CONTENTS
1. SHAB-E-BAR' AT (English Version of Urdu Shab-e-Bar'at)
2. FASTING AND SELF-RESTRAINT (English version of Urdu Roza Aur Zabt-e-Nafs)
3. EID-UL-FITR FOR WHOM? (English version of Urdu Eid-ul-Fitr Kis Ke Liye)
4. EID-UL-AZHA (English version of Urdu Eid-e-Qurban)
5. MEELAD-UN-NABI (English version of Urdu Meelad-un-Nabi)
Maulana Sayyid Abul A'la Maududi was an outstanding Islamic scholar; a proficient speaker; an accomplished author; a thinker par excellence. He illuminated the Twentieth Century by his endeavors of reviving Islamic way of life in the Muslim society. He laid the foundation of an Islamic movement which is known in the sub-continent as Jamaat-e-lslami.
Maulana Maududi realized that a true Islamic society cannot come into existence unless the basic concepts of Muslims, with regard to Islam are clarified.
He chose to educate Muslims from scratch and authored dozens of books which helped in attaining this goal. He noticed that because Muslims, in this part of the world, are living with a huge population of non-Muslim compatriots, they have been influenced, consciously or unconsciously, by their culture and civilization.
Islam is a deen which preaches Monotheism, and based on this faith attempts to build a
Essentially, he presented lectures on each of these subjects which were subsequently printed in Urdu, in the form of small separate booklets. Now the publishers decided to bring a combined edition so that readers can take a holistic view on not only the philosophy of Islamic festivals but also fasting of Ramazan.
It is a great honor for me to translate these booklets into English. I am convinced that the spirit and charisma that is present in Maulana's own language, could not be translated. I still felt it important to bring forth the true picture of these subjects before the English educated masses.
I am also aware my constraints that are reflected in the translati1on, but I have sincerely and honestly attempted to do this in anticipation of a reward in the Hereafter. May Allah accept this meagre effort and reward me as I desire. It goes without saying that all deficiencies in this effort should be solely attributed to the translator.
Mansoor Durrani New Delhi December 30, 1998
Shab-e-bar'at is generally considered a festival of Muslims. Certain customs have been evolved which are adhered to, vigorously. From celebrations point of view, this is second to only Muharram. But the truth is that this is absolutely man-made festival.
Neither Qur'an nor Hadees and the era of companions of Prophet Mohammed Sallalallhu Alaihi Wasallam indicate the existence of this festival, then. None of the Islamic scholars of early post - Khilafat-e- Rashida period have called such a feast Islamic.
As a matter of fact, Islam is not a religion of customs and festivities. It is a straightforward and reasonable religion which restrains human beings from the shackles of rituals, futile and time-consuming fete.
Islam urges people to save precious time, energy and wealth and pay attention towards unshakable realities of life. It wants people to spend their time on activities, which prove to be the cause of happiness and prosperity in this, life and Hereafter.
It is highly uncharacteristic of such a religion to mark one day in a year for fire-cracking and confectioning and allow people to keep on wasting valuable time and hard-earned money every year. It is further remote of the spirit of Islam to make people observe a custom which is not only a drain on time and money but, at times, even proves fatal and reduces property to ashes. Instead of asking people to celebrate such baseless customs, if it was already a trend during the lifetime of Prophet Mohammad Sallalallhu Alaihi Wasallam. It would have surely been stopped forcefully. All such festivities, which were performed during those days were banned, as it is.
The matter of confectionery and firework is so explicit that every individual, with even little knowledge of Islam, will instantly acknowledge that these practices are against the values of Islam. When it is endeavored to figure out link of recognized religious belief, with this specific day of Shaban, no such association is traceable. At the most, Islamic literature reveals only an event: once, on the night of Shaban the 15th, Hazrat Ayesha did not find Prophet Mohammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam on his bed, so she left in his search and reached Jannat-ul Baquee.
He was present there. On quizzing, he replied on this night, Allah turns His attention from the sky to this world and forgives as many sins of people as the total number of hair of all the sheeps put-together of the clan, called Kalb. But a prominent writer of Hadees, Imam Tirmizi has declared this tradition a fragile and has claimed, through his research, that it cannot be believed with certainty that Hazrath Ayesha was its source. There is other narration which are found in lesser known compilations of Hadees. The excellence of this night is said to be only because human fates are decided in this, and affairs of birth and death are finalized. But all these traditions are w eak. Every argument, in its favour, suffers one or the other flaw . This is why none of the reliable old collection of Hadees mentions about these stories.
Even if their authenticity is recognized in toto, then also, the only inference could be that praying and asking for His forgiveness for the sins, during this night, is an appreciable act. If this is done individually, then they will be rewarded. Other than this, the perusal of these narrations does not prove that either 14th or 15th night of Shaban is proclaimed to be Eid or some collective prayers are pronounced for this occasion.
The more reliable books on Hadees acknowledge that Prophet Mohammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam used to be in a peculiar state, in the month of Shaban, prior to the commencement of Ramazan. It is in the month of Ramazan that the stupendous honor of Prophethood was bestowed upon him and the revelation of immortal Book, the Qur'an, commenced.
Due to these reasons, he not only used to keep unusually regular fasts and perform longer prayers during Ramazan, but even in advance, Prophet Mohammad Sallalallhu Alaihi Wasallam would inch closer to Allah. Hazrath Ayesha and Umme Salma state that besides Ramazan, Shaban was the only month during which Prophet Mohammad Sallalallhu Alaihi Wasallam fasted most, rather the entire month was spent in fasting.
But this practice of his was specifically for his own sake. It was due to his deep spiritual attachment, he had with the month of revelation of Qur'an. For, common Muslims were instructed by him to stay away from fasting during the second fortnight of Shaban. He suspected that if Muslims got habitual of fasting during this period, then gradually this would turn into a trend and people will have to bear unnecessary burden of 10-15 fasts, in addition to the compulsory fasting of the entire month of Ramazan. Thus, people would have borne the burden, which had not been put on them by the injunction of Allah.
Islam has taken necessary care of the fact that its followers do not adopt rituals and rites which Allah has not asked them to. None of the self-created custom, artificial ceremony or any collective practice should take the shape of Farz. Allah knows better as to what will and what will not be beneficial for the people. He also knows that how much of it is necessary for human beings to perform. By exceeding the limits prescribed by Him, if people establish certain customs and rituals of their own, and practice them like Faraiz, then they will make the life unnecessarily difficult for themselves. Past nations had committed the same blunder of pioneering rituals and customs and made them essential and part of their religion.
Consequently, they were entangled in such a web of their making that they could not find exit route and eventually got paralyzed. Qur'an has declared customs as synonymous to "shackles" and the chief objective of the life of Prophet Mohammad Sallalallhu Alaihi Wasallam is said to be setting free the mankind from such chains and shackles. Due to this, the Shariat of Prophet Mohammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasa!lam has proposed a lean and mean stream of faraiz and eliminated all other customs and
Initially, people who understood the spirit of Islamic injections, they strictly adhered to these principles. They restrained from pioneering and establishing new customs and when they noticed alarming trends, they were uprooted, for good. They knew that these conventions, though initiated with noble intentions and considered righteousness, would gradually turn into sunnah, then wajib and finally farz and thereafter will even overtake farz. Due to sheer ignorance, people tend to mix up this piety with various ills and make it an ugly practice. Such customs, put together, become a curse for society and impediment for the progress of humanity. It is because of this, the Ulemah and Imams of early Islamic era used to be very careful in guarding Islam from such unwarranted additions. They had unflinching faith that considering anything as part of Shariah, which is actually not, and adding more significance to something than given by Shariah : both instances are heresy and every such act was considered to be apostasy.
Unfortunately, in subsequent centuries, Muslims became reckless and gradually started slipping into the vicious circle of customs, as other nations did.
One of the primary reasons of this has been that nations which came into Islamic fold in the later era, could not get proper Islamic orientation and training.
They embraced Islam along with some of their primitive customs and lifestyles. They were, for ages, accustomed to disgraceful festivities, customs and pilgrimage, without which their religious lives were colorless. After embracing Islamic Shariah, instead of feeling relieved from getting rid of old rituals and freeing themselves from the shackles of bad customs, they got worried as to how to recapture the burden which Islam had eliminated and how to wear the shackles which Islam had broken. Thus, they modified the facade of some of their old customs; they invented some others and even turned Islam into the same religion of fun and frolicking, as their old religion were.
These inventions were made very aptly, Qur'an and Hadees were never scrutinized with the objective of learning the principles and guidelines of leading an Islamic life, rather it was done to find excuses for continuing their old customs and inventing new conventions. When they managed to find a minor clue, they converted it into a
Among numerous other spiritual and moral benefits of fasting, one is to prepare man for developing self-control. In order to have a comprehensive understanding of this, one ought to know the Islamic conception of self-restraint and then how fasting helps in achieving this.
The meaning of self-restraint is that man's psyche* exercises blanket control on his body and its energies, and the requisition and desires of baser-self** should be in its clutches to make them abide by its demands. Psyche occupies the same position in a human body as that of a ruler in his empire. Body and its different parts are the subordinates of psyche.
All mental and physical powers are meant to be at its disposal. The rule of baser-self is limited to presenting them to psyche, with request. The final decision rests with psyche as to how these energies and tools be put to use and which of the baser-self requisitions be accepted or rejected. If one’s psyche is so frail that it is unable to rule the empire of his body, according to its wishes, and begins to take the desires of baser-self as command or instructions, then it becomes a paralyzed psyche. Such people cannot lead a successful and purposeful life. Those who have left a mark in history and human civilization are the ones who had domination on the human energies, at their disposal; who have not lived as prisoners of their wishes and slaves of their desires but have-kept their wishes and desires under check; and those who have had firm determination and rock-solid resolution.
* Islam defines psyche as that part of one's self, which takes decision on good or evil deeds.
** In Islamic terminology, baser-self is defined as that part of one's self which motivates people for evil deeds.
But there is a contrasting difference between a psyche which itself assumes the role of
This is the definition of self-restraint, from Islamic point of view. Now, it is elaborated as to how fasting instills this energy into human beings.
If the demands of human body and baser-self are analyzed, it will be inferred that three demands are pivotal, and all of them are most vehement. First is the demand for food, on which relies the subsistence of life. Second is the carnal desire, depends on which the survival of humanity. Third is the longing for rest and relaxation which is a must for reenergizing and rejuvenating human physique.
All the three demands, within reasonable limits, are absolutely compatible with nature. But the same three loops, at the disposable of baser-self and body are such, that at the slightest lapse, they make man's conscience their own slave. Each of these demands turns into a long list of sub-demands and each one struggles to make man forget his principles and ignore the decries of his conscience, in order to attract his entire attention for its realization. A fragile psyche, once entrapped, the demand for food makes it a glutton. Sensual desires force him to stoop to inhuman level, and lethargy does not allow him to reach new heights. It, then, becomes the governed rather than the ruler of baser-self and its function is reduced to executing orders of baser-self by hook or crook and through every hanky-punky route, available to it.
Fasting encompasses these three demands of baser-self and trains the psyche to control them.
Fasting notifies the psyche, which is faithful to Allah, that your Allah has prohibited dining and drinking for the whole day; during this period, you are also forbidden from
This exercise is not restricted just for a day. One day training cannot be sufficient for this kind of activity. This is conducted for a month, at a stretch.
This programme has been chalked out for 720 hours in a year; to get up towards the last part of the night; stop eating at the break of dawn (sahar); restrict from dining throughout the day; break the fast (iftaar), immediately after the sun set; then spend early part of the night by standing for unusually long prayers (taraveeh); and after relaxing for few hours, repeat the same course the following day; Thus, three strongest and most common urges of the baser-self are moulded, perpetually, to provide strength to the psyche for ruling the baser-self according to the will of Allah. This conditioning programme is not held just once in a lifetime, rather one month is devoted every year, from the age of reaching adolescence till one dies. This repetition is meant to revitalize and strengthen the grip of psyche over baser-self.
This exercise is not carried out to make the psyche of a Muslim control just his hunger, thirst, carnal desires and the urge to relax. Nor is this done to retain control over baser-self and body, for a month only. Strictly, the primary objective is that after having tamed the three strongest cravings of the psyche, one should emerge strong enough to exercise restrain over his all desires and emotions; and be prepared to comply with the injunctions of Allah during the remaining eleven months of the year as well, through his body; and its forces. One should strive for every piety which consents with the will of
Qur’an and Hadees (the sayings of Prophet Mohammed Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) both have clearly elaborated this: Qur’an states: Fasting has been made mandatory for you so that you attain the trait of self-restraint.
Hadees of Prophet Mohammed Sa!lallahu Alaihi Wnsnllem is: One who tells lies and practices lies, he is not required by Allah to stop eating and drinking. He further added that most of the fasters are such that they do not gain anything from fasting, except hunger and thirst. (5th July, 1948)
Some sections of the society are vigorously pursuing the view that Eid-ui-Fitr is a prominent symbol lf Islamic unity, therefore all the Muslims should celebrate it on one particular day. Some people hold the view that all the Muslims, across the world, should observe it on the same day, while there are others who feel that at least Pakistani Muslims should certainly have it concurrently. However, these are the flaws of views and thoughts. Such views are floated primarily due to the ignorance of religious values: Moreover, those are the people, on the forefront of such theories, who do not even fast during Ramazan, but are very 'concerned' about Islamic unity with regard to Eid.
The very first misconception these folks have is that, for them, Eid is a festival akin to Christmas, Holi or Diwali or it is a national festival that is manifested as a symbol of unity for Muslims. However, Id is essentially related to supplication that commences at the beginning of Ramazan and culminates after the end of Ramazan, by thanking Allah, with special Eid prayers. According to the clear instructions of Islamic law, this
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِیْۤ اُنْزِلَ فِیْهِ الْقُرْاٰنُ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْیَصُمْهُؕ
"Month of Ramazan is that, in which Qur'an is revealed, therefore each of you who is present, during this month, should fast".
This verse categorically resolves that from the beginning of Ramazan, and till its end, every Muslim should fast and without the fulfillment of fasting during this month, there is absolutely no question of commemorating Eid. This is evident that Ramazan is a lunar month and the commencement of which depends upon the appearance of crescent and Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam has very clearly instructed to begin and end fasting only after seeing crescent. But if the horizon is not very clear, complete the fasting of thirty days, unless two reliable witnesses testify the advent of crescent. In this· instruction, Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam has distinctly notified two points: firstly, the testimony of appearance is required when the horizon is not clear and secondly, in that case, the decision of the appearance of crescent will be based on the testimony of two trustworthy witnesses and not information.
Because this is an accepted fact that deposition, through telegram or telephone is invalid. For this, physical presence of witnesses is a must. If you try to testify in a court through telegram or telephone, you would come to know immediately whether it is acceptable to the court or not. Here, the question is that when such "testimony" cannot be acceptable to any court in this world, then why are we wanted to rely on this, in a matter of Shariah, depends on which the validity of fast of millions of Muslims.
Those who toe the idea that Muslims, throughout the world, should celebrate Ed on the same day, clearly speak ridiculously, because the advent of crescent, throughout the world, always and necessarily, on the same day is impossible. Even celebration of Eid, in a country or region, on the same day is not made mandatory in Shariah. If it is made possible in any country through proper system of telecasting and broadcasting to the entire nation, according to the principles of Shariah, then this is not forbidden either. But Shariah never makes it essential, nor Shariah considers it maleficent that people in different regions celebrate Eid on different days.
The canon of AIlah is meant for the entire humanity and for all times to come. Today,
Muslims do not live only in metros and urban towns where they have access to state-of-the-art communication facilities. They are also populated in far-flung rural areas where communication facilities are not available.
Making the celebration of Eid on the same day a shariah instruction translates that, to be a Muslim, not only one radio station is necessary in a country, but also every individual or family or at least one radio set in every town would be a must. Or else they will not be able to pursue their religious duties.
Will then communication equipment too become an integral part of Islam? The Shariah of Allah has laid down such a smooth set of guidelines by which it is possible for every ·Muslim to easily perform his or her religious duties. Shariah has not specified the timings of Namaz according to the movement of watch to make watch an indispensable part of Islamic religion.
Rather, it has made universal indicators like ascent and descend of sun for determining the timing of Namaz, to which every individual on the earth has access. Similarly, for commencing and ending fasts also, it has declared the appearance of Shawwal and Ramazan crescent as a symbol which is a universal indicator and every Muslim, anywhere in the world, can find out when did Ramazan begin and end. Had Shariah linked to the dates of calendar, then it would be necessary for every Muslim to learn the art of reading stars or calendar would have become inevitable part of his life without having which he would not be able to perform his religious duties. Or if it was made mandatory that after the appearance of crescent, in one part of the world the entire world or every nook and corner of the universe will begin to observe and end fasting, then before the invention of present means of communication, it would not be possible for Muslims to practice this religion. Even after the evolution of present communication network, every Muslim would have to bear the burden of subscribing to these services, if they want to remain Muslims, regardless of whether he or she can afford bread and
WHO TRULY DESERVES EID GREETINGS
After necessary clarification on this subject, I extend my greetings to you and to all of my Muslim ID UL FITR - FOR WHOM brothers. People who genuinely deserve the greetings of Eid are those who fasted for the whole month of Ramazan; who endeavored to take maximum benefit from the instructions of Qur'an; who tried to read, understand and take guidance from Qur’an and took advantage of the character-building exercise which Ramazan seeks to impart to every Muslim. Qur’an explains only two primary objectives of the month of Ramazan firstly, Muslims should build their character
یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا كُتِبَ عَلَیْكُمُ الصِّیَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِیْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَت تَتَّقُوْنَۙ
and secondly, Muslims pay gratitude to Allah for the favor He has bestowed on Muslims, in the form of revealing Qur'an, during the month of Ramazan.
لِتُكَبِّرُوا اللّٰهَ عَلٰى مَا هَدٰىكُمْ وَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُوْنَ۰۰۱۸۵
If there is one biggest favor Allah has done to The humanity, it is the revelation of Qur'an. This is The greatest divine blessing, because food and other Resources, for instance, oxygen, water, food grains And similar sources of economy, through which man earns the bread, constructs house, provides clothing, though these provisions too are the blessings and kindness of Allah, but they are merely meant for the human body. Holy Qur'an, is the blessing which is conceived for the soul of man, for his character and essentially for his real altruism, is the ultimate benediction. A Muslim can offer true gratitude to Allah only in a situation when he thanks on the food provided by Him and also on the gracious commandments which have been issued to him in the form of Quran. The most appropriate way to thank Him. Is not just verbal appreciation that thank you Allah for giving us Qur’an, rather the precise approach for doing that is to acknowledge Qur’an as the well-head of guidance; recognize it as a true navigator and take practical advantage of its counseling.
Qur'an gives you instructions about your personal life that how should you lead a devout life. It forbids you from deeds that are harmful in shaping a characterful life. It gives you guidelines, by pursuing which, your personality will develop in an upright manner and you could become an exemplary human being. It also provides extensive guidance about your collective life. How to shape your social life and your domestic life? What should be the outline of your culture and civilization. How should you conduct the affairs of your
Second and equally important objective of fasting, in the month of Ramazan, for which it has been made mandatory is that you should lead a pious and righteous life. If you consider the reality of fasting, then you would know that righteousness and piety cannot be injected in a better and more effective way than this. What is righteousness and piety? Righteousness is, essentially, to refrain from violating the command of Allah and adhere to His guidelines. Fast-
If during the month of Ramadan any individual has imbibed this spirit of Fast, then he truly justifies the greetings of Eid. And the one who does not throw up this month-long training on the very first day after Eid, but keeps benefiting from this for the remaining eleven months of the year, he is even more worthy for Eid greetings. Consider a hypothetical situation where an individual eats highly lavish food, which is extremely nutritious for him. But immediately after feeding, he vomits it out by putting a finger into the throat, then there will be no benefit of this diet, because he has not allowed the food to digest and translate into blood. On the contrary, if an individual eats and digests food and then blood is made which circulates in his body, then this is the actual reward of eating which he has gained. Eating and digesting simple food is better than eating very lavish food and throwing it up. This is the case of Fasts of Ramazan.
The real payoff of Ramadan can be gained only when, after Eid, you do not puke the vigorous training, imparted to you for a month. Rather, for remaining eleven months, allow its effects to work on your life.
If one can achieve this goal from Ramazan, then he truly deserves hearty greetings; that he has bagged a very precious blessing of Allah.
OUR TREATMENT WITH ISLAMIC CHASTITIES
Unfortunately, a large number of people among us are those who do not turn towards Allah even during Ramazan. The holy month comes and goes but their homes do not indicate any sign that these are inhabited by Muslims, for whom this month has any special significance. Leave fasting, they do not even care to show any respect for this month. Their eating and drinking persists even during Ramazan, like any Christian, Hindu or Sikh. Clearly, those who behave like this are akin to a situation of a barren land that, even during monsoons, when every inch of land turns lush green and the crop blooms and flourishes, does not produce a single leaf of grass.
The way monsoons are a season of cultivation and growth for land, similarly Ramazan is an era of sprouting and flowering of the spirit of Islam. If Allah had issued the directive of fasting, giving an option to Muslims to keep 30 days fasts at their own convenience, then there would have never been this season-like feeling in our religious life. But, the direction of Supreme Sage has been that all Muslims fast together, in one particular month only. This move has created the feeling of a season. When the season comes leave aside high quality fertile lands, even those pieces of land which have limited level of
Getting up all the Muslims together for Sahar, for a month; fasting together the whole day; breaking the fast simultaneously; and offering Taraweeh during nights at various places creates an impressive collective environment in Muslim districts, by virtue of which Mosques get flooded. Reciting of Quran becomes a common sight everywhere, even those who do not pray otherwise, start offering prayers regularly; those also start fasting who are not inclined towards Islamic way of life, in ordinary months. If a person is relentless even in this ambience; he does not develop any leaning towards Allah; his heart is still not inclined for prayers; fasting and reciting of Our' an, then this is a clear indication that his heart is absolutely empty from the feeling of Faith. He has no link left with Islam. All ties, which he could have had with Allah and His religion, and with the Muslim community, he has severed them all. Thus, how can you trust that, a person who was born and has opened his eyes in, and being a part of Muslim community, severs his holiest bonds and connections with the lifestyle and religion of this community, in future, he will not attempt to backbite and desert this community.
This is obvious that his conduct is only to satisfy desires of his inner-self. Here the question is, when his desires are making him behave like this. The same desires, in future, may move him on a worse course.
Gentlemen, we need to think very sincerely about the reasons that have resulted into this situation. If handful of people behaved like this, it could have been ignored. But we find hundreds of thousands of people present among us, who very vocally and proudly keep eating and drinking in Ramazan and perversely humiliate to those who fast. This is clearly a very alarming development and we should attempt to understand the causes behind this.
This situation is actually born because for a long time we are oblivion of the fact that the greatest reforms Allah, His prophet, His book had affected in our lives is still left in our society or it is lost. We have been very conscious about the economic prosperity of our
LA TUFISIDU FIL ARDE ...
Gentlemen, reforming human beings is a gigantic task; while vitiating them is amazingly simple.
Reforms are brought about by years of hard work And perpetual efforts while corrupting them takes no Pains or special efforts. At times, only negligence of pursuing reforms is enough for this fallout. Take the case of a child. If you want to groom him as a nice and chaste human being, you will have to make years of painstaking efforts, only then you will be able to shape his mind, character and traits. But if you want pervert him, he will not require any special efforts for that. Giving him a long rope would be enough.
Merely staying in the company of crooks and culprits Will spoil him on his own. Efforts and stress are required for construction and not for destruction. If you Want to take a vehicle to a steep hill, it will go up in A bigger gear, but if you want to bring it down, no Gear is needed, just leave the breaks loose and it will Descend as long as there is downward slope. Same Situation exists in a human society. Making a society Adhere to noble ideology and very high quality of deeds, by carefully shaping it, is a demanding job which requires centuries. But the fruits and results of these efforts can go waste, by just stopping the efforts of preserving and maintaining them and; when the decline spreading in the society goes unnoticed.
The traits, which Muslims had, were not born out of coincidence. Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and his companions and subsequently hard work and devotion of virtuous, pious theologians and jurists of Muslim nation, for centuries together, pulled out billions of human beings from the gloom of infidelity and polytheism. Destroyed customs and conventions of ignorance. Prepared them for the worship of one and only Allah. Convinced and instilled faith in them, about the quiz of Hereafter. Developed their strong character by imparting superior ethical training and coaching. Established the practice of chaste rituals like Prayers, Fasts, Hajj pilgrimage and Zakat and prepared a strong mould of Islamic system of culture and civilization, due
This, which has been developed with hard work of centuries and unceasing. efforts, if we wish to lose and destroy it, we can very easily do it. But if we want to regain this, it shall again require centuries.
It is extremely unfortunate that the reforms our ancestors had made in us, with their efforts of centuries, we have badly let it go in the last one century only. Firstly, we lost it during the period of British imperialism and now our own leaders are causing us greater damage. This is the same aberration on which Qur’an has pointed out at various places “After having achieved peace on the earth, do not deviate from that.” All the reforms, in the life of inhabitants of the earth, have been due to the result of the efforts of thousands of years of Prophets of Allah and chaste individuals of humanity.
In the destruction of every single evil and establishment of each virtue, pious subjects of Allah have strived for years, only then the development of human culture, on the lines of universal ethics, could be made possible in the world. This can very easily be devastated but rebuilding the same is not a kid stuff. Look at a very tiny example, only convincing, ensuring and establishing as a strict regulation that sexual relationship between a man and a woman should not occur, without entering into Nikah, was a tough task that Prophets and theologians must have struggled for this, for thousands of years, only then this single social reform must have got implemented.
Since cardinal urge is so intense in human beings, that regulating it on purely ethical basis is not an easy job. Eradication of this reform, though, does not call for great efforts. Just throw the doors of intermingling of men and women wide open. Allow common men to have access to the ways and means of family planning, then the bull of sexual.
Anarchy, which was caged with great difficulty, once freed, would demolish the change, which was achieved after thousands of years of struggle. But after seeing disastrous consequences, the way western society is facing them in an extremely dreaded form, if you attempt to cage the bull again, it will not be a cakewalk. This will again need pains of centuries to check this, Qur' an warns the destroyers of humanity that you do not let go by your idiocy the reform which have been brought about with great pains.
On the basis of this single case, you can guess That how would have been the development Of the greatest heritage which is called Islamic civilization. By wiping out
How many forfeitures it would have taken to drill true convictions and correct beliefs into human minds.
What labor must have gone into practically implementing moral guidelines and regulations in the society, and then in supporting this entire structure, by firmly laying the five pillars of Islamic system namely Shahadah (Testimony of Allah and His Prophet), Tawheed (Belief in the Unity of Allah}, Namaz (Five Prayers a day), Roza (Mandatory Fasting for the whole month of Ramazan)' and Hajj (Annual pilgrimage at I Makkah, once in a lifetime). Whatever is achieved is due to the painstaking effort of our ancestors. We have inherited this great wealth absolutely free of cost, if we cannot add to this, at least we must not impair this either.
The manner and speed at which our system of education and training, our literature, our cultural views, and overall our laws and rules & regulations; and the whole system of sociology and economics, producing an army of people to disregard and erode this wealth, on a daily basis, we cannot rule out the possibility of completely losing this one day. And once it is lost, replenishing this from scratch will not be a simple exercise. Allah forbids if we ever come across such a situation and may Allah open our eyes prior to that.
Festivals and social life of human beings are closely inter-related. Since man has commenced social life on the earth, festivals have, perhaps, been held right through. There is no nation in the world, and has ever been, which has not earmarked a few days for this purpose, the festivals are, in fact, the life line of the society. Getting together of individuals, demonstration of common sentiments, collective merry-making, performing uniform rituals signifies the binding trait, by which people collectively transform into a well-knit society, and not only spirit of unity takes route but gets refresh and revived, intermittently.
Usually, an analytical study of festivals celebrated In different countries and among various nations shows every festival is celebrated in memory of prominent events, either linked to a revered personality or concerned with a specific religious occasion. Nevertheless, one such celebration is necessary for a festival, which has common
For this very reason, people of one nation or country Do not take any interest in the festivities of another Nation or community, and even if they want to take, for Some formal compulsions, they cannot. The reason For this is, traditions which are linked to the festivities Of one religion cannot, as much, stir the sentiments Of people of another nation, as they can in its own race.
There are numerous ways, in various nations, of celebrating festivals. Some carnivals are confined to dancing and singing, fun and frolicking. In others, revelry exceeds all perimeters of civilization to reach indecency, coercion and horror. In still others, decent recreations are performed along with serious rituals.
While in some cases, capitalizing on social gatherings, people are infused with superior values and efforts are made to make them enamor and endear some singular objective. In other words, the style in which festivities are conducted, is a scale on which the nature, ambitions and longings of a nation can be smackly gauged. Higher the moral spirit in a nation, more civilized and temperate will be its festivities.
Similarly, the more morally depraved will a nation be, the more degenerating scenes it will present in its feasts.
Since Islam is a universal reforming movement, which is not related to a specific nation or country, rather invites people of the whole world towards a single Allah-worshiping culture. Hence, where it has moulded every part of human life into a peculiar mode, festivals of Islam have also been given a unique shape, which is contrasting to all the other festivities in the world. The significance of festivities in a social life and the urge for collective celebrations, felt in the society, is not ignored in Islam, rather all efforts have been made to derive maximum benefit from such occasions, but the style and celebrations of festivals and its moral values are fundamentally differentiated.
Here, an attempt is being made to draw the attention of the readers towards the three most significant aspects of which: A global movement cannot favorably view the national festivals which are based on varying national traditions, to which are associated the interest and sentiments of just one community and in which it is naturally impossible for one community to wholeheartedly celebrate with another. Such are, in fact, the forces which trigger the national division and disintegration. As they facilitate
Additionally, when a global movement is Allah fearing too, thu11 It forbids all such festivals and celebrations which remind of pristine faith. Islam replaces them with festivals which strongly reflect worshipping to the singular Allah.
Along with the worship of Allah, the objective of high morality mandatorily comes into existence which demands that a God-worshiping movement should offer its followers such festivals which are free from cruelty, arrogance and indecency; in which fun and frolicking in Within civilized limits and expression of joy is with sophistication; which should not merely end on carousing, rather the fervor brought about by festival, in a collective life, should be fully utilized to attain ultimate moral goals.
At the three traits are apparent from the festivals earmarked by Islam for its followers. Islam dispensed with all national and religious festivals of nations, in Iran, Egypt, Arabian Peninsula and Syria, which came into Islamic fold. They were replaced by festivals which are known as Eid-ul-fitr and Eid-ul-Azha. Former is celebrated after successfully completing 30 days of fasting during Ramazan – observed to obey the instructions of Allah. Thus after complying with His instructions, Muslims are required to thank Him, for enabling them to do so. Later is commemorated in the memory of an unparalleled sacrifice, offered over 4000 years ago by a truly loyal individual, to his Allah. It can be distinctly established that none of these two festivals with which the sentiments of all Single-Allah-worshipping human beings can be evenly attached. Thus both the festivals are a reflection of pure obedience of Allah. There is not an iota of hero-worshipping or devotion to some human being. Further, the course prescribed for the celebration of these festivals is such that a style more decent, sophisticated, sober and brimming with moral benefits cannot be hypothesized. Subsequent generation of Muslims have smudged, to some extent, the true glory of Islamic era, by ignorant deeds.
The form of celebrating Eid during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam is outlined below, to give readers an idea, by which they can accurately visualize the decency of festival.
On the morning of Eid, all Muslim men, women and children would bathe and slip into the best apparels, provided to them by Allah. Before leaving for the prayers of Eid-ul-fitr, all the affluent people donated a specific amount as sadaqah, to ensure that nobody remained unfed on Eid. On the contrary, after the prayers of Eid-ul-Azha, animals were sacrificed, at the early hours of the day people would come out of their homes. It was mandatory for men, women and kids to exit so that the strength and glory of Muslims is demonstrated; everyone participated in prayers and also got an opportunity to enjoy this get together. Eid prayers were held on the outskirts of town for enabling larger number of people participate. All the Muslims would chant:
اللهُ أَکْبَرُ، اللهُ أَکْبَرُ، لاَ إِلہَ إِلاَّ اللهُ، وَاللهُ أَکْبَرُ، َاللهُ أَکْبَرُ، وَلِلّٰہِ الْحَمْدُ
Allah is great, Allah is great. No one but Allah be worshipped. Only Allah is great. All the praise are reserved for Him--on their way to prayers. The atmosphere of every lane, by lane, market and street used to be filled with these slogans, by which the entire town would echo. After assembling at the Eidgah ground, the entire gathering would line-up to perform prayer under the stewardship of Prophet Muahammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam. Then the Prophet Muahmmad sallallahu alaihi wasallam would get up to deliver sermon. Unlike Friday prayers, the sermon was delivered after the prayers to allow maximum number of people to listen to the most important speech of their leader. this occasion came just twice a year. in the absence of microphone, then, first address used to be to the gathering of men, then Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam would move to that part of the ground where women were gathered, to address them separately. these sermons, besides educating and persuading, counselling and preaching, would throw light on all the critical issues, concerning Islamic society, which were present at that time. In case of potential armed or political mission, the arrangements to be made were also announced there and then. Attention of the people were and every individual, in accordance to his status and capacity, would partake in fulfilling them. There are some precedents where women even offered to remove their jewelry, to present to the Islamic organization. This gathering would them return from Eidgah, and the instruction was to return from a different route from the one they came, so that no part of the town remains untouched by their rejoicing and from the echo of
On their return from the prayers, all the affluent Muslims would offer sacrifice on Eid-ul-Azha. This sacrifice is not only meant to recap the event but also the spirit of an aged alien from Iraq, who offered to sacrifice his only son, at the behest of Allah, and by His grace Allah, just in time permitted him to sacrifice the lamb, instead. Exactly on the same date and time, every year, Muslims the world over repeat the same act and revive their spirit that they too, like Prophet Ibraheem alaihissalam, are submissive and docile subjects of Allah. Like him, they are also prepared to sacrifice their lives, offsprings, wealth and every other belonging, on the will of Allah and their life and death is just for Allah. This spirit is reflected by the act of sacrificing animal and by the words uttered at the time of sacrificing animal.
إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ (79) قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (162) لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ۖ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ الھم لک ومنک بسم اللہ اللہ اکبر
I have turn to the One Who is the Creator of the skies and the earth. I follow the same path, followed by Prophet Ibraheem and I am not among those who share others with Almighty. My prayers and my sacrifice, my life and my death, everything is devoted to Allah—the Sustainer of the world—who has no associate. This is what I have been ordered and I am among the obedient subordinates of Allah. O Allah! This belongs to You and is being presented to You, in the name of Allah, Who is great.
While cutting the animal, the above words were voiced and this scene was watched by all women and children in the family so that all of them have the same spirit of sacrifice and obedience revived. Then the meat was distributed among relatives and underprivileged. Skin of the animal or its monetary value was donated to poor folks. Additionally, charity was done generously and wholeheartedly so that the Eid is not reduced to be the festival of only prosperous section of the society.
This was the Eid, celebrated during the era of Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam. Besides these “Official celebration”, youngsters would organize some games privately and girls would get together, at homes, for singing folk songs. But this practice was confined within the acceptable limits and nobody was permitted to exceed that. Rather, the leaders and prominent figures would even maintain arm length distance from these permitted forms of rejoicings of youths so that they are not encouraged and do not dare to indulge in unwarranted exhibits.
The attitude of leaders, at that time, can be judged from an instance, quoted in authentic traditions that once, on the day of Eid, Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam entered his house and found that two girls from the neighborhood were sitting with his wife Hazrat Aisha and singing songs. The songs were not based on romance and passion or boozing and reveling, rather they were the songs written at the time of Battle of Baghas. Even the girls were not professional artists or vocalists but belonged to respectable families who, when getting together, would sing virtuous songs for the sake of relaxing and entertaining themselves. Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam did not interfere in their self-entertainment and quietly went into a corner and lied down by covering himself, with a bed sheet, from the head to toe. After a while, Hazrat Abu Bakr turned up and scolded his daughter Hazrat Ayesha saying what menacing act is going on at the residence of Prophet of Allah. Hearing him, Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam removed the sheet from his face and said: leave them, every nation has an Eid, today is ours. On this, Hazrat Aisha remained silent but the girls stopped singing. As soon as Hazrat Abu Bakr turned his back from them, Hazrat Ayesh signaled them and the girls quickly disappeared. It is evident from this instance that youngsters were allowed to enjoy, through decent games and singing, but seniors never participated or encouraged them. Subsequently, the rope was let loose and the elders jgnored to keep a tab. As a result, in addition to rejoicing and freaking out, the situation has arisen where:
روز عید است لب خشک مے آلود کنید چارۂ کارِ خود اے تشنہ لباں زود کنید
It is the day of festival, Let dry lips soak wine, O people having thirsty lips! Manage it as soon as you can.
Today is the day of great bounties for the world, because on this date, the trailblazer of this planet, Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam had arrived in this world. Though, Islamic law has not declared the birthday of Prophet Muahmmad as Eid, nor has it established any customary practice for its celebration, but if people consider it as Eid, due to this being the day of arrival of the greatest prophet of Allah and the peerless savior of the world, and observe it as a day on which the biggest blessing of Allah for mankind came into existence, then there is no harm either. However, the manners in which it should be celebrated is not all about eating and drinking, electrification of private and public premises taking out processions and parades and undertake wasteful
The answer of the Believers, when summoned to Allah and His Messenger, in order that he may judge between them, is no other than this: They say, “We hear and we obey.” (24: 51).
It is not fitting for a believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger, to have any option, about their decision: if anyone disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong path. (33: 36).
But no by the Lord, they can have no (real) faith. Until they make you judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against the decisions but accept them with the conviction. (4: 65).
Deem not the summons of Messenger among yourselves like the summons of one of you to another. (24: 63).
Nor is it right for you that you should annoy Allah’s Messenger. (33: 53).
Those who annoy Allah and His Messenger, Allah has cursed them in this world and the Hereafter, and has prepared for them a humiliating punishment. (33: 57).
Let those beware who withstands the messenger’s order, lest some trial befall them. (24: 63).
O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, not speak aloud to him in talk, as you may speak aloud to one another, lest your deeds become vain and you perceive not. (49: 2).
You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, (but) loving those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even though they are their fathers or their sons, or their brothers or their kindred. (58: 22).
Say: if it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your mates, or you kindred: the wealth that you have gained; the commerce in which you fear a decline or the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allah or His Messenger, or the striving in his cause; then wait until Allah brings about His decision; and Allah guides not the rebellious. (9: 24).
It is difficult to state all relevant verses here. My sole objective is to make you understand as Muslim that what is the nature of your relationship with Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam. This fact is highlighted by few verses that I have stated above. It is evident from them that an individual cease to be Muslim unless he is obedient to Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam gives some instructions and in turn if someone says that I do not accept this, then it shows that his heart is free from Faith. The demand of Faith is to bow down after hearing the command. Faith cannot co-exist with ifs and buts.
Now please listen carefully, the instructions Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi
Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand Muslims are safe. Means who does not trouble his fellow brothers-in-Islam either through his tongue or his hands.
None of you can be Faithful unless he prefers the same path for others, which he chooses for himself. Means the way you want your own wellbeing. Similarly, you should desire it for your brothers-in-Islam and the way you do not want to harm yourself, do not wish the same for your brother.
Hazrat Abu Zar Ghaffari raziallhu anhu narrates that once I had picked up fight with someone and I abused him. Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam heard it and said: “You still have shades of ignorance left in you and Islam has not completely entered your life.” Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam states that there are four attributes of hypocrisy and the one who has all of them is an accomplished hypocrite and the one who has one of them, he too has one part of duplicity. First sign is that when something is handed over to him in good faith, he swindles it; secondly, when he converses, he certainly misrepresents; thirdly when he promises or enters into a contract with someone, he invariably backtracks; and finally, when he has a brawl with somebody, he turns abusive and gets down to humiliate his opponent, through wrongful means.
Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallm stated: A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim, he himself will not suppress him nor will he hand him over to a cruel. One who is busy fulfilling the needs of his brother, Allah does the same for him; and the one who saves fellow Muslims from inconvenience, Allah will curtail one of his pains of the Day of Judgement; and the one who conceals the deficiencies of a fellow Muslim, will receive the same treatment from Allah on the Day of Judgement.” Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam says: “Help your brother, whether he is tyrant or aggrieved.” When his companion sought clarification that we shall certainly aid the oppressed but how should we help the cruel? He replied, “the aid of an oppressor is to hold his hand so that he does not commit atrocities.” On another occasion he said: “Beware of the curse of an oppressed, because there is nothing between him and Allah, means it directly flies to the thorn of Allah.” Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasllam stated: the one who deprived his Muslim brother from his rights or has caused damage to his respect, wealth or any other thing, he should compensate him in this life only or else if it is carried forward to the day when money or other material objects
He further stated that Gabriel (Jibra’eil) told me so repeatedly about treating the neighbor decently, that I began to wonder whether they would be entitled to share the inheritance as well.
On another occasion, Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam said, “That person is absolutely apostate, completely faithless whose neighbor is scared of his mischief.” One more traditions of Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam is: The one who is faithful, should not cause pain to his neighbor, treats his guest with respect; and when speaks, it should be with kindness or else remain quiet.
Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam stated that one of the worst persons, on the Day of Judgement, would be the one who has dual face, means if he meets one of the two rivals, he speaks in his favor while meeting the other rival, takes his side; speaks one thing on the face and another behind the back.
Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasllam said: بین العبد وبین الکفر ترک الصلاۃ Abdication of prayers (salat) lies between man and infidelity. It means that there is one stage in between approaching infidelity from Islam and that is forsaking prayers. If you have renounced prayers that means you are hanging between Faithlessness and Islam, one step more and you will enter the boundary of apostasy.
On one occasion, Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam enumerated: those who stay at home, even after hearing azaan, I feel like torching their homes. There are numerous traditions for the reiteration of prayers, but I have talked about these two only, from which you can assess that how strong is this instruction, and what is the meaning of this defiance. This is with regard to that farz from which Muslims are becoming usually oblivious these days.
Secondly, you must also know about the sin which is proving most disastrous for Muslims, meaning interest based financing. Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi
Today is the anniversary of the birth of an incredible personality, who arrived as a boon for the entire humanity and brought with him a set of principles, pursuing which guarantees even triumph and well-being for every individual, every nation and country and the whole mankind. Though this day comes every year, but this year it has come at such a crucial time when inhabitants of the earth are more indigent of the guidance of the sagacious person, than ever before. It is difficult to say whether Mr. Bernard Shaw made this statement consciously or not, but whatever he stated was absolutely fitting that “Had Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam been the dictator of the world, at present, then peace would have been prevailing in the world.” I would go one step further and say that, though Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam is not present in this world, yet the doctrine presented by him are available hook line and sinker. If we sincerely presume his tenets as Dictator, then all the evils can be rid, the fire of which has turned the abode of humanity into hell.
Over fourteen hundred years back, when Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam set his foot on the earth, that time his own nation had reached the nadir of moral ebb, chaos and turmoil. Quran has explained the situation of that, in these words: you were standing on the edge of fire-filled pit, from which Allah rescued you. Other countries of the world had no better condition than this. Persian and Roman empires were, the, the biggest cradle of human civilization, and both of them were engulfed economic inequality, economic distinctions and religious rifts on the other hand. Under these circumstances, Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam got up and within a span of 23 years, not only did he change the shape of Arabian Peninsula, but the movement which set off under his command from Arab, within a quarter of a century, reformed a large portion of the earth, from the borders of India to North Africa, in culture & civilization, economics & politics, and all other spheres of life.
How this revamping was achieved? It is difficult to spell out the details in one brief talk,
On the basis of supreme sovereignty of Allah and every human being his deputy, Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam established the relationship of equitable unity and cooperation among human beings which could not have been achieved otherwise. Race and lineage, language and color, national and economic interests and all other elements forming the genesis of the society, necessarily divide human beings into various groups and make them rival of one another. Even if they find unanimity among themselves, that compatibility is temporary and purely on selfish motives. Conflicts and hostilities are the mandatory consequences. There is no way to avert this, except having the entire humanity united on the allegiance of Allah and by making them aware of their accountability before Allah, the should be persuaded to do justice.
Instead of nationalism and socialism, Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam laid the foundation of universal social life on the basis of obedience of Allah and Khilafah. He molded every aspect of that life into durable moral principles. His morality were not meant for reclusive saints, but for very people who run the show on the earth like farmers, landlords, laborers, industrialists, traders, customers, cops, jurists, administrators, governors, soldiers, supreme commanders, ministers, and diplomats. Each of these functionaries were made to adhere to moral code within its precincts, the bolting and unbolting of which and the making and breaking of its principles would not rest on the desires of any individual of masses. He disciplined all facets of human life on the basis of rectitude, whether it is social or interpersonal relation, art or culture, trade
These are the broader principles depended on which the reforms program of Prophet Muhammad. The strategy he adopted to implement this program commenced from individual reform. He did not overlook the fact that every map of collective reforms eventually depends upon the success of individual reform. Even the best of programs cannot be successfully implemented with having people of loose character of individuals may cause serious damage in the implementation of a noble system, which cannot be averted by merely theoretical remedies. Theoretically, whatever imaginary precautions one can take for the prevention of deficiencies. But practically, if the people who are responsible for executing the conseptual plan are vulnerable to desires, vested interests and partisan; if they lack true piety and character, then despite your utmost caution, there would be impediments for your plans and that too from quarters which you never expected. On the contrary, by looking at the black board, you can prove the possibility of a number of loopholes. But if a reliable team is available for executing this plan, then their correct actions will plug the holes, which you think can pop up in your hypothetical simulation. This is why prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam expended all his energy on the grooming of such human capital that could put his plan of transforming the world into action in the best manner. He produced people who were God-fearing and pious under every situation. Who held themselves accountable to Allah in every sphere of their lives. Who restrained themselves from every single deed which they suspected could make Allah furious with them and who were willing to dedicate themselves to a cause which they felt would please Allah. Who could sacrifice everything which could win them favor of Allah. In whose heart there was no fear, no greed of favors or desires of awards from anyone other than Allah. For whom there was no distinction between their private and public lives. Who could prove to be trustworthy, if they were entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the life, property and honor of the servants of Allah. If they took oath on behalf of their self, nation or government, they would not backtrack. If they were made jurist, they would not be held cruel. If they undertook commercial transaction, they would not be declared as crooks. They might be slow in claiming their rights, but will be quick in dispensing others. They used their intelligence, prudence, diligence and qualifications for truth and justice and for the welfare and prosperity of humanity and not for deceiving and depriving others from their rights because of individual and national gains.
After spending full 15 years for the development of such people, Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam raised a taskforce of true believers which was not committed to the reforms of only Arabian Peninsula but for the mankind of the whole world, and which was comprised of people other than Arab nationals also.
Having raised this team, he moved on to make large scale efforts to bring about social reforms and in merely eight years, brought comprehensive social, economic, cultural and political revolution on the land of Arabian Peninsula, spreading over 1500000 square miles. Then, the same team, which was integrated by him, accomplished its task of reforming Arabs, proceeded further and showered the grace of this revolution, which was initiated in Arab, over a large part of the then civilized world. These days we hear the idea of new world order everywhere, but we fail to understand that how the very fundamental flaws which have ultimately turned the old system into turmoil, if still exist in the new system, with a different face, can be considered a new order? It would essentially be the same system whose bites and stings have pushed us to the deathbed for which we are seeking antidote of the new system. Fearlessness and apathy towards Supreme authority of Allah by human beings, national and racial distinction, political and economic self-interests of nations and regions and not-god-gearing people ruling the roost are the real drawbacks which have been destroying the humanity till date and will continue to do so if our lifestyle remains the victim of the same evils. If reforms are to be brought about, then only on those principles through which one of the greatest well-wisher of humanity not only guided us, centuries back, but practically showed us reforms.
(The speech delivered on 30th march 1942, from all India Radio Station, at Lahore).