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LESSON TWO - SIYYID KAZIM-I-RASHTI

Preparation:
Illustrated page per child. Colours. Glue.

Revision and introduction:
Talk about Shaykh Ahmad, ask questions.
Study the map and see if the children remember where he went.
Check the homework and link with today's story.

(Siyyid Kazim lived in Saudi Arabia, which is only partly shown on the map
Point this out to the children. A cross can be put in Saudi Arabia:
e.g. X Siyyid Kazim, on the same map as Shaykh Ahmad).

Siyyid Kazim was heartbroken when Shaykh Ahmad died, but after reading God's wonderful Words in the Qu'ran, he felt that he could carry on the work of his master.

Just as much as the people had loved Shaykh Ahmad, so they seemed to hate Siyyid Kazim. They did not like his teachings and at every opportunity they would say bad things about him. Siyyid Kazim decided that he needed a friend, and thought that there was one person in Isfahan, a priest, who might help him. He thought that if the people saw that he had the friendship of a priest they would leave him alone, so he often asked his disciples if one of them could deliver a message for- him. Although he asked many times, not one of his disciples offered to take the message. Finally, one man did, but Siyyid Kazim did not feel that he was the right one, so he turned to Mulla Husayn and said, "Arise and perform this mission, for I declare you equal to this task. The Almighty will graciously assist you, and will crown your endeavours with success.

Mulla Husayn was successful and Siyyid Kazim was very pleased, but we shall hear more about that next week.

Siyyid Kazim felt that the time was very close when the Promised One would come and he was always trying to help his disciples so that they would recognise the right Person and become His followers. He would give them hints to help them in their search. Sometimes he would say that the Promised One would be young, that he would be of the family of Muhammad, that everything He knew God would teach Him and not another man. He would not be too tall, He would not smoke, and He would be a very holy person. Even so, some of Siyyid Kazim's disciples thought that Siyyid Kazim was the Promised One.

Shaykh Hasan was a follower, who thought that the Siyyid must be God's Messenger. He prayed to God to shown him if he was right in believing this. He was very agitated by the problem because he loved Siyyid Kazim so much, but he did not want to reject the real Messenger.

One day at dawn, another follower came to him and asked him to come to Siyyid Kazim's house. Siyid Kazim was dressed, and his asked Shaykh Hasan to come and visit a very important person who had just arrived. When they reached the house they found a Youth standing at the door. He wore a green turban (which shows that he was a descendant of Muhammad) and His face showed great kindness. They went inside to a room bedecked with flowers and smelling of a beautiful perfume. The Youth gave them a drink from a silver cup, saying, "A drink of a pure beverage shall their Lord give them", which was a quotation from the Qu'ran. Shaykh Hasan could not describe the happiness of the visit, although he did not know Who the Youth was.

Three days after that the Youth came and sat with the disciples as Siyyid Kazim was speaking to them. When Siyyid Kazim saw Him he stopped speaking until one of the disciples begged him to go on. "What more shall I say?" replied the Siyyid, as he turned his face to the Youth "Lo, the Truth is more manifest than the ray of light that has fallen upon that lap". The disciples wanted to know why he would not say who the Youth was, and Siyyid Kazim answered that it was dangerous to do so, as some harm might come to Him.

For many years Siyyid Kazim had to endure the wickedness of the people.

Finally many of them got together to make mischief, so that the rulers of the country grew alarmed and they sent an army to the town. The leader of the army sent a message to Siyyid Kazim asking him to speak to the people to try and quieten them down. If they did not stop, the army would have to enter the town and some lives might be lost. Siyyid Kazim went to the leaders of the people and asked them very kindly to stop causing trouble. They pretended to agree, but when he had gone they made plans to attack the army.

When Siyyid Kazim heard about this he sent a message to the army commander asking him not to attack. The Commander could not do this, but promised that the home of Siyyid Kazim would be the only safe place in the city. Siyyid Kazim made it known throughout the city but the people laughed at him.

In the morning the army attacked and everyone tried to find places to hide. Some hid in the holy shrines, but when the army found them they punished them for their disobedience.

Those who loved Siyyid Kazim ran to his house and he took them in. When his house was full they began to fill the houses next to his. True to his promise the Commander did not let any harm come to Siyyid Kazim or anybody who had sheltered with him. Whenever anybody tries to tell people about God and His Messengers, there are always people who oppose him and stir up the people to hatred and violence. But whenever they do, always the good and wonderful teachings will win in the end.

Even some of Siyyid Kazim's followers were not always true to him. They pretended to love him, but really they were thinking of their own selves and how one day they would be the leader and the people would come to them and they would be famous. Of course, Siyyid Kazim knew what they were like, but he always treated them in a kindly way, praying that in the end they would be led to the Promised One and serve Him.

As Siyyid Kazim grew older he often told his disciples to be careful in case they became so busy with worldly things that they forgot about the Promised One. He even said they should give up everything they possessed and wander far and near looking for Him.

Every year the Siyyid would make a visit to some holy shrines. In the last year of his life he went with several friends to pray at the shrines. During his prayers, an Arab came to him and embraced him. The Arab was a shepherd and he had had a dream. In his dream he had seen Muhammad, who had told him to listen and obey. He must go to the holy shrines and wait for a man called Siyyid Kazim. He must go to him and bring greetings from Muhammad and tell him to be happy because after three days he would be with Muhammad.

Siyyid Kazim was happy with the news that he was soon to die and leave this troublesome world. His disciples were unhappy but the Siyyid told them not to grieve because soon the Promised One would be with them. Everything happened just as the shepherd had dreamed, and Siyyid Kazim died at the age of sixty.

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