THE FAITH AND BELIEF OF THE MUSLIMS IN THE AWLIYA-E-KIRAAM, BUZRUGAN-E-DEEN AND SUFIYA-E-ISLAM REQUISITIONS THEM TO FOLLOW THEIR PIOUS FOOTSTEPS. THEIR DETACHMENT FROM WORLDLY PURSUITS AND DEEP ATTACHMENT TO ALMIGHTY ALLAH MAKES THEM IDEAL EXAMPLES FOR MUSLIMS TO FOLLOW. THE SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS WOULD FLOW ABUNDANTLY WHEN THE OCCASION IS CELEBRATED WITH THE SINCERITY AND ENTHUSIASM TO SPREAD THE IDEA AND MESSAGE OF "TAQWA" OR PIETY.

During this auspicious month, Sunni Muslims are enthusiastically holding Urs gatherings, driven by their intense love and firm belief in the spirituality of the Awliya-e-Kiraam. Still others are travelling to the Indo-Pak subcontinent and other parts of the world for the purpose of making a pilgrimage to the shrines or mazaars of the Awliya Allah. Whilst these expressions of intense love are worthy of praise, one ought to stop for a while and reflect upon the factors or circumstances that made the Awliya-e-Kiraam worthy of such love and respect from mankind.

Why do the hearts of Mu'mineen turn towards the Awliya-e-Kiraam? Were these Awliya rulers of States? Or was it that they were great political personalities? Or was it that they were extremely wealthy? No, dear Muslim, no! These were those people who annihilated all their desires and soaked up the love of the Almighty Allah. In addressing the quality of the Awliya Allah in the Holy Quran, Almighty Allah says, "His friends are those who possess piety (Taqwa)." His friends are those who spend so much time in His remembrance (Zikr) that they themselves become His "Zikr."

The attributes of the Awliya have also been mentioned in the Hadith Shareef where Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) had stated that when one looks at the Awliya Allah, one immediately thinks of Almighty Allah. Such an effect is only possible because the Awliya Allah have a very deep-rooted connection with the Almighty Allah. Night and day they engulf themselves in the remembrance (Zikr) of Almighty Allah - whilst WE spend our nights and days in the love and pursuit of wealth; and whilst WE omit our Fardh Ibadah; whilst WE are intentionally unmindful of Sunnat duties; whilst WE have become the slaves of our desires; and whilst WE are consumed with the desire of acquiring fame and fortune.

Is it only through the celebration of Urs and making pilgrimages of the shrines of the Awliya Allah can we express our love for them? Will we acquire the spiritual blessings and bounties of the Awliya through the celebration of Urs alone? If the Urs and pilgrimage are conducted within the framework of Shariat with good intentions and purposes, by remembering their manner and discipline in following the Shariat so that their examples could be emulated, then certainly one will acquire the spiritual blessings and bounties in unlimited measure.

The Urs should not be conducted as a form of entertainment, but rather it should entail discourses on the spiritual teachings and pious lifestyles of the Awliya Allah in a matter that would instill in the hearts of the Muslims a fear of Allah, and the will to prepare for the Hereafter (Aakirah).

If the occasion is celebrated with the sincerity and enthusiasm to spread the idea and message of "Taqwa"or piety and how it could be practised, then certainly the spiritual blessings would flow abundantly.

Sultaanul Hind Hadrat Khwaja Gareeb Nawaaz (radi Allahu anhu) had his entire life spent in the propagation of Deen and the service of mankind. Today it is a challenge for us, that with all the technical facilities, and hundreds of institutions of Tableegh at our disposal, and the great numbers of Ulema in our community, to achieve what this great Saint of Islam had single-handedly achieved in his lifetime. His efforts was re-enforced with a combination of a deep-rooted attachment with Almighty Allah; a sincere desire to serve the Muslims and spread Islam; and an enthusiastic mission to establish Islam in a place where idol worship was practised for thousands of years. He was certainly Mo'eenudeen, i.e. one who assisted the Deen of Islam. May the Almighty Allah grant us Muslims the Taufeeq to love this great Saint and follow in his path to Eternal Bliss. Ameen.