Muslims From India

"We arrived at Abdelpour [Afzalpur] a little before nightfall after a whole day’s march. It is a delightful town, situated in a fertile lowland with large meadows watered by a stream, which flows through the sluice of a large reservoir above the town: its water is confined by a curved embankment faced with stone, a work which well shows the power and magnificence of its builder, the nobleman of the place [Afzal Khan]. He was one of the greatest warriors and best generals in the kingdom of Bijapur in the reign of its rightful king, who was poisoned by his unfaithful wife [in the reign of Muhammad Adil Shah, 1626-56]. This governor was indeed a powerful and courageous vizir, who had done many splendid things for the good of the kingdom. Later on he retired to this town of Afzalpur, which had been granted to him, and lived here in great state and comfort in a magnificent castle. He was at ease here when the last Bijapur king sent an army against Prince Shivaji under Rustam Zaman, governor of Onquery [Hukeri]. He was summoned to the court and made a general of 15,000 horse, which were again sent to fight Shivaji. He resolutely promised the king to conquer the enemy or die in the attempt. But before leaving he committed an act, which was the most cruel and detestable it is possible to imagine. This man, like all those orientals whose chief pleasure in the world is to pass their lives among flocks of women, and being one of the most powerful nobles in the kingdom, had a fine seraglio of 200 women, to whom he was so passionately attached that he could not bring himself to leave them. Inspired by a mad jealousy, he resolved that no one else should see or enjoy the treasures he guarded so dearly, in the event of his death in battle. Therefore, when the time for his departure came, he left the court and went to Afzalpur to settle his household affairs. He stayed there three days, shut up in his seraglio, to feast and disport himself for the last time with his wives. He then actually had them all murdered and thrown into a fire, which he had prepared for this purpose in the middle of his palace. After this noble exploit, which was the last of his life, he left without any remorse, breathing fire and slaughter against the enemy. They soon made him rue this infamous cruelty towards a sex from whom he had always received favours, submission, and a blind obedience to his will."

"Prince Shivaji, who had received warning of his march, went to meet him and placed all his forces in a favourable position to await attack. Both armies were in sight of one another; and the two generals, the most valiant warriors in the East, did wonders in moving their squadrons so as to seize hills and other points of vantage. The whole country swarmed with cavalry, elephants, camels carrying thousands of standards, to which each company could rally. Shivaji, on his side, encouraged his men by voice and action, showing himself in every part of his camp. In passing down their ranks, he urged them to remember that they were soldiers, brothers in arms, and companions in fortune, of the great Shivaji; that they must never fear enemies whom they had beaten so often, and who were more ready to retreat in an emergency than to attack and give a good account of themselves. He added that, if the enemy’s general was once the bravest man in the kingdom and had won great victories, it was at a time when he cared only for the art of war; now he had embraced another sort of life amid the pleasures and delights of the world, so that he had lost all his former redoubtable qualities, and become cowardly and effeminate. Shivaji’s soldiers were roused by his speech, and the camp rang on all sides with shouts and acclamations, which struck terror and panic into the hearts of the most courageous of their opponents. The latter knew that they had to do with an army which had made every oriental power tremble by reason of its ever increasing victories and conquests. They shivered at the mere sight of these terrible people, against whom they fought more unwillingly than they would have done against another less redoubtable army."

"In the mean while, the Raja, who could not rest, plundered some places belonging to the Great Mogul; which obliged that Emperour to send Forces against him, under the conduct of Chasta-Can [Shaista Khan] his Uncle, Governour of Aurangeabad. Chasta-Can having far more Forces than Sivagy had, vigorously pursued him, but the Raja having his retreat always in the Mountains, and being extreamly cunning the Mogul could make nothing of him. However that old Captain at length, thinking that the turbulent Spirit of Sivagy might make him make some false step, judged it best to temporize, and lay a long while upon the Lands of the Raja. This Patience of Chasta-Can being very troublesome to Sivagy, he had his recourse to a Stratagem. He ordered one of his Captains to write to that Mogul, and to perswade him that he would come over to the service of the Great Mogul, and bring with him five hundred Men whom he had under his Command. Chasta-Can having recei’d the Letters, durst not trust them at first; but receiving continually more and more, and the Captain giving him such reasons for his discontent as looked very probable, he sent him word that he might come and bring his Men with him. No sooner was he come into the Camp of the Moguls, but he desired a Passport to go to the King that he might put himself into his Service: But Chasta-Can thought it enough to put him in hopes of it, and kept him with him. Sivagy had ordered him to do what he could what he could to insinuate himself into the favour of Chasta-Can, and to spare no means that could bring that about, to shew upon all occasions the greatest rancour and animosity imaginable; and in a particular manner to be the first in Action against him or his Subjects. He fail’d not to obey him: He put all to Fire and Sword in the Raja’s Lands, and did much more mischief than all the rest besides; which gained him full credit in the Mind of Chasta-Can, who at length made him Captain of his Guards. But he guarded him very ill, for having one Day sent word to Sivagy, that on a certain Night he should be upon Guard at the General’s Tent; the Raja came there with his Men, and being introduced by his Captain, came to Chasta-Can, who awakening flew to his Arms, and was wounded in the Hand; however he made a shift to escape, but a Son of his was killed, and Sivagy thinking that he had killed the General himself, gave the signal to retreat: He marched off with his Captain and all his Horse in good order."

"If any Islamic country or its ulema (clergy) announce jihad, it is obligatory for each and every Muslim in the world to support it morally and express it openly."

"Taking to Twitter, BJP’s Shehzad Poonawalla also claimed that Congress was hand-in-glove with Hindu hate-mongers and the party’s true character stood exposed. “Rahul Gandhi claims to be the biggest Hindu during elections! His party has embraced someone who warns of Hindu genocide! Tauqeer Raza was sharing the platform with Congress UP president and has been taken on board to replace Imran Masood?”, he said. “Congress party always practices the politics of dividing, abusing and threatening Hindus, polarizing the Muslim vote bank and then taking their votes. The true character of Congress stands exposed today. Incite riots, provoke the vote bank, abuse Hindus and then earn votes. This is the strategy of the Congress party. Therefore, they have taken the support of Tauqeer Raza,” he added."

"I will shed rivers of blood of Hindus. I will set their (Hindus’) homes and shops on fire."

"Everything may look normal in Kashmir. Everything may look normal here in Delhi, after the election results. The fact remains that under the surface, there is something. What’s happening in Bangladesh can happen here. The spread of our country prevents things from blowing up in the manner in which they have blown up in Bangladesh."

"Maulana had said that if law and order come in the hands of their soldiers, then Hindus will not even get a place to live in India. He had also said that the maps of India would be changed. This is the height of hatred."

"He was unhindered when his own daughter-in-law was struggling and fighting for her rights and justice, and now he is speaking out about women’s rights and endorsing the Congress party’s campaign. How can a man speak about the rights of other women if he hasn’t been able to deliver justice to his own daughter-in-law? This is all a ruse to deceive voters ahead of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections,” ... “I was told… go wherever you like, to whichever police station you deem fit but you can not harm us. The CM is in our pocket."

"“We are Allah wale, what we say it happens, there will be blood bath Inshallah”, the Islamic leader had said while admonishing PM Modi for bringing in the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)."

"I see the anger within my Muslim youths and I am afraid that the day this anger bursts out, the day I lose control over them… I want to warn my Hindu brothers that I’m scared that the day my Muslim youths are forced to take the law into their hands, you will not find a place to hide anywhere in India."

"“Had there been a probe, the entire world would have known that those killed as terrorists should be given the martyr status”, ... “During 2009 elections, Congress had said to me that they would probe Batla House encounter if their govt is formed. They didn’t do it. Muslims will never forget this”"

"When we showed Sonia Gandhi the images of the ‘incident’, she started crying bitterly and with folded hands, she said please do not show me these pictures. Immediately go and speak to the Wazir-e-Azam (Dr Manmohan Singh) and discuss the mater. I talked to the PM and it was decided that the matter will be further investigated."

"In the eyes of Islam, the highest and best Jihad is the declaration of the word of truth in front of the tyrant king, the reason for this is that in Jihad with the sword there is still the possibility that the Mujahid will dominate the enemy and his life will remain safe. But the habit of proclaiming the word of truth in front of a cruel and oppressive king is such that the truth has to be washed away with its own life. The history of Islam is rich with such faith-building incidents of sacrifices and sacrifices."

"The prophet whose teachings are fountainhead of temperateness, moderation, mediation and justice; a group claiming to excessively love the same prophet feels proud in intemperance, stubbornness and excess and paucity."

"When Divine providence graces you, and you are endowed with passion of love and alienated from your ego, at that time Divine love enters your inmost being and He shows His Beauty to you."

"Beloved has been created in your image and sent to you in order to put you on the right path."

"When you recognize the Beauty, you will also recognize the Beloved and fall in love with Him."

"Become lover. Think both the worlds beauty of the Beloved and think own self the beauty of the Beloved."

"The Beloved created your being from His own love so that He could see His own beauty in the mirror of your heart and make you privy of His mysteries."

"The beauty of worldly allurements makes it lovers so much oblivious that they forget the passage of temporal as well as celestial worlds. They fail to understand the challenge before them."

"When an irrational animal like camel dances at the tune of bell, why don't you, being the best of creation, attain absorption and ecstasy in the love of God, or go into rapture by listening the name of the Beloved."

"Devotion to God and service to fellow beings is the pivot of life."

"Thrones and crowns of worldly kings carry worth less than shows of donkey for us."

"When His (God) beauty has permeated in each and every iota of the world, why should I sit like an ascetic (hermit) in a corner!"

"فلسفی کو بحث کے اندر خدا ملتا نہیں ڈور کو سلجھا رہا ہے، پر سِرا ملتا نہیں"

"You are captive of your lower-self (ego); you nullify it and break the snare so that you arrive at your real nest."

"O the people of faith, when you open inner eyes, you will see beauty of the Beloved, radiant everywhere. In every mirror you see Him. In every color of His manifestation you will notice fire of His love."

"While we slave for food as clerks. Our hearts bleed for Persians and Turks."

"O poor-fellow! Do you know what is renunciation and what is piety? It is that you don't go to the places of the king, nor roam about in quest of livelihood nor base yourself for sake of worldly wealth, nor sit in the company of the world lings."

"Divine way is extremely difficult to tread, but you should not despair. If you have courage, true aspiration, and ardency of love, then come to this path, otherwise be silent."

"We are enraptured lover and insane, we searched the Beloved everywhere. When I smell the fragrance of His divinity, I get intoxicated in His lane."

"The current ways of life will soon depart from earth, New culture, new modes of life will now take their birth. The beauty will adore itself in a new style, The coiling locks and curling hair will now fall in dearth. The women will discard the robes that confine and bind, No longer the beauteous main behind the veil shall lurk. The wind that blows indicates the birth of seasons new, New flowers will bloom on earth, nightingales forget their mirth. Imitators of Western music will reign supreme, Their songs will be out of tune, a cacophonous burst. Past glories will fine a mention nowhere on earth, Glorious tales of name and fame inside the books will rust. But why are you perturbed, Akbar, about the changing times? You and I will cease to be, and mingle with the dust."

"Search your heart within where lies the key to all Divine mysteries, and where God has placed treasures of Divine, mystical and spiritual powers."

"God knows best who we are and why we were created and therefore, we should concern ourselves only with the fear of God, love of God and obedience to God's commands."

"The philosopher deep in debate cannot find God, He is untangling the string but cannot find where to begin!"

"To remain satisfied and grateful for the pleasure of the Beloved, at the cost of religion and heart is necessarily passionate love, which in Sufi terminology is called faithfulness."

"The seekers on the path of God are a community who are overwhelmed in the ocean of love from head to nail of the foot."

"The spiritual state of nearness of God is a sign of true saintliness. This ultimately results in the experience of love and longing for early union."

"The gnostic (arif) attains the station of passionate love of God so that he may experience Godhead or His pure Essence."

"One's friendship with God consists in being satisfied with whatever comes from God and expresses his gratitude hundred thousand time that he was remembered by Him."

"Communion with God is conferred after the dervish has become alien to all else."

"The seeker's real approach to God means his preoccupation with afflictions appearing on the way to Him. Tribulations in separation from God is to be treated as a boon granted by God to His elect."

"Detachment from worldly things is the most essential qualification required for a true dervish. His separation from everything, including his own self is the only way for the realization of kingship with God."

"The saint enjoys real attachment to God when he experiences states of contentment and satisfaction."

"Fear is a whip of God for the undisciplined devotee. When the fear of God enters into the heart, it turns the flask of the heart into pieces."

"Meanwhile, another Tabligh movement had arisen in Haryana under the leadership of Shah Muhammad Ramzan (1769-1825). “He found that the converted Rajputs and Jats… were in no way different from their Hindu counterparts in culture, customs and celebration of religious festivals… Shah Muhammad Ramzan used to sojourn in areas inhabited by such converted Rajputs, dissuade them from practising Hindu rites, and persuade them to marry their cousins (real uncle’s daughters which converts persistently refused to do). They equally detested eating cow’s flesh. To induce them to eat beef, he introduced new festivals like Maryam ka Roza and ‘Rot-bot’. On this day, observed on 17 Rajjab, a ‘pao’ of roasted beef placed on a fried bread was distributed amongst relatives and near and dear ones… Such endeavours ruled out the possibility of reconversion and helped in the ‘Islamization’ of neo-Muslims…”"

"It may be instructive to recall that his father, Shāh‘Abdul Raḥīm, could have been his role model in the matter of writing letters to powerful princes to undertake jihad. For it was the pater familias who wrote a letter to Mīr Qamar al-Dīn Khān Ṣiddīqī popularly known as Āṣaf Jāh (1671–1748), the pioneer of the Deccan based state whose rulers were called Niẓāms, exhorting him to undertake jihad to weaken the infidels. ‘Abdul Raḥīm begins his letter with the assertion that it has already been decided that the infidels (kuffār) will be defeated and humiliated and if Āṣaf Jāh wants to take credit for this he should defeat them. He ends on the mystical note that ‘things said even with confidantes in secret are being revealed here on the tip of the pen so that no excuse should remain’."

"I am also an Afghan and you ought to pre- serve the honour of the Afghans. I have a body of tiventy thousand Afghans with me , while another body of forty thousand Afghans is ready on the other side of the Ganges to serve you. You may come here without any hesitation."

"All these troubles have been inflicted upon all our men by the hands of the infidel Marathas. You are the Emperor of the Muslmans and you should, therefore, take steps to put a stop (to this highhandedness)”."