Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Hazrat Moulana Khaleel Ahmed Sahaaranpuri (rahimahullah) was very particular in regard to performing the five daily salaah in the Haram Shareef with jamaat. It is for this reason that he never went to visit Mt Thowr, though he always had the desire to do so.
He would say, “Everything has changed. After 1300 years have passed, we do not know to what extent that soil upon which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) walked and placed his blessed feet has sunk into the ground.
“However, there are still two things in this world which have the honour of being touched by the blessed body of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). One is the Hajar-e-Aswad, and the second is the rocks of the Cave of Thowr. The Hajar-e-Aswad today is the very same Hajar-e-Aswad which was kissed by the blessed lips of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and the rocks in the Cave of Thowr are the very same rocks which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) touched when he entered the cave.
“However, the Cave of Thowr is far, and I will not manage to leave after Fajr, walk to the Cave of Thowr, and return in time to ensure that I do not miss my Zuhr salaah with jamaat in the Haram Shareef. That is why I do not have the courage to go to the Cave of Thowr.”
The narrator of the incident, Mufti Aashiq Ilaahi (rahimahullah), was there in Makkah Mukarramah with Hazrat Moulana Khaleel Ahmed Sahaaranpuri (rahimahullah). He says:
I was young at the time and thought to myself, “Walking at a fast pace is not difficult. All that one has to do is place one foot down on the ground and raise the other foot to take the next step.”
With this thought in mind, I addressed Hazrat Moulana Khaleel Ahmed (rahimahullah) and said, “If you permit me, I will go to the Cave of Thowr and return.” Moulana Khaleel Ahmed (rahimahullah) knew that I could walk at a fast pace, therefore he remained silent for a few moments in thought, and then said, “Very well, you may go, but remember that you must not miss out the reward of 100 000 salaah by not performing your salaah with jamaat in the Haram on time.” I replied, “Do not worry Hazrat, insha Allah I will return early!”
I got a youngster to agree to come with as a guide, and 10-12 of my young friends got ready to join me. I told them that we would depart immediately after the Fajr Salaah. However, the next morning, the youngster who was our guide was nowhere to be seen.
Since I was determined to go, my friends and I took the name of Allah Ta‘ala and set out. I occasionally asked for directions, and eventually came to a place where I saw milestones which marked the way towards Thowr.
I quickened my pace, walked for three miles (until I reached the mountain), walked another three miles in climbing up the mountain, and then arrived at the cave. I spent half an hour in the cave and then set out on the return.
I walked as fast as I could, to the extent that none of my friends could keep up with me, but unfortunately, the moment I entered the Haram Shareef, I heard the mukabbir (the person who loudly repeats the takbeers after the imaam) saying “Assalaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah”. I was so disappointed that my knees collapsed and I immediately sat down, there and then.
Later on, when I met Hazrat Moulana Khaleel Ahmed (rahimahullah) and told him what had happened, he said to me, “It was this very fear (of missing salaah in Musjid-ul-Haraam) which prevented me from going to Mt Thowr.” (Tazkiratul Khaleel pg. 353-354)
