Can We Emulate the Moral Courage of Great Muslim Leaders?
By Shameem Habiba
US
My cousin’s husband, Mr. Anwar Hussain of Toronto, emailed me these pictures showing Huzoor Nizam, the late king of Hyderabad [may Allah grant him a high place in Janna] visiting the Public Gardens.
You’ll notice that the King, purported to be the richest man on earth at that time, is dressed very shabbily. Seeing him dressed like that reminded me of an incident I had heard of years ago when he was still alive. I summarized it as follows:
A delegation had come from Delhi to request a donation for paving the floor of the Badshahi Masjid. He gave the full amount required for this project from his personal funds. After this delegation had departed, a courtier came to say goodbye to him because he was going to Delhi to attend the urus of Nizamuddin Aulia [urus is the gathering held on the death anniversary of a holy man]. The Nizam asked him to buy a blanket for his personal use, and asked how much it would cost. He was given a less expensive and a more expensive choice. He opted for the less expensive one and prepaid the courtier for this purchase.
A monarch who had spent his personal treasure for building educational institutions like the Mehboobia School, Nizam College and the Osmania University [I attended and benefited from all three], the Osmania Free Hospital where I had my tonsils out, saved money by going for the cheaper blanket. He invested in the health and education of the common man of his kingdom rather than dress in grandiose clothes or live an ostentatiously grand lifestyle.
The Nizam’s clothes reminded me of an incident in Islamic history. After the Muslims had captured Jerusalem, Hazrath Omar [may Allah be pleased with him] entered the city leading his camel and with the person who looked after it riding on it. On the long road to Jerusalem they had taken turns in riding the camel, as they had only one. It so chanced that it was Hazrath Omar’s turn to be leading the camel when they were approaching the city. When the Christian high priest, who was waiting to receive the Khalifa, the leader of the Muslim Caliphate, saw this, he naturally assumed that Hazrath Omar, who was also dressed the same as the camel driver, was the servant. He was also surprised that they should enter Jerusalem without any fanfare or with a long retinue of courtiers.
The Muslim Ummah is in dire need of financial support for building educational institutions and for other social causes. Can we have the courage to be like Khalifa Omar in simplicity, and emulate the Nizam of Hyderabad so that the Ummah can survive and progress? Wouldn’t we want our beloved Prophet Muhammad, may Allah’s peace be upon him, to be pleased with us on the Day of Judgment?
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