An oath of secrecy

An oath of secrecy

1992 8-9 August-September 8 An oath of secrecy (83) Abu Bakr accompanied the Prophet when he emigrated from Mecca to Medina. An idolater of the Banu AI Dayl Tribe, – Abdullah ibn Urayqit by name – who was well acquainted with the Hijaz countryside, was engaged by them as a guide. As was usual according to Arab custom, Abdullah ibn Urayqit dipped his fingers into a glass of water and pleaded himself to secrecy. Then avoiding the frequented thoroughfares, he guided the Prophet and Abu Bakr by a coastal route to Medina.

(AI-Bukhari, Sahih)

Nature Acts as a Buffer

1992 8-9 August-September 8 Nature Acts as a Buffer (238) In an article entitled ‘What Will Ramrajya Mean to the Female? (Times of India, July 06, 1991) one of the points made is that ‘Ramrajya is a Hindi belt urban phenomenon confined solely to the male population.’ (p. 6).

This analysis is perfectly true. The Ramrajya movement is not endorsed by all Hindus but only by some of them. Indeed, by a minority, not a majority.

An eclipse of the sun, however vast it might be, does not spread darkness all over the, earth; neither does it last forever. Similarly, no evil, no matter how heinous, be nights the whole of humanity with its shadow. If one part of humanity is affected by it, we must remember that perhaps a greater part remains unaffected. It is the latter part which is often more precious and more important.

Keeping this in mind, we should not be panicked by movements launched against Muslims in India and abroad. The eternal law of nature is itself there to apply checks to them. According to this law, irrespective of the power-play of these movements, their effects will be felt only by a part of Islamic society. The greater part will remain unaffected, and this in itself will be conducive to our forging ahead towards a brighter future. Nature itself will act as a buffer between our community and campaigns launched against it. We shall thus never feel the full impact of their antagonism.