#MissionInspire1Million

Let me share with you all a story that I heard a long while ago…

A wise old man had a dream. He wanders into a grave yard one dark night and is startled to see lot of people searching desperately for something amidst the graves. He asks them- “What are you searching for ?”. Without even halting for a moment, one of them shouts back – “We are searching for all the invocations the visitors to this place have made on our behalf. We are being punished for all our bad deeds and these prayers offer us some respite ”. As the wise man stood transfixed, he was also surprised to see one of them sitting comfortably on his grave, doing nothing. “And , why aren’t you searching ?”, asks the wise man. “I have a pious son who prayers for me regularly. That gives me all the respite I need”, he replies proudly.

The wise man gets the same dream, the next night. And this time, he sees that the one who was sitting idly is searching more desperately than everyone else. “What happened. Why are you searching as well ?”, he enquires. “My son died a few days back. There is no one to pray for me now and I need these tidbits to save me”, replies the dead man.

Couple of humble pointers…

Let us make it a point to pray for all our near and dear ones who have moved on. This costs us nothing. But it may help a lot of souls who are paying heavy prices for their irresponsible actions. We can do much more good to these deceased souls now, than what we could have ever done when they were alive. So let’s not miss this opportunity.

Let us also ask ourselves the very important question- “Who will pray for us when we die ?”

If we are all dashing through life merely pursuing material goals – My job, my house, my savings, my family, then we may just end up being dead, buried and forgotten. Abraham Maslow, the famous American psychologist deemed Physiological , Security, Social and Esteem needs as Animal needs. Because every dog, bull, weasel and man has it. They are the most basic needs that one gets by default. But a rare few rise above these needs and acquire a higher need- The noble need for Self Actualization. They realize that they are not in this world to merely begin, beget and be gone. They believe that they are here to serve a particular purpose- of making a difference in the lives of the millions around them. Their love extend beyond familial boundaries and they find happiness and contentment in serving people who may never even know them. And they do it merely for fulfilling their purpose. They care little for appreciation or recognition. For them, the very purpose of life is a life of purpose.

I have friends here who spend their free time, collecting money for charity. There are some who frequently visit labor camps to help people who have been abandoned by their sponsors. There are some who relentless seek out patients who need aid and serve them. Another lot spends weekends educating fellow beings. Some of them mentor poor students. I also have lot of friends and relatives who spend all their weekends sleeping, watching TV and shopping. It is crystal clear as to who has transcended the wall that stands between Animal and higher needs…. And it is obvious as to who will be more remembered, mourned and prayed for…..

It’s the same wall in both cases.

A study done at a California University has proven that people who volunteer for community service suffer fewer heart attacks . Their recover more quickly than others from illnesses. They get ahead in life faster and they enjoy more self esteem than others. This has led the university to coin the phrase… Only Givers Get.

So as the week end is approaching, let us all ask ourselves these questions, before we plan our activities.

What difference can we make (however small it may be) to someone this week end?

What is the true purpose of our life ?

AND

Who will pray for us when we die ?

Clockwise from the left…

Mary, the mother of Jesus
Devotees in a place of worship in Indonesia
A Britisher
A Sardarni
The actress who played Devi Sita in the hit serial Ramayan
A Roman Goddess

One of these women is hopelessly oppressed….Please pick that odd one out

He who knows not that he knows not is a fool- Leave him
He who knows that he knows not is ignorant- Teach him
He who knows not that he knows is asleep- Wake him
He who knows and knows that he knows is a leader- Follow him

With all due respect to the above four lines from the Arabian nights, I would like to add a fifth one…

He who knows and acts as if he knows not is a %$&^*, &@#% him

This is exactly what I feel about most of my fellow beings that I come across in the plethora of online debates and discussions that are currently being raged about the proposed Quran burning stunt.

“The Quran preaches violence, it exhorts Muslims to kill Jews and Christians, it urges Muslims to kill disbelievers”.

It’s amazing how sane adults dare to make such blatantly uninformed comments. Lots have been said about this subject before and one can find scholarly articles and discourses on the same everywhere. Just go to Google or YouTube and type “Quran + Violence” and voila…. You will find hundreds of links that give you the right information. Just make sure that you choose to listen and internalize information from Muslim scholars. Do not choose to accept distorted propaganda material from sources with vested interests. Here are a few good sources.

Website

Video

People have to realize that the Quran was revealed over a period of 23 years and verses were revealed to address particular situations in Islamic history. Taking the verses literally without understanding their historic context and arguing that they are applicable today is totally against the way the holy book has to be read and understood and followed.

Let’s look at one example. The below verse is used frequently to argue that god has commanded Muslims to kill non believers.

“And slay them wherever ye catch them..” (2:191)

Anyone who can understand English will enjoy paradigm shifts if they read these verses in their textual and historical context. One should read the whole verse along with a few verses before and after.

“Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors. And kill them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, kill them. Such is the reward of those who reject faith. But if they cease, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression. The prohibited month, for the prohibited month, and so for all things prohibited, there is the law of equality. If then any one transgresses the prohibition against you, transgress ye likewise against him. But fear Allah, and know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves.” (al-Baqarah 2:190-194)

For 13 long years, Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) and his followers endured severe persecution in Makkah. Believers were tortured and killed in hundreds. But they were forbidden by god to fight back. They were advised to patiently endure all suffering instead. Finally the prophet and his followers left their home town and migrated to another land. The disbelievers of Makkah repeatedly attacked them. Many Muslims were ruthlessly killed. Though Makkah welcomed pilgrims from all over the world, Muslims were not allowed to visit the Kabah for worship. During these days of hardship and unfair persecution , the Muslims worked out a peace treaty with the disbelievers. Though the terms of the treaty were totally one sided and unfair, the Muslims abided with the same. Then the disbelievers unilaterally broke the terms of the treaty and attacked the believers. These verses were revealed following this transgression. Through these verses, god gave the Muslims permission to defend themselves . It is also important to note that the verses mention the sacred mosque. This refers to the pilgrimage that the Muslims wanted to make. It was forbidden to bear arms or fight when one was on a pilgrimage. But knowing the intentions of the disbelievers, Muslims were permitted to fight back (only) and kill opponents to avoid being killed themselves. It clearly refers to a situation of mortal combat. One may say using contemporary jargon that there were constant terrorist attacks on Madinah and in this situation Muslims were given permission to fight back the “terrorists”. These verses are not a permission for “terrorize” but they are a warning against the “terrorists.” But even in these warnings you can see how much restraint and care is emphasized. Though permission to fight back is given, there are about 5 instances in the same verse where believers are cautioned against transgression.

It is important that we study the religious texts in their proper context. When these texts are not read in their proper textual and historical contexts they are manipulated and distorted. It is true that some Muslims manipulate these verses for their own goals. But this is not only with Islamic texts, it is also true with the texts of other religions. One can quote dozens of verses from the Bible which seem very violent, if taken out from their historical context. These Biblical texts have been used by many violent Jewish and Christian groups. Crusaders used them against Muslims and Jews. Nazis used them against Jews. Recently Serbian Christians used them against Bosnian Muslims. Zionists are using them regularly against Palestinians.

“When the LORD your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and stronger than you. And when the LORD your God delivers them before you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. (Deutronomy 7:1-2)

Even in the New Testament we read the following statement attributed to Jesus saying to his disciples:

“I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence. (Luke 19:26-27)

My dear fellow beings…. Please don’t flaunt your ignorance so openly by quoting verses out of context. READ….. UNDERSTAND and then make INFORMED COMMENTS.

1+ 1 = 2. Please spare us from the torture of being preached and taught otherwise.

As usual, I was late for the Friday prayer. The Imam was half way into the first phase as I reached the spot, sweating and panting. The rows of congregation had flowed on to the streets and I had to be satisfied with a humble spot in the last row. As I was about to spread the prayer mat, I saw two strangers waiting in anticipation. I took my position on the mat and invited one of them to join me. He gratefully followed. I was immediately joined on my left side by another stranger who spread his mat and did what I did. So all four of us stood together on two mats and started praying.

Though it was an exercise in agility and flexibility, we narrowed and timed ourselves rhythmically to prevent two believers from getting their feet burnt under the scorching sun.

I am wondering. Would these four strangers have been so accommodative if our meeting place was a cash counter in a grocery store? Or a parking lot? Would we have competed with one another to give and share and feel extremely good and honoured about it?

Why do we becomes champions of WIN-WIN policies at places of worship and enforcers of WIN-LOSE policies everywhere else, even when we know for sure that the good lord is seeing us everywhere and rewarding us for good deeds irrespective of place and time?.

Why do we deny ourselves of that wonderful feeling of contentment and peace that is so easily attainable?

I was watching the movie Brave heart on TV, last night. Must have watched it a million times before. But it never fails to remind us of some very simple facts. That whenever man has stood up with courage and resolve against injustice and tyranny, brute ruthless and seemingly invincible forces have crumbled and made way.

The book of history resting on the mantelpiece of time has a page on this on every single chapter. Wallace, Gandhi, Mandela……

Today is the anniversary of one such lesson. 1400 years ago a group of ill fed and poorly armed believers stood up to face a far superior army on the desert lands of Badr. The superior side was fighting for power, supremacy and ugly dominion. And their opponents for the right to live with honor. Thousands against hundreds. Cavalry against foot soldiers.

If not in blood, at least in faith I am one of the proud descendents of that outmatched army, who on the 17th of Ramadan proved it yet again that truth and truth alone triumphs…

So let us all continue to read and watch with lumps in our throat and then apathetically change the channels and stuff newspapers down the throats of garbage chutes. Till somewhere someday someone will stumble upon this age old truth and brush it up again for all to see.

On which side of the battle lines must we be found on that fateful day?
Will our grand children remember us as pathetic losers or righteous leaders?