Teachings on Companionship (Rafiq) and Brotherhood (Rafaqat)
- Collectivity Over Individuality: The core message of the Minhaj-ul-Quran movement is to prioritize collectivity over individuality at all levels.
- Compassionate Unity: Every member (Rafiq) is taught to connect with the community and demonstrate gentleness and kindness towards others.
- Success Through Companionship: One of the key outcomes of this companionship is the assurance of success and fruitful outcomes in the collective struggle towards achieving their objectives.
- Promotion of Love and Unity: The greatest benefit of Minhaj-ul-Quran’s companionship is that it advocates for love, unity, and tolerance, free from sectarian extremism and interfaith animosity.
- Exemplary Traits in Brotherhood: Companionship is about developing unity, friendship, goodwill, and loyalty in an exemplary way.
- Defining a True Companion: A true companion is characterized by kindness and humility, always ready to serve the movement without imposing personal will, and abiding by the movement’s discipline.
- Spiritual Companionship: Acquiring the company of a true spiritual guide (a knowledgeable and enlightened one) is the essence of true companionship. This has been poetically described by Ghalib as “loyalty conditional upon steadfastness.”
- Companionship in the Movement: Companionship means integrating qualities like unity, harmony, friendship, goodwill, and loyalty into one’s personality and constantly enhancing these traits.
- The Depth of the Word “Rafiq”: The term “Rafiq” (companion) is so profound that it encompasses the characteristics of prophets, the righteous, the truthful, and the martyrs. This reflection of their qualities should be visible in the speech, character, thoughts, and values of every member of the movement. If such individuals are found within a group, they can lead a movement to bring about a great revolution.
- Rights and Privileges of Being a Companion: Once someone becomes a companion (Rafiq) of Minhaj-ul-Quran and a worker for the Mustafa Mission, they gain access to all the benefits that a family member would enjoy.
- Clear Thought Process: After joining the movement, it is the companion’s responsibility to achieve intellectual clarity, keeping their mind free from doubts. Their thoughts should be free from any ambiguity regarding the authenticity, correctness, reliability, and discipline of the movement.
- Understanding the Movement’s Goals: It is essential for a companion to be fully aware of the movement’s main goals, characteristics, and all its ideological and intellectual literature. They should know the philosophy, ideology, and mission of the movement.
- Navigating Challenges: Just as only the ship that knows how to bravely face the storms and waves reaches the desired shore during a sea journey, a companion should always maintain a spirit of resilience and courage when confronting difficulties and trials.
- Role of a Companion: After embracing the companionship of the movement, the companion attains the position of a caller (Dai). Merely connecting with the movement as a companion is not sufficient; they also bear the responsibility of inviting the general public to the faith.
- Developing Affection for Leadership: After attaining companionship, it is essential for the companion to cultivate love and devotion for the leader under whose guidance they have embraced the movement. Love is the foundation that fosters mutual trust and confidence. Establishing a heartfelt connection with the leadership reflects the qualities and virtues of the leader in the companion’s personality.
- Commitment to Sacrifice: Companionship with the movement requires that members remain filled with feelings of sacrifice and dedication while fulfilling organizational responsibilities. They should consider it their duty to provide financial assistance to needy companions and to support them with dignity during hardships.
- Disseminating Teachings: Companions should make efforts to disseminate the speeches and literature of Shaykh-ul-Islam to as many people as possible for the spread of their invitation.
- Living the Mission: Simply filling out a companionship form does not fulfill the rights of companionship; the rights are truly honored when the act of inviting others to the mission becomes a daily routine for the companion.
- Intellectual and Ideological Growth: The companionship and association with the Minhaj-ul-Quran movement contribute to the intellectual and ideological expansion of the companions.
- Promoting Balance and Moderation: The companionship and association within the Minhaj-ul-Quran movement play a significant role in eliminating extremes and promoting a demeanor of gentleness, cheerfulness, politeness, and moderation among companions.
- Universal Brotherhood: The companionship of the Minhaj-ul-Quran movement is not limited; rather, all companions rise above name, status, ethnicity, and regional differences, embodying the spirit of Islamic brotherhood worldwide.
- Opportunities for Virtuous Company: The Minhaj-ul-Quran movement provides companions and affiliates with opportunities to benefit from righteous and virtuous companionship.
- Spiritual Connection: The spiritual affiliation with the Minhaj-ul-Quran movement brings happiness and blessings to its companions, and the companionship yields both worldly and hereafter benefits.
- Formal Commitment: To join the Minhaj-ul-Quran movement and engage in its companionship, a formal companionship agreement is filled out. As a result of this companionship, each companion becomes directly affiliated with the Qutub (the most significant spiritual leader), as the Minhaj-ul-Quran movement is entrusted with the legacy of the Qutb and operates under the spiritual guidance of Sayyidina Tahir Alauddin.
- Responsibility Beyond Formality: After acquiring the companionship and association of the Minhaj-ul-Quran movement, every affiliated individual has the responsibility to ensure that this connection is not merely a formal one. Instead, they should transform it into a genuine, practical, and dynamic relationship so that its benefits can also be realized by future generations.
