Unnecessary Anti-government Stand

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan speech
Published in Muslim Murasu, September 2012

Sahabas belonged to seventh century. Muhaddiseen, who collected Prophet’s Hadees, belonged to eighth century. These two groups have historical importance in Islam.
Surah Tauba, 9, verse 100, ‘minal muhajireena val ansari wallazina tabawuhum’. Allah is pleased with Muhajirs, Ansars and those who followed them. ‘wallazina tabawuhum bi ihsan’, refers to Muhaddiseen. Prophet’s position is authentic. After Prophet, two groups can be considered role models, not at individual level, but as a group – Sahabas and Tabiyeen. Individuals as role models will keep coming till the last day. Sahabas, Prophet’s companions, focused on Quran. They were called Mukri. It was a time before printing press. They memorized Quran and recited to others. Quran was compiled during Prophet’s time. Mission of Sahabas was to preach it. Hard work of Muhaddiseen gave us compilation of Hadees, words, actions and history of Prophet.
Period of Sahabas was Daur-e-Dawath (period of missionary work). Muhaddiseen period was Daur-e-Huqumath (governance, administration). Sahabas provide us a role model to function in the period of Dawath. Muhaddiseen provide guidance to function under administrative rule.
There is a prayer in last verse of Surah Baqara. ‘rabbana wala tahmil alaina isran kamaa hamaltahu alallajina min kablina’. ‘Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like thou didst lay on those before us’. Earlier Ummats (communities) functioned under a period of heavy restrictions, a period devoid of religious freedom. Surah Buruj, 85, verse 8 – ‘wamaa nakamu minhum illa anyuminu billah’. They were punished just because they had faith in God. State’s religion was the only permitted religion in those days. Other faiths will be crushed. Missionary work was very treacherous in such situation. Prayer of Sahabas was to end this anti-religion era and to foster pro-religion era. Surah Alaq, 96, verse 9 – ‘ara aitallazi yanha abdan iza salla’. Did you see one who forbids prayer. Accepting Tawheed (creed of one God) was difficult at that time. Accepting other religion was considered treason and conspiring against the state. Sahabas prayed for this torturous period to end. Allah accepted their prayer. Changes started appearing. No change in history can come suddenly. Democracy evolved over a long period of time. Freedom of religion and thought did not arrive in a single day. It took a long time. Allah’s Help comes in the form of means and favorable circumstances. Changes started at that time. Now we breathe air of freedom. We have full liberty.
There is no need for a Dayee (missionary worker) to take anti-government stand in today’s conducive atmosphere. Many books have been published in many languages about Muhaddiseen. Their achievement is not just compiling Hadees. They are role models. Situation in Muslim countries today is same as Abbasiya period of that day. Thousands of Muslims are being killed in Muslim nations. The weakness that we see today, atrocities, excesses, misuse of power prevailed in that period also. But Muhaddiseen did not take confrontational approach. They took Prophet’s wise advice. “Period of rulers will come after me. They will be decadent. They will build lavish palaces. They will crush who oppose them. Don’t clash with them”. “Even if they whip you, even if they loot your property, take your herd and go into forests”. Avoid political interference and do missionary works in whatever way possible. Work in non-political spheres. Muhaddiseen collected and compiled Hadees. They followed the guidance in Hadees. Today as well there is necessity for a literary mission.
Bukhari and Muslim are two very important Hadees books. You can ask for private audience with ruler and express your angst, reservation, opinion and opposition privately. Avoid protests and agitations. They won’t help. If Muhaddiseen had fought with the rulers, we would not have received Hadees compilations. Hadees collection was the need of the hour of that period. They did this remarkable work without meddling with politics. We have got Hadees books only because they stayed away from political opposition and aggression against state. Today is an age of democracy, secularism, communication, science and technology. We have to present Islam in a way others will understand. We have to create literature that caters to the needs of the present generation. There is lack of literary work in the entire Muslim world. Islamic scholars are busy with political opposition.
Those who constantly oppose government have no achievable targets in their minds. Perfect, ideal situation is impossible. Avail existing opportunities and move forward.