‘Feel proud, sing Vande Mataram’

Mummy, God will scold him and punish him. See what they do in the God's temple?
A little child tells her mother while watching a movie in a theatre. The hero in the film proposes the actress to marry him, leaving the child startled.

Almighty is saviour, rescuer and messiah. He reduces the sorrow and brings us out of pain. Every religion calls the God as the one who reduces the pain. Temple, mosque, gurdwara or church, all are places where human beings go to lessen their pain.

God knows what is inside us, what do the Antaratma think, and the Almighty gives a chance to everyone to come on a true way. It could be a thorny way, but, my brother, the invaluable things cannot be availed easily. As poet Pritam says, Hari No Marag Che Shurano, Nahi Kayar nu Kaam Jone, Pratham Pahelu Mastak Muki, Valta Levu Naam Jone. (The way to God is not easy and is not a work of a coward, first give your head and than take his name)

Yes, the way to God is of sacrifice, devotion and dedication. Hazrat Ibrahim showed to crores of Muslims the way to God by sacrificing his son. Other religions say the same thing.

Someone once asked Mohammad Paigambar Saheb, "Who has the right to get my utmost respect?" Paigambar Saheb, without delay, answered, "Your Mother. It is your mother who you should give the utmost respect." The surprised believer asked, "Who after her?" Paigambar Saheb again said, "Your mother."

Your mother is the one who brought you in this world and so the first three places to get utmost respect from you should be your mother, the fourth place goes to your Father. There is the heaven beneath your mother's feet. You want to see the heaven, it is there. The person who respects his mother is God's favourite.

Paigambar Saheb's father died when he was very young and was brought up by his uncle Abu Talib, who never became a Muslim or accepted the Islam till his last breath. Paigambar Saheb always said that to respect other's religion is the primary and most pious work of a true Muslim. He also says that the land where you live is your motherland and loyalty to it is the duty of a true Muslim.

There are some who raise issues whether we should sing Vande Mataram or not. If there is heaven beneath mother's feet, the duty of a true Muslim is to give respect to a mother. If it is a duty of a true Muslim to see that anyone's feelings are not hurt, than singing 'Vande Mataram' can never be against Islam.

Every Muslim reading Namaz bows to it with his forehead, we also bow to the motherland during the tour of pious Haj. If a Hindus believes that our land is our mother, it is the duty of a true Muslim to respect his feeling. Apart from that, there should not be a debate on that our land is our mother.

Motherland gives us food, fulfils all our requirements and we take our last breath in her lap. My heart, and my understanding too, says that I understand Islam in this manner. I will say that every Indian Muslim will be proud of singing Vande Mataram.

Let us keep away from such unnecessary issues and focus more on education and nourishment, so that the Muslim brothers too can became an integral part of this great Nation and speak to increase the glory of nation. Vande Mataram, Jai Hind.  
(The author is Director General of Police, Gujarat)