1. Allah says: ".....I will assuredly remit their evil deeds from them those who had to flee their country or were driven out of their homes, and have suffered in My cause, and have fought and fallen;..." (S. 3:195 SAL) Imam Mahdi^AS explained this Quranic Verse in the following terms: 'who had to flee their country' has manifested itself; '(who) were driven out of their homes' too has been manifested; and '(who) have suffered in My cause' was also manifested. But '(who) have fought and fallen' is yet to manifest itself." About this the Imam^AS said: "Ma-sha' Allah" (what Allah wills).

2. As the command of Allah purports to mean that those people migrated or gave up their homelands, their (bad) habits, evil deeds and despicable character, and fought with their bodies and souls; 'who were driven out of their homes' or they migrated from the natural situation to reach the nearness of Allah towards the world of Reality (Haqiqat) or the glimpses of divine attributes.

3. Hadith-e-Qudsi quotes Allah as saying that "If one tries to come towards (nearer) Me a balisht (about nine inches), I would go a yard towards (nearer) him. And '(who) have suffered in My cause' means that they suffered in the path of Allah, that they were given trouble of various kinds and that they faught their lust (nafas) and were slain with the sword of Truth. (Then Allah says that) "I will assuredly remit their evil deeds..."

4. Prophet Muhammad^SLM has said: "We have turned from the minor jihad towards major jihad, as Allah has said: "Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration (wahi) to thee, and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt..." (S. 29:45 AYA). Hence, the seekers of Allah should fight their lust (nafas) as long as the battle on the battlefield does not begin. In other words, the seekers should always keep their attention turned towards Allah, in such a way that nothing else comes to their minds. They should remain steadfast in this (bigger) battle, as Allah has said: "O ye who believe! When you confront any force of the enemy, stand firm and remember Allah intently that it may fare well with you;" (S. 8:45 SAL)

5. People who did not engage in the remembrance of Allah (respect -fully, intently and in abundance) asked Prophet Muhammad^SLM: "Why do you not fight?" Allah says: "... When (at length) the order for fighting was issued to them, behold! a section of them feared men as-or even more than -they should have feared Allah: they said: 'Our Lord! why hast Thou ordered us to fight? Wouldst Thou not grant us respite to our (natural) term, near (enough)?..'" (S. 4:7 AYA). When (the infidels) started giving them (mumins) trouble and killed (them), Allah permitted and inspired the mumins to fight. And Allah has said: "Permission is given (to fight) those who have taken up arms against you wrongfully. And verily, Allah is well able to give you succor. To those who have been driven forth from their homes for no reason other than this that they say, 'Our Lord is Allah.' Had not Allah repelled some men by others, cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is ever mentioned, would assuredly have been pulled down. Verily, him who helpeth Allah will Allah surely help: for Allah is indeed right Powerful, Mighty" (S. 22:39 and 40 SAL)

6. When the wicked (zalimeen) started their oppression, that is, they drove out (the mumineen), burnt down mosques and rooms, dealt blows to some, so severely that (the victims) were martyred. After all this, Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ sent some of the brothers to kill some of the mullahs who, he said, were idols and they issued fatwas to kill mumineen. The verdict of Shariat is that when a person attacks the towns of the Muslims, it is necessary for the men, women, slaves and freemen to defeat the wicked men so that the mumineen are helped.

7. And be it known that when the wicked drove out (the mumineen from Khanbel, Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ shifted to the Bhadriwali village along with all the inmates of his daira. Some days later, news arrived that the mosques and the rooms of the fuqara had been burnt down by the army of the accursed (enemies). After this, Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ said that the wicked had arranged to have issued orders for driving out the mumineen, that their mosques were set on fire and that (crows') claws, made of iron, were heated and the mumineen were branded on their faces by the enemies; hence, the mumineen were now to be counted among the oppressed (mazlumin). He said, quoting Quran, that "...Allah is indeed right Powerful, Mighty" (S. 22:40 SAL).

8. After this, Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ started preparations for war. At this, some of the migrant-companions of Imam Mahdi^AS raised a controversy by arguing that war against the people who profess the Muslim confession of faith (Kalimah) was not allowed.

9. Everyone, including Bandagi Miyan Shah Nizam^RZ, Miyan Malikjeo^RZ, Miyan Shah Ni'mat^RZ, Miyan Larh Shah^RZ and Miyan Dilawar^RZ, affirmed and confessed.

10. The affirmation was that "We agree that we follow Prophet Muhammad^SLM, Imam Mahdi^AS and Quran profoundly. We also agree that we will not decree the people as kafirs (infidels) without Shariat's sanction. Declaring people as kafirs is not permitted in the Shariat. Further, we will not wage a war against people (khalq) and this violates the Shariat, because calling the people kafirs and waging war against them violates the Quran and the Shara'-e-Muhammadi^SLM. Allah says: "....And say not to every one who offers you greeting in the Islamic way, 'you are not a believer, (just to find an excuse to kill him)..." (S. 4:94 SAL). Prophet Muhammad^SLM has said: "Do not call an ahl-e-Qibla a kafir." (Ahl-e-Qibla is one who owes reverence and allegiance to the Holy Mosque at Makkah). Another Hadith quotes the Prophet^SLM as saying that "I have been commanded to fight people till they profess the Islamic Confession of faith: 'There is no god but Allah.'" (The contrary is not permissible), because Imam Mahdi^AS had to perform the task of explaining the Quran; and not obsolete the Quran. The Imam^AS was a follower of the Shariat-e-Muhammadi^SLM, and not one who repealed it. If calling them kafirs or waging war against them is permitted, it would become permissible to utilise their women and girls without a (valid) nikah (marriage) ceremony and their wealth becomes halal (granting religious sanction) to use. And this is not permissible (jaiz). In fact, It is kufr (infidelity). But in respect of the people who refute Imam Mahdi^AS, we believe, in accordance with Hadith and Quran, and in what Allah has said in Quran: "....But those of the Sects that reject it ,-the Fire will be their promised meeting-place...." (S. 11:17 AYA). Prophet Muhammad^SLM has said that whoever rejected Mahdi^AS is a kafir. If some person prevents (us) from following the religion (deen) of Imam Mahdi^AS and says that " it is an innovation (bid'at) and deviation from the right path (zalalat) and orders us to give it up, or, else, leave our country": we would go away from their country. If there is some objection to it, we would tell them about the reality of the objection. If they do not accept our reasons and continue to oppress us, (we would go away from this country) or if the cause of our oppression is removed, there would be no punishment under the Shariat. It would be better if one deals with patience and forgives them, as Allah has said: "But to bear wrongs with patience, and forgive, is indeed high-mindedness" (S. 42:43 SAL). But one should enjoin good. Allah says: "Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good..." (S. 3:104 AYA). This is to be done in three ways: by hand, by word of mouth and by heart (or mind); one should enjoin good to the extent of one's power; so that one has done his duty, and got his divine reward. And if the wicked do not give up their wrong doings and transgress beyond the limits of Shariat, war with them, in accordance with Shariat, is permitted. And if a person turns away his face and offers an excuse after the agreement, his arguments are void and will not be heard. And such a person is an innovator or heretic (mubtadi') and misguided. This was agreed to by all and this agreement was given as an argument and a precedent so that it could be presented as proof whenever necessary. The text of the affirmation ends.

11. May it be known that Bandagi Miyan Shah Ni'mat^RZ and Miyan Malikjeo^RZ came to Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ and recited this Quranic Verse: "Afterwards we made those We chose of Our bondmen the inheritors of the Book. Then of them are some who wrong themselves, and of them are some who keep the middle way, and of them are some who go ahead, by Allah's leave, in virtues..." (S. 35 :32 AMD). Then Bandagi Miyan^RZ asked: "In whose respect, Imam Mahdi^AS has used the expression 'who wrong themselves' (zalim li nafsihi), whom did he call (the people) who 'keep the middle way' (maqtasid) and whom did he call (the people), who go ahead... in virtue' (sabiq bil khairat)? Please explain, if you know." They said they did not know and that they would look at the condition of the person (concerned). Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ said he did not look for anything; "We have faith in the sayings of Imam Mahdi^AS." Later, Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ said: "If anybody were to ask with sincerity, this servant (of Allah) would explain all the three ranks in detail." Muhammad Khan Bahra^RA requested Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ to explain. After this Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ said: "I will explain if Miyan Ni'mat^RZ and Miyan Malikjeo^RZ ask. Whatever this servant (of Allah) says, there is no objective (maqsud) of his own in it. But the zalim nafas will rise and the sabiq-bil-khairat will be jolted." Nobody asked about it after that.

12. It is narrated that Bandagi Miyan Malikjeo^RZ remained with wazu for forty days in Nagaur, to know the case of 'fighting and being martyred' or 'fought and fallen' (qaatalu wa qutilu). After this, one night he came to know that whatever Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ had done was true. He fought and was slain. It happened exactly as Imam Mahdi^AS had said. After this, Miyan Malikjeo^RZ said: "If anybody were to ask, I would argue (and give proof) about everything. On every step taken by Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ, I would give the proof. Whatever was written in the books, Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ acted according to it. He did nothing to the contrary".

13. It is narrated that Bandagi Miyan Shah Ni'mat^RZ told Miyan Malik Bariwal^RZ in the presence of many others in the village Bhavipur: "Whoever treated this servant (of Allah) as not equal to Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ in respect of 'faught and fallen', Allah will call him to account. But Imam Mahdi^AS has said nothing as to how and in what way it (qaatalu wa qutilu) will come to happen." As such, it has become known that the act (qaatalu wa qutilu) is not restricted. If somebody were confused about how to fight with the people who profess the testification (kalima-go), he should know with certainty that Imam Mahdi^AS had been sent (by Allah) for the kalima-goyan. The idolators and the infidels come under the general rules. Besides, the Quranic Verse: '...So I will assuredly remit their evil deeds from them those who had to flee their country or were driven out of their homes and have suffered in My cause, and have fought and fallen;...' (S. 3:195 SAL). clearly shows that 'fought and fallen' (qaatalu and qutilu) necessarily will be against them (the kalima-goyan). The time of martyrdom of Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ and some of his companions was this, and the fulfillment of the proof of Imam Mahdi's saying was necessary. All the signs have manifested. If anybody had any confusion about the martyrdom, he should recall that after Prophet Muhammad^SLM, his companions were martyred and Imam Hasan^RZ and Imam Husain^RZ were martyred by Yazid; and Hazrat Ali^RZ, too, was martyred. As the wicked had killed the progeny of Prophet Muhammad^SLM in the era of Prophethood, they have done to death the progeny of the Prophet^SLM after Imam Mahdi^AS (in Vilayat).

14. May it be known that the mullahs had issued the fatwa that whoever killed the companions of Imam Syed Muhammad Mahdi^AS, would get the reward of killing ten persons who were accustomed to eat rats. Moreover, the followers of Imam Mahdi^AS were branded with a heated iron claw (resembling the claw of a crow) on their foreheads. They also tried to convert the followers of Imam Mahdi^AS. They burnt down the houses and the mosques of the Mahdavis. They also thought the killing of the Mahdavis was lawful. It was after this, that Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ finally said: "Now we have been oppressed. And we will not fail. We will break the idols."

15. It was after this that Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ, irked by their (the non-Mahdavis') envy, sent some queries (istifta) to the armies of the Sultan.

16. The wording of the istifta (in translation) was: "Under what authority is the killing, banishment and accusing as misguided is permitted or is lawful in respect of such Syeds, who have renounced the world, who are the seekers of Allah, who follow Prophet Muhammad^SLM, who invite the people towards Allah, who are loyal to Quran, who recite the kalima and Aamantu Billah, who perform the obligations which are proved under the Quran, who eat what is halal, and abhor what is haram, who believe in the consensus of the four companions^RZ of Prophet Muhammad^SLM and the Sunnat Jamaat (the followers and their followers)?"

17. It was after this, that Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ sacrificed his life, was buried at three places, was skinned and entered the vicinity of Allah's Mercy. On the Day of Resurrection, he said, Allah would call us in this voice and words: "Where is he who gave his life as a trust in his devotion for Us, We will now give our zath (nature, essence) to him."

18. "In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. ....So, I will assuredly remit their evil deeds from them those who had to flee their country or were driven out of their homes and have suffered in My cause, and have fought and fallen;..." (S. 3:195 SAL). This Verse was proved to be in favour of those companions who laid down their lives (and were martyred) in the path of Allah. On the first day, the 12th of Shawwal, forty companions of Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ were martyred at Khanbel. In all, fifty-three persons reached their heavenly abode along with the Leader of the Martyrs (Syed-ash-Shuhda) Hazrat Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir^RZ.

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