Muslims have never lacked problems. After the independence of India, these problems only became more complicated. Sometimes there were trials on the political front, sometimes economic hardships surrounded them, sometimes educational backwardness stopped them, and now new questions are being raised in the name of patriotism.
Muslim leadership has always strived to solve these difficulties in its own sphere, to lead the nation on the path of dignity and glory, and to make its collective future bright and shining. But despite all this, the graph of the Ummah's decline and failure has only increased.
There may be various reasons for this situation, but the main reason is negligence in correctly determining priorities.
We have made a long list of problems, but we have not developed a clear awareness of which problem is fundamental and necessary, and which is secondary and unnecessary, which problem requires immediate attention and which can be postponed for later. Thus, forces remained scattered, resources were spent wastefully, and the nation remained deprived of practical results.
Like other nations, we have sought the cure for our problems only in resources. Sometimes we considered politics to be the secret of our progress, sometimes we considered economics to be the means of prosperity, and sometimes we declared education to be the only ladder to all kinds of success.
We understood that if we have powerful political representation, a strong economy, and our generations achieve high grades in education, then perhaps all our sorrows will be removed, weaknesses will be eliminated, and we will move on the path of progress. But we forgot that the real capital of the Muslim Ummah, the center of its success, and the foundation of its existence is the strength of "Aqeedah Tawheed" (the belief in the Oneness of Allah).
In all our national and communal problems, the issue of Tawheed was the most important issue, the most fundamental need, which deserved our attention more than all other fields. Politics, economics, and education are important in their place, but the strength of all of them depends on one thing: how strong and fresh is the spirit of Allah's greatness, the strength of Tawheed, and the protection of faith in our hearts.
When the foundation becomes weak, no matter how strong and beautiful the building is built, it is sure to collapse—and this is what is happening to us today.
Today, the Muslim society is facing the storm of apostasy, which is not based on any political weakness or economic misery, but on our wrong priorities, which result in distance from faith and Tawheed.
We have made politics, economics, or education the center of our progress, our salvation, and our survival—but the foundation on which the entire building of a Muslim stood, that is, the belief in Tawheed—went to the back in our activities, in our collective lives, and in our homes.
Our priorities were so scattered that we hold hundreds of gatherings, conferences, and seminars throughout the year, we remain engaged in them for many days, the nation's capital is poured out like water, but their central theme is neither faith, nor Tawheed, nor the protection of youth, nor the prevention of apostasy!
We do not say that other topics are unnecessary, nor do we oppose any academic, intellectual, or research seminar or conference. Gatherings of knowledge are a sign of progress. But the question is, despite hundreds of programs throughout the year, has even one conference or seminar been held on the topic of "Tawheed"? Has any major meeting focused on what is the impurity of Shirk (associating partners with Allah) and what are its terrible effects on society? Has a permanent session ever been held in any conference on how to protect the belief in Tawheed? Alas!
Heated debates on politics, long sessions on social issues, hours of speeches on culture and civilization—these are all the joys of our gatherings, (may God keep them going) but the decline of faith? The weakness of belief? The scattered map of Tawheed in homes? The growing onslaught of atheism and irreligion and the rising storm of apostasy! … Such a terrible silence prevails on all these issues as if it is not a problem of the Ummah at all.
Undoubtedly, every field of life is very important in its place—we also need participation in politics, economic development is also inevitable,
Leadership in education and civilization is also the call of the time, but the success of all of them stands on one foundation, and that is the strength of the belief in Tawheed.
When Tawheed is firmly established, politics becomes a trust, economics attains the status of worship, and education becomes a means of human development. But if the belief becomes weak, then the same politics is a tribulation, economics is a trial, and education is a gateway to misguidance!
Remember! The solution to the problems of Muslims is not somewhere outside, it is the Ummah's own problem and its cure is also with this Ummah. The only condition is that we recognize our priorities, understand them, and chart our course accordingly.
Therefore, come! Let us re-evaluate our priorities, light the candle of faith in our homes. Give our generations a belief free from Shirk. And put the belief in Tawheed at the top of our collective priorities.