O devotees of the Prophet! Stay
attached to the Madani environment of DawateIslami all the time, ان شاء اللہ
عزوجل you will attain success in both the worlds. In order to persuade you, I
will present to you a faith-refreshing Madani marvel. In this regard, an Islamic
brother (aged approximately 27) from Malir (Babul Madina, Karachi) said, ‘I was
fond of reciting Naats in my childhood, and sometimes I would fulfill song
requests and sing songs at family functions. As my voice was good, I would
receive great praise for that, which would inflate my ego. When I got a little
older, I became ambitious to learn strumming the guitar and I even enrolled
myself in an academy to learn how to sing. After learning, I took part in many
singing competitions for many years, and I even sang on various television
channels. As time went on, I gained more and more fame. Then I got the
opportunity to perform at a massive show in Dubai. From there, I travelled to
India, where I took part in various singing competitions for approximately 6
months. I sang at large functions and in films and gained name as well as a lot
of wealth. Then I went on a tour of different countries with a team of singers
including Canada (Toronto and Vancouver), 10 states of America (Chicago, Los
Angeles, San Francisco etc.), and England (London). When I returned to my
homeland for a short period, my family members and the people of my neighborhood
applauded me. Even though my Nafs (lower self) gained great pleasure from that,
the core of my heart was not at peace and I felt that something was missing. My
heart was seeking spirituality. I started going to the Masjid to offer Salah and
I gained the honour of taking part in the Dars of Faizan-e-Sunnat that took
place there after Salat-ul-Isha. The Dars impressed me, so I began to sit in it
from time to time. However, the vision of going abroad to sing, earn wealth, and
gain fame was repeatedly overwhelming my heart and mind. As soon as the Islamic
brothers would start individual effort on me after the Dars, I would make
excuses and get away. One night, I went to sleep and saw a preacher of
DawateIslami who was standing at a high place calling me towards him. It was as
if he was encouraging me to get out of the swamp of sins that I was sunk in.
When I awoke in the morning I reflected and contemplated for a short while on
the way I was living my life, but I stayed in that sinful state. After some
time, I saw another dream which left me totally shaken! What did I see? I saw
that I had died and my body was being given Ghusl (ritual bath). Then I found
myself in Barzakh. At that point the feelings of hopelessness that I was
experiencing were like no feelings ever before. I said to myself, ‘You wanted to
be really famous?! Now look at your state!’ In the morning when my eyes opened I
was sweating profusely and my entire body was shaking. It felt as if I had been
sent back into the world with another chance. Now the mission of singing and
fame had completely obliterated from my mind. I repented sincerely for my sins
and I vowed that I would never sing songs again. When my family members found
out about that they reacted and opposed my decision strongly, but by virtue of
the grace of Allah and His Prophet صلی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلم I had established
Madani mindset, therefore I remained firm on my decision. I was then blessed
with seeing the same preacher of DawateIslami in my dream who I had seen
previously. He encouraged me. I gained steadfastness in DawateIslami in
accordance with the following verse of the Holy Quran:
Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman:
And those who strove in Our way – We shall surely show them Our paths; and
indeed Allah is with the virtuous.
I began offering Salah regularly, adorned my face with the blessed beard, and
adorned my head with the green Imama (Sunnah turban). Before, I used to read
song lyrics, but now it became a part of my routines to read the books and
booklets published my Maktaba-tul Madina.
One night, when I fell asleep reading a book, my fortune awoke and I was blessed
with seeing the Beloved Prophet صلی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلم in my dream, for which
I cannot pay apt gratitude to my Rab عزوجل. My heart gained great support from
that. Then, when the blessed grave of Mufti-e-DawateIslami, al-Allama, al-Hafiz,
al-Mufti Muhammad Faruq Attari علیہ رحمۃ اللہ الغنی uncovered due to persistent
heavy rain, I was overjoyed upon seeing that his body was still safe and sound,
his shroud still intact, and upon seeing the sight of his green Imama and his
hair (still sound and intact). I was delighted to see the grace and favour of
Allah عزوجل and His Prophet صلی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلم upon those attached to
DawateIslami. After continuing with Madani work, the singer of the past, Junaid
Sheikh, is today a preacher and Naat Khawan of DawateIslami by virtue of the
Madani environment. الحمدللہ عزوجل, at the time of this writing, fortunately I
use to deliver Dars from Faizan-e-Sunnat, to call Sada-e-Madina (i.e. waking
Muslims up for Fajr Salah), and to partake in the Alaqai Daura Bara-e-Neki ki
Dawat (the regional tour to call towards righteousness) as the Nigran of a Zeli
Mushawarat of DawateIslami. May Allah عزوجل grant me steadfastness in the Madani
environment until my last breath.
Dreamt about 99 Asma-ul-Husna (Glorious Names of Allah): O devotees of the
Prophet and dear Islamic brothers! A few days after having had this Madani
marvel written down, the world’s famous former singer Junaid Sheikh told Sag-e-Madina
(the author), ‘ الحمدللہ عزوجل recently I was blessed once more with dreaming
the Beloved Prophet صلی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلم and was hinted towards learning
the 99 Asma-ul-Husna of Allah عزوجل and الحمدللہ عزوجل I have now memorized
them.’ سبحٰن اللہ عزوجل, the excellence of learning the 99 Asma-ul-Husna has
been mentioned in Hadis, but it is high fortune that the Beloved Prophet صلی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلم himself came into the dream of his devotee and
specifically encouraged him to do that. Listen to the virtue of the 99
Asma-ul-Husna and rejoice. The Prophet of mankind, the Peace of our heart and
mind, the Most Generous and Kind صلی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلم has stated, ‘Allah
has 99 names; whoever memorized them will enter Paradise.’ (Sahih Bukhari, Vol.
2, pp. 229, Hadis 2736), (For details, see page 895 to 898 of Nuzha-tul-Qari,
the commentary on Sahih Bukhari)