When I See a Successful Hindu Mega-Businessman

Dr. Pasha

(Bringing Islam to the World One Concept at a Time!
Taking the Qur'an to Every Home and Heart that Needs It --
And which One Does Not?)

Any Muslim businessman -- or businesswoman -- is an asset for this Ummat. 

And for this Deen. 

Some of the earliest supporters of Islam at Makkah were business people. They were among the builders of this Deen.

Abu Bakr and Uthman, Radiyallahu Anhuma, the first and third Khalifahs of Islam, were among the most successful mega-businessmen of their time.

And does anyone have any doubt about the business background and credentials of Sayyidina Muhammad, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, himself?

Or, for that matter, about the business status or leadership of Khadijah, Radiyallahu Anha?

Let me use some unconventional language here: Did Abu Bakr, Radiyallahu Anhu, come to the rescue every time Islam and Muslims were in trouble -- not that Allah's Deen was ever in trouble?

And every time Muhammad, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, himself appeared to have his back to the wall -- not that Allah's Rasul, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, ever had his back to the wall?

Whether it was on the occasion of Hijrah.

Or when the nascent Islamic State of Madinah was in peril from the enemies.

But throughout these ordeals, neither Allah's Rasul, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, nor his Deen that he brought from his God, were ever in trouble. 

As a matter of fact, they were in control and they were in charge and they called the shots.

Call me whatever choice names you can think of: Kaafir, whatever. But here is what is self-evident to me: the whole universe was at the beck and call of Allah's Rasul, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam!

And, also, was it not Businesswoman Khadijah, Radiyallahu Anha, that took the leadership in marrying Allah's Rasul, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam?

And in taking him by the hand and taking him to her uncle Waraqah, when he came home confused and frightened after his encounter with the angel? 

And thus, in effect, saved the day for him, and for all of us, and for the whole world, as we would say in our flawed everyday English language?

So, Islam and entrepreneurship and the world of business are twins that can never part. They have been joined at the hip from Day One.

And then I look around and I see this enormous business success among the Hindus of India. How many Tatas, and Birlas, and Ambanis and Godrejs and Hindujas, and Mittals and Nadars and other mega-magnates are there among the Hindus of India? 

I am not resentful at their success. I cannot be.

As a Muslim, I cannot harbor hate or jealousy or prejudice in my heart. I am not allowed to do that. 

It is not my job, and it is not my role in life, to hate people. 

And get this -- once for all: Just like Muslims, Hindus are my people too. 

The Hindus -- and the Christians and others of the world -- are all part of what the Qur'an would call my Qawum.

 As a result, Hindus' success and achievement and their wellbeing are all important to me.

But, at the same time, also, as a Muslim, I have every right to ask, and I cannot help asking: 

For all of the Hindu high achievers, and billionaires and mega-successful business tycoons put together, in India as well as outside, how many Muslim business people are there in India, of that caliber?

So, any hint I get, or any hope or promise I see anywhere, any shoot of a leaf or any bud I see in the jungle with any Muslim background, I say: 

Allahu Akbar, maybe, this is it!

I say to myself, maybe out of this tiny little bud will come out a great big flower, and then a great big fruit, and out of that fruit will rise a huge tree, and then many more trees, and a whole lush forest of Islam and Muslim mega-business high achievers will then come into being.

In a sense, that is the long and short of my story. And that is my take on the interrelationship between Islam and the world of business.

A very quick and brief one.

Therefore, to me, a Muslim businessperson is a person of interest -- of high and immediate and great interest in today's world.

For the sake of Islam, for Muslims, as well as for the entire world.

END