CALL

TO MUSLIMS
TO BECOME AN UMMAH

Translation of a speech by

Maulana Mohammad Yusuf RuA

Translation by:
Dv. Shamim Ahmad
(Professor)
AMU, Aligarh
INDIA
 CALL TO MUSLIMS TO BECOME AN
UMMAH

Following is the gist of an important speech

delivered by Maulnna Mohammad Yusuf Rahmatullahi-
Aliih (RUA) on 30th March 1965, three days before
his death, after Fajr Salat at Raewind. It was the last
important speech of his life. Maulmlrr Abdul Aziz R U A
(Khulna, Bangladesh) procured this speech to
Maulaila Mohamrnad Manzoor Nornani R U A , editor Al-
Fui-qalz. The complete speech is inscribed on twenty-
six pages. The editor Al-Furqniz summarized it,
keeping in view that no important portion is left out,
and published it in Hazratji Number of his journal in
1965.
After Hanzd-o-Salat, Maulana Yusuf R U A started
his speech, in a manner quit unusual for him, with
the following words:
"Look here, I am not feeling well, could not
sleep all through the night. Inspite of this,
considering it important, I am speaking. Whosoever
understands it and acts upon it, Allah willemake him
shine, otherwise he would axe his own foot.
This Ummnh came into existence after lot of struggle.
To make it an Umnzah, a the Rasc~ol SallAllnhu-Alaihi-
Wnsnllam (SAW) and his companions Rndhi-All~ihu-
A~zl?um(RAA) have undergone great hardships. While
their enemies, Yahood and Nasar-a, always tried that
the muslin^ may not remain an Ui~znzak,rather be
splitted into factions. Now the Muslinzs have lost
their 'U11~1i~at-hood'l.
A s long a s they were one U m ~ ~ z a h ,
1. 'U~ilnrat-lzoodis the translation of Uitlnzczt-pnna', a term coined
by Maufriln Yiar$ RUA. It refers to the quality of this Uinillnll
being united like a single body a s mentioned in a IIrldith of
the Rnsool SAW.
a few hundred thousand of them fell heavy upon the forms the Ummah. Anyone who owns only a
whole world. There was not even a single cemented particular nation or region and disowns others,
house. Even the masjid was not cemented. No lamp slaughters the Ummah, tears it into pieces and
was lit in the masjid of Rasool S A W . The first lamp nullifies the efforts of the Rasool S A W and his
was lit in the masjid of Rasool S A W in the ninth year companions RAA. First we splitted and thus
of Hijrah. The first man to light up a lamp in the slaughtered the Ummah, then only the Yahood and
nrzasjid of the Rasool S A W was Tarfieem Dari RAA, who Nasara butchered into pieces the already
embraced Islam in the ninth year of Hijralz. But by slaughtered Ummah. If the Muslims once again
that time almost the whole Arab had entered into become an Ummah, all the powers of the world,
the fold of Islam. Different nations, different joined together, will not be able to cause the
languages and different clans had become a n slightest harm to them. Atom bombs and rockets
Unzrnah. When all this had happened then only the will fail to eliminate them. However, if due to
first lamp was lit in the rnasjid of the Rasool S A W . The national and regional feelings, the Muslims continue
light of hidayah which the Rasool S A W bought with splitting the Ummah into pieces, then by Allah, your
him had spread all over the Arab and even beyond it weapons and armies shall not be able to save you.
and the Umrnah had come into existence. This The Muslims are being beaten up all over the
Uniniah then rose in the world and in whatever world and loosing their lives since by loosing
direction it proceeded, countries after countries fell 'Ur~z~iiat-hood'
they have nullified the sacrifices of the
at their feet. This Urnmah was formed such that not Rasool S A W . I am expressing the feelings of a n
a single person in it was siding with his family, his aggrieved heart. The disaster is there because the
community, his party, his nation, his country or his Uiizrnnlz no more remained a n Unimah. The very
fl

language, No one gave weightage to his wealth, concept of an Unznrlah has gone into oblivion and so
property, wife and children, rather every one was is the process through which the Rasool S A W formed
concerned about the sayings of Allah and His Rasool it.
S A W . An Urnmah comes into existence only when all To become an Urnr~ah and for gaining the
the relations and acquaintances are curtailed in favour from Allah, the existence of Salat, Zikr,
case they come in the way of compliance to the nzadrasah and education in mndrawh is not enough.
orders of Allah and His Rasool S A W . When the The killer of Ali RAA, Ibne Muljam, was such a
Muslims were an Umnzah, the whole Unnmah was staunch doer of Salnt and rernemrence of AllaFi that
shaken if a single Muslirn was killed anywhere. Now when the enraged mob, attempting to kill him, tried
thousands and thousands are massacred but no to slash his tongue he requested to be spared of it
heed is paid. so that he could continue hymning the name of
'Umrrzah' is not the name given to a nation or Allah till his last breath. Inspite of this, the Rasool
inhabitants of a specific region. Unification of S A W had said that the killer of Ali (RAA) would be
hundreds and thousands of nations and regions the most wretched and unfortunate person. Abul
Fazl and Faizi2 obtained the education in madrasah Behold, 'my nation', 'my region' and 'my
and were so learned that they wrote a commentary community' are the feelings responsible for the
of the Qul-all without any letter with a dot. But they segregation of the Umrnah. Allalt dislikes this so
were the persons who misguided Akbar and ruined much that when an esteemed Sahabi, Saad Bin
dcelz. How can the qualities, possessed by Ibne Muljam, Ubadah RAA, committed a mistake, which if
Abztl Fazl and Faizi, suffice for the formation of unchecked could have separated the Ansar and
Unzrnalz and draw the divine help of Allah? Muhajreen, he had to face the consequences. It is
Shah Isrnail Slzaheed R U A , Syed Ahrnad Shaheed quoted that he was killed by jins and a disembodied
R U A and their companions3 belonged to the best lot voice was heard in Madinah:
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from the point of view of deen. When they reached
the frontier areas, people there, accepted them as
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their elders. But then, the Satan deluded some of This incident set a precedent and taught a lesson
the local Muslims not to follow them as they were that even if a person out of the best ones breaks the
outsiders and they provoked others for treason. 'Urrzrnat-hood',Allah will not spare him.
Consequently, their numerous companions were Unzmah will be formed when all classes in the
killed. The Muslinzs themselves shattered the 'Urnmat- Ur~zrnah,without discrimination, take up the work
hood on' the basis of regionalism. A s a punishment, which Rasoolullah S A W has entrusted. And
Allah imposed the British rule upon them. That was remember the evils of dealing and lifestyle are the
a wrath of Allah. things, which spoil the 'Ummat-hood'. When an
individual or a class perpetrates injustice and
2. Abul Fazl and Faizi were two confident courtiers of the atrocities upon others and denies their full rights or
Mughal Emperor, Akbar, who ruled India and floated a new puts them in trouble or humiliates and degrades
religion Deen-e-llahi. them, then the division takes place and the 'Urnrnat-
3. Mfiulann Shah Isnlnil Shaheed R U A (b1193H) was a renowned
hood' is lost. That is why I say that the Urlzrnah will
scholar from the famous family of Shah WAliullah R U A in
Delhi. He crusaded for elimination of bidah and revival of the not be formed merely by Icalimah and t a s b ~ h It
. will
spirit of Islam in northern India. Later on he joined the be built by a reform in dealings and lifestyles and by
movement of jihad under the banner of Syed Alzmad Shaheed paying the rights and respecting all. Rather it will be
R U A (b1201H) from Rae Bareilly against the tyrant un- formed when one's own rights and interest are
islamic rule in India. They raised a n army of Musli~nsand sacrificed for the sake of others. The Rasaal S A W ,
gathered in the northern frontier area of Indian Abu Bakr RAA and Urnal- RAA formed this Unirnlrh by
subcontinent, inhabited by the Muslinzs famous for their
martial characteristics, with an intention to seek their sacrificing every thing they had and by undergoing
participation and then attack the un-islamic government. At hardships. In the days of Uinar RAA, once came a
the end, after a battle at Balakot, the Muslims lost due to huge amount, of the order of millions and billions.
treason of some frontier chieftains. Both Maulana Ismail R U A 4. We have killed the chief of I<l~az~"aj,
Sfinci Ibnr Uilndah. We
-and Syed Ahllzad RUA along with a large number of their made him target of an arrow which pierced right through
army personnel were martyred. his heart.
Consultations were made for its distribution. At that Ulnrnah. He would be told that first he should
time, the Ummah was intact. The persons undergo the punishment for his word which harmed
participating in the consultations did not belong the Ummah. On the other hand, there would be
merely to a particular clan or class, rather to another person who would have dearth of Sgllrt,
different clans and classes and were considered Saurn and Haj etc. in his account and would be
distinguished because of their companionship with scared of Allah's wrath. But he would be bestowed
the Rasool SAW. After mutual consultation, they upon with enormous rewards. He himself would
proposed that the distribution should be such that enquire which of the deeds was fetching him the
the share given to the people of the Rasool SAW'S favours. He would be told that on certain occasion
clan may be the largest, then to the people of Abu he uttered something, which prevented a possible
Bnkr RAA's clan, then to those from Urnnr RAA's destruction in the Urnmah and caused integration
clan. A s such the relatives of Umar RAA stood third and averted disintegration. All that was being given
in preference. When this suggestion was' placed as the reward for the word uttered by him.
before Urnar RAA he did not accept it and said that In the formation and deformation, integration
whatever the Urrzrnah got in the past and was getting and disintegration of the Urnnzah, the greatest role is
a t that time, it was because of the Rasool SAW. played by the tongue. It unites the hearts as well a s
Therefore, the closeness in relationship with the tears them away. A wrong utterance instigates a
Rasool SAW should be the sole criterion. Closer one quarrel and complete disruption, while another
was in family-lineage with the Rasool SAW more he utterance becomes a source of unity and joins the
disrupted hearts. Therefore, the most important
should get. In this way Bn~liHashim were to be given requirement is to have a control on tongues. This is
the largest share, then Barzi Abd Mnnaf then the possible when the slaves of Allah have a persistent
descendents of Qusni, then of Kilab, then of Ibab, consideration that Allah is present with them a t
then of Mun-ah. A s such the clan of Urnar RAA fell every time and every place and listening to all their
much behind and it's share drastically reduced. But utterances.
Urnar RAA adhered to the decision leaving his clan There were two clans amongst the Ansar, viz.
far behind in receiving the share of the wealth. This Aus and IGazraj. An age old enmity and quarrel
is how this Umrnah was formed. existed between them. When the Rasool SAW
In order to form the Urnrrzah, it is essential that migrated to Madinalz and the Arzsar entered into the
everyone's efforts should be directed towards unity folds of Islam, then by virtue of the Rnsool SAW and
and avoidance of division. It is narrated in a Hadith
Islam, their age-old quarrel turned into mutual love
of the Rasool SAW that on the day of reckoning a and affection. Seeing this, the Jews conspired to
man would be brought who had performed Snlat, make them once again hostile against each other. In
Saztnl, Haj and Tableegh every thing in the world. But a gathering where persons from both the clans were
he would be subjected to chastisement because present, a conspirator arrived and started reciting
some of his utterances had created division in the provocative verses related to their old enmities. First
 a hot exchange of words took place between them hearts and made you brothers. And while fighting
and then the swords were drawn out. Someone amongst yourselves you were standing on the brink
informed the Rasool SAW. He rushed to the place of hell and were about to fall into it when Allah held
and said, 'Do you intend to start a bloodshed you back and saved from the hell. The Satan is with
amongst yourselves while I am present with you?'. you and the remedy is that a group amongst you
He gave a very brief but touching sermon. Both the may be there whose sole purpose should be to invite
parties realized that they were instigated by the people towards good deeds and stop them all evils
Satan. They cried and embraced each other and the and destruction.
following verses of the Quran were revealed: r bi\~ A,9&\ i ) 9 y > 3 , ~ \ &jh9-+. 7 -{A&>
0 Muslims! Fear Allah as He should be feared and b
There should be a group in the Un?mah whose sole
remain a perfect Muslim and obedient slave of Allah job and aim should be to invite towards deelen and
till your last breath. When someone remembers everything that is good, to put in efforts for imaan,
Allah at every moment and is afraid of His anger and to move on the path of good, on Salat, on the
punishment and always obedient to Him, then the remembrance, on the knowledge brought by the
Satan would not be able to mislead him and the Rasool SAW, to save from evils and sins so that the
U~nmahwill be saved from division and evils. Umrnnh remains an Ummah.
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Those who, inspite of these advices, follow Satan
Hold Allah's rope i.e. His sacred book and His deen and walk on divergent paths to create differences
with full collectiveness and with the quality of and disrupt the 'Ummat-hood' of the U~nmah,will be
'Unzmat-hood'. Be firm on this and do not split on the heavily punished by Allah.
basis of nations, regions, languages or any other All the teachings of deen are directed towards
account and do not forget the kindness of Allah that unity and integration. Salat unites. Saum unites. Haj
He brought to an end the enmity in your hearts unites the nations, the countries and people of
which persisted since ages and created love in your different languages. The Halaqas of Taleem unite.
5. 0 ye who believe! Fear Allah a s He should be feared and die Respect Ilkrant) of Muslims, mutual love and exchange
not except in the state of Islam. (S-3,A-102).
6. And hold fast altogether, by the rope which Allah (stretches of gifts, all these things unite and lead to Jannah. On
out for you) and be not divided among yourselves and . . I,et there arise out of vou a band of people inviting to all that is good,
7. ~ - ~ - ~

remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you for ye were enjoining what is righi and forbidding what is wrong. They are the ones
enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His to attain the felicity. (S-3, A-104).
grace ye became brethren and ye were on the brink of the 8. Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into
disputations after receiving clear signs. For them is a dreadful
pit of the fire and He saved you from it. (S-3, A-103).
chastisement. (S-3, A-105).
 the day of judgement, all those who would have
with them is Allah. When four or five persons sit
strived for these deeds will have shinning faces.
Contrary to this, creating mutual enmity, jealousy, together, they remember for sure that the fifth or
backbiting, slander, disgrace, humiliation and hear- sixth person with them is Allah. He is listening and
burning, all these things cause a disunity and looking whether they are talking of integrating the
disintegration and lead their doers to hell. They will Ummah or disintegrating it; backbiting, slandering or
have their faces blackened on the day of judgement. conspiring against anyone. This Ummah was formed
with the blood and starvation of the Rasool S A W .
Now we are splitting it on insignificant accounts.
Remember, even the grip for neglecting the Salat of
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j;a\~&.t+-+ &.Cb?, &--4\ Jummah will not be as strong a s that for
My brothers and friends! ~ u m e r o L sverses were C disintegrating the Unzmah. If 'Ummat-hood ' comes in
revealed when the Yahood tried to instigate the Muslims, they will never be disgraced in the
differences among the Ansar and brought the two world. Even the powers of America and Russia will
clans opposite to each other. In these verses, the bow to them. And the 'Ummat-hood' will come into
mutual differences and quarrels have been termed existence when the Muslinzs act upon@>\&>>\ lo
a s acts of Kufr and warning has been given for i.e. every Muslim adopts humbleness and humility
chastisement in the hereafter. At present the efforts against other Muslims. This is to be practiced in
is being made all over the world to shatter the
'Urnnzat-hood'. The only remedy and antidote is that Tableegh. When the quality of @$.\ex ;\ comes into
you get involved in the effort of Rnsool SAW. Bring
Muslims they will be certainly ,+->
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the world, i.e. dominant and powerful against the
the Muslinzs to mosques. Therein talk of Imaan may
disbelievers, whether they are from Europe or from
be given, Halaqas of Taleem and Zikr may be arranged, Asia. My brothers and friends! Allah and the Rasool
consultation for the effort of deuz may be made. S A W have strictly forbidden all those activities,
People from different classes, communities and which may inculcate differences in the hearts and
different languages may join these works on the create disunity. Since whispering between two or
pattern of rnasjid of the Rasool SAW. Then the 'Umnzat- four persons enables Satan to create suspicion in
hood' will come into existence. Protect yourself from the heart of others, it is prohibited and termed as
the deeds which may provided a chance to Satan to p
Satanic act. 1
sow the seeds of division. When three persons sit & C S & J \ ~ \ l2
together, they may keep in mind that the fourth $&&, \ +,.--=\ 23,
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9. On the day when some faces will be (lit u p with) white, and
some faces will be black (will be said), "Did ye reject faith
after recepting it? Taste then the chastisement for rejecting 10. Lowly with the believers. (S-5, A-54).
faith". But those whose faces will be (lit with) white, they will 1 1. Mighty against the rejecters. (S-5, A-54).
be in (the light of) Allah's mercy; therein to dwell (forever). (S- 12. Secret counsels are only (inspired) by Satan, in order that
3, A-106, 107). h e may cause grieves to the believers. But he cannot harm
them in the least, except as Allah permits. (S-58, A-10).
Similarly humiliating, mocking and jesting are also anyone. He has principles and regulations.
\
forbidden. ?&\j$b\GJy; & ~ -+Y j l3. Friends, devote yourselves whole heartedly for
& faults of others and to 'mention this efforts so that the Ummah of the Rasool SAW may
someone's actual short comings before others i.e. regain the Ummat-hood. The true faith and imaan may
backbiting are also forbidden. Backbiting is to
come into it. It may become and Umrnah having Zikr,
describe someone's actual evils before others.
Tasbeeh and Taleem, prostration before Allah,
'L&+ & 3 d ~ 7 \ 7 14
Humiliating, mocking, st;ying z e r s and performance of services (IGzidmah), tolerance and
backbiting; all these things break the 'Urrzmat-hood' respect & honour for others. It may become an
* Ummnh devoid of slander, disobedience, disgracing
by creating a division. All these things are
prohibited. Respecting and honouring each other, mocking, spying and backbiting the brothers and
which unite the Ummah, have been enjoined. c
friends. If this effort is made, the way it ought to be,
Expecting ones own respect from others is even at a single place; it will spread all over the
world.
prohibited because this dois not form the Urnrnah
Now arrange to combine people of different
rather ruins it. Unzmah will be formed when everyone
nations, regions classes and languages and send
decides about himself that he is not worthy of them in the path of Allah and get the adherence to
respect and therefore does not seek respect but
the principles. Irzsha-Allah the work for the formation
gives respect to others considering them worthy of
it. of the Umnralz will be done, and Satan and nafs will
When self-sacrifice will be rendered then the not be able to cause any harm.
Urnrrrnlz will be made up. When the Ummah will be
made up then the honour will be gained. Honour
and dishonour are not in the frame of Russia and
America. But they are in the hands of Allah and He
had laid principles and regulations. Any individual,
nation, family or class, which follows the principles
and performs the deeds for shining, will be made to
shine. Those adopting the path of destruction will
be punished. Yahood, who are the progeny of
prophets, violated the rules, so Allah kicked them to
pieces. The Sahnba RAA, who were the off springs of
idolaters, adopted the principles meant for shining,
so Allirlz made them shine. Allah has no kinship with
13. Let not some among you laugh a t others. It may be that
the (latter) are better, than the (former). (S-49, A-11).
14. And spy not on each other. Nor speak ill of each other
behind their backs. (S-49, A-12).