Love of Your Nation

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

حُبُّ الوَطَنِ مِنَ الايمَانِ

'Love of your Nation is an integral part of Faith.'

(Rasulullah SA)

This article was written by Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin in 2015.

Commitment and love for one’s nation is strongly encouraged by religion. Specifically, our hudaat kiraam have guided us to uphold the highest moral values and actively participate in and contribute to the societies and communities in which we live.

Love for the nation is not only expressed through patriotism on Independence Day or when our national team is facing another. The core manifestation of our commitment to the nation is through our pursuit of knowledge and education, through our conduct and character, and through our contribution to the growth and advancement of our nation.

Our awliya’ tahereen have encouraged us to enable both boys and girls to pursue both knowledge of religion and to pursue secular and scientific knowledge. They have guided us and set an example for the highest moral values of honesty, integrity and sincerity. They have guided us to respect our fellow human beings, respect different cultures and religions, and to engage proactively with them. By creating this strong foundation of respect, they have enabled us to contribute to the growth of our state in the truest sense.

When Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA visited East Africa in the 1960’s, Sir Malcom Mcdonald was Governor General of Kenya at the time. In a speech, he said that the Bohra Community was a model community that peacefully integrated, worked with and contributed to the development of the nation.

Whether it is in India, Pakistan, East Africa, South East Asia, the Gulf States, Europe, Canada, Australia or the USA, our community is one that is highly respected. The guidance of our hudaat and efforts of community members at large have established the identity of our community as an educated, peace-loving, and forward-looking community throughout the world. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA became widely known across the globe as the Ambassador of Peace.

Syedna Khuzaima Qutbuddin TUS continues to guide Mumineen towards these high ideals. In the challenging times that our community faces today, our identity is at stake – an identity that is deeply rooted in philosophical heritage, centuries of guidance, and the efforts and sacrifices of generations.

As we celebrate the 69^th Independence Day of India, we pray for peace and prosperity for the Indian Nation. We also pray, that under the guidance of Daiz-zaman Syedna Qutbuddin TUS, may Allah Ta’ala safeguard the unity and identity of our community from being hijacked by regressive and materialistic forces.