Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Ihtasham-ul-Haq thanvi (rahimahullah) was a matchless and distinguished orator of his age. His speech was rich with Arabic, Urdu, Persian verses and fables. The beautiful way to relate Maulana Roomi's (rahimahullah) fables and stories enhanced his discourse. In his speech once he narrated story of a prince who was brought up among women. As the company a man keeps has always its effect on him, thus the prince had developed womanish qualities. He had developed in him the same style of walking, speaking and accent as women posses-- similar whims and caprices, blandishments and delicacy. One day a loud noise rose in the seraglio of the palace as someone had seen a snake crawling across the hall. All the princesses and slave girls in the palace were shouting in fear, 'call some man immediately'. Hearing them, the prince also began shouting in the similar way; 'call some man immediately'. A slave girl asked for his pardon and told him that he himself was a man too. Then the prince realized that he was a man. This story came to my mind after listening to the similar, delicate, womanish statements of a number of politicians and reading colorful articles of many columnists of our beloved country. There is a noise everywhere that is tearing eardrums and rending hearts, that the US attack on Iraq is due in a few days. Not weeks but a few days are left. After that it will be Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan's turn to meet the same fate. At this critical moment the whole nation must rise to launch organized protests so that Pakistan could be prevented from joining the American camp. It appears from the talks, speeches and writings of many people when they lament on the silence, insensitiveness and cowardice of political and religious parties and their leaders that their hearts sore with the pain of the oppressed Ummah. But a glance on their practical and social life shows no trace of such pain. Every one wants others to stand, raise voice and protest but not him. They do not want any irregularity in their daily routine, merriment and luxuries. The most disgusting attitude that is being observed now a days is that what ever grave and adverse situation our Ummah suffers from, we are not ready to forget or set aside our personal and political differences for a while. We do not give up the bad habit to surpass or degrade others. Hero-worship and party bias is on the peak in our society, a glimpse of which is clearly visible from the comments of a notable columnist who is famous for changing ideals and using abusive language for religious leaders. Though in order to compare compassion of his favorite leader with the negligence and callousness of other leaders he quotes his leader saying that when in London he saw the demonstration of two million people on television, his head hang down in shame. He considers his leader's hanging head in shame before television as expiation of all his sins and has a complaint that others could not even hang their heads in shame. An other person terms a few flaring speeches made in the meeting of his beloved party as spring in the desert of uncertainty and disparity ness and it gives him hope that some self-esteemed, brave and courageous people are still present in Pakistan. But a demonstration of millions of people organized by parties he has some personal differences with is of no importance in his eyes. He does not like even to mention it. How can we make these sorts of people understand that the time demands us not to demonstrate mutual differences, vilify others or lament their insensitiveness. It is the time that keeping aside personal differences and interests we should join hands to confront the situation. We are hearing Pharaoh's proclamations of being God with our own ears. The harsh faces and stiff conceited necks of Qaroon, Haman and Namrud are again waving before our eyes; the sight of Tartars' cruelty and thirst of blood still lurches in our minds; the wounds that were inflicted in the near past have not healed yet; despite trying not to hear, the cries of innocent children of the shuhadah who were martyred at Torabora, Dasht-e-Laila and Jangi Qila and the sobs of their old parents and widows still resound in our ears; but now the enemy is preparing to inflict a deeper wound on us. The resources, reservoirs, possessions of the entire Muslim nation are on stake. When a few men drunk in power become beasts they shed pools of blood and ruin number of villages and towns. But now the whole leadership of Europe and America, intoxicated in power has become a vampire that is all eager to suck the blood of Muslims. The intentions of the west are not new or surprising but the strange and grievous thing is that the Muslims who are victims of these atrocities; who are going to be inflicted a new humiliation, a new injury, whose economic resources are in danger are still negligent. Some of them are still incautious, some are so engrossed in their own affairs that they are not willing to see what is going on around them, and some hold political and party differences dearer to every thing. We are able to do a lot of things but not willing to do. A speaker can awake the nation from sleep with his speech. A writer can teach the lesson of honor, self-esteem and valor to his friends and the nation as well. A trader and capitalist can lend financial support to those who are laying down their lives for the sake of Ummah. A leader becoming a role model for his party can turn all its members into a devoted army. But alas! We have forgotten our masculinity. Inspired by masculine qualities, women and effeminates have learned to live like men but on the other hand living in their company we have developed their qualities. Seeing the Djali snakes we are shouting and calling out for a man to kill these snakes. Would that someone made us realize that we are men too.
Go ahead, gird up and pray to Allah; utilize the capabilities He has bestowed upon you and leave no stone unturned to crush the hood of this hissing, poisonous snake. If others are silent, you ought to break the ice; if others have closed eyes, you must open; if others are paralyzed by their so-called rationality and desires then you should be active. Oh that! Some pious man of Allah made us realize our masculinity, our being a Muslim, our shortcomings, our responsibilities, intentions of our enemies and dangers looming over our heads.