Let's Emulate Our Heroes, the Fountainheads Of Knowledge Wisdom And Pioneers Of Concord
By
Zeeshan Rasool Khan, New Age Islam
16 May 2024
The
scholars of our glorious past were not only the fountainheads of knowledge and
wisdom but also pioneers of concord.
In the days of Deobandi scholar Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi, a few of his students were conversing with each other. One of them expressed a will to offer prayers behind a particular cleric known for better Quranic recitation. Other students disapprove of his decision, as according to them, the cleric was a prominent critic of Maulana Nanotwi and would consider him guilty of heresy.
Deobandi
scholar Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi
------
Maulana
Nanotwi became aware of this conversation. He was perturbed, and the next
morning he visited the cleric, his faultfinder and belittler, joined him in
congregational dawn prayers along with his devotees, and said prayers behind
him. After completing dawn prayers, they stayed in the mosque for hours. People
unfamiliar with them were somehow surprised by this tiny group Maulana Nanotwi
was part of. Its presence in the mosque set the tongues wagging. The cleric
sought to confirm the group's whereabouts.
Cleric
inquires about the group—where are these people from, what is the purpose of
their visit, etc.?
Maulana
Qasim Nanotwi unhesitatingly introduced himself, leaving the cleric astounded.
A wave of shock touched the cleric's face. He felt a lump in his throat. Then,
in a low voice, he asked, 'did you really pray in our mosque and, moreover,
under my leadership? Maulana Nanotwi replied in the affirmative. 'I am a known
critic of yours. Even I have been calling you a disbeliever. I would dissuade
people from joining your sermons, gatherings, and company," the
disoriented cleric said.
Maulana
Nanotwi responded with the deep acumen he was known for, punctuating each word,
and said, "You were told that I am blasphemer of Prophet Muhammad (peace
be upon him), and you made it point to heap criticism on me. In a sense, you
were right in slagging me off. It is a testament to the strength and intensity
of your faith. I salute you for that''. However, before adopting such an
attitude and hardening your stance to such a level, if you had verified the
veracity of what you had been fed with, it would have been fair enough.
He further
said that, in reality, we also believe that one who speaks against Prophet
Muhammad (Sallallaho Alihi Wasallam) can't be faithful. Prophet
Muhammad's (Sallallaho Alihi Wasallam) reverence is an acid test of our Imaan.
Still, if you don't trust me, be a witness. I am refreshing my belief, and with
this, Maulana Qasim Nanotwi said 'Shahadah' and recited the creed,
"There is no God but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God''.
Am I Muslim now? He asked the cleric. Do you accept me as a believer now?
All this
had a huge sway over the cleric's heart and mind. He begged for pardon and
changed his viewpoint forever.
This was
the way of our predecessors to diffuse tense situations, end controversies, and
create an environment of peace, tranquillity, and mutual respect. And this was
the main reason why Ummah was not as divided as it is today.
P.S :
Ganwa Di
Hum Ne Jo Aslaf Se Meeras Payi Thi
Surreya
Se Zameen Par Asman Ne Hum Ko De Mara
We have
despoiled the inheritance that we won from our fathers.
The heavens
from the zenith have dashed us down. (Allama Iqbal)
------
Zeeshan Rasool Khan is a student educator,
columnist, and co-author of book #55: Stories
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/emulate-heroes-deobandi-nanotwi/d/132325
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