SIJILL A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF FATEMIDAWAT.COM Issue 61

The Qubba Mubaraka of Syedna Qutbuddin Shaheed RA at Dawn - Featured updates:

state that these shuhadaa’ would not بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم have sacrificed so much had they not been certain that their souls would ascend to the highest heavens, after bearing such severe physical violence وَلَا َتحْسَب َ نَ ال َذِي َن ق ُت ِل ُوا ف ِي َسب ِي ِل الل َهِ َأ ْمو َاتًا ۚ ب َ ْل to their bodies by swords and spears. The 27th of Jumadal Ukhra is the Urus َأ ْحي َاءٌ عِندَ رَ بِه ِ ْم ي ُرْزَق ُون َ* of Syedna Qutbuddin Shaheed RA: the ( Aale-Imraan:169) Dai who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of Da’wat because it was his duty towards the Imam and mumineen. Think not of those who are slain in On 21st Jumadal-Ukhra, Syedna 's way as dead. Nay, they live, Qutbuddin Shaheed was summoned to BIOGRAPHY SERIES: finding their sustenance in the appear in front of , the Syedna al presence of their Lord. Mughal prince who was then the Shaheed – Dawat ni Zaban version governor of Ahmedabad. Abdul-Qawi (known in our kitaabs as Abdul- SIJILL ARTICLE: “You will kill my Ghawi)—a high ranking official in the body but you cannot kill my soul” court – said to Syedna Qutbuddin, In the Rasail of Ikhwanus Safa (the “Admit that you are Rafzi Epistles of the Brethren of Purity), the (blasphemous), repent of your past sins, 44th epistle explains the belief (aqeeda) and the Prince will let you go.” Syedna of the Brethren. It states that our belief Qutbuddin roared like a lion and is that the soul (nafs) survives even responded, “I am not a Rafzi, my after it leaves the body (jism). forefathers were not Rafzis. We are the Therefore, the body is only a true Sunnis because we are the faithful temporary vessel through which the followers of Rasulullah’s sunnat. I soul can prepare and achieve salvation. declare that there is no God but Allah This is the core of our belief system. and is his prophet. I read The Rasail then present numerous the , I pray namaaz, give zakaat, examples including the example of HIKAAYAT SERIES: fast in , and perform to the shuhadaa’ of who faced The Vizier of King Khaishuwan the Baytullah. I am a Muslim. How is thirst, hunger and slaughter in the face my blood legal for you to shed?!” When of injustice and tyranny. The Rasa’il

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Abdul Ghawi heard Syedna invited for Salawaat Jaman after translation Qutbuddin’s fiery and utterly logical Namaz. on FatemiDawat.com response, he threatened Syedna Shzd. Taher bhaisaheb will preside 3. Recite Marsiya Mubaraka “Ya Qutba dinillahi” (composed by Qutbuddin saying, “Admit you are a over the Urus majlis on 23rd raat of th Syedna ). Rafzi, otherwise the Prince will have Jumadal Ukhra (Saturday 11 April) 4. Recite the Salam written by you executed!” Syedna Qutbuddin from Bakersfield CA. Majlis/broadcast Shz Dr. Bazat Tahera replied spontaneously—and only a will start at 7:45 pm PT (8:15 am Bensaheba, in shaan of Syedna RA true wali of Allah could give such a Standard Time on 12th April 2015). You Qutbuddin Shaheed . reply—he said, “If you kill me, you will can participate using the YouTube link. 5. View and listen to Shz. Taher bhaisaheb waaz through this kill my body. You cannot kill my soul.” Mumineen who are unable to attend YouTube link. (For mumineen Abdul Ghawi, afraid that Aurangzeb urus majlis in person are urged to Pray in Eastern timezones a waaz would be persuaded by Syedna Khatmul Quran on the Niyyat of the recording will be uploaded Qutbuddin’s magnificent answers, Syedna Ismail Badruddin RA Pray shortly). hastily instructed his soldiers to return Qasida Mubaraka “Allahu Yansuru Syedna Qutbuddin to prison. Da’watan lit-Tayyibi” BIOGRAPHY SERIES: Syedna Qutub RA Syedna Qutbuddin Shaheed is the Mumineen should also recite Dawat ni Khan Qutbuddin al Shaheed – ultimate example of the strength of zaban salaam written by Shz. Dr. Dawat ni Zaban version Last year we presented this brief belief of our Du’aat Kiraam. At the time Tahera baisaheba in shaan of Syedna biographical article by Shz Dr Bazat of independence, certain RA Ismail Badruddin . Tahera Baisaheba about the 32nd Dai fundamentalist elements threatened al-Mutlaq Syedna Qutub-Khan RA Syedna Taher Saifuddin with ANNOUNCEMENT & AMAL Qutbuddin al-Shaheed ibn Syedna bloodshed if he remained in India. DETAILS: Syedna Qutbuddin Daud ibn Qutub-Shah RA, highlighting RA Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA replied that, Shaheed Urus Majlis and waaz his paak sirat and “do not threaten us with bloodshed, Syedna Qutbuddin will preside over his shahadat(martyrdom). This year we RA are publishing the Dawat ni Zaban our forefathers have sacrificed their Syedna Qutbuddin Shaheed urus version of this biography. Below is an lives for the sake of this Da’wat.” Some majlis and waaz on 27th Jumadal Ukhra excerpt from the biographical article in th years ago, Syedna Mohammed (Thursday 16 April) at 04:30pm at English. Burhanuddin RA repeated these words. Darus Sakina, Thane, inshaallah, Mumineen—men, women and children— Today, Syedna Qutbuddin Shaheed’s followed by Maghrib Isha Namaz. All all know Syedna Qutbuddin, and they namesake, the 53rd Dai Syedna Mumineen are invited for Salawaat know him as Syedna Qutbuddin Shaheed. He was shaheed ud duaat Khuzaima Qutbuddin TUS, holds the Jaman after Namaz. (martyr of the Duaat), waheed ul hudaat Shzd. Taher bhaisaheb will preside same beliefs and is a manifestation of (unique among the Divine Guides). As th that same conviction. Let us mumineen over the Urus majlis on 27 of Jumadal Syedna Taher Saifuddin declared, be conscious of our Dai’s strength of Ukhra (Thursday 16th April) from Syedna Qutbuddin Shaheed’s shahadat belief in every waking moment, and let Bakersfield CA. Majlis/broadcast will was written in the Preserved Tablet, the us strengthen our convictions in their start at 4:30pm PT (5:00am India Lawh e mahfuz. Rasulullah SA had first th given this bisharat, that “in a thousand remembrance, and let the enemies of Standard Time on 17 April 2015). You years, my Dai will be martyred in India.” Dawat beware. can participate using the YouTube link. Syedna Qasim-Khan, at the time of his On the auspicious occasion of Urus of nass on Syedna Qutbuddin Shaheed ANNOUNCEMENT & AMAL Syedna Qutbuddin Shaheed RA, with the rutba of Itlaq, also gave him the DETAILS: Syedna Ismail Badruddin Mumineen muminaat and their bisharat of the rutba of shahadat. (Bawa) RA Urus Majlis children are advised to do the following Earlier, Syedna Qutbuddin Shaheed’s father, Syedna Daud ibn Qutub-Shah On Urus Mubarak of Syedna Ismail amal: rd had given the same bisharat: During Badruddin on 23 of Jumadal Ukhra Syedna Qutbuddin Shaheed’s childhood, th (Sunday 12 Apr) Syedna Khuzaima 1. Do tilawat of Qur’an-e-Majeed. he became gravely ill. Expecting the end, TUS Qutbuddin will preside over urus 2. Recite Qasida Mubaraka his mother began to prepare a namaazi “Alayka Salaam-ul-laahe ya majlis at 5pm at Darus Sakina followed kafan. When Syedna Daud ibn Qutub- Qutub-al-Huda” (composed by by Maghrib Isha Namaz and Shah saw this, he disclosed to her that Syedna Taher Saifuddin) and the child would not die but grow into a qadambosi bethak. All Mumineen are offered with English

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Dai of great shaan, for whom Allah advantage in which there is a fear of one FROM THE CRADLE TO THE Taala had decreed the rutba of suffering and the other being saved, GRAVE: Part 5 – Tarbiyat & the shahadat. each one hopes that he will gain that Importance of Knowledge & Read the full article on advantage, so that he is the fortunate Language FatemiDawat.com one and the other is aggrieved. That is The fifth part in the series ‘From the certainly not the belief of the Brethren in Cradle to the Grave’ is published on HIKAAYAT SERIES: The Vizier of helping one another; quite the contrary. FatemiDawat.com this week. In this 18 King Khaishuwan The Brethren’s goodness and nobility of minute sabaq video, Shz Taher Hikaayat (lit. stories) refers to the character is manifest in what is narrated bhaisaheb focuses on the responsibility morals and fables that are presented in about the vizier of king Khaishuwan.” of parents in the education (tarbiyat) of the books of Da’wat. Many of these The Hikaayat is presented in English on their children and the importance of Hikaayat are presented in the Rasail of FatemiDawat.com. teaching them the ‘ilm of Aale Ikhwanus Safa. The morals presented Mohammed. For that, teaching our in these stories often highlight the BOOKS and PUBLICATIONS: E- language, Dawat-ni-Zaban, is vital. Shz. transience of this world and the book and Hard copy of Sijill Volume Taher bhaisaheb concludes this part by importance of the goodness of One - Issues 1-53 Now Available emphasizing the importance of character. We are pleased to present a We are pleased to present the first 53 prioritizing religious education and selection of these Hikaayats on issues of Sijill as an e-book balancing it with the time and effort FatemiDawat.com. on FatemiDawat.com. dedicated to secular education. Both The Sijill article in this issue refers to This volume contains the first 53 issues are necessary. As Amirul Mumineen SA the belief of Ikhwanus Safa that the of Sijill, recording the first year of the has said, ‘there is nothing better than soul (nafs) survives after it leaves the 53rdDai-l-Mutlaq’s tenure as Dai. when deen (religion) and dunya (worldly body (jism). The body is a vessel Covering one solar year in 52 weeks, affairs) are integrated (pursued in through which the soul prepares for its with an additional 53rd week, it tandem.)’ salvation. In demonstrating that this chronicles the major events, directives Part 5 (18 min) of the sabaq series is belief is held by many noble people, and teachings of Syedna Khuzaima available for viewing and that this belief is the source of Qutbuddin’s TUS Fatemi Dawat. The on FatemiDawat.com. selfless kindness and sincere friendship, first Sijill was published with the In previous weeks, the first, second, the Rasail of Ikhwanus Safa present the purpose to announce to mumineen third and fourth part in the series ‘From story of the vizier of king Khaishuwan. Syedna Qutbuddin’s First Misaaq Majlis the Cradle to the Grave’ were The vizier sacrifices himself to save the after the wafat of Syedna Burhanuddin. presented on FatemiDawat.com. In the king and the people of the kingdom In a most auspicious correspondence, first two parts, Shz Taher Bhaisaheb because of his belief that his body is a the 52nd and 53rd issues of Sijill addresses the meaning and purpose of transient vessel, and because of his coincided with the Milaad Mubarak of the Shari’at of , Shari’at willingness to sacrifice himself for the 52nd and 53rd Dais. Mohammadiyya and introduces the others. This collection of the first year’s issues Sabaq Series. In part three he covers Introducing this Hikaayat, the Ikhwan are published with Syedna Khuzaima the early stages of a child’s life – start by stating: Qutbuddin’s TUS raza and doa mubarak. naming, aqiqa etc. In part four he “Know my brother, that he who does not If you would like a printed copy of this begins the section on tarbiyat – the believe that he will be rewarded for his volume please education of a Mumin’s child and the friendship and kindness to you after he email [email protected] with responsibility of the parents. leaves his body, he is surely not a true your mailing address and how many The Sabaq videos are available on friend and not a sincere advisor. Do not copies you require (the cost of digital FatemiDawat.com and also as a be lured by one who helps you only for color laser printing and binding is Rs. Podcast through iTunes and Google material gain – to protect his body or to 2100 + Postage). Play. provide benefit for it; those who seek an

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This Newsletter This newsletter will inshaallah be published every Friday. It will include the latest news and instructions from Syedna Qutbuddin’s office and will be published in Dawat-ni-zaban and Gujarati. It will also highlight the latest updates on fatemidawat.com. Please register to receive the newsletter regularly at [email protected]

Sijill is an word which literally means official letter. It was a term often used in the Fatimid chancery. The name is inspired by the most auspicious letter 'Sijill-ul-Bisharat'.

Updates this week Upcoming updates

 SIJILL ARTICLE: “You will kill my body but you cannot kill  From the Cradle to the Grave – Part 6 my soul”  Ikhwanus Safa Article Series – 4th Installment  ANNOUNCMENT & AMAL DETAILS: Syedna Ismail  Syedna TUS Ashara Waaz Highlights Badruddin (Bawa) RA Urus Majlis  Matrimonial Forum and Nikah  ANNOUNCMENT & AMAL DETAILS: Syedna Qutbuddin  Quran recitation with commentary analysis (regular). Shaheed RA Urus Majlis and waaz  Hikayaat: Morals & Fables from Dawat Kitaabs  BIOGRAPHY SERIES: Syedna Qutub Khan Qutbuddin al  Article Series: Women in Islam Shaheed – Dawat ni Zaban version  Fatemi new material  HIKAAYAT SERIES: The Vizier of King Khaishuwan  Fatemi Dawat Architecture – Galleries and  BOOKS and PUBLICATIONS: E-book and Hard copy of Presentations Sijill Volume One - Issues 1-53 Now Available  Fatimid Literature Article Series  FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE: Part 5 – Tarbiyat  Q&A series on pertinent issues: Shari’a compliant & the Importance of Knowledge & Language finance, qasar namaz.

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