Tipu Sultan, upon whose death the colonialists proclaimed – ‘From today on, India is ours’, left behind a legacy for his Community to uphold – asserts Mujeeb Jaihoon
Dunya AND Akhira
Islam is perhaps the only Faith system in the world which honors the spiritual and bodily needs in beautiful proportions. Quran has apportioned a great amount of verses regarding the observation and appreciation of Allah’s signs from Nature. Duniya is as significant as Akhira in the discourse of religion of Allah. Ibada encompasses the struggle of both worlds.
The Ummah Project
Muslims have always had to undergo existential struggles throughout history. They have never had couch potato moments in their journey. Indian Muslims are going through one of the toughest times in this country. It only shows that the Ummah Project is a continuous work in progress until the Last Day.
Nation Building: Reliving Tipu’s Legacy
Muslim rulers and heroes who ruled India and fought the colonial nemeses may have faded from our sight. But that does not mean India stopped belonging to us. Tipu Sultan, upon whose death the colonial Satan proclaimed – ‘From today on, India is ours’, left behind a legacy of patriotism and loyalty for his Community to uphold. India belongs to us and we are obliged and responsible to build this country. Nation Building does not mean building monuments nor boarding the bandwagon of power politics alone. Nation building denotes becoming a good human being building peace between fellow countrymen.
Education and Discipline
Islam is not a private property of any tribe or race. It is the Almighty’s gift for humanity at large. The best tools for nation building are education and discipline. Ibada, or devotional practices, includes our contribution to building the Nation.
For instance, one of you notices a stone or brick in the middle of the road as you were riding a cycle across the street. Islam expects its believers, even with an iota of Faith, to remove such harmful obstacles so that no human being of any creed nor any beast to get hurt. Islam is foremost the feast of welfare, irrespective of their caste or creed.
Extending further this rationale, it would be ideal to say that safe driving is also part of a believer’s worship. Bystanders should be able to identify a Muslim’s vehicle from the style of his or her driving pattern. Abiding by public safety rules is part of a Muslim’s attaining salvation. Violation of public safety rules is no less than Zulm, or transgression. Jumping a red signal is hence a spiritual sin as far as the ethical outlook of a Muslim is concerned.
Muslims are a lot of patience. While half of our Belief is Patience, we should exhibit himalayan forbearance in face of the endless trials and injustice we may encounter in our daily life.
Nation building should be an act of love. Only if you love your creation will you exert sincerely for its well being. India or Hind is a land which comforted our Holy Prophet with a ‘cool breeze’. Hence, we have every right and duty to make sure this Nation enjoys progress and prosperity.
While Patience is half of Faith, we should correlate it with the Prophetic tradition, ‘Love of one nation is part of Faith’. Our civility is our true identity, not merely our ethnic costumes.
Creativity and Islam
The Holy Prophet always honored the creative talents of his companions. That a separate pulpit was installed in the Mosque of the Prophet for a poet is only one instance of this patronage. Our talents are divine gifts which have to be used for spreading peace and love in humanity.
Highlights from Mujeeb Jaihoon’s interactive session organized by Darul Huda Hangal Centre, Gejjihalli, Karnataka. Feb 20 2019.
Posted June 29 2021.
