FROM THE EDITORINCHIEFS DESK
Prof Farida Khanam is an author, editor, translator, public speaker and former professor of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Among her books are ‘A Simple Guide to Islam’ and ‘A Study of World’s Major Religions’. She has translated into English many books authored by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Currently the chairperson of CPS International, she is a regular contributor of articles to various publications. Prof Khanam has edited Maulana’s English translation of the Quran and has also translated his Urdu commentary on the Quran into English. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CALAMITIES AND AFFLICTIONS
THE last few years have seen a tremendous rise in the number and
gravity of natural and man-made disasters. Swine flu, Covid-19,
and now Monkey-Pox have changed how we live and interact
with people. Climate change has become a reality. Desert areas that
would see rain rarely are now being flooded due to incessant rain, and
the areas known to harbour cold conditions throughout the year are
experiencing heat waves. Armed confrontations between countries in
many parts of the world have severely impacted the world population
while at the same time displacing millions of people from their homes.
Historical records show that throughout human history, natural
disasters and calamities have been affecting the human population in
different parts of the world. Here, we will examine such events in the
light of the Scriptures.
The book of Exodus in the Old Testament describes the ten disasters
inflicted on Egypt by God. These disasters are known as the Plagues
of Egypt. They serve as signs and marvels given by God so that the
rebellious people of Egypt and their head, the Pharaoh, might realize
the greatness and glory of Almighty God. The Bible says: When I raise
my mighty hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know
that I am the Lord”. (Exodus 7:5)
The Plagues of Egypt are mentioned in the Quran thus: We afflicted
Pharaoh’s people with shortages of food and famine so that they might
take heed. (
It becomes clear that we cannot attribute
calamities and afflictions to mere chance.
There is a divine plan behind them. Such
calamities arise from human beings’ misuse
of freedom granted to them by God. Human
beings consider this temporary and limited
freedom absolute and without consequence.
They forget that they are accountable for
every deed they do. Moreover, they forget
their Creator and fail to acknowledge His
blessings.
We cannot attribute
calamities and
afflictions to mere
chance. There
is a divine plan
behind them. Such
calamities arise
from human beings’
misuse of freedom
granted to them by
God.
Thus, there are two lessons that we need to
learn from such adverse events. First, these
calamities may arise due to our deviations
while using God-granted freedom and natural resources. Additionally,
these test our faith in God. In adverse situations, we are compelled
to review and scrutinize our mode of living and our beliefs. This is
mentioned in the Quran:
And most surely, We will make them taste a lesser punishment before
the greater punishment so that perhaps they may return to Us in
repentance. (
Do they not see that they are tried every year once or twice? Yet they
do not repent, nor would they be admonished. (
The calamities serve the signal purpose of waking us up from our
slumber of forgetfulness. We would have learnt our lesson well if we
mended our ways, removed all negativity from our hearts, cultivated
well-wishing for all, and acknowledged the bounties and blessings God
has bestowed on us.
Prof Farida Khanam
GIFT OR TEST
Know the Divine Scheme
NO misfortune can affect the earth or your own selves without
its first having been recorded in a book, before We bring it into
being. That is easy for God to do; so that you may not grieve
for what has escaped you, nor be exultant over what you have gained.
God loves neither the conceited nor the boastful, nor those who, being
miserly themselves, urge others to be miserly. (
These words of the Quran tell us a law of nature. For those who have
learned this law, loss becomes as meaningful as gain.
Man must react
with moderation.
Apparent success
should give him food
for thought and
apparent failure
should increase his
spirituality
This world—in which everyone is free—has
been devised by God for the purpose of testing
humankind. Here, everyone is passed through
different situations, favourable as well as
unfavourable, so that he can be tested from
every aspect, and so that his reactions and
performance may be seen in different sets of
circumstances. It must be borne in mind that
the ups and downs of circumstances are a law
of nature, which never changes for anyone.
One will face in this world both kinds of
experience—of loss as well as gain; at the individual as well as at the
national level. However, neither is gain a success in this world nor is loss
a deprivation. Both situations serve the purpose of the divine test. Man
should, therefore, not lose heart at his losses. He should not take them
as deprivation. Similarly, his gains should never make him proud and
arrogant. He should not take them as matters of honour and prestige.
Man must in both sets of situations react with moderation. Apparent
success should give him food for thought and apparent failure should
increase his spirituality. None of these happenings should disturb his
mind in such a way as to render him incapable of positive thinking.
This approach is exemplified in the words of the Prophet Solomon
mentioned in the Quran: ‘This is by the grace of my Lord, to test whether
I am grateful or ungrateful. (
GOOD CHARACTER CONQUERS ALL
GOOD deeds never go unrewarded or unnoticed. The people
who at first appear to be antagonistic turn out to be friendly
and appreciative sheerly owing to the force of excellent moral
behavior.
At a meeting on February 19, 1990, Dr Abu Bakr of Mumbai told me
that there had been a large religious gathering of Tablighi Jamaat (an
Islamic reformation movement) planned at a place in Maharashtra. The
police reached there to review the situation and keep order.
At the end of the meeting, when the
congregation had dispersed, Dr Abu Bakr met
the Police Officer in charge of the party and
had a talk with him. The latter explained to
him that they had come there to keep a sharp
look-out for any unruly behaviour, but after
seeing and hearing all that had passed during
this meeting, he felt that if other people could
only be like the people associated with this
organization, there would never be any need
for police surveillance.
Good character
conquers all. The
reason is that human
beings are endowed
with moral sense as a
matter of birthright.
Consequently, no
man can witness
a truly moral act
without being deeply
influenced by it.
The Police Officer added that he had not
formed this opinion by just listening to the
speeches delivered on this occasion, but
rather by watching how the people behaved. He said that, for instance,
a member of the congregation forgot to pick up his watch after
performing his ablutions.
The Officer waited quietly nearby to see what would happen. Other
people soon arrived to perform their ablutions and one of them,
spotting the watch, picked it up and made off. The officer then followed
him at a discreet distance until he reached a tent set up as a temporary
office for lost property. The man handed over the watch without a
moment’s hesitation, then he went away to say his prayers.
The police officer said to him that people these days were generally
only too pleased to make off with other people’s possessions. Here
were people who had no wish at all to keep other’s possession even
when they fell right into their hands. Not only that, they made sure the
lost property reached its rightful owner.
Good character conquers all. The reason is that human beings are
endowed with moral sense as a matter of birthright. Consequently,
no man can witness a truly moral act without being deeply influenced
by it.
TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE
We often talk of peace in the context of war. But this is
a very narrow and restricted notion of peace. Peace is
deeply linked with the entirety of human life. Peace is
a complete ideology in itself. Peace is the only religion
for both—man and the universe. It is the master-key
that opens the doors to every success. Peace creates a
favourable atmosphere for success in every endeavour.
Without peace, no positive action—small or big—is possible.
HUDAIBIYAH CULTURE
THE Treaty of Hudaibiyah was not a mere agreement in the
ordinary sense of the term. Through this treaty a great wisdom
was disclosed to man―the wisdom of the method for success in
social life.
At the time of the Prophet, in the year AD 624 the Battle of Badr took
place. In this battle, the believers scored a comprehensive victory.
But just a year later, in the Battle of Uhud, their opponents were the
victorious, killing 70 believers. Their opponents were driven by the
psyche of revenge. The Battle of Badr was victory for the Muslims and
revenge for their opponents.
From this incident one learns that war is not the solution to any
problem. War can become a solution for conflict only if the opponent
accepts the defeat. But, almost always, the defeated refuse to accept
defeat and are instead, fired with the desire for revenge. Thus, war can
never lead to a solution to any problem.
Hence, in line with God’s guidance, the Prophet of Islam adopted a new
method to solve the problem. This method could be called the ‘Wisdom
of Hudaibiyah’. The Treaty of Hudaibiyah was a no-war pact that came
into effect after the Prophet unilaterally accepted the conditions
insisted upon by the opponents.
After signing the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, the Prophet of Islam started on
the journey back towards Madinah. The Chapter Al-Fath (Victory) was revealed to him during the journey. Many Companions of the Prophet
were not happy with the terms of the treaty. When the Prophet recited
the Chapter Al-Fath to the Companions, some of them expressed their
misgivings. Umar Farooq exclaimed in surprise, ‘O Prophet of God,
is this a victory?’ The Prophet responded saying, ‘Yes, I swear by the
Lord who has power over my soul, this is a certain victory.’ Another
Companion said, ‘This cannot be a victory’, to which the Prophet replied,
‘It is a victory, a victory greater than all other victories.’ (Tafseer Qurtubi)
Why does the Quran refer to the Treaty of Hudaibiyah as a ‘clear
victory’? Why did the Prophet call it a ‘great victory’ when there was
no event to indicate a ‘victory’ at the time of the revelation of this
verse? The truth is that, the description did not refer to a political
victory, it was referring to the supremacy gained by the believers over
their opponents as a result of the treaty. The believers were now in an
advantageous position over their opponents.
At the time of the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, the
rival camp had only the power of the sword.
This treaty compelled them to renounce their
swords against the believers. Consequently,
they were rendered powerless. But the
believers had another power that their
opponents did not possess―the ideology
of tawheed. This ideological strength was
fully available. The Treaty of Hudaibiyah,
had practically rendered the opponents
powerless. In contrast, as peace had been
established, the believers got the opportunity
to use all their strength and engage in the
propagation of their ideology.
The benefit of the
Hudaibiyah policy
was not restricted
to the success of
Islam through a
brief and bloodless
revolution in Arabia.
This revolution that
happened in Arabia
by virtue of the
Hudaibiyah policy,
set off for the first
time ever, a new
process in human
history.
And this is exactly what happened. On the
one hand, the opponents were obliged not to
use their swords against the believers. And
on the other, in the climate of peace that now
prevailed, the believers were active in communicating and spreading
the ideology of tawheed. They conveyed the message of tawheed to
people across Arabia, and even to the people and nations beyond. A
result of this wisdom of Hudaibiyah was that in just two years, almost
the whole of Arabia entered the fold of Islam.
The benefit of the Hudaibiyah policy was not restricted to the success
of Islam through a brief and bloodless revolution in seventh century Arabia. Another great benefit was that this revolution that happened in
Arabia by virtue of the Hudaibiyah policy, set off for the first time ever,
a new process in human history. Passing through several stages, this
process reached the present age. In this sense, the present age can be
called the culmination of the ‘Hudaibiyah process’.
What exactly was the ‘Wisdom of Hudaibiyah’? Briefly, it was, putting
an end to military confrontation to establish a climate of peace, and
then through peaceful efforts conveying the natural message of Islam
to the people. Following the changes that have taken place in human
relations, the same ‘Hudaibiyah Culture’ now prevails throughout the
world with the unanimous consent of all nations. The present age can
thus be called the Age of Hudaibiyah. In the past, ‘Hudaibiyah Culture’
was limited and localized, but now, the ‘Hudaibiyah Culture’ has been
established at the global level, without having to make any sacrifices
for it.
Establishment of the United Nations
The United Nations (UN) was set up in 1945. The main purpose of this
organization was the establishment of world peace. All the countries of
the world have become its members. The UN is headquartered in New
York. With the unanimous consent of member-countries, an agreement
was adopted, which is called the Charter of the United Nations. Under
this Charter and with the agreement of all members, a resolution was
passed, and included as Article 2, Clause 4 in the Charter, which says:
All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat
or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence
of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of
the United Nations.
This clause of the UN Charter is, in essence, the same as that agreed
upon at the time of the Treaty of Hudaibiyah. In the seventh century
CE, at the time of this treaty, the conditions of the opponents had to
be unilaterally accepted by the Muslims, but in the 20th century, all
the countries of the world on their own accord, have annulled these
conditions. In accordance with the UN Charter and the changed global
situation, believers can now enjoy global peace. Besides, today, the
doors are open to every possible opportunity required for the global
mission of calling people to God. For example, religious freedom, a
climate of openness, global communications, international travel,
advanced printing technology, the internet, etc.
Chapter Al-Fath (Victory) that was revealed after the Treaty of Hudaibiyah
describes in allegorical language a grand historical reality―the Treaty
of Hudaibiyah that took place in 628, was not a limited localized event,
it was the beginning of a grand process in history that would culminate
in a global revolution. This revolution passing through many phases
reached its zenith in the 20th century.
This global revolution is what has been referred to as the Age of
Hudaibiyah. To summarize, the Treaty of Hudaibiyah is the establishment
of peace by unilaterally accepting the conditions of the opponents
and then to use the available opportunities to call people to God. The
opportunities that had emerged in the past through the sacrifices of
the Prophet and his Companions have now become available on a
much larger scale as a result of the demands of the times.
These opportunities and favourable
circumstances that are now available are
the result of many factors such as Western
civilization, democracy, the establishment
of UN, etc. These were all ostensibly secular
revolutions, but God made them a means for
the support of the religion (deen).
The Treaty of
Hudaibiyah is the
establishment of
peace by unilaterally
accepting the
conditions of the
opponents and then
to use the available
opportunities to call
people to God.
Summary
The beneficial results that emerged from the
Treaty of Hudaibiyah in the seventh century
CE, is described in the Quran (
victory’. This treaty was not any mysterious
event; it was an acknowledged and wise policy. In the seventh century,
this policy could be used only to a limited extent. Besides, the Prophet
and his Companions had to endure and unilaterally accept the
conditions of their opponents, so much so that the phrase ‘Rasul Allah’
(Messenger of God) had to be removed from the text of the treaty. But
later, when condition changed with the help of God, the Hudaibiyah
Revolution has become a global revolution.
Through the Hudaibiyah Treaty the conditions that were agreed upon
for a period of only 10 years, now have acquired the status of an
everlasting and universal conditions.
The opportunities available to the believers after the Treaty of Hudaibiyah
are now available on a much larger scale. These opportunities now only
need to be discovered and utilized wisely.
FOR THE THINKING SOUL
Finding the Purpose of ExistenceLIFE and the universe pose certain questions to the thinking
individual, and how he answers them depends largely on his
pattern of thinking. What, in the first place, establishes this
pattern? It is quite simply, the urge to worship. But to worship whom,
or what?
A man either worships God, or some entity other than God. His whole
way of thinking is then governed by his choice. All his trust and devotion
are centred in that Being or thing.; that is what becomes the most
important force in his life, for his actions flow from his faith and his
urge to worship. That, in effect, is what makes up his religion.
Islam, a preserved religion, teaches us that behind this world, the will
of an all-powerful Creator and Master is at work. One day, everyone
will be brought before Him to be judged and on that fateful day, His
judgement will be the final word on human success or failure.
The discovery of this reality is of much greater importance than the
discovery of a mere mathematical formula. It is to recognize that one
is nothing, has nothing, that God is everything, has everything in His
power, is Lord of all creation. With this realization comes the desire to
become a servant of the Almighty. One then becomes, quite naturally,
a completely altered human being, for his life is then bathed in a divine
light; his heart and mind are completely captivated. When he hears
and sees, it is with the hearing and vision of his Maker. The darkness in
which his ideas and thinking had formerly been plunged, is banished by
the discovery of God; every fibre of his being is lit up by this discovery,
just as if a new sun had climbed into the sky. The discovery of God
takes place in the human mind, but a man feels its effect throughout
his entire being.
The bimonthly Spirit of Islam helps its readers towards the journey
of God-realization. Through the pages of this magazine, we strive to
provide answers to the existential questions in the light of the teachings
of the prophets and the Scripture that God sent through the Prophet
Muhammad. These teachings are based on sound principles of reason
and rationality.
INDIAN MUSLIMS A HISTORICAL REVIEW
Finding the Cause of Their Backwardness
THE British put an end to the Muslim rule over India in 1857,
dealing a death blow to the political and cultural supremacy
of Muslims. Japan witnessed a similar turn of events in 1945
when America, having completely destroyed its industrial and military
power by dropping two atom bombs, succeeded in establishing its total
domination over Japan.
During the past one and a half centuries after the fall of political
power, the Indian Muslims launched a number of movements for their
reconstruction at the cost of great sacrifices. Right from the revolt of
1857 to the demolition of the Babri Mosque in 1992, the sacrifices
made by Indian Muslims of the subcontinent are tremendous. If an
appraisal is made of these sacrifices in material terms, it will come to
a Himalayan magnitude. But all these sacrifices proved to be fruitless
and of no avail to Muslims from any respect.
Despite incurring
huge losses, Muslim
leaders and thinkers
are still not able to
come out mentally
of collision course.
They are completely
unaware of any
other approach. In
this path, they are
welcomed only by
deprivation and
defeat.
Let us now look at the Japanese nation. After
the defeat in 1945, they started their struggle
for reconstruction, and within a short span of
forty years they not only made up for the loss
suffered in the Second World War, but also
managed to occupy a far more honourable
position in the world.
What is the reason of this difference between
the Muslim and Japanese? There is only one
reason and that is traceable to the different
strategies of action adopted by the two
towards the solution of their problems. The
Muslims led by their incompetent leaders
opted to destroy their opponents. On the
contrary, Japan led by their wise leaders
resorted to the policy of self-construction.
It is this difference of their approach, which accounts for the sharp
difference between the states of the two communities.
In the mid-nineteenth century when the British grabbed political power
from the Muslims the initial reaction of the Muslim leaders was to
recapture their lost power by resorting to violence. Muslim leaders, therefore, embarked upon a battle against the British though they
were ill-equipped and insufficiently prepared. This aggravated their
ruination a hundred fold. However, Muslim leaders, ignorant of any
other strategy, held others responsible for their ruin and continued
their collision course with the British.
Despite incurring huge losses, Muslim leaders and thinkers are still not
able to come out mentally of this collision course. They are completely
unaware of any other approach except that of agitation and encounter.
Consequently, whether it is the revolt of 1857 or the confrontation
over the Babri Mosque, this confrontation-loving leadership has set
Muslims, on all occasions, to the path of conflict. In this path, they are
welcomed only by deprivation and defeat.
All this does not mean to suggest that leaders with vision and wisdom
were never born in the Muslim community. Nature has always been
generous to every community in this respect. Wise and competent
leaders have therefore always been born in the Muslim community.
Unfortunately though, the Muslims did not pay any heed to the advice
of their competent and worthy leaders. The basic reason is that a
wise leader always addresses his people in low-profile. Due to certain
reasons, the present Muslim psychology attaches importance only to
high profile oratorical skills of their leadership, however baseless and
meaningless they might be as regards reality.
Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan (1817-1898) provides one notable example in
this connection. Being an eye witness to the turmoil of 1857, and then
after a critical assessment of the situation, he realized that the Muslims
were not in a position to make an advance, but they needed to undergo
a stage of preparation. He thus offered to Muslims the same suggestion
offered by the 124th Emperor Hirohito of Japan in 1945. Hirohito told
his people that although America had destroyed their cities, its army
had captured their territory, yet, he said that a sphere of action was still
lying wide open for them. It was the field of knowledge. Admitting that
the American domination over Japan was undoubtedly an insufferable
tragedy that they had to suffer in order that they could set the next
generation on the path of knowledge and progress. After a little
hesitation, the Japanese community finally wholeheartedly accepted
Hirohito’s advice. Subsequently, the entire world witnessed Japan’s
history taking a new turn through the efforts of only one generation.
Exactly the same suggestion was made by Sir Sayyid in the wake of
1857 revolt, to the Muslims of the subcontinent. He asked Muslims
to accept the British domination, and to avoid any political encounter with their rulers as it was not going to serve their purpose. He tried to
convince the Muslims that bright opportunities for the acquisition of
knowledge were lying open for them, outside the sphere of the political
dominance of the British. He tried to impress upon them that if they
could devote their energies to the field of knowledge, their history
would itself begin to change.
The Encyclopedia Britannica gives the following description of Sir
Sayyid’s mission:
The supreme interest of Sayyid’s life was, however, education—
in its widest sense. (…) (He) advised the
Muslims against joining active politics and to
concentrate instead on education (1/369).
While Hirohito’s people accepted their
leaders’ advice, Sir Sayyid’s people rejected
their leader’s advice castigating him as a
British agent. The difference in the result of
respective responses is for all to see. Japan
today occupies the top rung of the ladder
of the world’s developed nations. On the
contrary, the Muslims are today engaged in
putting pressure upon the Indian government
to declare Muslims a backward class so that
they may avail of the privileges mandated for
such reserved communities.
By availing the
existing opportunities
one enables oneself
to solve other
problems as well,
whereas one who
is entangled in the
problems not only
loses out on the
existing opportunities
but also fails to solve
the problems.
It is the verdict of history that a community which fails in the test of
prudent action can never compensate for its loss through agitational
campaigns and charter of demands, even if their poets, orators and
writers all join together in support of this demand.
Far from observing the whims and fancies of any group, this world
strictly adheres to the immutable laws of nature. Every individual and
collective achievement in this world can be gained only by conforming
to the laws of nature. Those who follow their own desire will receive
nothing in this world.
The Indian Muslims have to start their history anew from the point
where they had left Sir Sayyid. They will have to learn to starve the
problems and feed the opportunities already at hand. By availing the
existing opportunities one enables oneself to solve other problems as
well, whereas one who is entangled in the problems not only loses out
on the existing opportunities but also fails to solve the problems.
A PERFECT WORLD
Not in this Worldy Life
UNTIL recently, people in heavily industrialized areas of the world
considered the smoke pouring from their factory chimneys as a
sign of prosperity. They saw in it the solution to their problems,
and security for the future.
The problem of pollution first reared its head in the 1960s. At that time
the Germans tried to deal with it by building colossal chimney stacks,
which, it was hoped, would serve to protect the environment. It turned
out, however, that this measure only succeeded in spreading pollution
farther afield.
Now the destructive properties of the smoke, which used to be
considered a sign of prosperity are becoming fully apparent. This
smoke contains a high quantity of sulfur dioxide, which is transformed
into sulfuric acid in the atmosphere. This
sulfuric acid then mixes with the rainfall, and
falls to the ground in the form of acid rain.
Acid rain is causing immense damage to
the environment. A report published by the
National Academy of Sciences in America
states that in eastern Canada and the northeastern part of the United States, some lakes
and streams have been stripped of aquatic
life. Scientists are also concerned that acid
rain may lead to great releases of soil heavy
metals to surrounding ecosystem, posing a
potential threat to drinking water supplies.
The perfect world
that man desires
is destined for
another world; only
if we seek it there
can our dreams be
fulfilled. But man’s
misfortune is that he
seeks perfection in
this ephemeral world
where experience
shows that it cannot
be obtained.
The damage is heaviest where industrialization
is heaviest. In Germany, for instance, 300,000
acres of trees in Bavaria alone are reported to
be suffering from the effects of acid rain. More trees died in Germany
in 2020 than in any other previous year. A record 1.7% of the trees
under observation died between 2019 and 2020—almost 10 times the
average. Vast measures are being proposed to meet this threat, but all
of them are either scientifically impractical or economically unfeasible.
What hopes man associated with industrial civilization but how savagely
those hopes have been dashed! He thought that industrial civilization
would provide the perfect world he longs for, but it has only provided
him with more affliction.
Man has been given everything he requires in this world: he feels
hungry and he has been given food to satisfy his hunger; he feels
thirsty and has been given water to quench his thirst; he feels tired
and he has been given sleep to replenish and restore him. There is one
thing the man has not been given, and that is the perfect world that he
longs for more than anything. The means required for such a perfect
world are present in this world, but every time it seems to be within
man’s reach, worldly limitations prevent him from achieving it. One can
only conclude that the perfect world that man desires is destined for
another world; only if we seek it there can our dreams be fulfilled. But
man’s misfortune is that he seeks perfection in this ephemeral world
where experience shows that it cannot be obtained.
A PRACTICAL SOLUTION
Keeping One’s Ego under Control
AN eminent psychologist once observed, "When one's ego is
touched, it turns into superego, and the result is breakdown."
Much the same thing was said some fourteen centuries back
by Umair ibn Habib ibn Hamashah, a Companion of the Prophet
Muhammad. During his last days, he gave some advice to his grandson,
Abu Jaafar al-Khatmi, part of which was about
patience: “One who does not bear with small
harm from a foolish person will have to bear
with great harm”.
The gist of both these remarks is the same,
namely that the only way to avoid being
harmed by others is to keep out of their firing
line as much as possible, to keep as far away
as one can from those who show themselves
to be potentially harmful.
Every human being is born with an ‘ego’. More
often than not, that ego is dormant. It is better
to leave it sleeping for the ego can be like a
snake which, when aroused, will harm all within its reach.
It is a commonplace in any society for one to be put out, and even
aggrieved, as a result of someone else’s foolishness or willful malice.
Usually, the best way of avoiding great harm from mischief-makers is
to put up with initial hurt, for, if one does not, one will set off a chain
reaction in which things will go from bad to worse. Instead of having
to bear a relatively small hurt, one will be subjected to much greater
suffering. And if one has not been able to bear a pelting with stones,
how will one fare when great rocks descend upon one’s head?
Over-confidence is a common flaw
in the character of those who are
lacking in humility
A REALISTIC STEP
Find Your Sphere of Action
ACCORDING to the Russian writer, Maxim Gorky (1868-1936),
labour is the foundation of a culture. He further says that
“If everyone labours hard on his own small piece of land, this
world will become a wonderful place”.
What he says is absolutely right. Everyone has a sphere in which it is
possible for him to work, and if he works hard, he will be found to
achieve his full potential within that sphere. Then, if everyone in the
world were to set about achieving the optimum results within his own
limitations, the general changes would be
startling. With everyone striving their utmost
to complete their tasks, progress would be
visible on every side.
But man is not content to work his own small
piece of land. He targets the “bigger piece
of land” that belongs to others. Instead of
discharging his own practical responsibilities,
he demands that others do this for him.
A humble start is far
better than talk of
achieving great goals.
There is something
within everyone’s
reach that he can
achieve, but if he
clamours for ‘the
whole’, this may be
counterproductive.
Such a course of action is nothing short of
destructive. If it is followed by large numbers
of individuals, this will create the kind of
society where the air will be filled with hollow
utterances, and where the whole field of action will remain barren. The
ocean is made of drops. The whole is made up of its parts. Similarly,
society is made up of many different individuals. Only if every individual
gives his best in terms of proper behaviour and hard work that the
collective results of such activity can have its impact on the quality of
society as a whole. Without individual integrity, there can be no societal
progress.
A humble start is far better than talk of achieving great goals. There
is something within everyone’s reach that he can achieve, but if
he clamours for ‘the whole’, this may be counterproductive. The
programme has to be realistic. And if it is not so, it is no programme.
CORRECT STARTING POINT
Assurance of Success
IN December 1941, during WWII, the top naval base of USA, Pearl
Harbour located on the Pacific island of Hawaii, was attacked without
prior warning by the Japanese. So severe was the bombardment
that, of the hundred odd naval vessels anchored there, only a handful
survived. This had the immediate effect of bringing America into the
war as one of the Allied Powers. Up till that point, USA had no direct
involvement in hostilities save as a supplier of armaments to the enemies
of Japan. The Japanese attack was uncalled-for and ill-considered.
They did not realize the magnitude of their
error until 1945, when America finally took
its revenge by dropping the first-ever atom
bombs on two of Japan’s major industrial
centres, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan was
utterly annihilated as a military power.
Simply by accepting
the fact that
aggression could not
pay dividends and
then channelizing
its potential in the
field of industry,
Japan has managed
quite miraculously
to supersede all the
other nations of the
world.
The Americans then kept a tight military
and political hold over Japan. But the latter
country, astonishingly, recuperated from the
horror of large-scale atomic devastation, and
proceeded to adapt itself to an entirely new
set of circumstances. Before the World War
II, it had relied on the ‘power of weapons’.
But after witnessing the destruction these
caused, it relinquished their use and set
about reconstructing the country along entirely peaceful lines. Having
once adopted this course, the Japanese showed great versatility,
resilience and assiduity, and their success has been such that Japan
is now considered the second greatest industrial power in the entire
world today. Its trade surplus in 2020 was 5.
In the field of industry, the victors have been subjugated by the
vanquished. Simply by accepting the fact that aggression could not pay
dividends and then channelizing its potential in the field of industry,
Japan has managed quite miraculously to supersede all the other
nations of the world.
The Americans are greatly upset at this state of affairs and refer to the
present ‘invasion’ of Japanese goods as an Economic Pearl Harbour. A
book written by Ezra F Vogel under the title of Japan as Number One,
became a best-seller when it was published (1979). It clearly shows that Japan has far outrun the US and Britain in business. So far as foreign
exchange is concerned, Japan is one of the wealthiest countries in the
world, its foreign exchange reserves count to 1,
2022. This ranks Japan as second only to China.
How did Japan turn its military defeat into
economic conquest? By encouraging patience
and perseverance and avoiding provocation,
it concentrated its energies on peaceful (and,
of course, remunerative) fields, rather than
indulging in retaliatory violence. It initially
accepted the military and political supremacy
of other nations. It quickly adapted itself
to new scales of values, then set about to
the economic rehabilitation of the country
without wasting a single moment on bewailing
lost opportunities.
We must never lose
sight of the fact
that we are not lone
travellers on this
earth. There are
always others who
are trying to race
ahead of us in this
world of competition.
It didn’t blame others for its misfortunes or on
pointless nostalgia. Rather than committing
further mistakes, Pearl Harbour being the greatest, it concentrated its
attention on seizing existing opportunities. In short, Japan accepted
the blame for its own destruction, and, once having done so, was able
earnestly to launch itself on its own economic uplift.
This episode projects a very important lesson for us. We must never
lose sight of the fact that we are not lone travellers on this earth. There
are always others who are trying to race ahead of us in this world of
competition. The resulting situation can be approached in two entirely
different ways. One is to collide with anything which obstructs our
path. The other is to circumvent obstacles and then to go on our way.
Clearly, the first is self-destructive, while the second, of avoiding
confrontations, is much more likely to prove advantageous. A ship
which sails straight at a rock or an iceberg is doomed to disaster. It
is the ship which veers temporarily off its course to avoid the reefs
which will eventually sail safely into harbour. Similarly, Japan, by giving
up ideas of military supremacy, has reached a much more worthwhile
objective – economic supremacy.
It is worth remembering that Hiroshima and Nagasaki, once symbols of
Japan’s total annihilation as a military power, are now symbols, seven
decades later, of Japan’s stunning economic success.
INDIA A SPIRITUAL SUPERPOWER
August 15, 2022, marks the beginning of the 75th year of
Independence of India. The Government of India celebrated
the 75 years of Independence of India with great excitement.
These celebrations were marked under the name ‘Azadi Ka Amrit
Mahotsav'.
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan believed that India can show the
way to the world toward peaceful and spiritually-elevated
existence. To mark this momentous occasion, we reproduce here
Maulana’s message to the people of India.
I have always maintained that India is a potential spiritual
superpower. As a matter of ancient tradition, India may be called
a land of spirituality. Here, I recall an event pertaining to Swami
Vivekanand. During a visit of his to America, he was walking along a
street in Chicago, and according to the Swami tradition, he was clad
in just two pieces of untailored cloth. An American lady, seeing him in
these clothes, found this very strange. She whispered to her husband:
“I don’t think that person is a gentleman”. Swamiji overheard this. He
went up to her and said, “Excuse me, madam, in your country a tailor
makes a man a gentleman. But in the country from which I come,
character makes a man a gentleman”.
Here, I would like to add a very relevant story. Mother Teresa was born
in Europe. She visited India and was so fascinated with this land of
spirituality that she decided to settle here. She dedicated her entire life
to social upliftment. In recognition of her services, she was awarded the
prestigious Nobel Prize. On this occasion, she was invited to the USA to
address an American audience there. She began her address with these
historic words: “I have come from a rich country to a poor country”. She
was indeed referring to the spiritual wealth of this country.
It is a fact that India has a long tradition of spirituality and moral values.
In other words, potentially, India is a spiritual powerhouse. This is the
true spirit of India. We only need to revive ancient Indian traditions in
our lives, for India to emerge as a spiritual superpower in the world. It
will be able to conquer the world with its spiritual power. But turning
this Indian potential into reality would need a long and sincere effort.
First of all, we have to rebuild good traditions in individual minds.
We have to bring about a change in people’s thinking, so that we may
build a society based on sound ethical principles. This again requires a
nonviolent struggle, in the complete sense of the phrase.
Then, we need to build a nation reinforced by these principles—a
nation, that knows the difference between peace and violence, a nation
that knows the difference between the spiritual and the non-spiritual.
Individuals are the social constituents that make a nation. And a
nation armed with the spiritual power of its individuals is in a position
to inculcate spirituality in international life. India, by revitalizing, can
change the whole world. Let us work for this noble cause.
In the age of the culture of peace, the entire
world craves peace. It is here that India has
a chance to play an important role. India
can show the world the path to peace and
spirituality and thus emerge as a spiritual
superpower.
Spirituality is the
whole identity of
our country. For
centuries, the lofty
Himalayas have
served as an abode
of spirituality. Its
message flows
eternally in the water
of the Ganga and the
Jamuna, while tall
green trees provide
spiritual solace,
and beautiful birds
warble the song of
peace.
Swami Vivekanand was a great soul of India.
I think he was quite right in predicting that,
after independence, India would emerge as a
spiritual leader of the world. Despite all the
material progress that has been made, the
world is in search of spirituality. Here, I would
like to refer to a very telling incident. I once saw
a youth from the West, simply clad, walking
along an Indian street. He looked very happy
and contented. I struck up a conversation with
him and learnt that he belonged to an affluent
western country, namely Canada. I asked him
why he had left his country and come to India.
He quietly replied: “There, I was comfortable
physically; here, I am comfortable spiritually”.
Indeed, spirituality is the whole identity of our country. For centuries,
the lofty Himalayas have served as an abode of spirituality. Its message
flows eternally in the water of the Ganga and the Jamuna, while tall
green trees provide spiritual solace, and beautiful birds warble the
song of peace. This rare combination of spiritual greatness is to be
found only in India. This is what makes it a spiritual superpower. It is in
this sense that I say that India is potentially a superpower, and as such,
we need to produce a spiritual renaissance. Herein lies the secret of
attaining global leadership for India.
THE MAJORITYMINORITY EQUATION
Finding a Law of Nature
ACCORDING to the law of nature laid down in the Quran in the
chapter Al-Baqarah (The Heifer), ‘minority’ and ‘majority’ are
relative terms. It is not quantity that matters but quality. The
Quran says, “Many a small group, by God’s permission has prevailed
against a large group. God is indeed with the steadfast. (
minority should prevail over the majority is not a mysterious belief. It
is merely an accepted sequence of events which is based on the law of
nature—attributed in the above verse to divine ‘permission’.
In reality, it is the result of a process arising out
of life’s inherent challenges and competition.
This conforms to a natural law which inevitably
sets in motion a process between the two
groups, which may continue over several
generations. This process works in parallel, on
the one hand among the majority and on the
other among the minority, and that is what
is mainly responsible for bringing about that
ultimate miracle of the minority being able to
prevail over the majority.
When the minority
faces discrimination,
it must not react.
Its leader must tell
the community to
take it as a challenge
rather than as
discrimination, and
to attribute it to the
law of nature rather
than to the majority
community
The majority feels, consciously or
unconsciously, that it enjoys the favourable
conditions that stem from being in an
advantageous position as compared to
other groups. On the other hand, the minority feels, consciously or
unconsciously, that it is on the defensive: it has no option but to work
harder than the other group. It is a double process that activates both
the communities, in different ways. The psyche of contentment in the
majority group decreases its creativity. In contrast, the minority group
develops a kind of defensive psychology. It feels that if it wants to
stand up to the majority, it has to work harder than the other group.
This feeling of discontent yields a positive result in that it constantly
increases the creativity of minority.
According to this law, referred to in the above Quranic verse, a natural
process is always in progress among the different groups of societies,
although in opposite ways. This law of nature tells us not to resort to
lodging complaints or protests. In a situation where the minority faces
discrimination, it must not react. Its leader must tell the community to take it as a challenge rather than as discrimination, and to attribute
it to the law of nature rather than to the attitudes and actions of the
majority community.
The basic requirement in such a situation is for the minority community
to save itself from being a victim of frustration and despair. It should
take the situation as being full of opportunities. It should maintain
its positivity at any cost. If a minority group has this mentality, it will
emerge as a creative force.
The virtue of modesty makes
you a realist—a person who
is cut down to size.
THE GOAL OF A BELIEVER
Passing over the Ephemera of the World
ALI, the fourth Caliph was married to Fatima, who was a daughter
of the Prophet Muhammad. He relates how his wife had to do
all the housework herself. Her hands used to become blistered
from working a millstone, her clothes became dirty from sweeping the
floor, and having to bring water from outside in a large leather bag had
left a mark on her neck. On one occasion when the Prophet had had an
influx of servants, Ali suggested to Fatima that she go and request her
father to give her one of them to help her in
her work. She duly went to see him, but there
were many people gathered at his house,
and she returned home, without meeting her
father.
The next day the Prophet came to the house
of Ali and Fatima and asked what it was she
had wanted to discuss with him, but Fatima
remained silent. Then Ali told the Prophet the
whole story. The Prophet did not, however,
accede to their request for a servant. “Fear
God,” he said, “and fulfill your duty to the Lord.
Continue to do your housework and, when
you go to bed at night, glorify God 33 times,
praise Him the same number of times and
exalt him 34 times. This makes mentioning
and extolling God’s name 100 times altogether. That will do more good
than a servant will”.
The hardships and
afflictions of this
world are bound
to perish, but the
pain and suffering
of the Hereafter
shall remain forever.
A true believer,
therefore, should
strive his utmost to
become worthy of
the blessings of the
Hereafter.
This was Prophet’s way of reminding people that instead of looking to
ease worldly life, one should pay utmost attention towards making the
world of Hereafter an easy place. The hardships and afflictions of this
world are bound to perish, but the pain and suffering of the Hereafter
shall remain forever. A true believer, therefore, should strive his utmost
to become worthy of the blessings of the Hereafter.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Fundamental and Sacred
FREEDOM of expression is one of the fundamental rights of human
beings. Governmental as well as non-governmental organizations
have taken it upon themselves to make sure to cultivate such
environment where it is conducive and safe to exercise the right to
freedom of expression.
Amnesty International mentions this on its website:
You have the right to say what you think, share information
and demand a better world. You also have the right to agree or
disagree with those in power, and to express these opinions in
peaceful protests.
Exercising these rights, without fear or unlawful interference, is
central to living in an open and fair society; one in which people
can access justice and enjoy their human rights.
In Islam, freedom of expression is allowed in the last degree possible.
Only one thing is taboo, and that is physical harm. Otherwise you are
free. If you use only words, and you are expressing your differences in
harsh terms, it is allowed, unless you use harm. What is forbidden in
Islam is physical harm. Freedom of expression is allowed, there is no
restriction at all.
In Islam, freedom of
expression is allowed
in the last degree
possible. Only one
thing is taboo, and
that is physical harm.
There is a very interesting reference in the
Quran in this regard. When God Almighty
created Man, at that time there were two
creatures, jinns and angels. So God Almighty
ordered that those two, the jinns and angels,
must bow before Adam, before Man. ‘When
your Lord said to the angels, ‘I am putting a
successor on earth,’ they said, ‘Will You place
someone there who will cause corruption on
it and shed blood, while we glorify You with
Your praise and extol Your holiness?’ (
It was clearly a dissent. The angels showed dissent, and God allowed
that dissent. God justified his act by showing the basic wisdom behind
God’s creating a new creature. He never said that you have no right
to differ from my reason. In this way, God Himself has established a
precedent that everyone has the right to freedom of expression.
NEGLIGENCE A MORAL DEFICIENCY
Take Action before It’s Too Late
IT is hard to believe that any animal could be more dangerous or
terrifying than the man-eating tiger. But it is not the tiger or the
bear which is the most dangerous enemy of man. In truth, the most
dangerous of our enemies are the bacteria and viruses which are so
tiny that they remain invisible to the naked eye. Small they may be,
but these micro-organisms breed at such a furious rate that, given
favourable conditions, one of their number can reproduce itself 10,000
times over within a mere matter of ten hours. While a bear or a lion
only occasionally eats a man alive, man is the constant focus of deadly
bacteria.
Their species run into thousands. We are fortunate, however, in that 99
percent are either beneficial or harmless.
Though only one percent is harmful, its deadliness is such that it can
claim the life of a man within a matter of seconds. All fatal diseases,
according to medical science, are produced by such micro-organisms.
Their very lack of bulk makes it possible for them to enter the human
system in ways against which man has no natural system of defence.
People are usually aware of big and obvious dangers, and imagine they
must be responsible for all their misfortunes. But, if the truth were
told, the harm done to us by these tiny living organisms far surpasses
any havoc our bigger enemies can wreak. Yet, when we come to think
of it, the greatest damage of all is done by those seemingly insignificant
and often short-lived moments of neglect, moments when timely action
was our duty, when approval needed to be given or withheld, when
advice or help or self-appraisal was needed, and we let the occasion
slip by, heedless of the consequences. Easy-going negligence can creep
into our souls, like bacteria into the body, and, if not pulled up short,
can become an ingrained attitude, leading to moral corrosion.
A negligent attitude permits people to fritter away their time, day after
day, with no thought for the future. Similarly, they squander substantial
portions of their income. This wasted time and pointless expenditure
may seem a trivial matter. If it is just a question of one day, a few hours
and a few rupees, they don't seem to add up to much. But if one were
to calculate the time and money thus wasted in one year and then
in a whole lifetime, it would become clear that fully fifty percent of
one’s life and earnings had been squandered in vain pursuits. Take the
total wastage of a whole nation and the loss assumes such enormous
proportions that it quite goes beyond the imagination.
PRIDE AND GRATITUDE
Two Opposite Human Feelings
ONCE, an educated Muslim told me confidently, “I can proudly
and gratefully say that God caused me to be born in an
environment steeped in religious fervour, and He granted me
the opportunity to get educated and trained in a reputed institution”.
This is not a statement of just one person. This kind of thing is what
many people say in their own way. These words seem to be very
captivating, but these words are devoid of any true meaning. The truth
of the matter is that pride and gratitude are two entirely different
emotions. Where there is pride, there will be no gratitude; and where
there is gratitude, there will be no pride. Those who still speak such
words may possess the element of pride, but the sentiment of true
gratefulness can never find a place in their hearts.
What is gratitude? Gratitude is, in reality, the acknowledgement of
the blessings of God Almighty. Acknowledgement of the blessings of
God immediately produces a feeling of utter helplessness. Once a
person feels this helplessness, he cannot carry the feeling of pride in
his bosom. After a person has truly realized
his helplessness, he will find himself as
‘nothing’ and he will find God as everything.
For a man who has this realization of truth,
the word ‘pride’ will become meaningless to
him. Forgetting all, he will take on the hue of
expressing gratitude to God. He will find in his
bosom no place for personal glory and pride.
A person can show true gratitude only when
he is truly modest and humble. A person who
lacks the divine quality of complete modesty
can never experience the bliss of gratitude.
Gratitude is the
acknowledgement
of the blessings of
God Almighty. This
acknowledgement
immediately
produces a feeling of
utter helplessness.
Once a person feels
this helplessness,
he cannot carry the
feeling of pride in his
bosom.
To speak the words of pride along with words
of gratitude makes the person eligible for,
to use an academic term, minus marking. A
person saying both words together proves
that he is unaware of the real truth of both
words. He knows neither the psychology of pride nor the psychology of
gratitude. If he were aware of both of them, he would not have spoken
the contradictory words of pride and gratitude together. Gratitude
grows when pride is negated. Gratitude cannot be nurtured where
pride has taken root.
LESSER GRATITUDE GREATER GRATITUDE
Path to God-realization
THE Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said, “One who does
not show gratitude for lesser things, will not express gratitude
for greater things as well.” (Musnad Ahmed, Hadith No. 18449)
This saying illustrates a law of nature. This law is: By recalling minor
incidents, a person brings alive the memories of major events.
Studies in psychology indicate that the human
brain contains many different files. For
example, love file, hate file, acknowledgement
file, oppression file, etc. The mind keeps on
putting separately all the experiences and
observations of the human being. When a
person is affected by a particular incident,
this triggers his mind, and then it is as if the
file of this type opens up and all the events of
this type come to the fore.
A small event of
gratitude becomes
a cause of greater
gratitude. This feeling
is increased to such
an extent that the
person feels that a
fountain of gratitude
has started flowing in
his heart.
This law of nature plays an important role in
matters of gratitude and acknowledgement.
For example, you received a mobile phone
today. You spoke to a distant person. Then, you thought about the
difficulty of contacting another person just a couple of decades ago.
This realization produced a deep sense of gratitude and you expressed
the bounties of God. This process will immediately trigger your mind. At
this time, the file of the brain will open all the items of gratitude under
this system of nature. Your brain will refresh all such incidences from
your life. Thus, a small event of gratitude becomes a cause of greater
gratitude. This feeling is increased to such an extent that the person
feels that a fountain of gratitude has started flowing in his heart. The
feeling of gratitude continues to enhance a person’s relationship with
God, till he reaches the highest level of God-realization.
AN INTERVIEW WITH DR RAJAT MALHOTRA
Dr Rajat Malhotra, a CPS International member
and a proponent of interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding, has received his doctorate in “A Study of
the Arabian Society after the Advent of Islam with
Specific reference to the Life of Prophet Muhammad”.
He has been associated with CPS International, New
Delhi since its very inception. Besides being the
CPS International Education Programme Global
Coordinator, he is a regular contributor of articles on
Islam and modernity like peace, democracy, jihad,
and more to various journals. He is a regular participant and organizer of
interfaith and Islamic programmes.
His academic interest in Islam in relation to modernity, peace, and
interfaith dialogue is applied through his efforts at the Centre for Peace
and Spirituality’s national and international initiatives toward dialogue and
peace-building efforts with different faiths. His objective understanding of
Islam is reflected in his words at a programme at IIC, New Delhi covered
by Life Positive magazine: “Do not judge Islam based on the actions of
Muslims. Evaluate the actions of Muslims using Islamic tenets”.
How were you introduced to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan? Kindly
describe your first meeting.
It was in the year 2001, probably the month of February when I first
visited Maulana Wahiduddin Khan at his residence. The meeting was
organized by Mr Khalid Ansari whom I had met through Ms Priya Malik
during a business interaction. Since we three had a spiritual interest,
Khalid suggested that we meet Maulana Wahiduddin Khan Saheb. He
introduced Maulana as someone who addressed the modern mind on
spiritual matters. I was reluctant to meet Maulana as I had never liked
Muslims. Khalid was the first Muslim I got comfortable with due to his
friendly behaviour. So, I agreed to meet Maulana upon his insistence.
My decision to meet him was also influenced by my long-burning desire
for getting answers to my troubling existential questions.
I remember my first interaction with Maulana Saheb. It was quite the
opposite of what I had expected. Maulana turned out to be so warm
and rational in his approach that I felt the strong urge to meet him again. That day I felt much at ease as if my soul was urging me on to
interact with him again. I believe that it was God’s intervention to make
me listen to my inner voice of meeting him again. I had a happy and
peaceful sleep that night.
What did you think of Islam before you met Maulana?
Islam, for me, was a religion of violence. I grew up thinking that it is a
very complex and difficult religion to understand. I consciously never
made any Muslim friends during my school, graduation, or postgraduation days because I didn’t like Muslims and particularly Islam.
It was also due to childhood conditioning. I always felt that the world
would be a better place without Muslims and Islam.
My opinion about Islam had developed looking at Muslim’s actions
around the world and seeing them at the forefront of all negative
news. Additionally, my grandparents and parents had to leave their
place of birth Pakistan during Partition. I had heard stories of horror,
terror, loss and pain from them since childhood. My parents still have
their passports with ‘Undivided India’ as their place of birth. Naturally,
my hatred and negative impression of Islam were a result of all these
factors.
Kindly provide some information about your family and education.
I come from an educated family. My mother was a lecturer in college
before her marriage and her brother was a principal of an engineering
college in Madhya Pradesh. My father’s family had a flourishing export
business which he left to work in a PSU. I did my Economics Hons. from
Kirori Mal College, Delhi University and then my MBA and a few other
finance certifications. Inspired by Maulana Saheb, I did MA and PhD in
Islamic Studies. My elder brother works in the Middle East heading a
company and my wife Stuti Malhotra had worked earlier with American
Express and has just finished her PhD. She is my strength and partner
in God’s work.
What inspires you to devote yourself wholly to the mission?
After meeting Maulana and discovering God through him, my mindset
changed from narrow thinking to universal thinking. The fact that there
are innumerable people like me waiting to discover the creation plan
of God and that our task of conveying God’s message will give us the
unfathomable reward of living closest to our Creator. This is enough
reason to dedicate myself to this mission.
All this thinking is due to Maulana’s personal attention and training.
He unfolded the real world (the Hereafter) to the CPS members. For
me, God, His angels and Hereafter are more real than this world. Once
you discover this reality, there is no reason for focusing on anything
else. When I read the life of the Prophet and his Companions and look
at how Maulana lived and sacrificed his life, it inspires me to the core
that I should follow in the same footsteps and not create new ones.
I also realize my helplessness and lacking in all aspects, but then the
Greatness and Mercifulness of God Almighty make me very hopeful.
What tasks are you shouldering after Maulana Saheb’s demise?
When Maulana was alive, my primary task was to manage all his
programmes globally. It was also my responsibility to look after CPSrelated coordination and correspondence on his behalf with individuals
and institutions. Post his demise, I am involved in daily correspondence
of CPS with all those involved in the mission. I am part of decision
making, networking, continuing weekly Sunday sessions and playing
the role of CPS Trustee.
Maulana’s central teaching was about being connected to God.
Kindly share the most inspiring teaching of Maulana in this regard.
His entire focus was on conveying the glory of God to humankind. Once
he said that in the Hereafter, there would be seats reserved for pious
people from human history. Most of these seats have been filled in
except one. This seat, he explained, is the seat for those who dedicate
themselves to the Love of God. Maulana said that this was his aim to
instil the love of God in a sincere seeker. To my mind, this is the most
beautiful thing to aspire for in one’s life. The love of God is everything. It
is this love of God which not only fills a person with God-realization, but
it would also become the reason to qualify for God’s neighbourhood.
Earning this ‘Seat of Love of God’ not only is great hope for all of us,
but at the same time, it gives us lifelong purpose to aspire for that seat.
How did the CPS spiritual sessions start and develop? What is their
significance?
It started in 2001 when three of us, i.e., Priya Malik, Khalid Ansari and I
met Maulana Saheb. The first interaction was so warm and nice that we
asked Maulana if we could come again and then there was no looking
back. The group kept getting bigger and bigger, and regular Saturday
and Sunday classes began. Soon the word spread and we began to
have the classes at CPS Hall.
A breakthrough also came with Sunday classes being streamed
live globally. This made people aware of the spiritual classes being
conducted by Maulana. We started recording and organizing these
lectures with the help of Dr Saniyasnain Khan, Naghma aapa and Mr
Navdeep Kapur. Later, these classes got amplified by Facebook Live
sessions. Maulana’s emphasis was to churn from this group sincere
CPS workers who would carry the mission after him.
That is why he used to say that his task is to create programme-makers
who would be able to manage their emotions and situations all by
themselves and come up with ideas and implement them with “I will do
it” spirit. So, there was a two-fold significance of these classes, firstly to
create a team of programme-makers globally and secondly, a call was
being given by Maulana to the whole world that Islam is the voice of
human nature and a religion of peace. Islam is not a religion of violence,
rather Islam gives man all the answers to his spiritual quest.
How would you describe your companionship with Maulana?
Maulana was the biggest blessing of God for me. Before I met him,
though I was doing well professionally, on my spiritual front, I had so
many troubling questions which remained unanswered. Due to this,
I felt deep emptiness from inside. After meeting him, there was no
looking back and with each subsequent interaction, he became the
most important person in my life.
I got so attached to him
that I could not think of a
day without him in my life.
I always dreaded the day
of separation. Though
this separation was a
certainty. This certainty,
I always pushed back
in my mind and tried to
forget. I thought maybe
he would live as long and
as many years as God has
destined for me. I prayed
and hoped my companionship with him will enter into the Hereafter
from this world without any amount of time being spent alone.
I realized in his companionship that after discovering God, there is
no work more important than conveying the Creation Plan of God to humanity. I miss him every single day and he is in my thoughts always.
He asked me once, "How would you handle things and CPS once I am
gone?" I replied with a heavy heart that I will try to think about what he
would have done in such a situation. He smiled and said, “Good, then
you won’t go wrong”.
But this meant a great sense of responsibility and to be forgiving,
having a big heart, not getting offended and above all, not losing focus
on the primary task of collectively taking CPS into its culminating role.
I am looking forward to meeting him again and never being separated
ever.
You have travelled extensively with Maulana. What are your
experiences with Maulana during these travels?
I travelled with him to different parts of India and the world like the USA,
Canada, Israel, Qatar, Poland, Cyprus, Dubai, Turkey, and Switzerland.
Every experience was precious as I got to witness his simplicity, his
wise handling of interactions and his burning desire of working towards
God’s cause disregarding the limitations of his very old age.
Once at Khaja Kaleemuddin Saheb’s (CPS USA Chapter head) place in
the US, a big container of translations of the Quran and Islamic books
arrived while we were still around. We all were pushing the heavy load
towards Kaleem Saheb’s storage room and to our disbelief, Maulana
himself started pushing it as he didn’t want to be left behind even in
that task. Such was his enthusiasm and love for God’s work.
I saw that he kept good care of his health. I would say that he justified
every single organ of his body that God gifted him. While on travel, he
never bothered about food, accommodation, or inconvenience as his
focus was always on the travel objective, i.e., to talk about God’s glory
and instil in people the accountability of our actions in the Hereafter. I
saw him as a man of mission who did not want to waste a single second.
His time management, disciplined approach, well-wishing attitude and
sensitive heart showcased him as a ‘well-wisher of humanity’.
You have had the opportunity to be with Maulana in his later
years. Would you like to share some pieces of advice that Maulana
imparted to you?
In his last few days, Maulana shared a few things with me in
confidentiality. One of the things that I would like to share which he
repeated in his last days was that whenever you find yourself at the
crossroads facing difficulties doing CPS work, then be steadfast and supplicate to God and in no time God’s angels will rush for the help. He
also said that if there arises a group who questions CPS, then you and
CPS members should not falter or give up, rather keep praying to God,
stay positive and work till you meet your Lord.
One thing Maulana said clearly was that, he considers only those
people his disciples who will manage their differences and do not leave
the CPS group. He said, to go against the mission of communicating
the message of the Quran to people, whatever the reason, will not be
accepted by God. One should stay united inspite of the differences.
Maulana further said that in spite of being misunderstood, if a person
continues to be in the mission and does not leave, and this he does for
the sake of God, his action will be highly rewardable in the Hereafter.
While we were having this conversation, Maulana began to cry and said,
"If you follow this advice, then mark my words, you will witness that on
the day of Judgement, angels will announce that here is the team which
managed differences on their own." He then said that there will be a
great welcome for such a group.
To my mind, this is the biggest reason for us staying together till we
play our roles. He never focused on quantity but on individuals. This
is the reason he was able to prepare a team so strong which has only
firmed up its resolve to carry his legacy forward after his demise. Had
he focused on quantity, the CPS mission would have been history by
now.
What is the CPS Peace Mission?
The CPS Peace mission is a mission of hope for humanity. There is
so much negativity, sadness, hate, feeling of hopelessness, jealousy,
and temptations in the world. All these are due to the people not
understanding why this world was created in the first place. What
is the Creation Plan of God? How can we discover our Creator? This
unawareness has led people to do whatever it takes to fulfil their
unlimited desires. This becomes the trigger to misusing one’s freedom
whether at an individual level or at the level of a nation.
The CPS mission has answered all the above questions in the
contemporary idiom. The CPS mission is based on the ideology
presented by Maulana who derived the principles of spirituality and
peace from the Quran, the practical model of the Prophet Muhammad
and sound principles of reason.
It is important to state here that the CPS mission is not the Delhi Team’s
responsibility but the responsibility of all CPS members worldwide as
it is a common platform to convey God’s message to our fellow beings.
To think of CPS as a brick-and-mortar office managed by a few core
people will be a grave mistake. To keep its purpose in sight and alive
is the responsibility of all those who identify themselves as members
of CPS wherever they reside or work. The onus is on every sincere and
serious CPS member whom Maulana trained for this mission. May we
fulfil Maulana Wahiduddin Khan Saheb’s mission. I pray to God to unite
us with Maulana in Paradise! Amen.
Kindly click on this link to watch Dr Rajat Malhotra
introduce the universal message of the Quran:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DttzU2D_8Fg
BOOK REVIEW
MY JOURNEY TO SWITZERLAND
The Road to World Peace
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
(Translated by Dr Farida Khanum)
Reviewed by Nigar Ataulla
THIS is a little book, just about 80-pages long, but full of interesting
anecdotes and valuable lessons. It is a travelogue based on the
author’s journey to Switzerland in October 2002. This was the
late Maulana Wahiduddin Khan’s third trip to that country, this time
on the invitation of the Nuclear Disarmament Forum, a wing of an
organization called “Peace International”.
A central theme of the book is to present the ideology of peace to the
world. “This book is a gift to the new generation from a peace-loving
person to find inner peace and become contributors to world peace,”
says the Maulana. He describes Switzerland as a model of peace.
The book holds readers’ interest as the author shares his personal
feelings about his journey, some of the people whom he met at the
conference for which he had visited the country and even some minute
details about the in-flight magazine he read on the Swiss Air flight!
One of the best chapters I liked was “Lessons From Switzerland”.
I observed that the Mualana was so grounded despite being in a
foreign country and meeting so many different delegates that he often
remembered God.
While this visit of the Maulana’s to Switzerland was way back in 2002,
the views on peace which he presented at the conference there are
still very relevant today and the need of the hour. With the world today
going upside down with all kinds of turmoil and trials, the Maulana’s
book on his journey to Switzerland brings hope. Positive thinking had
been an integral part of the Maulana’s lifestyle till his end and this
book, which highlights the need for positive thinking, is a precious gift
to the world.
CHILDRENS CORNER
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Name of the Book: 101 Seerah Stories and Dua
Author: Saniyasnain Khan
ISBN: 9789351790242
Pages: 208
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stories told in simple language that children will easily understand and
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again and again! We reproduce here one story from the book.
Saniyasnain Khan is a children’s author, with over 100 children’s
books to his credit. His books have been translated into Arabic,
French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, Polish, Swedish,
Bosnian, Russian, Turkish, Malay, Thai, Urdu, Malayalam, and other
languages. He hopes that his books will be a true companion on the
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This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Miracle of Birds
Abraha’s massive army approached Makkah. Abraha was confident that
he would demolish the Kabah without any resistance from the people of
Makkah. But, all of a sudden, the elephants who had been trumpeting
in the most frightening way, stopped moving. The mahouts, who were
driving the elephants, pierced, pricked and stabbed them with sharp, pointed instruments. But this had no effect on the elephants. They
stood stock still.
Besides that, flocks of birds flew over the army, carrying pebbles in
their beaks and claws. They showered the pebbles on Abraha’s army.
Due to this, the whole army was afflicted with a strange disease. The
soldiers were terrified and took flight. The elephants then went berserk
and began to trample over them. There was complete disorder and
confusion in the army.
Seeing this chaos, Abraha at once decided to order his army to return.
So, instead of marching forward and entering Makkah, the army turned
and fled towards Yemen.
In this miraculous way, Allah saved the Kabah from the evil intentions
of Abraha. On the way back to Yemen, many soldiers, horses and
elephants began to die. By the time they reached Sana in Yemen, most
of the strong army men had died on the way. Abraha himself fell sick
and passed away soon after arriving at his home in Yemen.
The strong man is not the one who is good at wrestling but the one who
controls himself in a fit of rage. (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Our Lord has encompassed all things in knowledge. Upon Allah we
have relied. Our Lord, decide between us and our people in truth, and
You are the best of those who give decision. (Al-Araf 7.
THE WORD OF GOD
From The Scriptures
The Quran is the book of God. It has been preserved in
its entirety since its revelation to the Prophet of Islam
between CE 610 and 632. It is a book that brings glad
tidings to humankind, along with divine admonition,
and stresses the importance of man’s discovery of the
Truth on a spiritual and intellectual level.
Translated from Arabic and commentary by
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
THE BURSTING OPEN
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
When the sky bursts open, and obeys its Lord as it must, when the
earth flattens out, and casts out all that is within it and becomes
empty; and obeys its Lord as it must, O man, having striven hard
towards your Lord, you shall meet Him: he who is given his record in
his right hand shall have an easy reckoning and he shall return to his
people, joyfully, but as for him whose record shall be given to him
from behind his back, he will pray for utter destruction and he will
enter the blazing flame. He used to be happy with his own people; for
he never thought that he would have to return [to God]. But he will
indeed! His Lord was ever watching him.(
Whatever is related here about Doomsday refers apparently to an
unknown world. However, such evidence exists as points to its veracity.
An example of this is the present world itself. The very existence of
the world proves that another similar or different world may come
into existence. Furthermore, certain extraordinary aspects of the
Quran prove that it is the Book of God. (For details see The Quran: An
Abiding Wonder and The Call of the Quran by the commentator).
I swear by the glow of sunset, by the night and what it covers, and
the moon when it grows full, you will progress from stage to stage.
What is wrong with them that they do not believe? When the Quran
is read to them, why do they not fall to their knees? Indeed, those
who are bent on denying the truth reject it—God is quite aware of
what they are storing in their hearts. Therefore, give them the news of a painful punishment. But for those who believe and do good
works; for them there shall be a never-ending reward.
In spite of such clear indications, there are those who do not believe
in the Hereafter and live out their lives without ever taking it into
account. Such individuals are certainly committing a crime which is
deserving of the punishment mentioned above.
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
The remedy for ignorance is asking questions. (Prophet Muhammad)
The spirit of enquiry is the hallmark of an open society and the above
saying of the Prophet aptly illustrates this principle. A culture of
curiosity and open-mindedness will foster development in any society
by motivating its members to learn enthusiastically and enrich their
knowledge. This is because awareness of one’s ignorance is half of
knowledge, as it becomes a stepping-stone to seeking and finding
answers. A questioning mind is like a flowing river that is replenished
with fresh thoughts and ideas and continues on its journey.
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
What is the essence of the religion of Islam?
The realization of God is the essence of the religion of Islam. The
realization of God is the beginning as well as the end of religion. The
Arabic word for this realization is Marifah.
What role does Marifah or God-realization play in a believer’s life?
The position of Marifah in God’s religion is that of the seed. Just as
a seed grows gradually into a full tree, similarly Marifah shapes the
entire personality of a person. Without Marifah, religion is reduced to a
spiritless form. With Marifah, religion is like a lush green tree. Without
God-realization, religion becomes like a dried-up tree. If religion is the
body, Marifah is its spirit.
What is the first step in this journey of God-realization?
The journey of realization begins with a questing spirit. Seeking is an
intellectual journey. Sincerity, positivity and being complex-free are the
qualities required on this journey.
What experiences will one go through when one realizes God?
One who attains Marifah will experience an intellectual and spiritual
explosion. He will believe in God through both reason and intuition. It
will be as if he is seeing God. He comes emotionally close to God.
Is there any other condition for the attainment of the realization of
God?
Yes, there is another necessary condition for the attainment of
realization, and that is supplication (Dua). Realization is a two-way process. A person’s position is one of finding or receiving it, while God
is the giver. An individual cannot receive realization without the help of
God. All of one’s efforts will remain fruitless unless God comes to his
assistance.
What kind of supplication should one do to attain this objective?
Supplication is not a mere repetition of certain words. It is, in fact,
another name for the heart’s tempest. There is no religion without
Marifah, and there is no Marifah without true prayer.
What is the methodology to attain God-realization?
We need to understand from the very outset that God-realization is
not akin to ecstasy, and one will not have glimpses of God’s glory in the
world of imagination. It is an enhanced state of consciousness that can
be achieved solely by the contemplation of the divine creation.
How does the Quran describe Marifah?
According to the Quran, Marifah can be defined as a servant of God
discovering God, the Lord of the worlds in all His majesty and Glory to
the extent that He becomes a centre of his love (
fear are associated with Him alone. (
Kindly explain how love and fear go together.
Love and fear are interconnected. When a servant of God engages
in contemplation and discovers the Creator of the universe in all His
glory, in his heart he comes to acknowledge God to a limitless extent.
Moreover, when he discovers the reality that the giver is God and that
no one else can give anything to him, his heart becomes filled with fear
that if he is deprived of God’s blessings, nowhere on the earth or in the
heavens will he find any other refuge.
What other things are bestowed to man to assist him in the journey
of God-realization?
God has created man in the best of moulds (
all the intellectual capabilities by which he may achieve Marifah of the
Lord of the Worlds. Besides this, in the external world, i.e., nature, all
those elements are hidden which may assist him in this journey. Now it
is man’s task to discover these elements in nature and experience such
an elevated level as will enable him to develop a divine personality.
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan (1925-2021) was an Islamic scholar, spiritual guide, and an Ambassador of Peace. He authored over 200 books and recorded thousands of lectures giving the rational interpretation of Islamic concepts, prophetic wisdom, and the spiritual meaning of the Quran in the contemporary style. His English translation, The Quran, is widely appreciated as simple, clear and in contemporary style. He founded Centre for Peace and Spirituality (CPS) International in 2001 to re-engineer minds towards God-oriented living and present Islam as it is, based on the principles of peace, spirituality, and co-existence. Maulana breathed his last on 21 April, 2021 in New Delhi, India. His legacy is being carried forward through the CPS International Network.
What God most earnestly desires from human beings is worship. The Quran says: “I have not created jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” ( 51:56 )
