The piety of Sultan Tippu (continued)


Friends! Now we have two groups in the field. Understand this well. I wish to express my views more accurately. One group headed by Mîr Sâdiq supported the British whilst the group engaging in hostilities against the British was headed by Sultân Tippu. And who was the person who issued a Fatwâ in support of Jihâd against the British? Shâh Abdul-Azîz (Rahmatullâhi alaih)! If he did not issue this Fatwâ, the movement of the freedom of India would probably never have went off the ground. The movement of ‘the silken shawls’ would probably never have started. The various movements in the sub-continent would not have been initiated. The war of Balakot would not have been fought. Due to the Fatwâ of Shâh Abdul-Azîz, the Muslims of India learnt to stand united and fight against the British.

Friends! In 1792, when Sultân Tippu was martyred, the British felt that a major impediment to their objectives was removed. A thorn had been yanked away from their backs. Thereafter Nawâb Sirâjud-Dawlah comes to the battle field. He lead the Muslims in the battle of Pilâsi. This battle persisted for 32 hours non-stop. In this battle also, the British bought off Sirâjud-Dawlah’s chief general Mîr Jafar and also one of the other generals. Sirâjud-Dawlah, like his predecessor Tippu, was also martyred.

In the history of India, we find two groups; one made up of traitors and the other of loyalists. One group was hostile towards the British whilst the other was pro-British. Even up to this day, there are people in this country who are pro- British through and through. The group who was hostile towards the British at that time was made up of the Ulamâ of Deoband.

Friends! Understand all this well. I am not in a habit of lengthy preambles. All I am trying to explain is what eventually transpired in India. How did sectarianism come about in India? Who initiated the movement of Ghulâm Ahmad Qâdiyâni? I ask you, how did so many forms of turmoil engulf this sub-continent? What was the role of the estate owners in this country? How did the allocation of up to 22000 acres of land ever come about? Who called Atâ-Ullâh Shâh Bukhâri a traitor? Who issued a Fatwâ of Kufr on Maulânâ Husain Ahmad Madani? And today, who is initiating the Fitnah of Takfîr (the issue of regarding a major portion of the Muslim population as disbelievers.)? Who is referring to the Imâms of the Haram as Kâfirs? This is a true story which needs to be understood from its very inception up to this present day. If you understand the background to this story, you will understand the philosophy surrounding the hostilities gripping this subcontinent. Listen to the pages of history unfurling before you. Today I am exposing you to the pages of history and you will learn where sectarianism got its roots. You will also learn where the evil people evolved from. I do not wish to mention any names explicitly.


The tyranny of Râjah Ranjît Singh


Friends! At this stage we have two groups; one of the traitors and the other of the loyalists. What happened after the martyrdom of Nawâb Sirâjud-Dawlah? After his demise, Râjah Ranjît Singh became the governor of Punjab. He became the governor in 1840. At that time, the Sarhad (frontier region) was also part of Punjab. During the course of his rule, Râjah Ranjît Singh initiated a spell of tyranny and aggression against the Muslims. He transformed the court-yard of the Shâhi Mosque into a stable. His aggression did not even spare the honour of women.

Eventually, news of this tyranny reaches Rây Bareli. In Rây Bareli there lived a pious servant of Allâh , by the name of Sayyid Ahmad Shahîd.


The four sons of Shâh Waliyullâh


I wish to inform you that Shâh Waliyullâh had four sons. The eldest was Shâh Abdul-Azîz. The second son was Shâh Abdul-Qâdir, the third was Shâh Rafî_ud-Dîn and the fourth son’s name was Shâh Abdul-Ghani (Rahmatullâhi alaih). All four of them were Mufassirs of the Qurân and Muhaddithîn. All four of them were also Qutubs (great saints) of their times.

A brief history of the first son has already been mentioned to you previously. He was the person who issued the first Fatwâ of Jihâd in India. Shâh Abdul-Qâdir and Shâh Rafî ud-Dîn were the first to translate the Qurân into Urdu. The youngest son was Shâh Abdul Ghani. His greatest miracle was that he was blessed with a son whom we today refer to as Shâh Ismâîl Shahîd.

Friends! Shâh Ismâîl Shahîd was a grandson of Shâh Waliyullâh, nephew of Shâh Abdul-Azîz and the son of Shâh Abdul-Ghâni (Rahmatullâhi alaihim).

When Râjah Ranjît Singh was appointed governor, Sayyid Ahmad Shahîd left Rây Bareli for Delhi. He acquired Ilm under the guidance of Shâh Abdul-Azîz. Whilst Sayyid Ahmad Shahîd was acquiring Ilm, Shâh Abdul-Azîz’s nephew, Shâh Ismâîl Shahîd, became a Murîd (disciple) of Sayyid Ahmad Shahîd.


The two Barelis


Friends! In India we have two big cities (with similar names). One is Rây Bareli and the other is Ultâ Bâns Bareli. Sayyid Ahmad Shahîd was born in Rây Bareli and the history of the other Bareli you are well-acquainted with. I do not wish to repeat it at this stage.