Boishaki: A Rotten Pride
Along with the many other evils propagated in the time of the Bengali new year “Boishaki”, there is an especially evil and rotten practice of declaring pride and patriotism for the nation Bangladesh. Indeed there is nothing to be proud of in nations, countries, tribes or languages and there is no unity based on our roots in a country or nation. Allah (swt) says, “All believers are a single brotherhood.”[1]
Our bond is not in our language or flag but in our beliefs and creed of Laa ilaaha illallah (there is none worthy of worship besides Allah). The Prophet s said, “All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black any superiority over white - except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.”[2]
Also, the Messenger of Allah s said, "Undoubtedly Allah has removed from you the pride of arrogance of the age of Jahiliyyah and the glorification of ancestors. You are all the children of Adam and Adam was made of clay. People should give up their pride in nations because that is a coal from the coals of Hell-fire. If they do not give this up Allah ﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ will consider them lower than the lowly worm which pushes itself through Khara (dung)."[3]
Abu Hurairah d narrated that the Prophet s said: “Whosoever leaves off obedience and separates from the Jama’ah and dies, he dies a death of Jahiliyyah. Whoever fights under the banner of the blind, becoming angry for ‘asabiyyah (nationalism, partisanship and party spirit), or calling to ‘asabiyyah, or assisting ‘asabiyyah, then dies, he dies a death of Jahiliyyah."[4]
It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah s said, "He is not one us who calls for `Asabiyyah, (nationalism) or who fights for `Asabiyyah or who dies for `Asabiyyah."[5]
The Messenger of Allah s, referring to nationalism, racism and patriotism, said "Leave it, it is rotten."[6]
O Muslims! Do not help the shaytaan to incite the believers to disunite and weaken themselves by dividing the Muslims into nations and countries and instilling pride in meaningless flags that only undermine the unity of the Ummah of Muhammad (saw).
[1] al-Qur’an, Surah al-Hujurat, 49: 10
[2] Saheeh al-Muslim
[3] Sunan Abu Dawood and Sunan al-Tirmizi
[4] Saheeh al-Muslim (6/21)
[5] Sunan Abu Dawood
[6] Saheeh al-Muslim and Saheeh al-Bukhari
Along with the many other evils propagated in the time of the Bengali new year “Boishaki”, there is an especially evil and rotten practice of declaring pride and patriotism for the nation Bangladesh. Indeed there is nothing to be proud of in nations, countries, tribes or languages and there is no unity based on our roots in a country or nation. Allah (swt) says, “All believers are a single brotherhood.”[1]
Our bond is not in our language or flag but in our beliefs and creed of Laa ilaaha illallah (there is none worthy of worship besides Allah). The Prophet s said, “All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black any superiority over white - except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.”[2]
Also, the Messenger of Allah s said, "Undoubtedly Allah has removed from you the pride of arrogance of the age of Jahiliyyah and the glorification of ancestors. You are all the children of Adam and Adam was made of clay. People should give up their pride in nations because that is a coal from the coals of Hell-fire. If they do not give this up Allah ﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ will consider them lower than the lowly worm which pushes itself through Khara (dung)."[3]
Abu Hurairah d narrated that the Prophet s said: “Whosoever leaves off obedience and separates from the Jama’ah and dies, he dies a death of Jahiliyyah. Whoever fights under the banner of the blind, becoming angry for ‘asabiyyah (nationalism, partisanship and party spirit), or calling to ‘asabiyyah, or assisting ‘asabiyyah, then dies, he dies a death of Jahiliyyah."[4]
It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah s said, "He is not one us who calls for `Asabiyyah, (nationalism) or who fights for `Asabiyyah or who dies for `Asabiyyah."[5]
The Messenger of Allah s, referring to nationalism, racism and patriotism, said "Leave it, it is rotten."[6]
O Muslims! Do not help the shaytaan to incite the believers to disunite and weaken themselves by dividing the Muslims into nations and countries and instilling pride in meaningless flags that only undermine the unity of the Ummah of Muhammad (saw).
[1] al-Qur’an, Surah al-Hujurat, 49: 10
[2] Saheeh al-Muslim
[3] Sunan Abu Dawood and Sunan al-Tirmizi
[4] Saheeh al-Muslim (6/21)
[5] Sunan Abu Dawood
[6] Saheeh al-Muslim and Saheeh al-Bukhari
