Significance of Practice

One of the companions sobbed loudly. The Imam MAHDI ^pbuh said: "Whatever was to be informed from Allah the Most High, I have already informed you. Now it is for you to practice or not." Naqliyat, Mian Abdul-Rasheed^Rz According to a somewhat detailed narration, the companion who cried was Shah Niamat^Rz.... Hearing it, the Imam^pbuh asked: “who is crying.” The Shah said: “it is my humble-self-Niamat.” The Imam said: “Mian Niamat! This is not the time to cry, this servant of Allah is still amongst you. As long as you follow me keeping in view the purpose of my Da-wah, and continue practicing my teaching, know that this servant of Allah (Banda) is amongst you. The time to cry is the time, when (God forbid), the quest for Allah and his remembrance will not remain in your hearts. At that time cry as much as you can. However, God willing, MAHDI and MAHDAVI'S will remain until the day of judgment." Then he sent them away by saying: Assalaam Alaikum.(AL-MAHDI MA'UD). This makes amply clear to all of us that Practice is an absolutely necessary requisite for success in this life and the life hereafter. This is evident from the Qur’an and the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad pbuh. The Book of Allah lays down that: “Whatever works righteousness benefits his own soul; Whatever works evil, it is against his own soul: Nor is thy Lord ever unjust (in the least) to His servants” (Al-Qur’an 46/41) Every action, big or small, in this world, makes us answerable in the life here after. Thus the Book of Allah lays down: "Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it! And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it.” (Al-Qur’an 7-8/99)
According to a well-known tradition, the Last of all Prophets^pbuh asked his beloved daughter Fatima^Rz to practice and not to depend on being her daughter of the Prophet. Caliph of Allah, Imam MAHDI^pbuh laid so much emphasis on practice that he said: “Confirming faith in MAHDI lies in (putting his teachings into) practice and not in mere acceptance or belief.” (Naqliat-e-Mian Abdul Rasheed^Rz)
Throughout his relentless call toward Allah, right from Jaunpur (India) to Mecca and from Mecca to Farah (Afghanistan), he made millions to wake up and realize the indispensable need to practicing Islam with whole-hearted love. It is related that once Imam MAHDI^pbuh said: "On the Day of Judgment, Allah will not question anybody about his genealogy as to whose son was he? He will question about the whole-hearted practice"- Amal-ba-Ikhlas in Persian (Naqliat) It is reported that that Imam MAHDI^pbuh once asked:“What is incumbent on a seeker by means of which he can reach God?” Then he himself answered that it is Ishque. How Ishque can be attained? He said that "the seeker should always keep attention of his heart toward Allah, the Most High.” Note that keeping attention of heart towards Allah is the essence of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah). All the obligatory duties enjoined by Islam, remind a Muslim about his Lord. For instance, Salah (prayer five times a day) is meant to make a Muslim remember Allah. The Holy Qur’an has ordained thus: " . Establish Prayer for My Dhikr.” (20-14) Imam MAHDI^pbuh exhorts his followers thus: “Wherever you are, keep remembering Allah.” It is related that once Imam MAHDI^pbuh noticed that a person ( in the gathering) was breaking a dried stalk of grass into small bits without any purpose. He asked him to give respite for a moment to the angels who are recording his deeds. It is related that if anyone requested the Imam MAHDI^pbuh to grant a piece of his clothes or his used shoes just to keep it with him for benediction, the Imam used to say that: "even if you wear the very skin of this servant of God (MAHDI), you will not get salvation until you practice what this servant of God (MAHDI) says.” (Naqliyat).
Thus the Imam MAHDI^pbuh removed even the possibility of superstitious reliance on holy-relics that they can absolve one from his answerability for practice. The Imam said that there should be character. However, one should not look at his own character with pride. Once the Imam MAHDI^pbuh recited a Persian couplet that means as follows:"If you are following me and live in Yemen, (a far off place) believe that you are before me; if you do not follow me and live before me, believe that you are in Yemen."
Imam MAHDI^pbuh said: "accepting him lies in obeying him, and accepting without practice is rejected.” It is evident from the teachings of Imam MAHDI^pbuh that “Practice” is indispensable for the faithful for his success and salvation and more so for seeking God. May Allah give us the wisdom to realize the importance of “Practice” and its blessings and also the horrible consequences of neglecting it. May Allah give us will and determination to follow our religion faithfully which was defined by our beloved MAHDI^pbuh in the following words:
"Mazhab-e-Ma KitabullahWa Ittiba-e- Muhammadur Rasoolullah”"Our Religion is the Book of God andto follow Muhammad, the Messenger of God^pbuh"