Racial Prejudice and Its Cure in Islam
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The Remedy
To The Evil Disease of Racism And Prejudice
Shaikh-ul-Arab Wal Ajam Arifbillah Hazrat-e-Aqdas Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad
Akhtar Saheb
(damat barakaatuhum)
Translated by: Maulana Tameem Ahmad
First edition: July 2009
Copies: 10000
Khanqah Imdadia Ashrafia
Gulshan Iqbal, Block 2
Karachi
www.khanqah.org
1
The Remedy To The
Evil Disease of
Racism And Prejudice
Table of Contents
Compilers Note ................................................................................................................................ 2
Differences in Language and Color is a Sign of Allah Ta`alas Greatness .......................................... 4
Tribal and Racial Prejudice: The Stepping Stone to an Evil End ........................................................ 5
Differences in Language & Color: A Means of the Recognition of Allah ........................................... 6
One People: Who Surpass the Bounds of Race and Color .................................................................. 8
The Nationality of Lovers ................................................................................................................ 11
There Are No Provinces in Paradise ................................................................................................ 18
Language and Color: Two great signs of the power of Allah ............................................................ 19
Prejudice: A sign of KUFR .............................................................................................................. 21
2
Compilers Note
Today, just like non-Muslims, Muslims all over the world, have become prey to disunity and dissension on the
basis of ethnic, provincial and racial bigotry, which is totally in conflict with the teachings of the Quraan and
Hadith. In an effort towards remedying this illness, some selected discourses from various books of Shaikh-ul-
Arab wal Ajam, Arifbillah Hazrat Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Daamat barakaatuhum),
are being published in the present booklet titled: The remedy to the evil disease of Racism and Prejudice
In view of the present situation, please publish and distribute this booklet amongst the populace as much as you
can, so that discrimination and hatred be removed and mutual love be created.
,. ,_ , < : _
_._,, . ,,
Love announced this declaration in both the worlds
...- , _ .. .-.
That whomever the Lover Himself has chosen, he alone shall remember the Beloved
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Only the one whom Allah has bestowed the good fortune of granting him His love will become the Lover of
Allah.
Only the one, whom Allah loves, shall love Allah. These are truly fortunate people and they are very lucky.
Kings do not even experience such good fortune. Speaking of kings: if there is such a king who is unmindful and
heedless of Allah then he will experience nothing but grief & worries through his kingship. There will be a
crown on his head but the crown will give him nothing but a headache.
, ,. ; .. . . . ,. .
_
Due to the heavy crowns on the heads of kings, their heads are always aching,
, ; .. :.- . -: .
But in the hearts of the people of purity, there is a river of light always flowing.
The people of Allah always have a river of effulgence and brilliance flowing forth from their hearts, whereas
kings and rulers are always experiencing headaches and worries due to the pressure of their opposition.
The crown is upon their heads and they are sitting upon their royal throne and from behind this imperial scene,
there is fierce opposition at all times due to which their hearts are constantly in worry and uneasiness.
The Nationality of Lovers
9th Ramadhan, 1418
In correspondence with
8th January 1998
Thursday after Fajr
In the midst of his lecture on the Mathnawi, Hazrat wala (damat barakatuhum) commented:
Allah Ta`ala revealed in the verse
- , , , , , , ,
"He will love them, and they will love Him..."
By this Allah Ta`ala is telling us that He loves His lovers and they love Him, but:
= | , - -, - _- - , - _ - = ; ` . , , , _ -, - . = , , , ,, _ . ,, , , , , -, |
"Allah preceded the mention of His love over the love of His slaves, so that they come to know that they only
love Him due to the Divine favor of His love for them."
. ., .- ,
That whomever the Lover Himself has chosen, he alone shall remember the Beloved
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The verse mentioned above was revealed in contrast to those who abandon Islam and in contrast to those who
are disloyal, who have no love for Allah. These were not people of love, therefore We(Allah Ta'ala) will bring
such a people in their place whom I shall love and who shall love Me.
Therefore, it is known that the existence of the lovers is dependent on the manifestation of the verse ... - _-', ,-
"Soon Allah shall bring...
This succession will continue until the Day of Judgment. Hence, if you see anyone who is in love with Allah, in
these times, or one who is in love with a lover of Allah, then know that he is actually one of the manifestations of
that verse.
Who is this ,... this one group of people? Allah Ta`ala has made His lovers, one people.
We are all one people, even though some are Punjabi, others Bengali, others Indian, others Persian, others Arab,
or any of the thousands of nationalities; still we are but one people.
From this, we have understood that our "nationality" is not made up of countries, colors, race, languages or
tribes; rather our nationality is recognized through the love of Allah.
There are many lovers of Allah in this world; however, they are all one nation. If they were different, then Allah
Ta`ala would have revealed
;,||, = _ | , =, .
"Allah will soon bring many nations..."
Allah Ta'ala did not reveal the word NATION ( , ) in the plural, rather it was revealed in the singular ( , one
nation, one people) so that it is known that Allah's lovers are considered one people.
Whosoever is a lover of Allah, they are included in this nationality. And he who does not love Allah, then he is
not of this nation, even though he might be from the same country as us, be in the same family as us, or speak
the same language, or live in the same city or neighborhood as us. If he is not a lover of Allah, he is not of us.
Our nation consists of Allah's lovers.
This nationality has two parts to it:
One part is that Allah loves them, and the second part is that they love Allah. This is that nation which Allah has
chosen and brought. America, Britain, and all the nations of the world can never understand these types of
people for whom color and race has no significance.
Their nationalities are dependent upon color, race, language, and country. The result of which is hatred and
animosity.
Only the Almighty Creator can truly know what "nationality" is. Only that nationality which had been
determined by the Creator can truly be reliable. Should we rely on the "nationality" granted to us by our
Almighty Creator or those divisions created by the disbelievers? The distinguishing characteristic of this nation
is not lineage, language, or country, rather the distinguishing characteristic is -,,- ,,,- (He loves them and they
love Him).
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Allah Ta'ala revealed +-=, first... that He loves them... the word "them" is ambiguous indicating that they are not
specified. Because revelation has now come to a stop and Hazrat Jibrail (alaihis salaam) is not descending for
revelation, we cannot say who specifically is being loved. The love of Allah for someone is hidden and cannot be
known for sure. So how can we gauge, what proof do we have that Allah loves someone? The love of Allah can
be gauged through the love and sacrifice of His slaves for Him because the love that His slaves have for him is
clear and manifest.
... . _
_
My love is apparent but the Beloved is hidden from sight...
Our love is manifested in making ablution, prostrating before Him, fasting and remaining hungry for Him,
making Hajj for Him, sacrificing life and limb for Him. All these actions are manifestations of our love for Him,
while He, the Beloved is hidden from physical sight in this world.
. . . .
.
_
-
In both this world & the next, has anyone seen such a Beloved as this one?
Show me such a beloved in both worlds for whose sake 70 people became martyred in one day. Such as those 70
companions of Rasulullah (salellaho alaihe wasallam) who are resting at the foot of Mount Uhud in Madina
Munawwarah.
Even until this day, there are people who are manifesting their love for the Almighty Beloved.
O people of the world! How shall you know that Allah loves them? Revelation has ended and no more news can
come from the unseen? The answer to this question lies in the verse itself. Those who love Allah are actually the
ones who Allah Ta`ala loves.
Anyone who loves Him and is manifesting his love for the Beloved, then this only happens due to the
overflowing Divine favor and beneficence of His love for him or her.
Allah Ta'ala revealed -,,- ,,,- in the present and future tense to indicate to the fact that His lovers will remain
loyal to Him in the present time and in the future.
We can also deduce from this very verse the benefit of accompanying the lovers of Allah. By adopting their
company, one will be granted everlasting loyalty and perpetual devotion to Allah.
The revelation of this verse is actually a guarantee of an increase of love and special bond for the lovers of Allah
all around the world. The reason for this is that when it is known that we are all one people and one nation, then
automatically a person is going to have a special love for the people of his nation. Those children who come to
know that they are from the same father, the love amongst them increase. In addition, those who have a weak
relationship with their father, then those children tend to argue and dispute more.
Similarly those who are deprived of Allah's love and have a weak relationship with their Creator, they clash with
their fellow creation.
As for the lovers of Allah, they know that they are actually one people, one body, one soul, and that Allah loves
them; this love overwhelms their body and souls.
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Through this sense of unified "nationality", love is automatically increased in their hearts.
In any part of the world, if you happen to meet a man of Allah (a true and sincere lover of Allah) then you really
feel love in your heart for him. It is for this reason that one never sees any disputes amongst Allah's lovers.
Because when lovers come together they become ecstatic, they do not fight and argue.
They are the individual manifestation of the verse:
; , , = _ |, = , .
"Allah will soon bring such a people..."
:.::.. , -
. ..., -
. :.. : ,.
I was looking all over for you O love!
I am carrying a broken heart which is suitable for you.
There will be an announcement on the Day of Judgment ., ,' , where are those who love each other for
My sake?! They did not speak the same language, neither were they from the same area, nor did they share the
same nationality, neither were they from the same family, but they loved each other for My sake. Now, let all of
those people be admitted to the shade of My Majestic Throne!
Thus, it is understood that those who love each other for the sake of Allah, they will be honored with being in
the shade of Allah's Majestic Throne, and neither will they have to go through any questioning.
Language and Color: Two great signs of the power of Allah
11th Muharram 1421
In accordance with
16th April 2000
Sunday after Maghrib
Just today, Allah Ta`ala inspired me with great knowledge. To look down upon any language from the heart or
to express any hatred through the tongue is an act which may lead to kufr.
On the same note, once in Thana Bhawan, Hazrat Thanwi (may Allah have mercy upon him) read the letter of
someone who came from Bangladesh in which the person wrote:
. .: , ., ,
I have the habit of laughing a lot; please give me the remedy for this..."
[Note: Because Urdu is not the mother tongue of the people of Bangladesh, he had written this statement in a distorted and
ineloquent manner that exposed the writer's being foreign and unacquainted with the language.]
This prompted someone from Hazrat's majlis to comment:
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"Sounds like its a Bengali to me!"
Hazrat Thanwi (rahmatullah alaihe) immediately retorted:
"From this statement of yours, I sense the stench of Tahqeer, as if you are trying to degrade or look down upon
the people of Bangladesh. Therefore immediately go and renew your faith by rereading the kalima over again
and perform two rakaats prayer of repentance."
So the reason it is forbidden to look down upon anyone's language is because Allah Ta`ala has said:
, , | , . | = - _ | =, .| - - , -
"And from His signs are the differences of your languages and colors..."
These differences in language are actually a means of the recognition of Allah Ta`ala.
I was in the African country of Malawi and one early morning, there was a dog barking. I said to my friends
there, that because Allah Ta`ala has not created the animals for the attainment of His recognition, thus the
language of animals throughout the world is one. Whether the dog is from Pakistan, Africa, U.S, or U.K, then
regardless of where it is from it is going to make a barking sound. And regardless of where the cat is from, it will
say "MEOW."
But the languages of mankind is different because He has created them as a manifestation of His signs and for
the noble objective of His recognition.
In order for humankind to recognize the power of Allah in the various languages He has created. Thus looking
down upon someone's language or skin color, one is in danger of losing one's Imaan.
Someone looked at a dwarf and started to laugh, so the dwarf said to him, "Are you laughing at the pot, or the
potter?" To laugh at the utensil is actually to laugh at the utensil-maker. To ridicule the object someone has made
is tantamount to ridiculing the maker of that object.
The above-mentioned incident of the reviver of his time, Hakim ul Ummah (rahmatullah alaihe) supplemented
to the above-mentioned verse, supports my view. Regardless of a person's race or language, every human being
has the potential to become the friend of Allah.
If he embraces Islam and continues to fear Allah (by abstinence from all sins) then he has become a friend of
Allah. It is not permissible to look down on such an individual. Unfortunately, Shaytaan puts hatred & contempt
in the heart for other languages in such a way that a person does not even perceive it. One should particularly be
aware of this fact and not allow the hatred of anyone creep into the heart. Maulana Shah Muhammad Ahmad
Sahib (rahmatullah alaihe) says:
,.. -. _ , ,-.
;. , . , _. : '. _
Neither should anyone find a way, nor should any stranger come near,
O Ahmad, always be watchful over the Harem of the heart.
15
Prejudice: A sign of KUFR
24th Jumada al-Thani 1424
In accordance to
23rd August 2003
Saturday, after Zuhr
[After the lecture] Hazrat wala (may Allah preserve him) told Maulana Abdul Matin to translate it in the Bangla
language. Fifteen guests from Bangladesh were present in the gathering and they had the good fortune of
performing Umrah with Hazrat.
After the translation, Hazrat said, See? Didn't everyone enjoy listening to the Bangla language? Why is that? It
is because there is true faith in your hearts. If there was prejudice and evil desires in our hearts, then we would
not have enjoyed listening to this foreign language. This is why my friends have so much love amongst each
other. We are one nation. Rasulullah (salellaho alaihe wasallam) is the Prophet for people of all languages.
Whether they may be Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, British, African, or American, Rasulullah (salellaho alaihe
wasallam) is the Prophet for all of them. This is why we are one nation; because our Prophet is one. When our
Lord is one and our Prophet is one, then we as a people are also one. It is for this very reason Allah Ta`ala has
referred to us as one nation.
- ,, , , , , , ; , , = _ |, = , . - , . - , - = , -
Anyone amongst you who turns his back to Islam, then Allah will bring a nation whom Allah will love, and
they will love Allah.
Allah Taala revealed , (one people) not , (many different people). From this, we understand that the lovers
of Allah are all one nation. Whether they are black or white, Arab or non-Arab, whether they speak English or
Arabic or Bangla or Urdu or whatever language; if they love Allah, then they are all one people and one nation.
Therefore, due to the differences in language & color, to think oneself inferior or superior is an act of kufr.
Just imagine if Rasulullah (salellaho alaihe wasallam) were to be present now then he would obviously be
speaking Arabic. Nevertheless, he would have a translator in every language to convey his message. His
message would be conveyed in every language. Therefore, every language is our language.
Likewise, a scholar of religion needs to be knowledgeable in various languages in order to teach and convey the
message of Islam; therefore, do not look down upon any language. Looking down upon any language has the
stench of kufr in it.
Allah Ta'ala has declared every language to be one of His signs:
, , | , . | = - _ | =, .| - - , -
And from amongst His signs, is the differences in your languages and colors.
To hate or look down upon a majestic sign of Allah is actually nothing but kufr. Hatred for others because of
language and color is an act of disbelief.
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All languages are a sign of Allah's power. This is why it is KUFR to think low of a sign of Allah or to degrade it
or consider it inferior.
Regardless of what language it is; whether it is English, Persian, Arabic, Bangali, Urdu, or Pashto, all are signs of
Allah's power and greatness. To consider any sign of Allah as contemptible is kufr.
Prejudice, nationalism, and sectarianism; saying 'so and so' is from there and 'so and so' is from such and such
place, therefore he is better, these are all signs of kufr and a sign of being deprived of Paradise.
Those people who are headed towards paradise are pure from prejudices because in Paradise there are no
differences of language and color. There are no provinces or districts in Paradise. Everyone's language will be
Arabic there. If someone argues that he does not know Arabic because he never learned it, then to him we would
say that in the Hereafter, Allah Ta`ala will inspire all people with the understanding of that blessed language.
Allah Himself will inspire us and show us the way to enjoy the bounties and pleasures of Paradise because those
bounties will be such that:
= , . | _ - = - | . - = . . | = | _ ` , - | -
"No eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no heart has ever imagined" (Bukhari vol.1, pg. 460)
In spite of all this, when Allah Ta`ala bestows upon humankind the favor of looking upon His majestic
countenance in Paradise, then no one will remember anything. They will be in such ecstasy in enjoying Allah's
countenance that they will not even remember Paradise, or its location, or its beautiful damsels.
Dua
Through the blessings of the Sacred Kaabah may Allah Ta`ala grant us the good fortune of becoming people of
Paradise, and entering therein a "first" entering.
May Allah save us from entering Paradise after being punished in the Hell-fire. May He protect us from the evil
deeds of the people of the fire. May He pardon our shortcomings, wrongdoings, and unworthiness.
Without deserving it, may Allah Ta'ala out of His sheer mercy & grace grant us the highest stages of Paradise.
May Allah grant this to us, our children, our families, our friends, who are not present here with us at this
moment, and may Allah accept this prayer of mine on behalf of all the Muslims in the world.
May Allah grant faith to all the non-believers in the entire world and make them complete and perfect believers.
O Allah! Have mercy upon the entire world!
O Allah! Have mercy upon the fish in the sea and the animals in the jungles and upon the birds in the sky.
Shower your torrential rains of mercy upon the entire world!
_>| ,-_| , c>, _-< -,= -| == -- _- _- _- = _=
And may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon the best of creation, Muhammad, and upon his family and his
companions.
By Your mercy, Oh The Most Merciful of those who show mercy.
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