MERIT PREVAILS
Mr. Muhammad Hanif (born in 1951) resides in Delhi. He is a Superintendent in the Customs and Central Excise Department. He does not hide his Islamic identity in his office; rather, he introduces the Quran and Islam on every occasion. Despite this, he was awarded the Presidential Award in 1999, which is considered a high government honour.
This is a remarkable event. The process involves a decision to award this prestigious honour based on a 15-year record. Each year, three senior officers from the department evaluate and report on the performance of the individual in question. Over 15 years, 45 officers participate in this reporting process. If even one officer’s report is unfavourable, the person is not considered worthy of this national award. After the committee’s nomination, the file is sent for approval to about half a dozen government offices and ultimately reaches the President of India.
How did an Indian Muslim earn this remarkable award? The answer is straightforward: outstanding performance and good manners. In this regard, Mr. Muhammad Hanif’s record is exceptionally impressive. As for his good manners, a specific incident can give us insight into his character.
During the 1996 recruitment for sweepers, a high-caste Hindu boy came for an interview at Mr. Hanif’s office. Mr. Hanif told him that sweepers had to clean drains and sweep floors, and asked how he, being from a high caste, would handle such tasks. The boy replied that he was willing to do anything for his livelihood. Mr. Hanif hired him but, aware of the situation, assigned the boy to dusting work in the office instead of cleaning drains and sweeping.
Some time later, Mr. Hanif was transferred from that office, and a Hindu officer replaced him. One day, the boy came to Mr. Hanif’s house and said that after Mr. Hanif left, he was reassigned to cleaning drains and sweeping, tasks from which Mr. Hanif had exempted him. Mr. Hanif felt sorry for him and called the new officer to discuss the boy’s situation. He expressed his wish that the boy continue with the dusting work instead of cleaning drains and sweeping. Following Mr. Hanif’s request, the new officer restored the boy to the dusting job.
Mr. Muhammad Hanif shows the same respect and kindness to everyone in his office. As a result, he is respected by everyone, from junior employees to senior officers.
Similarly, Mr. Hanif carries out his official duties with complete honesty. Although he often encounters opportunities for extra financial benefits in his line of work, he completely refrains from accepting such income. He lives within the limits of his legitimate salary and never accepts any unlawful earnings.
Mr. Muhammad Hanif’s qualities are his true assets. These are the very attributes that made him deserving of the aforementioned national distinction. This shows that in this country, all kinds of high opportunities are fully available to a Muslim. The only condition is that he follows the path of high morals and excellent performance. After that, he will have no reason to complain about his environment.
