Allama Sayyed Abul Hasan Nadwi, May Allah Have Mercy on Him (Part 29)
Power and revolution are rooted in the blood and skin of the Afghan nation!
Speech at Kabul University
Dear Afghan students and educators,
In the past, this nation did not have a mission, but with the advent of Islam, this nation with a mission rose up and embraced it, nurturing it like a plant. This mission has breathed a new spirit into their being.
Before the advent of Islam, this nation lived in ignorance and darkness, trapped in the valley of superstition, ignorance, and humiliation. The powerful trampled on the rights of the weak, and rights were lost. However, with the coming of Islam, a new spirit was breathed into their being, and their consciousness and feelings improved. Although the natural state was the same as before, this new mission granted them a sense of new humanity.
The Second Factor: In the past, Afghans had a very limited life, and their vision of the world was narrow; their view of humanity and existence was greatly constrained.
If they were asked: “Who is a human being?” their answer would have been that a human is an Afghan—someone who lives in this land and sings songs of great love for it. Their shortsightedness confined them to this region.
If they had been asked: “What is life?” their answer would have been that life consisted of eating, drinking, exploitation, entertainment, power, leadership, and conquest.
The Afghans perceived their lives as comparable to that of fish in a pond, living so limitedly that their analogy with the life of a frog in a small pond is not without merit.
The situation of the Arabs, Turks, and Persians prior to Islam was similar, but Islam liberated them from this dark and narrow prison. As the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: «لنُخْرجَ مَنْ شَاءَ اللهُ مِنْ ضِیقِ الدُّنْیَا إِلَی سَعَةِ الدُّنْیَا وَالآخِرَةِ.» (Translation: We bring forth whom Allah wills from the constricting confines of this world into the expansive realms of this world and the hereafter.)
Your forebears had a narrow and limited view of humanity, lacking breadth of vision, forgiveness, and depth of thought; but Islam instilled in them magnanimity until they perceived humanity as a family and regarded the world as a home.
This is their true belief in humanity, as the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stated: «کلکم من آدم و آدم من تراب، لا فضل لعربی علی اعجمی ولا لأعجمی علی عربی الا بالتقوی» (Translation: You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created from dust. There is no superiority for the Arabs over the non-Arabs, nor for the non-Arabs over the Arabs, except in piety.)
Just as a leader does not confine himself to geographical boundaries and artificial divisions, Muslims have also transcended those boundaries and are moving towards distant horizons. Had they not achieved such a broad outlook, their ancestors would have remained stagnant for centuries.
The Third Factor: Firm and steadfast certainty. When they believe in Allah, His Messenger, the Last Day, and divine predestination, they understand that death has a fixed time in which there is no advance or delay. They comprehend and believe in this word of Allah: «أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُوا يُدْرِككُمُ الْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنْتُمْ فِي بُرُوجٍ مُشَيَّدَةٍ» (Translation: Wherever you are, death will overtake you, even if you are in fortified towers.)
And also, this statement of Allah Almighty: «فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ» (Translation: So when their term comes, they will neither delay nor advance.)
With this faith, they became filled with confidence and dignity, fully realizing that every person has a day of death that Allah has appointed, and that all matters are in His hands and by His command. This certainty was further reinforced by the heavenly message, which clarified for them that they were the army of Allah and His helpers. The verses confirming this certainty are as follows: إِنَّهُمْ لَهُمُ الْمَنْصُورُونَ (172) (Translation: They will surely be victorious [over their enemies],)
وَإِنَّ جُنْدَنَا لَهُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ (173) (Translation: And Our army is certainly the prevailing one.)
«إِنَّ حِزْبَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ» (Translation: Indeed, the party of Allah—these are the successful ones.)
«إِنَّا لَنَنْصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْأَشْهَادُ» (Translation: Indeed, we will help our messengers and those who believe in this life and on the Day when the witnesses will arise.)
«وَلَا تَهِنُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنْتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ» (Translation: And do not weaken or grieve, for you are the uppermost if you are believers.)
Dear brothers! Here, I would like to narrate an incident involving the Sahaba of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). When Sayyiduna Saad bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) stood before the Tigris River and saw that its waters were turbulent, he looked around and then turned to Salman al-Farsi (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and asked: “Should we immerse ourselves in this turbulent river or should we turn back and construct a dam and embankment?”
Hazrat Salman al-Farsi (may Allah be pleased with him) uttered a statement that will forever resonate in history. He said: “This is a new religion. I am confident that Allah Almighty will make His religion prevail, and this religion has not yet reached the position that Allah has determined for it. How can we think that the ship carrying the messengers of Allah will sink?”
These words are profound and rich with meaning. This is a new religion that needs to reach its destination, to rebuild the world, take over global leadership, and awaken and guide humanity. After hearing these words, Hazrat Saad ibn Abi Waqqas ordered his army to cross the river. Tabari narrates that when the people of Persia saw the Muslim army, they were terrified and said to themselves: “The demons have come, the demons have come.” This certainty filled the hearts of the Muslim army and breathed a new spirit into them.
Let us revisit glorious history and observe how Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi conquered vast lands one after another. These conquests and victories were carried out while he had neither sufficient provisions nor adequate support. The center of his governance was very distant and situated behind high mountains; the roads were rough and fraught with perilous gorges. Sultan Ghaznavi viewed these battles as a young athlete views the field of competition; he had firm trust in Allah. He understood deeply that engaging in jihad and sacrificing his life in this manner amounts to martyrdom. He believed with all his heart that martyrs never die; rather, they live with their Lord and are provided sustenance. He felt that he was the bearer of a divine message, destined to spread the teachings of Islam in India.
These are the factors that shape the character of societies, not merely of individuals. While individual character is indeed significant, what I wish to discuss is the character of societies. These factors endowed Afghan society with a character that was invincible, always dominating over all nations. As long as these factors were present, their destiny was one of glory; they did not falter during that era.
I express my concern for the Afghan nation at this critical juncture in human history. It is alarming to think that they may become devoid of these leadership qualities and regress to conditions reminiscent of the time before Islam entered this land and before they embraced its call. I urge you, the youth, to cultivate these factors like seedlings in the heart of your society, nurture them, protect them, and ensure that they do not wither away. The people of your society are essentially the same as they have always been. Nature has remained unchanged; the mountains and skies are as they once were, and the Kabul River continues to flow as it has for millennia. This land has been a source of goodness and countless blessings, bestowing fruits, refreshing waters, purity, and clarity, and its future will reflect these same virtues.
The themes we have explored include the character that defines this mission, confidence and certainty, and the pursuit of goals to ascribe purpose to life. Divine blessings should find a place to flourish, creating hearts that exemplify beauty and goodness, thus captivating others. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Lahori understood this truth well; he lamented the apathy and the lack of existence of the contemporary Muslim generation. His response was that this generation lives without purpose and lacks a mission. They have yet to discover a role model for their lives that inspires love and admiration, guiding their lives accordingly.
One night, I cried to Allah, “Why are the Muslims so sad and humiliated?” A voice responded, “Do you not know that these people have hearts but lack a beloved?”
O Afghan youth! Allah Almighty has honored you and has left nothing lacking for you. Allah Almighty says: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ» (Translation: Indeed, Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.)
Allah the Almighty is more forgiving than to bestow a blessing on His servants and then take it back. However, these people, by disbelieving in the blessings, have caused themselves to be deprived of them. Allah the Almighty says: «أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ بَدَّلُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ كُفْرًا وَأَحَلُّوا قَوْمَهُمْ دَارَ الْبَوَارِ» (Translation: Have you not considered those who turned [thankfulness] for the favors of Allah into disbelief and made their people the abode of destruction?)
This is an undeniable historical truth. Knowledge is crucial; understanding one’s character and worth is essential. So, O youth, recognize your worth. The Muslim poet Muhammad Iqbal states: “Return to the depths of your heart, and discover the secrets of your life. If you do not have a friend among us, it is no concern; just be your own friend. If you do not know us, it matters not; just know yourself.”
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