Islam Blog

The following is a transcript of a lecture given by Tawfique Chowdhury on the topic ‘Once we were Men.’ The speaker talks about the importance of ‘true men’ and how valuable they are for any nation. Especially the Muslim Ummah. I’ve divided it in to 3 parts for ease in reading.

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Once Umar (ra) came to the companions and said ‘Make a wish!’ So some of the companions said that ‘I wish this whole room was filled with gold so that I could give it in the path of Allah . Another one said, I wish this whole room was filled with precious gems, so I could give it in the path of Allah .

Umar (ra) said, I wish this room was filled with people like the companions of Prophet Muhammad , and he mentioned the name of a few of them, so that I can raise the word of Allah high. Umar (ra) knew that the greatest natural resource of a country is not in its wealth, but it is in the true men of the country. The men who can be called men.

And I’m sure brothers and sisters you will agree, that these men are truly the most precious than any gold or any silver and any gems and any pearls. Many countries have lots of armor and weapons. But what good are they without true men using it. Many have good education and knowledge. But what good is it, without men teaching it to the people. Many countries have great projects, but what is the use without men leading these projects.

Brothers and sisters in Islam. Truly the value of a nation is not in its wealth. Alhamdulillah, the Muslim ummah has a lot of wealth. But what we need is men who can move mountains. They had men who could capture the sea. And subhanallah, it is for this reason that there is an authentic hadeeth in the saheeh of Bukhari (rh) in the chapter of Janzah. In the time of Marwan and in the time of Umar bin Abdul Aziz (rh) there was a small earthquake in Madeenah because of this the rooftop of the grave of Prophet Muhammad fell down. And when it crashed down a pair of legs became visible and the people became very amazed and thought that they were the legs of Prophet Muhammad . Even Umar bin Abdul Aziz (rh) was bewildered. Then Abdullah ibn Zubair (ra) said no these are the legs of Umar (ra). How many years was it since the death of Umar (ra)? Thirty years! And the grave had not eaten his body. How can the earth eat up a man who was true man? No, it truly cannot. Ibn masood (ra) states in an authentic hadeeth, we have never ceased to be powerful since the Islam of Umar (ra). Prophet Muhammad also prayed that Islam be made strong through one of two people, Umar (ra) or Abu Jahal.

My Brothers and Sisters in Islam, describe Umar (ra) to me. The companions would say he was a tall man. He was very bald. He was very very thin. He didn’t have six packs, he didn’t body build, he wasn’t a mister universe! But he was a true man. These (muscular bodies) are not the criteria of true men. These are not the characteristics that describe a strong man for us. In our times, people say by being strong or by being beautiful, you can enter yourself in the ten most sexiest people, then you are truly a man! And the women say, ‘This is a man!’ and they go weak in the legs. But in case of Umar (ra), the women would run away. Even the shaytaan himself would run away! Such was Umar (ra), a true man.

When Umar (ra) accepted Islam, what did he do? He bathed, then he prayed, then he went to the ka’bah and made tawaaf. Then he said, if there is anyone among you who wants to make his mother cry, who wants to widow his wife! Who wants to make is child an orphan, let him follow me down this valley. Follow me if you dare! This is Umar (ra). My dear brothers and sisters, Umar (ra) wasn’t (physically) strong, he wasn’t a super-human. But what he had was strength of character and strength of eeman. This is true manhood, this is Islam, which is missing in our Ummah.

To be continued