Hazrat Hafiz Muhammad Ahmed Patel sahib (رحمه الله), fondly known as ‘Hafiz Sahib’, was one of those whom Allah sends every hundred years. An extremely selfless man of taqwa, devotion to Allah and worry and concern for the Ummah.
He has been in a wheelchair from the time I can remember, but that never stopped him from travelling the World relentlessly, not for any worldly gain, recreation or holiday, but to call the masses to Allah, Most High. Countless souls left their lives of disobedience, purified their hearts and transformed into devotes of Allah, due to his dawah. Many masajid, madaris and Islamic organisations, the world over, owe their existence to his sacrifices.
He revived the Sunnah of dua for the Ummah. He never forgot the Ummah in any of his duas. He even made dua of guidance for the likes of Bush and Blair. Luminaries like him are doors that shut out fitna, trials and tribulations. اللهم لا تفتنا بعده
He was one of those whose gatherings were the remembrance of Allah and His Rasool. The one who sat with him, left with the burning perfumed desire to serve his Creator. His generosity knew no bounds. Gifts of miswaks, itr, dates and sweets were always distributed where ever he went. Whomever he spoke to, would testify that he was the most beloved to Hafiz sahib. Yet another quality of our beloved Nabi (صلى الله عليه وسلم) .
He was one of those who had more power than the Presidents and Prime Ministers, but never used it to his advantage. Rather, he used that love and influence to connect people to Allah, the Most High. A clear sign of his true sincerity.
He was an embodiment of Prophetic Dawah, who followed in the footsteps, of our Rasool (صلى الله عليه وسلم), the Prophets of Allah (عليهم السلام), the Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم) and the pious predecessors (رحمهم الله). In these times of ‘innovation and decadence in the sphere of Dawah’, he was a living evidence of the supremacy of the Prophetic method of Dawah.
The Ummah has been orphaned by his demise today. He will surely be missed by us all.
إن العين تدمع والقلب يحزن ولا نقول إلا ما يرضي ربنا وإنا لفراقك يا ايها الحافظ لمحزونون
The eyes weep and the heart grieves, but we do not say anything but that which pleases our Lord. Verily we are grieved at your departure, O Hafiz sahib.
To Allah belongs that which He takes and that which He gives, and everything has an appointed time with Him.
Verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return; 0 Allah, we seek reward for our calamity with You, so reward us for it and compensate us with something better than it.
May Allah have mercy on him, elevate his status in Jannah, reward him on behalf of the Ummah and protect us from any fitnahs after him. Ameen Ya Rabbal A’lameen.
