(Sultaan Mahmood Ghaznawi – Part One)
Sultaan Mahmood bin Subuktageen, also known as Mahmood Ghaznawi, was a king in India who passed away in the year 421 after hijrah.
Occasionally a slight doubt would cross the mind of Sultaan Mahmood regarding three issues. His first doubt was regarding the authenticity of the hadeeth of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in which Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned that the ‘Ulama are the heirs of the Ambiyaa’ (‘alaihimus salaam). His second doubt was regarding whether or not the Day of Qiyaamah was a reality and his third doubt was regarding his lineage – Sultaan Mahmood was not sure of whether Naasirud Deen Subuktageen was his father or not.
One night, Sultaan Mahmood emerged from his palace and began walking towards some place. As he proceeded, one of his attendants walked in front of him lighting up the path with a golden lantern. While walking, Sultaan Mahmood happened to pass by a student who was seated in a madrasah revising his lessons. The student did not have oil to burn in his lamp and therefore whenever he forgot something in the course of his revision; he would go to the lamp burning outside the shop of a Banya and refer to his kitaab in its light. On seeing the great difficulty with which this student was studying, Sultaan Mahmood took pity on him and gave him the lantern which his attendant was carrying.
After arriving back at the palace that night, Sultaan Mahmood went to sleep and saw a dream in which he was blessed with the vision of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to Sultaan Mahmood in the dream, “O Son of Naasirud Deen Subuktageen, may Allah Ta‘ala honour you on the Day of Qiyaamah just as you have honoured one of my heirs.”
Sultaan Mahmood knew that the words of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) could be nothing but the truth and thus, in a single statement, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) answered all three of his doubts. He now knew that the hadeeth was authentic as Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had referred to the student as his heir, he knew that Naasirud Deen was his father as Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had referred to him as “Son of Naasirud Deen” and he knew that the Day of Qiyaamah was a reality as Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had made du‘aa for Allah Ta‘ala to reward Sultaan Mahmood on “Day of Qiyaamah”. (Taareekh Farishtah vol. 1 pg. 88)
Lessons:
1. The reason for Sultaan Mahmood being blessed with this dream and having his doubts dispelled is that he honoured and assisted the heir of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has himself declared that the ‘Ulama are his heirs. What great honour and respect should then be shown to these men who carry the legacy of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Further, how can one speak ill of these blessed individuals?
2. The act of assisting and honouring the student of deen was so beloved to Allah Ta‘ala that on account of this action, Sultaan Mahmood was blessed with the vision of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and also had all three of his doubts dispelled.