The age-old adage ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’ has stood the test of time. And generation after generation, throughout this planet, this mightier-than-the-sword weapon has had changed the course of human history. And, no doubt, it continues to do so. Its acts and deeds assume the character and quality of varied dimension and magnitude.
It has the power to inflame the satanic feelings and sentiments of man, which ultimately cause untold sufferings to humanity. This is one side of the picture drawn and painted by the pen. But, this is not the primary and fundamental objective of this little, but most powerful, weapon. The main and the most cherished objective that the pen yearns to get accomplished is to broaden the horizon of man’s mind and thinking, to establish on earth the rule of virtue, to sow the seeds of fraternity and love in the hearts of the entire human race and show man the right and genuine path to reach the ultimate destination of success which is liked and permitted by the Almighty Allah.
After this short sketch about pen, I now dare to give tongue to this mighty weapon which speaks of itself in the ‘first person’. Let us begin. I am ‘Qalam’ in the Arabic language which is commonly used in Urdu. People speaking different languages call me with different names. In English I am called ‘pen’. However, the creator of the universe has remembered me with the word ‘qalam’ in His last book Al-Qur’ān. According to the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him), I was created before any other thing in the universe was brought to existence. Thus, I did have the privilege of being created first of all and then was ordered by the Creator to ‘write’ and, as per the choice and direction of my Lord, wrote down all the things and events that are destined to happen from azal to abad – i.e. from the beginning to the end of the universe.
My assignment is to write; to give a concrete form to the human voice; to sculpt the thoughts and notions beautifully and to attire the words suitably. I am soulless and I am devoid of the power of hearing and seeing. But, my writing is my tongue and narration. I have neither any choice/intention of my own nor do have I any determination. I don’t and can’t move at my own. The one holding me in one’s hand moves me as one desires. I am quite unaware of the truth whether it reveals my weakness or strength and glittering quality that I act and move like a pawn being moved on the chess-board. I do it without having any knowledge of the good or bad intention of my mover. I simply and most obediently submit myself to the disposal of the mover. But, it must be kept in mind that good people use me for goodness and bad ones for the expression of ill feelings, ill-conceived notions and growth of evils. Sometime I do write on matters of ‘belief’ & ‘faith’ and sometime on ‘infidelity’. Someone uses me to write on ‘love’ while others draw the lines encompassing hatred and enmity. Sometime one moves me to unite two broken hearts with the golden thread of love while others use me to poison the two hearts formerly in love with each other, which causes lamentable separation. While sometime I am in the hands of virtuous and God-fearing persons; I am also sometime used by hypocrite and treacherous, imposters and vicious ones.
It is beyond any doubt that virtuous persons think deeply before writing and after writing is done, they go through what is written minutely and consciously. They seek Allah’s consent and blessings with their writings. They hold and move me for reaching the messages of Allah to the four corners. They scatter and spread, far & wide, the invaluable gems spoken and acted upon by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him). Through their writings they show true and genuine path to the people and create in them sense of awareness of the net spread by Satans and in this way guard the human beings from being trapped and fallen into such nets. Contrary to this, a hypocrite or a satan-minded person instigates and arouses the satanic feelings in man by misusing me. By their exciting and poisonous writings they ravage and destroy the garden where flowers of love, friendship and compassion would bloom. Such enemies of humanity fears neither of God nor do adhere to the voice of their own conscience. Self-seekers and self-interested people purchase the writers who use me for their own personal gains and vested interests. The pages of human history abound with such writers/persons who get themselves indulged in acts that have had caused untold sufferings to humanity. And, this process still continues.
I further state that I do act like human tongue. But there is a vast difference between the tongue and me. Please mark it well. The words spoken by the tongue are heard. But the words coming out of me are seen. Again, words coming out of the tongue vanish in the atmosphere; the words produced with my help get preserved like beautifully engraved on stones. Words spoken are short-lived whereas words written with me pass through generation after generation and stand witness of different ages. Again, words spoken do not enjoy such status, applaud and appreciation as words written with me do enjoy. Both in speaking with tongue and writing with me some moral principles are necessarily needed to be followed. Speaking and reading with tongue must begin with the name of Almighty God (Surah Alaq :1). Similarly, I must be used with the name of the creator of universe. Goodness must be connected with the words coming out of tongue otherwise reticence is far better (Al-Bukhari – 6476). Same principle must apply while moving me for writing. Words spoken by tongue must be based on truth. The same principle applies while I am moved. Softness of the tongue makes the speeches touching, influencing and beautiful whereas its hardness produces ugliness which is but discarded with hatred. Similarly, I must be used for producing beauty and generating fragrance to soothe and comfort and refresh the heart and mind and also to illuminate the human mind with what almighty God desires man to do.
My Lord vividly and explicitly revealed my importance and necessity and status when He had begun with the five lines of Surah Iqra of His last book “….Iqra Bismeka …. And Allam-a Bilqalam” and specifically said that the last age and time would be the age of pen (me), the age of knowledge, thoughts and visions and philosophy. That was the main reason that played pivotal roles behind establishing enormous libraries when countless books on arts and literature got written with my help. These writings caused a tremendous and amazing change to the views and notions connected with materialism and spiritualism. These books illuminated the minds and hearts of the people wandering and groping in darkness in search of truth. Besides, these writings lay the foundation for thousands of revolutions in the human world. The world stands witness of such revolutions that shook the very pillars upon which the gigantic structures of despotism, cruelty, barbarism, dictatorship, infidelity and atheism rested.
It is to be noted that judicious and pious thinkers moved me for the transformation of the society, for spreading virtue and kindling the hearts with the rays of truth. On the contrary, unjust, hypocrite and impostures held me in their hands for spreading seditious and heinous acts in the society. Writings done with me are full of both virtuous and vicious acts undertaken by man, of love and hatred, of good and bad. But, I am proud of those thinkers and writers who used me only for revealing to the world the facts and truths encompassing faith, religion and virtuous deeds. I am equally proud of those who explained lucidly and in detail what is in holy Al-Qur’ān and what does Sunnah (saying & acts of the Prophet of Islam) reflect on. It would not be wrong and irrelevant if I pride myself on saying that the greatest researcher and scholar of the Islamic world and history, Imam Ibn Jareer Tebri (310 hijri) spent forty years of his life in such a way that he would write eighty pages daily. This renowned and most distinguished Islamic scholar left to the world more than three lakhs fifty thousand leaves (auraq) glittering with the pearls of his vision and thoughts, highlighting the truth. The Islamic world is well aware of Ibn Shaheen about whom Imam Zahbee has written in ‘Tazkiratul Haffaz’ that he wrote three hundred thirty books which deal with various subjects comprising many volumes. Ibn Aqeel (513 hijri) wrote more or less 20 books on various subjects.
One of these books, titled ‘al-Fanoon’, which, according to the statement made by ibn Rajjab, happened to be called the greatest book, comprising almost 800 parts. Allama Ibn Joozee (597 hijri) wrote more than five hundred books. Imam Fakhruddin Raazi (606 hijri) wrote two hundred books some of which comprise one hundred thirty parts. Shaikhul Islam Ibn Timiya (728 hijri) left 500 books to the world. In the recent past, a great scholar and researcher Imam Abdul Hayee Lucknawee’s (1304 hijri) writings exceed more than 110 parts, in spite of his short-lived life for 39 years only. Another distinguished personality of the time is Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (1362 hijri). He is said to have written thousand of books during the span of his 82 years of age. Qazi Abu Bak’r Ibn-ul Arabi put down his paraphrases/commentaries on eighty thousand leaves (auraq) which combined together was called ‘Anwarul Faj’r’. Allama Qutbuddin Shirazi’ put down his commentaries called ‘Tafseer-e Allami’ comprising 40 volumes/parts. In the 12th year of Hijrat another great commentator, philosopher and thinker, Mohammad bin Mohammad Abu Hamid al-Ghazzali also called Imam Hujjatul Islam (450 hijri : 1058-1111 AD), appeared on the horizon of the Islamic world. He wrote in several volumes ‘Ahyaul-Alumuddin’ (revival of sciences) and in Persians language he wrote what is called ‘Kimiye-ye Sa-aa-dat” which is, in fact, gist / essence of the aforementioned voluminous book. It would not be judicious if a mention is not made of the great Islamic historian – Abdur Rahman ibn Khuldoon.
His ‘Tarikh-e ibn-Khuldoon’ comprises several volumes. Credit goes to this great historian who introduced to and taught the world the art of writing ‘preface’. I feel much pleasure in stating here that I (pen) helped this eminent historian in writing in the ‘preface’ not only the objective behind giving to the world such grand history (Tarikh-e ibn-Khuldoon) but also describing lucidly about the creation of this planet and the purpose of the creator behind doing this. The preface written by the author consists of three volumes. This is unique in its own way.
The list highlighting the distinguished Muslim philosophers, thinkers and argumentative commentators and interpreters along with their writings goes on. The above is a cursory and ‘bird’s eye view’ description of those shining stars, better call ‘galaxy’, who moved me (Qalam) only for the spread of goodness and welfare and happiness of the entire human race.
Now I (Qalam) turn my attention to the whole present day Muslim sect of the world and pronounce emphatically that from among the aforementioned distinguished personalities there emerged rational and foresighted author like Noaman bin Sabit, highly learned and acclaimed argumentative commentator like Imam Ghazzali, witty and fault-pointer like Razi, writer like ibn-Qaiyyam, Mineralogists like Jabir bin Hayyan (198 hijri and 813 CE) and Attar bin Mohammad al-Kaatib (214 hiji & 832 CE) and many others who excelled in the fields of Zoology, Botany, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics (Algebra and Geometry) and renowned and celebrated experts in Medicine like Hakim bu-Ali ibn Seena and Abu Bak’r bin Zakaria al-Razi, who did recognize and knew from their insight that the last age would be the age of ‘Qalam’ (i.e. mine) and this period/age will stand witness the rise & fall of the human race. I am saddened and feel much aggrieved to state that centuries have passed but none from among the present thinkers and writers appears to have reached even near the level and standard of the luminaries mentioned above so far as writings done with me are concerned.
In the service of Islam, for the consolidation of faith/belief, truth, righteousness, justice & rule of virtue; and to fight the vicious and satanic forces, the unflagging dedication and unflinching commitment coupled with untiring efforts of these writers will ever remain glittering and indelible on the pages of human and Islamic history.
It is but an irony that Islam, which is for the establishment of peace, love, justice, equality and rule of virtue, is being continuously attacked by the satanic forces with well-oiled propaganda machinery and meticulously hatched plots to undermine its importance in the society. Today, Muslima Kazzab has been emerging wrapped in different guise & garbs assuming the feature of varied dimension and magnitude, to tarnish the true face of Islam by placing before the world entirely baseless, distorted facts and fabricated matters and has been engaged in challenging the very Prophet-hood of Mohammad through different ways and methods. The need of the time is neither to get our heads cut nor to cut other’s head. On the contrary, time demands us to face and fight the challenges thrown by the enemies of Islam, rationally, meticulously, prudently, using all the weapons of learning, knowledge that we have been bestowed with by almighty Allah in the light of the holy al-Quran and Hadith (sayings and deeds of the Prophet of Islam). Today, the very prophethood of Muhammad is not being attacked with swords, but the attack is being made by ‘non-sense and baseless arguments’. It is the attack of ‘materialism’. It is the attack in the name of ‘nationalism’ and so on.
It must be noted that both the sword and pen have played significant and decisive role in human civilization and these have been needed in every age. But there is a difference between the effects caused by these two weapons. Whereas the use of sword is needed for a temporary period, the need of pen is permanent and perpetual. It is also a proven fact that pen is much more powerful than sword. The wound inflicted by sword is healed automatically with the passage of time; but the wound caused by pen and scars left is never erased and wiped off even though generations pass on.
In today’s world the religion Islam is being attacked with severe and heart-rending criticism coupled with absurd and false objections directed towards the divine laws. This has to be fought boldly and prudently with arguments genuine in spirit & substance in the light of what almighty God says in His last book and what Sunnah reflects upon. And, this needs to be done using soft, subtle, sweet and flowery but solid, firm and influencing language. The lucid way of writing must be adopted. Our arguments and explanations must have such influencing force, capacity to directly touch the mind and heart in such a way that these are not only listened to with utmost attention by the world but are also readily accepted and embraced. We must have the fluency of language and sweetness of tongue. We must muster the strength and capability to dispel the ill-conceived notions by highlighting the truth looking into the opponents’ eyes directly.
Lies happen to be rootless, baseless and can’t stand the test of time & age. It can’t bear the attack made by the truth and facts which are substantiated, authenticated and well-proven. I (pen) am required to be used for achieving the most cherished objective of writing and bringing out books reading of which illuminates the mind. Books are very precious. Some books travel back centuries with us, others take us into the future. Some take us to the core of our heart and others take us into the universe. Aforementioned eminent authors and philosophers’ words are and will ever remain breathing. Their souls will never die.
At last but not the least, pens and books are the weapons that defeat evils and fight Satans/Iblees successfully. Terrorism can be defeated by reading and writing books. The only way of creating global peace, of bringing all round development in the society and fighting prejudice, bias, narrow-mindedness is through educating not only our minds, but our hearts and our souls also. This cherished ends can only be accomplished if I am used suitably and properly, for the sake of goodness of the entire human race. If I am misused, in fact, no justice is done with me.