A SILLY URDU POEM DENIGRATING MUSLIMS OF INDIAN SUBCONTINENT

Reviewed By

SAYEED AKHTAR

August 2010

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Background: I received a letter on 15 Aug 2010 from a friend of mine Mr. Salim Shaikh of Bombay.
An Urdu poem was attached. The letter had following sentences.

It is worth reading. Unfortunately most of our Muslim brothers in India and Pakistan are
practicing Islam as Panditji has correctly narrated in the following verses.

Best Regards.

=======================================================
Here is my reply sent to Mr. Salim Shaikh. After few days the same poem was sent to me from
another friend Mr. Akhtar Baqa from Canada. At the Bottom is my reply to Mr. Baqa.

================================================================
Aadarniye Pandit Salim Shaikh Ji Ko Sa-dar Pranam,
(आदरनिये पंडित शैख़ सऱीम जी को सादर प्रणाम)
‫سالم احترام‬
ِ ّ
‫عزت مآب پنڈت سلیم شیخ جی کی خدمت میں‬

Immediately after today‟s Iftaar, I did receive your „worth reading‟ and worth pondering forwarded
email. Breaking the fast was thus followed by the shattering of my notions about personalities. I get
such materials regularly in my mail; however my filters take such material directly into the box where
they belong.

„Unfortunately‟ this poem has been sent by you and has your seal of approval. I have placed you at a
higher pedestal. This „worth reading‟ mail needed my immediate and serious consideration and here
are my initial reactions – little harsh no doubt but no malice intended.

1. Forget about Panditji‟s nonsense; I am shocked because by proxy you have declared all the
people of our subcontinent as MUSHRIK. I am now fully convinced that your thought process is
based on that rash and rigid „puritan‟ philosophy which encouraged killing of Sufis, Shias and all
those who visit shrines of Muslim saints. This is the philosophy which created Taliban and which gave
Islam such a bad name.

2. Shree Salim Ji Aap to Mahaan Nikle. Ek Pandit Ki Maamooli Kavita Se Aap Ne Is Baat Ko
Sach Samajh Liya Ki “TUM BHI MUSHRIK HUM BHI MUSHRIK”. Salim sahib you may equate
yourself with Panditji and agree with the view that you both indulge in the non-forgivable sin known as
Shirk. However for God‟s sake, please count me out of this equation.

3. Do you really think that worshipping an idol is same as showing reverence to a Sufi Saint.?
If you think so, please try to read and understand the deep meanings behind two words viz.
Ta‟abbud and Ta‟azzum
4. I have seen many „puritans‟ from very close quarters, from the land where this inanity started –
not from a distant place. I know how intellectually and spiritually bankrupt these people are. Their
ideas about general Muslims are almost same as that of Pandit Shankar Dayal Shrama.
„Unfortunately‟ there is a great resemblance between “Pandit Ji” and “Shaikh Ji” too.
In Persian / Urdu poetry “Shaikh” and “Brahmin / Pandit” appear as antonyms. Your email shows that
these two words are now synonyms.

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5. As regards “Sajda” there are lots of misconceptions in the minds of shallow thinkers. For your
information, in the most wise and sacred book “Quran”, story of mankind starts with the mandatory
commandment to perform Sajda. The order of Sajda to Non-Allah was given by The Lord Almighty
Himself. All the angels prostrated before Adam and the only entity which refused to do so was Iblees
(better know as Shaitan). I for one shall always like to stand with angels, not devils.

To give you another example from the Holy Quran, the whole story of Prophet Yusuf (Alaihis Salaam)
starts with a dream of Sajda and ends with an actual Sajda.
A senior Prophet and father (Yaqoob Alaihi Salam ) and all family members prostrate before Yusuf.
Show me one verse in Quran where it has been condemned. Don‟t take shelter in weak Hadeeth.

You have got full right to call illiterate simple Indian Muslims like me as Qabar Parast, Peer Parast,
Wali Parast etc. Considering oneself absolutely super grade Muslims and others as Kaafirs and
Mushriks has become a fashion these days. This practice itself is un-Islamic. It has been one of the
major factors in creating major divisions in Ummah.

6. According to Shariat‟s ruling, Sajda is Haraam. (Drinking wine is also Haraam, This is to
mention its legal status). It is neither Shirk nor Kufr. Wisdom to make Sajda as Haram has been that it
might lead to Shirk; but prostrating itself is not Shirk. One can commit Shirk even without bowing.
Shirk occurs due to condition of the heart and does not depend on body posture. „Fortunately‟ this
capability of x-raying the condition of heart has not been given either to Panditji nor Shaikhji. These
so called Tauheedwalas who are calling others as Bida‟ati and Mushriks, are doing what the Christian
missionaries are doing. All others except them will go to Hell. Does making false propaganda make
Salafis and Christians same?

7. Two acts which may look outwardly similar may be as different as hell and heaven. Sleeping
with a prostitute and with one‟s wife – act wise it is not only similar but actually it is same. But one is a
major sin and the other one is blessed by Creator and His vicegerent and beloved (pbuh).
Hence one should use “Aql-e-Salim” before giving the certificate of appreciation to Panditji with
expressions like “Correctly Narrated”.

8. Panditji starts his poem with EK HI PRABHU KI POOJA (Worshipping the same GOD). Does
the poor, simple , not-convent educated Muslim with names like Bafati, Jumman, Kallan who visit
Ajmer do also visit Pushakar (only few kilometers away) and make the Aarti to Brahma? You willl find
lakhs of Shashi Tharoors, Ekta Kapoors at Muslim shrines. Do you find any Jumman in the line to
pay homage to the Kaalis or Durgas or Laxmis or at Trupati? Poor Jumman Mian may not have read
any book in life but he knows who Allah is, who Nabi is and who is Wali and what is the hierarchy.
What is a mosque and what is a Dargah. His concepts are crystal clear. In fact many highly educated
sophisticated Muslims who consider themselves great thinkers should take basic lessons on these
matters from Jumman and Kallan. What a nonsense this expression Ek Hi Prabhu Ki Pooja !.

Hindus themselves do not worship the same God and you are propagating the theory that Muslims
and these Hindus of India are on the same level as regards prayers are concerned. I am truly
shocked.

9. Pandit Shankar Dayal Sharma from Asthan Chowk writes poem. Saadi , Jaami , Hafiz and Melvi
Jalaluddin from Rum also write poems. AreSharmas and Rumis same? I am sure if you would have
spent time in reading Maulana Rum instead of Pandit Sharma, you would never have sent this „worth
reading‟ masterpiece to me.

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ٰIn a nutshell one can say : ‫شیخ جی نےبرہمن کو داد دی‬
But the correct situation is: ‫شیخ جی نےبرہمن کو مات دی‬

Pandit Salim Ji, I can discuss each and every line of that silly poem, but I don‟t want to waste much
more time on this during this holy month. Even taking Panditji‟s poem seriously will be a non-serious
act.

I gave my frank opinions only because it has been appreciated, recommended and forwarded by you
as if Pandit Sharma‟s words are pearls of wisdom.

Pandit Sharma has declared that “Dozakh Men Hamare Sath Honge Aap Bhi”. Just as I wrote in point
2 above, I have no objection in your agreeing with Panditji as regards each other‟s final destination,
however, please count me out. I would never like to stand with either such “Shaikh” or this great
“Pandit”.

Salim Shaikh sahib you did hold such high position in Middle East. You have travelled all over the
world. I used to admire your writings when you were in Dubai. After settling in Bombay, what has
happened?

I am fully aware that lots of activities which are going on in the Muslim shrines are at par with the
activities in the Hindu Math / Temples. Shameless mujaawirs instead of being Khadims have become
Makhdooms. Ninety five percent of them are ignorant of basic teachings, the contribution or the life
events of those saints in whose name they earn their livelihood. Drinking and serving liquor is a
matter of pride for them. It is a fact and this truth has given bad name to the institution of Dargahs,
Khaquahs and bogus Sufis.

But you must keep this in mind that we also see many Muslims who are regular in the daily prayers
are big liars, frauds, greedy and arrogant tyrants to the weaklings. In that case will we outright
condemn the institution of Salaat? Emphasis should be on bringing back the desired qualities
expected in the institution and not abusing, cursing and condemning the institution based on the
characters of those misfit individuals associated with the institution.

I am sorry Salim sahib that I am expressing myself in non-diplomatic and politically incorrect manner.
Reading this „worth reading‟ mail has disappointed me. I am hurt. I have a weakness - I can‟t stand
something cheap or mediocre. After reaching certain age, one must acquire certain maturity in
deciphering right & wrong; good or evil.

Finally let me assure you that Indian Muslims are practicing Islam much better than those mindless
and heartless puritans and Islamists who in the name of Tauheed have made mockery of Islam.

Yours Truly,
Sayeed Akhtar
‫زہر ہالہل کو کبھی کہ نہ سکا قند‬
ِ ‫جو‬

Please try to forward this mail to those who forwarded that poem to you
============================================================

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Janab Akhtar Baqa sahib, Assalamo Alaikum !

I did receive few days back that poem which has great recommendation from you. It has been
described as "beautiful" and “an eye opener for Muslims”.

For your information the same beautiful poem was sent to me earlier by Mr. Salim Shaikh – elder
brother of our friend Sharif Shaikh. I had replied him very quickly and that communication is also
attached here for your perusal. Mr. Shaikh took my reply sportingly and was thankful. We admire
each other‟s sincere and serious thoughts.

I could not reply to you so quickly because first of all there was nothing inputted by you. You did not
add a single sentence of your own. Replying to you was a challenge for me since it became a case of
replying to silence. In this mail your contribution is only to choose option “Forward”, select some
people whom you want to make agreeable with Pandit's idea and press “SEND” button. Thus you
joined the group of those forwarding agents who consider such forwarding acts as great service to the
cause of “pure” Islam.

Moreover there is one other reason for the delay in replying. Our eyes are closed so tightly that in
spite of your “eye opener” solution my eyes took great time in opening even after waking up. I am
sure your intention was good in providing such beautiful aid to increase my “‫“ بصارت‬. However since
you are doing such great service to the cause of Islam, you must be ready for the consequences.
Great service providers always had opposition from fools like me who do not understand the „depth‟
behind „great‟ works like this 'beautiful' poetry.

To be serious, as per my humble knowledge, this sort of emails are very bad for “Basaarat” and also
very dangerous for Baseerat “‫بصیرت “ ۔‬.

You might have noticed that I have added the word "SO CALLED" in the subject heading.

Akhtar Baqa sahib, first of all we must be careful regarding a basic principle of Islam. Before you pass
on some “wisdom of pearls” to others, please check its authenticity. This poem is fake, false, phony
and forged. Chattisgarh is not a district as mentioned. It is itself one of the states in India. The
„learned‟ people who are circulating this great work lack the art of telling the lies smartly. When they
used this name Chattisgarh, they should have used the city as Raipur not Rampur.

After authenticity, one must analyze its accuracy. I am sure these people who are doing "Wah Wah"
to this poem have no knowledge of the subtle differneces between Shirk, Kufr, Haraam, Halaal,
Mabaah, Makrooh etc. If you apply little bit of intelligence, you will realize that it is their ill intention to
insult those simple people who visit shrines of those saints who brought Islam to this vast Indian
Subcontinent. Until and unless these „erudite‟ trouble makers curse these great pious souls, their dirty
Nafs does not get satisfied.

Will you do one favor? Instead of becoming such a “forward” type, for a change go little steps
backwards. You being „z‟ passed this „classic‟ to me. You got it from „y‟ i.e. Nadeem Jamshed. We
know „x‟ i.e. Asif Naqvi who wrote to 'y' . Let „x‟ write‟ to „w‟ and 'w' to 'v'. Thus let each one in the
chain write to the one in reverse order. If everyone is morally honest, we all will have the great initial
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source ‟a‟ which is taking the shelter behind Pandit's Dhoti. We have stooped so much morally and
spiritually that to malign our own simple brothers we take the refuge of the Mushriks and call the
peace loving Muslims as Mushrikeen. Shame on such mischief makers. !

Once we make the list, it can be very easily ascertained that behind these „eye openers‟ there are
those Islamists whose knowledge of Islam is limited to two words viz. “Shirk” and “Bid‟at”. They
neither understand Islam, Tasawuuf nor HInduism.They have no understanding about the finer
aspects of Islam. They are giving bad names to Islam and are enemy of higher values preached by
Islam.

Should I expect that the “Inverse List” of the mischief makers who are behind these „eye-openers‟ will
be prepared and sent to me? Once these 'true grand personalities' come in open instead of taking
shelter in the robe of a Hindu Pandit, I would then give much detailed rebuttal to that counterfeit and
„snake oil‟ poem word by word.

I consider your favorite poem of the Pandit (whose false name has been un-intelligently used) not as
eye-opener but as a symbol of shallow knowledge of the Salafis/Islamists. They have created a new
version of Islam. They create a society of “Shaqiul Qalb” members like those brutal killers, mindless
security staff and heartless bystanders in the recent “Sialkot tragedy”. They are bunch of confused
guys. They believe in killings and slaughters and their workers and volunteers are soiling the print and
internet media with works that act as catalyst for “sealing the hearts” of ignorants and innocents.

Baqa sahib, I can not be goody goody for the sake of our friendship since you have declared
subcontinent's Muslims as Mushriks. This is my sincere advice that please don‟t be a pawn in the
hands of those who indulge in mud splashing. You are my friend for many decades and I am proud of
our friendship. I earnestly think that if you had sent me a bottle-opener or can-opener you would have
contributed better.

With best wishes from

One Akhtar to Another Akhtar

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