Dear Friends,
AOA,
Honestly I was not aware of these issues. Since these
are important matters therefore, I am sending you an
article written by Mr shorish Kashmiri.
Allama Iqbal & Ghulam Ahmed Parwez
on the creeping of Non-Arab (Ajami) ideas into Islam
By Agha Shorish Kashmiri
[While reading the January 2006 issue of Tolu-E-Islam,
I came across a review of the Late Shorish Kashmiri,
Editor of the weekly Chattan-Lahore, on the
well-known book of Mr. Ghulam Ahmed Parwez, Shah
Kar-e-Risalat - the biography of Caliph Hazrat Umar
Farooq. This review is brief but provides a deep
thought provoking glance of the deliberations of
Allama Mohammad Iqbal and Mr. Ghulam Ahmed Parwez on
the creeping of the non-Arab (Ajami) ideas into Islam.
I present its English translation for general public
benefit. Abdus Sattar Ghazali, California, USA.]
Allama Iqbal, in his 5th lecture on the Reconstruction
of Religious Thought in Islam, says that this is not
the way to prevent the decay of a nation that we give
undue reverence to our previous history or try to
recreate it through artificial means.
Allama (Iqbal) wrote in a letter to Chaudhry Mohammad
Ahsan (See Iqbal Nama):
‘In my view the Ahadis related to Mehdiate and
Christianity are the result of Iranian and non-Arab
thoughts. They have no relations with the Arabic
thought and the true Quranic spirit.’
In another leter to Molvi Sirajdin, Allama says: For
several centuries, Muslims of Hisdustan are under the
influence of Iranian thought, they don’t have any
exposure to the Arabic Islam, its objectives and
mission.
Yet in another letter to Dr. Syed Yamin Hashmi, (See
Anwaar-e-Iqbal compited by Bashir Ahmed Dar, P
192-193), Allama points out: ‘In my view, non-Arab
thoughts are responsible for the destruction of
Muslims in Asia. It is the duty of every Muslim to
struggle (Jihad) against this. The influence of
non-Arab thought is on religion, literature and day to
day life.’
In another letter to Mohammad Deen Fouq, Allama says:
‘Arab Islam is a forgotten thing in Hindustan.’
(Anwaar-e-Iqbal p-66)
This line of Armaghan-e-Hijaz reflects this deep
historical sense of Allama:
Ajam hunuz na danad ramuz-e-dein warna
(Non-Arabs still do not know the secrets of religion
otherwise…
The expectation from the above quotations was that the
scholars of Iqbal should have written on this subject.
They should have reviewed the impact of non-Arab
thought on Islamic writings. Ironically, none of the
Iqbal scholars thought about it or removed the biggest
obstacle in the renaissance of Muslims. Most people
believe that they were not capable of this, while some
others had no courage because of financial or worldly
interests.
**********
Two days ago, in the company of Maulana Taj Mehmood of
Lyallpure, I met with a friend and the issue of
non-Arab thought came during our discussion.
This friend referred to the latest book of Mr. Ghulam
Ahmed Parwez, Shah Kar-e-Risalat (Umar Farooq) and
recommended that this book is a must read for all
scholars.
This book details and unveils all the non-Arab
conspiracies that have been mentioned in the
above-referred letters of Allama Iqbal. This big size
book has 528 pages. In the 14th chapter of this book,
about 100 pages detail non-Arab conspiracies, which is
the gist of several thousand pages of history. This
exhaustive chapter may be described as an independent
and comprehensive book. Detail of every sub-topic is
given. Hence no question remains unanswered.
These discussions provide answers to almost all
questions that come into mind. Eventually, an
inquisitive mind also finds some new points of
thought.
***********
As far as the whole book is concerned, the scribe has
not yet gone through it. Only chapter 14 is read.
Obviously, a critique of the book can be written only
after the study of the whole book, but after the study
of the 14th chapter, I felt that:
(1) Through his pen, Parwez has highlighted the
intellectual concern of Iqbal related to non-Arabs
(thought) through historical facts.
(2) As I said earlier, it is difficult to give opinion
about the whole book before its reading, but I dare to
say that the 14th chapter is an analytical story of
the political and intellectual difficulties in the
history of Islam. It is the story of the plight of
Islam at the hands of the whole non-Arab.
(3) Some prominent Ulemas and scholars may disagree
totally or partially on certain issue or aspect;
however the scribe has noticed a pleasant change in
his borrowed perception about Parwez that was created
because of the Fatwas of Ulemas.
Overall, leaving aside severe political extremism and
personal prejudices, I will say that Parwez thinks
with an Islamic historical perspective about the
renaissance of Islam. His heart is in turbulence
because of distortion in the history of Islam. He
addresses the new generation on the basis of modern
thought in order to remove its confusion.
(4) Discussions in the under review chapter has the
following subjects:
- What was the secret of Muslims’ power?
- Beginning of the hidden (Secretive) movements to
distance Muslims from the Quran and its consequence.
- Vanquishing of Iran and Romans and the differences
between these victories.
- Embracing of Islam by the special unit of Yazdgar.
- Iranian reaction after the Qadsya battle.
- Migration of Iranians to Kufa and Basra.
- Two prominent fronts of non-Arab conspiracy.
- Jugglery of traditions.
- The issue of khalafat.
- Political implications of the right of inheritance
(of power).
- The concept of Iranians about their kings.
- Abdullah Ben Sabah.
- The faith of the return of Masih or Mahdi.
- The concept of Imamat, according to Ahadith.
- Distinction between belief (eemaan) and disbelief
(kufr).
- Hazrat Salman Farsi.
- Tussle between Banu Umayya and Banu Abbas.
- Sadats and Alvis.
- Abu Muslim Khorasani.
- Brameka
- Walemi (Bani Boya) government
- The Shia period of Baghdad.
- The end of Abbaside period.
- After how long the Iranians took revenge of the
Qadsia battle.
- The foundations of Islam.
- Different sects and their fabricated ideologies.
- Distortion of the Quran.
- Hidden meanings.
- The concept of Muhaddith (appearance of a reformer).
- Collectors of Hadith.
- Impact of non-Arab belief on Sunnis.
- Doubts and misconceptions about collection of the
Quran.
- The status of Hadith.
- Who was Ibne Jarir Tabri?
- Islam was no longer “deen” but became religion
(meaning of the Quranic verses related to Khalafat
changed).
- Separation of religion and politics.
- The end of the possibility of legislation (or
interpretation as Shafei school declared that all laws
are present in ahadith).
- Revival of the capitalist system.
- The concept of fate.
- The reality of mysticism (sufisim).
- Ibn-e-Arabi.
- The foundation of mysticism.
- Authority for the hidden knowledge (to Imam or
Mohaddas).
- Attack of non-Arabs on Jehad.
- Cure of those ailments which have been inflicted on
the Muslims collectively.
(5) An atmosphere has been created about Parwez in the
religious circles persistently the he does not believe
in Hadith. But he clarified his belief in a very lucid
way, after which, in my view, this issue has been
resolved.
This scribe is justified in asking the Ulama that:
- Imam Bukhari collected 600,000 ahadith and after
sorting them out he kept only 2762 in his collection.
- Imam Muslim found 300,000 ahadith and trusted only
4348.
- Imam Tirmizi collected 300,000 and kept only 2115.
- Imam Abu Daud collects 500,000 and keeps only 4800.
- Ibn-e-Maja collected 400,000 and kept 4000.
- Imam Nisai collected 200,000 and trusted 4321.
Then what is the reason that Parwez’s charater is
being assassinated on the accusation that he does not
believe in Hadith?
Parwez does not recognize those Ahadith which are
against the teachings of the Quran and which have no
connection with the sayings of the Prophet (PBUH).
Such Ahadith were fabricated to serve the interests of
kings after the end of Khilafat-e-Rashda (The period
of the first four caliphs); or non-Arab conspiracy
attributed them towards the Prophet (PBUH).
Our Ulama, through their barrage of attacks, cannot
ignore this important issue which is the current topic
of the history of Islam and crops up in our new
generation’s mind. On the other hand this is not an
issue of kufr (disbelief) and Islam.
What is the thinking of the new generation? Parwez
represented this thinking and removed the pile of
non-Arab dust from Islam through his intellectual
endeavour.
Some people may not tolerate this. But it is not
appropriate that knowledge may be stalled or blocked
through angry accusations.
(6) Mr. Parwez, in this chapter, also gave explanation
about his belief. He says:
‘I am neither Sunni nor Shia. I am not related to any
sect. I am a student of the Quran. My belief, rather
my conviction is that this great book of God is the
only authority for Deen. It is the only standard to
distinguish between right and wrong (truth and
falsehood). In my view, any belief, ideology, idea,
school of religious thought that is contrary to this
(book i.e. Quran) is not right, despite the fact that
this (belief etc.) is attributed to any of our
respected elders. If any of such belief is attributed
to any of the respected elders, who belong to any
sect, I will hymbly say that such attribution does not
seem to be true. They might not have said this.’
P-499
After this explanation, thiere is not justification
for a campaign against Parwez. The saying of any
prominent religious personality which is contrary to
the Quran has no value and it is obligatory on a
Muslim that he should reject this.
Shahkar-e-Risalat, is an excellent book from the point
of view of topic and printing. Its reading stimulates
thinking and opens new channels of thought. It is a
book of the exemplary and commendable Islamic
political system.
In the words of Allama Iqbal, he wished for the
realization of this system in his life.
The biography of Muslim mind may be the most
appropriate name this book.
Ae Zouq Is Jahaa’n Ko Hai Zeib Ikhtalaf (Zouq,
Diversity if beauty in this word).
We have differences with Mr. Parwez on several issues,
abut after reading this book, we found great respect
for him.
Whatever Iqbal aspired to say about non-Arabs
(distortion of Islam), Shahkar-e-Risalat is actually
an intellectual and historical embodiment of this
wish.
Take back Fatwa against Parwez
Editor Chatan is not privileged to meet Mr. Ghulam
Ahmed Parwez personally, but after reading his great
book Shahkar-e-Risalat, the editor of Chatan is
convinced that this book will prove an asset in
hereafter for him. Allah will place Parwez with those
Ulama who dedicated their lives to Islam in every
period.
Every human being commits mistakes. May be at any
point his pen might have erred. But there is no doubt
that he is a sincere Muslim. He is a great scholar of
the Quranic thought.
I emphatically appeal the Ulama that they should not
become victim of petty controversies and must read
Shahkar-e-Risalat.
In view of Ulama’s learned opnion, if Mr. Parwez has
committed any mistake about religion, he should be
politely informed so that his sincere mind can
re-evaluate its shortcomings.
However, the fact of the matter is that in the Karbala
of Islamic thought, Parwez is also a voice of the
Hussaini Caravan. And Ulama should take back their
Fatwa against him.
[Published in the May 13, 19974 issue of the weekly
Chattan-Lahore. ]
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ------
NB: "Shahkaar-e- Risalet" as discussed above is a very
usefull book on The System of Government in Islam.
Allama Pervez has really done a great job in exploring
the true values and principles of the Islamic System.
This book is worth reading. It is available ON-LINE at
this website: www.toluislam. com. and you can also
ordered it from Toluislam Trust at the following
address.
Manager Toluislam Trust
25-B, Gulberg-2, Lahore, Pakistan
The price of the book is quite reasonble. However, if
anyone could not afford please contact us at this
email: bashiraabid@ yahoo.com. We will deliver it on
our expensis.
Besides this book (the system of government in Islam),
there are two other important lectures on the subject
by Allama Pervez which are also worth listening. One
is titled: "Islami Nizam Ko Qaim Karne Waley"
available on video; and the other one is " The
Interpretation of Surah Al-Ma'araj" available on
audio. I will strongly recommend to listen these. You
will get great insight of real Islam.
Thanks
Bashir Abid
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