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The vastness of his empire can be measured from the fact that
its boundaries reached from Hind and Tartar to the Atlantic
Ocean. The whole of the Islamic world, except Andalusia, was
under his command. Rome and Greece too were dependant states.
He has an outstanding position among the Abbasids because
of his wisdom, astuteness, determination, valour, generosity,
and ambitiousness. His appreciation and encouragement of artisans
and skilled people attracted them from far and wide to his
court. He was a firm believer and observer of the rules of
the Shariah. He never delayed his salah except in illness;
he alternated each year in jihad and ziarah of the Ka'bah
sending a group of 300 hajis from his own expense when he
was absent himself. When he did go, he took with him a great
number of scholars and jurists.
You must know by now that I am talking about the famous Abbasid
Caliph, Haroon Rashid who came to rule in 107 Hijrah. A childhood
friend of Haroon Rashid was Hadhrat Sufyan Thuri (rahimuhullah
'alaihe). When he became the Khalifah, Haroon Rashid wished
several times to see his friend but he was a man of God and
uninterested in worldly things. He ignored the Caliph. Annoyed,
the ruler wrote him a letter, "From Haroon Rashid to
Brother Sufyan, Brother, you know that Allah has bound the
Muslims in a link of Ukhuwwah. The relationship between me
and you is still alive. All my old friends came to congratulate
me and I returned them with valuable gifts. I am sorry that
you have not come; I would have myself but it is against the
dignity of the status of Khilafah."
Hadhrat Sufyan Thuri answered back, "From frail Sufyan
to Haroon, adorer of wealth, You have admitted in your letter
that you have wasted the Muslims' wealth in unnecessary and
expensive gifts. You are still not satisfied and want me also
to give evidence of your lavishness on the Day of Judgment.
Haroon, you should be prepared to answer before Allaah. You
sit on a grand throne and wear garments of silk; your door
is always guarded, your ministers drink themselves but punish
others for drinking; they fornicate themselves but cut the
hands of thieves. Haroon, the day will come when your hands
will be tied fast and you will lead your cruel ministers to
the gates of Hell.
I have paid my due of compassion, and now, never write to
me again!" When Haroon read the letter he gave a loud
cry and wept for a long time. He was a softhearted person
with eyes ready to run. Mansoor bin 'Ammar says that in that
time three people were the most tender hearted whose fear
of Allaah made them weep often; one was Fudhayl bin 'Ayyadh,
the second Abu 'Abdur Rahman Zahid, and the third Khalifah
Haroon Rashid. One day Haroon asked him the meaning of the
ayah "wa taqatta 'u bi humul asbaab". He replied
that on the Day of Judgment all worldly ties will be broken.
Hearing this the Khalifah broke out in loud sobs.
Allaah loves the tears that flow in fear of His wrath or repentance
of sins. Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihe wasallam) says that
two drops are worth more than anything in the sight of Allaah,
one the drop that falls (from the eye) in fear of Him, and
the second, the drop that falls from a mujahid's body in the
way of God.
Hadhrat Anas bin Malik (radiyallahu ta'ala 'anhu) reports
that Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihe wasallam) said, "The
one who remembered Allaah and his tears wet the ground of
His (Allaah's) fear, will not be given punishment on the day
of Qiyamah."
The wish comes repeatedly in my mind that if there had been
a Sufyan Thuri now he could have addressed the Prime Minister
thus, "Respected Prime Minister, there is a lot of talk
of your wealth, your intelligence and shrewdness; your graciousness
and ability. You have started your term with the noble deed
of 'Umrah and the ziarah of the grav of (Rasulullah sallallahu
'alaihe wasallam). Congratulations on such a beginning.
Are you unaware of the facts that from years on end the ummah
of the Rasul (sallallahu 'alaihe wasallam) has been avalanched
with troubles, difficulties, and tribulations. Its body is
wounded seriously from head to foot; the whole world's non-believers
are making it a target. Enemies aside even friends don't refrain
from aiming at it. Everywhere the believers are faced with
derision, taunts, accusations, threats, shackles, and lynches.
Each country and each city has become a "Taif".
Respected Prime Minister you too must have heard the cries
of the women and children of WANA. God has given you a chance;
for His sake, do something for the weeping, moaning, crying
nation! Give it a helping hand, try to feel their hurt and
assuage it. The blood of Muslims is very precious; do not
allow others to play with it. Fear the lamentations of widows
and orphans.
Sir! You are aware that the foundations of this country were
laid on the words, "La ilaa ha" but our rulers have
forgotten the true God and started worshipping false ones.
If you establish the law of the true God in this country,
the prosperity of both worlds will be at your feet.
Respected Prime Minister! Each person in this country is corrupt.
Bribery begins from the top and ends at the basest level;
there is no justice available; inflation has broken our backs,
unemployment is widespread; thieves, robbers, muggers reign
supreme. Peace is nowhere to be found, fear is rampant. Come
forward and cut the hands off the thieves, break the claws
of the tyrants, spread smiles on the faces of the oppressed,
the hungry, the poor; give out justice……if you
are successful in accomplishing all this, your fate will be
sealed with glory here and hereafter.
But if this fails to happen, remember! The Day of Judgment
will be a day of severity. You will have to pay for the tyranny
of each minister, secretary, and soldier. When all of them
head towards Hell, God forbid that you be their "Prime
Minister".
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