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47th
Dai Syedna Abdulqader Najmuddin Saheb (R.A)
Birth
date : 1st Ramazanul Moazzam 1229H\ 1814A.D
Wafaat : 26th Rajabul-Asab 1302 H/ 1885 AD
Period of Dawat : 46 years
Initially Syedna
Abdulqadar Najmuddin's (R.A) father Syedna Tayeb Zainuddin (R.A) had named him
Yusuf but the name was later changed to Abdulqadar by Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin (R.A).
Syedna Najmuddin (R.A) was brought up in an atmosphere of virtue and nobility.
He and Syedna Mohammed Badruddin (R.A), son of Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin (R.A)
were equal in all aspects- position, knowledge, wisdom. Syedna Zainuddin (R.A)
entrusted both of them to Syedi Abdeali Imaduddin (Q.R) who academically and
spiritually nurtured them to great heights.
Syedna Najmuddin (R.A) was an exceptional scholar. He imbibed all the knowledge
imparted by Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin (R.A) to Syedi Imaduddin (Q.R). He also had
remarkable command over languages. Once while delivering Ashara Waaz in Sironj,
he alternated between Lisan-ud-Dawat and Urdu without mixing one with the other.
He truly was a great Dai and likewise his enemies were also more hostile and
aggressive. In the face of this adversity, Syedna Najmuddin (R.A) maintained
silence and exercised patience. Meanwhile, he quietly took care of preserving
the purity of Ale Mohammed's (S.A) 'Ilm' (knowledge) and ensuring its transition
to the one who deserved it. Once when he was in Karachi, one of his sons asked
him, "How long will you endure these hardships?" Syedna Najmuddin (R.A) replied
with conviction "The one who will come fifth after me shall relieve all these
hardships."
Syedna Najmuddin (R.A) ascended the throne of Dawat at the age of twenty-seven
and became the first among Duat Kiram (R.A) to perform Haj after assuming the
distinguished post of al-Dai al-Mutlaq. Allah also bestowed his Dai with many
victories in Yemen too.
There is a very well known incidence of a Shia poet who wrote an elegy in
remembrance of Maulana Ali (S.A) whom he saw in his dream. On requesting to
accept the elegy, Maulana Ali (A.S) told the poet , "I shall accept this elegy
only if my Dai accepts it". The poet eventually met Syedna Najmuddin (R.A) who
accepted the elegy.
In 1302 H, a plague epidemic broke out in Ujjain. Though affected by the
epidemic, the Dai concealed his illness and planned to travel to Burhanpur.
Mumineen became aware of his illness and his traverse to Burhanpur. They
gathered at Syedna Najmuddin's (R.A) residence and pleaded him to stay back in
Ujjain till Allah may grant his Dai health and Mumineen would celebrate. Syedna
Najmuddin (R.A) on observing the enthusiasm and respect of Mumineen immediately
sat down on his chair and said "Now, I shall stay here forever." Syedna
Najmuddin (R.A) expired in Ujjain after performing Nass on his brother Syedna
Husamuddin (R.A). Syedna Husamuddin (R.A) was personally not present in Ujjain
at that time. Hence Syedna Najmuddin (R.A) instructed the witnesses to inform
Syedna Husamuddin (R.A) of his appointment as the Dai. " I have looked after
Mumineen with great love and affection. Whenever they have asked me for water I
have given them milk. I request my brother (Syedna Husamuddin R.A) to follow the
same tradition and show the same amount of affection upon Mumineen."
Syedna Najmuddin's (R.A) duration as Dai al-Mutlaq was of forty-six years, the
longest amongst Duat Kiram (R.A) that preceded him.
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