Reform Activities of
Sufi Emperor Hazrat Dewanbagi (Rh.)
- The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, "Verily Almighty Allah sends such a person at the beginning of every century for his ummah(followers) who makes necessary reforms of religion. [Abu Daud Sharif].
Great Allah (SWT) assigned the great task of Reformer to Sufi Emperor Hz. Dewanbagi (Rh). The religious issues used to be followed in the Muslim society over the ages in the name of Islam and not supported by Quran and Hadith, Sufi Emperor (Rh.) Hujur makes reforms of those stuffs and presents a true Islamic philosophy introduced by the Prophet (PBUH) to mankind. He made more than two hundred religious reforms and many of them have been immensely appreciated both at home and abroad. A few noticeable of them have been given below-
1. The fundamental teaching of Islam introduced by the great Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is Tasawwuf (the science to know about Allah). He turned the barbaric Arab nation into an ideal and great nation with the teaching of this Tasawwuf. But the practice of knowledge of Tasawwuf was on the verge of extinction because of not having a clear idea about it in the Muslim society. Sufi Emperor Hz. Dewanbagi Hujur(Rh.) proved in the light of the Holy Quran and Hadith that the Prophet (PBUH) taught people how to purify themselves with the practice of Tasawwuf and reach Allah. As Sufi Emperor Dewanbagi (Rh.) made a proposal to the Bangladesh government to include Tasawwuf as one of the most significant aspects of Islam, later the government can realize its importance and included Elme Tasawwuf in the ‘Islamic education’ subject of school, college, and university in 1996.
2. It is stated in the Holy Quran, “To Him (Allah) belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth.” But it was used to be written on the deed at the time of registering land- “kashwya kabla patramidang karjyangchage- I’m the owner of this land. I’ve sold the ownership right of my land to such a person.” Sufi Emperor Shah Dewanbagi (Rh.) Hujur proposed to the Bangladesh government to exclude the difficult words from the deed and register land according to the Islamic laws saying, “Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim- In the name of Most Merciful Allah, the sole Owner of the heavens and the earth. As a loyal servant of Him(Allah), I’ve sold the right of possession of my land to you. Bangladesh government accepted his proposal sincerely and introduced a new land-registration system following his proposal in 1991.
- 3. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, "Religion will be victorious as long as the Muslims will have their Iftar (fast-breaking meal) soon; because the Jews and the Christians have their Iftar late. "[Abu Daud & Ibn Majah Sharif].
But different Islamic organizations in our country including The Islamic Foundation used to determine the timetable for Iftar fifteen to eighteen minutes after the sunset in the calendar of Ramadan. As Sufi Emperor Shah Dewanbagi (Rh.) corrected this Iftar-timetable and proposed to the government to formulate a timetable complying with Islamic laws in 1993, the government could realize its importance and implemented it nationally. As a result of it, the Muslims in our country get the opportunity to break fast in due time.
4. During the British colonial rule, Sunday was the weekly holy day in our country which was actually the weekly prayer day of the Christians. As a result of it, the majority of the Muslims in our country could not offer Jummah Prayer properly on Friday. Sufi Emperor Hazrat Dewanbagi (Rh.) emphatically demanded Friday to be declared as the weekly holy day during the reign of different governments. As a result, Bangladesh government declared Friday as the weekly Holy day in 1982.
5. The Muslims around the world had a misconception that the Holy Quran, the complete code of human life for mankind had 6666 verses in total. But Sufi Emperor Hazrat Dewanbagi (Rh.) researched the holy Quran minutely and proved that it has actually 6236 verses. According to his view, the Islamic Foundation mentioned a total of 6236 verses in their publication of the Holy Quran.
6. Producers used to sell Jaynamz (prayer mats) with the pictures of Holy Kaba and Holy Shrine of the Prophet (PBUH) designed on it. And the Muslims would think themselves very blessed keeping that prayer mat under their feet while performing prayer. But Sufi Emperor Shah Dewanbagi (Rh.) said, “It is extremely disrespectful to perform prayer keeping prayer mat with pictures of that two holy places under feet. So, we shouldn’t perform prayer on this kind of prayer mat.” Following his suggestion, Bangladesh Television also suggested people not to perform prayer on this kind of prayer mat.
7. It has been stated in the Holy Quran,” O the Prophet (Sm.)! say: Surely, my prayer, my Qurbani (sacrificing animal), my living, and my dying are for Allah alone, the Lord of the whole universe. [Sura:An’am, verse:162]. But there was a tradition to offer Qurbani in self-name, father’s name and mother’s name in our country. Sufi Emperor Hazrat Dewanbagi (Rh.) said- according to Islamic laws Qurbani should be offered not in the name of a servant, instead Qurbani should be offered in the name of Allah alone. As a result of this groundbreaking reform, the Muslims of this country can save themselves from a great Shirk (associating partner with Allah) and sacrifice animals in the name of Allah.
8. The Muslims of this country had a concept about the Holy Ashura that- it’s a ritual belonging to the Shia sect which is limited to the heartbreaking event of Karbala only. But Sufi Emperor Shah Dewanbagi (Rh.) proved in the light of the Holy Quran and Hadith- endless blessings and bounties are showered on the Holy day of Ashura, as Allah, the Great started the act of creation and throned Himself on this day. Many Prophets and Messengers and Awliya-e-Keram got rid of their difficulties through different miraculous events on this day. So, mankind can be endlessly blissful by observing the Holy Ashura. Afterward, the observance of holy Ashura started nationally across the country at his call.
9. The nonbelievers purposefully circulated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born and died on the same day of 12th Rabiul Awal so that the Muslims can’t be blessed from observing it. But Sufi Emperor Hazrat Dewanbagi (Rh.) proved with the analysis of different Tafsir of Quran, Hadith, and historical facts that the Prophet (PBUH) breathed his last on the 81st day after the final Hajj of his life, that is on Monday, the 1st Rabiul Awal of eleventh Hijri. He recovered from his illnesses for the last time on the last Wednesday of the month of Safar, just five days before his demise which is observed in different countries as “The Akheri Chahar Shomba. “Sufi Emperor Hazrat Dewanbagi (Rh.) proved with the uncuttable evidence that the 12th Rabiul Awal is the birthday of the Prophet (PBUH), not the day he met his demise. Sufi Emperor declared Eid-e-Miladunnabi (Sm.) as the best Eid for the creation highlighting its significance to observe it. Afterward, the celebration of Eid-e-Miladunnabi (Sm.) starts across the country and beyond with grandeur.
10. The people of the world had a deep-rooted idea that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was poor. Sufi Emperor Hazrat Dewanbagi (Rh.) proved with the uncuttable evidence from the holy Quran, Hadith, and historical facts that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was not only the richest man of Makkah, rather he was the king of the two worlds. With his uncuttable evidence, Muslims around the world could correct their misconception about the Prophet (PBUH).
11. The people of the world had the idea that it was not possible to have didar (Holy meeting) of Allah. But Sufi Emperor Shah Dewanbagi (Rh.) proved with the evidences from the Holy Quran and Hadith that- it is possible to have didar (Holy meeting) of Allah for a human being if he practices Elme Tasawwuf or the science to know about Allah. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had didar (Holy meeting) of Allah in Miraj (ascension into heaven). In the age of Belayet (friendhood), many Sufi Saints and Awliya-e-Keram including Imam Abu Hanifa (Rh.) had didar (Holy meeting) of Allah in dream or muraqabah. Later on, National Curriculum & Text Book Board includes the fact that didar (Holy meeting) of Allah is possible to have for a human being in their text book of Islamic education of classes nine and ten, if Elme Tasawwuf is practiced.
- 12. It is stated in the Holy Quran, "Surely Allah Himself and His Angeles recite Darud (Holy sentence to send blessings) upon the Prophet (PBUH) and offer salutation with respect. O, believers! You do so too. [Sura:Ahjab,verse:56].
Only in Milad Mahfil, Darud Sharif is recited and salutation is offered with respect. But a group of people in our country used to terms Milad Sharif bidat (innovation) and haram (prohibited). Sufi Emperor Hazrat Dewanbagi (Rh.) Hujur proved the significance of reciting Milad with evidence from the Holy Quran and Hadith. Following his suggestions, numerous people have become blessed with the didar (Holy meeting) of the Prophet (PBUH) and got rid of financial crisis and miseries by arranging Milad Mahfil.
13. The Khutbah (sermon) of Jummah is of great significance in Muslim society. It was introduced to address what Muslims should do in different situations and contexts of the year. But it is a matter of great regret that the common Muslims in our country couldn’t be benefitted from the Jummah-Khutbah because of delivering it in the Arabic language. So, Sufi Emperor Hazrat Dewanbagi (Rh.) opined that it is very important for us to deliver the Khutbah (sermon) of Jummah in our mother tongue to make it’s objective a successful one. Following his suggestion, at present Jummah-Khutbah (weekly sermon) is delivered in all the mosques of Bangladesh in Bangla along with Arabic.
14. Muslims all over the world used to observe different Islamic rites at various times of the year in different countries due to variations in counting lunar phases. As a result, the Muslims became deprived of the blessings of Allah because of not observing the Islamic rites in due time on one side; On the other side, it greatly hampered unity and solidarity in the Muslim world. Sufi Emperor Hazrat Dewanbagi (Rh.) Hujur Qibla said that there are Hadiths both in witnessing and counting lunar phases. If we formulate a lunar calendar counting the rotation of the Moon, then there will be no discrimination in observing the Islamic rites. To solve this issue, he formulated a lunar calendar which was immensely appreciated at a conference of OIC (Organisation of Islamic Countries).
15. As all the Prophets and Messengers, from Hazrat Adam (As.) to the last Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) conveyed the holy messages of One and Unique Allah to their contemporary people, they all belonged to the same religion Islam. The Prophet of the world Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) was the final and best of all the prophets and messengers. He gave the complete code of human life for mankind. But there are differences between the Islamic codes given by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and other prophets and messengers. As we follow the religion introduced by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the name of our religion is Mohammadi Islam. Sufi Emperor Hazrat Dewanbagi (Rh.) said in this regard- if the name of the Madhhabs (school of thought) can be Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, Hanbali after the name of their respective Imams; if the name of the Tariqas (Sufi order) can be Chishtiya, Kaderia, Nakshbandia, Mojaddedia after the names of the Imams of these Tariqas; then what is the point not to name this Islam “Mohammadi Islam” after the name of the person who dedicated his whole life to give us a complete Islamic code to lead our life? This is why, Sufi Emperor Hazrat Dewanbagi (Rh.) again presented that Mohammadi Islam to mankind combined with Shariah, Marefah, Tariqa, and Haqiqah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which was buried in the field of Karbala at the conspiracy of the nonbelievers. Numerous people have been blessed with the peace of Mohammadi Islam in their real-life by receiving his holy teaching.
