Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi: His Prophetic Words in 1939

Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi: His Prophetic Words in 1939 Speech delivered on his arrival at Karachi after twenty six years of exile On 4 th March 1939 (He died in 1944) (speech published in Sindhi Monthly As-Sadiq of Khada, Karachi Translated by Professor (Mrs.) H.B. Mustafa Shah (Published in Sind Quarterly: volume ix 1980 No. 3, pages 14 and 15) I was sent to Afghanistan by Shaikhul-Hind in 1915. 1 was sent out by your leaders. There I served Islam as much as it was possible for me. I faced great difficulties but I surmounted them, even fear of death could not halt my progress. I associated with the bravest of men — who had fought the most difficult battles battles of the World. Do not treat my words as the outcome of an agitated mind or as an emotional outburst. I have great experience to my credit. This is the voice of experience that is addressing you. I do not want to withhold any secrets from you. My philosophy and ideals are known to every one. My conditioning is that of the morning star rapidly descending to disappear. Before my death I want to convey my message to the youth of India. I am afraid that if these conditions prevail, Bengal may get divided and in the process of change Afghanistan will be the first to fall a victim to this avalanche. I have returned to India as a Messenger of Revolution. That day is not far when Britain and America will find it difficult to look after themselves. Do not consider this revolution less than the Day of Reckoning. In my days I have seen men of great learning and fortune begging in the streets. I have seen respectability, honour and status being sold in the bazaars. This will be a far reaching revolution which will one day engulf the whole universe even the great wall of China will not be immune to it. It will take away all the rubble, dust, and rubbish in its tide. The world is in danger of confronting the Noah's Deluge. Dark clouds have gathered all around: the threatening skies are going to burst. Our scholars whose gaze does not go beyond their books are not prepared to look at the world around. The knowledge that that they are seeking, gaining and imparting, has given them no pulsation andperception in their lives — nor has it given the students any sense of direction, will and vigour to live. Your politicians are busy making great, big schemes and plans which do not fit in with the exigencies and objectives of the day — the people are treated like animals. Indeed the Quran is right, Bible is right, and Torah is right. If by presenting the Bible in a wrong light a Christian can be called an infidel, then how can a Mussalman of this country remain a Mussalman by presenting the Quran in the wrong light and perspective. Behold, the revolution has come very near. If you are not careful, you will be destroyed. The sum total of this phenomenon is that yesterday one class was all powerful. The workers and the Haris who were the real producers of wealth were serving and those who were enjoying and thriving on their labour considered work below their dignity and an insult. The working classes were down trodden classes and the capitalists were living below norms of morality. Even then all the good things of life were reserved for the homes and palaces of the capitalists and jagirdars. The intellectual progress and education was also their lot. All the blessings of Islam were also meant for them. For ages the workers and the Haris remained under remained under the yoke of the capitalists. Then came the age of Macine and the workers became the masters of these Machines and the capitalist system died its natural death. Even though this new philosophy to a certain extent denies the existence of God — today its slogan is "Workers of the World Unite and Rise and Revolt" — all these big buildings and palaces have been built with your labour — take possession of them and occupy them! Finish anyone who comes in your way. Remember if this irreligious and agnostic philosophy overpowers you and succeeds — you are in danger, your religion is in danger. Accept this philosophy if you want to live so that your faith in God should remain and the poor may benefit. It was this philosophy that Imam Shah Walliullah Dehlvi had enunciated and propounded. If your capitalist class did not recognise the rights of the poor, then you shall share the fate of the Muslims of Bokhara. In Bokhara there was an Arabic University in every city where there were seventy thousand Arabic scholars. Your political strength is nowhere near the political strength of Turkey. The Revolution came which Bokhara's great religiosity could not stand and Turkeys great political strength could not face. How can you face such a revolution with any strength or courage! What are you before the forces of such a Revolution. When a Revolution starts from the huts and homes of the poor and down-trodden it will raze palaces of the rich to the earth. If you want to become revolutionaries, you can do so by following the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah. When I die, after my death within three years, if the British do not leave India, you may, by all means, come to my grave and say that the British are still there. My reply from my grave will be that I have shaken the very foundations of the British, now they can not stay in India. Soon you will remember me. I leave to God the affairs and the mysteries of my life and my fate. (Editor's note: "We have requested Professor (Mrs.) Mustafa Shah to undertake the translation of the writings of Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi from Sindhi and Urdu into English for Sind Quarterly.)