"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (3)
inside
04 Editorial
05 Guidance from the Glorious Qur'an
06 Pearls from the Holy Prophet
07 Islamic Feature: The Last Sermon
of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.)
09 Islamic Feature: A Step by Step
Pilgrim Guidance
12 From Darkness to Light
16 Media Consiousness
23 Feature: Maulana Hastrat Mohani
25 Role Model: Muadh bin Jabal
28 Muslims in the World
The
SIMPLE
TRUTHMONTHLY
Chief Editor
Asghar Ali Imam Mahadi Salafi
Editor
Dr. Abul Hayat Ashraf
Publisher
Khawaja Md. Qutbuddin
Address:
Markazi Jamiat-e-Ahle Hadees Hind
Ahle Hadees Manzil
4116, Urdu Bazar, Jama Masjid,
Delhi-110006
Ph: 011-23273407
Fax: 011-23246613
websit: www.ahlehadees.org
E-mail: [email protected]
October, 2012
Vol. No. 6 Issue No. 10
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (4)
Haj is not just engaging in rituals, such as wearing
of white Ihram, making of Tawaf, pelting of
stones at Jamarats, and the slaughtering of sheep
etc. It is the spirit behind these acts that matters.
As the Holy Quran tells us: “It is not their meat
nor their blood that reaches Allah. It is your piety
that reaches Him. We have thus made them
subject to you that you may glorify Allah for
His guidance to you. And proclaim the good
news to all those who do right.”
This sacrifice is a thanksgiving for having being
afforded the opportunity of performing both Haj
and ‘Umarah in one journey. The act of stoning
Satan symbolizes a pilgrim's determination to
reject the evil plots that he hatches. It
commemorates the sacrifice made by Prophet
Ibrahim at Allah’s command to sacrifice his son
Ismail. By casting a stone at a devil, Prophet
Ibrahim reaffirmed his determination not to be
led astray by the evil one. He (PBUH) chose
the love of God over the love of self,
Prophethood over the fatherhood, loyalty to
God over devotion to son and truth over reality.
Thus Allah in His mercy substituted a ram to be
sacrificed in Ismail’s place. There is a great lesson
for all of us in this episode. Man is always
tempted by Satan to swerve from the path of
HAJ: THE FESTIVAL
OF SACRIFICE
Editorial
rectitude in our daily life. It calls for great
sacrifice on our path to prevent us from falling
into the path setup by Satan. Thus the spirit of
sacrifice that the Hajj symbolizes needs to infuse
every action of ours, throughout our lives and
not just during the pilgrimage. Trials and
tribulations are a part of life to determine how
far we remain steadfast in Islamic belief. “To
God we belong, and to Him is our return”.
The Haj that is graced by Allah’s acceptance,
has a lasting effect on those who perform it. A deep
spiritual transformation takes place in the individual,
that can be observed in his or her life. The
quintessence of the message that the Haj conveys
is the Oneness of Allah, the Islamic peace, solidarity
and strength and the preparedness to sacrifice one-
self in the path of Allah.
We appeal to all Muslim brothers and sisters to
recall the teachings of the Holy Prophet
Muhammad (S.A.W.) and contribute toward
building cordial and friendly relations among
communities
May the spirit of Haj lead us towards
strengthening our convictions and our resolution
to work for a healthy co-existence, putting aside
our differences and re-inforcing brotherhood.
Ameen!
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (5)
“For Hajj are the months well known. If anyone
undertakes that duty therein, let there be no
obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling in the
Hajj. And whatever good you do, (be sure) Allah
knows it. And take a provision (with you) for
the journey, but the best of provisions is right
conduct. So fear Me, O you that are wise.”
(Surah Al-Baqrah, 2: 197)
The months well known: the months of
Shawwal, Zul-Qada, and Zul Hijja (upto the
10th or the 13th) are set apart for the rites of
Hajj that is to say, the first rites may begin as
early as the beginning of Shawwal, with a
definite approach to Makkah but the chief rites
are concentrated on the first ten days Zul-Hijja,
and especially on the 8th, 9th and 10th of that
month, when the concourse of pilgrims reaches
its height. The chief rites may be briefly
enumerated. (1) the wearing of the pilgrim
garment (ihram) from certain points definitely
fixed on all the roads to Makkah after this the
pilgrim is dedicated to worship and prayer and
the denial of vanities; (2) the Tawaf (going round
the Kaaba seven times), typifying activity, with
the kissing of the little Black Stone built into the
wall, the symbol of concentration in the love of
Guidance from the Holy Quran
Allah; (3) after a short prayer at the station of
Ibraheem, the pilgrim goes to the hills Safa and
Marwa, the symbols of patience and
perseverance; (4) the great Sermon
(Khutbah) on the 9th of Zul-Hijja, when the
whole assembly listens to an exposition of the
meaning of Hajj; (5) the visit of the whole body
of pilgrims to the valley of Mina (about six miles
north of Makkah, where the pilgrims halt and
stay the night, proceeding on the ninth to the
plain and hill of Arafat, about five miles further
north, which is also called the Mount of Mercy;
(6) the 10th day, the Idd-day, the Day of
Sacrifice, when the sacrifice is offered in the
Valley of Mina, the head is shaved or the hair
trimmed, the Tawaf-al-Afadha and the
symbolic ceremony of casting seven pebbles at
the jamarat is performed on the first occasion; it
is continued on subsequent days, both rites are
connected with the story of Prophet Ibraheem.
This is the Idd-ul-Adh’ha; (Yaum-un-Nahr)
note that the ceremony is connected with the
rejection of evil in thought, word and deed. A
stay of two or three days after this is prescribed:
these three days are called Tashreeq days.
(Cont On Page No. 27)
NO OBSCENITY AND NO WICKED-
NESS IN THE HAJJ
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Hisham bin ‘Urwa narrated on the authority
of his father who reported: I said to ‘Aisha: I
don’t see any harm to me if I do not
circumambulate between Al-Safa and Al-
Marwa. She said: On what ground do you
say so? (I said): Since Allah, the Exalted and
Majestic, says: “Verily Al-Safa and Al-Marwa
are among the Signs of Allah”. If it (your
assertion) were (correct), it would have been
said like this: “there is no harm for him, that
he should not circumambulate between them.
“It (this verse) has been revealed about the
people of Ansar. Whenever they pronounced
the Talbiyah, they pronounced it in the name
of Al-Manat during the Days of Ignorance;
so they (thought) that it was not permissible
for them (for the Muslims) to circumambulate
between Al-Safa and Al-Marwa. When (the
Muslims) came with Allah’s Apostle (S.A.W.)
for Hajj, they mentioned it to him. So, Allah,
the Exalted and Majestic revealed this verse;
By my life, Allah will not complete the Hajj
of one who has not circumambulate between
(Al-Safa and Al-Marwa). When (the Muslims)
came with Allah’s Apostle (S.A.W.) for Hajj,
they mentioned it to him. So, Allah, the
HAJJ IS NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT
SA’I BETWEEN AL-SAFA
AND AL-MARWA
Pearls From the Holy Prophet
Exalted and Majestic, revealed this verse. By
my life, Allah will not complete the Hajj of
one who has not circumambulate between
Al-Safa and Al-Marwa” (Saheeh Muslim).
Al-Safa and Marwa are truly among the Signs
of Allah, so whenever a pilgrim observes a
pilgrimage or “Umara to the House”, there is no
harm on him if he goes round them: “And
whoever does good spontaneously, sure
Allah is Bountiful in rewarding, Knowing”
(II:158)
The actual wording is (there is no harm for him,
that he circumambulates between them). At times
the style of permission conveys the essential acts
of devotion, Allama Abdullah Yusuf Ali in his
commentary of the Holy Quran writes; “the
virtue of patient perseverance in faith leads to
the mention of two symbolic mountain of that
virtue, there are two little hills of Safa and
Marwa now absorbed in the city of Makkah
and close to the well of Zam Zam. Here,
according to tradition, the lady Hajar, mother
of the infant Ismail, prayed for water in the
parched desert, and in her eager quest round
these hills, she found her prayer answered and
saw the Zam Zam spring, Unfortunately, the
(Cont On Page No: 30)
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (7)
The last sermon of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.)
is known as Khutbatul Wada. It is mentioned
in almost all books of Hadeeth. Some hadeeths
in Saheeh Al-Bukhari refer to the sermon and
quote part of it. Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal has
given us the longest in his Musnad, Hadeeth
No.19774. This Khutbah of the Holy Prophet
(S.A.W.) contained much guidance and
instructions on many issues. The Holy Prophet
(S.A.W.) gave this sermon in front of a large
gathering of people during Hajj.
It is a great Khutbah and we should all pay
attention to its message and guidance. Following
are the basic points mentioned in the Khutbah:
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) delivered this
sermon on the 9 Dhul-Hijjah 10 A.H. in the
valley of Mount ‘Arafat, during his final Hajj,
known as the Farewell Pilgrimage. The contents
of the message were collected from different
narrations, and there are other parts of it that
are not mentioned here. After praising, and
thanking Allah, he said:
“O people! Lend me an attentive ear, for I know
not whether, after this year, I will ever be among
THE LAST SERMON OF THE
HOLY PROPHET
Islamic Feature
you again. Therefore, listen to what I am saying
to you very carefully and take these words to
those who could not be present today.”
“O people! Just as you regard this month, this
day, this city as sacred, so regard the life and
property of every Muslim as a seared trust.
Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful
owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt
you. Remember that you will indeed meet your
Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your
deeds. Allah has forbidden you to take interest,
therefore, all interest obligations shall henceforth
be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to
take. You will neither inflict nor suffer inequity.
Allah has judged that there shall be no interest
and that all interest due to Al-Abbas ibn Abdul
Muttalib shall henceforth be waived.
Every right arising out of homicide in pre-Islamic
days in henceforth waived, and the first such
right I waive is that arising from the murder of
Rabiah Ibn Harith (a relative of the Holy Prophet
(S.A.W.). O mankind! The unbelievers indulge
in tampering with the calendar in order to make
permissible that which Allah forbade, and to
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (8)
forbid that which Allah has made permissible
with Allah the months are twelve; four of them
are holy; three of these (holy months) are
successive and one occurs singly between the
months of Jumadah and Shaban.
O people! Beware of Satan, for the safety of
your religion. He has lost all hope that he will
ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so
beware of following him in small things.
O people! It is true that you have certain rights
with regard to your women, but they also have
right over you. If they abide by your right then
to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed
in kindness. Treat your women well and be kind
to them, for they are your partners and
commited helpers. And it is your right that they
don’t approve as well as never commit adultry.
O people! Listen to me earnestly, Worship Allah,
perform your five daily prayers, fast during the
month of Ramadhan, and give the share Zakah
(obligatory charity) in your wealth. Perform Hajj
if you can afford to. All mankind is from Adam
and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-
Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority
over a black, nor does a black have any
superiority over a white except by piety and
good action. Learn that every Muslim is the
brother of another Muslim and that Muslims
constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be
legitimate to a Muslim that belongs to a fellow
Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly.
Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.
Remember! One day you will appear before
Allah and answer for your deeds. So beware,
do not stray from the path of righteousness after
I am gone.
O people! No prophet or messenger will come
after me, and no new faith will be born. Reason
well, therefore, O people, and understand my
words that I convey to you. I live behind me
two things, the Quran and my example, the
Sunnah, and if you follow these you will never
go astray.
All those who listen to me shall pass on my words
to others, and those to others again; and may
the last ones understand my words better than
those who listen to me directly. Be my witness,
O Allah! That I have conveyed Your message
to Your people”.
And with these words, the Holy Prophet
(S.A.W.) concluded his address. He alighted
from his camel and performed the noon and
afternoon prayers together. It was at this time
that the verse regarding the completion of religion
was revealed to him:
“This day I have perfected for you your faith,
and completed My favour upon you, and I
am well pleased with Islam as your religion”
(Surah Al-Maidah, 5:3)
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) immediately recited
this verse to all those who were present.
µµµ
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (9)
THE START: Leaving home during Hajj
months: Shawwal, Dhul-Qai’da and first ten
days of Dhul Hijjah.
It is desirable to have a shower, put some
perfume, wear Ihram dress and make intention
to Start Hajj rituals. Such an intention should be
pronounced immediately as soon as the car, bus
or any other transportation moves toward
Makkah. Mutamati: Should make the intention
to perform Umrah and wait till the time of Hajj
rituals start. A pilgrim say: “I respond to Your
orders my Lord to perform Umrah and wait till
the time of Hajj rituals” (1)
Qiran: Should make the intention to perform
Umarah and Hajj together. A pilgrim should say:
“I respond to Your orders my Lord to perform
Umrah and Hajj together”.
Mufrad: should make the intention to perform
Hajj alone. A pilgrim should say: “I respond to
Your Orders my Lord to perform Hajj only”.
MEEQAT: Would-be pilgrims inside Meeqat
boundaries can initiate Ihram at the place where
they reside. Meeqat pilgrim coming from
Madinah or from the direction of Madinah is
DHUL HULAIFA, (ABYARALI). Meeqat for
pilgrim coming from Syria Egypt (or direction
A STEP BY STEP
PILGRIM GUIDANCE
Islamic Feature
of Syria) and Egypt is Al-JUHFA (a place near
Rabigh). Meeqat for pilgrim coming from Najd
and Taif (or direction of Najd) is QARW AL-
MANZIL. Meeqat for pilgrim coming from
Yemen (or direction of Yemen) is
YALAMLAM. And Meeqat for pilgrim coming
from Iraq (or from direction of Iraq) is DHAT
IRQ. (2)
While on the way to Makkah, the pilgrim should
say Talbiya frequently (3)
Upon arriving at the Kaaba, the pilgrim should
stop Talbiyah, start Tawaf by kissing or
touching the black stone if he can without causing
harm to other pilgrims or by pointing toward it
and saying: “In the name of Allah, Allah is Great
“When starting Tawaf, the Kaaba should be at
the left side of your body.
ACTS PROHIBIBITED WHILE IN A STATE
OF IHRAM MALES AND FEMALES:
* Cutting hair or nails deliberately
* Hunting, helping in hunting or terrifying will
games
* Cutting trees, shrubs or grass within the Haram
area
* Asking the hand of the other sex in marriage
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (10)
or finalizing marriage ceremony for himself or
for others or making sexual intercourse with
one’s wife.
MALES ONLY:
* Covering the head with something in direct
contact with the head. Using an umbrella is
however permitted. The roof of the car or putting
luggage on head are also not prohibited.
* Putting on sewn clothes.
WOMEN ONLY:
Using gloves or face cover except the eyes.
However, she should cover her face if any alien
men are close to her.
DEAR PILGRIM:
Observe tranquility and serenity while
performing Hajj rituals. Beware pushing your
brother pilgrims.
Start Tawaf with the right shoulder kept
uncovered by the Ihram dress. The three first
turns should be performed in a manner of Ramal
(4) While circling around the Kaa’ba, the pilgrim
can say the prayers he wished (15) (This Tawaf
is called” Tawaf Al-Qudoum” for both the
Qarin and Mufrad pilgrims.
As soon as a pilgrim completes Tawaf, he
should perform two Raka’h behind the Maqame
Ibraheem if he could or at any other place inside
the Holy Mosque (6)
SAE’Y:
Mutamati,: Start Sae’y seven trips starting by
Safa and ending by Marwah. Following
completion of Sae’y Mutamati, pilgrim can cut
his hair and put off the Ihram dress, Hence, his
‘Umrah is complete.
Qarin and Mufrid should keep their Ihram dress
and observe all things prohibited while in a state
of Ihram until they complete the rituals on the
day of Nahr.
MINA:
Set out from Makkah to Mina before noon-time
on the day of Tarwiyah. It is a Sunnah to spend
the night at Mina (7)
Mutamati: Should put on the Ihram dress again
and pronounce Talbiyah with the intention of
starting Hajj rituals before leaving to Mina.
ARAFAT:
Set out to Arafat following sunrise. At Arafat:
Perform Noon and Afternoon prayers joined
and shortened (two Raka’s each) at the time of
noon prayer and stay there till after sunset. (8)
AT MUZDALIFA:
Following sunset on the same day; setout to
Muzdalifa. As soon as the pilgrim arrives at
Muzdalifa, he should proceed as follows:
* Perform Maghrib and Isha prayers joined and
shortened (three rakaa, for Maghrib and Two
raakas for ‘Isha)
* Spend the night there till dawn (9).
* Offer prayers after performing Fajar (dawn)
prayer till near sunrise.
* Collect seven pebbles for Al-Aqabah stoning
ritual. Remaining stones should be collected at
Mina.
AT MINA:
Following sunrise, the pilgrim should set out to
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (11)
Mina. Rituals to be completed on the Nahr Day:
* Perform Al-Aqabah Al-Kubra Stoning ritual.
* Slaughter sacrifices: only for Mutamati and
Qarin pilgrims.
* Shave or cut hair. Shaving is better. Women
can cut about one inch from any side of her hair.
* Tawaf Al-Ifadah: can be delayed to be
performed with Tawaf Al-Wadaa.
* Perform Sae’y for the Mutamati,: Qarin and
Mufrid should perform Sae’y if they have not
already done so following Tawaf Al-Qudoum.
TAHALUL ASGHAR
If two of the following three rituals are completed
on the Nahr Day, i.e:
* Perform Al-Aqabah Al-Kubra Stoning ritual,
* Performing Tawaf Al-Ifadah;
* Shaving or cutting hair.
* Tahalul Akbar: If all above three rituals are
completed.
Spend Tashreeq nights at Mina (10). On each
such days, the pilgrim should perform the three
stoning rituals. These rituals should be
performed in the afternoons of these days. Their
timing continues till dawn on the next day.
TAWAF AL-WADA:
For a Muta’ajil: Should be performed in the
afternoon time following completion of the
stoning ritual on the twelfth day of Dhul-Hijjah.
* For a non-Mutaajil. Should be performed in
the afternoon time following completion of the
stoning ritual the thirteenth day of Dhul Hijjah.
A woman who has the period or who gave birth
is not obliged to perform this ritual.
FOOTNOTES:
1.Would-be pilgrims inside Meeqat boundaries
can initiate Ihram at the place where they reside;
2.Tamatu (Performing Umarah followed by
Hajj) is the best type of Hajj for pilgrims who
did not bring sacrifices with them. The Holy
Prophet (S.A.W.).
3. Talbia in a loud voice is for men but not for
women. It is desirable to say takbeer (Allah is
Great) When passing by a high part of land and
tasbeeh (Allah is all Glorified) when going down
such a high part of land.
4. Walking with close steps but showing
strength.
5. Within the area between the Yamani corner
and black stone, It is desirable to say: “Our
Lord give us goodness in this life and
goodness in the Hereafter and protect us from
Hellfire).
6. Read Al-Kafirun Surah in the first rakaa, and
Al-Ikhlas Sura in the Second rukua.
7. The fie prayers should be performed there
shortened but no joined together.
8. It is a sunnah to remember Allah and pray to
Him more frequently and direct your face toward
the Ka’aba with raised hands.
9. Women and weak people (elderly and sick
pilgrims) can set out from Muzdalifa to Mina
following midnight.
10. Women should use scarves but should not
use face cover if there are no alien men with
them.
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (12)
Allah guided me to Islam when I was 14 years
old. My initial readiness to accept Islam and
my reversion to din al-fitrah (the religion that
conforms to human nature) at such an age
seems to imply that I was all but a Muslim
already. But if we were to examine it as a
cause and effect relationship, we must first
start with the conversion of my friend Nabil
in the summer of 1992.
Nabil was born in Africa to Isma’ili Shiite parents
of Indian descent, but he spent his childhood in
Canada. The Only contact he had with anything
even remotely Islamic was his infrequent visits
to the Isma’ili Jamaat Khana with his parents.
Essentially, he knew nothing about Islam. In the
summer before he was to attend a protestant
boarding school in Massachusetts, Nabil visited
India as a tourist with his cousins. The majority
of the trip was spent in idle pursuits; however
three days before he was scheduled to return to
Canada, Nabil went to the market of Delhi to
buy gifts for his family. While shopping, members
of a dawah (Islamic missionary) group from
South Africa, who were in Delhi for a four-
month stint, approached him and asked him his
ALLAH INCREASES THE FAITH
OF THE STEADFAST
By Matthew B. Ingalls
From Darkness to Light
name. When he replied, “Nabil,” an apparently
Muslim name, one of the brothers replied with
the Islamic greeting of as-salamu alaikum
(peace be upon you). Nabil, though ignorant of
even the correct response to such a greeting,
was nonetheless intrigued by the genial group
of men, and accepted an invitation to join them
the next day at the Islamic dawah centre at
Nizamuddin. They told him to be there at 5:00.
He learned from his cousins later that evening
that this meant 5:00 a.m.
With the God-given ability to do anything
commendable, Nabil made the hour-long
journey to the centre long before sunrise. He
witnessed thousands of worshippers perform
the dawn prayer in perfect unison-an astounding
spectacle to him. Afterward, he listened to a
motivational talk by the renowned Indian Sheikh,
Molana ‘Umar Palanpouri, which was translated
by a member of the South African group that he
had met the previous day. Based on a paradigm
that was completely foreign to Nabi, the essence
of the speech lay slightly beyond his grasp, but
the boy listened patiently and attentively.
Afterward, he was invited downstairs to partake
in breakfast with the foreign dawah groups. By
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (13)
the will of Allah, Nabil sat next to a group from
Egypt. The head of the group, an elderly soft-
spoken gentleman, glanced compassionately at
the boy who was eating what he could of the
simple food. He asked the boy his name,
reflected for a moment, and then asked, “Nabil”,
why are you here?” “Well, I was invited by the
group from South Africa to come this
morning…..”
“No, no, this is not what I mean,” replied the
old man with a remarkable fluent command of
the English language. “Why are you here, on
this earth… breathing, living, waking up every
morning? For what purpose is all this?”
Nabil was silent. In the fourteen years of his
existence on earth, he had never once even
thought of such a question. Taking the boy’s
reticence as ignorance, the man continued, “You
are hear to perform a great job-the greatest and
noblest job there is. You are here to know the
One Who gave you everything-everything you
have, have had, and ever will have. And then
you are to tell others about this One. If you do
this correctly, you are successful, if you don’t
do this, then you have failed to fulfil the purpose
for which you were created.”
The man’s words were simple, but Allah had
opened Nabil’s heart to their weightiness. He
remained in the center for the next two days,
and before he left for home on the third day, he
announced his conversion to those present with
the shahadah, the testimony of faith. The rest of
the summer he spent in Canada learning as much
as he could about his new religion.
That fall, Nabil’s parents sent him to St. Mark’s
boarding school Massachusetts, where he would
struggle to filfil the purpose for which he was
created.
I was in the height of my awkward stage that
freshman year at St. Mark’s. I met Nabil in
passing during the first week of school, and my
first impression of him was that he was Indian
and wore a fuzzy beard. A month later, we sat
next to each other on a long bus ride to the
school of a rival sports team. We spoke the entire
ride. Nabil struck me as jovial, polite, and
intelligent. In a short time, he became one of my
closest friends.
I was particularly attracted to his generosity.
While all the other prep-school students would
get food from their parents and horde it, eating
it secretly when alone or cruelly in front of other
students, Nabil would buy food specifically with
the intention of sharing with others, be they
friends or not. As I was completely ignorant of
Islam at that point, the only thing that struck me
about his religious identity was that he did not
eat pork and that he would explode in rage when
anybody touched the strange sacred book that
he kept in a mother-of-pearl jewelry box on top
of his bureau.
One day Nabil, in a moment of spiritual zeal, burst
into my room, where I was sitting with another
student, and without establishing the customary
rapport, blurted out, “I’m going to tell you guys
something that if you say it, one day you will be
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (14)
happier than you can imagine, and you will wish
that you had said it more than you did”.
Intrigued, we pressed Nabil to tell us, to which
he replied, “La ilaha illa Allah; Muhammadun
Rasulu Allah.” We repeated the words after
him and he corrected our pronunciation,
promising to tell us the meaning later. Though
the strange language meant nothing to me, I took
it upon myself to write down the transliteration
of the words. I read the sentence to myself
repeatedly that week, and within a few days, I
had memorized it. Allah was meanwhile opening
my heart to its meaning without my knowledge.
Dave from Texas was a notoriously racist
student. Every black student at St. Mark’s hated
him. He had been beaten bloody earlier that year
by the token Native American student because
of his particularly skewed racial outlook on
society, which had already landed him in the
dean’s office three times within the first six
months of school. When he first learned that
Nabil was Muslim, Dave remarked in his
affected southern twang, “Yea, well I saw that
movie Not Without My daughter, and ya’ll
worship the devil as far as I see it. Perhaps it
was not a deep-rooted hatred in Dave that
produced such comments, but rather his love of
confrontation as a product of his own insecurities.
Nabil sensed this, and bore Dave’s bigotry with
patience and sympathy for the troubled boy.
Eventually he managed to exaplain the true
message of Islam to the Texan, and he accepted
it at once. By the second half of freshman year,
Dave was waking Nabil up daily to perform the
dawn prayer.
In the meantime, Nabil was conducting intensive
late-night Islamic talks with another young
student named Hammer, who had recently
become disenchanted with Christianity. On an
average Saturday night, Nabil would answer
Hammer’s questions and field his objections until
2 a.m., after which he would come talk to me,
either continuing with he religious discourse or
delving into the worldly. He explained the
meaning of the foreign words that I had
previously memorized and used this as a
launching point to explain the greater purpose
to explain the greater purpose to human
existence, namely the knowledge and worship
of One God, as had been generally explained
to him by the Egyptian Sheikh that previous
summer.
I found the teachings logical; I knew God to be
one already, and the role of Jesus (peace be
upon him) as a prophet and not the son of God
cleared my head of the problematic tenets of
faith that I had encountered in Christianity. But
to consider my eventual conversion to Islam a
logical journey, particularly at the age of fourteen,
is erroneous. In retrospect, I believe that due to
my age, I was close enough to the natural
predilection (fitrah) toward belief in One God
with which we are all born. The memorization
and repeated recitation of the Islamic credo, La
ilaha illa Allah, (There is none worthy of
worship except Allah, and Muhammad is the
Messenger of Allah), opened my heart to the
reality of this natural predilection and facilitated
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (15)
my submission to what it required of me.
One late evening, after a particularly exhausting
religious discourse, I abruptly interrupted my
companion’s thought and said, “Nabil, I’m
ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“I’m ready.”
I looked at him in the eyes with the recalcitrant
stoicism of a man who know, with certainty, of
the thunder that he is calling down upon himself
with the choice he is about to make. Nabil
narrowed his eyes, reading my resolution. He
smiled and slapped my palm.
Nabil took Hammer and me to the mosque for
the first time on a Thursday night in May of 1993.
Referring to a visit to St. Mark’s earlier that year
by a Muslim man named Issa from Providence,
Hammer confided in me on the way to Boston
that night, “The moment it clicked for me was
when Issa was speaking to us. He was saying,
‘A car’s purpose is to take its owner from place
to place, and if breaks down and isn’t able to
fulfill its purpose, the owner has no use for it.
Likewise, if we don’t fulfil the purpose for which
the Creator and Owner of all created us, then
He has no use for us.’ I figured we owe it to
Allah to find out what our purpose is, and then
to do it, or else we’re useless and ungrateful.”
After the evening prayers and an informal talk
to a medium-sized audience at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology mosque
that night, the Sheikh of the mosque, Abdul
Badia, explained to Hammer and me the basic
pillars of Islamic belief, the pillars of worship,
and a few the things we must not do. He spoke
with a certainty and wisdom that I had never
encountered in a religious figure before him, as
if the unseen Truths were as manifest as those
of the seen world. He asked us if we accepted
these principles, to which we replied in the
affirmative. We recited the shahadah before that
Muslim audience, made du’a (supplication) in a
group, and then braced for the deluge of
congratulatory hugs and handshakes from our
new brothers in Islam. I later learned that Allah
had guided over five thousand people to Islam
at the hands of Sheikh Abdul Badia;.
Hammer and I returned to St. Mark’s the next
day as new people. There were only few weeks
left in the school year before summer vacation,
but we managed to establish the five daily
prayers among the Muslim students. Marshall,
began to join the prayers by his own impetus,
and he would come back the next school year
as an official Muslim. Nabil would take time daily
to teach us verses of the Qur’an and the method
of prayer, ritual ablution, and Islamic purification.
The school year soon ended, and each student
went home for the summer.
My parents at first dismissed my conversion as
merely a passing phase, but with time they
realized that I was committed to my new beliefs.
Nevertheless, they never opposed my decision
once, and through the years they have taken
great pains to help me fulfil the obligations of
my religion-buying (Cont On Page: 24)
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (16)
Long ago an ingenuous milkman bought a goat
to increase his sales in the unbearable heat of
Summer. One can-artist had also been
observing the very goat keenly for two months.
When the milkman held the rope and headed
for his village, the can-artist called his friends
and drew a plan where he could snatch the goat
without the milkman having realized the
conspiracy. On the way the milkman met a
person who asked him innocently, “This dog
must belong to a good race, and must have cost
good lucks, aha? “The milkman laughed and
doubted the eyesight or mental condition of the
person and then furthered. At the same time a
labour was also passing by; he unexpectedly
stopped and asked the milkman for water. After
quenching his thirst, he asked to the dismay of
milkman, "How much this dog cost you?” The
dumbfounded milkman retaliated, “This is not a
dog; this is a goat; couldn’t you see? “the labour
laughed and said, “Ha, ha, are you mad? Are
you? Ha ha! “and took his way. The milkman
stared at the goat for few moments and then
hurried away. Finally a soldier on his bike
stopped near the milkman and inquired about
WEAPONS OF MIND DISRUPTION
HOW MEDIA IS XPLOITED
TO FOOL US
Media Consciousness
By Khan Yasir
an address. After getting the information, the
soldier asked “ you seem to be a farmer but I
should tell you that such type of dogs are not
good for guarding farm”. The pitiable milkman
analysed the physical features of the
conspicuous” “goat” and asked (nearly crying),
Is not it a goat …? “The soldier waved his head
in utter disapproval, “Oh, are, you fool or trying
to make me one?” The feeble milkman could
not reply; instead he yelled in fury and kicked
callously the poor goat and ran towards his
village, sobbing. After a while, two persons came
out from behind the trees-of course with smiles
on their faces. The soldier originally the
Canartist, gave them some notes and took the
dog to sell in market.
Take media in place of the can-artist, and as a
jigsaw puzzle the milkman’s part must be played
by the public. The media, simply but astutely, is
following the policy of Gobbles (media-in-charge
of Hitler) by “repeating the lie a thousand times
until it is approved as Gospel truth” Here a
milkman lost his goat due to the treachery of a
can-artist but there people are losing their
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (17)
culture, civilization, outlook, lifestyle, values and
thereby freedom due to the felony of the media.
Many exponents of politics, economy and
journalism have opined that today’s media is
striving to accomplish a “Global American
Jewish” civilization and impose it on third world
countries, and the countries which are bent upon
opposing such enslavement are going to be
blacklisted as terrorist nations. (Iraq,
Afghanistan, and most recently Iran, Syria are
the living examples).
BRIEF HISTORY OF MEDIA HIJACK:
In 1921, the Council of Foreign Relations, was
established in America. This was primarily a
Jewish (read Zionist) organization. The main task
before this organization was to intrude in
American foreign policy as well as American
media and industries.
They accomplished remarkable success in all
their proposed targets. In political scenario their
influence grew so much that since 1952 every
candidate nominated for the presidential election
was a CFR member with a rare exemption of
Ronald Reagan, but in the reign of Ronald
Reagan too all his council and cabinet ministers
were CFR fed. It is a widely acknowledged
saying in Senate and American bureaucracy that
if a recommendation is published twice in
Foreign Affairs (CFR monthly) it is implemented
as if a divine decree beyond any criticism.
In Industrial scenario only some statistics will
be able to present the actual story. 35%
American millionaires are Jews, 100% fashion
industries are owned by them, 95% petroleum
industries are in their account. In education also
51% teachers are Jews in World’s No1
University Harvard and their proportion in
teaching staff is above 75% (the point to be
noted is that Jews constitute only about 2.5%
of American population).
In the field of media CFR has played every card,
be it money or muscle to exert its influence. It is
the fruit of their egregious endeavour that all
“reliable” news agencies are in their pockets.
For example Reuters, Associated Press, United
Press, AFP, etc. Jew capitalists are also
notorious for hijacking celebrated newspapers
and TV channels through advertisement and then
by their puppet editors as was done by Rotshied
to London Times and by Robert to Sun, New
Chronicles, Daily Herald, York Shire and many
other British newspapers.
In Hollywood Fox Company, Golden
Company, Metro Company, Warner Brothers
and Paramount all are operating under the Jewish
lobby. Eminent news channels (from which the
news channels all over the world extract news
and never doubt its credibility) like ABC, CNN,
NBC and CBS all have fallen prey to the
ambitions of Jewish capitalists like William Bele,
Robert and Alfred Silverman. Add to it the
names of William Harrit and Thomas Dayman.
Besides the channels there are very significant
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (18)
dailies, weeklies and monthlies like New York
Times, Washington Post, New York Post Wall
street Journal, Newsweek, Time magazine, Play
Boy, Chicago Times, and Readers Digest, etc
under their influence.
Henry Ford financed a research worth US$ 20
lakh on Jewish influences. He concluded,
“Jewish lobby is the conqueror of 95% media
sources and they are the primary accused for
the moral degradation in every age group of the
people not only USA but throughout the globe,”.
To sum up there are 1740 news agencies and
publishing houses, 140 TV channels and 62
million out of 65 million dailies, directly owned
by Jews all over the planet. And what’s the plight
of those who are not owned by them. One
anonymous media analyst has examined 60 non-
Jewish American dailies and came up with
astonishing conclusions that in 48 news papers,
3 to 7 columns are devoted to Jewish
propaganda. News of Jewish concern, interest
or benefit is published without any modification.
Why? They are ensnared in the web of
advertisements provided by Jewish capitalists.
This is how the Zionists have conquered the
media all over the world. And after this
occupation of paramount media sources what
they intend to do is to take control of the minds
worldwide the following are some of their aims
as specified in protocols of the learned elders
of Zion”.
* Not a single announcement will reach the
public without our control.
*At the same time what we shall publish …..
will be cheap and will be read voraciously.
*If we give permits for ten journals, we shall
ourselves found thirty, and so on in the same
proportion. This, however, must in no way be
suspected by the public. For which reason all
journals published by us will be of the most
opposite, in appearance, tendencies and
opinions, thereby creating confidence in us and
bringing over to us quite unsuspicious opponents,
who will thus fall into our trap and be rendered
harmless.
*Among those making attacks upon us will also
be organs established by us, but they will attack
exclusively points that we have pre-determined
to alter. Those fools who will think they are
repeating the opinion of a newspaper of their
own camp will be repeating our opinion or any
openion that seems desirable for us.
*We shall have a sure triumph over our
opponents since they will not have at their
disposition organs of the press in which they can
give full and find expression to their views.
And these aims are achieved by the following
weapons:
EXAGGERATION
Contemporary media is consummate in making
a hobgoblin out of thin air. And it is done so
artistically. That people have no doubt accepting
Big, Bright, Shining Sun as Moon and vice
versa. Before U.S. attack on Afghanistan the
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (19)
media performed perspicaciously the task of
“glorifying” Osama and Al-Qaida by projecting
headlines like they are capable of attacking white
House anytime, President is in danger, they are
extremely menacing and possess chemical
weapons. Why? Just to justify the unjustifiable
US invasion on Afghanistan.
Also in case of Somalia, the media for months
endeavoured to level the public opinion all over
the world by repeatedly showing the pictures
and videos of famine stricken Somalian people,
(neglecting outrightly other more prosperous
areas of Somalian). No stone was left unturned
to prove that all Somalian people are poor,
needy, starved, malnourished, compelled, and
forced to live in parsimonious conditions. When
this was done by their media American soldiers
invaded Somalia to “make the lives better” as
“angels of God” with no “selfish” reasons. And
what followed needs no description.
GUESSING FACTS:
One of the most significant traits of
contemporary media is the mania of guessing
facts. They disseminate news like this, “the
shrewd killers have left no clues but our
correspondent has reported through government
intelligence and independent sources that
“Ikhawan” could be behind such activities
because they preach the lessons of violent Jihad
and suicide bombing in their mosques”.
What is more vicious is their criminal reticence
after the exposure of reality. For example, on
January 29, 1987 a Boeing aircraft of South
Korea exploded, the needle of suspicion with
great confidence and authority as usual fell on
“Muslims” . Commotion went on for a year; such
hype was created that common people were
frightened with the very thought of a bearded
and capped person. After one year a “non-
Muslim” North Korean woman was hanged till
death for the crime. No Cover Story, no breaking
news, no editorial thus no hue and cry this time.
BIAS OUTLOOK:
Killing innocent people is a heinous crime, and
stigma for the whole humanity which must be
discouraged with full vigour, in every possible
manner. But the media is playing dual role even
in this regard. On one hand, it is vehemently
criticizing the so called relentless nature of Islamic
concepts of Hudood (punishment) and so-called
terrorists for their “fidai” attacks (only they or
God know how much truth their stories carry).
On the other hand they glorify the killing
operation by Mossad and CIA by keeping them
at echelon of bravery, valour and courage, for
example, killing of Musaddaq, Omar Torrijos,
Abu Jihad, Sheikh Yasin or mass killing of
Palestinians, Lebanese, Somalians, Afghans and
Iraqis.
CHARACTER ASSASSINATION:
The most derisive apparatus in this context is
character assassination. Examples could be
given of Hollywood films where with every rising
sun something is released which criticize,
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (20)
humiliate, and malign Arabs, Muslims and Islam.
Examples could be given of the films like
Khartum, Lawrence of Arabia, General Pine,
Dacorta, Siege, Bullet, and Fort Sagan.
Even cartoons for children are not spared, where
bearded capped men with names like
Muhammad Salim, Omar, Ali are shown as either
comedy figures or as affluent, greedy, uxorious,
violent villains who pronounce Takbeer after
commission of every murder or rape. Even
advertisement clips, new items are exploited to
showcase a Muslim as terrorist fundamentalist,
anti-democratic, against freedom of speech,
against woman right, etc. etc.
GENERALISATION:
Exceptions are there in every system and society.
It is a natural phenomenon but what the media
today is most interested in doing is to trace such
exceptions which will help fulfilling their sinister
ambitions. It not only highlights such exceptions
but project them as undisputed ground realities.
The cases of Imrana, some of the real militant
attacks by distressed Muslim youth or any
hysterical fatwa for that sake could be cited as
best examples.
TONE:
A news reporter of NBC reported about the
1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre, (where 4000
Palestinians were murdered in cold blood in the
chairmanship of then Defence Minister of Israel
Ariel Sharon) in this manner: “Many Palestinian
people killed allegedly by Israeli Army, but top
ranking officials of the Israeli army refuted the
charges and condemned the mass killings in
resonant voice. Intelligence agencies are
suspecting Lebanese terrorists for the incident
who do not want peace talks between Yasser
Arafat and Israel.”
The same news channel reported another incident
like this, “Palestinian Fidayeen had attacked the
market in Tel-Aviv. Two CIVILIANS (special
emphasis) got severely injured with stiches on
their heads and chest. In retaliation all the
TERRORISTS have been slaughtered by the
VALIANT Israeli forces. Mark the difference
between these two news items; there is not much
to say this one weapon is more onerous than
any other. With emphatic, eloquent, elastic and
crafted tone they can create a huge fuss over
the killing and could easily ignore or even glorify
the slaughter of thousands of innocent people.
COVERING BOTH POSITIVE AND
NEGATIVE:
The most dangerous web in which the media is
successfully ensnaring all its viewers, readers,
listeners and visitors with alarming dexterity, is
disseminating both positive and negative, right
and wrong side of the story to have control over
all types of thinking people whether for or against
their own interest. So don’t be confused when
on CNN a news reporter shrieks her throat in
praise of Islam as a peace living religion or even
way of life ideal for mankind. This is only a net
to track fools like you and me to consider them
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (21)
impartial, unbiased and thereby believe in their
other “fables” as revelation.
PUBLIC OPINION:
97% people are in favour of sending Afzal Guru
to gallows. What is your opinion; you can sms it
on …….., e-mail it on ……., call on ………,
write you …….. …” This is a very recent and
effective addition to the artillery of mass
deception”. The weapon of public opinion
expressed in terms of percentage in response
to most astutely and purposefully fabricated
questions. Gustavly Barn, a well-known
psychologist, expressed about the impact of
public opinion on human consciousness in his
psychology of Gathering that generally humans
tend to blow with the air and rarely against it
(and mainly for some personal cause). Thus the
media is exploiting this psyche of human mind
with distortions in statistics to lead him to their
desired conclusions e.g. in matter of legalization
of gay relationship in Britain. Finding of a
random polls were 15% severely against it, 41%
not concerned, 25% in favour of establishing a
committee under parliament, 15% considering
it a private affair, 4% staunchly in favour; and
icon of poll in website reads “85% people not
against gay relations.”
OVER SENSATIONALISATION:
It is common proverb that if a dog bites man it
is not news; but if a man bites a dog, it is news.
Let me say it is rational, but is it rational to devote
24 hours live coverage to a child who has
accidently fallen into a bore-well? Or tracking
where the mehdi or lipstick for Aishwaria Rai
has been purchased? Or what abuse did
Meterrazi use to instigate Zedane? Ridiculous,
isn’t it? At first sight this may seem a ploy to
attract more audience and aggrandize TRP
ratings. But there is also a hidden goal———
To hypnotise the masses emotionally and often
to divert the attention from the real issues. For
example, the media insatiably covered the 9/11
episode and totally distracted the American and
world population from the debate which was
supposed to be held in senate regarding the large
American military expenses and unconditional
aid to Israel. Even under 9/11 episode they never
covered intellectuals like Thierry Masson who
on grounds of several evidences proved the
Zionist involvement in the tragedy.
As the minds are entrapped, they can’t think
beyond what they see, listen and read most of
the time. Every day they see headlines like A for
Allah and B for Bandooq (Hindustan Times,
January 16, 1997). They watch tentatively the
violent, action-oriented programmes, and listen
to heart thrashing rock, rap and pop. They
dream of sex, sex and nothing else. Such human
cum robots are drawn to the neck in the
quagmire of selfishness where they had no
interest in affairs concerned to people, barbarity
of superpowers, the naked sword of crime over
society, and the world full of agony and anguish.
They are retired in their prime youth, many in
their childhood from the world leaving the
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (22)
management and reconstruction of “world
order” in the hands of destructors,
perpetrators, criminals and terminators. The
Zionist scheme seems to bear fruits venomous
one. Especially Islam is projected as the
greatest threat to the civilization in particular
to America after the Soviet Union. The media
is staunchly propagating ideas of clash of
civilizations. It is because of media today that
myths like “every Muslim is not a terrorist but
every terrorist is a Muslim, “is deep rooted in
a common man’s mind.
Because of media people are unaware about
the bloodbath of thousands of civilians in Algeria
Bosnia, Palestine, Chechnya, Iraq and
Afghanistan but they pray for clinton’s sick dog.
Nearly all the news sources are in their hands
and so even if we start our own newspapers or
magazines we have to rely upon their agencies
for news. It is high time that we must own a
reliable news agency to express the voice of 1/
6th of the world populace, to express the tyranny
of the tyrant, to present the other side of the
story, to present truth. This must be the top
priority of the OIC and all the 57 Muslim nations.
Remember, now we know the scandalous trap
of contemporary media. So it is our prime
responsibility to leave no stone unturned in
nibbling every cord of it. It is hopeless to
extraminate or even assuage the impact of media
by boycotting it. The only way left is to create
alternatives. A media not full of lies, distortions,
exaggerations and a tool of distraction but for
information, values, truth, courage and
determent of humanity. Active citizens of Muslim
states must create pressure groups to force their
respective governments to accomplish this task.
We must encourage our people to step in the
field of mass media keeping their values intact.
What you and I and common people could do
is not to believe the media blindly. Read between
the lines and see between the pictures. It is not
to say that the whole of media is corrupt or
useless such black and which analysis is not
feasible. There is a huge dark grey area in media
and we must strive to whiten it more and more
whenever we get an opportunity to do so. So if
and when in future you get a truth about
something in the alternative media and see the
mainstream media relentlessly suppressing the
truth, speak it in private and public in your family
and friends, make telephone calls to the
concerned newspapers or channes, try to
contact the person who has twisted the facts or
misunderstood it, come out of ghettos, don’t just
shout Muslim, Muslim, Muslim, write on myriad
of topics related to social, economic and political
problems, write letters to editors, make others
write also, create lelogs over internet, stick
posters in your neighbourehood and expose the
truth-this is the least you and I could do.
²²²
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (23)
Maulana Hasrat Mohani (1875-1951) was a
poet of Urdu language, journalist, politician,
mentarian and a fearless freedom fighter of the
Indo-Pak subcontinent. His real name was Syed
Fazlul Hasan. He was born in 1875 at Mohaan
in Unnao district of UP.
He was a brilliant student as well as a topper in
his first state level exams. Later, he studied in
Aligarh Muslim University, where some of his
collegues were Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar,
Maulana Shaukat Ali, etc. His teachers in poetry
were Tasleem Lucknawi and Naseem Dehlavi.
A few of his books are Kulliyate-Hasrat
Mohani (collection of Hasrat Mohani’s poetry),
Sharhe-Kalame-Ghalib (Explanation of
Ghalib’s poetry), Nukaate-Sukhan (important
aspects of poetry), Mushahidaate-Zindan
(observations in prison), etc. A very popular
ghazal sung by Ghulam Ali, Chupke chupke
raat din …. Was penned by Hasrat Mohani.
Hasrat Mohani participated in the struggle for
Indian independence and was jailed for many
years by the British authorities. He was the first
person in Indian history who demanded
MAULANA HASRAT MOHANI
(1875-1951
History
“Complete Independence” (Azadi-e-Kaamil) in
1921 as he presided over an annual session of
the All India Muslim League.
He was not only a practicing Muslim but also a
strong supporter of the communist ideology, as
he could see that British could possibly be
defeated by following communist principles.
Therefore, he was among the founders of the
communist party of India. He was also
imprisoned for promoting anti-British ideas
especially for publishing an article against British
policies in Egypt, in his magazine Urdu-e-
Muallah.
After independence, unlike some Urdu poets
like Josh Malihabadi and Nasir Kazmi and many
Muslim leaders, he chose to live in India rather
than move to Pakistan in order to represent the
left-over Indian Muslims on various platforms.
In recognition for his efforts, he was made a
member of the constituent assembly which
drafted the Indian Constitution. But unlike
other members, he never signed it since he
saw hypocrisy towards Muslim minorities writ
large in it.
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (24)
(From page No.15)
me halal (Islamically slaughtered) meat, delaying
dinner for prayer times, paying for my trips
around the world to study Islam, even helping
me to wake up for the pre-dawn meal during
Ramadhan. Thank Allah for American relativist
noncommittal liberalism! Marshall experienced
a similar reaction from his parents, while
Hammer bore through several years of hostility
from his.
The next year, our small band of Muslims braved
a series of trials. Reverend H.W., the school’s
official (female) minister, warned our parents of
the evils of our conversion, and even lobbied
the school’s administration to have Nabil
expelled from school. The next year she was
fried for her Bible-thumping fundamentalism.
Another Armenian Christian teacher derided our
religious beliefs at every opportunity and openly
voiced his animosity towards Islam and the
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) Allah, who has
promised the believers an egress from where
they could never have imagined, disgraced him
by exposing his molestation of a female student,
for which he was fired that spring.
Our group has been through several ups and
downs throughout the ten years in Islam.
Nevertheless, we have held together and, by
the Mercy and Guidance of Allah, have
maintained our religious observance. As I have
experienced firsthand. Allah increases the faith
of those who are steadfast and patient in the
face of hardship.
According to Akhtar Payami, Hazrat’s poetic
genius has been acclaimed by many writers and
critics. In the not too distant past (beginning and
the first half of the 20th century). Hasrat, Jigar
and Asghar formed a constellation of emerging
poets in a crucial period of India’s history. Major
political developments were taking place in the
subcontinent and the sun was about to set on
the British Empire as conscious members of
society, poets and writers do not remain
indifferent to the changes in their socio political
milieu. Not only India but the whole world was
in a state of flux.
Maulana died on 13 May, 1951 in Lucknow.
Hasrat Mohani Memorial Society was founded
by Maulana Nusrat Mohani in 1951. In Karachi
a Memorial Hall and Library have been
established by Hasrat Mohani Society. Every
year, on his death anniversary, a memorial
meeting is held by this Trust as well as many
other organizations in India and Pakistan. Hasrat
Mohani Colony, at Korangi Town in Karachi,
Pakistan, was named after Maulana Hasrat
Mohani.
WORLD AND
HEREAFTER
“So whatever you have been given is but a
passing comfort, for the life of the world, and
that which Allah has is better and more
enduring for those who believe and put their
trust in their Lord”(Surah As-Shura,42:36)
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (25)
Mu’adh Bin Jabal was a native of Medina and
was a young boy when the Messenger of Allah
(SA.W.) began preaching Islam. He came to
the fold of Islam at the hands of Musaib bin
Umair, the ambassador of Messenger, and was
present during the second pledge of Aqabah.
He was known for his intelligence, promptness,
purity in language and good looks. He got so
inclined with the message of Islam that most of
the time he remained with the Messenger and
learnt the Holy Quran and Islamic laws from
him. His interest and enthusiasm was so intense
that soon he became one of the most well versed
and knowledgeable in the matters concerning
religion. Whenever people would have any
argument they would come to Mu’adh and return
complement with his answers and explanations.
In a Hadith wherein the Messenger of Allah listed
the individuals with exceptional qualities, he
mentioned Mu’adh as the most knowledgeable
in the matters of religion. The Messenger said,
“the most merciful person from my nation, to
my nation is Abu Bakr and the most firm on the
command of Allah is ‘Umar and the shyest of
MU’ADH BIN JABAL
(May Allah be pleased with him)By Kamran Shahid Ansari
Role Models
them is ‘Uthman and the most knowledgeable
of them regarding the recitation of the Holy
Quran is Ubayy ibn Kaa’b and the most dutiful
of them is Zaid bin Thabit and the most
knowledgeable of them as, regards the halal
and the haram is Muadh ibn Jabal. Every nation
has someone who is (known to be extremely
trustworthy and the trustworthy one of this nation
is Abu Ubaydah bin Jarrah. “The Messenger of
Allah (S.A.W.) also said, “Learn the Holy Quran
from four persons; Abdullah Bin Masood, Salim
Maula Abu-Hudhayfah, Ubayy ibn Kaab and
Muadh ibn Jabal”. He was also one of the
Katibeen-e-Wahee (Those who collected the
verses of the Holy Quran in writing).
The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) knew of
Muadh’s knowledge and his deep understanding
of the principles of Islam. When Makkah got
liberated and the people began to enter into the
fold of Islam in groups, the Messenger felt the
need to educate the new Muslims with concepts
of Islam and he, with his extraordinary wisdom,
chose Mu’adh to teach people the Holy Quran
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (26)
and instruct the new Muslims in the maters of
religion.
During the last days of the Messenger of Allah,
he sent Mu’adh to Yeman to teach people in the
matters of religion. While bidding goodbye to
Mu’adh, the Messenger stopped him to ask a
few questions. The Messenger said, “How will
you judge (between the people) if it so happens
that you must judge? He (Mua’dh) said: “I will
judge according to the Book of Allah”. He (the
Messenger) said “What if (the legal ruling) is
not found in the Book of Allah?” He (Mu’adh)
replied: “Then (I will judge) according to the
Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him). He (the
Messenger) then said:”What if (the legal ruling)
is not found in the Sunnah of the Messenger?
He (Mua’dh) replied: “then I will use my
independent judgement (Ijtihad) and I wont
spare any effort (to try to come to the correct
solution). “He (the Messenger) then struck on
Mua’dh chest and said. “All praise is for Allah
who rendered suitable the Messenger of the
Messenger of Allah and caused him to be in
agreement with that which pleases His
Messenger (S.A.W.)”
Mua’dh and Messenger of Allah shared a very
great relationship of trust and love. Mua’dh
narrated a hadith and said, “The Messenger of
Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him)
said: “O Mua’dh! Verily I love you (for the sake
of Allah) I replied. “O Messenger of Allah, I
swear by Allah that said: “I love you too. “The
Messenger of Allah then said: I advise you to
say these words after every prayer: “O Allah!
Help me to remember you and to thank you
and to better perform my worship of you”.
The principles and the kernel of the message of
Islam were deeply entrenched in the heart of
Mua’dh. He had a different way of approaching
things and a different way of looking at things.
In one of his piece of advice to his son, he
remarkably said, “My son! Pray the prayer of
he who is just about to live and imagine that you
might not be able to pray ever again. Know that
the believer dies between two good deeds; one
that he performed and one that he intended to
perform later on. “One of the ahadeeth
transmitted by him reflects the insignificance of
the deeds that we do in this world, other than
remembering Allah. He narrated that the
Messenger of Allah said, “the people of Paradise
will not regret except one thing alone: the hour
that passed them by and in which they made no
remembrance of Allah.
The last meeting of Mua’dh with the Messenger
was a very emotional one and it signifies the deep
relationship and love and care Mua’dh had for
the Messenger of Allah. While he was leaving
for Yemen, the Messenger said to him “O
Mua’dh! Perhaps you shall not meet me again
after this year. Perhaps when you return, you
shall see only my mosque and my grave”.
Hearing this Muadh began to cry and those
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (27)
present also began to cry. It was the last time
when his eyes saw the Blessed Messenger, and
before he could return, the Messenger of Allah
had left the world.
The Caliphs also held Mu’adh in high esteem
and respected him for his knowledge of the Holy
Quran and Islam. During the period of Umar
bin Khattab (my Allah be pleased with him) the
governor of Syria sent a message that the people
need someone to teach them the Holy Quran.
Hearing this, Umar called upon five persons and
informed them about the need. Among the five
was Muadh and he later went to Palestine to
help people in the matters of religion. It was in
Palestine that Muadh died because of the plague
that had affected the area. He dedicated his
whole life to learning Islam and then propagating
and disseminating it. His life leaves a lesson for
the posterity that one should have an unrelenting
thirst for knowledge so as to benefit the masses
at large with the knowledge.
CARE FOR THE ELD-
ERLY PEOPLE IS A PART
OF OUR CULTURE
DO'S
1. Do some form of physical activity every day.
2. More aerobic exercise.
3. Be alert and active.
4. Take part in social activities.
5. Observe recretion & entrainment.
6. Take Healthy balanced diet.
7. Have a good sleep & observe hygienic prac-
tices.
8. Use assistive devices like walking stick, walk-
ers etc.
9. Have regular medical check ups.
10. Take Medicine only as prescribed by doc-
tor.
DON'TS
1. Ignore mild pains.
2. Physical inactivity.
3. Self medication.
4. Unhealthy diet.
5. Alcohol abuse.
6. Tobacco use & smoking.
7. Excessive use of Tea & Coffee.
8. Exposure to environment hazards.
²²²
(From Page No.5)
It is recommended that pilgrims should come
with provisions, so that they should not be
compelled to resort to begging. But, as usual,
our thought is directed at once from the physical
to the spiritual. If provisions are required for a
journey on earth, how much more important to
provide for the final journey into the future
world? The best of such provisions is right
conduct, which is the same as the fear of Allah.
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (28)
Before giving the figures of the Muslims in
different parts of the world, I would like to say
a few words about Prophet Muhammad
(S.A.W.) because the message of Islam was
delivered by him.
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) “was born on
August 29, 570 C.C. at Makkah in Arabia. His
father died before his birth; his mother passed
away when he was six. This noble son of Arabia
gave the world the Message of Islam after he
was entrusted with the task of Prophethood in
610 C.C.
By 1995 there were about 1,122, 661, 000
Muslims in the world. Thus, they constitute 19.3
per cent of the population of the globe. About
one out of every five persons in the world is a
follower of Islam. At least 42 nations of the world
have a Muslim-majority population. In addition,
there are more than 77 other countries that have
at least 100,000 Muslim citizens.
The majority of the world’s Muslims live beyond
the Middle East. Only 16.3 per cent of the
Muslims are Arabs. A total of 68.3 per cent of
Muslims in the World
By Dr. Akhtar Hussain Aftab.
Feature
all Muslims live in Asia; 27. 4 percent in Africa;
4.3 percent live elsewhere.
The world of Islam is multicultural. Its ethos is
strongly influenced by its religious rootings in
Arabia.
The largest population of the Muslims is found
in Indonesia. It is 171, 702, 000 over there.
127, 450,000 in Pakistan; 113, 186, 000 in
Bangladesh; 107, 118,000 in India; 64, 859,
000 in Iran; 62, 910,000 in Nigeria; 61, 283
000 in Egypt.
A total of 25 countries have 90 to 100 per cent
Muslim population. Their names are as follows;
Maldives; 100 percent; West Sahara:100 per
cent; Mauritania: 99 percent; Saudi Arabia: 99
percent ; Libya: 97 percent, Pakistan:97 percent,
Iraq: 96 percent, Gambia: 95 percent; United
Arab Emirate:95 percent; Dijibouti:94 per cent;
Jordon:94 per cent, Qatar: 93 percent, Tunisia;
92 per cent; Egypt: 91 per cent Kuwait: 91 per
cent, Senegal: 91 per cent and Mali:90 per cent.
Eleven other countries have 80 to 90 per cent
Muslim population. They are: Syria: 89 percent;
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (29)
Gaza West Bank: 88 percent, Oman: 88 percent;
Bahrain: 5 per cent; Bangladesh: 85 per cent;
Guinea: 85 per cent; Indonesia: 85 percent;
Tajikistan: 84 per cent; Uzbekistan: 81 per cent;
Niger: 80 per cent and Turkmenistan; 80 per cent
Six other countries have 50 to 80 per cent
Muslim population. They are: Azerbaijan: 78 per
cent; Sudan: 72 per cent; Kyrgyzstan: 67 per
cent; Brunei: 63 per cent; Lebanon: 53 per cent,
and Malaysia: 53 per cent.
The population and percentage of the Muslims
in the then six republics of USSR are given blow;
Azerbaijan: 7, 146, 000 (78 per cent);
Kazakhstan: 16, 947, 000 (44 per cent);
Kyrgystan: 4,506, 000 (67 per cent); Tajikistan:
5,272, 000 (67 per cent ); Turkmenistan: 3, 856,
000 (80 per cent); and Uzbekistan: 21, 301,
000 (81 per cent).
Contries with Muslims populatin between 5 to
10 per cent are given as under. Rundara: 9 per
cent; Guyana: 8 per cent; Sri lanka; 7 per cent;
Central African Republic: 6 per cent; Kenya: 6
per cent and Uganda: 6 per cent.
Countries with a low percentage but a
significant number of Muslims include the
following. Philippines: 2, 580, 000 (4 per cent
); Burma: 1,560, 000 ( 3 per cent); China:
28, 789, 000 (2.4 per cent); and USA:4,936,
000 (1.9 per cent).
The Muslim produced great scholars of
international repute Al-Kindi (801-866 C.C.),
Al-Farabi (870-950 C.E.), Ibn Sina (980-1037
C.C.), Al-Beruni, Ibn Khaldun-to mention only
a few. Baghdad (Iraq) was at the peak of its
glory and a match city of the world in the days
of Caliph Harun Al RAsheed. Cordova (Spain)
under the Muslim rule was the seat of
international learning where from the
Renaissance spread into Europe.
Some of the Muslims say that the whole world
is their enemy. This expression is not real. It is
an expression of pessimism on their part. It
expresses a sense of frustration among them.
How did Baghdad and Cordova emerage as
the most glorious cites of the world? Why the
whole world was not the enemy of the Muslims
at that time? We should dispassionately ponder
over these questions.
Baghdad and Cordova emerged as the most
glorious cities of the world because they were
torchbearers of learning in their days. They had
the capacity to give to the world; hence, the
world rallied round them.
The present scenario has completely changed.
We have little to give to the world; then why
should the world come to us? Science is the
key to progress in this modern world. It is a pity
and strange irony that some ot the Muslims still
suffer from the prejudice that the teaching of
science is against the spirit of Islam. If we deny
science, we have got to go backward.
Literacy among the Muslims is very poor. And,
poorer is the spread of educaton among them.
"THE SIMPLE TRUTH" October, 2012 (30)
What has been the contribution of the Muslims
to the world in the past 20th century? How many
medicines did they invent? How many life-saving
drugs did they produce? What is their
contribution to the science of orthopedics? What
is their achievement in the field of space
exploration? What have they contributed to
biology, horticulture, agriculture and chemistry?
We should think coolly over these hard realities.
The main enemy of the Muslims is their illiteracy,
lack of education and scientific thinking and
technological progress. It is a tragedy that still
most of the Muslims in the world are dominated
by feudal thinking; they appear to be wedded
to feudal customs and practise them in their
social life. The result is stagnation, extreme
backwardness, proverty and ignorance.
Is it not a fact that we are still not fully prepared
to accept the blessings of democracy? We
should make objective and impartial assessment
of the hard realities of life. Instead of being
emotional and sentimental we should be guided
by reason. It is reason and not sentiment that
can lead us to the proper goal.
The Muslims by adhering to their own faith can
befriend the people belonging to other faiths. If
we extend our hands of friendship to the Hindus,
to the Christians, to the Sikhs and to people
belonging to any other faith, they will naturally
respond to us. Thus, social coherence will
develop and a sense of unity will be strengthened.
This will bring peace in society and promote
social development.
Let us remember the greatness, compassion and
largeheartedness of the Prophet of Islam
(S.A.W.). The Quraish of Makkah compelled
him to leave his native place. They wanted to
kill him. It was under these circumstances that
the Prophet migrated to Madina.
When the Prophet was in Madina as the spiritual
and temporal head of the Muslims, famine broke
out in Makkah. The Prophet on getting the
information started raising funds to help the
famine-striken people of Makkah and sent relief
to them. The Prophet did not think even for a
moment that it were those very people of
Makkah who had tortured him for 22 years in
all possible ways and had conspired to kill him.
Let us try to develop such a compassionate heart
for all and the whole will be ours. We shall belong
to all and all belong to us.
From Page No. 6)
Pagan Arabs had placed a male and a female
idol here, and their gross and superstitions rites
caused offence to the early Muslims. They felt
some hesitation in going round these places
during the Pilgrimage. As of matter of fact they
should have known that Kaa’ba had been itself
defiled with idols, and was sanctioned again by
the purity of Muhammad’s life and teaching”
(note 160 on verse 158 of Sura Al-Baqrah).
vvv
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