1. Hazrat Miran Syed Muhammad Mahdi al-Mau'ood (AS) has prohibited his followers from saying their prayers in the leadership (imamat) of munkirs (non-believers). He has also said that if any of his followers had said his prayers by mistake in the leadership (imamat) of a non-believer, he should say his prayers anew.

2. It is narrated that one day a situation of confrontation developed in Thatta (now in Sindh, Pakistan), so much so, that the opposing groups were arrayed against each other for an armed clash. Some of the followers of Imam Mahdi (AS) told him "We had gone to the city today and said our farz (obligatory) prayers in the leadership of one who is opposed to you. Imam Mahdi (AS) asked them to say their prayers afresh. The followers sought to know what they should do if one or two of them went to the city. The Imam ordered them to go in groups and say their prayers in their Mahdavi congregations (jamaat).

3. It is narrated that one day at the time of 'Asr prayers the companions of Imam Mahdi (AS) met under the shade of a banyan tree in Bhadriwali. Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ), Miyan Ni'mat (RZ), Miyan Dilawar (RZ), Miyan Abu Bakr (RZ) and Miyan Syed Salamullah (RZ) and all the migrant-companions of the Imam (AS) were present. The topic under discussion was: "We call a person, who says his prayers in the leadership of a non-believer of Imam Mahdi (AS) as kharji (out-cast)." Then Miyan Nizam (RZ) asked Miyan Abu Bakr (RZ) and Miyan Syed Salamullah (RZ): "What is your practise (hal) because there are non-believers of Imam Mahdi (AS) also in your dairas." In reply, Miyan Syed Salamullah (RZ) said: "We will do what is expedient when such a situation arises." After that, with a smile on his lips, Miyan Nizam (RZ) said: "You have become an out-cast (kharji) in this congregation." This narrator was also present in the congregation.

4. It is narrated that Imam Mahdi (AS) said: "Why do you go to places where it becomes necessary for you to say your prayers in the leadership of the non-believers?"

5. It is narrated that Miyan Nizam (RZ) was delivering his sermon under a mango tree in Barhli (village). The subject of the sermon was whether saying prayers in the leadership of a non-believer of Imam Mahdi (AS) was allowed or not. Then, he rose to call (dawat) and recited the above narration. He quoted Imam Mahdi (AS) as saying: "Why do you go to places where it becomes necessary for you to say your prayers in the leadership of a non-believer?" There were about thirty or forty respectable people in this congregation. This narrator too was present there.

6. It is narrated that Shaikh Ahmad Mehrasia tried to lead a prayer congregation at Nahruala (Patan in Gujarat). It was time for the Maghrib (just after sunset) namaz. Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) pulled him back and said: "You are a non-believer (munkir) of Imam Mahdi (AS). It is not proper to say our prayers in your leadership."

7. It is narrated that, in Bhilot, Mullah Mahmood Khund Shah alias Mankirah wanted to lead the prayers in the presence of Miran Syed Mahmood (RZ), son of Miran Syed Muhammad Mahdi al-Mau'ood (AS), and moved towards the musalla (imam's prayer carpet). One of the brothers (companions) pulled him back by seizing his hand, and told him: "You are a non-believer (munkir) of Imam Mahdi (AS) ."

8. It is narrated that the migrant-companions of Imam Mahdi (AS), including Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) and Miyan Ni'mat (RZ), drafted a mahzar (document) after the Zuhr (afternoon) prayers in Bhadriwali village. The subject under discussion was that one should not say one's prayers in the leadership of non-believers of Imam Mahdi (AS). Some among the companions of the Imam (AS) said that Imam Mahdi (AS) had said his Friday and Eid prayers in the leadership of his opponents. Had it not been proper, how could he say his prayers in the leadership of the non-believers, they asked. At this, Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) and Miyan Shah Ni'mat (RZ) and some other companions said: "We will not enter into an argument about this. We will do what Imam Mahdi (AS) did, and refrain from doing what Imam Mahdi (AS) has forbidden."

9. If anybody does not accept the narrations reported in this third chapter, or tries to interpret or alter them, he would be deemed to be an opponent of Imam Mahdi's sayings and would not be a Mahdavi. This narrator was present in this congregation. The narrations in this chapter too have the same authority as those reported in the previous chapters.

| TOP | HOME |