearing and they were the righteous men. Therefore the members of Sunni sect regard it to be unlawful to find fault and investigate into the life events and other actions of the companions of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). If however any deed of a companion of Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) is found apparently to be objectionable according to the ethical and religious values then the Sunnis regard that such deed might have been performed by the companion with a sense of sincerity and good intention, for Allah has said about them "Allah is pleased with them".

So what right does any other person have to doubt in the divine utterance (revelation) of Allah. Therefore the Sunni sect does not at all like to investigate into the affairs of the Holy companions about whom the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) has said: "When my companions are referred to, then be evasive" It means that we Muslims should not have any mistrust or suspicion about the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum) by means of investigating into their matters.

Hearing the orders of our exalted boss (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and listening to the strict warnings and severe threats, we the Sunnis keep our tongues tied and make our hearts clean like mirrors in respect of the actions, deeds and events of life of Holy companions (Radi Allah A'nhum). We think that our ordinary common sense and wisdom can not ex-compass the transactions of these dignified, elevated and High-ranking people.

We are not capable to play the part of arbitrators or judges in respect of contradiction and conflicts which cropped up between them because we neither possess any authority nor the wisdom to indulge in such terms.

How can we use our humble tongues to criticize such beloved people of Allah and Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). We should not take sides or favour a party out of them and start to rebuke the other party or regard one of their groups to be materialist and lover of worldly benefit. Appearance to the contrary we regard all of them to be the reformists of the true religion. The exaltation and eminence of Islam and the Muslims was their main motive and ideal of life. They were also Mujtahids, religious directors (Interpreters of religious laws) and they had adopted what they found to be prudent and advisable and befitting for the condition of Muslims of their time. No doubt in their Ijtehad (superintending/Interpreting the religious laws) they committed some mistakes and could not comprehend a few things but all of them strictly adhered to the truth (and only truth and nothing except the truth) so all of them are respectable for us. Their differences are similar to the differences which cropped up in the practical parts of religious doctrines between the great scholars and Mujtahids (Interpreters of religious laws) of the Sunni sect like Imam Azam Abu Hanifa and Imam Shafai (May Allah bless them) etc. Inspite of all the differences between them they never regarded each other to be transgressors or enemies.

Hazrat Ali (Radi Allaho Anho) said about his opponents "They are our brothers who have rebelled against us". The Muslims should see that all the companions of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) were his true bondmen and devoted followers. All of them are dignified and exalted in the presence of Allah and  His Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and they are the luminous stars of the heaven of guidance. So following the commands of Allah and His Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) the pious Muslim Sunni sect made it a doctrine that all the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum) were good, steadfast, righteous, pure, virtuous and also the favourites of Allah, Investigation about their mutual differences and contradictions in any way sends us astray and misleads us.

We regard that the companions of the Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) possessed the chastity like the innocent prophets. All the followers of truth (followers of Islam) and members of the Sunni Sect therefore have followed the highway of firm belief and a perfect faith which helps them to reach their desirable destinations. On the other hand the followers of falsehood are engulfed into such false details and are so badly led astray that they have lost the true path. For example when such men of ill intentions read this verse of Quran : " And Adam committed sin against his Rab (Raiser) so he was strayed" from this they infer that Hazrat Adam (peace be upon him) had disobeyed the command of Allah. Further when they read the verse "For Allah is to pardon you what sins you have went before and what you will send late." From this they get an idea as if Allah has referred to in this verse the sins committed by the Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and their pardon (Let Allah forbid such blunder). At another place in Quran when they come across the story of Hazrat Musa (Moses) (Alaihis Salam) and the Qabti (member of Pharaoh's nation) in which it is narrated that seeing the Qabti oppressing a man of faith Hazrat Musa (Alaihis Salam) struck a blow to the Qabti and knocked him down to death (They inferesed that Hazrat Musa (Alaihis Salam) was a murderer (Allah forbid). On another occasion they heard the story of Hazrat Dawood (David) (Alaihis Salam) and one of his followers, Riyah which was infact a story coined by the Jews and was largely advertised. (They start thinking that he was an oppressor while dealing with Riyah.)

Some of the commentators of Holy Quran have also narrated the entire story. However according to Imam Razi it was totally false and absurd. However the senseless people who heard this story started to discuss about it and led away from submission to Allah and Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and thus deserved the wrath of Allah and Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). About such people Allah reveals' "You indulged into absurdity as they involved in absurdity". Further he adds "The word of torment proved to be true" in respect of the infidels. If my Rab so wills no doubt he does what he intends."

Muslims should firmly believe that all the prophets of Allah were innocent and that they had never committed any major sins, neither before the prophethood period nor after being bestowed upon the prophethood they deliberately committed any minor sin which can be regarded as scornful by the creatures of Allah so that they had a reason to desert the prophets. "Oh Allah (we beg you) make us firm on the admonition. No doubt you are the most High and Exalted."

Regarding the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum) one thing should be remembered that they were neither prophets nor the angels that they could be regarded as to be totally innocents. Some of them no doubt committed some mistakes. However to find fault with them is against the commands of Allah and His Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). Allah has revealed in Surah Hadid (Iron) that there are two classes of the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum).

1. Those who spent in the way of Allah before the victory (of Makkah) and participated in fighting.
2. Those who spent in the way of Allah afterwards and participated in fighting.

The first category of the companions were those who embraced Islam before the conquest of Makkah and they spent their wealth in the way of Allah and fought the Holy war even though they were very small in number and they were weak, poor and were not fully armed with the weapons of war still they bore all the troubles bravely and risked their lives and spent whatever they had in the service of Islam. They are the predecessors and (This includes) first among the immigrants from Makkah and the Ansars (Supporters) of Madinah. They were the most supreme and exalted in their ranks.

The second category of companions were those who embraced Islam after the conquest of Makkah. They also spent in the way of Allah and took part in the Holy war at a time when the Islamic state has been firmly established and had grown strong. All the Muslims had grown rich and dignified by that time. The Companions of this class however are not equal in rank to the companions of the first class already mentioned.

So Allah preferred the first category of companions to the second category. Then Allah reveals "Allah has promised good for all of them". It means that both the categories will be rewarded paying due regard to what they deserved. Allah reveals about them that "They are kept remote from the Hell. They shall never even hear of its sound (of burning fire). They shall abide therein as they desire. The great terror (of Day of Resurrection) will not make them sad. The angels will welcome them (saying) this is your day of which you were promised".

This is the honour of the companions of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) so one who taunts or abuses anyone of them then actually he disbelieves and denies Allah. Many of the stories coined against the companions are baseless and far from truth so quoting such stories against the revelation of Allah has in a way closed the mouths of ill speakers against the companions of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) by revealing the revelant verses of Surah Hadid (Iron). In addition to these  verses Allah added "And Allah is aware with what you do". Knowing all about the companions of the Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and all their deeds Allah has proclaimed. His final verdict that He has promised to these eminent people the reward of paradise which is free from all kinds of tortures.

Further the promise included the grant of abundant requital to them in Hereafter. Therefore how can anybody now dare to taunt these holy people on any account? Do those who taunt them wish Allah to establish a dominion other than the kingdom of Allah? If still somebody talks absurd things about them then let him break his head and be the owner of Fire. Allama Shahabuddin writes in Naseemur Riaz (on illustration of shifai Qazi Ayaz) "one who taunts on Hazrat Mua'awiya (Radi Allaho Anho) he is one of the dogs of the Hell".

AN IMPORTANT WARNING

This is the firm belief of the followers of Sunni faith that "Whenever there is any remembrance of the Holy companions (Radi Allah A'nhum) then it should be a remembrance with well wishing intentions (and full protected). They were the people who remained steadfast in faith and in following the Sunnah (word and deeds) of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) through out their lives. They were the people who did not coin any new thing in the Islamic teachings to form a separate class or group in selfish interest.

They never fought against the men of truth for selfish reasons. The scholars of the religion agree on this point that in battles of Jamal (Camel) and Battle of Saffain the companions of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) who encountered with each other by mistake were in fact the victims of erroneous Ijtehad (wrong superintending of religious matters). But in the Battle of Nahr were involved those people who denied the right of rule of Hazrat Ali (Radi Allaho Anho) and rebelled against him. They were in fact the real trouble makers and rebels who had established a new sect namely Khawarij (The Out-Castes or the Revolters) which was responsible for miscreancy and riots in the Muslim state and causing differences in the Muslim brotherhood which are still existing among the Muslims of today.

The Sixth Doctrine

THE ASHRAH-E-MUBASH-SHARAH
(The most pious ten companions of the
holy prophet (Sall allaho alahihe wasallam) and
the four pious Caliphs

Out of all the pious companions of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) the most eminent, exalted and highly dignified in rank were the ten companions called "Ashrah-e-Mubash-sharah" the ten who were conveyed the happy tiding of the reward of paradise by the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe Wasallam) during their life time.

These Holy people were:

The four pious caliphs                   (1 to 4)
Hazrat Talha bin Ubaidullah            5
Hazrat Zubair bin-ul-Awam             6
Hazrat Abd-ul-Rahman bin Auf       7
Hazrat Sa'd bin Abi Waqas             8
Hazrat Saeed bin Zaid                     9
Hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah   10

Out of these ten the four pious caliphs possessed such distinguished qualities and high spiritual ranks that when we ponder on their status individually we think that every one of them was unparallel in his position and none could be a match for them specially the rank of the lamp of the Shabistan (nightland) of sainthood (friendship of Allah), spring of the garden of cognizance, The Leader of Waseleen (connected ones with Allah) and Syed (chief) of the devotees, the leader of those who joined Allah, the leader of the people of cognizance, the last of the caliphate of prophethood, the conqueror of chains of tariqat (religious customs), Moula(Lord) of Muslims, Amirul Momineen (commander of the faithful) father of the pious Imams, possessor of pious nature, and purified temperament, the ancestor of the Imams, Tahir (Chaste), Mutahir (Purifier), Qasim of Kausor (the Distributor of Kausar), The lion of Allah Mazhar-ul-Ajaeb (Exhibitor of the wonders), The Matlub of all (Desired by all) Hazrat Ali bin Abi Talib Karama Allah-u-Wajhu (Let Allah bless his countenance). And we gathered him in the group on the Aqeem (barren) day: The laudable attributes and the noble habits of this great man of elevated rank are innumerable and are so frequently talked about that none can be parallel to him in this respect.

Then the twins Shaikhain (chiefs) the Sahabeen Saherain (Molten friends) whose daughters were given in marriage to the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and were called the mothers of Momins (the men of faith).

They were the vazirs (Ministers) of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). According to Hadith, the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) said: "I have two Vazirs in the heaven Jibrael (Gabrael) and Mekael (Mechael) and two Vazirs on earth, Abu Bakr and Umar (Radi Allah Anhum.)

They were the Ameers (the two leaders of the Faithful) the pious caliphs. They were Musheer-an (The consultants). Both of them were the advisers of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). Both were zajiain (Co-sleepers) they are laid to rest on the side of Holy Prophet's (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) last abode. Both were Rafiqain (Devoted Friends) of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam).

They were Syedna and Moulana Hazrat Abdullah Alateeq Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq and Hazrat Abu Hafs Umar Farooq (Radi Allah A'nhum). Their exalted grandeur is distinguished from the disposition of others. Allah and His Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) had bestowed great favour on them. They stood next in rank to the prophets and the favourite angels. The nearness and favour of Allah which they possessed and the respect and honour which they have was never possessed by anybody else. Their ranks are supreme in the mansions of heaven. They were far ahead of others in their merits and bounties and also in their noble deeds and chastities so our scholars and Imams (leaders) have permanently written about their eminence and acquired the prosperity and piety of the two worlds. They wrote about the natures and the laudable actions of these holy men of Allah and also enlisted their preferences and attributes. Otherwise, they would have been over and above our sense of understanding and we could not have comprehended them. Allah is great.

If thousands of books/registers are used to record their merits and they are written for a thousand times still such a list will remain incomplete. Besides such abundance of their excellence and magnificence what is very excellent about them is their nearness in the presence of Allah. Further the favour of Allah which is in the hands of Allah alone and it is bestowed upon whom He will, had been acquired by them. In addition the Holy Scripture (Quran) and the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) himself have openly referred to the greatness of these Shaiks.

Hazrat Imam Hassan (Radi Allaho Anho) quoted Moula Ali (Allah's favour on his countenance) as saying.

"I was present one day before the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe  Wasallam) when Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umar (Radi Allah  A'nhum) appeared there. The Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe  Wasallam) looked at them and said Ali, these two are the chiefs of all  the old and the young men of paradise. They are next to the prophets  and messengers"
(source: Tirmizi, Ibne Maja and Abdullah bin Ali,  Imam Ahmed)."

 Hazrat Abu Huraira (Radi Allaho Anho) quoted the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) as saying:

"Abu Bakr and Umar are the best of the Awwaleen (Firsts) and the Aakhireen (Lasts) and are better than all the residents of the heaven and better than all the dwellers of the earth except the prophets and messengers
(source: Alhakim in Alkana are also Ibne Adi and Khatib)."

Further Hazrat Moula Ali (Let Allah's favour be on his countenance) repeatedly illustrated the eminence of these two great Shaiks during the period of the pomp and caliphate and said in clean terms "These two persons irrespective of the limits of directions and ranks are prominent among all the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum)" He repeated these words many times and nearly eighty companions and followers of the companions have quoted the same words to have been spoken by the truthful Murtuza on many occasions either in open or in special meetings or in public or in the Juma mosques. About no other person he had uttered such words so repeatedly. Further as quoted by Imam Bukhari Hazrat Muhammad bin Hanifia S/o Hazrat Ali (Radi Allaho Anho) said:

 " I asked my father, the leader of the faithful Moula Ali (Let Allah's  favour be on his countenance) as to who is the best among men next  to the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam)?" He replied,  "Abu Bakr. Then I asked who is the best next to him. He said "Umar".

Hazrat Abu Umar bin abdullah quoted Hakam bin Hajal and also Dar Qatni narrated in his collection of Ahadith that so said Moula Ali (Let Allah's favour be on his countenance). "Whom I shall find preferring me to the Shaikh's (Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umar (Radi Allah A'nhum) then I shall punish him with eighty lashes of whips for coining such a lie."

Abul Qasim Talhi quoted Hazrat Aalqama as saying in his Kitabul Sunna, "When Moula Ali came to know that some people preferred him to the Shaikhain then he ascended the rostrum and after praising and glorifying Allah said "Oh you people I have heard that some individuals prefer me to Abu Bakr and Umar and if I would have heard it earlier I would have punished them by warning them. So whom I shall hear hence, to say like this then I shall regard him the invention of lie against the Shaikhain and will punish him accordingly."

Then he said: "No doubt in this ummah next to the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) is Abu Bakr then follows Umar and Allah knows better who is the next after them.

In that meeting Hazrat Imam Hassan (Radi Allaho Anho) was present. He said: "By Allah had he (Hazrat Ali) mentioned the third name it would have been of Hazrat Usman (Radi Allaho Anho). Referring to all the AHadith (Narration of the sayings of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and all the speeches and assertions of Hazrat Murtuza (Radi Allaho Anho) and members of the Household of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) which are innumerable, a very few of them have been commented upon in the work namely "Munthahi-ul Tafseel-La-Mubahis-ul-Tafzeel)" (The proficient details about the discourses on preferences). Presently the respectable scholars of Sunni Sect pondered over these Ahadith (saying of Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and his traditions then they offered hundreds of illustrations about the eminence of Shaikhain  and disregarded the limits of reason and ranks (specifying that they were eminent in such and such capacities and in other capacities some one else is eminent etc).

So they made it a doctrine or faith that although such special bounties and eminent attributes were possessed by Hazrat Moula Ali and some others in addition to him and by bounty of Allah they were alone possessors of such attributes which were not even possessed by the Shaikhain and even the contrary belief (its opposite) is equally true that the Ameerain and Vazirain (the leaders of the faithful and the Ministers) had acquired such exalted attributes and supreme favours from the presence of Allah that none others had a share in them. But by their absolute divine favour irrespective of the reason or rank and the abundance of requital (reward of virtue) in the presence of Allah the Shaikhain had been superior to all others.

In Hadith it is mentiond that the comrades of Syedna Imam Mehdi (Radi Allah Anho) will have the reward of fifty persons. Hearing this the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum) asked whether those fifty would be the comrades of Hazrat Mehdi or fifty Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum) of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). Then the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) saaid: "They will be equal to fifty of the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum). Thus their recompensation proved to be more and their reward and wage of labour was also declared to be more but as regards the eminence they could not have even possessed equal position to the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum). How can the comradeship of Imam Mehdi be equal to the companionship of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe wasallam) the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam)? To understand it clearly let us consider a similitude of a monarch who has sent his Grand Vazir and other Official on some expedition.

And on their victory in the expedition they are rewarded one lakh rupees each whereas the Vazir is conferred upon with a certificate of Pride of Performance. Then so for as the material gain is concerned then all the officers got more as wages and recompensation but as the honour bestowed upon the Vazir is concerned the material gain (of Rs.one lakh) of the officials is not at all a match or basis of comparison with it (Bahar-e-Shariaht).

And this is the most firm and strong belief and nothing against it exists in any Hadith whatsoever and if there is any trace of such contradiction then it may be due to our misunderstanding. Otherwise why the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and Hazrat Moula Ali (Radi Allaho Anho), and the members of the household of the prophet would have without any restriction of reason and status would have declared them (the Shaikhain) to be the best of the Ummat and the chiefs of the First and the Lasts?

Whether the verse "Say (come our sons and your sons) and our souls and your souls", and the right Hadith "I am whose Moula, then Ali (Radi Allaho Anho) is his Moula (too)" and the most weak and subject to cross questioning and neutralization (your flesh is my flesh and your blood is my blood) and other news and AHadith were not known to them? Whether inspite of being unique in their knowledge and consciousness and also possessing high quality of common sense and intelligence they still remained unaware of these secrets of the inner part of the household of Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and they spent their entire lives in this state of unawareness (and lack of knowledge)?

Or it so happened that inspite of being aware of these secrets they could not understand the manifest arguments behind them and due to self respect and shame they could not question anybody about the reality. Whether having understood the reality of the state of affairs they found these things to be contradictory to the eminence of the Shaikhain  and still they deliberately remained calm and thus cultivated a faith which was contradictory to the belief of the majority of the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum)? Or they did not allow their tongues to speak out even though these thing were humiliating for them and they were being blamed of condemnable taqiyyah (pious fraud or subterfuge)? Under these circumstances how can we understand otherwise that they contradicted in their hearts but they confessed with their tongues (the eminence of the Shaikhain) and how can we ignore the clear illustrations and final arguments and facts free from all kind of doubts and manipulations about the exalted ranks of the Shaikhain.

All praise is for Allah the Rab of the worlds that I the most humble (Hazrat Raza) bondman of Allah know about such a decisive answer to this question quite sufficient (enough) to guide the men of judgment. For the prejudiced people there is extreme cause to be infuriated and to burn in the fire of wrath. As for as we Muslims of Sunni Sect are concerned we accept the saying of Hazrat Ali (Radi Allaho Anho) which is in fact a proof of our love for Hazrtat Murtuza (MABPWH). In fact our love for him demands that we should obey the beloved of Allah and His Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and save ourselves from deserving the punishment of 80 lashes and the wrath of the truthful (Siddiqain), the most perfect among the saints and men of knowledge Syedna Siddique Akbar (Radi Allaho Anho) who risked his life for the love and honour of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) even though saving of life is obligatory and in case when there is a risk of life due to the enmity or cruelty, a person is even exempted from establishing Namaz. But due to his true love and great respect for the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) Hazrat Siddique (Radi Allaho Anho) did not care about his own life. Therefore next to all the prophets and the messengers of Allah, is the rank of Hazrat Siddique (Radi Allaho Anho) and he is eminent among all the world and its peoples, creatures, all saints and all the learned scholars of religion. He is that Siddique about whom exist a Hadith saying: "Abu Bakr does not become prominent among you due to abundance of Namaz and fasting but it is due to the secret which is deeply established and accommodated in his heart."

On another occasion the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) said about Hazrat Siddique (Radi Allaho Anho):

"If the faith of Abu Bakr is weighed along with the faith of all my Ummat then the faith of Abu Bakr will be heavier."

There are many such Ahadith about Hazrat Siddique (Radi Allaho Anho). Once the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) said:

 "There exists no treatment/kindness of anybody which We have not  paid back except that Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiquue (Radi Allaho  Anho). His kind treatment with us is such that it will be repaid to him  by Allah on the Day of Resurrection"

About the eminence of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (Radi Allaho Anho) this verse of Allah is rightly applicable:

"No doubt the most honourable among you in the presence of Allah is  he who is more righteous."

In another verse Allah reveals about a righteous Muslim:

 "Soon he will be saved (from Hell) who
 is righteous."

The first verse is in respect of the righteous and eminent people of the old Ummat but for the follower of Sunni faith like us it is equally applicable to people like Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (Radi Allaho Anho) and for the followers of Shia faith it is applicable to the leader of the faithful Moula Ali (Radi Allaho Anho).

However to decide between the above two opinions Allah reveals the definition of "Atqa" (reghteous). Atqa is such a person.

"On whom exists no such favour of any person,
which has (still) to be  repaid."

The entire Muslim world knows and accepts this fact that Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (Radi Allaho Anho) was the only person who had always fulfilled the requisites of true bondmenship, perfect service and perfect dedication in such a way that the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) as a token of their acceptance has uttered most kindly about Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (Radi Allaho Anho) in the following words: "No doubt among all men none has treated (us) with his life and wealth as did Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (Radi Allaho Anho)."

On the other hand Moula Ali (Radi Allaho Anho) was brought up under the kind patronage and came to age in the house of Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). So he got everything from the House of Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). Therefore the above definition "Atqa" is not applicable to Moula Ali (Radi Allaho Anho) but unanimously and with all certainty all the commentators of Holy Quran regard Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (Radi Allaho Anho) to be the "Atqa" as defined by Allah.

In the very first year when Peerformance of Hajj has been made obligatory the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) appointed Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (Radi Allaho Anho) to be the "Amir-ul-Hajaj" (The leader of the pilgrims). Further the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) made him an Imam (leader to lead Namaz) in his place when he was lying in his death bed.

Hazrat Ali Murtuza (Radi Allaho Anho) (Let Allah's favour be on his countenance) said:

When we pondered on the point that Namaz is such a fundamental of  Islam on which is established the (structure of) religion so in the  matter of performance of the affairs of caliphate also we agree to base  our decision on it (Namaz) which had been regarded so important in  our religion, by (Allah and His) Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe  Wasallam). Therefore all of us took the oath of allegiance of Hazrat  Abu Bakr Siddique (Radi Allaho Anho)."

As regards Hazrat Farooq-e-Azam (Radi Allaho Anho) about whom the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) prayed.

"Allahumma (O' Allah) honour the Islam by the Khassa (nature) of  Umar bin Khattab"

As a result of this prayer many honours were achieved by Islam and many many calamities were removed from Isalm and the Muslims.

Syedna Abdullah bin Masood (Radi Allaho Anho) said in this connection:

 "We always remained honourable ever since Hazrat Umar embraced  Islam" (Bukhari).

And once the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) himself said about Hazrat Umar:

"Had there been any prophet after me then he
would have been  Umar."

It means that Hazrat Umar (Radi Allaho Anho) had such an exalted and firm nature that if the door of prophethood would not have been closed thereby then by favour of Allah he {Hazrat Umar (Radi Allaho Anho)} would have been a prophet (for one can not claim to be appointed as a prophet).

The Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) said on another occasion about Hazrat Umar (Radi Allaho Anho):
 

"Wherever may be Umar, the Truth will keep
company with him."

All the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum) accepted unanimously that:

"Hazrat Umar (Radi Allaho Anho) took away nine shares of  knowledge, whereas Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (Radi Allaho Anho)  possessed the highest knowledge among them."

He was that Farooq, that all the Satans on his way were terrified when he walked on it. He was that Farooq, that when he embraced Islam the supreme favourite angels had congratulated the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) on that occasion.

He was that Farooq, that since the day of his embracing Islam, Islam always achieved honours and exaltations. His Islam was triumph. His immigration was victory and his caliphate was blessing.

So it is proved beyond doubt that in the matter of nearness in the presence of Allah the Shaikhain enjoyed preference and eminence, the Vilayat (friendship with Allah) which is a speciality of the chosen bondmen of Allah and is bestowed by His favour and kindness to the Shaikhain happened to be supreme. The rank of nearness to Allah the Almighty enjoyed by Shaikhain however needs further consideration by the scholars and the learned men of the Ummat. It so happened that at the stage of completion of the prophethood mission the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) established the Shaikhain to succeed him in the fields of perfection and excellences of prophethood and installed Hazrat Moula Ali (Radi Allaho Anho) inherit him in respect of perfections of Vilayat (friendship with Allah). Therefore all the saints and Awliya Allah had acquired sainthood or vilayat from the house of Moula Ali (Radi Allaho Anho) and remained needy of him and still remain and shall remain needy of him for their vilayat.

In the preambulation unto Allah all the saints are equal "We do not make distinction (in believing) between any of his prophets".

Accordingly "We also do not make distinction between any of His saints and Awliya (friends)".

It is said that when the bondman reaches the world of La-hoot (No means) and his preambulance unto Allah is completed then he enters the stage of Amusement in the company of (in the presence of) Allah, a stage which is infinite. At this stage every thing besides Allah loses its value in the eyes of the bondman and he crosses the limit of mortality. In the presence of Allah some people gradually attain high and higher position and once they enter the stage of Amusement in the company of Allah (Sair-Fil'lah) and the attraction of Allah then Allah pulls them nearer to His presence so their Amusement never ends Some of these bondmen are bestowed upon the assignment to guide the people. This is called the destination of Na-soot (Humanity). It is also called the World of evidence, World of Creation and World of body. At this stage the bondman possesses a special relation with Allah. On one hand he develops a relation on the other hand a relation with the creatures of Allah also. Such bondman attends to the work of guidance of the people (as Allah will).

It is through the agency of such saintly people that the robes of honour and Vilayat are bestowed upon the Muslims and they execute the oath of allegiance on their hands. It does not however mean that such saints go ahead in the office of sainthood in comparison to the other Awliya (friends of Allah) and enjoy comparatively more honour and esteem in the presence of Allah. However, the special assignment of guidance of people which is entrusted to the former kind of saints tantamounts to be a separate bounty of Allah which is specially bestowed upon them, whereas the others do not have such favour. Such a bounty therefore can not be made matter of distinction in respect of Shaikhain. In fact there were hundreds of other attributes which were bestowed upon Moula Ali (Radi Allaho Anho) which were not given to the Shaikhain. Still in the presence of Allah the specially elevated ranks were enjoyed by the Shaikhain as a special privilege (otherwise Allah would not have mentioned them in his the holy verses as eminent and the best irrespective of reason that status and eminence of Moula Ali (Radi Allaho Anho) is specially denied). As a matter of fact the Vali (friends of lower ranks can not be regarded as a Vali (friend) of elevated rank, for example among the spiritual descendants of Moula Ali (Radi Allaho Anho), Syedna Imam Hussain (Radi Allaho Anho) and Hazrat Khwaja Hassan Basri had reached the destination of Na-soot (Humanity) to guide the men of Allah whereas no such distinction was reached or guidance work was assigned to Hazrat Imam Hassan (Radi Allaho Anho) even though his nearness in the field of Vilayat (friendship with Allah) was comparatively supreme to the nearness or Vilayat of Hazrat Hassan Basri. According to Some Ahadith Hazrat Imam Hassan (Radi Allaho Anho) enjoyed comparatively the highest eminence than the martyr of Karbala Hazrat Imam Hussain (Radi Allaho Anho) in the field of Vilayat (friendship with Allah).