SEERAT JALSAHS – ANOTHER DECEPTION OF SHAITAAN
Hadhrat Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya (rahmatullah alayh) wrote:
“Once on the 12thRabiulAwwal, Hadhrat Madani (Quddisa Sirruhu) came to Saharanpur. The people of the city said:
“Today we have a Seerat Jalsah.” I said to them: ‘Now, the name of moulood has become ‘seerat’”. I don’t know in what mood Hadhrat Madani was on that day. He refused with vehemence, saying:
‘I shall not come (to the seerat jalsah).’ He severely reprimanded them, and said: ‘All your devotion (for Rasulullah – sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is restricted to only the 12thRabiul Awwal.”
Seerat jalsahs in the month of Rabiul Awwal are specimens of Talbeesul Iblees (Deception of Shaitaan). These merry-making functions are in emulation of the Ahl-Barelwi QabarPujaari sect with whom the seerat-jalsah molvis are nowadays competing. They are dishonest in their claims of devotion for Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). They have become just like the Bid’ati gangs who trumpet the slogan of Hubb-e-Rasool whilst they are the followers of Iblees. What constrains them (the seerat jalsah promoters) from organizing seerat bayaans throughout the year? Why do they fix Rabiul Awwal for a function which they deceptively dub ‘seerat jalsah’?
Condemning this deceptive stunt of Rabiul Awwal seerat jalsahs, Hadhrat Madani (rahmatullah alayh) said: “All your devotion is restricted to 12th Rabiul Awwal. Did you ever acquire the taufeeq during the course of the year for such a function?”
There can be no objection to giving bayaans on the life and teaching – on the Sunnah – of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). The objection is on account of emulating the Ahl-e-Bid’ah who have made the month of Rabiul Awwal an occasion of ostentatious Bid’ah. During the course of the year the Molvis who organize Rabiul Awwal seerat jalsahs should have normal bayaans on the Sunnah without any merrymaking trappings such as feasting. However, since there is no nafsaani pleasure in such ‘dry’ bayaans, there is no inclination to promote the Sunnah. When the intention is contaminated, then nafsaaniyat is projected under Deeni guise.
The molvis who are competing with the Barelwi bid’atis should reflect and take stock of themselves. If they are sincere, they will not commit self-deception to justify their seerat jalsahs. Allah Ta’ala says in the Qur’aan Majeed:
“In fact, man has insight (awareness) of himself even though he puts forth excuses.”
Just why is there a flurry of ‘seerat’ jalsah activity during the month of Rabiul Awwal? Self-deception is shaitaani deception.
The Seerat of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) should incumbently be in the life of a Muslim every day of the year, not in hollow bayaans of deception and merrymaking. These ‘seerat’ jalsahs are in reality a mockery designed for the aggrandizement of the molvis.
20 Rabiul-Awwaal 1445 – 6 October 2023