Are Maulvis the hurdles in the way of progress?

Are Maulvis the hurdles in the way of progress?

In a previous column, we had stated that Mufti Shafi (rahimahullah) Quds Allah Sarrahu used to humorously call Maulvis as ‘Malamati Firqa’ (censured group). The reason behind this was that some people consider Maulvis, their every move and action as objectionable and condemnable. They have always been censured for their wealth, their poverty, their culture, their dressing and their appearance. If they take a side and cut off relations with the world, they are criticized. If they take part in the national politics and stay active in the field of journalism, they are not spared. There is a spate of criticism for Maulvis from worldly people, particularly the modern and educated class. Here we shall analyze only one objection.

Main criticism on Maulvis is that they are the hurdles in the way of progress and prosperity. It is said: “The world is progressing fast but the Maulvis are hindering the developments. The time has changed, there are new opportunities, new avenues, new demands. Man has stepped on the moon. Computer and Internet have turned the whole world into a village. But, Maulvis are repeating the old stories. Prayers, fasting, beard, turban, mosque, madrasah, recitation of Holy Quran, Halal and Haram, purity and impurity, loose dressing, Shalwar above ankle, centuries-old views and practices, opposition to TV, singing and dancing, making women observe Hijab.”

After these remarks, they say with great regret: “In such a situation, how can the country progress well?” It gives an impression that the Maulvis have misguided the people, rendering the country backward and conservative and from the hut of a religious man to the luxurious bungalow of wealthy people, religious codes are being followed; every rich person is paying Zakat; every man has grown beard, every head has a turban, every house is purified and there is no TV in any residence; recitation of Holy Quran can be heard from each house; every lady is observing Hijab; un-Islamic gatherings have stopped and every individual has said ‘no’ to the interest-based system of economy; anti-humanity representatives of World Bank and IMF have been expelled from the country.

Nothing of this sort has happened, absolutely not. As these people claim that preaching by the Maulvis have been a cry in the wilderness which can be heard by the animals in the jungle but not by the people living in cities, then the country should have made good progress, there should have been zero unemployment and there should have been rapid industrial development, no child should have been deprived of easy access to the education, each and every person should have access to potable water, no-one should be sleeping hungry, no man should have committed suicide on seeing his family on starvation, no patient should have been left unattended, none of the city road should have looked like a dent-ridden path, we would have defeated India at least in the field of computer, we should have locally manufactured vehicles, weapons and medicines.

But this did not happen, absolutely not. Why? … Did any Maulvi prevent us from making progress? The voice of the poor Maulvi does not go outside the mosque and madrasah. He has nobody in his circle except the poor, uneducated and needy people. Scientists, engineers, judges, lawyers, bureaucrats, doctors and professors are “immune” from the Maulvis. Then, why our beloved country could not lead the world in the fields of science, medicine and engineering? Due to the misdeeds of the rulers, corruption of bureaucrats, betrayal of leaders, bribery of administration, partiality of judiciary, infighting of power-hungry politicians, greed of government officials and indifference of the public, the country could not make progress. But the blame of decline was put on the Maulvis.

Unfortunately, the people consider beard, turban, prayer, haj, mosque, madrasah and hijab as the causes of non-progress. Actually it is presumed that the progress and development, which prevails in Europe and America, is due to freedom from parental bonds, ignoring the religion, eliminating difference between right and wrong. This sort of thinking is wrong. The reason behind west’s so-called progress is different. They have a system and discipline in their all affairs, while we are victim of mismanagement in every field from politics and governance to industry and education. Every project of ours is erratic and based on ad-hocism. Despite the passage of 55 years of the establishment of our country we could not decide whether we should have presidential system or parliament system; whether we should adopt Marshall Law permanently or look for a modern form of kingship.

The Europeans are constant-minded and committed people while we get tired very soon. That is the reason no country has confidence in us. The world is of the view that the Pakistanis change their mind very frequently. It is apprehensible that they are adherents of Islam, but the other side of the picture is that they do not take time in adopting the non-Islamic culture. Neither their friendship is stable nor their enmity is based on any principles. It was in the recent past that they were settling the Afghans in the country, and the same day it was seen that they were providing logistic support bombing the Afghans. Developed nations know the worth of each passing moment while in our society time is the cheapest thing. For us, time has no importance. It is like a tap of water that is left open without knowing whether the water is benefiting the barren land or it is going in vain. Developed nations think before they take any step while we think after taking a step.

Developed nations keep in view the national interest while planning a project and we give preference to the individual and personal benefit. Everything is in a haphazard manner. It seems as if the Day of Reckoning has approached and every Pakistani is struggling for self-protection. Nobody bothers about the national benefit and interest. Every influential person is trying to do something for himself and for his own family. People in the developed world never damage the respect and honor of their fellow citizens. The developed nations provide justice to the common people without any discrimination. They provide unemployment allowance if anyone is not in job. Jobless people are provided all sort of help including free treatment and free education. The parents of disabled children do not have to worry because their government is there to support them.

Contrarily, Pakistani rulers and agencies are always bent upon damaging the honor of common people. People at the helm of affairs enjoy luxurious lifestyle on the basis of taxes, and consider the common men as their slaves. An appeal by Pakistani mujahideen languishing in Haripur jail was published in a section of the press in the past week. In their appeal, they described the atrocities and torture being meted out to them in the jail and sought the help of human rights organizations and influential people to get them out of there. They wrote in their appeal that they were kept under subhuman conditions and are made to go without food and water for many days. They are subjected to severe torture by the jail officials. They are asked question about the ladies of their families.

This is the height of atrocities being meted out to the Muslims by the people of the same country and the same religion. Under such a situation, scholars and high officials ask why the country is not progressing well? Why the youth of the country are hesitant to volunteer along with the Pak military as was done in the past. People who raise this question know the reply to this question, but they still hold the Maulvis responsible for the miserable state. Government department like banks, telecommunications, electricity, railways and judiciary are controlled by the maulvis.

Corruption is the most dangerous thing in a country as it undermines the institutions. The evil has damaged Pakistan’s image in the world. Police are backing the robbers and criminals. Law and justice is put for sale in the courts. Journalists are indulged in unfair affairs. Horse Trading is common on the floor of upper and lower houses. In all such affairs no Maulvi is involved in any way.

The country that had two hands – East and the West – lost one hand in just 25 years of its independence. Did this happen because of any Maulvi? There are so many such questions which can be raised anytime. But at present we are discussing just the reality and propaganda by friend-like enemies. Some people are of the view, “Had there been no Maulvi, Karachi and Lahore would have become Paris or New York. On the other hand, the Maulvis rightly think that the real peace of mind is found in Makkah, Medina and not in imitating the non-Muslims or bowing down to America and Europe.

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The time has come

The time has come

O people of knowledge, O people of truth! Is the present time not the one about which the True Prophet (sallallahu `alaihe wasallam) had predicted: “At that time, there would be a lot mischief. A person would be Muslim in the morning and kafir (unbeliever) in the evening.”

This Hadith does not mean that a person would be Muslim in the morning, and his face would be inscribed with “Kafir” in the morning, ... or that he would be in the town of Muslims in the morning and would be in the town of Jews in the evening, ... or that he would be running in the streets, crying, ‘I have become a Jew.” Rather, this Hadith means that there would be no steadiness in emaan. At one moment, he would be Muslim and at the other, Kafir. Actions of Muslims in the morning and actions of Kuffar in the evening!

Yes the time, about which the Holy Prophet (sallallahu `alaihe wasallam) had said:
{“It would so happen that the nations of the world would gather to fight against you (Muslims), and would invite one another (to attack you) just as the hungry invite one other to dinning.” A man asked, “Shall we (Muslims) be in very small number and the Kuffar in great number at that time?” The Prophet replied: “No, the Muslims would be in a great number at that time. But they would be like garbage flowing in the direction of the river current. The Kuffar would cease to fear you (Muslims). And your hearts would develop ‘Wahan’”. Someone asked, “What is Wahan” the Prophet said: “Love of the world and hatred for death.”

The reality described in this Hadith is evident today. One nation is calling the other to kill the Muslims same as the hungry vultures cry to call one another on seeing a dead body. The population of Muslims is over one and a quarter billion, but they are mad in love of the world and hate the death of honour.

Another Hadith says: “As long as the best amongst you are your chieftains; the rich are generous and your matters are decided with consultation, the surface of earth is better for you than the underside of earth. But when it so happens that your chieftains are the worst people are your chieftains, the rich become miser and your government is led by women, then the underside of earth is better for you than its surface.”
This Hadith means that at the time you cease to have honour and dignity, death would be better than it is better for you to die than to live. Today, our eyes are witnessing that life is a comfort for the earthworms, and a joy for the jungle beasts, but for the one billion Muslims, there is no piece or pleasure on the face of earth. Every day the sun heralds a new tragedy, a new indignity and a new loss.

The words of the Hadith “your governments would be led by women” do not mean that women would become rulers. Rather, the Hadith points to the private life of the lustful rulers. Without a doubt, today, the debauched rulers are following instructions of their bedroom women, and the affairs of government are virtually run by the liberal-minded women.

The True Prophet said that there would be a time when the Muslims would adopt all the practices of the Jews and Christians. The Muslims are following the misleading steps of the Jews and Christians. Worldliness and lustfulness has found its way among the Muslims. All the sinful acts of the Jews and Christians are now prevalent among the Muslims. The beginning of Islam had been marked by the hardships of Hijrah (Migration) which proved to be the harbinger of Islam’s rise. The same situation prevails today, as the followers of truth, who are very few in number, are facing a lot of hardships. Being subjugated and having no shelter anywhere, they are forced to migrate It seems as if the Kuffar have conquered the whole world. The Muslims who rose to fight them are as few as they are aliens. On the whole, have diverted from the right path and have thus indulged in bad practices besides becoming coward and indifferent. There are only a few Muslims who have refused to give up.

This reminds us of the preliminary time of Islam when the true faithful were very few in number and were surrounded by the enemies of Islam from all four sides. They were helpless in Makkah and so in Habshah. While on of them was screaming under the heavy rock, the other was forced to lie on the burning coals. Their legs were tied with rope and then they were dragged mercilessly on the ground. The Mushriks (polytheists) would whip their backs and laugh at them. The faithful had no haven on earth.

Today, there are only a few faithful, who have sold their lives to Allah because Jannah (Paradise) would be theirs. They have vowed to please their Lord and not the Satan. Their story of faith are scattered from Tora Bora to Cuba. The land of world had been narrowed down upon them. Every method of torture is being tested upon them.

They are great people. They have adopted the way of resolve and sacrifice and not the way of escape and cowardice. They have been chosen by Allah to establish the Haq, the truth. No power on earth can make them swerve from their determination. They are the ones who prefer the death of honour to the life of disgrace. They followed the path of Imam Abu Hanifa, the path of Imam Shafai, the path of Imam Ahmad bin Hambal, the path of Mujadid Alf Sani, the path of Shed Ahmad Shaheed and Shah Ismail Shaheed. This path is full of difficulties but those who follow this path would never be unsuccessful.

O people of knowledge, O people of truth! May our lives be sacrificed on the True Prophet (sallallahu `alaihe wasallam). We are witnessing his prediction coming true today. The Muslims in the morning become Kafir in the evening. The vultures from all over the world have flocked in our land, our space and our seas to claw our dead bodies, which are filled with “Wahan”. The worst among us have become our leaders and rulers. The Muslims have adopted the culture and civilization of the Jews and Christians. And the true faithful are as few as aliens. ..... Yes the time has come. We have to decide now whether we should take the path of hypocrisy or the path of resolve and steadfastness. We must remember that those who follow the path of resolve and steadfastness are never dead and never unsuccessful. It is time we joined the people of resolve.

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Two causes of Muslims’ downfall

Two causes of Muslims’ downfall

You would have heard of such writers whose pen sprinkles a galaxy of words on paper. You would have seen such forceful speakers who have the ability to ignite the passions of audience. Your would have seen such poets whose poetry gets worldwide acclaim. You would have read about the philosophers whose reasoning mystified the people. You would have come across such politicians who have the capability to work wonders. You would have been impressed by the popularity of scientists who scale the planets. You would have heard about the businessmen whose wealth has no bounds. You would have heard of the rulers who know the tricks to lengthen their rule.

But the number of those exemplary people was and is very little who feel for the whole Muslim Ummah and ache for the true religion, who feel the pain in their heart if a thorn pricks the foot of a Muslim in the last corner of the world. Their love is beyond racial, linguistic and country boundaries, their thought is higher than skies and vaster than deserts, their insight is deeper than oceans, and their words and actions have no clash. Their life is dedicated for the cause of others.

In every era, such great people are very little in number but not non-existent. If the face of earth got totally devoid of such people, there would be doomsday on earth. There are many preceding personalities that may be rightly counted among such great people. In this column, we shall discuss only one such person.

Sheikh-ul-Hind, Maulana Mahmood Hassan Deobandi was a class unto himself. A torchbearer and a leader of politics simultaneously, he was very much aggrieved over the oppressions against Muslims in Balkan and Trabulus. Mufti Aziz-ur-Rahman writes, “When Hazrat Sheikh-ul-Hind would hear about defeat to the Turks, tears would roll down from his eyes making his beard wet. All night, he would pray to Allah. It seemed as if he would chew the British if he could.”

He gave leaves to the teachers and students of his madrasah and sent them to village and towns for collecting donations. He gave his own salary and the salaries of teachers and other staff as donations. At his order, the students donated even their educational awards and the food of their canteen. His concern for the Ummah made him the leader of mujahideen of the world. His emergence as the leader of mujahideen was unbearable for the British. They arrested Hazrat Sheikh-ul-Hind and imprisoned him in an island of Malta. The British did imprison his body but could not imprison his heart and mind. In the jail, he would feel anguished for the downfall of the Muslim Ummah.

After being released in 1920, he returned to Hindustan. Once speaking at a big gathering of `Ulama, he said, “We learnt two lessons from our life in Malta.” These words made the whole audience attentive, as they wanted to know what the 80-year-old sage was going to say. “In the loneliness of jail in Malta, I pondered over the causes of Muslims’ ruination both religiously and temporally, I found out two causes: One, forsaking the Quran. Two, internal differences and discords. From the jail, I have come with a resolve that I would spend the rest of my live in promoting the Quran and its meaning. There is a need that madrasahs for children are set up in every town and village to give children the literal education of Quran, and public gatherings are organized for enlightening the adults with the meaning of Quran and preparing them to act accordingly. And the internal differences among the Muslims should not be tolerated at any cost.”

If we cool-mindedly ponder over the causes of Muslims’ downfall and disgrace, we shall find the two very causes as responsible. The Holy Quran is the command centre of all individual and collective matters, rituals and worships of the Muslims. As long as the Muslims retained the Quran as their leader, they were the leaders of the world. Under the leadership of the Quran, wherever they marched, they conquered and big powers of the time fell to them. But when the Muslims diverted from the way of Quran, they lost their leading role and their unity as a nation crumbled. The Muslims have not only become apathetic towards Quran but also they have started distorting the meaning of Quran. Everyone is at liberty to call himself a scholar of Quran and define the meaning of Quranic verses from his own mind.

In the same way, the other secret of Muslims’ power and rule over the unbelievers was their unity, which has has vanished too. As long as they were maintained the bonds of emaan and brotherhood, they were dominant over the whole world and when they started begrudging their own brothers and making friends with the enemies, they fell in the abyss of disgrace and humiliation. It is strange that we do not take lesson from our history. The whole Muslim history is a witness that the Kuffar alone could never defeat the Muslims, rather, it was Muslims’ internal discord that always led to defeat. The land of Andalusia was majestically ruled by the Muslims for eight hundred years, and its magnificent mosques, splendid buildings and beautiful gardens still recall their originators. When did the Muslims’ downfall begin there? Only when they divided in sects and races and started calling the Christians for help against one another. Baghdad – the then centre of Muslims' knowledge and politics – was savagely destroyed by the Tartars only when the Muslims got engaged in internal conflicts and lost tolerance for one another. The then ruler of Baghdad wanted to weaken his rival Khuarzam Shah. So, he invited the Tartars to attack the Shah. The Tartars first destroyed Khuarzam Shah’s empire and then wrecked Baghdad.

Today, Andalusia and Baghdad-like situation is prevailing again. The Muslims have plunged in discord, dispersion and sectarianism despite they are facing an enemy that is more merciless, more savage, more cunning and more prejudiced than the Tartars. The enmity of Tartars was confined to some rulers and kingdoms while the present-day enemy is out to annihilate the Muslims from the face of the world. It wants to beat the Muslims one by one. First, it played havoc with Afghanistan and the whole world acted as a silent spectator. Now, it has unfolded its plans against Iraq, Iran, Somalia and Yemen.

Apart from the international scenario, the inside situation is very frightening too. The most regretful fact is that the Islamic organizations are at great distance from one another, providing the anti-Islam forces with an opportunity to criticize them. We wish that at least the upright ulama gathered under command of one Ameer (leader). The Muslims of Hindustan were lucky for they had got the “Sheikh-ul-Hind” under whose command and leadership Muslims from every sect got united. We wish all the Islam-loving people in Pakistan agreed on one Ameer. The formation of one unified organization under one Ameer would inspirit the Muslims and frighten the enemies. It is pertinent to mention that when Sheikh-ul-Hind’s health declined to irrecoverable state, he called for electing an upright scholar as leader after him. Just one week before his demise, Jami`at Ulama-i-Hind was holding its second annual meeting. Though he was too sick to move, he said: “Take my cot to the meeting place. All people of wisdom and knowledge from all over Hind are present there. They must elect an Ameer. I will be the first person to pledge the oath of allegiance at the hands of that Ameer.”

It is to be noted that most of the participants in the meeting were his students and murids but still he was prepared to pledge the oath of allegiance at the hands of one Ameer elected from among them. In our beloved country, is it not possible that for the protection of Islamic values, religious institutes and our future, all the righteous people elect from among themselves one capable and insightful person as Ameer and get united under his leadership?

The sage of the time, Sheikh-ul-Hind Mahmood Hasan had pointed out two causes of Muslims’ downfall. The two causes are still playing the pivotal role in the downfall of the Muslim Ummah today. For everyone who dreams of the revival of Islam and eminence of Muslim Ummah, it is vital to spend his capabilities in eliminating the two causes. When the light of Quranic education would spread, the darkness of fallacies would automatically shrink, and when the upholders of right would get united, the upholders of falsehood would get frightened, not being able to rise again.

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Don’t turn mosques into museums

Don’t turn mosques into museums

I happened to visit the capital city a couple of days ago. I found an opportunity to go to the Shah Faisal Masjid. This masque is indeed a masterpiece of art and architecture. Before I come to the main point of this column, I would like to narrate a little bit about the structure and history of this mosque for your reading pleasure.

The mosque is rightly named after Shah Faisal (late), the ex-ruler of Saudi Arabia and a true well-wisher of the Islamic World. In 1966 when he visited Islamabad, Islamabad was a newborn city. During the visit he was informed that a historical and exquisite masque was to be constructed in the new city. He not only supported the idea but also promised to bear all the expenditures on its construction. In 1969 a contest at the international level was arranged inviting the architects from all over the world with uncompromising reputation. The model made presented by Vedit Dolki, a Turk architect was approved as the best.

The design is unique in design from all other Pakistani mosques. The design seems to have been derived from a large tent. Four minarets have been constructed on each of its four corners with a height of 285ft with another 14ft including the length of the golden crests made of gilded copper. The fifth and the largest crest has been installed over the top of the main hall with a height more than 20ft. Although the mosque has no boundary wall or any arch-shaped roof, yet its main hall is without pillars and has the largest covered area compared to all the mosques in the world. The dimension of this equal-sided hall is 280ft with a height of 140ft. Almost 10,000 people can pray in its lounge at a time. A very beautiful chandelier has been fixed to the ceiling of the main hall. The chandelier, gifted by the Muslims artisans of China, is fitted with 1,100 electric bulbs that not only illuminate the hall but also embellish the inside view. The mosque is surrounded by two yards having verandahs on the outer sides. Almost one hundred thousand people can offer prayers in the hall, yards and verandas.

The spacious hall, tall minarets crowned with golden crests, illuminating chandeliers, serene ponds and waterspouts with the crystal clear water have a glamorous power to astound a human eye.

I experienced the same exotic elation yet I had a feeling of sudden and deep shock to see the people’s conduct against the sanctity of the mosque. By chance the moment we reached there, people were coming in for the Zuhr (noon-prayer). The visitors including women and children were entering the mosque in groups but most of them with conduct as if it was not a mosque but a museum or garden. Hullabaloo, photographs, unveiling women, playing children, whispering young couples and old men and women lying about… at a time when prayer was being performed. Although there were many instructions about the due reverence of a mosque, the visitors neglected instructions criminally and there was no one to stop them. There was a contradiction between the words and actions of the administration. One of the instructions prohibited photography in the mosque, but the bookstalls near the yard were selling the books and magazines full of pictures.

A book authored by William Shakespeare with his picture on the title page was on display in a facing showcase and could be seen when standing in the courtyard. That stall was also a good place to purchase pants and shirts with pictures printed on them. Stone and bricks construct only the structure of a mosque. The purpose of its construction cannot be achieved without due maintaining mosques sanctity. People not giving reverence to mosques do not make any spiritual gains by coming to there.

Those who love God are identified with a love for mosques. One who does not revere a mosque actually shows no respect to Allah Almighty. The people who are acquainted with the etiquettes and their hearts are filled with Allah’s love. When they enter a mosque, they are overwhelmed by the Majesty and Sovereignty of Allah, walking humbly either silent or busy glorifying Allah’s name. They know that making a noise, talking about the worldly affairs, chuckling and strolling, and bringing women and very small children there, all are the activities against the etiquettes. Women have been ordered to perform Salaat at their homes and that too at a covered portion.

Once the wife of Abu Hammed Sa’adi (radhiallahu ‘anhu) expressed her desire to offer prayers led by the Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihe wasallam) in the mosque. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihe wasallam) replied: I know your desire but for you performing the Salaat in a room is better than performing in a veranda and performing in a veranda is better than performing in a courtyard.

Along the eastern wall of the hall of the Shah Faisal Masjid, there is a gallery speciefied for women. Since we had to perform the Zuhr prayer in the Jami‘ah Faridiay due to some reason, we left the mosque while the prayer had just started. We witnessed that many women were busy gossiping in courtyard and verandahs. Some of them were praying without any arrangement to cover themselves. Our friends who live in Islamabad said that the situation was more badly on Fridays than normal days as women come to visit the mosque so large in number that it is nearly impossible to avoid mixing with them. The indecent activities of the scoundrels were enough to shame the men present there but women considered it a great virtue to visit the mosque and that too without proper veil.
These scenes of disrespect, photography, mix gathering and negligence to the obligation of prayer are not specific to the Shah Faisal Masjid as these scenes can also be seen in many beautiful and historical masques including the Gol Masjid in the Karachi and the Badshahi Masjid Lahore.

When I see the sanctity of mosques being violated in such a way, I fear if our mosques are being converted into the museums. You must have heard about the beauty and attractiveness of the Qurtuba Masjid in Andalusia. Today that historical and beautiful mosque has been converted into a museum where no one is allowed to perform the Salaat. No doubt the Jami‘ah Masjid Qurtuba is under the custody of the non-Muslims but the custodians of the Jami‘ah Aaya Sofia in Istanbul is under Muslim custody, but praying was declared unlawful by Kamal Ataturk. Some people in Pakistan seek their ideal in Kamal Ataturk. God forbid! Attempts are being made to repeat the history of Turkey in Pakistan by converting the mosques into museums.

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In the noise of high praises!

In the noise of high praises!

A secluded person can imagine what would be the state and extent of noise of praise and congratulations at the houses of victorious national and provincial assembly members. Huge and fragrant garlands, costly gifts and expensive high quality sweets besides high praises, love, affection and assurance of all out cooperation from various quarters and individuals will be the post election scenario. This has been happening for decades. The rule and lust of power is an intoxication, which in most cases becomes worshiping of any person in authority. People, the followers of rising sun, go far away in their appeasing style and they don’t love any individual personality but they love the power, authority and the rule. They love the designations and with the change of authority and designation they change their loyalty. They really worship the rising sun and never look at the sun setting in.

You must have heard the name of Ahmad Dawood. He was the person on whose recommendations and on whose orders Imam Ahmad bin Junmbal (radhiallhu ta`ala `anhu) was subjected to severe torture. He witnessed the reign of three kings one after the other. All three kings enjoyed extra-ordinary rise and their courts were always seen full of courtiers. There were a number of courtiers who never get tired of calling these kings with the highest ranks ‘Zille Ilahi’. The kings used to think about these flatterer courtier what will happen to them once their kingdom comes to an end or they die. How would they live after them. But Ahmad Dawood used to say that the death of all these three kings was a lesson and admonition for the people. What other people could get the lesson from their death while Ahmad Dawood himself did not learn any lesson. Like other courtiers he also used to hook earth with the skies while praising the kings. Ahmad Dawood said he saw the body of Khalifa Al Mamoon. After a few years he saw the body of Al Mo’tasam. And after another few years he saw Al Wasiq dead. On the death of each Caliph, he said, he saw extra-ordinary activities at their palaces. Forgetting the dead ruler, everybody was seen looking at the successor.

Besides general public, our newspapers are also following such precedence. Criticising those who leave the power lobby and praise of those who are coming into power is an old trend of our society. Those who are leaving the power slot are seen with high suspicion and their personality is considered full of corruption while those who are coming into power are paid due respect and considered the most pious people on the earth. Those who are being declared ill-mannered and uneducated today, may appear on the screen of power tomorrow and then they may be considered highly qualified, intelligent and well-mannered people.

It was learnt that when Britishers defeated renowned victorious General, Napoleon Bonaparte and later imprisoned him in an island the pro-French king newspapers carried news reports against him and expressed joy. But later when Napoleon escaped from the captivity and re-organised a big military and attacked France to re-capture it, the newspapers published lead stories stating that a wild beast had escaped from jail. When Napoleon reached near the borders of France then newspapers wrote that the killer was heading towards France. When he crossed the border and entered France then newspapers published news items that Napoleon is in France now. And in the end when Napoleon reached near Paris then newspapers published news reports stating that His Highness the King of France is surfacing in Paris. The summersaults that French journalists took, we have been witnessing since long in our country’s capital, Islamabad. We know a number of columnists who used to term Mian Nawaz Sharif a symbol of courage and a kind-hearted man. They wrote about Nawaz Sharif the king of politics and extra-ordinary intelligent. When Mian Sahib was deposed the same columnists wrote that Nawaz Sharif was a coward, flatterer and shortsighted person.

In the recent past the minister of religious affairs has put his all out efforts to prove General Musharraf as Ameer-ul-Mu'mineen. On some occasions he has also challenged the `Ulama-e-Keram of the country to have an open debate with General Sahib. But the sober `Ulama-e-Keram showed their wisdom and did not react adversely.

After the Election 2002, various political parties and groups are out to manoeuvre to get into the power lobby. Those who had differences with their opponents are not putting their efforts to clarify their position before their ‘so called’ enemies by stating that whatever was their reaction in the past was just a mere joke and if they ever abused that was just for a fun. Under this scenario the traditional opportunists are in great confusion as they are unable how to prove their loyalty with the victorious enemies. Those living in the liberal environment are highly confused. They are unable to digest the victory of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal. A few of them are terming Majlis’s victory as the outcome of agencies’ support. Many of them are confused by thinking that the ruler would be in the hands of those people who would wear the national dress, would have long beards and would have a religious turban on their heads. They will prefer to speak the national language instead of speaking the language of non-Muslims. They would have plain drinking water at their dinning table instead of liquor.

People, highly influenced by the Western culture are confused thinking that the rule will be in the hands of those who would prefer taking a foreign country tour only to the Saudi Arabia and not to the London, America or any other country of the West.

Pro-West people are confused while thinking that their children would be admitted to the Madrasah or religious school instead of sending them to any convent. The religious men would be answerable to Almighty Allah only and not to George Bush or Tony Blair. People are confused that what will happen to the Film Industry. People who think their personality incomplete if they don’t wear T-Shirt or three-piece suit, what will happen if pure Pakistani leadership will take over. What will happen if women folk will not be seen in bazaars, parks and other public places? What will happen to the economy of the country if true religious people will come into power? What will happen if every man will be compelled to wear beard and have national dress?

This imagination sends a wave of concern and trill to the masses who are heavily under the influence of West. And this stage our columnists are tactfully painting the grim picture of that unseen scenario that is the priority of religious people who are about to come into power.

Under the prevailing circumstance, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal will have to be extra cautious. They should not make tall claims that become difficult to prove or they should not make promises that become difficult to be kept.

Next fear is for those elected members of the assemblies who have been voted by the general public because masses want to see a strong and stable economy in the country. People are expecting that these assembly members would promote education, do away with the open society system and eject the foreign forces out of the country. People have given them vote to express their strongest hatred against America and its policies. It is feared that they might forget their motto and slogan in the noise of praises. If this happened then the trust that people have reposed in these assembly members would be damaged and restoration of which would require another 56 years.

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Emirate or Building

Emirate or Building

Each year the 11th September used to come and go ordinarily but now when a person talks of the 11th September, his mind stops for a while recalling an unforgettable event. On that day, a building about which the architects had claimed that no cyclone or flood and no earthquake or air attack could destroy it, fell to ground. The claims proved to be hollow and the security arrangements of the superpower turned into a wall of sand. The writers who go in details would describe the height and area of the World Trade Center, the number of doors, windows and lifts and the number of people employed there. They would also try to count the number of dining rooms, cafeterias, snake bars, ACs, fans, tube lights, toilets and bathrooms and how much wine, how much tea, how much coffee and how much soft drinks were taken there daily, how much mails came there and how many phone calls were received daily. To embellish their articles, some of the journalists would narrate the story of a maiden who worked in WTC and was held dear by her colleagues. Then, they would regretfully write, “How precious things got buried under the debris of WTC.”

These details have been appearing in the newspapers for the last one year and will continue to be described perhaps until another incident of this sort takes place. However, a Muslim having a deep insight into the world affairs does not take the event as confined to the destruction of a few buildings. His thoughts reach far advanced points since he knows that the debris of WTC in New York had fallen upon the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan. Just as the fans of materialism cannot forget the buildings made of steel and stone, the upholders of spiritualism cannot forget the enviable Emirate that was formed on the principle of Shari`ah as a result of sacrifices by more than one and a half million people. The lackeys of America are aggrieved for the destruction of buildings which had been constructed with billions of dollars which housed hundreds of offices and were visited by the largest number of tourists in the world. On the other hand, the Islam-loving people are struck with the pain that the fort of peace and integrity exists no more where the Quran and Hadth were supreme law and Islamic teachings were prevailing in every institution – be it judiciary or finance; education or police. The rulers of the fort had devoted their lives to Allah. They ate simple food, wore simple dresses and lead a very simple life.

The buildings in America and the Emirate in Afghanistan were founded on two opposite principles. The former were a symbol of arrogance and the later was an embodiment of simplicity and humility. In fact, the structures based on humility never decay and they do exist even after getting destroyed. But the buildings which are based on arrogance are the sign of nation’s downfall and their existence is a shame. America and its allies are highly arrogant. They consider themselves to be a superior creature and look down scornfully upon the rest of humans, especially the Muslims.

They are devoid of emaan and guidance due to their arrogance. They want to establish their hegemony over the whole world and are ambitious to build the palace of their grandeur over the wreckage of humanity. Being power-hungry, slaves of their desires, drinkers, gamblers, they are the ones who rebel against nature.

While laying the foundation of the towers, the haughty architects had a vision that the building would be an icon of America’s superiority and its dominance over the whole world, and with its strength, beauty and spaciousness would tell the world that no country or nation could compete or fight America.

On the other hand, the humble people were busy founding a building in the form of Islamic Emirate that would be a live symbol of Allah’s greatness, and its stability and eminence would tell the world that Allah is Omnipotent and every living being is bound to obey His orders and worship Him. Life and death, honour and disgrace, success and failure all these things are destined by Allah. All human beings are equal and a white is not superior to a black, the rich to the poor and an American to a Pakistani. No one has the right to force the fellow humans into becoming his slaves and nobody can bind someone to comply with a self-made law.

Today, when we have seen the sun of 11th September 2002 rise and fall, the buildings and the emirate are destroyed. The names of people who destroyed the former are anonymous. Who were they? What were their real objectives? Who ere did they get the funds? How did they succeed to hijack the planes despite security arrangements? Nobody has a definite answer to all these questions. The debris of WTC has been removed and the upholders of materialism are planning to construct another building at the site, while a struggle is going on in the deserts, mountains and streets of Afghanistan for the formation of a spiritual centre or an emirate that would be a symbol of Islam’s eminence and revival of Islamic caliphate.

Surely, the opponents of the emirate are straining every nerve to prevent the formation of this emirate. They are equipped with military power, financial resources and apparent grandeur, but still there is no reason that the believers should feel disheartened. History tells us that from the birth of Hazrat Adam (‘alaihis salaam) to the present era, there has been an unabated fight between the believers and unbelievers, between the truth and the falsehood and between religiosity and paganism. The Divine philosophy behind this fight is that the believers’ spirit of jihad may not fade. Otherwise they would misapply their passions in useless activities like enjoying music, finding pleasure in pornography or running lustfully after wealth while forgetting Allah and Rasoolullah (sallallahu `alaihe wasallam). The result would be nothing but disgrace and downfall. Despite the Muslims’ disunity and internal differences, the big world powers feel horrified by even a tiny struggle for Islam’s renaissance.

If the upholders of material civilization, on the basis of their financial resources, are confident of reconstructing the buildings symbolizing their satanic ideologies then why should the upholders of spiritual civilization have any doubts about establishment of Islamic caliphate reflecting the Quranic ideologies? The renaissance of Islamic caliphate is the need of the Muslims all over the world and this is possible only when the Muslims make a sincere struggle for the sake of Allah and leave aside their personal interests and worldly desires. Then, they would succeed in establishing a glorious emirate and hundreds of trade centers would appear like toy-like houses.

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Amid the noise of high praises!

Amid the noise of high praises!

A secluded person can only imagine the noise of praise and congratulations at the houses of victorious members of national and provincial assemblies. Huge and fragrant garlands, costly gifts and expensive high-quality sweets besides high praises, love, affection and assurance of all-out cooperation from various quarters, is the post-election scenario. This has been happening for decades. Some unscrupulous people consider rule and power as their god whom they worship. They have no concern with the office-bearer, rather, they love the office and seat. With the change of person in authority, they change their loyalty. They really worship the rising sun and never look at the sun setting in.

You must have heard the name of Ahmad Dawood. He was the person on whose recommendations and orders Imam Ahmad bin Hambal (radhiallahu `anhu) was subjected to severe torture. He witnessed the reign of three kings one after the other. All three kings enjoyed extraordinary rise and their courts were always seen full of courtiers. There were a number of courtiers who never got tired of calling these kings with the highest ranks ‘Your Highness’. The kings used to think what these flattering courtier would do the kingdom comes to an end or they die. How would they live after them. But Ahmad Dawood used to say that the death of all these three kings was a lesson and admonition for the people. How other people could get the lesson from their death while Ahmad Dawood himself did not learn any lesson. Like other courtiers he also used to sing the praises of kings. Ahmad Dawood said he saw the dead body of Khalifa Al Mamoon. After a few years he saw the dead body of Al Motasam. And after another few years he saw Al Wasiq dead. On the death of each Caliph, he said, he saw extraordinary activities at their palaces. Forgetting the dead ruler, everybody was seen looking at the successor.

Besides general public, our newspapers are also following such a course as they criticise those who leave the power lobby and praise those who are coming into power. Those who are leaving the power slot are seen with high suspicion and their personality is considered full of corruption while those who are coming into power are paid due respect and considered the most pious people on the earth. Those who are being declared ill-mannered and uneducated today, may appear on the screen of power tomorrow and then they may be considered highly qualified, intelligent and well-mannered people.

It is said that when the Britishers defeated renowned victorious General, Napoleon Bonaparte and later imprisoned him in an island, the pro-French king newspapers carried news reports against him and expressed joy. Later when Napoleon escaped from the captivity and re-organised a big military and attacked France to recapture it, the newspapers published lead stories stating that a wild beast had escaped from jail. When Napoleon reached near the borders of France then newspapers wrote that the killer was heading towards France. When he crossed the border and entered France then newspapers published news items that Napoleon is in France now. And in the end when Napoleon reached near Paris, the newspapers published news reports stating that His Highness the King of France is honouring Paris with his arrival. The summersaults that French journalists took, we have been witnessing since long ago in our country’s capital, Islamabad. We know a number of columnists who used to term Mian Nawaz Sharif a symbol of courage and a kind-hearted man. They wrote about Nawaz Sharif the king of politics and an insightful ruler. When Mian Sahib was deposed, the same columnists wrote that Nawaz Sharif was a coward, flatterer and shortsighted person.

In the recent past. the minister of religious affairs has put his best efforts to prove General Musharraf as Ameer-ul-Mu'mineen. On some occasions he challenged the country's `Ulama to have an open debate on the matter. The `Ulama-e-Keram showed their wisdom and did not react adversely.

After the Election 2002, various political parties and groups are busy manoeuvring to get into the power lobby. Those who were at each other's throats until yesterday are now putting efforts to clarify their past position by saying that whatever was their criticism in the past was just a joke and their abusive talk was just a fun. In the present scenario the traditional opportunists are in great confusion as they are unable how to prove their loyalty with the victorious enemies. Those living in the liberal environment are highly confused. They are unable to digest the victory of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). A few of them are terming MMA’s victory as the outcome of agencies’ support. Many of them are purturbed by the thought that the ruler would be in the hands of those people wearing national dress, having long beards and having a turban on their heads. They will prefer to speak the national language to speaking the language of non-Muslims. They would have plain drinking water at their dinning table instead of liquor.

Westernised people are thinking that the rule will be in the hands of those who would prefer taking a foreign country tour only to Saudi Arabia and not to London and America.
Pro-West people are confused for their children would be admitted to the Madrasah or religious school instead of a convent. The religious men would be answerable to Almighty Allah only and not to George Bush or Tony Blair. People are wondering what will happen to the Film Industry. People who think their personality incomplete if they don’t wear T-Shirt or three-piece suit, what will happen if pure Pakistani leadership takes over. What will happen if women folk will not be seen in bazaars, parks and other public places? What will happen to the economy of the country if true religious people will come into power? What will happen if every man will be compelled to have beard and wear national dress?

This imagination sends a wave of thrill to the masses who are heavily under the influence of West. At this stage our columnists are artfully painting the grim picture of that unseen scenario. Under the prevailing circumstance, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal will have to be extra cautious. They should not make tall claims that become difficult to prove and they should not make promises that are too difficult to keep.

People are expecting that these assembly members would promote education, do away with the open society system and eject the foreign forces out of the country. People have given them vote to express their strongest hatred against America and its policies. It is feared that they might forget their motto and slogan amid the noise of praises. If this happened then the trust that people have reposed in these assembly members would be damaged and it would take another 56 years to restore it.

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Terrorist

Terrorist

Believe me! Either you have been misguided or fallen prey to religious, racial, or national prejudice. You have ignored your own laws for international justice and been precipitate in judging a great majority of the human race. If ever you find the time to read through the pages of history impartially, you will be forced to revise your opinion.

There is no doubt that once we were a force to be reckoned with and now we are nothing but dust, but ‘terrorist’? Never! From Makkah to Taif, from Europe to Africa, from India to Kosove, from Kashmir to Palestine, from Iraq to Afghanistan, from Russia to America, whichever country or city you look at you will definitely concede that the Muslims have always been a target for terrorists but as a Muslim nation they have never been a terror themselves.

They were laid on burning coals, dragged through rough streets with ropes round their necks, stoned till the blood ran to their feet, held captive in small, dark cells; their land was seized from them, the right to live was snatched from them; they took all but did not answer terror with terrorism.

After long years of torture when they were finally allowed to raise their hands to the enemy, yes, they did perform jihad but not terrorism. And who is the person who does not know that there is a world of difference between terrorism and jihad? Both have the same difference as sin and prayer; as blessing and damnation; as bowing to the will of God and bowing to Self; as justice and injustice. The reason for jihad is to raise aloft the name of Allah; the mujahid fights to establish the principles that make peace and justice reign supreme; that lead the oppressed to freedom; where the leaders feel no shame in sitting down with the common man; where the human race feels free of the slavery of men to become the true slaves of Allah.

The mujahid fights no for worldly goods or personal glory, nor for fame or name, nor for national or racial superiority; nor for capturing land, mountains, rivers, or forests: his onl7y reason is glorifying the word of Allah. The true mujahid is the one who knows the art of controlling his self; who has stepped out of the shell of self-worship; whose life, death, love and hate, peace and war are all for the sake of Allah. Even if there is no soul but him he will go out alone to perform his duty towards Allah. He hears the sweet songs of the houris of paradise in the clank and crash of swords and burning fires seem like a corner of Eden.

The aim of jihad is not to exterminate people of a certain religion or their places of worship, rather, both get the freedom to run with the victory of jihad. This is the wisdom behind jihad that Allah Ta`ala revealed 1400 years ago in His Book:

“If Allah did not pull away some of you from some; then khanqahs, madaris, places of worship, and mosques would have been pulled down, where the name of Allah is recited a lot.”
(Surah Hajj)

In the jihads done in the light of Nubuwwah, not even a rival could point out any such incident where any place of worship of either the Christians or Jews was torched or forcibly taken. Let alone such drastic steps, the Muslim leaders did not like to pray even once in these places so that their one-off action would not become an excuse for the common Muslims himself arrive for the occasion. Hazrat `Umar (radhiallahu `anhu) was the caliph at the time. He underwent the long journey to prevent any more bloodshed and signed the treaty with his own hand.

When he reached the gates, he was welcomed by the city’s priests, bishops, generals, and respectables. After entering he went to see the famous cathedral “Kanisa tul Qiyamah”. While there, the time for prayer began. The bishop courteously said that he could offer his prayers in the cathedral but he declined and came out of the building to say his prayers. A mosque with the name, “Jamiah `Umar” was made at the spot. The reason he gave for not praying inside was that he did not want the common Muslims to make his act an excuse to seize the cathedral and change it into a mosque.
This concession to the feelings of people of other religions, the protection extended to their elderly, disabled, women, children, and spiritual leaders; the recognition of the sanctity of their places of worship, avoidance of torture and repulsion to the untamed behaviour of the civilized nations of today, were the outstanding features of the Muslims in every jihad and battle.

Before the coming of the Muslims when the Romans and Persians used to attack their neighbours they left in their wake a trail of plunder, pillage, and bloodshed. They found pleasure in burning towns, ravaging settlements, unsparingly killing the inhabitants of captured towns, raping the women and torturing the rest. But when the Muslim armies reached the same places they treated the populace with courtesy and respect. The result was that the people who had been suffering at the hands of their own rulers and whose bodies and minds were crushed with their wrongs, rose up to welcome the Muslims and helped them as much as they could.

The mujahideen of Islam never shed blood for thrill, only which was necessary to put breaks on loot and plunder and cruelty. Whereas terrorists get a kick out of shedding as much blood as they can. They burn living cities to cinders and hack off a harvest of human heads just to secure their fear and terror in people’s hearts.

The enlightened know that the casualties of the First World War, that continue from 1914 to 1918, were, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, 6.4 million. The casualties of the Second World War were between 30 to 60 million. These wars neither served humanity in any way nor were they able to establish any kind of fear or honour in human hearts.

In contrast to this international terrorism let’s now have a look at the 27 jihads of Rasoolullah (sallallahu `alaihe wasallam): the total number of casualties of these 27 jihads was not more than 1018 on both sides. But the result of these battles was the reign of peace and security in and around Arabia. A lone woman from Hairah traveled to the Ka`abah in Makkah without fear of anyone or anything except Allah. The mushriks, hypocrites, robbers, looters, and usurpers were so in awe of the men who wore date-palm thongs and patched clothes that they did not dare to lift even an eye towards any widow, orphan, traveler, poor or unsheltered Muslim. This awe was not due to terror of the sword, or towers of skulls, or seas of human blood; but the reason was their courtesy, help to the poor and needy, humane sympathy, the unity and harmony among themselves, the strength of their Faith, and their will to fight for the sake of Allah

Without doubt up until these traits lived among the Muslims they continued to be a blessing fore the weak and a terror for the oppressor… but ever since they have lost this precious heritage, they have been no more than they dust trampled under feet that any breeze may blow from here to there. The amazing thing is that in their era of firm hold they were never called terrorists but now, when their princes, shayookh, and presidents have become no more than dirt they have been labeled with the tag of “terrorist” by those international thugs who have the blood of millions of innocent human on their hands and those who are guilty of snatching the honour of hundreds Wonders will never cease!!

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A Moment For Reflection

A Moment For Reflection

It was a gathering of around 70 chosen ulema-e kiram, organizers, coordinators, teachers, and muftis, which was presided over by the experienced head of the federation who is the honor of the religious scholars and a guardian of the values of knowledge and practice of our bygone generation of scholars. He is our leader, guide, mentor in any catastrophe; a person with great insight and eloquency, who has been gifted with the power of capturing his audience.

These men had sat with the sincere intention of solving a serious problem. They had to find out how to end the continuous attacks being made on madaris of the righteous ulema. In just a short time hidden forces have blown out precious lives and emptied many seats of knowledge. Before the effects of the last tragedy wear off, another one comes along.

At each new disaster the government announces to look into the matter without delay, news of stepping up security arrangements are heard, claims are made to deal the criminals with an iron hand, some arrests are made through which high claims to catch the wrong doers are made. But as soon as flamed emotions calm down and the effected invariably become engaged in the business of daily life, silence reigns. No sign of the iron hand or the criminals. This is the time when the hunters go out to seek fresh prey.

If the present trend continues and targets keep falling the time is not far when there will be no one left to aim at. Gatherings of knowledge and wisdom will be no more; institutions will be deserted, an end to respectable teachers and students. But the question is how to stop this chain of events from becoming longer and longer. Through public protests and strikes? No! Sabotage and destruction of property is not allowed in Islam, neither is it according to the dignity of the religious leaders. The prevailing ‘strike culture’ is a way of playing right into the ands of terrorists and the enemies of Islam. First they make their hit next they also manage to create an unfavorably insecure environment in the city or country. And then how can it ever be allowed for someone to pay another’s dues? Unseen hands do murders and innocent businessmen, daily wage takers, and workmen pay the price. The harassment created by burning cars, shops, barrows; the torching and fighting, form very negative ideas about the honor and importance of religion and the religious in the minds of the public. Many a time protests were blown out of proportion by infiltrators posing as sympathizers among the lines of the ulema and their activities were unfairly written down as the doings of the scholars.

Jamia tur Rashid……….the institution whose teachers and employees were bombed where one of the servers of the Jamiah imbibed the drink of martyrdom and the rest were severely injured. No one knew how many out of them would also join the sacred caravan. The scene of the crime was pretty terrifying. At such times inflamed emotions, road blockades, screaming declarations, and damage to property are part of our national temperament. Accordingly the police and Rangers were waiting for the protests to begin so they could start their counter tactics. But they were doomed to disappointment when they saw that the injured were being transferred to the hospital without any panic at all. It took the shortest possible time to pray over the martyr at which time exemplary discipline could be seen. This student who had the good fortune to attend the funeral prayer could not help noticing that not a sound of speech or even sigh came from among 12 or 13 hundred people offering the prayer. An odd and amazing silence prevailed. After the rituals the students and teachers went about their day’s business of teaching and learning “Qaal Allah wa qaal ar Rasool” (Said Allah, and said His Messenger).

So what should be done if not protests and strikes? Sabr (steadfastness and patience)? ……. Yes! Sabr! And that is best for the patient. But sabr does not mean cowardice, helplessness, or turning your back on your trouble. Sabr means to remain steadfast in your actions despite difficulties and problems. The people with steadfastness do not let anything come in the way of their aims, they are not disheartened or discouraged, and they do not act hotheadedly in uneasy times. No, they remain firm in their stride even if all Hell is let loose. They never negotiate with Wrong nor give up their ethics and principles. This is sabr that triumphs the minority over the majority and the weak over the strong. The fruits of this sabr are not immediately apparent but the sabireen are never oblivious of their own accountability, their own weaknesses, and their enemy’s designs. They try to figure out their plans and then think of counter-plans.

The 70 men sat there together. They were all from the sabireen. Quite frankly, they examined their shortcomings, stressed the importance of unification, felt the need for resurrecting the values of their ancestor, and scrutinized the campaigns of the colonial powers.

During the meeting a respected participant told of an incident. On the face of it, it was a common enough occurrence but the meaning behind it alerted the members.
He said that the previous night the police had arrested one of his very religious relatives from his home. The neighbors followed him to the police station and tried their best to convince the TPO of the innocence of this man. They said that such a pious and bearded man could hardly break the law. The majority of the neighbors too were religiously minded. The TPO heard what they had to say then he calmly said, “Just wait five years, after that you will not see a single bearded man h in this country”

This uttering of the TPO could have been ignored as a mere assumption and personal opinion had it not been that the same sentiments had been expressed a short while back by a leading politician of our country, whose statements are usually seen as unofficial reflections and ideas of the government itself.

We do not think it possible that a Sunnah of RasulAllah Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam, madaris, or religious scholars can be eradicated from a country made in the name of Islam. But this is a moment of reflection for the common Muslim who loves Islam to take note of the storms of dangers facing his religion and the religious scholars. There is a need to strengthen your lines, to pick out any weaknesses, to pull down walls of prejudice, to create awareness of the progress of religious schools in people from higher classes and journalists with a pious bent, and to deepen our roots in the hearts of the common man.

If we fail to do this we might have to face the storms sooner that expected.

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Hazrat Shamzai Rahimahullahu

Hazrat Shamzai Rahimahullahu

IT is a strange scheme of things the Creator and Administrator of the universe employs. He nourishes a priceless pearl in the belly of a worthless shell and sets it in the crown of a king; He hides a diamond in the countless grains of sand of a desert that is then coveted by the richest and wealthiest; He places a stone in the heart of mountains that reaches the height of fame once through the hands of a jeweler; He blossoms flowers with so sweet a fragrance that draws every traveler. The respected person who has recently joined the caravan of martyrdom was one such hidden flower and one such invaluable jewel.
He was born in a little known, underdeveloped village where the children tend goats to boost their hungry parents’ income, or enter public school with dispirited dreams. The people who suggested the name “Nizamuddin” would have had their best wishes at heart, but even they would never have dreamed the share the Distributor had written for him for disciplining an ummah torn with confusion and disunity and of serving deen and people of deen.
Only he who is master of His decisions knew the future. He may deprive the sons of claimants of knowledge and wisdom for the service of deen and He may accept the posterity of workers, unlettered people, even sons of Hindus and Sikhs for the service and propagation of His deen. He does not look at the family tree nor intellect or acumen; He does not consider wealth, lands or beauty; but yes, true desire is what counts. The desire-less remains deprived even if they seem to have much and the desirous are given even if they seem to have naught. Vanity bows to their humbleness and wealth curtseys to their poverty.
What else but true desire held the hand of this poor and unknown lad of Shamazai and took him to the pillars of knowledge of the time in Karachi. He came there as a student and traveler and then made Karachi his own………sadly, Karachi did not own him. This city that yesterday made men, now takes men. The land of Karachi has guzzled the blood of countless humans but is still thirsty for more. There was a time when jungles were scary, now cities are creepy. What else but fear and terror will reign in a city that does not value its benefactors, educators, and builders?
The higher-ups of knowledge, the alchemists, whose company turned ordinary stone to the philosopher’s stone, recognized the hidden worth of this young man who had come to Karachi with the true desire for knowledge. The years went by and the process of turning into a philosopher’s stone continued and at last the time came when the taught became the teacher, when the decreed was elevated to the position of the decreer, when the student of the knowledge of Hadith was crowned with the coronet of Sheikh ul Hadith (teacher of Hadith).
Lots of `Ulama become well known and respected and a haven for people, but very few of them would have had the fortune to gain the position in so short a time that Hazrat Mufti Shamazai (rahimahullahu) gained. Generally speaking, he was renowned in the fields of teaching and verdict giving when he was in Jamiah Farooqia, but it reached legendary heights in Jamiah Uloom Islamiyyah Binnori Town. Allama Shamazai was in charge of Specialization in Jurisdiction, the Head of Darul Ifta, and Sheikul Hadith. But his person was not bound to the Jamiah alone, but the whole of Pakistan was reaping his benefits. What movement was not linked to him? What religious institution did not call him their patron? What mujahid, preacher, or faithful server of deen was isolated from his affections? He did not own a madrasah but all madaris were his, he did not belong to a group but all groups were his. He was naturally content, open-handed, and polite…humiliation, discouragement, hate, and enmity were forbidden in his sect. He never turned anyone empty-handed. Other scholars of the day tried many a time to caution him, some openly criticized that such a degree of courteousness that any and everyone was using his name, was claiming his patron ship for his group, was writing his name on their letterheads, was claiming his book to be “approved” by him, was inadvisable. But Mufti Sahib was powerless at the hands of his good manners and politeness; he would say, “What can I do? I just can’t say no.” Many a worker of Islamic organizations were helped secretly without anyone the wiser.
Distance lends charm, but the proof of any person’s good nature is when the people living with him day and night attest to his piousness, forbearance, dignity, big-heartedness, and purity. Today’s code is to blow one’s own trumpet, to boast of one’s real or imagined achievements. To show a good nature in a gathering, in a journey, for some days or weeks before guests or companions is easy, but to maintain this good nature and moral superiority in the crests and troughs of life through long years, through the ups and downs of existence, is difficult. Here the proof is given by a personality who is far from hypocricy or hyperbole. I mean respected teacher, Dr. Abdur Razzaq Iskandar. He says, “I have never seen Mufti Sahib in anger in a long companionship.” This does not mean that he never got angry; his passion at the sacrilege of deen and those of deen was something to see. But for his own being, or the disregard of his suggestions, he was immune to anger. You only need to look at the last press release of his life that was given in response to the “pronouncements” of a despotic ruler who urges the people to stay away from religious leaders, targets madaris for criticism, assigns Hudood (Islamic Law) to human ingenuity, uses the words “religious fanatics” again and again for the sincere lovers of Islam. Have another look at the press release. You will find each and every sentence bursting with the honor of Imaan and you will feel that in a country where no one has the right to hold up his head, it’s a wonder he was allowed to live for so long.
Consider; a person who issues decrees of jihad against America sitting on his mat, the servant of Allah who publicly denounces those demeaning Islam, and who was openly and internationally considered an ally of those who drink deeply from the vessel of Islam; how long would he be tolerated? How long can a dauntless being be allowed to walk the streets and criticize an enslaved country? This passion and fervor was all for Right and Righteous; for his self, he was unflustered. In spite of being appointed on several designations of honor and esteem in the prized Binnori Town University, humbleness and self-sacrifice was apparent in each gesture. Close companions tell that in the life of Shaheed-e-Islam, Hazrat Ludhyanwi (rahimahullahu), after delivering his dars on Sahih Bukhari, Mufti Shamazai used to proceed to “Babur Rahmat” to serve him. This humility and poise was apparent also in his conversation and speeches. He used to discuss even the most grave and serious topic in a dignified way. It was not his way to shout and be out of control. He talked in a rational and clear manner that went from the ear straight to the heart and even the contestants were moved to concede the depth of meaning and truth.

The righteous, their hearts heavy with the going of one scholar after the other, were glad and thankful to Allah to have a leader that guided them from the khanqah to the darsgah, from politics to jihad, from the persecution of mistaken sects to matters of jurisdiction and discourse; a guide who was aware of internal and external enemies; who was alert to the intrigue of hypocrites. But who knew that the righteous would be deprived of this merciful protection so soon and the burden on their souls would be made heavier?
It is another matter that the departed, departed in such a manner that the remaining are envious. Supplication and entreaties with his Lord during the night, dhikr and recitation of the Quran at daybreak, the tongue fragranced, the heart luminous, an intention of teaching the most righteous book after the Quran…and then eve descended on the one who gave the lessons of light……….oh! But what does my pen write? Why eve? This is the beginning of a new life………a life that will never see the end, a life that has a dawn but no dusk, a life that is apparently death but which is actually a nations salvation.

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