ABOUT THE MAGAZINE
Spirit of Islam is a monthly magazine which is now in its seventh
year of publication. The aim of this journal is to present Islam in
the contemporary idiom, while at the same time the contents are
of universal appeal and of interest to a wider circle of spiritual
seekers. It is our desire to help Muslims rediscover Islam, focusing
on its message of peace and spirituality as derived from the Quran
and the teachings of the Prophet, and in general we strive towards
religious understanding for bringing about greater harmony.
Another purpose of this magazine is to assist its readers to deal
with life’s challenges, deriving positivity even from negative
occurrences, gaining in spirituality and developing themselves
intellectually so that they may contribute constructively to society.
The magazine’s regular readers will appreciate that the entire
thrust of its articles is directed to the individual—a collection of
intellectually prepared individuals being the sole foundation on
which a peaceful and harmonious society can be built.
As the subtitle indicates, Spirit of Islam is working towards
enlightening people on the subject of global peace and regularly
addresses relevant contemporary issues. The articles on peace
based on the teachings of the Prophet of Islam offer us an ideology
of peace—principles which lay down how peace may be established
between conflicting groups, controversies resolved and conflicts
defused. We believe that violence begins in the mind and so an
effective ideology of peace needs to be presented to counter its
influence.
We hope and pray that God helps us in this noble endeavour
and grants us His special blessings!
FROM MAULANAS DESK
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, born in 1925, in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, is an Islamic spiritual scholar who is well-versed in both classical Islamic learning and modern disciplines. The mission of his life has been the establishment of worldwide peace. He has received the Padma Bhushan, the Demiurgus Peace International Award and Sayyidina Imam Al Hassan Peace award for promoting peace in Muslim societies. He has been called ’Islam’s spiritual ambassador to the world’ and is recognized as one of its most influential Muslims . His books have been translated into sixteen languages and are part of university curricula in six countries. He is the founder of the Centre for Peace and Spirituality based in New Delhi.
THE BABRI MOSQUE VERDICT
Hope of a New Dawn
THE Supreme Court of India announced its final verdict on 9th
November, 2019 on the issue of Babri Masjid. In a unanimous
judgement, the five-judge Bench allocated the entire disputed
site to the Hindu plaintiffs and compensated the Muslims with five
acres of land in Ayodhya for the construction of a mosque.
I have been associated with Babri Mosque issue since a long time.
Around 1941, I visited Ayodhya to see the mosque myself and
now vividly recollect the scene that I had witnessed then. It was an
uninhabited mosque. I could see no sign of any daily congregational
prayers taking place there. I offered Tahyatul Masjid namaaz (a twounit non-obligatory prayer performed on the occasion of entering a
mosque). I was alone there in the mosque.
When the incident of the demolition of the Babri mosque took place,
the issue found a lot of prominence in the media and a lot of activities
took place in its aftermath. I too was involved in the nationwide efforts
to guide the people on the matter.
I have always reiterated that the only solution to the issue of Babri
mosque is its relocation. My suggestion was completely in line with the
Islamic Shariah. The Hanafi school of Jurisprudence (A Muslim school of
thought that interprets Islamic injunctions according to the principles
laid down by Imam Abu Hanifa and his disciples) developed the notion
that the land where a mosque is once built becomes mosque for
eternity. But this notion is only upheld by those who observe Hanafi
school of Jurisprudence. There is no mention of this either in the
Quran or Hadith (Hadith is a record of the sayings and the deeds of the
Prophet Muhammad). As per a Hadith recorded in Sahih Muslim, the
Prophet Muhammad said, “The entire earth has been made a mosque
for you. So, wherever you are at the time of prayer, pray there.” (Book:
4, Hadith: 1057)
The Prophet of Islam said that the entire planet earth had been
given the status of a mosque and prayer offered anywhere would be
considered as being offered in a mosque. What I had proposed for the
mosque in Ayodhya was completely in line with the Quran. As per a
verse in the Quran:
We have appointed for every community ways of worship to observe.
Let them not dispute with you on this matter. (
The above verse gives a principle to the believers where it is incumbent
upon them to ensure that they do not allow an issue to become a
controversy. Instead, they should resolve it in a non-controversial way.
In today’s parlance, I would say that if an issue comes up, Muslims
should manage it, instead of turning it into a controversy. They should
manage it, and resolve it peacefully.
This judgement of the Supreme Court gives a great opportunity for
Muslims. 5-acres is a large piece of land and from what I had seen of
the Babri Masjid, five acres is almost double its area. Muslims should
make use of this land to create an Islamic centre, a mosque and a
seminary.
It is my understanding, that the Supreme Court of India has given a
correct judgement. It is completely as per facts and the right verdict.
That is why in complete consonance with this judgement I accept it fully.
I hope that the land which has been granted by the Supreme Court is
accepted by Muslims wholeheartedly with gratitude and without any
conditions.
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
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Follow Maulana at http://www.speakingtree.in (The Times of India)
FROM THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Dr 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 Sufism’ 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. Dr Khanam has edited Maulana’s English translation of the Quran
and has also translated his Urdu commentary of the Quran into English. She can be
reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
COMPLAINING: A SIGN OF WEAKNESS
COMPLAINING is a fatal trait. It is the habit of complaining that is
at the root of various social problems. When several people live
together, it is natural that they will have differences, which are
often then allowed to turn into complaints against each other. These
soon get transformed into enmity, abuse and a never-ending cycle of
hatred.
The only solution to complaints is not to take
them seriously. Instead, they should simply
be forgotten. In the event of a complaint
against someone, there’s no need for you to
investigate it or to remember it. Instead, you
must forget it—and you should do this on a
unilateral basis. It is natural for complaints
to arise when living together with others. But
the solution to the problem of complaints is
that you should not go about trying to verify
them in a bid to solve them.
In this world, it is
simply impossible to
stop complaints. The
only practical thing
that you can do in
this regard is to not
store in your mind
any complaints you
might have against
others.
In this world, it is simply impossible to stop
complaints. The only practical thing that you can do in this regard is to
not store in your mind any complaints you might have against others.
This is the only solution to the problem. If you want to live in this world
with a positive mind, and also to leave this world with a positive mind,
you really have no realistic option but this.
Complaints are always a serious matter. That is why the only practical
solution to the problem of complaints is not to make them a subject
of discussion and debate. Instead, you should think that the only way
to solve them is to forget them, not to find out if they are true or false.
Experience suggests that investigations never put an end to complaints.
In fact, they often further complicate them. Given this, forgetting
complaints is the only practical way to solve them.
Dr. Farida Khanam
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WHAT TO DO IN AN UNFAVOURABLE SITUATION
Right Reaction
IN this life the choice is not always between right and wrong. The
choice is rather between the lesser evil and the greater evil. In every
situation, things must be examined objectively. Try to discover
which option is better for you—better, not in terms of good and bad,
but in terms of lesser and greater evil. When the option is between
these two opposites, no wise person will opt for a course of action that
will lead to the latter.
Opting for the lesser evil is not simply avoidance. It has two very clear
benefits: first, it saves you from further loss and second, you are able
to economize on your time and will be able to achieve your objectives
by re-planning your activities.
No situation is unfavourable in an absolute
sense. It can only be so in a limited sense.
A situation being unfavourable only means
that one way is closed to you while, at the
same time, there are other ways open to
you. You can carry on your journey simply by
changing your direction. When you face such
a situation, do not delay but re-assess your
plans and establish your priorities along new
lines. Always remember that although others
can create hurdles in your life, no one has the
power to decide your destiny. Your destiny is in your own hands, and,
by a re-examination of the situation, you can reformulate your plans
and attain your objectives simply by following an alternative path. If
you have to face some loss, take it as being temporary. No loss is so
drastic as to be permanent.
At every moment, conditions keep on changing. Loss and gain are
also subject to change. Situations, whether positive or negative, are
temporary in nature. So, when you face some unwanted situation, do
not despair. Just have faith that, sooner or later, the problem will be
resolved.
Situations in life are like day and night, with every dark night giving
way to a bright new day. The same is true of the life of every human
being. A well known poet has rightly said: Raat din gardish mein hain saat asman, ho rahe ga kuch na kuch ghabrayein kya (Seven heavens are
on the move every day and night, something new will happen, then
why feel frustrated?) This is the law of nature and no one has the power
to change it.
History is full of such instances, both on individual and national levels.
Every individual faces some unwanted situation or the other, but then,
after some time, everything comes back to normal. The case of the
nation is identical. Since no one can change the course of history or the
facts with which it presents us, we should take a lesson from it.
An unfavourable situation, no matter what, is nothing but a new
challenge. Try to meet that challenge and very soon you will find that
it was truly a blessing in disguise for you. It was meant to provide you
with a stepping stone to better things.
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.
PEACE BETTER THAN POLITICAL
SUPREMACY
PEOPLE are generally obsessed with politics. They believe that
acquiring a territory and establishing political rule over it, is the
greatest kind of success. According to the Quran, peace is the
summum bonum. While political supremacy is limited in its scope, the
ambit of peace is unlimited. Peace is greater than political rule. In the
chapter entitled Al-Fath (Victory), the Quran refers to the Hudaibiya
agreement—a peace treaty drawn up between the Prophet and his
opponents, which was finalized in the year
AD 628. The Quran mentions it as a “clear”
victory (
doubt. Then in the chapter entitled Al-Nasr
(Help), the Quran refers to political victory
over Makkah in AD 630. Here the Quran uses
the word fath (victory).
Peace opens the
door to multiple
opportunities and
by availing of those
opportunities, you
can achieve all kinds
of success, including
political rule.
This difference in terminology proves that,
according to the Quran, political victory is
the superseding of opponents in the control
of a particular geographical area, whereas
establishing peace, a “clear” victory, is the
greater victory. It means that establishing peace has more importance
than a political victory. Why is there this difference? Because political
victory gives you only one thing and that is administrative control over a
piece of land. But peace has greater potential than this. Peace opens the
door to multiple opportunities and by availing of those opportunities, you can achieve all kinds of success, including political rule. The early
history of Islam is clear proof of this. For example, before the peace
agreement of Hudaibiya was signed, Islam seemed to be trapped in a
blind alley. But after the Hudaibiya agreement, the Prophet of Islam
and his Companions endeavoured to avail of all those opportunities
that had been opened up to them and, within two years, Islam had
spread all over the Arabian peninsula.
Peace is a bilateral issue, but peace can be established only by a
unilateral initiative, otherwise there can be no peace. This Quranic
concept of peace is set forth in the chapter entitled Al-Anfal (The Spoils
of War) of the Quran. The translation of the relevant verse is as follows:
“Then if they should be inclined to make peace, make peace with them,
and put your trust in God. Surely, it is He Who
is All Hearing and All Knowing. Should they
seek to deceive you, God is enough for you:
it was He Who strengthened you with His
help, and rallied the faithful around you, and
bound their hearts together.” (
Peace is a bilateral
issue, but peace
can be established
only by a unilateral
initiative, otherwise
there can be no
peace.
Where there has been a controversy between
two parties, and finally an agreement has been
reached, each party fears that the other party
may not strictly follow the agreement or in
other ways will try to act deceitfully. This kind
of suspicion is a great obstacle to establishing peace. But the Quran
advises believers to place their trust in God. They ought not to think
about the behaviour of the other party, but simply believe that God will
be on their side and that the peace settlement will be successful.
Trust in God means, in effect, trust in the laws of nature. Following the
laws of nature designed by the Creator is the only practicable course
to adopt in this world. If you insist on raising controversial points, you
will arouse the ego of the other party and the desired settlement will
become more difficult to achieve than ever before. Insistence on your
own point only causes a reaction, i.e., the other party becomes more
cautious, and then reaching a settlement becomes almost impossible.
Avoid controversy at any cost, as this will enable you to discover the
common ground between the two parties.
Self-control is undoubtedly
a very great strength.
BELIEF IN THE REVEALED BOOKS
The perpetuity of God’s Guidance
IT is a matter of Islamic belief that God, in His mercy, has sent
prophet after prophet to lead people forth from darkness to light.
The belief in all of God’s revealed books forms an integral part of
Islamic faith.
These divine books commanded justice in everything, and exhorted
men to repent and mend their ways.
The Quran describes Torah as Furqan (the Discriminator between right
and wrong). It says: “We gave Moses and Aaron the criterion of right and
wrong and a light and Reminder for the righteous (
the ideological standard which enables man to distinguish between
Truth and falsehood. Light means divine guidance, which leads a man
out of the darkness of the wrong path and puts him in the light of the
straight path. In this way, God has arranged for the guidance of man
through His messengers.
But, it is possible for God’s guidebook to provide guidance in the real
sense only when a man is anxious about his fate in the Hereafter. This
anxiety makes him so serious that he attaches more importance to
Truth and righteousness than to any other thing.
The Books Mentioned in the Quran
Of the holy books, four find mention in the Quran: the Sahifa, scrolls
given to Abraham; the Tawrat, the revelations made to Moses;
the Zabur, the Psalms given to David; the Injil, the teachings given to
Jesus. It is a belief of a Muslim that each of these (as well as every other
Book sent by God to His Prophets) was originally a complete revelation.
However, for a variety of reasons, most of these revealed books sent
by God could not be preserved. For instance, the Quran mentions the
scriptures given to Abraham (
in existence and are lost completely. Others were changed in various
ways by human intervention.
Historians agree that the Quran, the last of the divine books has been
preserved from human interpolation.
The Torah
The term Towrah is simply the Arabic equivalent for the Hebrew Torah,
and normally understood as ‘The Law’ given by God to the Prophet Moses. The Quran gives abundant testimony to the Towrah, and it is
mentioned more than any other revealed book. Sometimes it is simply
called ‘The Law’.
‘We have revealed the Torah, in which there is guidance and light. By
it the prophets who were obedient to Us judged the Jews, and so did
the rabbis and the priests, according to God’s Book which had been
entrusted to their care; and to which they were witnesses. Have no fear
of man; fear Me, and do not sell My revelations for a paltry sum. Those
who do not judge by what God has sent down are deniers of truth.
We prescribed for them in [the Torah]: a life for a life, an eye for an eye,
a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and a wound
for a wound. But, if anyone forgoes it, this shall be for him an expiation.
Those who do not judge by what God has sent
down are wrongdoers! (
The Quran, the Book
of God, enshrines
teachings, which
were basically the
same as were to be
found in previously
revealed scriptures.
From these verses, it can be seen that the
Quran calling the Torah a book of ‘guidance
and light’ testifies that God had revealed it as
the Law for the Jews.
Sometimes in the Quran, the name Towrah
refers not only to the books of the Prophet
Moses, but to the entire Hebrew scripture
of the Jews, especially in the verses, which
mention the Towrah and Injil together. ‘He has
revealed unto you (Muhammad) the scripture with truth, confirming
that which was (revealed) before it, even as He revealed the Torah and
the Injil.’ (
When the Quran uses the expression ‘People of the Book’, it always
means all the three communities: the Jews, the Christians, and the
Muslims: People of the Book, why do you dispute about Abraham when
the Torah and Gospel were only sent down after him. Do you not use
your reason? (
According to the Quran, the Towrah, the book that God revealed to
Moses for the guidance of the Children of Israel (Bani Israil), did in
fact contain guidance and God’s commands, admonition and a clear
explanation of many things of the world, and of God’s mercy. There
are many verses regarding the granting of a book to Moses in which
the Towrah is mentioned although not by name. The tablets (alwah) are
also mentioned and they mean the same scripture:
‘And We wrote for him upon the Tablets an admonition and details
of all things, then [bade him], ‘Hold fast to them; and command your
people to follow them in their best sense’. (
But when Moses went back to his people with the Law inscribed on the
Tablets, they had meanwhile turned away from God and the Truth and
he became very angry. He prayed for them and they repented. ‘When
his anger had subsided, Moses took up the Tablets upon which was
inscribed a pledge of guidance and mercy for
those who fear their Lord.’ (
Historians agree that
the Quran, the last of
the divine books has
been preserved from
human interpolation.
The Towrah, as originally revealed to Moses,
must have been in the Hebrew language. But
there is no copy of the original Book given
to Moses extant today. As a matter of fact,
during their long and turbulent history, the
Jews repeatedly lost their revealed books. The
Old Testament is considered by today’s Jews
as the Book revealed by God. But it cannot
simply be equated with the Towrah mentioned
in the Quran. The reason for this is the Old Testament contains also
the Zabur, (Psalms) the book of guidance given to the Prophet David.
The Zabur is mentioned in the Quran as a revelation separate from the
Towrah.
The Zabur (Psalms)
The term Zabur is the Arabic equivalent of the Hebrew word ‘zimr’, which
is usually translated into English as ‘Psalm’. It was the book of revelation
given to the Prophet David. In the Hebrew and Christian scriptures it
is a part of the Old Testament. David was a prophet, but he was also a
great ruler. He was divinely inspired to sing hymns praising God and
His creation in his melodious and sonorous voice. These hymns now
constitute the Psalms.
In the Quran, the Psalms is mentioned by name only three times:
‘…And to David We gave the Psalms.’ (
‘'Your Lord knows best about everyone in the heavens and on the
earth. We gave some prophets more than others: We gave David the
Psalms." (
'We have already written in the Psalms following the Reminder, 'My
righteous servants shall inherit the earth.' (
Thus the Quran, and also the Hadith, very clearly confirm the Muslim
belief in four heavenly books. The Quran mentions no other such
heavenly books, though it mentions many prophets, some of them by
name, and attributes many divine revelations to them.
David, to whom God revealed the Psalms, was gifted with great
eloquence and a beautiful voice. All gifts were given to the prophets
according to the needs of the world and the times in which they lived.
The Psalms were intended to be sung for the worship of God and the
celebration of God’s greatness.
The Psalms are still extant and have been incorporated into the Bible.
However, their present form may possibly be different from the original.
Nonetheless, to a great extent, the Psalms retain their original state.
The Injil (Gospel)
The Injil is the revelation given to Prophet Jesus. The term Injil is derived
from a Greek word, which, when translated into English means ‘gospel’
and it occurs twelve times in the Quran.
In Muslim belief Jesus, the son of Mary, is considered to be the Prophet
immediately preceding the Prophet of Islam. His birth was miraculous
and by the grace of God he was endowed with a life-giving spirit. Both
he and his pious mother, Mary, are mentioned in the Quran many
times.
‘We sent after them Jesus, the son of Mary, and bestowed on
him the Gospel; and We ordained in the hearts of those who
followed him compassion and mercy.’ (
This particular verse of the Quran very clearly states that the Prophet
Jesus was given the real Gospel, which stressed the compassion
and mercy of God. Most of the time, whenever mentioned in the
Quran, Gospel is coupled with the Torah or the law given to Moses.
But there is always emphasis on the continuity of revelation and its
culmination with the final revelation that is the Quran.
'He has sent down the Book to you with truth, which fulfils (the
predictions) in the Scriptures that preceded it: He sent down the
Torah and the Gospel.' (
'God will instruct him in the Book and in wisdom and in the
Torah and in the Gospel.' (
The Injil mentioned in the Quran is the book revealed to the Prophet
Jesus. The Gospel of the Christians is a compilation made one
hundred years after the prophethood of Jesus, and was written down
in Greek. Besides the Gospels attributed to the four apostles (John,
Luke, Mark, and Matthew), it contains letters of Paul and Peter to the
early Christian communities, as well as other
written material. That is why the Quran and
the Hadith often refer to changes made in the
original scriptures. All heavenly books were
sent by God for the guidance of humankind
and to enable their adherents to judge all
issues according to the divine laws as set
forth in these Books.
The Quran is a sacred
book sent by the Lord
of all creation. It is a
book for all human
beings, because it
has been sent by that
Divine Being who is
God of all of us.
The Quran
The Quran, the Book of God, enshrines
teachings, which were basically the same
as were to be found in previously revealed scriptures. But these
ancient scriptures are no longer preserved in their original state. Later
additions and deletions were made, whereas the Quran is preserved in
its original state.
The Quran has 114 chapters. Its contents in a nutshell are: belief in
one God, and considering oneself answerable to Him; firm belief that
the Prophet Muhammad is the messenger of God who conveyed the
message and that man’s eternal salvation rests thereon.
The position of the Quran is not just that it is one of the many revealed
scriptures but that it is the authentic divine Book. When a believer in
the previous revealed scripture turns to the Quran, it does not mean
that he is rejecting his own belief, but rather amounts to his having rediscovered his own faith.
The Quran is a sacred book sent by the Lord of all creation. It is a book
for all human beings, because it has been sent by that Divine Being
who is God of all of us.
The Quran is no new heavenly scripture. It is only an authentic edition
of the previous heavenly scriptures. In this respect, the Quran is a book
for all human beings, of all nations. It is the expression of God’s mercy
for one and for all. It is a complete message sent by God for every one
of us.
According to the Quran, Islam means submission. The religion of Islam
is so named because it is based on obedience to God. A true believer in
Islam is one who subordinates his thinking to God, who follows God’s
dictates in all aspects of his life.
Islam is the religion of the entire universe, for the entire universe and
all its parts are functioning in accordance with the law laid down by
God.
Such behaviour is also desired of man. Man should also lead his life as
God’s obedient servant just as the rest of the universe is fully subservient
to God. The only difference is that the universe has submitted to God
compulsorily, while man is required to submit to the will of God by his
own choice.
When man adopts Islam, first of all it is his thinking which is affected by
Islam, then his desires, his feelings, his interests, his relations, his love
and his hatred. All are coloured by his obedience to God’s will.
When man, in his daily life comes under God’s command, his behaviour
with people and his dealings are all moulded by the demands of Islam.
From inside to outside he becomes a person devoted to God.
Man, as the Quran tells us, is God’s servant. Indeed, the only proper
way for man to live in this world is to live as the servant of God. Islam, in
fact, is another name for this life of servitude to God. Where the Islamic
life is devoted to the service of God, the un-Islamic life unashamedly
flouts the will of God. Islam teaches man to lead an obedient life and
surrender himself completely to the will of God. It is those people who
do so will share God’s blessings in the next world. This is the essence
of the teachings of the Quran.
IN GIVING WE RECEIVE
Glimpses from the Muslim History
DURING the Caliphate of the second Caliph Umar, a Christian
merchant entered the Islamic frontiers from the river Euphrates
with his horses for trade. Ziyad bin Hadeer, who was appointed
at the frontiers to oversee imports and exports, demanded tax from
the merchant which he paid. He returned through the same route
taking with him his unsold horses. Ziyad again demanded tax on these
horses. The merchant felt a strong objection to it. He left his unsold
horse under the care of his servants and travelled to Madinah in order
to lodge a complaint with the Caliph himself. After reaching Madinah,
he narrated his ordeal to Umar and mentioned that he has been
asked unfairly to pay taxes on his unsold horses. Umar listened to the
complaint and replied, “Your complaint has been taken care of.”
The merchant left disappointed as he felt that the Caliph had not
accorded much importance to his grievance. He came to the check port
of the Euphrates and offered the tax amount which was demanded by
Ziyad before. This time, Ziyad did not accept the offered money and
said that he had been commanded by the Caliph not to impose tax
upon him.
The Christian merchant was really impressed to know that the Caliph’s
decision was so swift that the justice he asked reached there before
him.
Ali was the fourth rightly-guided Caliph. Once his armour got stolen. He
came to know that the stolen armour was with a Jew. He put the case
before the court of Qazi (judge) Shuraih in Kufa. To verify his claim,
Ali presented two witnesses. One was his servant Qanbar, while the
second was his own son Hasan. Justice Shuraih objected by saying that
testimony of a son is not acceptable to support the claim of his father.
He further said that only one solitary witness is not enough to prove
a claim. Therefore, Justice Shuraih dismissed the petition, and the
armour remained in possession of the Jew.
This incidence left the Jew overwhelmed. He said, “This episode
reminds me of the conduct of the prophets where a Qazi announces his
judgement against the ruler.” Soon after, the Jew returned the armour
to Ali saying that it indeed belonged to Ali and that Ali’s claim was, in
fact, true. (Kanz Al-Ammal)
During the reign of Umayyads, a grand Jamia mosque was erected
in Damascus. On one side of the mosque was an ancient church.
Muslims wished to include a part of the church in the mosque, but
the Christians did not agree to this development. Caliph Abdul Malik
offered a considerable amount of money, but the Christians did not
agree. Consequently, a part of the mosque remained incomplete.
Then came the reign of the Caliph Waleed bin Abdul Malik, Muslims tried
again to get hold of a part of the church to complete the construction
of the mosque. The Christians remained steadfast again. Waleed bin
Abdul Malik used force and got the possession
of the land unrightfully. He included this land
in the completion of the mosque. Many years
passed. Umar bin Abdul Aziz became the
Caliph. His fame as a just and fair ruler spread
far and wide. The Christians decided to meet
him and present their grievance. After hearing
their complaint, Caliph Umar bin Abdul Aziz
commanded that the unrightful construction
over the church land be razed and the land be
handed over to the Christians.
No nation can aspire
to be at the forefront
of worldly affairs
unless it carves for
itself the image of a
giver group.
This judgement proved hard for the Muslims. They protested against
razing the mosque in which they had called people for prayers and
performed prayers. Umar bin Abdul Aziz replied, “Be whatever it may.
If this was a place of prayer for the Christians, it must be duly returned
to the Christians.”
Now, it was the turn of the Christians to be enthralled. They had a
change of mind. They said, “Our claim has proved to be true. We need
no more than this. We now give this piece of land as gift to the mosque.”
(Tareekh-e-Baladhuri)
In this world, one who gives; receives. One who always seeks to receive,
will eventually lose. This is the unshakeable law of the world. This law
has always existed and will exist forever. No nation can aspire to be
at the forefront of worldly affairs unless it carves for itself the image
of a giver group. The recent Babri Mosque verdict announced by the
Indian Supreme Court is a great opportunity for the Muslims to carve
out this image. Acceptance of the verdict wholeheartedly will open up
new horizons and prospects for the Muslims in the subcontinent.
ATHEISM
Reasoning
ATHEISM is an outcome of being against theism. It does not result
from a discovery of the non-existence of God. Earlier atheism
was based on scientific validation. However, it has now lost its
foundations and adherence to it has become anachronistic in nature.
Those who claim scientific backing for atheism now have observations
of other scientific authorities which run contrary to their claim.
Einstein when asked whether he was an atheist replied, “You may call me
an agnostic, but I do not share the crusading spirit of the professional
atheist whose fervour is mostly due to painful act of liberation from
the fetters of religious indoctrination received in youth”. (Letter to Guy
H Raner Jr)
This means scientists are not in a position
to say that there is a God, they can just
take a sceptical stand on the existence of
God. This is because the accepted base for
belief in something in the intellectual world
is scientific. Since there is no clear scientific
discovery on the non-existence of God, this is
still subject to interpretation.
One of the most
amazing qualities
of the universe is
that there is no
interpretation or
explanation of it,
other than that which
allows for God’s
existence, despite
the fact that the best
brains in every age
have attempted to
unravel its mysteries.
Towards the end of the 19th century, there
was a strong wave of what was popularly
called ‘scientific atheism’. The argument
often offered to negate the existence of God
was His being invisible. But new scientific
investigations, carried out at the beginning
of the 20th century started turning the tide
against the credibility of this position. It
became apparent and accepted that there are many aspects of nature
that are invisible yet they exist. One of the books written on this new
world discovered by science is Science and the Unseen World by Sir
Arthur Eddington.
At the beginning of the 20th century Sir James Jeans declared that
the universe which had been discovered by modern science was
not compatible with the mechanical interpretation that had gained
ground since past several decades. The age of quantum mechanics
has established that nothing is fully observable. Contrary to previous belief, it was not the atom that was the last fundamental particle that
constituted matter; rather there were unobservable subatomic particles
that served as the building blocks of atoms. In a book published in
1988, entitled A Brief History of Time, Stephen W. Hawking (one of the
foremost physicists of present times 1942-2018) explains the Big Bang
Theory, according to which the universe is constantly expanding.
After working out the relevant mathematical equations, Hawking
reached the conclusion that the expansion of the universe is taking
place according to a well-calculated scheme. The initial rate of expansion
must have been fixed with great accuracy so that it would always be less
than the critical rate, i.e., the rate at which the universe would begin to
collapse again. This view cannot be explained unless it is accepted that
the rate of expansion of the universe has been determined with the
utmost precision. Stephen Hawking writes:
It would be very difficult to explain why the universe should have begun
in just this way, except as the act of God who intended to create beings
like us.
One of the most amazing qualities of the universe is that there is no
interpretation or explanation of it, other than that which allows for
God’s existence, despite the fact that the best brains in every age
have attempted to unravel its mysteries. It has been claimed that the
universe has always been in existence in its present form. It has also
been claimed that it came into being on its own and that it goes on its
own.
Cause and effect have been said to have created everything, and
attempts have also been made to prove the law of evolution to be the
creator of the universe; which however can be only a process of nature,
but never its creator. The more a man learns about the universe, the
more absurd do these theories appear to him; the stranger does it seem
that something, or some being other than God Almighty should be the
Lord and Master of the universe. The universe, by its very existence,
testifies to the fact that God is its Creator. Whatever arguments or
opposing opinions have been expressed to propagate this theory have
proved erroneous by the knowledge acquired to date through human
research.
Nobody can be given a blessing bigger
and greater than patience.
JESUS CHRIST AND ISLAM
Shared Teachings
Each believer
must evaluate the
situation one faces,
and then, whilst
examining the lives
of other prophets,
should determine
in which prophet’s
story, a similar
example can be
found.
He is honoured everywhere by Muslims.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, described in Quran
as “one exalted above all womankind,” has
a whole chapter of the Quran (number 19)
named after her, which tells of the miraculous
birth of Jesus. The story begins with an angel
announcing the birth of a holy son to Mary, who, being a chaste woman,
was quite distraught at this news. But the angel reassured her that this
was the will of God, that it was not a difficult thing for Him and that it
was a sign and a blessing to all humankind.
The Quran further clarifies that his creation was no different from that
of the first human being: “Jesus in the sight of God is like Adam. He
created him from dust, then said to him, ‘Be!’ and he was.” (
When Mary gave birth to Jesus and brought him to her people, they all
pointed their fingers at her. But she was told by God to remain silent
and to point to the baby. As the people were wondering how they could
talk to a child in the cradle, the baby Jesus performed his first miracle
by saying these fine words: “I am God’s servant. He has given me the Book and made me a prophet; He has made me blessed wherever I may
be, and He has enjoined upon me prayer and almsgiving throughout
my life. He has made me dutiful toward my mother, and He has not
made me arrogant or wicked. Blessed was I on the day I was born, and
blessed I shall be on the day I die and the day I am raised to life again.”
(
Jesus Christ meant
to put an end to
the root cause of
all conflicts. Thus,
paving the way for
the other person to
realize and make
amends for his
behaviour.
When Jesus attained manhood, God bestowed upon him “scriptures
and wisdom, along with the Torah and the
Gospel.” He was also given the power to
perform a number of miracles, such as
fashioning a living bird out of clay; giving sight
to the blind; healing a leper and raising the
dead to life; he also had the wisdom to inform
people what they ate and stored up in their
houses.
From Jesus’ life we can draw many lessons
that can provide us with wonderful guidance.
The Quran repeatedly mentions Jesus Christ,
and we can learn much from his life.
Unilateral Good Character
Jesus Christ says:
‘‘But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to
those who hate you. Bless those who curse you, and pray for
those who spitefully use you”. (LUKE 6: 27-28)
The same teaching is echoed in the Quran:
And good deeds and evil deeds are not alike. Repel evil with
good and he who is your enemy will become your dearest
friend. (
This is a practical code of conduct for us, showing us the way to live in
peace and harmony.
Duty Consciousness
When some people asked Jesus what they should do in the face of the
oppression of the Romans ruling over them, he said:
Give to Caesar what is due to the Caesar. And give to God what
is due to God. (Matthew 22: 21)
Similarly, a Hadith cited by Al-Bukhari says:
Give the ruler his rights. Ask for your rights from God.
Peace under all circumstances
Jesus said: To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other
also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your
tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him, who
takes away your goods, do not ask them back.” (Luke 6: 29-30)
What Jesus Christ meant here was to put an end to the root cause of all
conflicts. Thus, paving the way for the other person to realize and make
amends for his behaviour.
Jesus taught no false worship, but only preached the unity of his
Creator. On the Day of Judgement, God will question him: “Jesus, son
of Mary, did you say to people, ‘Take me and my mother as two deities
besides God?’” He will answer, “Glory be to You! How could I ever say
that to which I have no right?” (
what You commanded me to, ‘Worship God, my Lord and your Lord.’”
(
The Quran mentions: “Of the People of the Book, there are some who
stand by their covenant; they recite the word of God during the night
and prostrate themselves before Him, who believe in God and the Last
Day, who enjoin justice and forbid evil and vie with each other in good
works. These are righteous men.” (
to a common faith, saying: “People of the Book, let us come to a word
common to us that we shall worship none but God and that we shall
associate no partner with Him and that none of us shall take others,
besides God, for lords.” (
Patience is no retreat. Patience only
amounts to taking the initiative along the
path of wisdom and reason as opposed
to the path of emotions.
FROM THE SPIRITUAL TREE
There is a tree beside my house. I call
it the 'Spiritual Tree'. I derive spiritual
inspiration from it. A tree is an evergrowing being that was initially a seed
possessing the potential of becoming a
full-grown tree. A seed takes food from the
universe around it and then grows into a
tree. The same is true with spirituality,
the desire for which is intrinsic to, and an
integral part of, the very nature of every
human being. To realize this spirituality,
man must derive spiritual food from the
universe around him. A tree converts
carbon-dioxide into oxygen; a spiritual person is one who can take positive lessons
from negative situations. From this perspective, a tree is an embodiment of a
spiritual personality. —Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
GOD’S BOUNTIES
IN the Chapter titled Al-Rahman in the Quran the phrase ‘Which of
your Lord’s wonders would you deny?’ appears several times. The
Arabic word “ālā'” that appears in this verse is generally translated as
‘bounties’. It does not signify ordinary bounties, but, rather, wondrous
bounties.
This chapter of the Quran mentions many of God’s bounties, and after
that it repeatedly says, “Which of your Lord’s
wonders would you deny?” By ‘deny’ is meant
to ignore or to not acknowledge.
Man has been given
intelligence in order
to see, reflect on and
acknowledge the
wondrous bounties
of God and then fully
surrender to the One
who has brought
them all into being
Most of us blatantly ignore the innumerable
wondrous bounties that God has blessed us
with. At every moment we see, encounter
or experience these bounties, yet we never
acknowledge, think about or reflect on them.
We simply take them for granted. That is why
we do not give them any importance. We
simply do not respond as we should.
This is the greatest possible crime on our part. Man has been given
intelligence in order to see, reflect on and acknowledge these wondrous
bounties of God and then fully surrender to the One who has brought
them all into being. Man will be taken to task for this in the Hereafter.
Those who use their reason and lead a life of acknowledgement of
God’s blessings will be given a high reward for this in the Hereafter.
A life of faith is another name for a life where one has truly realized
God. Such a person discovers the wondrous bounties of God and leads
a life in constant acknowledgment and gratitude.
INDIRECT GAIN
Looking beyond the Apparent
THE 1990 FIFA World Cup, held in Italy, was telecast in India
by Doordarshan (an autonomous public service broadcaster
founded by the Government of India). According to an advance
estimate of the cost, the coverage was going to cost an expenditure
of about Rs. 10 million for Doordarshan. (The Times of India, June 16,
1990).
Ostensibly, this was going to be an inequitable
bargain, with Doordarshan doing all the
spending and receiving nothing in return.
But the estimate did not tell the whole story,
for Doordarshan finally made a profit of Rs.
20 million out of their coverage—a highly
profitable venture!
Some undertakings,
to all appearances,
are actually no-profit
ventures because
there is no obvious,
direct advantage in
them. Yet indirect
yield is frequently far
greater than that of a
venture which offers
direct gain.
By investing Rs. 10 million, Doordarshan
earned Rs. 30 million. The gain, however,
was indirect. How, in such an undertaking,
did Doordarshan manage to make such a
profit, when there could be no direct gain
from the viewers? The answer is through
advertisements. Whenever a programme
of general interest is being telecast,
advertisements, paid for by various companies, are flashed on the
screen from time to time, generally for the duration of a few seconds
each. These advertisements are charged for at very high rates, and are
one of the greatest sources of income for the television industry.
The average individual is generally aware only of such benefits as can
be directly accrued, and hardly ever comes to know of methods of
indirect gain. Such a superficial grasp of affairs can never bring any
great success in life. The really wise person is always on the look-out
for indirect ways of making a profit, because that is so often more
rewarding than direct earning. Some undertakings, to all appearances,
are actually no-profit ventures because there is no obvious, direct
advantage in them. Yet indirect yield is frequently far greater than that
of a venture which offers direct gain.
This is a very useful formula in life, and those who know its secrets will
be the ones to achieve the greatest success. Having an eye only for
direct gain will never carry one to any great pinnacle of success.
UNANTICIPATED CIRCUMSTANCES
Think before You Act
A WOMAN belonging to Lima in South America failed to find a
satisfactory job. She made up her mind to try her luck in North
America. Too poor to afford an air fare, she conceived the notion
of shutting herself inside a suitcase and dispatched herself as a piece
of luggage.
The plane which carried her landed at the Los Angeles International
airport. All the bags of the passengers were unloaded from the airplane
for collection except one. The police, therefore, intervened to open this
abandoned suitcase and take into custody the
goods inside so that it could be handed over
to the claimant. Much to their horror, they
unlocked it to find the corpse of a woman.
Detectives were called in to investigate the
case. They said:
“The woman may have been crushed by the
weight of other luggage”. (UPI)
We must take into
account external
and unforeseen
factors whenever we
are deciding upon
a course of action.
It is only when
these factors are in
consonance with the
steps taken, that we
can hope to reach
our destination.
This incident serves to illustrate one of life’s
bitter truths: taking whatever steps we feel
are necessary does not, in itself, ensure our
success. This is because there are so many
external and unforeseen factors involved
which determine the outcome of our actions.
We must take into account whenever we are
deciding upon a course of action. It is only when these factors are
in consonance with the steps taken, that we can hope to reach our
destination.
This state of affairs takes a more critical turn when the offender is
a leader and he goes wrong in framing a policy which involves the
whole nation. This is bound to cause widespread misery, if not total
destruction. It is, therefore, imperative that a leader be as discreet
and careful as possible in his decision-making. He should consider the
possible pros and cons. He should look before he leaps. His failing to
do so would amount to an unpardonable offence. It would be far better
for him to take no action at all than to plunge the whole nation into
strife and torment.
GAINING LOST RESPECT
Be a Giver Member of Society
MUSLIMS seem to have fallen in public opinion all over the
world as being people of no personal value. Muslim writers,
of course, are unanimous in expounding the view that this is
all attributable to the plots, oppression and prejudice of non-Muslim
nations. How absurd this proposition seems when we consider that
the arrangement of the entire world is in the hands of God Himself; He
has never abdicated His control in favour of any particular community.
Therefore, holding others responsible for the woes of Muslims is a
baseless calumny.
The present state of Muslims has come about, not because of national
or international conspiracies, but because they are subject to the laws
of their Divine Maker like everyone else. The following verse of the
Quran describes how God deals with nations, depending upon whether
they are useful or useless to society at large.
He sends down water from the sky that fills
riverbeds to overflowing, each according to its
measure. The torrent carries along swelling
foam, akin to what rises from smelted ore
from which man makes ornaments and tools.
God thus depicts truth and falsehood. The
scum is cast away, but whatever is of use to
man remains behind. (
The giver group will
attain stability in
this world, whether
in a national or
international setting.
Another analogy is that of the purification of ores by heating them,
so that whatever is impure first flows away, leaving behind a useful
metallic residue.
A useless, or unprofitable group is like the scum from ore or the foam
from water which has to be discarded, while the useful, giver group
may be likened to the pure water, or pure metal which is left after
the impurities have been washed away. It is the latter group which will
attain stability in this world and give value, whether in a national or
international setting.
The Muslims of today who have lost their usefulness have become so
much like foam under the same law of God which governs all nations
of the world. However it is never too late to change. They can be useful
to the society by contributing positively in the constructive activities of
the world.
A SURE PATH TO SUCCESS
No Substitute for Hard work
WHEN the Indian freedom fighter, Raja Mahendra Pratap,
(1886-1979) met Vladimir Lenin in Moscow in 1919, the first
thing that the leader of the Russian Socialist Revolution said
to his Indian guest was: “In which language should I speak: English,
German, French or Russian?” Lenin had learnt all these languages. On
this occasion, it was decided that the conversation should be conducted
in English.
How had Lenin become so well-acquainted with so many languages?
The answer is: by following the example of his elders and then building
upon it with sheer hard work. Lenin’s father died when Vladimir was
only sixteen, and he was nurtured for the most part by his mother,
Maria Alexandrovna. Her household, writes Lenin’s biographer David
Shub, “was run along Spartan lines and the
children were largely self-educated. Maria
Alexandrovna taught herself German, French,
English and the piano.”
The sure way to
success lies in taking
up the best traditions
of the past, then
building upon them
for the future with
sheer hard work of
our own.
The manner in which Lenin followed in the
footsteps of his mother is illustrated by
his learning of the English language. While
banished to Siberia by the Czarist regime
(1897-1900), Lenin and his wife, Krupskaya,
spent mornings translating Sidney and
Beatrice Webb’s Theory and Practice of Trade
Unionism. Not only did they translate the book
from English into their native Russian, but Lenin also used to translate
it back into English, without referring to the original text. In a letter to
his sister Anna, he wrote: “I have concluded from my experience that
this is the most rational method of learning a language.”
When Lenin and Krupskaya went to England in April 1902, they found
that though they had translated Sidney and Beatrice Webb, “their
knowledge of English bore only a remote resemblance to the native
product. With his usual zest, Lenin set to work learning the language.
He went wherever he could hear English spoken, to pubs, to Hyde Park,
to all sorts of meetings. Crowding up front, he listened carefully to every
word and watched the lip movements of the speakers. In addition,
he hired two English teachers whom he taught Russian in exchange
for English lessons. With these efforts his English soon became fairly proficient, if not fluent.” (Lenin: A Biography, by David Shub, Pelican
Books, p. 70).
The method that Lenin adopted in learning English shows us the way to
success in life. While taking up the best traditions of the past, we are to
build upon them for the future with sheer hard work of our own. This
method may require years of toil, and temporary disappointment, but
it is sure to be successful in the end.
INDIAN MUSLIMS AT THE CROSSROADS
Towards a Bright Future
KEEPING the future in your mind and forgetting the past: This is
the secret of progress in this world. Every individual and a group
suffers from untoward experiences here. These events often
lead to a point of no return. Those who choose to remember them,
remain frozen; and those who forget these negative experiences and
find ways to start their life all over again are the ones who succeed. This
principle of forgetting is a universal principle. There is no exception in
it either for an individual or a group.
Both the Muslims and the Hindus of India are now facing this test. Both
these communities must now forget whatever happened in the past
and endeavour their utmost to make their future bright. This is the sole
option for them that will lead to accomplishment and development.
They do not have another option which is even remotely possible.
Indian Hindus must forget the Partition, and Indian Muslims must forget
Babri Mosque. Both of them are carrying the burden of the past. For
the Hindus, a symbolic title for the burden they carry is ‘Partition’, and
for the Muslims, ‘Babri Mosque’ is the symbolic title that can be given
to their burden. If both these communities wish to build for themselves
a bright and developed future, they first need to throw out from their
minds bad memories of the past, and start thinking about future. The
progress of both communities will remain stalled if they fail to do so.
This burden of the past, in the long run, will spell doom for the country.
A section of the Hindu community holds the Muslims responsible for
the Partition of the country. Precisely for this reason, they still continue
to entertain grudge against the Muslims which finds expression through
various unpleasant events. While holding the Muslims responsible for
the Partition, Hindu brothers have now no option other that treating the
Partition as a thing of the past. They should forget who was responsible
for the division of the country, and who demanded it. The issue is no
more related with Partition. In fact, it is more about the destruction the
country is suffering in paying the price of Partition.
Partition was an issue for the Muslims till 1947, but now it is posing
as a problem for the Hindus as well. It is because the memory of it is
not allowing them to develop a moderate and tolerant viewpoint. So
long as a moderate viewpoint eludes them, they cannot play their part
satisfactorily in the progress of the country.
Partition, in itself, is not such a dire event that should act as an
insurmountable obstacle in the road to mutual progress. Many events
from history testify to this fact, the more recent being that of Germany.
In 1948, Germany was divided into two countries, but this division could
not stop West Germany to attain to progress and prosperity.
The German economy was left in tatters in the aftermath of World War
II. It was further weakened by dividing the country into East Germany
and West Germany. The Allied High Commission, in 1949, implemented
the command that West Germany could not keep National Police.
They were permitted to keep the police department of the elementary
Municipality level, etc.
The Partition and the weakened economy did not prove to be obstacles
for the growth of Germany. It became numero uno European country
by the sweat of its own efforts and struggles.
How did Germany achieve such glory? Some
attribute this stupendous success to the fact
that it started its journey way later than other
European countries. It is stated that those
who start their journey later, cover their
distance faster, because they can avail the
latest technology from their predecessors.
If the Hindu and
Muslim communities
wish to build for
themselves a bright
and developed
future, they first need
to throw out from
their minds the bad
memories of the past,
and start thinking
about future.
Late starters can grow faster because they
can borrow advanced technology from the
early starters. (EB 6/214)
This justification is not correct. India is among
the late starters, but it has failed to achieve a
worthwhile progress. The basic reason behind
the fast progress of West Germany lies in the fact that it ignored the
loss it incurred in WWII and the Partition of the country which followed
soon after. By forgetting the past, it utilized all its capacities to build a
bright future.
Unfortunately, a considerable number of Hindus, especially from the
North India, could not forget the Partition of 1947. As a result, the
North India, from which the majority of Indian leadership comes,
remained embroiled in negative activities. It could not devote itself
wholeheartedly to the building of a new future.
This is now the last opportunity for our compatriots to acknowledge
this fact. They should unentangle themselves from the memory of the
Partition and employ themselves in the positive development of a new India. That day is not far when our country begins its journey towards
progress in leaps and bounds, and thereby achieve a respectful place
on the global map which it truly deserves.
As for Indian Muslims, they lagged far behind the other communities
in the ladder of progress. After the demolition of Babri Mosque on 6
December, 1992, they are more in despair than ever. They feel that
they do not have opportunities of progress in this country.
This thinking is totally unwarranted. The principles in this matter is that
no external event decides the decline or fall of a nation. The decisive
factor in the rise and fall of a nation is its own internal capacity and
energy, and not external events. Nations always move ahead with the
power of their internal determination. If fortitude and determination
are present, no external upheaval can cause hindrance in the journey
of a nation’s progress.
As for the mosques, there are many instances
in the Muslim history where mosques became
the target of the public frenzy. In AD 692, the
army sent by Hajjaj bin Yusuf bombarded the
Kabah using a catapult. It is mentioned in the
books of history:
Makkah was besieged, the haram bombarded
with missiles, and the Kaba set on fire, the
Sacred Black Stone was split in three pieces.
(1/1047)
Nations always move
ahead with the power
of their internal
determination.
If fortitude and
determination are
present, no external
upheaval can cause
hindrance in the
journey of a nation’s
progress.
Notwithstanding these, the history of Islam
did not halt. Those who had bombarded
the Sacred Mosque, Kabah, were the ones
who built it again. The Tartars ransacked the
Muslim world in 1258, and demolished hundreds of mosques from
Samarkand to Aleppo. Even this calamity did not put a stop to the
progress of Islamic history. Again, the Tartars themselves built all these
mosques. Even in India, thousands of mosques were razed in Haryana,
Punjab, and in Rajasthan in 1947. Not one of these events put a stop
to the wheels of Islamic history. Why would then one think that the
demolition of Babri Mosque would bring the history of Islam to an end.
The crucial thing for the Muslims is not the fact that Babri Mosque
was demolished on 6, December, 1992, but the fact that still, there are
more than 300,000 mosques in India. Religious seminaries in numbers
exceeding the mosques are spread everywhere. Islamic institutes and religious movements abound in thousands. Apart from these, even
after the event of 6 December, Muslims still have equal opportunities
for progress and development.
Muslims have no reason for despair and frustration in such a bright
situation. They should now initiate the act of their upliftment with a new
resolve. They would soon see that they have gained a lot more after 6
December than they had lost on 6 December. This is the message from
the past, and the call of the future as well.
The verdict of the Indian Supreme Court about
the Babri Mosque issue was announced in
November, 2019. This verdict is in the interest
of the country. No one should now go about
finding any negative aspect of this verdict.
Instead, Muslims should look only at the
bright picture.
Looking at the
positive side of the
Babri mosque verdict
is the sign of maturity
and understanding.
The second
important thing
in this regard is to
look at the results. If
accepting this verdict
wholeheartedly
helps break down
the wall that has
been separating the
two communities for
almost a hundred
years, one should
readily accept it.
‘Who listen to what is said and follow
what is best in it. These are the ones
God has guided; these are the people
endowed with understanding.’ (
In the light of the above Quranic verse,
looking at the positive side of the verdict is
the sign of maturity and understanding. The
second important thing in this regard is to
look at the results. If accepting this verdict
wholeheartedly helps break down the wall that
has been separating the two communities for
almost a hundred years, one should readily
accept it.
For every closed door there is always
another which is open—but only to
those who have the eyes to see it and
the courage to march through it.
INTELLECTUAL REBIRTH
A Sure Sign of Maturity
“When I put My servant to the test, and he remains patient,
never uttering a word of complaint to anyone he meets, I free
him from My clutches and put new flesh and blood in him. He
then sets about his work with renewed vigour.”
IN the above Hadith the Prophet Muhammad has set down the words
of Almighty God. A man’s first birth is that which brings him into this
world when he is born of his mother. But there is a ‘rebirth’, a birth
in a man’s lifetime, which is brought about by the man himself. Anyone
who has not experienced their new birth is just an ordinary human
being, subject to everyday influences of family and environment, as he
goes about his work. On the other hand, one who has been born anew
is an ever-progressing, ever-developing human being. The revolution
which has taken place within him has made a new man of him.
How is it that a new man of this nature comes into existence? It is
in response to the situations which confront a man in life that such
an event takes place. In the normal course of existence, one perforce
comes face to face with all sorts of adverse circumstances. There are
two ways of reacting to them. Either one may fall to complaining and
become embittered, or one may display courage and patience at all
times, retaining one’s mental and emotional poise. In the first case, the
habitual complainer becomes such a prey to
his own negative sentiments, that he can never
proceed beyond this point on the journey of
life. He is like the gramophone needle, stuck
at one place on the record, doomed forever
to remain in the same repetitive groove.
It is by virtue of one’s
patience in the face
of adversity that one
develops into a fully
mature human being
However, the man who remains patient and
uncomplaining in the face of adversity, does
not allow himself to become a prey to hatred
or jealousy, and does not, therefore, lose his
peace of mind. He may be besieged on all sides
by cruelty and oppression, but this does not make him show anger or
even exasperation. For such an individual, unfavourable circumstances
are what cast him in a new mould, from which he emerges as a being
of a finer temper and of a higher moral calibre. It is by virtue of his
patience in the face of adversity that he develops into a fully mature
human being.
SIMPLE LIVING BRINGS POSITIVE RESULTS
Life Well-Lived
HE who believes in simple living creates problems neither for
himself nor for others, and one who engages in high thinking
becomes a truly selfless person. Spirituality, the sublime
character of men and women, has two facets: the internal and the
external. The internal facet is positive thinking. The external facet is
living in peace. Spirituality is in no way a kind of ecstasy, as is often
believed. Indeed, it is a non-material culture, which means giving more
importance to values which are immaterial rather than material. In
essence, it promotes the philosophy of simple living and high thinking
— the moral mainstay of humanity
Material Clashes
The majority of anti-human activities in society result from the clash
between people over material interest. But if, by obeying one’s spiritual
proclivities, one can go beyond such interests, the result is entirely
positive. One who does so will become a healthy member of society,
and a society which is largely composed of such members is bound to
emerge as a peaceful society.
Spirituality is a culture of nature, a
demonstration of which is given to us by
nature in a variety of ways. Let us take the
example of a rose plant.
Positive men and
women are like
spiritual gardeners,
who, in their conduct
towards others,
turn society into a
spiritual garden.
The rose plant is a combination of two quite
opposite elements: flowers and thorns. Both
flowers and thorns live together on the stem
of a rose plant, but there is no clash between
the two. It is this feature that has made the
rose plant a very beautiful and thoughtprovoking thing to behold, in that it is symbolic
of how we should live in society without there
being any friction between disparate elements. There is spirituality of a
purely internal nature and then there is spirituality which reaches out
to others. Spirituality of the internal kind makes one a good human
being, while ‘applied’ spirituality ensures harmonious interaction
between individuals, both men and women, of which society is made
of. If society is a tree, the spiritual person is its flower.
Spirituality makes the individual a true human being. But this does
not suffice. A person’s spirituality must impinge on his environment.
His elevated spiritual values must become evident in his dealings with
others, and he must take the course of peaceful adjustment when
a clash is imminent. At all events, he must clearly demonstrate his
capacity to turn negative experiences into positive ones. Positive men
and women are like spiritual gardeners, who, in their conduct towards
others, turn society into a spiritual garden. ‘Applied’ spirituality means
bringing into play a multiplicity of spiritual values. This is beneficial
to both the spiritual person and his neighbour. It makes him a happy
individual and ensures that his environs will remain free of societal
problems.
Mind Science
Spirituality is a science, a science of the mind. It is the greatest source of
positive thinking, positive taste, positive habits and positive behaviour.
A positive person is a blessing for his home, for society and for his
nation. In secular terms, spirituality is positive thinking and in religious
terms, it is divine discipline.
PATIENCE AND PIETY
Believers’ Attitude
OF all the innumerable people who inhabit this world besides
ourselves, most of them are trying to achieve some kind of
success, and striving to outdo their fellowmen. To attain to
these ends, they will proceed as they please, for they have been given
complete freedom of action by their Creator. There is, therefore a neverending scramble for the good things of life, a constant jockeying for
postion, and an all-too-frequent lack of scruple in elbowing contenders
out of the way. We have to face this fact of life, that in this ongoing
rough and tumble, the weakest are those who will fall by the wayside.
There is no way of averting the hurts and
losses of our competitive existence, for that is
simply the way that God has made the world.
This, it should be noted, is not a feature
peculiar to parts of the world where Muslims
and people of other faiths live cheek by jowl.
It is characteristic of human existence all over
the world, and is certainly to be found in all
Muslim communities.
The believers should
be more concerned
with their own inner
state than they are
with the external
conditions in which
they find themselves,
and that, above all,
they should adhere
to the guidance they
have received from
God, for this will lead
them along the paths
of patience and piety.
The world being as it is, problems cannot be
solved by coming into conflict with everyone
whose interests clash with our own. There is
only one effective approach, and that is to
adopt the policy of avoidance favoured by
the Quran. Only by sidestepping those who
try to obstruct our progress in life can we
continue on our journey with any success. But
in order to pursue such a course, the virtue
of patience must be sedulously cultivated. To
adopt a policy of restraint and simply remove oneself from the path of
someone who is bent on being obstructive does require a high degree
of forbearance.
But then, the alternative—attaining one’s objectives in an aggressive,
confrontational way—means being anti-social and creating disharmony
on a variety of fronts, all of which is inconsistent with the ideals of
social order.
Believers are fortunate in having the assurances of the Quran that so
long as they are guided by the tenets of their faith, they will not be
harmed in any way by the malice or misdeeds of their opponents.
If you persevere and fear God, their designs will never harm you in the
least: God encompasses all that they do. (
This means the believers should be more concerned with their own
inner state than they are with the external conditions in which they find
themselves, and that, above all, they should adhere to the guidance
they have received from God, for this will lead them along the paths
of patience and piety. The nurturing of these qualities will build up
a protective barrier against plotting and conspiracies. It will, indeed,
provide them with an impenetrable defence.
But, why is it that patience is such a rare quality in human beings? It is
because it entails the suppression of one’s feelings when provoked and
the suffering of losses and setbacks without protest—neither of which
is an easy thing to do. It is only those who can rise above the petty
vengefulness engendered by such situations who will be successful
in developing this virtue. The first step towards its attainment is the
piety so strongly advocated by the Quran; it means, in effect, having an
eternal fear of God in one’s heart.
The truly pious person ceases to live on purely human level; he ascends
to a divine level where, above all else, he cherishes the will of God,
and where all of his actions are aimed at consolidating the blessings
promised to him by his Maker. Externally, he may appear to be living in
this world, but, in fact, he is living on an exalted plane where his inner
senses are in tune with the everlasting world of God.
PRICE OF WORLDLY SEATS
Grossly Exorbitant
MR. SURENDRANATH DWIVEDI has mentioned this interesting
reaction of the well-known Indian thinker, Mr. Jayaprakash
Narayan (1902-1979) in his book “Quest for Socialism.”
Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan had turned down the proposal of his
candidature for presidentship of India in 1967 because he did not
consider it ‘a very honourable situation to
read speeches prepared by somebody else’.
“Please keep me off this. I am not interested
even in the highest office. Somebody else
would prepare my speech and I would have to
deliver it as my own or my government’s. I do
not consider this a very honourable situation.
So please excuse me,” he said to his socialist
colleague, Mr. Surendranath Dwivedi. No
doubt he could not bear to contemplate such
limitations of his mental and moral freedom.
Renunciation of
freedom—mental,
moral, emotional
and physical is too
great a price to pay
for anything purely
material.
Similar was the reaction of the former Vice President of India,
Mr. Hidayatullah. After having resigned from vice-presidentship, he
remarked:
“I am feeling as free as a bird.”
High positions of power have always been objects of envy for the
people. However, these coveted seats lose their charm as soon as
they come within our grasp. The price we pay for them is our freedom—
mental, moral, emotional and physical—and surely renunciation of such
freedom is too great a price to pay for anything so purely material.
SIMPLIFYING ONES DIFFICULTIES
Prophetic Method
THE concept presented by Islam of peaceful living is based on the
idea that, in this world, adversity is always accompanied by some
positive, simplifying factor. That is to say that disadvantages
will always be accompanied by advantages. The common man is
nevertheless of the view that whenever any difficulty presents itself,
the only solution is to fight. And it is this mentality which breeds
violence. If, however, he could be convinced that whenever the path
to success seemed barred to him, there would always be something
inherent in the situation to ease his difficulties, his whole manner of
thinking would change.
This is not a concept which is immediately acceptable, the main reason
being that most people have never formed the habit of identifying the
positive factors in a seemingly negative situation. But once this concept
has taken root in a man’s mind, he will no longer clash, head-on, with
anything unfavourable that comes in his way. He will, on the contrary,
direct his efforts towards seeking whatever advantages lie in store
for him. Then, only after securing these advantages will he start his
struggle anew. In this way, on the ideological plane, this concept strikes
at the very roots of violence. In addition to this conceptual approach,
Islam offers a new methodology based on non-violence rather than on
violence.
The first principle of the non-violent method is to show willingness to
accept what is possible. A fine, practical example of this principle was
personally demonstrated by the Prophet Muhammad at the outset
of his missionary career in Makkah. At that time, there were many
evils prevailing in the society. Had the Prophet Muhammad directly
launched a struggle against these evils, he would at once have set off
a violent confrontation in Makkah, and the armed conflict would have
overshadowed his message of peace.
The Prophet had, at that juncture, formulated an important principle
of peace. Presenting it to the world, he put it into practice himself.
The principle he followed was to make one’s starting point what was
possible. That is to say, confine one’s activity to the field in which
opportunities are available under the prevailing system. The rest had
to be left for the future.
This was the principle which he followed for thirteen years while
working in Makkah. Any attempt to bring about a change in the system
in Makkah would only have resulted in clash and confrontation. He,
therefore, set before himself the target of bringing about a change
in the individual, and continued to work on those same lines for the
whole of the Makkan period.
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 AD 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
Who created the heavens and the earth and sends down water for you
from the sky, by which We make luxuriant gardens grow—you could
never make such trees grow in them—is it another deity besides God?
No indeed, but they are a people who equate others with Him.
Who is it that made the earth a stable place to live in? Who made
rivers flow through it? Who set mountains upon it and placed a barrier
between the two seas? Is there another deity besides God? Indeed,
most of them have no knowledge. (
Expressed as a chain of cause and effect, the theories propounded
by atheists or agnostics, remain woefully inadequate to explain the
creation of the unimaginably vast universe.
Be it the creation of the innumerable heavenly bodies that float in
boundless space, or the elaborate arrangements that make the earth
habitable—all these and many other such phenomena are too great
and too wonderful to have been wrought by any diety or occasioned by
any blind physical law.
The fact is that any explanation of the universe on bases other than
God amounts to giving a false explanation of reality. This is merely a
fabrication and not a genuine explanation.
Who responds to the oppressed when he calls out to Him, and relieves
his suffering and who will make you inheritors of the earth? Then, is
there a god besides God? How little you pay heed! Who guides you in
the darkness of the land and sea? Who sends the breezes as heralds
of His mercy? Then, is there a deity besides God? Exalted is God
above what they associate with Him. Who originates creation, then regenerates it, and who gives you sustenance from heaven and earth?
Then, is there a deity besides God?’ Say, ‘Bring forward your proofs, if
you are telling the truth.’ (
The needs of man are fulfilled as a result of the perfect coordination
between all the factors in the universe. We must ask who, other than
Almighty God, can assemble all the favourable factors on such a large
scale?
Similarly, the displacement of a nation or race and another nation
taking its place, the sailing of a ship, and in the modern age the flying of
an aeroplane in darkness as well as in daylight by taking advantage of
technological advances, the rising of water vapour from the sea and its
subsequent descent in the shape of rain. The creation of things out of
nothing and their resurrection, the provision of all kinds for man on a
large scale—all these result solely from the instrumentality of Almighty
God.
This is true of all of the world’s events. Here, to cause a single event
to take place, it is necessary to activate innumerable factors, and this
can be done only by that Being who has control of the whole universe.
In this context, how foolish it is to make anybody other than God the
centre of adoration and worship!
Say, ‘No one in the heavens and the earth has knowledge of the
unseen except God.’ They do not know when they will be raised up
again. Indeed, their knowledge of the life to come stops short of the
truth: they are [often] in doubt as to its reality: in fact, they are blind
to it. Those who deny the truth say, ‘When we have turned to dust
like our fathers, shall we be brought back to life again? We and our
fathers were promised this before; these are but old stories.’ Say,
‘Roam across the earth and observe what was the end of the sinful
ones.’ (
The addressees of the prophets were not absolute and total deniers
of the life Hereafter, but they denied that particular concept of the
Hereafter, which was presented by the prophets. People were under
the impression that the issue of the Hereafter was meant not for
them but for others to ponder over. The prophets told them that the
Hereafter was as serious a problem for them as it was for others. Yet
they clung to the belief that their attachment to some saints or holy
persons would redeem them in the Hereafter. The prophets told them,
however, that in the Hereafter only God’s grace and not attachment to
any saint or holy person would be of any avail.
That is why they were mentally confused about the Hereafter. Hotheaded individuals would, of course, articulate their denial of the
Hereafter. However, the common people’s position was that they did
not deny the Hereafter altogether. But, since acceptance of the concept
of the Hereafter resulted in the curtailment of their various liberties,
their selfish side was not prepared to accept it. So, in reply, they used
to talk as if they doubted it. Due to this mentality, they never gave
serious consideration to the arguments in favour of the Hereafter.
They remained blind and deaf to them.
The fact is that the powers required to decide the fate of nations or
races are vested solely in the All-Knowing God. In the present world,
He enforces His decisions partially, but in the Hereafter, He will enforce
His decisions fully in respect of all nations.
ASK MAULANA
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.
What is the real message of the Quran, the Bible and the Torah?
The common message of these three religious scriptures is monotheism,
or the concept of unity of God. There is a verse in the Quran that reads:
The believers, the Jews, the Christians, and the Sabeans, all those who
believe in God and the Last Day and do good deeds, will be rewarded
by their Lord; they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve. (
Do Muslims love Jesus?
In Islam, the Prophet Jesus and the Prophet Muhammad have an equal
position in terms of respect. Both were sent as a mercy to humankind,
to guide them to the right path and to spirituality. The Quran says:
Say, “We believe in God and in what has been sent down to us and
to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes. We believe in what
has been given to Moses, Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We
make no distinction between any of them. It is to Him that we have
surrendered ourselves.’ (
As a Muslim, what is your view on Hinduism?
Every religion has special characteristics. Hinduism has a unique
tradition of accepting plurality of truth without seeking to enforce
change of belief system. The composite nature of the Indian society
today is not by accident. It is due directly to the monistic way of
thinking held by the majority of the Indian population. India believes in
plurality, or in the words of Mahatma Gandhi, ‘the manyness of reality’.
According to this religious philosophy, the Hindus believe that
everything in the cosmos is an ansh, or part of divinity. They believe
in the concept of an indwelling god, that is, every human being has a
content of divinity. Due to this concept, the Hindu mind accords the
position of divinity to every man and woman. This is the genesis of the
culture of tolerance in India. Hinduism does not advocate change of
faith. It believes in the principle of mutual acceptance. Thus, Hindus
believe they are on the true path and so are others.
What can Muslims learn from people of other faiths?
Life is all about mutual learning. All of us should interact with and
learn from one another. Learning is a process. It is not restricted only
to some specific issues. This is the age of knowledge explosion and
learning. One should imbibe the spirit of learning and must learn from
one and all. By virtue of being different, each person has experiences
to share and learning to offer.
Learning is to be had from everyone. It is not a question of Muslim
or non-Muslim. Just as two stones create sparks when rubbed against
each other, similarly mutual learning causes brainstorming and leads
to emergence of new ideas.
Does Islam allow Muslims to wish people of other faiths on their
festivals?
Absolutely! Opportunities for engaging in interaction should never
be lost. Greeting others is a part of social ethics, and not a part of
belief system. One must strive to live peacefully and humbly in society.
A society is a unit of a nation, which is diverse yet interconnected.
When the members of a society acknowledge their diversity despite
having different beliefs, they nurture a healthy atmosphere of open
interaction, mutual learning and peaceful coexistence.
The way to prosper is to ignore the
matters that divide one from others
and to concentrate on cultivating areas
of mutual concern.
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 )
