The world is not looking for servants,—there are plenty of these,—but for masters, men who form their purposes and then carry them out, let the consequences be what they may.
-Woodrow Wilson
Ya rab Dil -e- Muslim ku woh zinda tamanna deJo Qalb ku garma de aur ruh ku tadpa de
-Allama Iqbal
On one occasion, when Aurangzeb (1618-1707), the last great Mughal emperor of India had just completed his prayers he again raised his hands in supplication, his eyes filling with tears. In this state he continued to pray in silence for a very long time.
All the while, his minister stood by his side.
When the emperor’s supplications finally came to an end, the minister, Sadullah addressed him thus “Your Majesty, the flag of your empire can be seen flying everywhere, right from Kashmir to the Deccan. Is there still some wish in your heart which has been left unfulfilled and because of which you are so grief-stricken?”
Aurangzeb remained silent for a while, then, his voice changed with emotion, he replied, “Sadullah, marde khwaham.” (Sadullah, I need a man.)
Aurangzeb’s plan of action lacked nothing, and he had all the resources necessary for good government. Yet he failed to consolidate the Mughal rule, because he had no worthy successors to shoulder this responsibility.
If Aurangzeb had a team of true, sincere people, the course of history after his reign would have been very different from what it was, and what we see it as today.
The mission of Islam means searching among the crowd - among the multitudes who are loquacious in the name of God, for a man whom fear of God has left speechless.
Amongst those who are in pursuit of the world, it is looking for one who has stopped dead in his tracks for the sake of the Hereafter. Amongst those who revel in the name of God, it seeks those who are fighting for God’s cause. Amongst those who are bent on settling accounts with others, it awaits those souls who know how to reckon with themselves.
Such are the people of whom Islam has the greatest need. It is through such people, and such people alone, that Islam will once again be able to resume its position of intellectual ascendancy and political supremacy.
All the while, his minister stood by his side.
When the emperor’s supplications finally came to an end, the minister, Sadullah addressed him thus “Your Majesty, the flag of your empire can be seen flying everywhere, right from Kashmir to the Deccan. Is there still some wish in your heart which has been left unfulfilled and because of which you are so grief-stricken?”
Aurangzeb remained silent for a while, then, his voice changed with emotion, he replied, “Sadullah, marde khwaham.” (Sadullah, I need a man.)
Aurangzeb’s plan of action lacked nothing, and he had all the resources necessary for good government. Yet he failed to consolidate the Mughal rule, because he had no worthy successors to shoulder this responsibility.
If Aurangzeb had a team of true, sincere people, the course of history after his reign would have been very different from what it was, and what we see it as today.
The mission of Islam means searching among the crowd - among the multitudes who are loquacious in the name of God, for a man whom fear of God has left speechless.
Amongst those who are in pursuit of the world, it is looking for one who has stopped dead in his tracks for the sake of the Hereafter. Amongst those who revel in the name of God, it seeks those who are fighting for God’s cause. Amongst those who are bent on settling accounts with others, it awaits those souls who know how to reckon with themselves.
Such are the people of whom Islam has the greatest need. It is through such people, and such people alone, that Islam will once again be able to resume its position of intellectual ascendancy and political supremacy.
- Moulana Wahiduddin Khan
