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THE
STORY OF ABU DHAR
By Mehru Jaffer
Being Muslim often becomes an overwhelming experience.
Each time that happens the natural instinct is to run to daddy. For I have forever looked upon daddy as a
wise and good human being first. The fact that he is also Muslim, helps of course.
In answer to all the contradictions I pointed out to him once again between the philosophy and practice of
Islam today, I received a slim book. The 70 page book written by him recently is a profile of Abu Dhar
Ghafari, one of the five companions, closest to Prophet Mohammad after Khadija, Ali bin
Talib, Ammar Yasir and Salman Farsi. The book is as modest as daddy himself. It costs a
mere Rs 30, is published by an unknown printer from
one of the by lanes of ancient Lucknow who has not bothered to edit the manuscript. And yet the subject
dealt with is inspiring enough to provide much
spiritual strength.
The forgotten story of Abu Dhar is dug out from the pages of history as it is seen by the author as an
ideal role model for Muslims in search of guidance.
Abu Dhar is described as one of the most feared bedouin leaders from amongst the mighty Ghafar tribe
of the Waddan valley outside Mecca, on a route that
connected the city with Syria and Palestine. The tribe lived by collecting ransom from the caravans
of merchants that carried mercantile from, and to
Mecca. If the ransom was refused it was not unusual to use force or to plunder rival caravans. After a
routine expedition, Abu Dhar noticed that the loot he had piled up was considerable but all his strength
could not wish away the wailing of women and cries of children that trailed his conscience constantly.
Emotionally he felt so unsettled that he vowed never to attack another human being ever again. As he
wandered in search of peace and justice to his own being, he found himself face to face with Muhammad,
the Prophet and used the greeting, Al-Salamu Alayha Ya Rasulullah (peace be upon you, oh messenger of God)
for the first time, to which the Prophet replied, Wa Alayka Salaamul Wa Rahmatuhu Wa Barakaatahu (and on
you be the peace of God, his mercy and his blessings).
It is most bewildering that a religion founded by so gentle a person as Muhammad and put into practice by
self confessed peaceniks like Abu Dhar has managed to cultivate so much of anger and violence over the
years. It is a pity that the mention of Islam today conjures up images mostly of frail and flawed human
beings. Islam is essentially a religion of justice, demanding
that the believer must first internalize the principles of justice and most importantly to practice
them in life, here and now. The fundamental aim of
Islam is to create a just society that guarantees the protection of life and freedom for all. That Abu Dhar
never, ever took up arms to resolve other disputes he faced in life after he had discovered Islam makes him
a glowing example of the asabiya or the principle of cohesion as first practiced by the Prophet and then
taught to members of the umma, the community of faith.
Despite the presence of all the principles needed to create a universally just society based on fine human
values of brotherhood, equality and the equitable
distribution of wealth Islam still awaits a moral victory, that has not been seen since the death of the
Prophet. Since then Islam has been victorious in other ways like on the battlefield and from its birth some 1,400
years ago has founded many a great empire. But on the way Muslim societies around the world have also picked
up the dreaded disease called decadence. The group of
creative minority led by the likes of Abu Dhar that was in the vanguard of the movement during the
lifetime of the Prophet has long been replaced by
flamboyant leaders with illusions of grandeur of the most material kind. Force and corrupt practices
continue to be used to maintain religious and political power and to keep the fast expanding Islamic
society together. According to the author the first few caliphs who succeeded the Prophet did try to follow in the
footsteps of the messenger of God. But the later ones who had not converted to Islam out of conviction
anyways and had jumped on to the Prophet's bandwagon after the conquest of Mecca, did not bother to
practice either piety or humility. Muscle power was preferred to moral principles and the
spirit of any code of conduct was thrown to the winds.
The result is that over time the leadership does dazzle but has thus far failed to inspire Muslim
masses by the superiority of its moral authority or by
the impartial conduct of its politics.
The book is just a humble reminder to Muslims to muster up their lost creative ingenuity and
discipline, and to at least try to put into practice
the egalitarian ideals of the Koran.
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