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The article by Maulana Sajjad Nomani, a veteran spiritual leader, is in the context of the trying times of the present age where secular values are under threat. The Urdu article is translated by Mufti Mohammad Anzar Qasmi of the MMERC Mumbi.

THE CURRENT SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY AND OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

By Maulana Sajjad Nomani In the period of Mughal emperor (Akbar), a great struggle was done to turn the Asian sub- continent into Hindu state, to wipe out the Islamic signs from this land, or in other words to make the Muslims Islam-weary. What to say the mass of new Muslim generation? A similar attempt is being done by the fascists now. In the light of the past struggle to protect Islamic values we can move ahead to attain our goals. The problem is that responsible persons are not acquainted about the seriousness of the situation. It is the urgent need of the times to have a glance on the pages of bygone history, and learnt to face the challenges from them.

Emperor Akbar and Islam Akbar was a simple Muslin in the early age of his life, and because of deprivation of true, rather basic education he was such a Muslim as usually found in this vast continent of earth, who have religious emotions but are hollow in spirit and knowledge of religion. His religion was confined to attending the tombs of saints, offering oblations, listening to qawwalis etc, and in doing this he neglected the true spirit of Islam. Moreover his mind was full with the craze of empire and greatness.

And the Ulama whom he saw around him were worldly ulama. Their love for the world and mutual rivalry for

extreme selfish reasons convinced the empire to label all ulama as the same.

Further Akbar’s close courtiers, besides ulama who were closest to him, took him away from Qur’an, Hadith and true Islam. Then there was such a time when he was surrounded by active Brahmin and Christian compradors who tried to use him for their own purposes.

According to eyewitness accounts of most authentic historian of his age, Mullah Abdul Qadir, the emperor was attached to Brahmins and his relations and inclinations towards other groups of higher classes, e.g. Rajputs, were firmed since his childhood. To add to this, the girls of great princes who were under his disposal had a firm clutch on his mind. A Brahmin from Kalpi

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Emperor Akbar

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(Brahmin Das) who earned his reputation as a Birbal after interfering in the affairs of the palace, had relations with Akbar was like two souls of one body.

spirit of the Islamic law and tried to codify it supported by his coterie of flatterers. Thus elements of the Brahmanical religion ent ere

Later by d

“The king drinks Ganga water whether he is at journey or at home, a host of trust-worthy varlets appointed in the river’s shore fetch water in imperial vessels. In the kitchen, water of Jamna, Chanab or flood water is used but the water of Ganga also poured to seek blessing.” according to one authentic source.

According to Mulla Bada Youni his apostate went so deep that Akbar started disliking the words of Muhammad, Ahmad and Mustafa (names of the prophet) due to deep relationship with Hindu women of the harem and external pagans. (Muntakhab at Tawarikh v: 2, p: 215)

bar

Emperor Ak

the recommendation of Birbal one more philosophical minded Brahmin lady interfered in his personal matters, telling him the advantages of worshiping idols, sun, fire and stars, and the king also gradually started to come under the intoxicating and bewitching influence of their words.

And it was also imbedded on his mind that religion of Islam (Deen e Muhammadi) had completed one thousand years, and now a new religion (Deen) needed to be fashioned and that he was eminently suited for the task.

So different causes resulted in the fact that Akbar was not only one who was deviated, rather he started acting upon his self-professed syncretic views and tried to instil them into the common Muslims to follow him. In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king, and he became a proselytizer of his deviant views contrary to the letter and

into his theory of Islam, not through the back door, but through the front door.

Abul Fazl writes mentioning the process of his sun worship:

I state that sun exerts a specific influence on his theosophy; therefore its worship is conceived as God worship but dark minded people take it as wrong, Common mass due to lack of sight does not pay due respect to the light source, if there is no mind affiliation why they forget Surah AlShams.

(It is reported that some people in our country prove Yoga and Suriya Namaskar with the help of last Ayah of Surah Al-Qadr as Abul Fazl did with the help of Surah Al-Shams.

Know further more about the approach of great king Akbar about Ganga water:

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And it was the leverage of it that conscience deprived and selfish and immoral ulama wrote sermons (Khutbah) avoiding reference to Prophet Mohammed (saws) and the sahaba. Even when the delegation of Italian and Spanish Christian missionaries approached the palace, besides the preacher priests in the country, and exchanged their thoughts with the king, so during communication they referred to beloved Prophet (saws) as antichrist still Akbar did not show any anxiety on his face. On the contrary, he directed his son to learn a few lessons from them.

Forbiddance of Salah Mullah Abdul Qadir says: No one can dare to perform salah openly in royal palace (Muntakhab at Tawareekh v: 2, p: 315) Akbar and other Brahmin counselors who formulate a new religion were followers of the manifest polytheism in the shape of sun worship and star worship instead of oneness, and the doctrine of rebirth was included in place

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of belief in hereafter. Akbar himself used to take allegiance from purveyors of this religion. And the words, it means Kalimah (main creed comprising the words of belief in Allah and His Messenger) by which they were designated, the word Akbar KhalifatuAllah was added along with La Ilaha Illallh and there used to be an agreement in which it was written: “I disassociate with my choice and heartfelt interest from metonymical and orthodox religion Islam on which I found my forefathers. I accept the royal religion established by Akbar and embrace all four benchmarks of sincerity regarding that religion, that are relinquishment of wealth, self, dignity and religion.”

(Tareekh Dawat w Azeemat v: 4, p: 113)

refashioned while including -- into his self-professed religion-- wholesale elements of Hindu tenets or customs, and the only purpose of this religion was to compel Muslims to neglect the ethos of Islam and give sanctity to Hindu customs and dogmas.

Now we are wised up as to how this man tore apart the sanctum sanctorum of Islamic legacy at that time, and became emnbroiled in a conspiracy to disembowel the purity of Islam by the infiltration of extraneous elements as head of the government as he attempted to metamorphose this land into a complete Hindu state through regal means.But every evil has its antidote, and to smother the darkness, Allah (swt) fashioned the light. What was this light?

Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi (rah) writes

Even common Muslims of this subcontinent accepted the new beacon which was an undeniable historical fact.

He was the guardian of nation in India.

Gambling and taking interest, intoxicants and bacon were lawful, while the slaughtering of cows were forbidden and laws marriage were mutilated, the custom of veil and circumcision was illicit, prostitution was coordinated and organized and its place was assigned, and above all laws were framed for it. The rites of burial were modified so that a complete Akbari religion was founded.

(Tareekh Dawat w Azeemat v: 2, p: 113) Do not forget to take notice here about this religion that nothing was

Allah Almighty awoke him to the reality of the challenge.

to cultivate and revitalize Islam in the age of Jahangir the son of Akbar.

Though the movement to transform Indian culture lost its focus with the death of Akbar, but there was an extreme need to change the direction completely by essentializing basic Islamic tenets.

So Hazrat Mujaddid (rah) drew upon the attention of many counselors and leaders of various groups who used to show their reverence and love towards Jehangir and had Islamic ethos and sense in their hearts, to reform the changing circumstances by using their pockets of influence along with their close links with the royal durbar. The way he addressed them in his letters and motivated them for every possible effort to rectify the laws of the country was full of heartfelt sincerity. After reading the letters we can think how he kept an eye on the wrong measures of Akbari period which was for him a threnody for Islam.

psi’.

to ‘ghar wa

in ework goes A lot of hom

Perhaps you have understood: I mean Imam Rabbani Mujaddid Alf-e-Sani Hazrat Shaikh Ahmad Sarhindi who started his efforts

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It also lays down the guidelines to nullify any kind of attempt carried out in any country to spread religious and ethnical apostasy in a systematic way. If read in the correct spirit, these guidelines may prepare us for the way forward to spread the tolerant and merciful message of Islam, wherever needed.

Now once again the same dangers face the Islamic existence of Indian Muslims and their ethnic individuality in the present state of India, and so to cope with this condition we have to muster up courage and plan to accept the challenges growing more and more

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ominous. So readers are advised to feel the endless anguish of Hazrat Mujaddidi (rah) and try to see that angle by which he watched over the situation, prevalent at that time, so that we can reassess the current situation properly and raise our courage and awareness to fulfill our obligations, in ther light of past achievement and reforms.

Sayyeed Farid was one of the dignified and closest members of Jahangir’s coterie, and we can imagine how much Jahangir was giving him honour and respect after reading “Jahangir’s Account”? These words are: In a letter after formal greeting and supplication (dua and salam) he writes Your Highness! Today Islam is in a dire situation and in these circumstances if a man spends a mere penny for the sake of promotion and aid of Allah’s deen (swt) will fetch him thousand of billions in the hereafter, and so now it is time to see whom Allah (swt) grants this blessed job to rejuvenate Islam in this land once again and gives taufiq to accept this challenge. He should do away with the extraneous things and the reason for their presence now is that King was not acquainted about it. However it is binding upon us to inform the King about the religious matter. Ulama and King’s close advisers will be under a burden till they find a way out. And it will be great treasure for any group or Jam’at who is facing any kind of retribution or fearing any dangerous thing while informing King about the true nature of Islamic teachings.

Messengers of Allah (swt) lived with untold trouble and affliction while preaching Islam and this should guide us in the way forward.

written by Hazrat Mujaddid (rah) to Sayyeed Farid (rah).

on Islamic prudence and sense found in his nature.

Here I want to offer one more excerpt from letters which was written to one of the great dignified member of the courtiers of the throne, Mr. Khan Azam, shortly after handing over the country to Jahangir.

This is the era of “Jihade Qauli”, and we know it as Godsend and should raise the slogan of (is there more), Remember!

Now Jihad with words is better than the Jihad with swords and such we people (those who cannot reach the Royal Durbar) are deprived of blessed work.”

Hadith of the Prophet (saws)

What I have offered two examples from letters. Actually I want to make aware people about the conditions faced by our country, and what should be our reaction and impression about that, the light of past fruitful efforts.

Abu Hurairah (raz) reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “Islam began with a few, and it will soon go back as it has begun. How happy are the few.”

Another gist of a letter of the supporters of Mujaddid is: “The current dismal condition of Islam extends to the limit that pagans and enemies of Islam accurse Islam openly, and are doing all they can to remove its traces. On the other hand, Muslims are helpless as they face an onslaught while attempting to preserve Islamic values.. Today we feel the personality of Hazrat Mujjadid Alf Sani as a Godsend and we are not finding any one except him (for doing this work), may Allah help him. A Hadith says that no one can be a perfect Muslim until people take him as a mad man, and now the same madness based

There are so many letters available

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There is no doubt about it that nowadays the present government and its guided organizations are striving excessively to convert our land into Hindu State , chiefly to change Muslim to Hindus or at least make them Hinduminded Muslim.

The writer of these lines knows well that a large number of such Muslims live among us but unfortunately they are not recognizing the seriousness of problems faced in the present age.

There are RSS wingnut who use the situation for their own benefit but Muslims have yet to be awakened.

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Current situation The Government has completed its preparation for basic changes in constitution such as uniform civil code, abrogation of article 370 in Kashmir etc and are, now waiting for majority in Rajya Sabha.

Our new generation is involved in polytheistic bahaviour (by associating partners with Allah (swt) by leaning to yoga and Surya namaskar in schools and colleges.

The act of abrogating all laws has been started which provide Muslim with freedom of action upon religious matters.

protection of citizens’ selves and wealth, respect and glory, religious sentiments and feelings. In such a secular set-up envisaged by the constitution the government will not favour any religion or support any kind of specific religion or civilization.

from the West These are some of the facts of the present political situation in the country and we have to draw up a road map to tackle the myriad problems that afflict our nation.

The effort to Hinduize all public activities of the government despite the Mass Contact secular framework has been going on to such an extent that even education, through textbooks, teachers and syllabi First and foremost we should meet is being saffronized. No voices were Muslims personally as they are our raised from the first day after brothers, and try to re-engender Islamic independence when the government values with prudence and sagacity. We officials started adopting Brahmanical should tell them about the dangerous customs on inaugural occasions at moves by some to destroy our faith and public functions, during laying the civilization, and advocate for stability foundation stones of buildings and in the country along with a change in furthermore, bedecking idols in police policy. stations and in official offices and with To keep inview the commandments of explicit instructions to institutionalize the Qur’an will be helpful in the Hindu religion in all the activities of Dawah, lest offi ists m e r t x e d we go astray. indu

Government has taken the power of appointing Judges to close the door of justice and damage its impartiality under which Muslim used to receive e H some benefit in their aryana, d set krag, burn H , e t a t s n matters, and it a in Indian trol on mosque her property. w i l l b e d ot d pe sprinkle slim’s houses an equivalent to Mu suicide if we brush aside unfolding results in the coming days.

In the constitution according to which we have decided to live in the country has complete details that declare that every citizen will be free to accept any religion and civilization, to follow and preach what they like, and every community has right to establish their educational institutes in order to protect the civility and rule of their religions and civilizations. It was also an obligation on the part of the government that they will pay equal importance to the

cial places..

It is fact that the Hindu agenda is set and further promoted by ministers and MPs of the ruling party in a sharp attempt to damage the secular foundation of our constitution. Someone calls upon the government to declare the Bhagwat Gita as the national book, then the external minister denies it on pressure

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“Many of the people of the scripture long to make us disbelievers after we believe, through envy on their own account, after the truth hath become manifest unto them.

Forgive and be indulgent (towards them) until Allah gives command. Lo! Allah is able to do all things.”

“Establish worship and pay the poordue and whatever of good ye send before (you) for your souls, you will find it with Allah. Lo! Allah is sees what ye do.”

“And they say: None entereth Paradise he be a Jew or a Christian. Say: Bring your proof (of what ye state) if ye are truthful. (Qur’an)”

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Untold Ulama and various groups are doing this work in their own ways and consequently good results are coming to light, but the area of the country is so vast and population is too much that work is still unfinished.

Tablighi Jam’at

company of others and owing to various reasons are unaware of the essential tenets of Islam. They may also be neglected by their parents and teachers who do not take religion seriously.

As far as first group concerned, the Tablighi Jama’at is the best way to reach far corners of the country to inculcate an

outlying villages and its good results are being seen.

As for the second group, scholars and other groups besides the Tabligi Jama’at have to extent their hand toward them and instill in them the spirit of Islam so that they are not besmirched with other negative

This Jam’at has done much in the last few decades and without any doubt it played a great role to keep Muslims away from religious and ethnic apostasy and made them practice perseverance in Islam. In present scenario concerned people discern that a good relationship must be continued as in previous decades between farsighted ulama and responsible people in Tablighi Jam’at so as to strengthen the actual work.

On the other side a big majority of population belongs to other schools of thought and diverse denominations, and there is an urgent need to draw the attention of their distinguished ulama and wise people so that various segments of the whole nation become active for the protection of religion.

One disturbing factor is that owing to poverty many Muslims living in remote rural areas are lacking knowledge of even the basic tenets of deen such as kalmia, prayer or fasting.

The second group that needs to be tackled is the school-going or college-going students who frequent the

Indian Muslim children pray at a madrasa. awareness of Iman and its concominant actions. Its volunteers are servicing Islam with sincerity and dedication in different areas. The writer knows that Tabligi elders of some states have decided to send their Jama’ats in

influences. Attractive programs and seminars should be held on different topics in which brothers and sisters of this class should be called, and the philosophical teachings of Islam presented with wisdom and in apostolic way.

Bhagwat reportedly said dharma jagran has been among the Sangh's thrust areas and will go on.

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Experience shows that a large number of people pick up substantial Islamic basics if we can put I s l a m i c teachings before them with love and a sincere effort using a caring approach to heal their souls and

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prepare them for the akhirah by using the language of the area.

Some sincere and talented young ulama of our nation hold essay competitions on Islamic topics in their areas. This is besides the seminars and symposiums by which many young Muslims and non-Muslims study Islamic books, enabling them to be embraced by Islam and by this way they smoothen their relations with it, or at least misunderstandings and hatreds end.

Contact with compatriot brothers It is necessary that we should make mass public contact so that the blessings of Islam reach not only to Muslims but to a wider public.

We have to bear in mind a few facts regarding this.

The plan to efface the unique culture of Muslims and converting it in Hindu state is being pursued by a small minority which has taken over all the centers of power in the country using their conspiratorial minds and special capabilities, otherwise the majority of nonMuslim citizens of the country do not think so. Their thoughts are

Muslim families are still refusing to return to the village and are camped at the police station.

limited to the necessities of daily bread, clothes, houses and search for a better future for their children. But a good number of them have endless complaints against this unjust minority of high caste Brahmins. So our compariots can be awakened for the protection of constitution and secular structure together with all such groups and persons.

As though the aforementioned plan of effacing Muslim unique culture is from a small minority but it will be wrong and harmful to brush aside the fact that most of the people support this plan and the

majority of the people are active regarding this. And most

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important thing is that the majority belongs to the s e g m e n t which endured severe brutal atrocities of a tyrannous minority.

B u t t h e tyrannous minority a l w a y s provokes them to act against Muslims with e x t r e m e artifice. They profess falsely their love for Muslims and extent their support pretending to help them in their fight for justice. They beguile themselves into thinking that Muslims are against them and then covertly or overtly act against them. Thus they confess their own enemy as their true sympathizers and masters instead of standing against them and extending the circle of struggle to get rid all—Muslims and non-Muslims from their moorings, religious or professions.

Think on this background that our planned contact with the different segments of country’s brothers with the above m e n t i o n e d suppressed segments may lead us far towards our goals.

It is time to do that not writing or saying any thing more.

Therefore I have stopped writing further on this topic and supplicate to Allah (swt) so He might encourage us to start the aforementioned things in an

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organized way as soon as possible, initiating the mass contact along with the other realistic and suppressed segments of the population as noted above, just then the practical explanation of many aspects will be declared.

We should use social media at all levels in order to contact Muslim and other compatriot brothers. It is noticeable and commendable that our big institutes which have resources and discerning individuals pay attention to this Dawah work. May Allah give taufeeque in future to do that!

Litigation is an important step besides the mass contact, public awareness and ironing out common opinions. It is dire need of time to consult the courts on a large scale against the measures and actions of present government. It should be tried to prove in the courts that these actions and steps are going against the constitution of the c o u n t r y, a n d according to writer’s opinion, litigation will be better not only by Muslims but rather the groups and organizations of compatriot brothers that show complete agreement with our aims, and they should be involved.

However whether this is the matter of mass contact or consultation of courts, should be strictly monitored

everywhere so that the cruel and brute elements cannot grip the chance to dub this struggle as a Hindu-Muslim issue, and they will put desperate efforts to do that. It should be noted that our struggle must be promoted

b y seeking help of Allah (swt) step by step. And keeping eye on every angle without ignoring for a moment the stratagems and dangers from enemies.

This is a glad tiding for us that the most dignified and respectable organization

All India Muslim Personal Law Board has taken a decision in the context of recent scenario to appear in the field together with country men to protect the

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constitution of the country and Shari’ah in the light of Board formula and constitution in the executive committee of Lucknow. It has put the responsibility on the shoulders of an authentic and experienced S e c r e t a r y, H a z r a t Maulana Muhammad Wali Rahmani.

On the other hand, the misconceptions and disagreements are being raise among the honourable members of Board to reduce or shake the trust of common Muslim in the All India Muslim Personal Law. This is because the Board has announced its decision to show courage to be proactive and use pre-emptive measures for preventing the country from going in the wrong direction. In this context it will be good to mention that Aligarh Muslim University should not be handed over to people who have debased minds about religion.

Alas! They would not have spoken their pieces so lightly about this delicate issue of yoga for all. if they had time to go through details at least they would have thought this aspect that the reason why the government supported Yoga was not only a physical exercise, in their sight, without consideration of all citizens, specially Muslims.