Question:
Assalamu Alaykum
I posted this question 6 weeks ago and have had no reply, so my apologies for re-posting this again.
When Maulana mentions that so and so is ‘Sahib Us Saif for Sayidina Imam Mahdi Alayhi Salam’ what does that mean? I’m not sure what the title and position of such a person is. Also is such a person a Wali Allah at some point in their life?
JazakAllah Khair
Answer:
`Alaykum Salam,
The definition of sahib as-sayf is swordsman or combatant. The Holy Prophet (upon him blessings and peace) said, “ya sahib al-sayf shim sayfak” during one of his campaigns, meaning everyone who has a sword should draw it, i.e. when it is time to stand for truth, people should be brave and sacrifice their comforts, their time, their property, and their lives. The literal Sahib as-sayf in the time of Sayyidina al-Mahdi is Sayyidina `Isa – Jesus Christ – `alayhissalam, as he is the one who kills Dajjal, the Anti-Christ.
The meaning of Mawlana’s statement is that such a person must prepare to be a soldier in the time of al-Mahdi upon him peace, and it stresses his duty to have loyalty, obedience and discipline in a way similar to Sayyidina `Isa upon him peace. In fact this Haqqani Rabbani duty is the duty and title of every single Murid without exception, and it begins now with the sword of truth and the mantle of humility, which is difficult or rather hardly possible to carry at one and the same time. But alhamdulillah Mawlana and Grandshaykh (Allah sanctify their secrets) have raised among us the admirable model of how that is done.
As for wilaya, we believe what our Masters tell us, namely that every Murid is granted wilaya and that is from the karama of Shah Naqshband which the Holy Prophet (upon him blessings and peace) granted him by Divine permission. In fact even to have a good opinion in the Awliya is itself wilaya, because it will bring a person a good end insha-Allah. But with it come tests, so may Allah protect each one of us until He takes us back to Him safe and sound.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
