Muslims Must Come Forward to Witness

Muslims Must Come Forward to Witness

1989 7 July 6-9 Muslims Must Come Forward to Witness (1417) A Delhi-based English weekly Radiance in its issue of December 11-17, 1988, published an article on “Islamic Mission and Methodology in Today’s World” authored by Professor M. Husain Malik.

In response to it, a lady Professor from Madras, Dr. Bharathi Devi, wrote a letter to the editor, which appeared in its issue of January 14-18, 1989. The letter affords an interesting insight into the subject. The text in full is being reproduced:

As I have been going through the article, “Islamic Mission and Methodology in Today’s World” (Radiance 11-17 December, 1988, p. 3) the very article provoked me to buy a copy of the Quran and I have started reading it. The first verse which I want to quote from the Quran is as follows:

And thus We have made you a middle Ummah (Ummat wasat) so that you be witness to the people (Shuhada’ ‘ala’ an-nas) and the prophet be a witness upon you (2:143).

I am sorry to say as to how many Muslim brothers are aware of this Holy Command that ‘every Muslim must be a Witness to the people’. I have been thinking that Muslims are also like that of we Hindus whose house is a closed one neither the air enters in nor goes out. Our Hindu Society is a “Watertight Compartment”. The Islamic concept of God, the Islamic concept of Uniformity of brotherhood and Islamic concept of Faith are all well attractive and heart-touching. I am sorry that I had been in utter darkness for the last 39 years only because no Muslim brother has witnessed to me about the religion of Islam. I have seen many Christian Missionaries in the city of Madras spending so much money and time to preach their religion to non-Christians.

Lack

But I have not seen a single Muslim Brother preaching his religion in public. The Christians are so enthusiastic and aggressive that they even do not bother whether you mind to listen to their preaching of Christianity or not. Inspite of all these preaching and spending millions of rupees in India still the Christian community is not yet competent to win the non Christian souls. I think something is wrong with either their concept of faith or with their Methodology in their witnessing. But I am sure if the Muslims of this great country which always claims to have a “Great Cultural Heritage” and “Glorious past”, would come forward to rescue the perishing souls, there could be no doubt that India could be made a better nation with full freedom for ‘Equality, Liberty and Fraternity’ which are denied to at least 300 millions of “Untouchable Dalits” who are not even Human according to Hindu “Holy Scriptures”.

The Question is: Who cares about it? Who is bothered whether Dalits of India are Human or not. But I am fully confident that Almighty God will never forgive the Muslims of India if they fail to witness Islam to non-Muslims at least to the most oppressed and dehumanized untouchable Dalits. I have read in the Holy Quran that there are many references to the people who are “Oppressed and despised”.

For example please refer to the following verses of the Holy Quran:

And We wished to be Gracious to those who were Being depressed in the land, to make them leaders (in faith), and make them heirs, to establish a firm place For them in the land (28: 5-6).

An honest and dedicated Muslim in India, if at all he looks around by opening his eyes, then he will not find much difficulty to identify the “Depressed” people of this “Great” land of “Nonviolence”. But are the Muslims concerned about these “least” people who are not even “human” if not a “no-people”? I know that the Muslims do believe in a life-after-death and there will be a final judgement also. If that is so I am sure that Almighty Allah will not forgive the Indian Muslims for they have not thought of the vast non-Islamic population of India.

There is also another reference in the Holy Quran concerning the ‘Untouchable Dalits’ which says:

And why should Ye not Fight in the cause of God And of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)? – Men, women, and children, whose cry is: Our Lord, Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; And raise for us from Thee One who will protect; And raise for us from Thee one who will help (4:75).

Come Forward

Will any Muslim come forward as to tell me who are these “ill-treated, weak, and oppressed” people in the Indian society? Is it not the Divine duty of every Muslim to come forward and ‘Fight in the cause of God’ on behalf of these Untouchable Dalits who are worst victims of violation of Human Rights in the Indian Subcontinent? Why the Muslims are indifferent to this painful situation in the Indian society? Are they afraid of standing for Truth? I have not seen any religious text in the manner the Holy Quran has the provisions for the liberation of the oppressed. But it pains me that the Indian Muslims are either indifferent or may be out of fear that they may be labelled.

The Indian Muslims should either be faithful to Allah or to those who oppress the weak and despised. If they do not obey the Commands of the Holy Quran that means indirectly they are disobeying God Almighty. A Muslim can never be a coward. If a Muslim says that he is afraid of any thing or anyone except Allah he ceases to be a Muslim. He can be like any other Hindu, Christian or Buddhist likewise. The Holy Quran is not a mere book. It inspires and moves people into action. And if the Muslims want to be unfaithful to the Great Book of Holy Quran then Allah will certainly use other non-Muslims for His Divine Mission. God is not the God of Mud, Stone or Wood. A living God can never be silent in suffering and cries of those who are oppressed and discriminated. The true Muslims should not be afraid of condemning all those forces which stand against human dignity and social equality whether it be the age-Iong “Caste system” of the Hindu religion or be it the racial discrimination (Racism which has no divine sanction) of, the Black and Whites. Islam does not teach any kind of discrimination between man and man and woman and woman.

Cast System

The Indian brand of Caste System of the Hindu religion is the worst anti-Human social system in the whole of humanity. It is a blot on humanity. Whatever is anti-human is to be treated as anti-God. Let anybody say that the Muslims are anti-Nationals or “Agents of Conversion”. The system which stands against the unity of Humanity is to be treated as the worst enemy of National Unity and Integrity”. And Caste System is the worst devilish anti-National element. Caste separates people, it disunites people, it breaks human fellowship, it violates all social mobility and violates human rights. Should not the Muslims rescue and protect those who are the victims of oppression and ‘Fight in the cause of God’ to get their Reward in the Final day? It is up to the Muslims to decide.

I think that every patriotic citizen of India should read your journal. I will conclude this letter with a last word but not the least, which I would like to quote again from the Holy Quran:

He releases them

From their heavy burdens

And from the yokes

That are upon them

So it is those who believe

In him, honour him,

Help him, and follow the light

Which is sent down with him

Shall surely succeed (7:157) .

It is better for those who are “oppressed” to seek refuge in Him only who will release their oppression, make them the leaders of the land, establish a firm place for them in the land than to die as worms. For the Untouchables of India it will be better for them to live as non-Hindus than to die as dishonoured beasts. But how will they know that there exists such a God who cares for them and loves them abundantly unless someone goes to their huts and tells them. This is a Good News for them. “Every Muslim is to be a witness to that way of life because it is the very meaning and implication of his belief in One God to do so.