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© 2012 AN-NOOR , KwaZulu Natal , South Africa . All Rights Reserved. E&OE.
RACISM
By Moulana Muhammed Patel Saheb (D.B)
And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations In
your languages and your colours: Verily In that are Signs for those who know.
Ye he mera Bilal! Ye he mera Bilal! (This is my Bilal!)
These words were heard many times by this sinful servant from the mubaarak tongue of my Sheikh Aarif Billah Roomi e waqt
Sheikul Arab wal ajam, Hazrat Moulana Shah Hakeem Mohammad Akhtar Saheb (DB). Hazrat loved to have Black Muslim
students or mureeds in his company, because of the love Nabi (SAW) had for Hazrat Bilal (RA) and due to the sacrifice Hazrat Bilal (RA) made after accepting Islam.
Hazrat Wala (DB) also loves people from all parts of the world. Hazrat says that just as Allah (SWT) created us with a mother tongue and gave us a light brown skin colour likewise Allah (SWT)has created others with different mother tongues and skin colours. Subhaanallah.
Hazrat Wala (DB) also tries to learn the various languages of the people from the different countries or cities that he visits so that when he meets them he can make for them dua in their own language. The people get overjoyed to hear Hazrat (DB) making dua for them in their own language.
The true love and shafqat Hazrat (DB) has for the creation of Allah (SWT) can only be seen when one is in the company of Hazrat (DB). Hazrat Wala does not even forget the animals and creatures of Allah (SWT) in his duas. All this is due to Hazrat Wala having extreme ishq and muhabbat (love) for Allah (SWT). Hence Hazrat Wala was given the title of “Aarif Billah” by none other than his own Sheikh Muhiyus Sunnah, Hazrat Maulana Abrarul Haq Saheb (رحمه الله), who himself was a great luminary and a senior Khalifa of Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA).
Hazrat Wala mentions that Allah (SWT) says clearly in his kalaam (the Quraan e Majid):
Verily the Most honoured of you In the sight of Allah is (He who is) the Most righteous of you.
And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).
The most honoured is not the one who dresses the best or has the most wealth, nor is it based on whether one is an Arab or non-Arab. The one who has the greatest taqwa is the best person.”
A Black brother from Sudan was studying at another Madrasah in Karachi. He would come to the Khanqah to visit Hazrat Wala. Hazrat Wala would ask the student to join him in his room for meals. Hazrat would also instruct Janaab Meer Saheb (DB) and this servant to accompany the student so that he does not feel out of place in the Khanqah.
This akhlaaq of Hazrat (DB) won the brother’s heart and also the heart of the people around the globe. (This brother did not know a word of urdu so Hazrat would talk to him in Arabic.) Hazrat (DB) would also make him talk in his mother tongue to the mureeds at the Khanqah. When some of them would laugh at the unfamiliar sounds that he would say while speaking, Hazrat Wala would cry and say “AAH, what enjoyment and lessons I am taking from the different signs of Allah (SWT).”
Hazrat Wala then explained to the gathering that Allah (SWT) gave this brother his language in order for him to be able to communicate with the people of his country. It is also a means of identity for him. Therefore only a foolish and disobedient servant of Allah (SWT) will mock or ridicule the language or colour of any person. Subhanallah. How deep is the thinking of the true lovers of Allah (SWT).
Once while on a visit to Malawi, Hazrat said to the Ulama-e-Kiraam: “Look at the dogs of Malawi, Pakistan or China – all speak the same language” (ie all bark in the same manner) since they were not created for the purpose that man was created for – ie to worship Allah (SWT). This is clearly explained in the Quraan Shareef:
I have only created Jinns and men, that They may serve Me.
Hazrat Wala then mentioned various gems of advice which, together with extracts from other talks on the same topic, were compiled in a booklet titled “The evils of Racism and Prejudice”. Insha Allah this booklet will be serialised in the forthcoming issues of this magazine so that all could benefit.
May Allah (SWT)make this article a means of islaah (spiritual reformation) and salvation for the writer and all others. May He enable us to understand the Aayat of the Quraan Shareef on this topic, as discussed by Hazrat Wala (DB).