An IQBALIAN gift from Sirhind Nagar

Madina Archives


Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board

An IQBALIAN gift from Sirhind Nagar
jaihoon
11/26/01 at 05:13:47
[This is a live interview telecast on November 25th at 11.10pm (GMT 4+). The prominent News presenter Nissar Sayyed is interviewing the renowned scholar and orator, Abdus Samad Samadani. While the host is seated in UAE, the guest is speaking from Sirhind Nagar, the hometown of Samadani named after the great reformer of mediaeval India, Sheikh Ahmed Sirhind.]



Nissar Sayyed: The world is moving ahead in the month of Ramadan with a lot of prayer and hope. In this late of hour of night, we would like to ask some questions regarding this holy month and its significance.

Ramadan, or this month of fasting has a special dimension at a universal level. In your view what is the universal element found in Ramadan?

Samadani: In my humble view... Man is one everywhere. No matter where he lives or what he language he speaks. There is a unitary element in all his characteristics. At the end of all his pursuit, he arrives at the fact that unity of humanity. Whether it is fasting or any other mode of worship, all reflects this aspect of universalism. The similarities in faiths and acts of worship points to two realities:

Firstly, the Oneness of God, which is the fundamental belief of Islam. Secondly the unity of humanity. As far as Islam is concerned, these two 'unities' are very important. The acts of worship in Islam are molded based on these twp principles.

The Muslim who fasts upholds this aspect of Islam. He is actualizing the universal character of Islam. Along with this, Islam also strongly promotes brotherhood among mankind. irrespective of one's race or language, all are equal in Islam.

A believer cannot come into being merely by fulfilling his duties towards God. But also towards his fellow men. Ramadan promotes such a culture. To realize the hunger of the poor, the sufferings of the misfortunate ones, to share the miseries of his fellow men by giving charity- this aspect is at the heart of Ramadan.

it can also be seen in other pillars of Islam like Prayer, where the whole community, of different classes, stands behind a single leader. In Hajj and Zakat too this is visible.



Nissar Sayyed: Besides purifying the individual, Ramadan also aims at reforming at the social level. What should be end-result of such a change?

Samadani: The salvation of an Individual is always dependent on an ideal society. The degradation of society is one of the biggest challenge facing humanity today. All ideologies speak of a model society. But most of them ignore the role of individual. They only see the society. That is a surreal perspective.

The truth is that individual is the basic unit of a society. When the individual is purified, family is also purified. And so is the society. When societies are purified, the world will witness peace, tolerance and discipline.



Nissar Sayyed: You have very well integrated the Quranic concepts with modern sociological concepts.

When we hear of Abdus Samad Samadani, there is another face that comes to our mind- Allama Iqbal, the great poet. His poetry emerges throughout your speeches. We request for an encapsulated statement combining Ramadan, the great poet Allama Iqbal and the orator Abdus Samad Samadani?

Samadani: Firstly let me minus my name from what you just said. May I combine the other two, for I am nothing.

Iqbal has analyzed in depth about various domains of human thought. He was a great visionary of 20th century who gave serious thought on the Islamic philosophy. Besides being a first class poet he was also a visionary philosopher.

Since you have asked about Ramadan, may I quote a few  lines of Iqbal from a collection of his poems which I often carry along.

In one poem where he describes the causes for the ills of the Muslim community, there is a part that describes the moral decay of the community which has distanced them from the teachings of their faith. Iqbal writes as God speaking to mankind as:

kis qadar tum pey garaN subah kee bedaree hai
hum sey kab payar hai? haN neeNd tumheN payaree hai

tabe-e-aazad pey, kaid-e-ramzaN bharee hai
tumheeN keh do yahee aaeeney vafadaree hai

kaum mazhab sey hai, mazham jo naheeN, tum bhee naheeN
jazabey baham jo naheeN, mehfil-e-aNjoom bhee naheeN


O Believer! How difficult has become for you the dawn prayer?
Within you where is any love for Us, the sleep alone is your desire!

You consider Ramadan as a burden on your freedom!

Iqbal has described Ramadan as a period of expressing love for the Creator. This reminds me of a tradition of the Holy Prophet in which Allah the Almighty says: "Fasting is for me and I shall reward it".

Fasting is an act which is directly related between Creator and his servant. It is very secretive in nature which cannot be easily noticed by others.

Nissar Sayyed: Through these lines of Iqbal, you have given us a valuable prayer. We thank you for your words of wisdom.

Samadani: In fact, the gratitude goes for your thought provoking questions which has given me a chance to speak a few humble words.

http://www.jaihoon.com/studio/ramadanlive.htm
Re: An IQBALIAN gift from Sirhind Nagar
Mystic
11/26/01 at 08:03:59
[slm]
Mashaallah!!!
This is a cool, thought provoking piece.

[wlm]


Individual posts do not necessarily reflect the views of Jannah.org, Islam, or all Muslims. All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the poster and may not be used without consent of the author.
The rest © Jannah.Org