Do Not Hate Hindus

Dars-e-Quran by Maulana Rizwan Pasha Quadri at Masjid-e-Shujath, Tolichowki, Hyderabad
Published in Muslim Murasu, October 2011

Surah 3, Ala Imran, verse 28. “Let not the beleivers take for friends unbelievers”. In another verse it comes as “Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends. They are friends to each other”.
The message of this verse is not to hate followers of other religions. In India, we stay in close touch with Hindus for business, occupation and other personal reasons. Friendship is different, leaving hatred is different.
We should not subscribe to false beliefs, irrational traditions and superstitious customs of other religions. We should not harbor hatred towards human beings. We need cordial relation and support of Hindus. But we should steer clear of the mindless traditions that are prevalent in the society.
Islam does not preach hatred towards Kafirs (unbelievers). This will close doors of Dawah, inviting others to Islam. First condition to invite someone to our house is to love and care for them from our hearts. Do not abuse or insult Hindus. Then they will start hating Islam and Muslims.
Some Muslims, particularly those working in IT industry, are marrying Hindu girls. There is a limit to friendship. We can take part in festival celebrations of Hindus. We can invite them to our homes and host them.
You can carefully consider your situation and experience and follow this verse in good spirit.
Verse continues. If your life or property is in danger, then you have permission. For Allah, it is enough that you have Imaan (faith) in your heart. If you are forced to commit Kufr (blasphemy), you won’t be held accountable for it.
“Whether ye hide what is in your hearts or reveal it, God knows it all”. Allah knows all too well about those who loathe religion. Imaan is to acknowledge God both in heart and express it through tongue. But God knows the currents in your heart. Nothing is hidden from him. No leaf falls from any tree without His permission. He is the One who answers every prayer and fulfills every aspiration. He listens to the calls by animals also. He understands them as well.
Prophet tells us that each Amal (deed) will be given form and shape on the Judgement day. For those who recite Quran, Quran will come in human form and plead for their forgiveness. For those who deny Jakath (stipulated charity), their unlawful wealth will come in serpent form and traumatise them. The shapes of good deeds will be pleasing and heartening. Bad deeds will take terrorising shapes that the owners of those deeds will wish there were a great distance between them and their evil.
Verse continues. Allah cautions men with His Nafs (Himself). Allah warns with His anger and grip. But extreme fear of God is not needed. “God is full of kindness to those who serve Him”. Rauf – Kind.
Imaan is the center point between fear and hope. Both Kauf (fear) and Ummeed (hope) are necessary. Umar (rali) explained this as – If there is announcement that everyone will enter paradise, one will go to hell, I will fear if that person is me. If there is announcement that everyone will go to hell, one will enter paradise, I will hope it is me. This is how Umar (rali) reconciled fear of God and faith in God’s mercy. Kamil Imaan (complete faith) is to establish these two feelings simultaneously in heart. Scholars are of the opinion that one should have more fear in young days. And one should have more hope in the elderly days. Otherwise too much fear can cause diseases like heart attack and blood pressure.
Next verse illustrates exemplary character of the Prophet. People loving God should follow the Prophet. ‘Ithiba’ means to emulate someone completely out of love without caring for loss or gain. Companions of our Prophet were herding cattle and were neck deep in ignorance and folly. But when they followed the Prophet, all success, power and respect on earth greeted them.
There is only one way to success. Follow Prophet as it is without asking for explanations and reasons. Do not search lame excuses for not doing so. You will keep getting hundreds of excuses.
God not only loves Prophet. God loves everything that reflects or resembles Prophet. Allah does not care about the caste, clan, economy, nation, race or language of those following our Prophet. Those who follow Prophet’s footsteps will receive high respect and honor. All those who have reached great heights in this world will be people emulating Prophet.
Muhaideen Abdul Khader Jilani is very venerated noble Auliyah. A person stayed with him for forty days and then decided to take his leave. His complaint was that he did not see any Karamath (miracle). Ghousul Azam Dasthageer explained, “I follow each Sunnath of Prophet. This is my greatest Karamath”.
Quran does not command ‘Ithiba’ to God. We can follow only whom we can see. Allah is pure from eating, earning or sleeping. We cannot follow Allah. If we sleep like Prophet, we get rest and we will get Sawab (reward) as well. People practicing Prophet’s Sunnath are goind down in number these days. A person practicing one Sunnath will get reward equivalent to 100 Shaheed (martyr).
Intention should not be to reap benefits in this world. Let us rise above this and love Prophet. Verse continues, as “God will forgive your sins”.
Ithiba can be for three reasons – desire, fear and love. If we desire paradise, we will follow until paradise is in front of your eyes. Once paradise is out of focus, we will wobble and stagger. If we follow because of fear, it will be problem once fear wanes.
We should follow Prophet out of boundless love for his noble character and lofty ideals. When we follow Prophet out of love, we will seek him more and attain good qualities.
A person tells us to drink water. Another person drinks water in front of us. ‘IthaAth’ is to follow what is commanded. ‘Ithiba’ is to follow what we see. IthaAth pertains to commands. Ithiba is related to love and affection. Quran preaches both.
Some Muslims are not following Sunnath owing to situation, circumstance. But some consider following Sunnath as disgrace and argue that they are not suitable. Verse 32 categorises them as Kafirs.