Naubat and Saviyat | The Division of Night into Four Pahar
Allah Says
(S.20- A 130) And recite words of praise and glorification of Allah before the rise of the
sun
and before sun set and at night part of and praise of the Almighty part of at the sides of
the
day so you may get satisfaction.
The time between ‘Asr and ‘Isha prayer (Namaz) is called the “The king of the night” and the time between, Fajr prayer till sunrise is called “The king of the day”. (Sultan-al-lail and Sultan-unnehar)
Just as a king commands eminence and glory among public, so also the above mentioned period got great eminence and glory during the 24, hours of the day. The breaths passed in remembrance and glorification of Allah have greater grandeur and eminence and special acceptance of prayer than the other times, just as a popular king among his people. Therefore if we take care of these two precious periods with remembrance (Zikr) of Allah, we will get virtues and rewards of engaging ourselves through all the 24, hours. Hence Hzt. Bandagi Miyan Syed Mahmood Syedanji Khatim-ul-Murshad Raz. has promised that he will be responsible for those people who preserve these timings “Sultanul Lail and Sultanu Nihar” strictly. On the day of judgement they will be among the people engaged in remembrance (Zikr) of Allah for all the 24, hours. Thus the great saint had done a great favour to all the Mahdavis provided they take advantage of this facility.
Hadees Qudsee
O’ obedient servants, remember me one hour in the morning and one hour in the
evening,
I shall fill up the gap in between. (Tufath Al Salakin)
This divine Tradition (Hadees Khudsi) supports the saying of Hzt. Syedanji Khatim Murshad Raz.
Important: Hzt. Jaber Raz. narrates that Nabi Kareem Sal'am after performing Fajr prayer used to sit in the place till the complete sun-rise. (Saheeh Muslim)
Therefore such holy and precious time of acceptance of prayers should not be wasted in worldly affairs and other entertainments. It is a great loss to our life.
The beginners find it a bit difficult in performance but later they find it so pleasing and attracting, that it surpasses all the luxuries of the world. It has no comparison in excellence, pleasures and attraction thereof, in our short span of temporary life, we should think it a boon or blessings of Allah. We should engage ourselves in remembrance of Allah, according to instruction of Hzt. Mahdi Alaihis Salam with the observation of the spiritual guide (Murshid) and win ever lasting reward in life.
From the times of Haz. Mahdi Alaihis Salam uptill recently, people who were dependants on Allah (Mutavakkil) and those who undertake different professions (Kasib) were seen in all the mosques at these times in meditaion, and remembrance of Allah (Zikr)
Hadees Shareef
"Hzt. Nabi Kareem Sal'am said that the best of remembrance (Zikr) is the remembrance
of
Allah," (Zikrullah)
The beginners who adopted the path of Allah, renouncing the world and who have not been blessed with the vision of Allah (Deedar). Hzt. Mahdi Mauood Alaihis Salam prohibited them from reciting the Holy Quran and learning the bookish knowledge and ordered them to devote themselves in the remembrance of Allah (Zikr) till they achieve the vision of Allah (Deedar-e-Khuda). It is written in the “Sawanah Mahdi Mauood” on page No. 152, that one day in Farah Mubark Janab Malik Maroof Raz. told Janab Nizam Ghalib Mahajir Raz. that he wanted to learn some reading from him, in the free hours after completion of Zikr (Remembrance) of Allah. He (Miyan Ghalib) agreed. Both of them went to Hzt. Mahdi-e-Mauood Alaihis Salam to take permission from him. Hzt. saw them from a distance and said a poetic couplet in persian which means, “seek such knowledge which remains with you. One which frees you from thyself (in the love of Allah). Unless and until you learn the basic knowledge (your duties towards Allah) you will not be able to realise the qualities of Allah”. O’ brothers engage thyself in the remembrance of Allah till the attainment of His vision.
"O’ scholar, proud of thy knowledge can’t reach to Allah. This will not bring nearer to thy Allah. It will take you away from Allah, unless you breed the love of Allah in thy heart of hearts, thou will not realise Him”.
For seekers of Allah (Taliban-e-Khuda) acquiring worldly knowledge is prohibited by the orders of Hzt. Mahdi Alaihis Salam and it is quoted in 10th chapter of “Matan Shareef”.
As per orders of Hzt. Mahdi Alaihis Salam always remembrance of Allah, is one of the obligatory acts. Hence Maulana Syed Ashraf Shamsi Sahib has written in “Tanverul Hadaya” on page no (111).
Allah says in the Holy Quran
Remember Allah, standing, sitting and while lying on sides (in the bed).
Ibne Abbas Raz. narrates
"Remember Allah, day and night, in the forest on the sea, while travelling or
staying, sick or
healthy, openly and secretly".
Further Allah also says in the Holy Quran
"Remember Allah in your heart, humbly, secretly, morning and evening, (always) and
never be
un-mindful of Him, at any time".
Imam Razi writes in his commentory of the Holy Quran, the
Ayat 
is the proof of the fact that the remembrance
of Allah (Zikar-e-Khuda) is essential (Wajib) at all times.
Further the words 
tell us
that we should not be un-mindful of Allah even for a moment in our life. The following is
the extracts from his book
Further Allah says :
'O’ people having faith in Allah (Momin) remember Allah remember Him
abundantly".
The auther of Maolim Altanzil narrates
The gist of this passage is that Hzt. Ibne Abbas Raz. narrates that "there is no
obligatory act,
that has no limits for it. i.e. It is not necessary for a sick person to offer prayer
(Namaz) in
standing position, if he is seriously ill and unable to stand or sit to perform sijdah, he
is
excused to do so, and it is enough for him to perform prayer (Namaz) with gestures, that
much
is obligatory for him, The essentials prescribed for a healthy person.
i.e. performing Qiyam, Ruku, and Sijdah and the final Qa’ada etc. properly, weak and
sick person need not perform the obligatory action. So also are the conditions of
observing fast. Observing fast is compulsory for a resident and a healthy person. A sick
or a person in journey has the facility to observe Ramadan fast after returning home or
recovering from the illness. The poor tax (Zakat) is also conditional, unless and until
one full year passes over the taxable property (Nisab) zakat is not obligatory on the
owner. Performance of Haj is also conditional, unless one possess provisions for journey
one is not given the trouble of
performing Haj. Therefore all these obligatory actions are having timings and limits
fixed. But the remembrance (Zikr) of Allah is the only obligatory action, which has no
limitations nor there is any excuse for not performing the zikr. There-fore remembrance of
Allah (Zikr) is an obligatory action, which is essential on all persons at all times and
in all conditions. But an insane person, deprived of senses, is exempted.
The said verses are the proof that remembrance of Allah (Zikr) is an obligatory act at all times and in all conditions. It is because the said verses are in the form of order (Amar) and if it is used without any qualification or condition, then it indicates the compulsory obedience (Farz) of the said order. The verses relating to the Zikrullah (Remembrance of Allah) are falling in this category. Hence the compulsion (Farziet) of Zikrullah (Remembrance of Allah) is proved in the Quran. Hence Syedna Imam-e-Mahdi Mauood Alaihis Salam with these verses said that "Remembrance of Allah (Zikrullah) is obligatory act (Farz)". He further ordered that the Remembrance of Allah (Zikrullah) is obligatory in all conditions and times. He said that a man without faith (Momin) is one who remembers Allah all the 24 hours of the day and night and never remains a moment with out Zikrullah. Because Allah says in Holy Quran
So the man who does not possess this important quality is not a perfect believer
(Momin-e-Kamil).
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Naubat and Saviyat are also obligatory actions of Vilayat (Farayaz-e-Vilayat).
Therefore it is narrated that by order of Haz. Mahdi Mauood Alaihis salam whether in journey or stay, Sahaba (companions) used to keep awake during the night three hours (one paher) by turn. Janab Miyan Illah Dad Hameed Raz, used to call by name to wake up the next person. Once Miyan Illahdad Hameed Raz. got an inspiration to recite the words of praise of Allah (Tasbeeh), the full text with meaning is given in the chapter Dugana Shab-e-Qadr. He repeated the same before Hzt. Mahdi Mauood Alaihis Salam, Haz. Mahdi Alaihis Salam said that he should wake up the persons for the next turn (Arbab-e-Nubat) with these words. From that time onwards only Tasbeeh was introduced and it is in practice continuously. In some Dairas in addition to Naubat, every night after performance of 'Isha prayer Tasbeeh is recited loudly. In some others, on the occasion of Taraveeh prayeer, Dugana Shabe-e-Qadr and Bahre-e-'Aam (Common benediction day), after performance of the prayer (Namaz) “Tasbeeh” is recited loudly.
At times these holy words were opposed by the non Mahdavies and this has caused martyrdom in some events.
The method of performance of Naubat is as follows. If three dependents on Allah (Fuqra) are staying in a Mosque or Daira, the Naubat (turn) is taken up by one, or by one or more, Fuqra who joins with him. The first turn begins after Isha prayer and lasts till the second paher i.e. second section of night (approximately three hours). The people sitting on Naubat, handover their turn to others by reciting the Tasbeeh and engage them selves in Zikr and Meditaion. The people who are awake at that time join them in recitation of the Tasbeeh and engage themselves in zikr and meditation. After this the people in the second turn call Tasbeeh and after salam get busy them-selves in remembrance of Allah (Zikr). The people of first turn take rest for some time then offer Tahajjud prayer engage themselves in Zikr.
At the beginning of the fourth pahar, the group of the second turn gives call of Tasbeeh to wake up the third group and sit in zikr. The duration of the turn of the third group is up to the sunrise.
The people in the second turn after their turn only take rest till Fajr prayer or they offer Tahajjud prayer and engage themselves in zikrullah.
The people of the first turn on the second day are alloted the second turn and the second turn group are alloted the third turn and the third turn people are alloted the first turn.
Important: Hzt. Mahdi Mauood Alaihis Salam used to distribute all the gifts and presentations received in the name of Allah, whether in small or big quantity (This is called saviyat). After Hzt. Alaihis Salam the priests followed this method. If some thing was recieved in the name of Allah, they purchased food grains, prepared food, then distributed equitably among the inmates of the Daira, to the holy persons present at the time and the people attached to the Daira. In every Daira there used to live many saintly people and the people who were fully depending on Allah, in the service of the priest (Murshid), it was the custom of the past priests the head of the Daira (Sahab-e-Daira) used to distribute all things received in the name of Allah, without leaving any thing for the next day and became care free and resigned to the Will of Allah. They remained happy and grateful to Him even in starvation. A little before the present days “Naubat” and “Saviyat” were in practice in every Daira. Now a days mosques are empty and the practice of Naubat and Saviyat is totally discontinued and vanished. The Murshid of future generation will be surprised to read the term Naubat (Turns for remembrance of Allah) and Saviyat (Equitable distribution) and the practices followed by their ancestors.
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The Division of Night into Four Sections (Four Pahar)
1. The first section (pahar) of 3 hours duration belongs to human beings. It is so because the 3 hours of the night are spent in performing 'Isha prayer, taking food and attaining to the other activities of life. Hzt. Nabi Kareem Sal'am maintained it undesirable (Makrooh) to sleep before the Isha prayer, and to engage in talking after Isha prayer. It is narrated by Imam Ahmed Raz. from Abdullah Raz. that Hzt. Nabi Kareem Sal'am said talking is undesirable (Makrooh) after ‘Isha prayer except for two people i.e. Musalli (Person engage in prayer of 'Isha) and the traveller. (Noorul Hadaya)
2. The second section (Pahar) of the night is Satanic (Devilish). In the sense that the people who are awake in this part of the night will engage in entertainment, fun and sports, sinful activities, useless talk, backbiting and complaining against each other. People going to sleep after the second part of the night may not get up for the morning (Fajr) prayer. The people who get up late in the morning waste away their useful time in sleeping carelessly , they suffer loss in business and other worldly affairs also besides their health is also affected due to late sleeping.
3. The third section (Pahar) of the night is angelic time. During this time commonly all the people and animals will be sleeping or taking rest. Only angels are awake praising and glorifying Allah. A few selected people who offer Tahajjud prayer also join them.
4. The fourth section (Pahar) of the night is Godly (Rahmani). It is particular for Divine favours. During these hours special Divine Blessings are showered. People who are wake during this section (Pahar) of the night are those who offered Tahajjud prayer or those pious people who want to offer Fajr prayer at the earliest with keen interest and sincere love of Lord (Allah). This hour of divine favour and blessings of Allah is enjoyed only by fortunate people. Those people who are asleep during this hour are really unfortunate, and are deprived of those divine blessings. keeping awake during this part of the night is rewarded by Allah, by pardoning sins, elevating spiritual position. In addition to this, it gives freshness to body, mind and increases spiritual power and gives perfect health, the heart is enlightened and the face is brightend with the divine light.
It is narrated by Jaber Raz. that Hzt. Nabi Kareem Sal'am said that "there is a time in the night when Allah grants what ever is desired by the servants of Allah." (Saheeh Muslim)
It is clarified that throughout the day and night sleeping for two sections (Pahar) i.e. from 9 P.M. to 3 P.M. six hours daily is sufficient for health and to remove laziness.
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