Having a purpose in life makes one
overlook all other considerations.
One is willing to endure every hardship
to achieve one’s goal.

In November 1922 a thirty-four year old Spanish priest by the name of Fr Henry Heras (1889-1956) landed in Bombay harbour. The land of India fascinated him. He was sure that it would be fertile ground for Christian missionary work. He decided to settle in the country and pursue his missionary activities here.

But India was not Fr Heras’ mother land. He had to have a base if he was to work in the country; only after he had established himself here would he be able to start preaching among the Indian people. He decided that he would practice as a teacher in India, and then plan his work from there. In a teaching capacity, he felt he would be able to work both inside the college campus and outside.

A few days later he met the principal of St Xavier’s College, Bombay. The young priest was a historian, and had a degree in history from his own country: “Which branch of history would you like to teach?” the principal asked him, after going through his testimonials. “Indian History,” Fr Heras replied at once. “What do you know about Indian History?” the principal asked him: Fr Heras said he knew nothing. “How, then, are you going to teach it?” “I shall study it,” Fr Heras answered.

Fr Heras realized that he was not going to teach history as a profession. If he had been adopting it on a career basis then he could have taught European history or any branch of history that he was acquainted with and remained content with a pay-packet at the end of every month. He had a special aim in mind, and that was to establish a base for his missionary work. For this purpose Indian history was the most suitable topic available to him. He was in India, and would be in a better position to communicate his religion to the youth of the country as a teacher of Indian history. That was why—despite his unfamiliarity with the topic—he chose Indian history as his subject.

He studied Indian history so hard that he not only became an accomplished history teacher; he also established himself as a historian of the same class as Sir Jadunath Sarkar and Dr Surendra Nath Sen. The Heras Institute of Bombay stands today as a living memorial to Fr Heras and his life-work.

If one has a purpose in life, then one will overlook all other considerations and concentrate on achieving one’s goal. Everything one does will be aimed at that end. One will not act on the basis of mundane and temporary profit; one will undergo loss, and endure hardship, if it serves to bring one closer to one’s goal. There are many Muslims in the world today who say they would like to accomplish “missionary work:’ But are they ready for the selfless struggle that work entails?

Translated by Mohd Jawaid Nehal

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Those who do not fear God
cannot fathom
the states of the godly

The expedition to Tabuk was undertaken under very difficult circumstances. Abdullah Ibn Abbas tells of how the Prophet asked the Muslims to give alms in aid of the expedition. People would contribute according to their means. Abdullah Ibn Auf gave two hundred “auqiyas,” which was more than of anyone. The Prophet asked him whether he had left anything for his household. Abdul Rahman said that he had. “How much?” the Prophet asked. “However much (in) blessing and reward that God and His Prophet have promised,” Abdul Rahman answered. Abu Aqeel Ansari contributed one “Sa’a” of dates. He brought them to the Prophet, saying how he had earned two “sa’as” by pulling water for a Jew all night. He had given one sa’a, which amounts to about four kilos, to his family, and brought another to the Prophet. But still he felt ashamed. “I’m sorry, I had nothing else to give,” he said to the Prophet. But the hypocrites of Madinah poured scorn on the Muslims’ donations. Some they accused of ostentation, and concerning others they said: “This person needs the sa’a that he is giving away more than anyone else.”