The Reality of Khilafah — Page 158
158 SIRRUL-KHILAFAH-THE REALITY OF KHILAFAH to have this discussion around the word tawaffi anyway? The fact is that here Imam Bukhārī has expressed his own belief about the word tawaffi. There are now three points in support of my claim. The first is the blessed saying of the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that just as the righteous man 'Isā had said فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيْتَنِي so would he say these words. The second is the fact that Ibn Abbās has defined the word tawaffi as 'to cause to die'. The third is the testimony of Imam Bukhārī which is evident from the manner in which he has discussed this verse. Now, who do you think has abandoned the Hadith and the Quran? Is it me or my opponents? Have they been able to prove their meaning of the word tawaffi with sayings of the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, or of his Companions, as I have done? Regardless, if my opponents can prove some other meaning of tawaffi on the basis of a hadith of the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, a statement of one of his Companions, and the validation of an eminent Imam such as Bukhārī, I would be willing to accept that meaning. It is truly cunning of them to first abandon the Hadith and the Quran and then to accuse our sect of having abandoned the Quran and the Hadith. O maulawis who oppose me, may God have mercy on you, pay close attention and know that the only meaning of the word tawaffi in the verse under discussion that is established by the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and his Companions is 'to cause to die. Anyone who abandons this meaning interprets the Holy Quran according to his own whim because this hadith does not allow any other meaning of