| [My only request to Muslim brothers is to sympathize with grief stricken people like us who got divine guidance but their parents are burning in hell fire. They should realize this tragedy and attend to the responsibility given to them by Prophet Muhammad.] |
Q: Abdul Rahman Saheb Alsalam
Alaikum. I was eager to meet you since long when you wrote a letter to
late Maulana Ali Mian Saheb which was published in ARMUGHAN. You have
come here on the right time because your interview would be quite useful
for ARMUGHAN which regularly publishes interviews of fortunate Muslim
converts. I wanted your interview for the September issue.
A: It is a
good step indeed. I have to consult Maulana Kaleem Saheb on a number of
issues. In Hyderabad, many of my friends mention you and ARMUGHAN off
and on. There, various papers interviews of ARMUGHAN are published and
are being appreciated and are giving great fill up to the cause of
Dawah. From Warangal many people are planning to visit Phulat and meet
you. All of us are very pleased that you too have joined Hazrat's
mission.
Q: Thanks for your complements Janab Abdul Rahman Saheb. Please
introduce yourself.
A: Years ago on 13th August 1954 I was
born in the house of a reputed businessman of Warangal and was named
Anil Rao. I joined school there and after getting degrees of B.Sc. and
M.Sc. in Physics, registered for P.H.D. Q: With such high qualifications
how and why did you go to Hardwar and Rishikesh? A: My father wanted me
to marry in a good household but I was reluctant to be tied in such
bondage. When my father exerted more pressure on me I ran away to
Haridwar. I wanted to lead a life of Brahma Chariya. I belonged to an
Arya Samaji family. I stayed in six ashrams of Hardwar but could not
adjust myself in any of them. I developed a friendship with an engineer
hailing from Vijayawada who was working at BHEL Company. He suggested to
me to go to Shanti Kunj in Rishikesh or some other peaceful ashram. I
went to Rishikesh. After a long search I selected Satya Prakash Ashram
of Sri Nitya Nand Maharaj for my dwelling. Swamiji was a well educated
man and had worked as a professor of Sansikrit at Allahabad University
after doing his P.H.D. I studied there for six years as a Brahamachari.
Then for testing purposes, Swamiji asked me to conduct 24 yogyas before
conferring the degree of Shastri on me. This was a very tough time for
me but I stood firm because I had gone there to get solace and closeness
to my Lord. After seven years my father and brother traced me out at a
Rishikesh Ashram and they pleaded me for about a week to return to
Warangal with them. I was afraid and unwilling to go back to the
material world without getting peace of mind and salvation. Hence I
insisted upon them to leave me there and fulfill my mission. They agreed
to it provided I lived there as a paying guest and did not live on any
charity or Daan. They deposited enough money in Ashram for my expenses.
Q: How were you attracted towards Islam after spending so much time in
an Ashram and getting training from Swamiji? Please tell us about your
acceptance of Islam. A: My Lord, in whose search I left Warangal, paved
the way for it out of His affection for me. As you know Arya Samaj is a
reformed version of Hindu religion. It claims to believe in Unity of God
and rejects idol worship and mythological tales. Its main text book is
Satyarath Praksh written by Swami Daya Nand Sarswati. Its founder Swami
Vikenand was very much influenced by Islam and its teachings. In order
to prevent conversion of Hindus to Islam he tried to rationalize the
Hindu religion and formed Arya Samaj. He claimed that Arya Samaj is cent
per cent true Vedic religion based on scientific and logical arguments.
But I came across a number of doubts and irrationalities when I
thoroughly studied Arya Samaji literature. Despite undergoing thirteen
years of tough life of Tapasiya and strenuous exercises, I could not
attain content or any change in me. Whenever I discussed my doubts with
Swami Nityanand, he appeared confused and grew irritated. Year 1992 was
very tough and inconvenient for me because after passing thirteen years
in Sanyas and getting a degree of Shastri, I found myself disturbed and
below the level of humanity. Wild and astray thoughts and apprehensions
forced me to spend sleepless nights. Sometimes I thought that I had
chosen a wrong path to reach God and I should try some other means to
find my goal. Sometimes I felt that my inner self or soul was infested
with pollution which turned me astray. During nights I wept, cried and
prayed to My Lord to help and guide me to Truth and Himself. I submitted
to Him that I had left my home and world only to get close to Him and
was dying for His attention. Then a severe earth quake stormed Uttar
Kashi, Haridwar and Rishekesh. I was frightened very much and was afraid
of my violent death. On 17th December 1992, Swamiji called
me and asked me to go to Rai village in Sonipat district. There was a
big Arya Samaj Ashram which was celebrating its 50th year
anniversary with great pomp and show. They invited Swamiji to preside
over the function. But as he was not feeling well, he requested me to go
Rai village to preside over the function and hold Yagya. I happily came
to my room to make necessary preparations for the trip. But when I went
to sleep then my conscience questioned me if I had left my house to get
this type of popularity and that if it was according to my mission. I
could not sleep and started weeping and crying for getting divine
guidance or light to find the straight path. I went to sleep in this
condition. I saw a dream that I was sitting before a handsome Maulana in
a mosque. He was clad in a white Shirt and Lungi and a number of people
were respectfully looking at him. Somebody informed me that he was
Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). I said "The same Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) who is
Prophet of Muslims." Then Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) spoke himself "No, I am
not Prophet of Muslims alone. I am your Prophet also." He caught my
hand, embraced me affectionately and asked me to sit before him. He
further said who so ever searches and endeavors, gets his objective.
"Today is a day of rejoicing for you. Value it." I woke up with great
joy and contentment. My colleagues congratulated me and attributed this
joy to the trust and honour shown to me by Swamiji to send me to Arya
Samaj function. They were not aware of the real reason. In the morning I
went to Saharanpur by bus and went to a mosque near the bus stand. I
told the people that I had come to visit my Lord. There I searched for
people who I saw in the dream but the mosque was quite empty. Then I got
in a Haryana roadways bus going to Sonipat. On a front seat your father
(Maulana Kaleem) was sitting. He asked me to sit on the vacant adjacent
seat. He asked my destination and purpose of trip. When I told him
about Arya Samaji Ashram's function he became happy. Then he said to me
"Look Panditji I am interested in the study of every religion and I am
actually in search of an Arya Samaji guru. I have read SATYARATH PRAKASH
many times but I could not follow or understand certain points. If you
allow me I will like to put some questions to you to remove my doubts."
Then he put many questions to me and I replied. Ahmed Bhai it looked as
if Anil Rao (myself) was putting these questions to Swami Nityanand who
was not able to satisfy him. These questions were actually the same
which pricked my heart. After three or four questions I surrendered
before Maulana and told him that my guru could not satisfy me on these
points. After keeping quiet for a while the Maulana said "Though I do
not know much about Islam yet I want to tell you something about it, you
can ask any questions you like and I would not feel offended." I knew
nothing about Islam except what I had read in Satyarath Prakash and that
too did not appeal to my heart. I requested the Maulana to tell me
about Islam and more especially about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and said
that it would be a special favour to me. The Maulana said to me "A great
misunderstanding prevalent about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is that he is
represented as a Prophet and messenger of Allah for Muslims only. This
is not true. Allah in Qur'an has stressed repeatedly that Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) is sent for entire humanity and he is the last apostle
of Allah for universal guidance. Therefore he is your Prophet also."
This made me recollect my last night's dream and I thought that the
Maulana must have been present in that assembly. Then the Maulana told
me the life story and achievements of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) in a very
eloquent style. Our talks remained inconclusive till Garh Mukhteshwar
where we had to change a bus for Sonipat. There at the insistence of
Maulana, we went to a shop owned by Maulana's friend and continued our
talks there. I remembered the words of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in my
dream and asked the Maulana how one can be converted to Islam. The
Maulana told me "Islam is a true and perfect religion. It teaches to
believe in one God "Allah" and lead a life to please Allah and His
messenger. For this he has to recite Kalma". Then I asked him to teach
me the Kalma which I recited. The Maulana Saheb translated it into Hindi
for me. I could not explain the ecstasy and feeling of delight and joy
which my heart felt after getting this guidance. Even now I remember it
with pleasure.
Q: There was special favour granted to you by Allah
as you were an ardent seeker of truth. Then what happened to Ashram's
programme.
A: Then Maulana congratulated and embraced me. He had to
go to the village of Bhura Rasulpur where some Muslims families were
forcibly converted to Hinduism during the riots of 1947. I asked the
Maulana to take me with him because I did not want to go to Ashram's
programme under these changed circumstances. The Maulana was extremely
glad to hear it. Clad in saffron clothes and with a tilak on my
forehead, I reached Bhura Rasulpur. The Maulana told me that Muslims of
the village accepted Hinduism for fear of their lives and were still
Hindus except one family of Gujjars. He also told me that they had
become staunch fanatics and last year indulged in rioting when the
Gujjar Muslim family took a touring Tablighi Jamaat to them. The riot
was followed by a case against the Muslim Gujjar who was fined Rs.
20,000/-. We went to a small mosque in the village. The Maulana asked
the Imam to bring the residents of the village to the mosque for talks.
When they came, with the permission of Maulana, I addressed them and
told them my story about the pursuit of truth and guidance. I narrated
the accounts of my life in the Ashram, Tapassiya and Yagiyas and finally
the soothing preaching of Maulana and my recitation of Kalma amidst
tears and sobbing. Then I appealed to them to come back to the true
religion which gave me real contentment and happiness. My moving
narratives softened their heart and they agreed to set up an Islamic
School in the village. The local Pardhan Karan Singh, who was a deadly
enemy of Islam, raised funds for the School. The Maulana was very happy
and thanked me for getting success among them.
Q: Then where did
you go afterwards.
A: I went to Phulat with Maulana Saheb, changed
my clothes and cut my top lock (choti). Then he sent me to Mathura along
with a Tablighi Jamaat. I was over whelmed to get the blessings of
Islam and sympathized with the Hindus who were destined to burn in Hell
fire. I also blamed Muslims for not extending Dawah to them seriously on
a large scale. In that mood I wrote to a letter to late Maulana Ali
Miyan Saheb. It was published some time back in monthly Armughan. The
contents of the letter are reproduced here, "Janab Maulana Ali Miyan
Saheb, you will be surprised to get this letter from a new servant
(convert to Islam). I am travelling with a Tablighi Jamaat and want to
do Dawah work at Haridwar where scores of people like me are trying to
get guidance. Please pray for my success. I also want to put a question
to you humbly with due apology. Who is responsible for thousands of
people going to Hell fire for not getting any Dawah or preaching of
Islam? Your's servant Abdul Rehman (Anil Rao Shastri).
Q: What did
you do after joining Jamaat work?
A: I wanted to concentrate on
Dawah work in Haridwar - Rishikesh region where a large number of
Hindus, Englishmen and Jews were running here and there for getting
guidance. But on my return, Maulana Saheb told me to go to Warangal and
spend some time with my family members who needed my services. When I
reached there I learnt about the death of my parents. I remembered my
beloved father and mother with great anguish who always cared for me and
did everything to bring me up. I was grief stricken to think that
without getting any preaching they entered Hell fire for ever. Ahmed
Bhai, I am still suffering with this great shock. They were very pro
Muslim, specially my father who employed a Muslim driver and a number of
Muslims in his Bidi factory. Sometimes he used to say that he liked
Islamic practices and probably in his previous birth he was a Muslim.
Ahmed Bhai, I cannot tell you the degree of my anger and anguish that no
Muslim neighbour ever cared to preach Islam to them and they had to
burn in Hell fire. (Then he started weeping bitterly)
Q: May be
that Allah had forgiven them or got them converted to Islam through His
angels because of their pro Islamic feelings?
A: By grace of Allah
my elder brother, his wife and two children became Muslims. After the
death of my father, the factory was closed. Then after selling the house
he setup a new business at Gulbarga and has bought a house there.
Q: What happened to your marriage?
A: I being a shirker of
taking any responsibility was not willing to marry and probably Shariat
would have allowed me to do so. But Maulana Saheb spoke highly of this
practice (being a Sunnat of the Prophet) and hence I married a virtuous
poor girl. I am blessed with a son and daughter and am leading a happy
family life.
Q: What did you do about working in
Haridwar—Rishikesh.
A: For some time, I remained insane because of
shock of death of my parents. I roamed in jungles, and then my brother
traced me and got me cured. About three years ago I went to Rishikesh
and met Swamiji at Satya Prakash Ashram. I gave him the some Islamic
books including Maulana's book "Aap Ki Amanat Aap Ki Sewa Men". He liked
it very much. He was suffering from cancer and was bed ridden. One day
he called and said, "I also feel that Islam is the true religion but in
the present setup here, it is very difficult for me to accept it
publicly". I told him repeatedly to pluck courage and announce his Islam
as he could legally do it. But he was too frightened, and then I gave
him Hindi translation of "Holy Qur'an" which he read with great respect.
In view of his serious illness one day I taught him to recite Kalma and
named him Muhammad Usman to escape from clutches of Hell fire. One day
before his death he announced his Islam before the inmates of Ashram and
told them to bury him instead of putting to fire. However they made a
Samadhi for him after death. After his conversion many people at
Rishikesh became my enemy and I felt threatened. Then I came to Phulat
and informed Maulana Saheb, who consoled me and read to me the verses of
"Holy Qur'an", "Those who preach the message of Allah and fear Him are
not afraid of anyone else. Allah is Sufficient to look after them."
After living at Gulbarga for some time I went to Rishikesh and stayed
there. Many residents of Ashram are close to me and inmates of other
Ashrams also take part in my lectures. I hope that the Shantikunj
climate for Dawah is quite congenial and we will succeed. I intend to
live there permanently. May Allah give me strength to do so.
Q:
Abdul Rehman Saheb thank you very much any message for readers of
ARMUGHAN.
A: I request my Muslim brothers to realize my feelings of
anguish and dismay that to our parents could not join the fold of
Islam. Muslims should discharge their obligation of Dawah as desired by
our Prophet Hazrat Muhammad.
Q: You are quite right, May all of us
follow your message.
A: Ameen! Walaikumasalam
