An Example of Noble Character

interest or the desire for popularity, rather than by a deeper commitment. The spirit of selfless dedication—for the sake of knowledge or a higher cause—has become rare. Nations can only progress when their people are filled with this kind of determination and sincerity. It was this very spirit of dedication that once made Muslims a powerful and influential force in the world. But today, superficial thinking and self-interest prevail to such an extent that few are willing to “waste time” on what appears to be a “pointless” effort. This moral decline is, in fact, one of the greatest reasons for the downfall of Muslims in the present age. Most people today are driven by fear or personal gain— but those who make history are the ones driven by purpose and courage. A VICTORIOUS ENCOUNTER Maulana Sanaullah Amritsari (1868–1948) was a renowned Muslim debater (munāẓir) of his time. On one occasion, he was in Delhi to participate in a public debate with a scholar from another religion. Around that time, one of Maulana Sanaullah’s critics had circulated a flyer accusing him of holding beliefs that cast doubt on his very adherence to Islam. This flyer reached the opposing debater, who was wellversed in Arabic and Persian and familiar with the internal theological differences among Muslim scholars. He