Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume II — Page 36
36 Haider Ali was a Muslim K ing of M y sor e. He was defamed by the British, and they named their dogs T i p u after him. He was the last Muslim k ing who truly defended the honor of Islam. Presently , Hyderabad is facing multiple difficulties; historically they [ the people of Hyderabad] always sided with the British against M y so re in order to break his rule. When the British attacked Bangalore the last time , Sultan Haider Ali was organizing his army at one side of the castle by a rampart. A g eneral came running to him and said , “ Honorable K ing , leave right away, a traitor has opened the castle doors. The British army is marching forward into the castle. S ome of the passages are still clear and you can still flee away through these passages. ” Haider Ali looked disdainfully at him, and said, “Y ou say I should run away ? R emember , two hour s of the life of a lion are better than two hundred years of a jackal ’s. ” S aying this , he readied his sword and together with his soldiers fought the British , where he died, and his body was cut into several pieces. Therefore, bravery and courage are the kind s of attributes , which allow one’s name to be forever remembered in the world with respect. Have you ever read any stories of cowards in history boo ks, telling of a person who fought cowardly in such a battle ? Have you ever read any stories , which history still recounts of people who ran from the battlefield ? Have you ever read stories of people who discarded their duty? History only remembers those people who make sacrifice s for their nation and do not care for their own lives or wealth. Those who make such sacrifices include men, women, and children. These examples can be found in Islam ic history and these examples can be found in Eu ropean histor y. In fact, even some children have made such sacrifices, the example of which cannot even be found within the bravest of brave. So, the words : E َﻓ َﺼ ِّﻞ ِﻟ َﺮ ِّﺑ َﻚ َو ا ۡﻧ َﺤ ۡﺮ E ِا َّﻧ ۤﺎ َا ۡﻋ َﻄ ۡﻴ ٰﻨ َﻚ ا ۡﻟ َﻜ ۡﻮ َﺛ َﺮ ِا َّن َﺷ ﺎ ِﻧ َﺌ َﻚ ُﻫ َﻮ ا َۡﻻ ۡﺑ َُرت “ Surely, we have bestowed upon thee an abundance of good ; So pray to thy Lord, and offer sacrifice. Surely, it is thy enemy who shall be without issue. ” (Holy Qur’an, Ch. 108: V. 2 - 4 )