By
Abdul Rasool Syed
November 1,
2019
ISLAM, by
virtue of its inviting message of peaceful co-existence, fraternity, equality
and altruism, is not only admired by its adherents but also appeals to many a
people belonging to the other faiths. Non-Muslim intelligentsia too, deeply
touched by the ever-convincing teachings of Islam, could not help penning
panegyrics pertaining to the pristine beauty of Islam.
Concerning
rapid proliferation of Islam, anti-Islam forces advance their self-concocted
narrative that it was spread through the power of sword; it is altogether an
unfounded charge on Islam that is not only negated by its’ followers but also
by the enlightened and impartial non-Muslim scholars. In this regard, James A.
Michener, a great intellectual, writes in the Reader’s Digest, under the title
Islam: The Misunderstood Religion: “No other religion in history spread so
rapidly as Islam. The West has widely believed that this surge of religion
was made possible by the sword. But no modern scholar accepts that idea, and
the Quran is explicit in support of freedom of conscience”. De Lay O’Leany also
writes in “Islam at Crossroads”, London, 1923, p. 8: “History makes it clear,
however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims, sweeping through the world and
forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most
fanatically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated”.
Mahatma
Gandhi, for instance, writes in Young Indian, 1924: “I became more than ever
convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in
the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of
the Prophet (SAW), the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion
to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his absolute trust in God and
his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and
surmounted every trouble.” Additionally, American poet, critic and author
Colonel Donald S. Rockwell, deeply impressed by the teachings of Islam, notes:
“The simplicity of Islam, the powerful appeal and the compelling atmosphere of
its mosques, the earnestness of its faithful followers, the confidence
inspiring realization of millions throughout the world who answer the five
daily calls to prayer, these factors attracted me from the first.
But after I
had determined to become a follower of Islam, I found many deeper reasons for
confirming my decision. The mellow concept of life — fruit of the combined
course of action and contemplation, the wise counsel, the admonitions to
charity and mercy of the Prophet (SAW), the broad humanitarianism, the pioneer
declaration of women’s rights, these and other factors of the teachings of the
Man of Makkah, were to me among the first obvious evidence of a practical
religion so tersely and so aptly epitomized in the cryptic words of the Holy
Prophet (SAW), : ‘Trust in God and tie your camel.’
He gave us
a religious system of normal action, not blind faith in the protection of an
unseen force in spite of our own neglect, but confidence that if we do all
things rightly and to the best of our ability, we may trust in what comes as
the Will of God… When I stood in the inspiring mosques of Istanbul, Damascus,
Jerusalem, Cairo, Algiers, Tangier, Fez and other cities, I was conscious of a
powerful reaction — the potent uplift of Islam’s simple appeal to the sense of
higher things, unaided by elaborate trappings, ornamentation, figures,
pictures, music and ceremonial ritual. The mosque is a place of quiet
contemplation and self-effacement in the greater reality of the true God. The
democracy of Islam has always appealed to me. Potentate and pauper have the
same rights on the floor of the mosque on their knees in humble worship. There
are no rented pews or special reserved seats”.
Furthermore,
it is also worth mentioning here that it is absolutely wrong to judge Islam by
seeing the deplorable condition of Muslims and the blatant malpractices that
pervade the Muslim world. Islamic teachings are diametrically opposed to what
so many Muslims nowadays practise. Therefore, the only way to fathom the
veracity of Islam is to find out about its noble teachings, as enshrined in the
Holy Quran and the Prophetic traditions.
The famous popular
singer, Cat Stevens, who later embraced Islam once observed: “It will be wrong
to judge Islam in the light of the behavior of some bad Muslims who are always
shown on the media. It is like judging a car as a bad one if the driver is
drunk and he bangs it into a wall.” Inter alia, what is generally said about
Islam in the media and in many academic circles also give a wrong idea about
it.
As Maurice
Bucaille put it: “The totally erroneous statements made about Islam in the West
are sometimes the result of ignorance and sometimes of systematic denigration;
the most serious of all the untruths told about it are, however, those dealing
with facts, for while mistaken opinions are excusable, the presentation of
facts running contrary to reality is not. It is disturbing to read blatant
untruths in eminently respectable works written by authors who a priori are
highly qualified”. To encapsulate, Islam is, indubitably, the most appealing
religion of the world. We, the followers of this divine faith must adhere to
its teachings and act upon them religiously and thereby make our life as a
source of inspiration for the people of other faiths.
Abdul
Rasool Syed is a Legal practitioner-cum-columnist based in Quetta Balochistan.
Original
Headline: Touched by beauty of Islam
Source: The Pak Observer
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-politics/mahatma-gandhi-writes-young-indian/d/122590