47th
Dai Syedna Abdulqader Najmuddin Saheb (R.A)
Birth date : 1st
Ramazanul Moazzam 1229H\ 1814A.D
Wafaat : 19th Ramazan 1236 H/ 1821 AD
Period of Dawat : 47 years
Initially
Syedna Abdulqadar Najmuddin's (R.A) father Syedna Tayeb Zainuddin (R.A)
had named him Yusuf but the name was later changed to Abdulqadar by Syedna
Abdeali Saifuddin (R.A). Syedna Najmuddin (R.A) was brought up in an
atmosphere of virtue and nobility. He and Syedna Mohammed Badruddin (R.A),
son of Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin (R.A) were equal in all aspects- position,
knowledge, wisdom. Syedna Zainuddin (R.A) entrusted both of them to Syedi
Abdeali Imaduddin (Q.R) who academically and spiritually nurtured them to
great heights.
Syedna
Najmuddin (R.A) was an exceptional scholar. He imbibed all the knowledge
imparted by Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin (R.A) to Syedi Imaduddin (Q.R). He
also had remarkable command over languages. Once while delivering Ashara
Waaz in Sironj, he alternated between Lisan-ud-Dawat and Urdu without
mixing one with the other. He truly was a great Dai and likewise his
enemies were also more hostile and aggressive. In the face of this
adversity, Syedna Najmuddin (R.A) maintained silence and exercised
patience. Meanwhile, he quietly took care of preserving the purity of Ale
Mohammed's (S.A) 'Ilm' (knowledge) and ensuring its transition to the one
who deserved it. Once when he was in Karachi, one of his sons asked him,
"How long will you endure these hardships?" Syedna Najmuddin (R.A) replied
with conviction "The one who will come fifth after me shall relieve all
these hardships."
Syedna
Najmuddin (R.A) ascended the throne of Dawat at the age of twenty-seven
and became the first among Duat Kiram (R.A) to perform Haj after assuming
the distinguished post of al-Dai al-Mutlaq. Allah also bestowed his Dai
with many victories in Yemen too.
There is a
very well known incidence of a Shia poet who wrote an elegy in remembrance
of Maulana Ali (S.A) whom he saw in his dream. On requesting to accept the
elegy, Maulana Ali (A.S) told the poet , "I shall accept this elegy only
if my Dai accepts it". The poet eventually met Syedna Najmuddin (R.A) who
accepted the elegy.
In 1302 H, a
plague epidemic broke out in Ujjain. Though affected by the epidemic, the
Dai concealed his illness and planned to travel to Burhanpur. Mumineen
became aware of his illness and his traverse to Burhanpur. They gathered
at Syedna Najmuddin's (R.A) residence and pleaded him to stay back in
Ujjain till Allah may grant his Dai health and Mumineen would celebrate.
Syedna Najmuddin (R.A) on observing the enthusiasm and respect of Mumineen
immediately sat down on his chair and said "Now, I shall stay here
forever." Syedna Najmuddin (R.A) expired in Ujjain after performing Nass
on his brother Syedna Husamuddin (R.A). Syedna Husamuddin (R.A) was
personally not present in Ujjain at that time. Hence Syedna Najmuddin
(R.A) instructed the witnesses to inform Syedna Husamuddin (R.A) of his
appointment as the Dai. " I have looked after Mumineen with great love and
affection. Whenever they have asked me for water I have given them milk. I
request my brother (Syedna Husamuddin R.A) to follow the same tradition
and show the same amount of affection upon Mumineen."
Syedna
Najmuddin's (R.A) duration as Dai al-Mutlaq was of forty-seven years, the
longest amongst Duat Kiram (R.A) that preceded him. |
