Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Hazrat Sheikhul Hadith Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhelwi (rahimahullah) – Part Two
The day of Jumu’ah is a very blessed day and is regarded as the leader of all days. The Mubaarak Ahaadith are replete with the great virtues of the day of Jumu’ah, and likewise, many sunnat practices to be carried out on the day of Jumu’ah have been mentioned in the blessed Ahaadith.
Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) showed great honor and respect to the day of Jumu’ah, as he understood the great significance and the lofty position which this day holds in the sight of Allah Ta‘ala. Hence, he would ensure that he always fulfilled the sunnah practices of the day of Jumu’ah.
Reciting Surah Kahf
Among the sunnats of the day of Jumu’ah is that of reciting Surah Kahf. Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) was very particular in this regard and would ensure that he recited Surah Kahf every Jumu’ah. Similarly, when he would prescribe certain ma’moolaat (daily practices) to those who were bay’at to him, then he would instruct them to include reciting Surah Kahf every Jumu’ah among their ma’moolaat.
Reciting Surah Sajdah and Surah Dahr in the Fajr Salaah
Another sunnah of the day of Jumu’ah is to recite Surah Sajdah in the first rakaat of the Fajr salaah and Surah Dahr in the second rakaat. Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) also showed great importance to this sunnah and would always remind the imaam in the musjid to recite these Surahs in the Fajr salaah.
During the month of Ramadhaan, the congregation in the musjid would be very big and many of the people present were those who had come for the first time and were not used to these Surahs being recited in the Fajr salaah. Despite this, Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) still ensured that the sunnah qiraat was recited in the Fajr salaah. However, out of consideration for the people, an announcement would be made before the salaah, informing them that a sajdah-e-tilaawah would be performed in the first rakaat.
Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) would sometimes call the imaam and address him saying, “Ensure that you do not leave out Surah Sajdah and Surah Dahr! Do not look at the size of the congregation and leave out these Surahs!” Likewise, at times, when Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) would call the imaam and instruct him to recite Surah Sajdah and Surah Dahr in the Fajr salaah, he would excuse himself saying that he could not manage reciting these lengthy Surahs. Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) would smile and accept his excuse, and would thereafter appoint another person, who was confident in reciting these Surahs, as the imaam to lead the salaah.
Performing Ghusl on the Day of Jumu’ah
To perform ghusl on the day of Jumu’ah is also among the sunnats of Jumu’ah, and Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) would also show great importance to this sunnah. On account of his ailing condition and weakness, he was unable to bath himself without assistance. However, this did not deter him from fulfilling this sunnah. Thus, on the day of Jumu’ah, he would ensure that he takes a ghusl through him being assisted by a few of his attendants. In fact, such was his attachment to this sunnah that even when the weather was bitterly cold, he would still ensure that he performed the ghusl for Jumu’ah. (Hazrat Sheikh ka Ittibaa-e-Sunnat pg. 54-55)
Reciting the 80 Durood after the Asr Salaah
It is reported in the Mubaarak Hadith that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said that the one who performs Asr Salaah on Friday and thereafter recites the following Durood eighty times before standing up from his place, then eighty years of sins are forgiven for him and eighty years of (nafl) ibaadat are written for him.
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ النَّبِيِّ الْأُمِّيِّ وَعَلٰى آلِهِ وَسَلِّمْ تَسْلِيْمًا
O Allah, shower your choicest Durood and abundant peace upon Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), the unlettered Nabi, and on his family.
The heart of Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) was filled with deep love for Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and he would recite abundant Durood Shareef every day. On Fridays, he would recite even more Durood, and apart from the normal Durood which he recited, he also made it his habit to practice on the abovementioned sunnah with great punctuality. Below is an incident regarding the glad tidings which Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) received via a dream on account of him firmly holding onto this mubaarak sunnah:
Once, an Aalim from Pakistan saw Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in a dream. He asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) as to which person was the most beloved to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) from the entire Ummah at that time. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “Hazrat Sheikhul Hadith, Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhelwi (rahimahullah) is the most beloved to me.”
The Aalim then enquired, “On account of which special action did Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) receive this position?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) explained, “It is on account of a particular Durood that he is punctual on reciting for the last fifty years.” The Aalim then asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in the dream regarding the Durood. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) recited the Durood. When the Aalim awoke from the dream, he wrote the Durood which he heard from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and placed it in his pocket.
After performing hajj, the Aalim visited Madinah Tayyibah and subsequently met Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah). Upon meeting Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah), he asked Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) as to which Durood he was punctual in reciting for the last fifty years. Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) initially became disturbed by this person wishing to know Hazrat’s personal ma’moolaat. Hence, Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) asked him, “What is the reason that you wish to know, and how does this concern you?”
The Aalim then removed the piece of paper from his pocket and showed it to Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah). Contained in it was the following Durood which he heard from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam):
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ النَّبِيِّ الْأُمِّيِّ وَعَلٰى آلِهِ وَسَلِّمْ تَسْلِيْمًا
O Allah, shower your choicest Durood and abundant peace upon Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) the unlettered Nabi, and on his family.
The Aalim addressed Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) saying, “Perhaps this is the Durood you have been reciting for the last fifty years.” Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) was surprised and asked the Aalim how he had come to know of this. The Aalim thereafter related the dream to Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah).
When Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) heard the dream, his facial expression changed and he began to weep uncontrollably out of humility and happiness. After weeping for some while, Hazrat Sheikh (rahimahullah) mentioned, “Who am I, and what worth does my Durood have? This is nothing but the kindness of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and his affection upon me.” (Durood Shareef ke Fazaa’il aur Thamaraat)
