The scholars of our glorious past were not just the fountainheads of knowledge and wisdom but were also pioneers of concord!
In the days of Deobandi scholar Molana Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi, a few of his students were conversing with each other. One of them expressed a will to offer prayers behind a particular cleric known for better Quranic recitation. Other students disapprove of his decision, as according to them, the cleric was a prominent critic of Molana Nanotwi and would consider him guilty of heresy. Molana Nanotwi became aware of this conversation.
He was perturbed, and the next morning he visited the cleric, his faultfinder and belittler, joined him in congregational dawn prayers along with his devotees, and said prayers behind him. After completing dawn prayers, they stayed in the mosque for hours. People unfamiliar with them were somehow surprised by this tiny group Molana Nanotwi was part of. Its presence in the mosque set the tongues wagging. The cleric sought to confirm the group’s whereabouts.
Cleric inquires about the group—where are these people from, what is the purpose of their visit, etc.?
Molana Qasim Nanotwi unhesitatingly introduced himself, leaving the cleric astounded. A wave of shock touched the cleric’s face. He felt a lump in his throat. Then, in a low voice, he asked, ‘did you really pray in our mosque and, moreover, under my leadership? Molana Nanotwi replied in the affirmative. ‘I am a known critic of yours. Even I have been calling you a disbeliever. I would dissuade people from joining your sermons, gatherings, and company,” the disoriented cleric said.
Molana Nanotwi responded with the deep acumen he was known for, punctuating each word, and said, “You were told that I am blasphemer of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and you made it point to heap criticism on me. In a sense, you were right in slagging me off. It is a testament to the strength and intensity of your faith. I salute you for that”. However, before adopting such an attitude and hardening your stance to such a level, if you had verified the veracity of what you had been fed with, it would have been fair enough.
He further said that, in reality, we also believe that one who speaks against Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaho Alihi Wasallam) can’t be faithful. Prophet Muhammad’s (Sallallaho Alihi Wasallam) reverence is an acid test of our imaan. Still, if you don’t trust me, be a witness. I am refreshing my belief, and with this, Molana Qasim Nanotwi said ‘Shahadah’ and recited the creed, “There is no God but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God”. Am I Muslim now? He asked the cleric. Do you accept me as a believer now?
All this had a huge sway over the cleric’s heart and mind. He begged for pardon and changed his viewpoint forever.
This was the way of our predecessors to diffuse tense situations, end controversies, and create an environment of peace, tranquility, and mutual respect. And this was the main reason why Ummah was not as divided as it is today.
Ganwa Di Hum Ne Jo Aslaf Se Meeras Payi Thi
Surreya Se Zameen Par Asman Ne Hum Ko De Mara
(We have despoiled the inheritance that we won from our fathers.
The heavens from the zenith have dashed us down)- Allama Iqbal
The writer is an educator, columnist, and co-author of book “#55: Stories”.
