The Island of Black Waters (Kala Pani)

The contents of the book in hand, deal primarily with the third struggle, made in 1862, spearheaded by Maulânâ Muhammad Ja'far Thanserî Sâhib (ra), a wealthy saint of his time. The book, penned as an autobiography, describes, in the most beautiful of ways, the sacrifices made by this giant of Islam, which includes, amongst others; being framed by his associates, being issued the death sentence, having all his possessions confiscated, having his sentence changed to life-imprisonment at Kâlâ Pânî (Black Waters), an island of Indonesia, used by the British as a prison base for those prisoners who were regarded as most dangerous to the state, etc. The book describes, at full length, how, when Almighty Allâh(swt) decides to keep one in a comfortable condition, no power on earth can change that decision. It gives an example of how the fire of Ibrâhîm (swt) was turned into a garden, by illustrating how the island of Kâlâ Pânî became as comfortable as home, for this servant of Allâh (swt). Where he had to suffer being separated from his wife and children, Almighty Allâh (swt) offered him recompense almost immediately, that while still in captivity, he was able to make two more nikâhs (marriage contracts), and was blessed with ten more children, naming each one after the one he had lost in India. Finally, after twenty years of imprisonment, he returns to his homeland, as a sign of the power of Almighty Allâh (swt), that for whomsoever Allâh (swt) has written honour and respect, none can bring upon him a disgrace.