In the Arabic language, the term ‘baqiyyatus Salaf’ refers to someone who possesses qualities of a previous generation. Qualities that are rare and valuable. Our shaykh Shamsul Ulama Allamah Abdul Latif Chowdhury Fultali (Rahimahullah), better known as Saheb Qiblah Fultali, was a man of a different generation. It is indeed a great honour for myself, and hundreds and thousands of people of almost four generations before, to have met this noble individual, and to have sat in his auspicious presence. These very few words that I compose certainly do not do justice in explaining the impact he has made on my life alone, let alone the lives of thousands of others. Everything he did was exemplary. He would walk humbly as though his every step was being observed. Every word that he uttered was said with precaution. From my own limited experience of sitting in his gatherings, I recall that he was very concerned about the spiritual wellbeing of his disciples. He would always encourage mutual harmony, emphasising on seeing and hoping for good in others. I cannot recall the number of times he would tell the audience to try and be as sincere and attentive as possible in Salah, as this was a sacred meeting between Allah and His servant. And he would constantly remind people of the importance and necessity of remembering Allah; not just when alone or unoccupied, but with every single breath. When breathing in one should say “La ilaha”, and when breathing out “illallah”. At the time, this practice appeared to me as perhaps a special practice of Tasawwuf. Years later, I understood the wisdom behind it and that in reality it is derived from an authentic Hadith; Mu’adh Ibn Jabal RadiAllahu Anhu narrated that the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihe wa Sallam said: “Whoever dies with his last words being “La ilaha illallah” shall surely enter Jannah.”
This is a trait of the Awliya (the close servants or friends of Allah). They understand the words of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihe wa Sallam in such a manner that they are able to facilitate for the general masses to put them into practice and reap maximum benefit.
My first and only personal meeting with Saheb Qiblah Rahimahullah took place on Tuesday 30th October 2007. I was 16 years old at the time and had just (successfully) completed my GCSEs. I had only recently realised that I needed to submit myself to the obedience of Allah. Prior to this period, I used to pray regularly but didn’t feel completely ‘ready’ to be ‘religious’. I knew that I would have to submit sooner or later, but lacked real inspiration. Until I met Saheb Qiblah Rahimahullah on that Tuesday. One of our teachers had taken me and two other students to the flat he would stay in during his visits to London in Shoreditch, East London. We were waiting in a small queue for our turn to meet him. Eventually when we finally drew close to him, about a handspan away from where he was sitting, our teacher introduced us to him. He told Saheb Qiblah Rahimahullah that these three young boys would like to draw closer to Allah and attain His divine love. I still remember today, more than six years later, he looked at me and smiled. A pivotal moment of my life. The smile lasted three or so seconds, but felt like three minutes, but in reality it would last a lifetime. Then he looked at our teacher and replied “InshaAllah, with the right guidance, they will be fine.” We pledged our spiritual allegiance to him, and he granted us Ijazah in two popular books that every Muslim should possess and read; Dala’il al-Khayrat of Imam al-Jazuli and al-Hizb al-A’zam of Mulla Ali al-Qari.
I left that flat knowing that I was not the same person as the one that had entered it. That was the inspiration I had been awaiting. And it makes me realise how fortunate I was, as the noble Shaykh returned to his Lord less than three months later. It also makes me realise how much young Muslims are in need of the likes of Saheb Qiblah Rahimahullah to inspire them towards the right path. I always thank Allah for this wonderful blessing, and for keeping me firm. I often hear from misinformed individuals things about Saheb Qiblah that are not necessarily true, and they used to bother me sometimes. But how true are the words of our master Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu when he was told that people say false things about him: “Some have said that Allah has a son, while others said that the Prophet is a magician. Both Allah and His Prophet have not escaped the false statements of people, so who am I to be immune?”
I pray that Allah grants Saheb Qiblah Rahimahullah the reward that is he deserving of, and may Allah accept these few humble words. Amin.
[Writer: Deputy Head at Darul Hadis Latifiah, London, UK]
