باب مَوْتِ يَوْمِ الاِثْنَيْنِ
حَدَّثَنَا مُعَلَّى بْنُ أَسَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فَقَالَ فِي كَمْ كَفَّنْتُمُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ فِي ثَلاَثَةِ أَثْوَابٍ بِيضٍ سَحُولِيَّةٍ، لَيْسَ فِيهَا قَمِيصٌ وَلاَ عِمَامَةٌ. وَقَالَ لَهَا فِي أَىِّ يَوْمٍ تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ. قَالَ فَأَىُّ يَوْمٍ هَذَا قَالَتْ يَوْمُ الاِثْنَيْنِ. قَالَ أَرْجُو فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ اللَّيْلِ. فَنَظَرَ إِلَى ثَوْبٍ عَلَيْهِ كَانَ يُمَرَّضُ فِيهِ، بِهِ رَدْعٌ مِنْ زَعْفَرَانٍ فَقَالَ اغْسِلُوا ثَوْبِي هَذَا، وَزِيدُوا عَلَيْهِ ثَوْبَيْنِ فَكَفِّنُونِي فِيهَا. قُلْتُ إِنَّ هَذَا خَلَقٌ. قَالَ إِنَّ الْحَىَّ أَحَقُّ بِالْجَدِيدِ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ، إِنَّمَا هُوَ لِلْمُهْلَةِ. فَلَمْ يُتَوَفَّ حَتَّى أَمْسَى مِنْ لَيْلَةِ الثُّلاَثَاءِ وَدُفِنَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُصْبِحَ. (صحيح البخاري 1387)
Final moments of Hazrat Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahib رحمه الله
On Sunday, 23 Rajab 1436 corresponding to 02 June 2013 Hazrat Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahib رحمه الله passed away after maghrib salah. Innaa lillahi wa innaa ilayhi raji‛un. Every true ardent lover wishes to pass away on the day which our beloved master and leader, Rasulullah صلى الله عليه و سلم passed away. Hence the first person to have this desire was the companion of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه و سلم in the Cave of Thaur and the leader of Sahabah رضي الله عنهم, Hadrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه. Regarding this, Imam Bukhari رحمه الله brought a chapter in his compilation titled, “The chapter of dying on a Monday” which illustrates that to desire to pass away on a Monday is preferable. Imam Bukhari رحمه الله mentioned the desire of Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه under that chapter. Hence his desire was fulfilled and he passed away on a Monday. When my spiritual mentor, Hazrat Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar رحمه الله came to Bahawal Nagar in 1997 he mentioned in the talk after fajr salah in the Jaami‛ Masjid of Naadir Shah Bazar that he came to know regarding the late father of Moulana Jaleel Ahmad, Moulana Niyaaz Muhammad Khutanī رحمه الله that he had a desire to pass away on a Monday and Allah ta‛ala fulfilled his desire. He said, “I have the same wish that I should pass away on a Monday.” From that day I was convinced that Allah ta‛ala was going to fulfil this desire of His beloved servant. My spiritual mentor had fallen ill since 2000 and even in that condition his spiritual blessing was flowing and spreading but there was a period when his illness was getting worse. Every Monday I would be gripped with fear hoping that nothing tragic happens. Since I lived in Bahawal Nagar which is 700 kilometers away from Karachi, I always felt that I was missing something. During those days I was sad all the time thinking that if something had to happen to Hazrat whilst I was so far away from him, I would never get over that pain. On 29 May I received news that Hazrat’s illness had taken a turn for the worse so I made arrangements to travel to Karachi immediately. I arrived on Thursday, 30 May. Although Hazrat was continuously battling his illness, whenever Monday came close my fear increased. Hazrat رحمه الله had already asked his son, Hazrat Moulana Hakeem Muhammad Mazhar Miyan Sahib دامت بركاتهم many times before, “What day is it today?” Hazrat had a special way of asking. Moulana would reply that it was Wednesday or Friday or whatever day it was. Hazrat would shake his head in refusal. On Sunday morning I visited Hazrat and thereafter went to my guest room to rest. After ‛asr salah I received news that Hazrat’s condition was very critical so I went to the khanqah immediately. There was a huge crowd in the khanqah engaged in dhikr and du‛a. The signs of grief were clearly evident on every individual’s face. In silence my tears began to flow. I did not know what to do at that time. Then I was summoned for from inside the khanqah. I went inside and found that everyone’s heart was broken and they were worried. Hazrat was being given oxygen. The doctors were trying their best. I started to massage and stroke Hazrat’s head. Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Mazhar Miyan Sahib دامت بركاتهم and his sons, Moulana Ibraheem Miyan Sahib, Moulana Ismail Sahib and Moulana Ishaq Sahib were assisting Hazrat to breathe with the aid of the oxygen tank. Their eyes were filled with tears and everyone was crying softly. I took a look at the clock and there were twenty minutes left for Monday to enter. Something gripped my heart. Hazrat’s open eyes were also fixed on the clock. My heart told me that Hazrat is waiting. One or two tears left Hazrat’s eyes and rolled onto his cheeks which I wiped away and rubbed onto my face. Being driven by strong emotions, I kissed Hazrat on his forehead. When the azaan for maghrib was called out at 7:20pm, I together with a few attendants of Hazrat performed the maghrib salah inside the khanqah near Hazrat. The rest of the men went to the masjid. After performing salah I returned to massaging and stroking Hazrat’s head. The effects of the pangs of death started and Hazrat started to pause between breaths. Hazrat’s forehead which was becoming red due to the circulation of blood from massaging and stroking his head, became illuminated all of a sudden and while looking at it, a yellow luminous colour spread. Hazrat himself mentioned in one of his poems, The lovers of Allah ta‛ala spent the night in His worship. In the morning their moist eyes (from the tears shed out of Allah’s love) and the glitter on their shining faces are reflections of the effulgence which was showered on them from Allah ta‛ala. In the meantime Hazrat’s son, Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Mazhar Miyan Sahib دامت بركاتهم returned from the masjid after reading maghrib salah and Hazrat Wala was taking his final breaths. After a few minutes Hazrat departed from this world. Innaa lillahi wa innaa ilayhi raji‛un. The yellow light spread throughout Hazrat’s face and a special type of ease and comfort appeared on it like a tired traveller who had reached his destination. I looked at the clock and it was 7:42pm-already 22 to 23 minutes had passed since Monday commenced. Cries, wailing and lamentations reverberated inside and outside the khanqah. People were holding each other and crying. I remembered the poem of Moulana Jalal ad-Din Rumi رحمه الله at that time, Whatever you desire, Allah will desire the same. Allah ta‛ala fulfils the desires of His pious servants. Hence Allah ta‛ala fulfilled the wish of my spiritual mentor and granted him a death on a Monday.
(Hazrat Shah Moulana Muhammad Hakeem Akhtar Sahib رحمه الله pg.83)