ACROSS THREE CONTINENTS

ACROSS THREE CONTINENTS PERSONAL EXPERIENCES Travelling is mentioned as an attribute of a believer. (9: 112) Travelling introduces a person to the wonders of God scattered across the earth. It gives perspective, insight and valuable lessons to lead a worthy life. In December 1985, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan represented India in an Islamic Conference held in Bamako, a town in Mali. Setting out from Delhi Palam Airport (now Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi) on December 4, 1985, he reached Bamako via Rome and the Senegalese capital, Dakar. The return journey was undertaken by way of Paris, London, Kuwait, and Dubai. Here are some excerpts from Maulana’s account of his impressions and experiences of his one-week journey across three continents. This is the first part of a two-part series. PART ONE Business Ethics When it was time for breakfast, the Air India hostess brought round the menu-card. On it was written: “Indian hospitality across five continents.” This is no exaggeration, for whichever continent a passenger flies to, they will find Air India an excellent host. After breakfast a smiling steward enquired, “Did you enjoy your breakfast, sir?” This was only one of the many instances of good public relations which I encountered on my flight. Whatever the concern, the good businessman, or his representatives, will find pleasant words and gestures with which to further his commercial interests—in other words, his trade. The conveying of the word of God has also been termed a ‘trade’ in the Quran (61: 10), yet those who claim to convey the word of God in the present age have not been able to find pleasant words with which to address their ‘clients’. The words they have thought fit to use have rather had the effect of putting others off because they are so illsuited to winning people over to their cause. Were it not for the God-given might of the petrodollar, Muslims would have occupied the lowermost rung of the international ladder.