Hadhrat Sultan Bahoo’s (R.A) social views and their application in present era
Tauqir Aamir | April 29, 2018
Hadhrat Sultan Bahoo’s (R.A) social views and their application in present era
A voluntary association of individuals based on the totality of social relationships is called society.
Arabic Dictionary Al-Munjad elucidates the concept of society in these words: “Society implies living together”.
Look at the brief and comprehensive definition given in Oxford Dictionary:
“The aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community”
It is evident from these definitions that society is a group of people having a sense of voluntary association and identity. All its members consider themselves an essential part of it. It is a large, self-sufficient and lifelong kind of group which fills the pressing needs of its members. Various types of people constitute it which keeps them in mutual interaction through cooperation, competition and confrontation. They usually stand committed to the geographical and regional bounds. Society in a broader way can be called a comity of human beings and in a much finite sense–a coterie. The word ‘society’ is used to denote both a primitive clan and also a developed urban populace. Human life has always been a grouped phenomenon, whether a smaller or larger; organized or disorganized. An organized society is vital not only for the gratification of human needs, but also for the development and nurturing of human personality. Ideologies are developed to run some social set up and society moves on to the course of progress envisaging through these ideologies.
The Holy Quran and the Social Views:
A society is constituted by individuals. The mutual association of individuals brings about the propagation of human race. As Allah (SwT) Said:
O mankind! Fear your Lord Who created you from a single soul, and He created from the same its mate; and out of the pair, He scattered in multitude men and woman all over the earth. And fear Allah by Whom you plead with one another (for your rights) and beware of cutting asunder the ties of relationship. Verily Allah is a Beholder over you.(Al–Nisa: 1)
O people! Verily We have created you from a male and a female, and have made you different branches and different tribes, so that you may recognize one another. Surely the most honored of you in the presence of Allah is he who is the most pious of you. Surely Allah is the All Knowing, the All – Aware.
(Al-Hujurat: 13)
And the sky! He it is Who has raised it high and set up the Balance (of justice)-
That you may not transgress in the balance.
And keep up the weight with justice, and fall not short in the measure.
(Al-Rehman: 7,8,9)
O you who believe !fear Allah and give up what yet remains due to you from interest, if you are true believers.
And if you do not do so, then take notice of the declaration of war from Allah and His Apostle; and if you repent, then yours shall be your principal sums. Wrong not other and be not wronged yourselves.
(Al-Baqarah: 278,279)
That is what Satan wants – to sow enmity and hatred among you by means of wine and gambling, and keep you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. Are you not then going to desist?
(Al- Ma’idah: 91)
And whoso kills a believer intentionally, then his punishment is Hell; therein shall he abide forever, he shall incur the Wrath of Allah and He will reject him from His mercy, and He has prepared for him a grievous torment. (Al-Nisa: 93)
And do not go near adultery, surely it is a great obscenity. And a most evil path. (Al-Isra: 32)
Hadith and Social views:
The vices, which Allah (SwT) has warns us against in Quran, are also indicated in Hadith. These vices cause social deterioration and disorder.
It was narrated that 'Ubaidullah bin AbiBakr said:
"I heard Anas say: 'The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: The major sins are: Associating others with Allah (Shirk), disobeying one's parents, killing a soul (murder) and speaking falsely.'"( Sunan an-Nasa'i)
Narrated Abdullah ibnAmribnal-'As:The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed the one who bribes and the one who takes bribe.( SunanAbiDawud )IbnMas'ud narrated:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed the one who consumed Riba, and the one who charged it, those who witnessed it, and the one who recorded it." (Jami` at-Tirmidhi)
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "An adulterer, at the time he is committing illegal sexual intercourse is not a believer; and a person, at the time of drinking an alcoholic drink is not a believer; and a thief, at the time of stealing, is not a believer." IbnShihab said: `Abdul Malik bin AbiBakr bin `Abdur-Rahman bin Al- Harith bin Hisham told me that Abu Bakr used to narrate that narration to him on the authority of Abu Huraira. He used to add that Abu Bakr used to mention, besides the above cases, "And he who robs (takes illegally something by force) while the people are looking at him, is not a believer at the time he is robbing (taking).(Sahih al-Bukhari)
Hadrat Sulttan Bahoo’s (R.A)social views:
Sultan-ul-Arifeen Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (R.A) is ranked among those distinctive and illustrious mystics who, with a view to reform the society, presented unique views which constitute the base of the human society in its essence. In the context of social relation, he (R.A) warns us not to develop relations with disloyal because an individual’s inherent disposition affects the whole society. For example, it is useless to advise a person who is churlish by nature. Any ameliorative sermon would fall flat on him. It will be like an act of casting pearl before swine. To share any epistemic item with such people is like a futile attempt of sweetening the bitter water. He (R.A) warns:
Hazrat Sultan Bahoo (R.A) says:
Do not accompany treacherous and with slandering everyone you do not treat Hoo
Even you take Bitter melon to Makah they can never become sweet Hoo
Raven chicks can never become goose even if pearls you feed them to eat Hoo
Bitter wells can never be sweetened ‘Bahoo’ even if you add tons of sugar to treat Hoo
(khan,2016)
Keeping this particular point of his (R.A) ideology in view, a society expects its members, for its development, to be what is highlighted by such metaphors as sangi(a friend, chum), sweet-melon (an amicable person), goose (naïve or innocent),and sweet-wells (polite in manners).To make society a cradle of peace, its individuals should have gentle demeanor, righteousness, self-confidence and humbleness. Man must possess the utmost civility. He should not utter any uncivilized or offensive remark. He must adhere to authenticity and truth in what he says. He should have the humbleness which will enable him to be magnanimous and discreet. Despite having carte blanche, he should have a lowly view about himself. Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (R.A) refers to such worthy ones as follows:
Hundred thousand sacrifice upon those Sufis who don’t utter awful thing Hoo
Thousand of thousand sacrifices upon those Sufis who only say one thing Hoo
Billions of sacrifices upon those Sufis upon their ego they tread Hoo
Trillion and trillions of sacrifices upon those Sufis who are pure gold but call themselves lead Hoo
(Ibid)
A careful study of the present day society reveals that its individuals lack these attributes and is on decline for that matter. To better it, it becomes essential that the ideology of Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (R.A) should be followed. A society attains elegance when the hearts of its member turns clean because only a man with lively heart can have fellow feelings. Merely fair countenances do not constitute a righteous society rather it needs refined hearts because darkness of heart causes more harm than that of visage. A glowing heart engenders due regard for others. As Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (R.A) posits:
Blackened face is better than darkened heart so that people recognize Hoo
When face blackened and heart is fine such heart beloved recognize Hoo
If this heart is in pursuit of beloved perhaps beloved might familiarize Hoo
Hundreds of scholar skipped mosques ‘Bahoo’ when vision of inner testifies Hoo
(Ibid)
If the man in the recent times adopts this ideology of Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (R.A), it will remove every sign of human brutality from the society. A successful member of the society is he who has tolerance and an epitome of submission to the Will of Allah Almighty. He would acknowledge other’s rights by considering the whole humanity as a single unit associated with Almighty Allah and also by forgiving according to the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) practice (Sunnah).This will enhance man’s magnanimity and integrity in the society. This is what the following couplets of Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (R.A)indicate:
Wish to die while in life, than within spiritual excellence robes remain Hoo
If rubbish and refuse is thrown at you like rubbish mound you sustain Hoo
If someone abuses or taunts you, be polite to him again and again Hoo
From friend accept complaint, taunts, notoriety and humiliating proposal Hoo
(Ibid)
The application of Hadrat Sultan Bahoo’s (R.A) ideology of submission to the will of Almighty Allah becomes imperative to eradicate the roots of exceeding intolerance in the society. The teachings Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (R.A) also highlights the social ills as he (R.A) states about liquor consumption: Before the birth of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the Arab Society had all the traits which are forbidden by the commandments of Almighty Allah and His Holy Messenger(P.B.U.H ) and when Holy Prophet (PBUH) proclaimed Prophethood, his companions (R.A) experienced a complete purgation that left no trace of undesirable which could hinder the social progress. Consequently, the same Arab society emerged on the map of the world as an ideal state. In the like manner, the Rashidun Caliphs (Rightly Guided Caliphs) took practical measures for the welfare of the society in their respective reign of Caliphate. Afterwards, the lives of eminent mystics also reveal ideas of social purgation which can be adopted to form a society ensuring peace. The social views of Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (R.A) conform exactly to the teachings of Quran and Sunnah. So their application becomes vital because an ideal society cannot be established. The society where we find lying, backbiting, usury, adultery, liquor, murder and similarly undesirable traits reflecting animal ways of living which spoils the human life here and hereafter. The transience of human life implies that man’s life does have some purpose which must be fulfilled before the trial limit ends. The end of the earthly life marks its accountability. As Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (R.A) states:
“One should be aware that drinker of wine is friend and ally of Satan. The drinker of wine (mother of evils) gets humiliated in both worlds. If at all one desires to drink one should drink the wine of Allah’s love and his Prophet (P.B.U.H.)’s love who is to serve the water of Kousar of which the worldly drinker is deprived of “(Ain-ul-Faqr).
“Faith is the purification of heart and lie is pollution of heart” (MuhikulFaqrkalan).
“These beggars cannot be the saints who accept the bribe of worldly currency due to greed” (MuhikulFaqrkalan).
The views of Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (R.A), as their source (origin) is Quran and Sunnah, must be followed in order to extract meaning of life. The founder of Islahi Jamaat & Aalmi Tanzeem-ul-Arifeen, Hadrat Sultan Muhammed Asghar Ali (R.A) launched an edifying Movement (in 1987) to disseminate the teachings of Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (R.A) around the world. Nowadays this message is being propagated to every corner of the world under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Divinely Blessed successor of Sultan-ul-Faqr ,Hadrat Sultan Muhammed Ali. Under the administration of Islahi Jamaat & Aalmi Tanzeem-ul-Arifeen which is embraced with an edifying movement carring the notion of purifying human souls while spreading across many countries of the world and hundreds of thousands of young men have undergone through this purgation of their hearts and souls. It is an open invitation to the youth that they shoul adopt the teachings of a divinely blessed and a perfect man (Mard-e-Kamil) to save themselves from social evils and disorder. His (Hadrat Sultan Bahoo R.A) ideology is a pure demonstration of Quran and Sunnah.
References:
- Ahmad, Saeed. (2012). Greater Sufi Wisdom: Sultan Bahoo. Rawalpindi, Adnan books,Stationers and Computer Accessories.
- Bahoo,Sultan.(2014).Ain-ul-Faqr translated by Said Amir Khan Niazi(26thedition).p.341, Al-Arifeen Publication, Lahore.
- Bahoo,Sultan.(2011).Muhikul-ul-FaqrKalan translated by Said Amir Khan Niazi(3thedition).p.603, Al-Arifeen Publication, Lahore.
- Bahoo,Sultan.(2011).Muhikul-ul-FaqrKalan translated by Said Amir Khan Niazi(3thedition).p.669, Al-Arifeen Publication, Lahore
- Sarwar, Taranum.(2011).Transforming Massage from the Teachings of Hadrat Sultan Bahoo. Sultan Bahoo Number (2nd edition).p.772, Al-Arifeen Publication, Lahore
- Khan, M. A. (2016). Abyat e Bahoo.Retrieved from www.sultanbahoo.net the message of animacy and inspiration.