WHY I EMBRACED ISLAM?
(DEEP CHAND AHEER) Abdullah
An interview By Maulana Ahmad Awwah Nadvi
{A convert girl Hira was burnt alive by her father and Uncle for embracing Islam. She raising her hands towards the sky amidst the burning fire screamed "Oh My Allah! Thou are watching me (surely), Thee love me, Thy servant Hira. Yes my Allah! Thou loved the caves of Hira and also this burning Hira too. After getting Thy love I do not care for anything.}
Ahmed Awwah: Assalamoalaikum wa-rehmatullahi wa-barakatuhu.
Abdullah:
Walekum Assalam wa-rehmatullahi wa-barakatuhu.
Q:
Abdullah Bhai! You know a monthly magazine "Armughan" is published at
Phulat. There has been an ongoing series of interviews of the people who have
embraced ISLAM in it. I want to put certain questions to you in this respect.
A:
Ahmed Bhai (wiping his tears) why do you want to pollute the pages of this
sacred magazine by publishing affairs of a cruel and villain person like me
.
Q:
Oh no Abdullah Bhai! Abbi (my father Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui) desires to get
your interview published because your life presents a unique symbol of Allah's
omnipotence.
A:
May Allah blesses your father with long life, I regard myself his slave and
therefore bow before his command and I am ready to answer your questions.
Q:
Will you please introduce yourself?
A:
My real introduction is that I am the most cruel and worst type of human being,
resembling a beast.
Q:
It is only a sentimental introduction. Tell something about yourself and your family.
A:
I was born in an Ahir (cowherd men) caste family in a Rajput Muslim majority
village Budhana of district Muzaffar Nagar 42 or 43 years ago. My family was
staunch Hindu and engaged in criminal activities. My father and Uncle commanded
a gang of dacoits and committed all sorts of evil acts. In 1987 Meerut riots I
along with my father and relatives slaughtered about 25 Muslims. Then I joined
the Bajrang-Dal because I hated Muslims. In connection with Babri Masjid
demolition I killed many Muslims in Shamli and Budhana. I shot a notorious
Muslims gangster and then I committed a most heinous and barbaric act never
seen by anyone in this world. (He started weeping and continued it for some
time.)
Q:
Now tell me how you came in fold of Islam.
A:
There is Surah named Al-Burooj in the 30th para
(section) of the Holy Qur'an. Allah has told a story of people who were
destroyed, and killed in ditch of fire. Probably it refers to me. Please recite
the Arabic text about their destruction in ditches of fire.
Q: Qutila a[s]-[ha]bu
alukhdood(i(.A(l)nn[a]ri [tha]ti alwaqood(i(. I[th] hum AAalayh[a] quAAood (un(
بِسْمِ الله الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
085.004 قُتِلَ أَصْحَابُ
الأخْدُودِ
085.005 النَّارِ ذَاتِ
الْوَقُودِ 085.006 إِذْ هُمْ
عَلَيْهَا قُعُودٌ
Al-Qur'an, 085:004-006 (Al-Burooj [The Zodiacal Signs, The
Constellations])
A:
What would be Arabic translation of the phrase "Mercy was bestowed on
person inflicted with fire?
Q:
Raham Ashabal Ukhdu
A:
Yes if this verse is referred to me, it would have been so, Raham Ashabal Ukhdu
…
Q:
Now proceed further.
A:
My brother how can I tell you that my stone like heart and mouth do not allow
me to recite that event.
Q:
Even then please tell it so that others may take lesson
.
A:
Certainly, my embracing Islam can raise new hopes for such persons. When the
All-Merciful Lord Allah (Arhamar-rahimin) can bestow His blessing on a person
like me, then others should not give up hope of getting His mercy. Listen,
Ahmed Bhai! I had an elder brother and we two brothers loved each other
profoundly and committed all sorts of crimes and cruelty together. I had no
issues, but my brother had two daughters and two sons. His eldest daughter was
Hira. She was highly sentimental and either loved or hated someone just like a
mad person. Some times we thought that she was under some evil spirit and
consulted some exorcists also. But there was no change in her. She studied up
to 8thclass and then without permission of her elders filled High
school examination form. She worked in fields to pay fees and cost of the
books. She used to go to a Brahmin's family in neighbourhood for getting
tuitions from his daughter. The Brahmin's son was a ruffian. He seduced her and
eloped with her to a gang of criminals living in a jungle near Baraut. Hira was
upset because of fear of losing her honour and resultant infamy of her parents
and used to weep. One day a Muslim boy from Idreespur who was also member of
the same gang saw her weeping and enquired the reason. She confessed to him her
folly and told her apprehensions. The Muslim guy felt pity for her and declared
that as a Muslim he would always treat her as his sister and would protect her
honour. He also promised to take her out of the clutches of the gang. He
suggested to his associates that the girl had ample talents to serve the gang
and that she should be dressed like males. The suggestion was approved and she
used to wear male dresses. The Muslim boy kept his promise and in the night
took special care to protect her. On the members of gang became lenient towards
her. One day he managed to send Hira to his house in Idreespur and told his
younger brother to go to jungle and inform the gang member that people of
Baraut had handed the girl on some suspicions to the police. Accordingly, his
brother came to the jungle and informed the gangstets. Then he asked him to
send Hira to the police station in Baraut and narrate her story to police. A
FIR about Hira’s elopement was already lodged there. The lady police of Budhana
came to Baraut and took Hira to our house. We accepted her but were in fix how
to keep girl of loose morals. Hira told us that gang abducted her but she had
not lost her chastity. At first we didn't believe her but at the suggestion of
an educated relative we got her medical examination at Budhana Hospital. Doctor
gave her a clean chit and we brought her back to home. She
used to speak highly of that Muslim boy and praised Muslims. One day I saw some
religious books in Urdu given to her by Muslim neighbors. I beat her
mercilessly and threatened to kill her if she brought such books again in the
house. But she was under spell of Islam and her heart had accepted the new
faith. She went to a local Maulana with a Muslim school girl and embraced
Islam. She learnt how to pray and used to say it secretly. A great change took
place in her and instead of looking cheerful lass she looked sad and desperate.
One day she left the home and went to Maulana’s house at Phulat. Ahmed Bhai I think
she stayed for some days in your house also.
Q:
Oh Yes, Yes! Hira Baji! Where is she? All of us are concerned about her
welfare. She is a very nice lady. It is a surprise that you are her Uncle.
A:
Yes Ahmed Bhai! She was named Hira by your father. But the cruel & tyrant
killer uncle of the fair child is standing before you. (He starts
crying.)
Q:
Tell me where is Hira Baji?
A:
Brother I'm going to tell you the account of my barbaric act of tyranny. As you
know Maulana Saheb sent her to his sister's house at Delhi. There she got
homely treatment from your aunt and mother. One night she dreamt that her
mother had expired. She got up crying and requested Maulana Saheb to allow her
to go to her home. But your family members discouraged her from going home and
told her that her elder's would kill her. When she pressed very hard, Maulana
Saheb allowed her to go and told her to invite her family members to embrace
Islam and escape fire of hell. But Hira told him that they would never become
Muslim because they hated Islam. Maulana Saheb asked her to pray for success of
her mission. He told her that even if they killed her, she would get instant
admission into paradise and her martyrdom would be beneficial for the whole
family. Maulana Saheb told her to say two rakats of salah and pray to Allah and
then leave for Budhana. Hira acted on his advice and came to our house. I beat
her with shoes and kicked her. She informed us about her embracing Islam and
asserted that no one could stop her from living as a Muslim. Her mother died
after two month and she asked us to get her buried through local Muslims
because she had recited Kalma before her. But how could we accept this
proposal. We burnt her on a pyre. In order to check constant tension in the
house we sent her to her maternal uncle's house at Meerut. But after some time
he sent her back as he could not tolerate her Then I consulted some Bajrang Dal
worker's. They advised me to kill her. I dug a five feet deep pit on the bank
of a river. Her father and I myself took her on the pretext of going to her
aunt's residence. She took bath, wore new clothes and offered prayers before
coming with us. When we turned towards river, she laughed and asked to her
father if he was taking to her aunt's house or to her bridegroom's house.
(Cries for long)
Q:
(After giving him some water) Please complete your narrative.
A:
How could do I? I had 5 liters of petrol in my bag. We reached the pit and then
her cruel beast like uncle pushed the fair child in the pit and said how she
would save us from fire, as she is going to taste Hell fire first. I poured
petrol on her and lighted match stick. (Sobs uncontrollably) My brother
felt remorse and wanted to take her out. This enraged me and I dragged my brother
and left the place. My brother asked me to try once more to persuade her to
retrace her steps. But this added to my anger. While returning from inside the
pit, we heard loud chanting of "LA ILAAHA ILLALLAH". These words
purred into my callous heart. On return my brother fell ill and this shock took
away his life. Two days before his death, he called me and said, "Whatever
we did in the life cannot be rectified; now I could not die in peace till I
embrace the religion of Hira. Please bring some Maulana to me." I
collapsed to see my brother's condition. Then I went out and fetched the Imam
of our local mosque. My brother asked him to make him recite Kalma. Then he
recited the Kalma and declared his name as "Abdur Rehman". Then he
asked me to bury him as per Muslim rites. It was very difficult for me but in
order to obey his last desire I took him to Delhi Hospital where he died. Then
I approached a doctor at Hamdard Dawakhana who arranged his burial with the
help of some Muslim residents of Sangam Vihar.
Q:
This is quite strange. But you did not tell about your embracing Islam.
|
The fire caught her new clothes. She cried,
"Oh My Allah Thou is seeing me. My Allah that loves me, Thou loved the
cave of Hira and also loves Hira burning in this pit. I do not care anything
after Thine love." Then she called her father loudly and said
"Father do embrace Islam Cha-cha you also become Muslim.". |
A: I am telling you just now. My
enmity to Islam had receded but I was sad to see my brother die as a Muslim. I
was convinced that his wife would have also become a Muslim. I felt that some
Muslim has cost some spell round our house and therefore, my family members
were leaving ancestoral religion one by one. I consulted some Tantriks. One day
I was going to Oon on a bus owned and driven by a Muslim. A Qawwali tape was on
reciting the story of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) service to an old lady who
later on became a Muslim. This Qawwali changed my heart and I thought that the
story of this Prophet was really true. I got down at Jhinjhana and set out for
Shamli to get some information about Islam. In the bus for Shamli a speech by
Qari Haneef Saheb of Pakistan about death and hereafter was being relayed in a
recorded tape. In order to hear full speech I extended my journey up to
Muzaffar Nagar. The speech brought me closer to Islam. On return journey to
Budhana I asked a Maulana sitting by my side to help me in getting full
information about Islam. He advised me to contact Maulana Muhammad Kaleem
Siddiqui of Phulat. I headed for Phulat but Maulana was out and was expected
the next day. So I stayed there and a teacher gave me a book written by Maulana
Kaleem "Aapki Amanat Aapki Sewa Main" to read. The book and its
contents touched my heart and I longed for becoming a Muslim. Next evening I
meet Maulana Saheb and expressed my desire to embrace Islam. He became very
happy and taught me to recite Kalma and gave me new name "Abdullah".
This was 13th January 2000. I stayed with the Maulana Saheb in
the night and narrated him the brutal story of my atrocities' & beastly
conduct. The Maulana Saheb wept bitterly to hear about tragic death of Hira and
told me that she had lived with his sister. He consoled me by saying that by
embracing Islam Allah would forgive all my sins. But I remained dissatisfied
and said how such barbarous and heinous crimes could be pardoned. The Maulana
Saheb clarified "Embracing Islam gets one's previous sins pardoned".
Since you have killed so many Muslims now you should try to save their lives
and serve them. Holy Qur'an says that good deeds destroy sins. He advised me to
serve Muslims in misery and try to save and protect their lives. Fortunately
during Gujarat riots my Allah gave me ample opportunities to compensate for my
black deeds. I went there and posed like a Hindu and saved a number of Muslims.
I escorted them to places of safety. I used to attend the meetings of Violent
Hindus and disclose their evil designs to Muslims and help them to move to safe
places. You must have heard about miraculous escape of 400 Muslim children of a
Madrasa at Bhaonagar from arson and brutal attack of Hindus. This was I who
informed the police and then broke down the boundary wall of Madrasa so that
the innocent boys could escape before the mob could arrive and put the Madrasa to
fire. I rendered such services for about three months. But even then I was not
sure that my sins could be condoned. Then Maulana Kaleem once again assured me
that Allah can do so and that I should not give up hopes to get His blessing
and mercy. He also advised me to join Tablighi Jamaat to get detailed
information about Islam and Shariat. I asked him to give me two months to make
necessary arrangement. I sold my property and lands in the village and shifted
to Delhi. I went in Jamaat tours for the whole year and got my wife, nephews
and nieces converted to Islam. But still my heart remains gloomy and sad about
my ghastly acts of tyranny and cruelty. Maulana Kaleem Saheb asked me to recite
Holy Qur'an specially surah Burooj (surah no. 85) and its translation
repeatedly. What a graphic truth has been revealed fourteen hundred years
before by all knowing Allah who knows future happenings. Ahmed Bhai if you read
surah Burooj specially its verses 4 to 9 where it has been stated
085.004
قُتِلَ
أَصْحَابُ الأخْدُودِ 085.005
النَّارِ ذَاتِ الْوَقُودِ 085.006
إِذْ
هُمْ عَلَيْهَا قُعُودٌ 085.007
وَهُمْ عَلَى مَا يَفْعَلُونَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ شُهُودٌ 085.008
وَمَا
نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلا أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ 085.009
الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضِ وَاللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ
شَهِيدٌ Woe to the makers of the pit (of fire),
Fire supplied
(abundantly) with fuel: Behold! They sat over against the (fire), And they
witnessed (all) that they were doing against the Believers. And they
ill-treated them for no other reason than that they believed in Allah, Exalted
in Power, Worthy of all Praise!- Him to Whom belongs the dominion of the
heavens and the earth! And Allah is Witness to all things. Perish the fellows
of the ditch of the fuel fed fire. When they sat by at it and were witness to
what they did with the faithful. And they persecuted them for naught save that
they believed in Allah the mighty the laudable; Him whose domain is the heavens
and the earth. And Allah is witness over everything's." I still hear the
echo of last words of Hira "Oh my Allah Thou is seeing me Thou loves me
and also The Cave of Hira. I do not require anything else after thee. Then she
called her father and said ‘Father do embrace Islam and Cha-cha you also become
a Muslim. (He starts weeping and crying bitterly)
Q:
It is gratifying that you acted on her advice. You are very lucky that Allah
changed the darkness of tyranny into light of Islam.
A:
Yes Allah who loved Hira accepted her recommendation otherwise such a beastly
tyrant like me could never get this blessing.
Q:
Thank you so much, Abdullah Bhai!
A:
Ahmed Bhai, do pray or me that Allah enables me to do something to compensate
for my deadly sins. I feel a bit relieved on my doings in Gujarat and get
comfort from reading Qur'an. (Allah Hafiz. (May God keep you in His protective
care.)
Armughan
Monthly Magzine
February 2005
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