The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 614
SIGN OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT 613 verdict about anyone who makes a financial contribution towards its construction? This last item was added to the query because the peti- tioner might have heard that my brother Maulawi Hakeem Noor- ud-Deen, whom I love for the sake of Allah, has constructed a house in Qadian for this gathering of Muslims at a personal cost of about 700 rupees or more and brother Hakeem Fadl Din of Bhera has assisted in its construction by contributing 300-400 rupees. In response to this query, Miyāń Raḥīm Bakhsh has written a lengthy response quoting an irrelevant hadith with reference to JL, [shadd-e-riḥāl—setting out for a journey]. In brief, he says that going to such a gathering is an innovation; indeed, it is a sin. He adds that proposing such conferences is something novel which finds no sup- port from the Holy Book or Sunnah [Practice of the Holy Prophet $as]. Anyone who introduces such a matter in Islam stands condemned. Now, let those people who possess honest dispositions declare faithfully whether the existence of such maulawis and jurists in Islam is a Sign of the Day of Judgment or not. O naive man! Are you unaware that travelling for the sake of religious knowledge is not only permis- sible, but has been made obligatory by the Holy Quran and the Holy Law-giver, peace be upon him? Anyone who intentionally abandons it is guilty of a major sin, and deliberately insisting upon its denial under some situations amounts to kufr [disbelief ]. Are you not aware that it طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ :has been commanded with great emphasis that اطْلُبُوا الْعِلْمَ وَلَوْ كَانَ فِي الصِّينِ. :Moreover, it has been commanded مُسْلِمٍ وَمُسْلِمَةٍ. Meaning: 'Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim man and woman', and 'Seek knowledge even if you have to travel to China for it. ' Now think about it. Considering that my humble self has announced in absolutely plain and clear words that the proposed jour- ney for every sincere member would be solely with the intent of acquir- ing knowledge, how far removed from honesty, integrity, justice, taqwa [righteousness] and purity is it to give a fatwa that anyone who intro- duces such a matter in Islam stands condemned?