RayOfHope 2002-04

The Ray of Hope

Safar 1423

Apr-May 2002

A Journal By The Students Of Darul Uloom Sabeelus Salam, Hyderabad, India

Visit www.scribd.com/musarhad for more articles on Islaam.

_____________________________________________________________________________ Vol.1 No.3 Safar 1423 A.H. Apr-May 2002 PATRON: MAULAANAA RIZWAN AL QASMI

ADVISORY BOARD

Under the guidance of: Master Ameeruddin Sb Chief Editor: Noamaan Bader Editor: Syed Rashid Hussain Sub-Editor: Shamsul Islam

Maulaanaa Akhtar Imaam Aadil Sb Qasmi Ml Abdul Basit Sb Nadvi Ml Khursheed Anvar Sb Nadvi Madani Ml Md Ayyub Sb Siddiqi Nadvi

C O N T E N T S 1

Editorial: Betrayal of humanity

Noamaan Bader

2

2

Repent before it’s too late

Syed Rashid Husain

4

3

Ml Qaazee Mujaahidul Islaam Qaasmee

Shamsul Islam

5

4

Love for Allaah’s sake

Wasi Akhtar Nadvi

7

1

The Ray of Hope

Safar 1423

Apr-May 2002

Editorial

Betrayal Of Humanity

Noamaan Bader As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods; They kill us for their sport.

The myth of Gandhi’s Gujarat – peaceful, tolerant and non-violent – exploded. Not since the days of partition has this nation witnessed the kind of lunacy as has taken place in Gujarat. It is not just the scale of violence that has shocked us, but the manner of it, the cruelty and obscenity. The carnage in Gujarat, and the rhetoric of belligerence, hate and intolerance that preceded it, are gory reminders of how deeply India continues to be divided in ascertaining its very fundamentals as a nation. The national polity has been torn asunder. A subtle polarization on communal lines has taken place, which if left unrepaired, can well lead to the disintegration of the country.

It is over a month since the carnage in Gujarat began, and still the violence continues. All kinds of man’s injustice are rampant: forced eviction from homes, violation of property and honour, lack of basic safety and security conditions are widespread. The violence going on in Gujarat is no less than a holocaust or pogrom against Muslims. The evidences of the planned nature of the ongoing anti-Muslim pogrom in Gujarat have widely been documented and reported by the media – both electronic and print. Most business establishments run by Muslims were systematically targeted during the riots from small bakeries and hotels along the highway to large showrooms in Ahmedabad’s elite shopping areas. According to industry sources, the riots have resulted in an estimated loss of between Rs. 30 billion and Rs. 50 billion. The Gujarat carnage has claimed more than 800 human lives (officially). Thousands of Muslims who fled death and destruction in their villages are still in relief camps. According to the newsmagazine Frontline, 150 thousand victims of communal violence are in refugee camps and the toll continues to rise. Almost all the refugees in the state’s 104 relief camps are Muslims, revealing the extent to which the community has been targeted.

The “preliminary” report on Gujarat by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) confirms the organized character of the post-Godhra violence, and the state’s demonic complicity in it. The NHRC report is the most soothing indictment

2

The Ray of Hope

Safar 1423

Apr-May 2002

of the Gujarat government which failed to discharge the primary and inescapable responsibility of the state to protect the fundamental rights to life, liberty, equality and dignity of citizens.

As if death, arson and revenge were not enough, the Chief Minister of Gujarat valued the tragedy on different scales, offering what might be called a two-price theory for death: a Hindu life was worth twice the life of a Muslim. This only demonstrates the partisan attitude of those in power.

The inhumane and horrific events in Gujarat and the Godhra episode is indeed a betrayal of Humanity. Islaam does not only condemn all kinds of infringements on life, honour and property, but also advocates recourse to reason, fair play, dialogue and resort to peaceful means in resolving disputes. The human society, built on inter-connected interests and benefits, needs to promote mutual understanding and cooperation, if peaceful co-existence is to be achieved. Allaah says:

ِ ِ ِ ‫ﺎرﻓُﻮا إِ ﱠن أَ ْﻛ َﺮَﻣ ُﻜ ْﻢ ِﻋﻨْ َﺪ‬ َ ‫ﱠﺎس إِﻧﱠﺎ َﺧﻠَ ْﻘﻨَﺎ ُﻛ ْﻢ ﻣ ْﻦ ذَ َﻛ ٍﺮ َوأُﻧْـﺜَﻰ َو َﺟ َﻌﻠْﻨَﺎ ُﻛ ْﻢ ُﺷ ُﻌﻮﺑًﺎ َوﻗَـﺒَﺎﺋ َﻞ ﻟﺘَـ َﻌ‬ ُ ‫ﻳَﺎ أَﻳﱡـ َﻬﺎ اﻟﻨ‬ ِ‫اﻟﻠﱠ ِﻪ أَﺗْـ َﻘﺎ ُﻛﻢ إِ ﱠن اﻟﻠﱠﻪ َﻋﻠ‬ (13) ‫ﻴﻢ َﺧﺒِ ٌﻴﺮ‬ ْ ٌ َ

“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know each other (not that you may despise each other). Truly, the most honoured of you in the sight of Allaah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allaah has full knowledge and is well-acquainted (with all things).” (Holy Qur’aan 49:13) The above verse makes it clear that Islaam recognizes absolute equality between men irrespective of the distinctions of colour, race and nationality, and all human beings are brothers to one another. They all are descendants from one father and one mother. The division of human beings into nations, races, groups and tribes is for the sake of distinction, so that people of one race or tribe may meet and be acquainted with the people belonging to another race or tribe and co-operate with one another.

(Continued to page 8)

3

The Ray of Hope

Safar 1423

Apr-May 2002

Repent Before It’s Too Late

Syed Rashid Hussain Ours is an age of misfortunes, tragedies and calamities particularly for the Believers which are enough to disconcert, perturb and unnerve any thinking mind. Being dazed, we look here and there for solutions, but to no avail. Often we are unable to understand the real cause of all these trials and tribulations which the holy Qur’aan explicitly enunciated:

ِ ٍ ِ ِ (30) ‫ﺖ أَﻳْ ِﺪﻳ ُﻜ ْﻢ َوﻳَـ ْﻌ ُﻔﻮ َﻋ ْﻦ َﻛﺜِﻴ ٍﺮ‬ ْ َ‫ﺴﺒ‬ َ ‫َوَﻣﺎ أ‬ َ ‫َﺻﺎﺑَ ُﻜ ْﻢ ﻣ ْﻦ ُﻣﺼﻴﺒَﺔ ﻓَﺒ َﻤﺎ َﻛ‬

“Whatever misfortune happens to you, is because of the things your hands have wrought and for many (sins) He grants forgiveness.” (Qur’aan 42:30) The enlightened Book not only states the cause of our afflictions i.e. our sins, but also suggests the way to get rid of them. The glorious Book urges us to comprehend the reality, to acknowledge our transgressions and to seek Allaah’s forgiveness for them. However, there was a possibility that the acknowledgement of our enormous sins could lead to a feeling of despair and pessimism. To prevent such despondency, the holy Qur’aan declares that Allaah is Most Gracious, Most Merciful and also says:

ِ (87) ‫ﺲ ِﻣ ْﻦ َرْو ِح اﻟﻠﱠ ِﻪ إِﱠﻻ اﻟْ َﻘ ْﻮُم اﻟْ َﻜﺎﻓِ ُﺮو َن‬ ُ َ‫إﻧﱠﻪُ َﻻ ﻳَـ ْﻴﺌ‬

“Truly, no one despairs of Allaah’s soothing mercy except those who have no faith.” (Qur’aan 12:87) Likewise, Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬is quoted as saying: ‫ﻮل اﻟﻠﱠﻪُ ﺗَـ َﻌﺎﻟَﻰ‬ ُ ‫ﻳَـ ُﻘ‬ ‫( أَﻧَﺎ ِﻋ ْﻨ َﺪ ﻇَ ﱢﻦ َﻋ ْﺒ ِﺪي ﺑِﻲ‬Allaah says that He deals with His servant as he expects of Him. – Bukhaaree: 6856) This hadeeth clearly indicates that if a person expects mercy and forgiveness from his Lord, He grants him and if he feels that he is ruined and has no chance of being forgiven by Allaah, then His response is similar to the person’s attitude. Thus Islaam teaches optimism.

Unfortunately, this optimism has been misunderstood and the consequence has been disastrous. We have taken it to mean that howsoever sins we commit, we shall be forgiven. Wish that we knew the great deception we are in. Certainly, optimism is of use only if we repent and then resolve to shun the sin and obey Allaah’s commands completely. § § § § § § § § § §

4

The Ray of Hope

Safar 1423

Apr-May 2002

Maulaanaa Qaazee Mujaahid-ul Islaam Qaasmee Shamsul Islam The eminent jurist of the Islaamic law, Maulaanaa Qaazee Mujaahid-ul Islaam Qaasmee (1936-2002 = 1355-1423AH) is now no more with us. He has gone to the final destination where everyone of us has to go. The grief of his departure has not been limited to a person, a group, an institution or an organization, rather the whole Muslim community has shared it. The entire academic circle and the juristic world have felt the tremendous loss. If there is something that consoles and comforts, then it is only the enlightened Qur’aanic maxim:

ِ ‫إِﻧﱠﺎ ﻟِﻠﱠ ِﻪ وإِﻧﱠﺎ إِﻟَْﻴ ِﻪ ر‬ .‫اﺟ ُﻌﻮ َن‬ َ َ

“To Allaah we belong, and to Him is our return.” (Qur’aan 2:156) The great Islaamic scholar, popularly known as Qaazee (Justice) Saahib was born at a far-off village, Jallay of Darbhanga district – nearly 150 km from Patna by road – in Bihar on 19 October 1936 (~2/8/1355AH). His father, Maulaanaa Abdul Ahad Saahib was a learned scholar of his time. Qaazee Saahib completed his formal education at Daarul Uloom Deoband in 1955. Then, he started his academic career as a teacher in the renowned educational institute, Jaami’ah Rahmaanee, Munger.

There he was fortunate to have the guidance and support of Maulaanaa Sayyid Minnatullaah Rahmaanee, the renowned scholar and the then Ameer e Shari’ah (Chief Executive) of Imaarat e Shara’iyah, Bihaar and Orissa – headquartered at Patna.

Qaazee Saahib began his public life as a qaazee (Islaamic jurist) in the Department of Law and Justice, Imaarat e Shara’iyah, Bihar and Orissa at Patna in 1961. He remained associated with the Imaarah till the end of his life. Under the guidance of Maulaanaa Rahmaanee and in the company of his honourable comrade, Maulaanaa Sayyid Nizaamuddeen (formerly Rector and at present Chief Executive of the organization), he improved the functioning of the Imaarah and it reached the height of its glory. He inspired a new spirit in every organ of the Imaarah leading to the establishment of many new wings of the organization, viz. Technical Institute; Maulaanaa Sajjaad Hospital; Al Ma’had-ul ‘Aalee for training in Islaamic jurisprudence; Wifaaq-ul Madaaris-il Islaamiyah (Board of Islaamic Madrasahs), Bihar; and Darul ‘Uloom, Imaarat e Shara’iyah.

5

The Ray of Hope

Safar 1423

Apr-May 2002

In the chronological order, the second important organization with which Qaazee Saahib was associated is the well-known All India Muslim Personal Law Board, of which he was one of the founders. His role in this organization has been very significant. Along with other elders, he has been steering the organization from its dawn itself without holding any office. When Maulaanaa Alee Miyaan (d. 19131999 = 1332-1420AH) passed away, he became its President and performed the onerous task of reorganizing the Delhi office of the Board.

The former General Secretary of the Board, Maulaanaa Sayyid Minnatullaah Rahmaanee, was very foresighted and farsighted. He had worked out a statute book which would include all the issues and matters related to Islaamic Personal Law. But it could not be published in his lifetime. When Qaazee Saahib took over as the President of the Board, he published it with diligent care and effort under his supervision in Urdu as well as its translation in English under the title Compendium of Islamic Laws.

The other important organizations with which Qaazee Saahib has been associated are Islaamic Fiqh Academy and All India Millee Council (both founded by him, in 1989 and 1992 respectively).

Among the scores of books Qaazee Saahib has written, compiled or edited, the following are noteworthy: Islaamee ‘Adaalat (Islaamic court), Nizaam-ul Qazaa fi-l Islaam (Justice system in Islaam), Khutbaat e Bangalore (Bangalore lectures), Fataawaa Imaarat e Shara’iyah (Verdicts of Imaarat e Shara’iyah), etc. He was also the editor of the quarterly journal Bahs o Nazar (Research and analysis) which had been holding the status of a reference work in the realm of academics, research and jurisprudence.

(Continued to page 8)

6

The Ray of Hope

Safar 1423

Apr-May 2002

Love For Allaah’s Sake Our Prophet ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬has taught us many good things which make the society a happy place to live in. One of them is to love our brothers for Allaah’s sake without any worldly expectation of favour or monetary profit or for carnal reasons. The following are some of the traditions of our Prophet ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬which describe how Allaah is pleased with a person who loves another person for Allaah’s sake.

Aboo Hurairah reported Allaah's Apostle ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬as saying: A person visited his brother in another town and Allaah deputed an angel to wait for him on his way and when he came to the angel, he asked: Where do you intend to go?

He said: I intend to go to my brother in this town.

The angel said: Have you done any favour to him (the repayment of which you intend to get)?

He said: No, except that I love him for the sake of Allaah, the Exalted and Glorious.

Thereupon the angel said: I am a messenger to you from Allaah: (to inform you) that Allaah loves you as you love him (for His sake). (Muslim 4656, 32/6226) Aboo Hurairah reported Allaah's Messenger ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬as saying: Verily, Allaah would say on the Day of Resurrection: Where are those who had mutual love for My Glory's sake? Today I shall shelter them in My shadow when there is no other shadow but Mine. (Musllim 4655, 32/6225) Had we loved our brothers as taught by Islaam, had we followed our religion in its letter and spirit, had we given due attention to our Prophet’s ‫ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬ teachings; we could have established such a unique and noble fraternity that the non-Muslims would have come to our religion on their own without any arduous preaching on our part.

7

The Ray of Hope

Safar 1423

Apr-May 2002

(Continued

from page 3) We have seen how religion has been exploited to generate enmity among mankind.

We have also experienced how religion has been used to create or deepen hatred for religion in the minds of certain sections of the people, and how religion has been used to encroach upon property and honour, and to kill innocent people, including children, old men and women. Therefore, it is incumbent upon all conscientious and value-loving people of the world, to join in supporting the cause of the oppressed, act jointly to put an end to blood-letting and ensure human dignity in these unfortunate lands.

A peace is of the nature of a conquest; for then both Parties nobly are subdued, and neither party loser.

Let us give up the hate campaign and move in the direction of establishing harmony between all communities. § § § § § § § § § §

(Continued from page 6) Undoubtedly, the noble record which Qaazee Saahib has set through his academic, religious, juristic, social and political services is outstanding. In his entire life, he gave the call of unity among Muslims urging them to rise above the boundaries of sects, regions, institutes and organizations. In spite of his high standing, he was quite modest and humble. He had keen interest in the problems faced by the nation and the community and would try his best to solve them.

Qaazee Saahib passed away on the blessed night of a Friday (4/4/2002 = 20/1/1423AH) which is indicative of his high station in Allaah’s sight. The massive crowd of his admirers and enthusiasts in his funeral ceremony and the reception of his mortal remains by the government of Bihar with state honours at Patna airport manifest his popularity in this ephemeral world. Thus Qaazee Saahib parted from us giving us this message: Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time.

8