The Essence of Islam – Volume V — Page 92
92. Essence of Islam-V not suggest what the Hindus should do to ward off this pestilence. Would it be permissible for them to seek help from their idols at such a time? And what method should the Christians adopt? And what about the sects which regard Ḥaḍrat Hussain or Ḥaḍrat 'Alia to be the 'fulfillers of all needs', and submit to them thousands of entreaties for the fulfilment of their desires during the taziyahs in Muḥarram? Similarly, what should the Muslims do who worship Sayyed 'Abdul Qadir Jilānī, or Shāh Madār, or Sakhi Sarwar?. Moreover, are not all these sects already praying? The fact is that every sect is frightened and is calling out to its own 'deity'. Go and visit Shia neighbourhoods, you will hardly find a house without this couplet written on its door: 27 لى خَمْسَةٌ أَطْفى بِهَا حَرِّ الْوَبَاءِ الْحَاطِمَه الْمُصْطَفَى وَ الْمُرْتَضَى وَابْنَاهُمَا وَ الْفَاطِمَه. One of my teachers was a revered Shia. He used to say that the only way to be immune against an epidemic is tawalla and tabarra, which means to take one's love for the Imams of the Ahl-e-Bait to the degree of worship, and to keep abusing the Companions of the Holy Prophetsa. He believed that there could be no better remedy. I have heard that when the plague broke out in Bombay, people at first thought that it was a miracle of Imam Hussain, for it had be27 For me, there are The Five through whom I dissipate the heat of this devastating epidemic:. Mustafa (the Holy Propheta), Murtaḍā (Hadrat ‘Alīta), his two sons (Hadrat Hasan and Hussain"), and Fățimara. [Publisher]