Bola Chala maaf Karo......Maafa Maafi "Forgive & Seek Forgiveness"

Dear Brothers'n'Sisters in faith,

As Salam Alaikum wa Rahmath Ullahio wa Barakatahu..

Muharram is Coming near.... it is the first month of the Hijri Calendar. This month is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited.

We Mehdavis Consider the day of Ashura of this Sacred Month as the day to Maafa Maafi "Forgive & Seek Forgiveness". Forgive those who hurt us & seek forgiveness from those whom we have hurt. Allah will not forgive those who have not been forgiven by the people whom one has hurt.

'Ashura is a religious observance marked every year by Muslims. The word 'ashura literally means "10th," as it is on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic year. 'Ashura is an ancient observance that is now recognized for different reasons and in different ways among Sunni and Shi'a Muslims.

As a practice every Mehdavi will visit all his relatives, friends & neighbors saying "Bola Chala Maaf Karo. Vaste Allah ke" (forgive me for the sake of Allah). And in reply the listener will say "My Maaf Kiya Tum Bhi Maaf Karo Vaste Allah Ke" (I have forgiven you, you also forgive me for the sake of Allah) and the listener will offer sharbat to drink.

A typical conversation between a two Mehdavi Brothers on the 10th day of Muharram:

Guest: As Salamu Alaikum Rahmatullahi wa Barakathu (Peace an Merci of Allah be upon you)

Host: Wa Alaikum As salamu Alaikum Rahmatullahi wa Barakatahu (And,Peace an Merci of Allah be upon you, too)

Guest: Bola Chala Maaf Karo Waaste Allah Ke ( Please forgive the words I

have spoken (against you) and the actions I have taken (against you) for the sake of Allah.)

Host: Maine maaf kiya waaste Allah ke. Aap bhi mujhe maaf karo waaste Allah ke. (I have forgiven for the sake of Allah. You too forgive me for the sake of Allah.)

Guest: Maine bhi maaf kiya waste Allah ke.(I too have forgiven for the sake of Allah.)

• Volume 4, Book 54, Number 510:

Narrated 'Aisha: On the day (of the battle) of Uhud when the pagans were defeated, Satan shouted, "O slaves of Allah! Beware of the forces at your back," and on that the Muslims of the front files fought with the Muslims of the back files (thinking they were pagans). Hudhaifa looked back to see his father "Al-Yaman," (being attacked by the Muslims). He shouted, "O Allah's Slaves! My father! My father!" By Allah, they did not stop till they killed him. Hudhaifa said, "May Allah forgive you." 'Urwa said that Hudhaifa continued to do good (invoking Allah to forgive the killer of his father till he met Allah (i.e. died).

• Mu’awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) say: "It is the day of ‘Ashura. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) has not made fasting obligatory for you. But I am fasting. He who likes to observe fast among you should do so, and he who likes not to observe it (does not have to) observe it." [Sahih Muslim]
• Abu Qatada (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said that the fast on the 10th of Muharram atones for the sins of the preceding year. [Sahih Muslim]
• Abu Huraira (Radiyallahu 'anh) reports that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said that after Ramadan, the fasts of Muharram have the greatest excellence. [Sahih Muslim]
• The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) recommended that we fast on this day, by his Sunnah. He also indicated how we should observe the fast of ‘Ashura.
• Hakam ibn Al-Arat (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates: I went to Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu 'anh)… I said to him: Tell me about fasting on ‘Ashura. He said, "When you seen the new moon of Muharram count the (days) and (begin to) observe fast on the 9th." I said to him: "Is it how the Holy Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) observed the fast?" He said, "Yes." [Sahih Muslim]
• Hazrat Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu 'anh) relates that when the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said: "If I survive till next year, I will definitely observe fast on the 9th of Muharram (as well)." [Sahih Muslim]
• Hazrat Ibn Abbas (Radiyallahu 'anh) reports that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) arrived in Madinah and found the Jews observing fast on the day of ‘Ashura… They said: "It is the day of great (significance) when Allah delivered Hazrat Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) and his people and drowned Pharoah and his people, and Sayyidina Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) observed fast out of gratitude. And we also observe it." The Holy Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) responded: "We have more right, and we have closer connection with Sayyidina Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) than you have"; so Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) observed fast (on the day of ‘Ashura) and gave us orders to observe it. [Sahih Bukhari and Muslim]

Importance of the day:

• Hz Adam AS, Hz Ibrahim AS and Hz Moosa A.S were born on this day.
• The reprentance (Touba) of Hz Adam AS and Hz Dawood AS were accepted on this day,
• The repentence of the followers of Yunus AS was also accepted on this day.
• Hz Idris AS and Hz Esa AS were raised onto heavens on this day.
• The ship of Hz Noah AS ‘The Ark of Noah’ after sailing for 7 months in the torment, Allah SWT made it safely reach on the Mount of Judi on this day. As a thanksgiving Hz Noah AS and his followers including the animals and birds etc all observed a days fast in their Lord (The Creator).
• Hz Ibrahim AS was rescued from the raging fire of King Nimrod,
• Hz Yunus AS safely came out from the belly of the fish,
• Hz Ayub AS was saved
• Hz Moosa AS was freed from the clutches of Pharoah on this day.
• The earth and the skies, The trees and the Mountains, The pen and the fortunes, The Heavens and The Throne of the Empyrean, The entire Angels were created on this day by The Creator.
• The first drops of rainwater fell on earth on this day the 10th of Muharram.
• Hz Syedna Hussain AS got Shahadath Martyrdom on this auspicious and honorable day for the cause of ISLAM.
• Prophet SAS observed fast on 10th of Muharram due to its sanctity and sacredness. Allah Knows best.

Once Nemat a notorious bandit had killed a nobleman, and the sultans soldiers were behind him. He was fleeing from jungles to jungle to save himself from the sultan. He had also looted many people. Once when he was chased by the soldiers he feeing from a jungle, suddenly he heard Azan being called out for the prayer. The voice so stimulating that he forgot about the soldiers behind him and performed Namaz on the spot. Though the soldiers saw him they did not recognized whe he was in the state of namaz. After completing hiz namaz he proceeded to the direction from where he heard the azan.

He saw a group of saints have assembled in the jungle under the leadership of Imam Syed Mohammed Mehdi Maoud AHS. The Imam on seeing him said "O Miyan Shahnemat, Come here", Nemat got astonished. and replied your holiness how come you know my name. and my name is NEMAT. The the Imam AHS said now you will be know as SHAHNEMATH.

Shah Nemath requested Imam to pray for him for his forgiveness from Allah and make him one of his followers. The Imam on the command of Quran said Allah will not forgive you unless the people you have hurt will forgive you. so go and seek forgiveness from those whom you have hurt.

Shah Nemath did accordingly, he went to all whom he had hurt in pursuit of forgiveness and also to the Nobles house whose son was killed by him. he offered his naked sword to the noble and should his neck to him and said forgive me for the sake of Allah or cut my throat and take the revenge of your son. The noble go shocked. he inquired what made him so different. a Notorious bandit became so pious. He explained all that happened and the noble man said take me to Imam Mehdi ahs I want to be his follower if I have to forgive you. Many people brought Iman on his hand. And Shah Nemath joined the august company of Imam Mehdi AHS, spreading and practising the true Islam. like this the Notorious Bandit Nemath became Hazrat Bandagi Miyan Shah Nemath rz. His roza is near Pune. and many people across the world visit their for his ziyarat.

By the act of forgiveness we release the other person from a debt, an obligation to make whole something that has been injured or taken from us, whether in terms of property or from ourselves, in terms of our identity or self worth or our relationships with other persons. So, to begin with, "I forgive you" means, "I release you."

The word "forgive" implies, by its components, a kind of "giving." We might find in the word a sensibility to grant a kind of acceptance or tolerance for the act of the other, though after the fact, and credit it as though before the fact.

I suspect that we have a sort of "instinct" to forgive. It is certainly a culturally supported ability:

"To err is human, to forgive, divine."

By instinct, I mean our natural tendency to try to keep what we already have and are familiar with. An inability to forgive would result in rejections and breakups all around. An unforgiving world would have very little stability, families would break up from insults and misunderstandings and chaos would rule. Sounds like life in the big city, doesn't it?

That's why we need to find our way back to forgiving. Let's set out on foot.

From my observations and experience, I have found that forgiveness may reside in a continuum of actions and reactions following our sense of being hurt or trespassed upon by another.

To facilitate the process of forgiveness:

1. Think of a person who has wronged you and who you have not been able or willing to forgive.

2. Describe the experience or experiences in which this "offender" caused you to be harmed or unjustly treated.

3. Describe the emotions you feel as you consider these events. Are you feeling anger? Shame? Guilt? Are you obsessed with what happened? Take as much time as you need to acknowledge these feelings and put them into words.

4. How has being unable to forgive affected you? Have the emotions you have felt affected your health? Have they altered your relationships with others? Your worldview? What sorts of defense mechanisms have you created? Do these limit you in any way?

5. What benefits might forgiving have for you? list them,

6. Are you ready and willing to forgive? When you feel that forgiveness might be a real possibility, continue with the steps described below. Commitment to forgiveness is often the most difficult step!

7. Consider a situation in which another person had to forgive you for something. How did you feel. Recognize that everyone is involved in both forgiving and being forgiven. As you put yourself in the position of the offender, are you able to more fully understand (not justify) his or her behaviors?

8. Offer support to others who are in a similar situation. Helping others who have been suffering may help you to understand and move through your own painful experiences. You might consider performing an act of kindness toward the offender, but any action to honor your decision to forgive is useful. Do what feels right to you.

9. Replay the situation in which your were injured mentally. What can you learn from it about yourself. Re-define your relationship with the offender. Sever any unproductive connections.

10. Release the emotions that your injury has caused. Express those emotions and resolve to move through them, so that they will no longer cause you to expend energy on them. Ask for support from friends or family members as you do this.

11. As you are able to forgive, explore the meaning of your experiences. How will this alter your future behavior and your perspectives? Are there other injuries you need to forgive? Re-affirm and re-assess what you feel is your purpose in life, in light of these experiences.

A 2001 study revealed a correlation between reviewing hurtful memories and measures of the stress response (EMG, heart rate, blood pressure). When subjects were encouraged to think forgiving thoughts, the stress response was diminished. Similar findings were seen in an October 2003 study of 108 college students.

While more research is needed to formally evaluate the health benefits of forgiveness, a number of small studies have shown a number of potential health benefits conferred by forgiveness:

• Decreased anger and negative thoughts
• Decreased anxiety
• Decreased depression and grief
• Decreased vulnerability to substance use

What are the benefits of forgiving someone?

• Healthier relationships ==> Happy Family
• Greater spiritual and psychological well-being ==> Good Health
• Less stress and hostility ==> Good Health
• Lower blood pressure ==> Good Health
• Fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety and chronic pain ==> Good Health
• Increased concentration level in prayer, study & work ==> Greater Success in this world & in hereafter

Quoting from http://stress.about.com/od/relationships/a/forgiveness.htm

Betrayal, aggression, and just plain insensitivity: People can hurt us in a million ways, and forgiveness isn’t always easy. Whether you’ve been cut off in traffic, slighted by your mother-in-law, betrayed by a spouse, or badmouthed by a co-worker, most of us are faced with a variety of situations that we can choose to ruminate over or forgive. But forgiveness, like so many things in life, is easier said than done.

Forgiveness can be a challenge for several reasons. Sometimes forgiveness can be confused with condoning what someone has done to us: “That’s OK. Why not do it again?” Forgiveness can be difficult when the person who wronged us doesn’t seem to deserve our forgiveness -- it’s hard to remember that forgiveness benefits the forgiver more than the one who is forgiven. Ultimately, forgiveness is especially challenging because it’s hard to let go of what’s happened. However, it’s important to let go and forgive. Here are some reasons why:

• Forgiveness is good for your heart -- literally. One study from the Journal of Behavioral Medicine found forgiveness to be associated with lower heart rate and blood pressure as well as stress relief. This can bring long-term health benefits for your heart and overall health.

• A later study found forgiveness to be positively associated with five measures of health: physical symptoms, medications used, sleep quality, fatigue, and somatic complaints. It seems that the reduction in negative affect (depressive symptoms), strengthened spirituality, conflict management and stress relief one finds through forgiveness all have a significant impact on overall health.

• A third study, published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, found that forgiveness not only restores positive thoughts, feelings and behaviors toward the offending party (in other words, forgiveness restores the relationship to its previous positive state), but the benefits of forgiveness spill over to positive behaviors toward others outside of the relationship. Forgiveness is associated with more volunteerism, donating to charity, and other altruistic behaviors. (And the converse is true of non-forgiveness.)

So, to sum it up, forgiveness is good for your body, your relationships, and your place in the world. That’s reason enough to convince virtually anyone to do the work of letting go of anger and working on forgiveness.

What a wonderful practice we Mehdavis got from our fore fathers, what a divine message is there within the practice of MAAFA MAAFI. Truly this practice can attract researchers studying Psychology. there is a enormous treasure within Mehdavia teachings which needs to be highlighted for the the benefit of mankind..

Having said this I request one and all to kindly forgive me for the sake of Allah (swt) if I have hurt any of you. And I have forgiven you all.

BOLA CHALA MAAF KARO VASTE ALLAH KE.

ALLAHU ALAM (Allah knows the best).

"O’ Allah! Bless us to follow the last & Final Prophet Syed Muhammed SalleAllahu AlaihisSallam & His Perfect follower Imam Syed Mohammed Mehdi-e-Maud Juanpuri AHS .

O' Allah I have asked forgiveness from all the mankind from whom ever I know. And I don't Know how to repent before you.

O' Allah I beg you to forgive me. And also I pray you to make my fellow beings forgive me.

O' Allah make the coming year one of unity, cooperation and success for Muslims in general & the followers of Khatimain in Particulrar around the world."

Ameen Summa Ameen

Your Brother in faith,

Inayath Ulla Khan, Mandya

M: 9886730997

E : inayathullakhan@gmail.com