In Giving We Receive

In Giving We Receive

1988 8 August 22-23 In Giving We Receive (357) The Zamorin thought so highly of the Muslims that he definitely encouraged conversion in order to man the Arab ships on which he depended for his aggrandizement. He gave orders that in every family of fishermen (Makkuvans) in his dominion one or more of the male members should be brought up as Muhammadans.

Dr. Tara Chand’s Influence of Islam on Indian Culture, is a useful book, which does full justice to Islam’s contribution to Indian culture and certainly deserves a wide readership. A writer of considerable erudition, Dr. Tara Chand has shown that in the 7th and 8th centuries, when Muslim merchants landed on the cost of South India, they were accorded great importance. The local people called them, ‘mapilla’ which meant ‘great son’ and at functions Muslims were seated side by side with Nambotri Brahmins. This was an honour, which was not conferred even upon the Nairs of those times (p. 35).

The Zamorin thought so highly of the Muslims that he definitely encouraged conversion in order to man the Arab ships on which he depended for his aggrandizement. He gave orders that in every family of fishermen (Makkuvans) in his dominion one or more of the male members should be brought up as Muhammadans. (Dr. Tara Chand, Influence of Islam on Indian Culture The Indian Press Ltd., Allahabad, 1963, p. 36)

This event took place in a period when Arab Muslims had a monopoly of navigation all over the world. When this first batch of Muslims landed on the coast of India, their distinctive speciality caused Indians to look upon them as fulfilling a great need, and they welcomed them as people through whom they could make more rapid progress. These Muslims were thus an invaluable asset to the Indians of those days. They gave to others, so others gave to them. Present-day Muslims, on the contrary, are only bent upon making demands upon others. They have nothing to give, and nothing is precisely what they receive in return.

In this world, it is not those who only know how to make demands who receive. It is the givers who are in turn, the receivers.