JULY 1

Superior Actions

Both Muslim kings and Muslim sufis came to India in the Middle Ages, but whereas the non-Muslim masses of the sub-continent considered the kings their enemies, they looked up to the sufis with respect. They fought against the kings, but took the sufis to their hearts. The number of people who accepted Islam at the hands of sufis runs into millions. Even today Indians in general remember the sufis with veneration. Many non-Muslims join Muslims in visiting the shrines of sufi saints. Muslim kings, on the other hand, are remembered with hostility rather than devotion.

The reason for these differing attitudes is that Muslim kings appear on the same level as everybody else, whereas Muslim sufis appear on a higher level. People cannot fail to notice that, as is normal with human beings, Muslim monarchs showed greed for wealth and power. They followed the dictates of their desires rather than their consciences. They plundered others in order to fill their own coffers. In everything they appear no different from, but rather worse than anybody else. Not being superior to others in their actions, why should they be looked up to with respect?

With the sufis, however, things were different. They were content to be poor; they had no greed for wealth. Far from striving for power, they used to stay as far away from it as possible. Far from allowing themselves to become the slaves of their desires, they went through exacting spiritual disciplines in order to make themselves masters of their carnal selves. One of their best aspects was that they did not harbour rancour against anybody; love for their fellow men was all they knew.

The sufis who came to India did not even exclude enemies from their universal aura of benevolence. They did not seek to avenge the wrongs done to them; rather they prayed for their transgressors. The story goes that once a sufi was hurt by a stone thrown at him. He did not become angry, but went to his attacker and embraced him as if he were a dear friend. The latter asked him why he was showing such warmth towards one who had just thrown a stone at him. “Because you are not perfect.” the sufi answered, “you deserve more affection than anybody.” The man was so impressed by this forgiveness that he repented and became the sufi’s disciple.

There is nothing more effective than forgiveness and humility in overcoming one’s enemies. The sufis who came to India made friends out of enemies because they treated everyone with universal love and respect. They showed that the only way to win others’ respect is by raising oneself above them in one’s actions. This is as true today as it was in their times.