The Ray of Hope Safar 1423 Apr-May 2002

A Journal By The Students Of Darul Uloom Sabeelus Salam, Hyderabad, India

Visit
www.scribd.com/musarhad
for more articles on Islaam.

_____________________________________________________________________________
Vol.1 No.3 Safar 1423 A.H. Apr-May 2002
PATRON: MAULAANAA RIZWAN AL QASMI

Under the guidance of: ADVISORY BOARD

Master Ameeruddin Sb
Chief Editor: Maulaanaa Akhtar Imaam Aadil
Noamaan Bader Sb Qasmi
Editor: Ml Abdul Basit Sb Nadvi
Syed Rashid Hussain Ml Khursheed Anvar Sb Nadvi
Sub-Editor: Madani
Shamsul Islam Ml Md Ayyub Sb Siddiqi Nadvi

C O N T E N T S
1 Editorial: Betrayal of humanity Noamaan Bader 2
2 Repent before it’s too late Syed Rashid Husain 4
3 Ml Qaazee Mujaahidul Islaam Qaasmee Shamsul Islam 5
4 Love for Allaah’s sake Wasi Akhtar Nadvi 7

1
The Ray of Hope Safar 1423 Apr-May 2002
Editorial

Betrayal Of Humanity
Noamaan Bader
As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods;
They kill us for their sport.

The myth of Gandhi‟s Gujarat – peaceful, tolerant and non-violent – ex-

ploded. Not since the days of partition has this nation witnessed the kind of lunacy
as has taken place in Gujarat. It is not just the scale of violence that has shocked us,
but the manner of it, the cruelty and obscenity. The carnage in Gujarat, and the rhe-
toric of belligerence, hate and intolerance that preceded it, are gory reminders of
how deeply India continues to be divided in ascertaining its very fundamentals as a
nation. The national polity has been torn asunder. A subtle polarization on com-
munal lines has taken place, which if left unrepaired, can well lead to the disintegra-
tion of the country.

It is over a month since the carnage in Gujarat began, and still the violence
continues. All kinds of man‟s injustice are rampant: forced eviction from homes,
violation of property and honour, lack of basic safety and security conditions are
widespread. The violence going on in Gujarat is no less than a holocaust or pogrom
against Muslims. The evidences of the planned nature of the ongoing anti-Muslim
pogrom in Gujarat have widely been documented and reported by the media – both
electronic and print. Most business establishments run by Muslims were systemati-
cally targeted during the riots from small bakeries and hotels along the highway to
large showrooms in Ahmedabad‟s elite shopping areas. According to industry
sources, the riots have resulted in an estimated loss of between Rs. 30 billion and
Rs. 50 billion. The Gujarat carnage has claimed more than 800 human lives (offi-
cially). Thousands of Muslims who fled death and destruction in their villages are
still in relief camps. According to the newsmagazine Frontline, 150 thousand vic-
tims of communal violence are in refugee camps and the toll continues to rise. Al-
most all the refugees in the state‟s 104 relief camps are Muslims, revealing the ex-
tent to which the community has been targeted.

The “preliminary” report on Gujarat by the National Human Rights Commis-

sion (NHRC) confirms the organized character of the post-Godhra violence, and the
state‟s demonic complicity in it. The NHRC report is the most soothing indictment

2
The Ray of Hope Safar 1423 Apr-May 2002
of the Gujarat government which failed to discharge the primary and inescapable
responsibility of the state to protect the fundamental rights to life, liberty, equality
and dignity of citizens.

As if death, arson and revenge were not enough, the Chief Minister of Gujarat
valued the tragedy on different scales, offering what might be called a two-price
theory for death: a Hindu life was worth twice the life of a Muslim. This only de-
monstrates the partisan attitude of those in power.

The inhumane and horrific events in Gujarat and the Godhra episode is indeed
a betrayal of Humanity. Islaam does not only condemn all kinds of infringements
on life, honour and property, but also advocates recourse to reason, fair play, dialo-
gue and resort to peaceful means in resolving disputes. The human society, built on
inter-connected interests and benefits, needs to promote mutual understanding and
cooperation, if peaceful co-existence is to be achieved. Allaah says:
‫ارفُوا إِ َّن أَ ْك َرَم ُك ْم ِع ْن َد‬ ِ ِ ِ
َ ‫َّاس إِنَّا َخلَ ْقنَا ُك ْم م ْن ذَ َك ٍر َوأُنْ ثَى َو َج َعلْنَا ُك ْم ُش ُعوبًا َوقَ بَائ َل لتَ َع‬
ُ ‫يَا أَيُّ َها الن‬
)13( ‫يم َخبِ ٌير‬ ِ‫اللَّ ِه أَتْ َقا ُكم إِ َّن اللَّه َعل‬
ٌ َ ْ
“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made
you into nations and tribes that you may know each other (not that you may despise
each other). Truly, the most honoured of you in the sight of Allaah is (he who is)
the most righteous of you. And Allaah has full knowledge and is well-acquainted
(with all things).” (Holy Qur‟aan 49:13)

The above verse makes it clear that Islaam recognizes absolute equality be-
tween men irrespective of the distinctions of colour, race and nationality, and all
human beings are brothers to one another. They all are descendants from one father
and one mother. The division of human beings into nations, races, groups and tribes
is for the sake of distinction, so that people of one race or tribe may meet and be ac-
quainted with the people belonging to another race or tribe and co-operate with one
another.

(Continued to page 8)

3
The Ray of Hope Safar 1423 Apr-May 2002

Repent Before It’s Too Late

Syed Rashid Hussain
Ours is an age of misfortunes, tragedies and calamities particularly for the Be-
lievers which are enough to disconcert, perturb and unnerve any thinking mind. Be-
ing dazed, we look here and there for solutions, but to no avail. Often we are unable
to understand the real cause of all these trials and tribulations which the holy
Qur‟aan explicitly enunciated:
)30( ‫ت أَيْ ِدي ُك ْم َويَ ْع ُفو َع ْن َكثِي ٍر‬
ْ َ‫سب‬ ِ ٍ ِ ِ
َ ‫َصابَ ُك ْم م ْن ُمصيبَة فَب َما َك‬
َ ‫َوَما أ‬
“Whatever misfortune happens to you, is because of the things your hands have
wrought and for many (sins) He grants forgiveness.” (Qur‟aan 42:30)

The enlightened Book not only states the cause of our afflictions i.e. our sins,
but also suggests the way to get rid of them. The glorious Book urges us to compre-
hend the reality, to acknowledge our transgressions and to seek Allaah‟s forgive-
ness for them. However, there was a possibility that the acknowledgement of our
enormous sins could lead to a feeling of despair and pessimism. To prevent such
despondency, the holy Qur‟aan declares that Allaah is Most Gracious, Most Merci-
ful and also says:
)87( ‫س ِم ْن َرْو ِح اللَّ ِه إََِّل الْ َق ْوُم الْ َكافِ ُرو َن‬ ِ
ُ َ‫إنَّهُ ََل يَ ْيئ‬
“Truly, no one despairs of Allaah‟s soothing mercy except those who have no
faith.” (Qur‟aan 12:87)

Likewise, Prophet Muhammad ‫ صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬is quoted as saying: ‫ول اللَّهُ تَ َعالَى‬ ُ ‫يَ ُق‬
‫( أَنَا ِع ْن َد ظَ ِّن َع ْب ِدي بِي‬Allaah says that He deals with His servant as he expects of Him. –
Bukhaaree: 6856) This hadeeth clearly indicates that if a person expects mercy and
forgiveness from his Lord, He grants him and if he feels that he is ruined and has no
chance of being forgiven by Allaah, then His response is similar to the person‟s atti-
tude. Thus Islaam teaches optimism.
Unfortunately, this optimism has been misunderstood and the consequence
has been disastrous. We have taken it to mean that howsoever sins we commit, we
shall be forgiven. Wish that we knew the great deception we are in. Certainly, op-
timism is of use only if we repent and then resolve to shun the sin and obey Al-
laah‟s commands completely.
§ § § § § § § § § §

4
The Ray of Hope Safar 1423 Apr-May 2002

Maulaanaa Qaazee Mujaahid-ul Islaam Qaasmee

Shamsul Islam
The eminent jurist of the Islaamic law, Maulaanaa Qaazee Mujaahid-ul Islaam
Qaasmee (1936-2002 = 1355-1423AH) is now no more with us. He has gone to the
final destination where everyone of us has to go. The grief of his departure has not
been limited to a person, a group, an institution or an organization, rather the whole
Muslim community has shared it. The entire academic circle and the juristic world
have felt the tremendous loss. If there is something that consoles and comforts, then
it is only the enlightened Qur‟aanic maxim:
ِ ‫إِنَّا لِلَّ ِه وإِنَّا إِلَْي ِه ر‬
.‫اج ُعو َن‬َ َ
“To Allaah we belong, and to Him is our return.” (Qur‟aan 2:156)

The great Islaamic scholar, popularly known as Qaazee (Justice) Saahib was
born at a far-off village, Jallay of Darbhanga district – nearly 150 km from Patna by
road – in Bihar on 19 October 1936 (~2/8/1355AH). His father, Maulaanaa Abdul
Ahad Saahib was a learned scholar of his time. Qaazee Saahib completed his formal
education at Daarul Uloom Deoband in 1955. Then, he started his academic career
as a teacher in the renowned educational institute, Jaami‟ah Rahmaanee, Munger.
There he was fortunate to have the guidance and support of Maulaanaa Sayyid
Minnatullaah Rahmaanee, the renowned scholar and the then Ameer e Shari‟ah
(Chief Executive) of Imaarat e Shara‟iyah, Bihaar and Orissa – headquartered at
Patna.

Qaazee Saahib began his public life as a qaazee (Islaamic jurist) in the De-
partment of Law and Justice, Imaarat e Shara‟iyah, Bihar and Orissa at Patna in
1961. He remained associated with the Imaarah till the end of his life. Under the
guidance of Maulaanaa Rahmaanee and in the company of his honourable comrade,
Maulaanaa Sayyid Nizaamuddeen (formerly Rector and at present Chief Executive
of the organization), he improved the functioning of the Imaarah and it reached the
height of its glory. He inspired a new spirit in every organ of the Imaarah leading to
the establishment of many new wings of the organization, viz. Technical Institute;
Maulaanaa Sajjaad Hospital; Al Ma‟had-ul „Aalee for training in Islaamic jurispru-
dence; Wifaaq-ul Madaaris-il Islaamiyah (Board of Islaamic Madrasahs), Bihar;
and Darul „Uloom, Imaarat e Shara‟iyah.

5
The Ray of Hope Safar 1423 Apr-May 2002
In the chronological order, the second important organization with which
Qaazee Saahib was associated is the well-known All India Muslim Personal Law
Board, of which he was one of the founders. His role in this organization has been
very significant. Along with other elders, he has been steering the organization from
its dawn itself without holding any office. When Maulaanaa Alee Miyaan (d. 1913-
1999 = 1332-1420AH) passed away, he became its President and performed the
onerous task of reorganizing the Delhi office of the Board.

The former General Secretary of the Board, Maulaanaa Sayyid Minnatullaah

Rahmaanee, was very foresighted and farsighted. He had worked out a statute book
which would include all the issues and matters related to Islaamic Personal Law.
But it could not be published in his lifetime. When Qaazee Saahib took over as the
President of the Board, he published it with diligent care and effort under his super-
vision in Urdu as well as its translation in English under the title Compendium of Is-
lamic Laws.

The other important organizations with which Qaazee Saahib has been asso-
ciated are Islaamic Fiqh Academy and All India Millee Council (both founded by
him, in 1989 and 1992 respectively).

Among the scores of books Qaazee Saahib has written, compiled or edited, the
following are noteworthy: Islaamee ‘Adaalat (Islaamic court), Nizaam-ul Qazaa fi-l
Islaam (Justice system in Islaam), Khutbaat e Bangalore (Bangalore lectures), Fa-
taawaa Imaarat e Shara’iyah (Verdicts of Imaarat e Shara‟iyah), etc. He was also
the editor of the quarterly journal Bahs o Nazar (Research and analysis) which had
been holding the status of a reference work in the realm of academics, research and
jurisprudence.

(Continued to page 8)

6
The Ray of Hope Safar 1423 Apr-May 2002

Love For Allaah’s Sake

Our Prophet ‫ صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬has taught us many good things which make the
society a happy place to live in. One of them is to love our brothers for Allaah‟s
sake without any worldly expectation of favour or monetary profit or for carnal rea-
sons. The following are some of the traditions of our Prophet ‫ صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬which
describe how Allaah is pleased with a person who loves another person for Allaah‟s
sake.

Aboo Hurairah reported Allaah's Apostle ‫ صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬as saying: A person
visited his brother in another town and Allaah deputed an angel to wait for him on
his way and when he came to the angel, he asked: Where do you intend to go?
He said: I intend to go to my brother in this town.
The angel said: Have you done any favour to him (the repayment of which you in-
tend to get)?
He said: No, except that I love him for the sake of Allaah, the Exalted and Glorious.
Thereupon the angel said: I am a messenger to you from Allaah: (to inform you)
that Allaah loves you as you love him (for His sake). (Muslim 4656, 32/6226)

Aboo Hurairah reported Allaah's Messenger ‫ صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬as saying: Verily,
Allaah would say on the Day of Resurrection:
Where are those who had mutual love for My Glory's sake? Today I shall shelter
them in My shadow when there is no other shadow but Mine. (Musllim 4655,
32/6225)

Had we loved our brothers as taught by Islaam, had we followed our religion
in its letter and spirit, had we given due attention to our Prophet‟s ‫صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬
teachings; we could have established such a unique and noble fraternity that the
non-Muslims would have come to our religion on their own without any arduous
preaching on our part.

7
The Ray of Hope Safar 1423 Apr-May 2002
(Continued from page 3)
We have seen how religion has been exploited to generate enmity among mankind.
We have also experienced how religion has been used to create or deepen hatred for
religion in the minds of certain sections of the people, and how religion has been
used to encroach upon property and honour, and to kill innocent people, including
children, old men and women. Therefore, it is incumbent upon all conscientious and
value-loving people of the world, to join in supporting the cause of the oppressed,
act jointly to put an end to blood-letting and ensure human dignity in these unfortu-
nate lands.

A peace is of the nature of a conquest; for then both

Parties nobly are subdued, and neither party loser.

Let us give up the hate campaign and move in the direction of establishing
harmony between all communities.

§ § § § § § § § § §

(Continued from page 6)

Undoubtedly, the noble record which Qaazee Saahib has set through his aca-
demic, religious, juristic, social and political services is outstanding. In his entire
life, he gave the call of unity among Muslims urging them to rise above the bounda-
ries of sects, regions, institutes and organizations. In spite of his high standing, he
was quite modest and humble. He had keen interest in the problems faced by the na-
tion and the community and would try his best to solve them.

Qaazee Saahib passed away on the blessed night of a Friday (4/4/2002 =

20/1/1423AH) which is indicative of his high station in Allaah‟s sight. The massive
crowd of his admirers and enthusiasts in his funeral ceremony and the reception of
his mortal remains by the government of Bihar with state honours at Patna airport
manifest his popularity in this ephemeral world. Thus Qaazee Saahib parted from us
giving us this message:
Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time.