Centuries ago, Mongol ruler Halaku Khan besieged Baghdad, which was considered the seat of Muslim learning, prosperity and civilization. The Mongols sacked Baghdad, committing numerous atrocities, looting and destroying mosques, palaces and libraries while the death count cannot be substantiated. The ruthless leader was amused by the barbarities and rejoiced at his victory.
The Grand Library of Baghdad, containing countless precious historical documents and books on a wide range of subjects from medicine to astronomy, was destroyed. The water in River Tigris ran black with ink from the enormous quantities of books. Baghdad was a depopulated, ruined city for several centuries, and whenever ministers, advisers, and scholars gathered, there was complete destruction.
The Holy Quran says that Al-Mighty Allah punishes disobedient nations with different calamities and tragedies but they take different forms over time. Some faces severe droughts and water shortages, while others suffered bubonic plague, frog invasions, etc. Muslims are fortunate to not have faced such destructive calamities which can wipe us completely but our actions have not changed much either. We are certainly paying a heavy price for our sins.
There are millions of Muslims globally today but we are still facing systematic discrimination and oppression. We are being degraded and humiliated around the world. Muslim nations are rife with economic challenges, security issues, political infighting, internal and foreign conflicts while an overwhelming majority of them are unstable.
Syria, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Yemen and Lebanon have Muslim majorities but are embroiled in their own conflicts. In Kashmir, a curfew has been imposed for over a year and the people are demanding freedom for a long time. In Burma, a genocide is ongoing and no one is raising their voice while unfortunately, even Muslim countries have shown complete silence.
In Middle East countries, a vast majority of businessmen and traders are Indian Hindus. Most of the Gulf States are absolute monarchies, while those considered democratic do not even provide basic human rights to all citizens. The wealth, resources and privileges are consumed by lavish elites. Muslims are so engrossed by narrow interests that there is an absolute lack of concern about the wellbeing of others.
We have no one to address our grievances but such rulers are also the wrath of God imposed upon us. The poor are getting poorer while the wealth of rulers is surging with each passing day. We are affected by inflation, unemployment, poverty, terrorism, adulteration, lack of healthcare and no provision of justice and continue bearing all these atrocities.
South Asian countries have faced several disasters and calamities, yet every department, institution, and influential personality is exploiting others. No one wants to speak nor hear the truth. For just a moment, I implore you to just listen to yourself and answer – What else calamity can befall us? Maybe our hearts and minds have been numbed and we cannot decipher the truth.
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