At the trial they asked him if he was responsible for breaking the idols.Smiling , he told them to ask the biggest idol which was not broken.
Ibrahim said maybe it’s the idol who did it since he has the axe. The people replied:
“Ibrahim you know well that these idols don’t speak or move”.
Now Ibrahim said to them: “Then how could you believe these are god?”
This is may be the starting of smashing/demolishing/destruction of idols by Muslims.
Islam is the ultimate power yet no intention of destruction.
But when MY MAKER decided to give the non believers a lesson...no one in this universe can stop HIM.
Only HE chooses the one who would do the job for HIM.
Once it was Ibrahim, then our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who breaks all the stone gods present in the KABB'A.
And the legend goes on and on....with Mehmood Ghaznavi who after the 17th attempt on Soomnath finally claimed to be among the (idol breaker) but-shikan.
However, Ghaznavi's indulgence to become an idol breaker has raised so many questions in my head. I believed Ghaznavi had his own axe to grind.
Islam is not barbaric religion it does gives space to other religions too.
To follow the tradition not necessarily always gives you the popularity of but-shikani. Which happens with the Taliban. On 6 March 2001 The Times quoted Mullah Mohammed Omar as stating, "Muslims should be proud of smashing idols. It has given praise to God that we have destroyed them."
Islam cant be proud of destruction of inheritance or culture.
As always happened, we manipulated the whole but-shikan tradition and use it to gain wealth or popularity or sometimes just to show our strength when not needed.
In the history of Islam, the word "but-shikan" (idol-breaker) has become synonymous with Sultan Mahmood of Ghazna who brought down the grand temple of Somnath in the 1026 AD, during his 16th (out of 17) invasion of India. Ironically, a few things are forgotten: (a) He left completely unharmed the two giant statues of Buddha carved in the rocks of Bamiyan near his own capital; (b) In the same spirit, his capital was a sanctuary for Hindu craftsmen from India who could make fortunes there, regardless of their religions.
ReplyDeleteHence, in terms of his domestic policy, he was at least 500 years ahead of his times in liberalism and religious tolerance. This was the strength on which he built an empire.
In military campaigns and foreign policy he had to play the game by the rules of the times, or else he would have lost it all.
This is neither to defend Mahmood as a liberal nor discrediting his reputation as a champion of faith but simply putting a few things in perspective, since these have often been overlooked.
The ways of politicians and rulers have always been stranger; they make their own ethics according to principles of convenience and law of necessity. In our country we know very well too what NAZERIA ZAROORAT was and what it did!
ReplyDeleteShafique Sahib and Dar Sahib....so honored to have your comments.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much.
We cant make everyone happy around us. When it comes to make our ALLAH happy the best way to follow your heart.
hmm...may be on those times what Mehmood Ghaznavi did really pleased ALLAH and I am not entitled to give any comments on that.
I wish...sometimes differently doesn't necessarily means right.
hmm...Allah better knows what is in our hearts.
Thank alot both of you for giving me time.