Last Sunday when I was working in my office, an young lad came to see me. He was bubbling with enthusiasm, vigour and passion. His face showed it all. "I've applied for the Rukunniyat - membership of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. I hope that I would join the Iyakkam - movement formally by the end of the year." I looked at him intently and tried to find something which was missing.
Then I narrated him the story of the black belt. It was a story which should be told million times. The story goes like this:
Once there was a martial artist. He got trained in Karate from a guru. After many years of rigorous training and practise , he approached his guru with a fond hope that the Guru would award him a Black Belt. But he was told that he had to pass one more test.
"What is the significance of the Black Belt?" asked the Guru. "If you can answer this question correctly, I shall give you the Black Belt."
The young martial artist smiled confidently and replied. "It's the reward for my hard work!"
To his surprise, the Guru shook his head disapprovingly and said, "You are not ready for the Black Belt. You may return after one year."
A year later, the martial artist approached his Guru. Guru asked the same question. Though the artist was puzzled, he answered, "It's a symbol of distinction..... the highest achievement in our art"
The Guru didn't give him the Black Belt. He told him to come with the correct answer next year.
The following year the young artist returned to the Guru. As usual the Guru asked, "Have you understood the importance of the Black Belt?"
"Yes, Master," replied the artist. "I've realized that it is not the end but the beginning of a never-ending journey of discipline, hardwork and the pursuit of excellence"
"Here's your Black Belt" said the Guru, smiling happily. "You have finally understood its true significance."
Similar is the case of Rukunniyat - membership in the Jamaat. Rukunniyat is not an honour. It is the beginning of a never-ending journey of discipline, hardwork, commitment and the pursuit of excellence. Similarly the responsibilities of Ameer-e-Muqami, Nazim-e-Ilaqa, Ameer-e-Halqa are not symbol of honour. Rather they are the beginning of a never-ending journey of discipline, hardwork and the pursuit of excellence.
That is the reason, why posts, offices are not celebrated in the Jamaat circles. I distinctly remember the day when Mr X broke and started crying profusely when he was informed that he was the one who was chosen for the job. Our history is replete with full of such instances. Moulana Naeem Siddiqui in his "Tahreek-e-Islami ki ibtitaayi daur" has grasped the spirit more vividly.
Tail piece : Have you noticed it? The Khair-e-Ummah thought is being put forward by everybody. Tablighi people, Tariqa parties, Muslim leaguers and everybody quote the verse and declare tha the Muslim Ummah is the Khair-e-Ummah. Nobody talks about the tag attached to it. The immense responsibility of enjoining virtues and forbidding evils. Does the message of the black belt story fit here?
Also read : Mutton, eggs and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind!
: A memorable evening with Moulana Farooq Khan Sahib!
