Acquisition of Knowledge Obligatory Upon all Muslims

It is commonly known amongst Muslims that the first question asked on the Day of Judgement will be about Salat. In the Jewish tenet a similar concept can be found. But I have not found this written in any Hadith. However, I have read in Moulana Rum’s ‘Masnavi’ that the first question on the Day of Judgement would be about Salat. No scholar or researcher questions the authenticity or basis of this concept of what the first question would be on the Day of Judgement. It is just a concept that has been passed along and Muslims believe in it. Keeping this concept in perspective we get the impression that no form of worship is greater than Salat. But if we focus on this and from the vast knowledge available in the Quran and Hadith we get a different impression. 

Many Muslims watch my YouTube videos and question their scholars. I would like to request those people to thoroughly examine what I say. 

According to Hadith-e-Nabvi, whether you are a Muslim man or a Muslim woman, the acquisition of knowledge has been declared obligatory upon all. 

I did not read this Hadith in any book, however, this was written on the main gate of the Urdu Science College. This Hadith should have been written on a mosque but it was written on a college. If this Hadith was written on a mosque at least Muslim men and women would have this understanding that among the many other obligations, the acquisition of knowledge is an obligation also. Now, because Quran is not taught in the schools and colleges they have manipulated this Hadith to suit them referring to the knowledge of physics, chemistry etc. but was Prophet Mohammad referring to physics and chemistry when he said this? One speaks about his field of expertise. Therefore Prophet Mohammad was referring to the acquisition of religious knowledge. If the mosques gave importance to this Hadith, then the average Muslim today would not hold the Muslim Scholars entirely responsible for religious knowledge but rather investigate himself. If Muslims understood religious knowledge to be obligatory then every Muslim would at least have enough knowledge today to help them differentiate the truth from falsehood. 

It is a shame that amongst the Pakistani nation if somebody makes their child a Hafiz-e-Quran (one who memorises the entire Quran word for word), there is greed behind it. They think if you make one child a Hafiz-e-Quran, salvation will be granted to 7 generations. They don’t do it for the sake of acquiring religious knowledge. If one has become Hafiz-e-Quran, has he acquired the religious knowledge? Usually the lazy students cram their studies. They memorise and repeat everything however they do not know what it is they are saying. The words just roll off their tongue. Same is the case with a Hafiz-e-Quran. People say the Quran is in the hearts of the Hafiz-e-Quran. This is wrong. The Quran is not in the heart of the Hafiz-e-Quran, it is in the brain because bookish knowledge is not related to the heart. Guidance, Divine Light (Noor), love, connection with God is related to the heart. If any knowledge is related to the heart it is not the bookish knowledge, it is the Batini (esoteric) knowledge. Bookish knowledge does not enter the heart. Only that knowledge enters a heart that comes from the heart. 

Prophet Mohammad: Scholars are those who will acquire the knowledge from my chest. 

Today I would like to elaborate on this further. ‘Ulema min Sadri’, means the scholars who are from my chest, meaning a scholar will be one who is at least connected to the heart of Prophet Mohammad. This is the commencement of Batini knowledge and the culmination is when the Jussas (sub-spirit) of Prophet Mohammad enter the heart of a person. Such a person becomes Imam-e-Haq. What is the difference between Imam-e-Haq and Aalim-e-Rabbani? One who is enlightened is an Aalim-e-Rabbani and one who possesses a Jussa of Prophet Mohammad is Imam-e-Haq. 

His Divine Eminence Ra Riaz Gohar Shahi says the enlightenment of the heart connects one to God and turns him towards God and it is because of the Nafs (Self) that one remains involved in this world. When somebody’s Nafs is purified he becomes fed up with this world. Imam-e-Haq is one who cuts off the Nafs from the world and into servitude to the Spiritual Guide. When the impurities and evil leave the Self, it will become fed up with the world and its contents. The heart is engaged in this world because of the Nafs. When the hearts of Sufis became fed up with the world, they would seclude themselves in jungles and engage in austerities. They would engage in austerities for a period of 12 years. We have heard that Baba Farid secluded himself and engaged in austerities for 36 years and we have also heard that Ghous Pak spent 40 years in the jungle. Austerities are not for 40 years. The time period for austerities is 12 years and if we say he engaged in austerities 3 times it would only be 36 years. Taking recluse in the jungle for 4 more years was his own choice; he did not desire to go back into the world. Then something happened. One day he was walking and he saw a half-dead man lying in front of him and he said to Ghous Pak, ‘I am Prophet Mohammad’s deen of Islam, please give me support.’ When this happened he was convinced to return to the world, otherwise he was living in the jungle because he did not want to have any connection with the world and its contents. 

When somebody’s heart is connected with the Lord and the Nafs becomes purified, he becomes fed up with the world. Imam-e-Haq, with his Nazar (Merciful Glance), purifies your Nafs and connects you to God by enlightening your heart. You will become fed up of this world when your Nafs’ diet of Naar (negative energy) is cut off and a supply of Noor (Divine Light) is given to the Nafs through the Merciful Glance of the Spiritual Guide. The Nafs will be made to recite the Kalima and when Nafs recites the Kalima, Divine Light will be produced and the evil ways will begin to diminish. When the Nafs has been completely purified, it will become fed up with this world and will not enjoy the company of the worldly people. In fact, those who have purified their Nafs (Saints/friends of God) are advised to keep a distance from people. The rank of Imam-e-Haq is only given to the scholars when a sub-spirit from the divine chest of Prophet Mohammad settles in their heart and this is the knowledge related to the heart of Prophet Mohammad. 

Notice the Hadith which states that the acquisition of knowledge is obligatory upon all Muslim men and women says ‘Muslim’ not ‘Momin’. Because it does not say Momin here, it means acquire that knowledge by which you can become a Momin from a Muslim. At the least, the knowledge of how to become a Momin from a Muslim is obligatory upon all Muslims. They should be able to understand the state of being a Muslim and how they can go from being a Muslim to a Momin. A hint is given in the Quran also.

قَالَتِ الْأَعْرَابُ آمَنَّا ۖ قُلْ لَمْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَلَٰكِنْ قُولُوا أَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ الْإِيمَانُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ تُطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ لَا يَلِتْكُمْ مِنْ أَعْمَالِكُمْ شَيْئًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ

(49:14)

The Arabs said we are Momin. Tell them they are not Momin but rather they should say they have become Muslim and will become Momin when the Noor of Emaan (faith) enters their heart.

When will the Muslims understand that it is the entrance of Noor in the heart that makes one a Momin? If they read the Quran themselves they would know. But Muslims say we can just ask a scholar, but if the scholars were to tell you this, why have they not already done so by now? Why do they not tell you this is the knowledge of the Quran, this is how you become Muslim, but this is not where you are supposed to stop; if you stop here you will not become a Momin or an Ummati (follower of Prophet Mohammad). Our Ulema start off as professors and simply by giving lectures they become Sheikh Ul Islam, Saints and Spiritual Guides. I am not saying that they cannot become these because it is possible that in 20 years they found a Spiritual Guide and adopted the spiritual ways and obtained knowledge of the heart and managed to enlighten their hearts. It is possible that Tahir ul Qadri could have become Sheikh Ul Islam or a Saint of God. If God wanted, it is all possible. However there is a divine method and a way of recognising such a person. If 20 years ago he was a scholar/professor/doctor and today he is Sheikh Ul Islam than there should be a difference in the lectures he gave 20 years ago and the lectures he gives today. The lectures of a scholar should be different from the lectures of a Sheikh Ul Islam/Mujaddid/Perfect Spiritual Guide. Now, Noor should emanate from his words and people should feel love for God and their hearts should become connected with God. He should dispense the knowledge of heart enlightenment. But the lectures 20 years ago and the lectures today are the same then you are still just a simple scholar. If you had become a Saint or Mujaddid, you would at least tell us of the Tajdeed you made in the religion of Islam. Only the followers of Minhaj ul Quran believe you to be a Mujaddid but the real Mujaddid, Mujaddid Alif Sani is known all over the world and everyone believes him to be the true Mujaddid of Islam.

Ummati is one who possesses Noor in his heart but the Muslim nation today is not the Ummah of Prophet Mohammad. I call them the Pakistani nation, Indian nation or Bengali nation. However they cannot be Ummati of Prophet Mohammad because Prophet Mohammad said ‘An Ummati is one who has Divine Light in his heart.’

On the Day of Judgement, you will not be recognised by your name. Some people think on the Day of Judgement you will be recognised by the name of your mother but according to the Hadith, on the Day of Judgement, you will be recognised by the type of Noor you possess. If everyone possessed the same type of Noor, how would they be differentiated? His Divine Eminence Lord Ra Riaz Gohar Shahi has explained, 

"Each Prophet and Messenger was given a special name of God and the Divine Light of the name entered the heart. Whoever obtained the special name of God entered the Ummah of its respective prophet."

Moses was granted the name of ‘Ya Rehman’ and whoever obtained ‘Ya Rehman’ from Moses or from any of the Saints in his spiritual lineage and their hearts became enlightened with the name, those hearts would shine on the Day of Judgement with the Divine Light of the name of ‘Ya Rehman’ and this is how God would recognise them to be the Ummati of Moses. Jesus was given ‘Ya Qudduso’ and David was given the name of ‘Ya Waddudo’ which means the one who loves. He used to sing hymns in love of the Lord and this is why he was granted this name. Those who possess an enlightened heart, when they repeat ‘Ya Waddudo’, the love of the Lord begins to enter their hearts. Similarly, Prophet Mohammad was given God’s Personal Name, ‘Allah Hu’ and those whose hearts shine with ‘Allah Hu’ will be recognised as Ummati of Mohammad. The scholars do not tell the Muslim nation how to become a Momin from a Muslim, although they repeatedly use the Hadith known as Hadith-e-Jibrael which explains this and the stages of Islam, Emaan, Ehsan, etc. But they do not know how to obtain these stages. If they knew, they would have explained it and if they had known, then misguidance would not be so widespread.

Quran: Inallaha qareeb minal mohsineen

If you want to see those who are in close proximity of God, then keep company of Mohsineen. A Mohsin is one who is at the stage of Ehsaan. Ehsaan is derived from the word Husn (beauty) meaning one whose heart possesses the beauty, image or reflection of the Lord or one who has seen God is a Mohsin. The stage of Islam is accepting the Kalima by word of mouth. The stage of Emaan is when the Noor of the Kalima enters the heart. For those who have reached the stage of Ehsaan the Quran says:

هل جزاء الاحسان الا الاحسان

(55:60)

You see me and I see you. Ehsaan means to see beauty. To see God is Ehsaan. If you have seen the beauty of God once, he will look at you 370 times. Muslims should follow the Hadith and at least acquire the knowledge of becoming a Momin from a Muslim because it is obligatory for every Muslim. From there how will they reach the stage of Ehsaan? It cannot be done alone. With whomsoever your destiny lies, will take you there.

Who is a Wali Allah?

Tahir Ul Qadri claims to be a Wali Allah (Friend of God). Sultan Haq Bahu and Ghous Pak was Wali Allah also. They were able to connect people to God. Ghous Pak said, ‘My disciple cannot die without Emaan (faith)’. Tahir Ul Qadri cannot make such a claim. How are you Sheikh Ul Islam? You cannot claim that followers of Minhaj ul Quran cannot be misguided. A Wali Allah is one in whose mouth the Lord speaks. When the Lord speaks through your mouth, the Lord would say something he has not previously said. God has already revealed the Quran. This means when the Lord will speak through your mouth, you will not read the Quran and you will not repeat Hadith to people because if the Lord will speak, he would say something new that he has never said before. Those through whose mouth the Lord speaks do not read books nor do they teach from books.

Moulana Rum said, ‘O you who are unaware, deen is not found in the books’. The scholars speak of Moulana Rum and we are doing the same and you [Tahir ul Qadri] are writing book after book. If someone asks you about Imam Abu Hanifa you say I am not even equivalent to the feet of Imam Abu Hanifa. If you are not then Imam Abu Hanifa has written many books why are you writing books? Ghous Pak has already written books, why are you writing books? 

When God speaks through somebody’s mouth that person does not know the Lord is speaking, but the one listening knows it is the Lord speaking. What happens when the Lord speaks? Once Ba Yazeed Bastami went to the mosque and a Molvi (cleric) was leading the prayers. Molvis have a habit of making speeches and during his speech the molvi said the flag of Prophet Mohammad will rise, high above the rest on the Day of Judgement. Ba Yazeed Bastami was in a highly spiritual state and the Tifle Noorie (sub-spirit of God) within him stirred. He stood up and said to the cleric, ‘Sit down. The flag that shall raise high above all others is my flag’. This was the Lord speaking. But, people caught him and when they questioned him, he swore to God that he had not made this statement because by then he had come out of his spiritual state. On another occasion, Ba Yazeed Bastami was praying and the Lord spoke, ‘Ma azam shaani subhani’. The disciples knew he is a Saint of God therefore he could not be lying so they asked him about it. In return he asked them a simple question, ‘Whose flag is greater than Prophet Mohammad’s?’ They said God’s. He said then God must have spoken. When God speaks this way, people understand it is God speaking. If God speaks in you, then why do you just repeat Hadith and Quran? When God speaks and leaves, Quran and Hadith are used to verify what God has said.

The Jewish have a similar faith. According to the Jewish tenet, the first question asked on the Day of Judgement would be with how much intensity did they awaited the Messiah. 

Hazrat Ali said the same for Imam Mehdi. He said, ‘To await Imam Mehdi in the last era would be the greatest of all worship’. 

Imam Mehdi and the Messiah are the same. But look at the tenet of the Jewish. It is obvious this question would be poised at those who had not met the Messiah because those who had would be enlightened. This question would be directed towards those who came before the Messiah. They would be asked with how much intensity they awaited the Messiah because the wait would ignite a fire in their heart and that in turn would generate Noor and that Noor became the wealth of Emaan. You too await Imam Mehdi but waiting does not mean sitting with a watch. It means there is a longing and desire in your heart for Him to come as soon as possible. If you want to make this wait worthwhile, spread the message to the world. Tell them how to recognise Imam Mehdi and tell them what Imam Mehdi will do when He arrives. Tell people about the Spiritual Blessings of Imam Mehdi and show His image. Doing so will intensify the longing and desire for Imam Mehdi to come.

الر كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَى صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ

(14:1)

Surah Ibrahim is related to the Messiah. The Book of Alif Laam Ra was sent forth onto you. This was not said for Prophet Mohammad, if it had there would have been mention of his Ummah. This is for Imam Mehdi because providing guidance to all humanity is His job. The chapter of Alif Laam Ra will be sent onto you so that you may help all humanity become enlightened. What comes from God cannot be obtained for except with his permission. Similarly the Book of Alif Laam Ra would not be given without permission of the Lord. However, we have been given permission from the Lord, permission to give Ra Riaz. 

This is not Sirat al Mustaqeem. Allah Hu in the heart is the path to establish Sirat al Mustaqeem. But this is the Path to get connected to God’s Personal Being. You do not have to establish this path; this is the path that leads directly to the Lord. This is known as Sirat ul Aziz. It is written in the Quran. This will connect you to His being directly.