Hi guys! The weekend is here again, and guess what? I just finished watching the Bollywood superstar, Shah Rukh Khan’s 2017 blockbuster movie; RAEES.
Fantastic movie, if you ask me, albeit with some flaws and controversies. Anyway, that’s not the crux of today’s discussion.
On Islam-tainment this beautiful Saturday, I want to share with us one important lesson from the film, which addresses religious indoctrination and the erroneous perception that the reward for killing innocent people in the name of Jihad is Paradise.
I found the dialogue between Raees and Musabhai (Musa for short) very touching and motivational.
Before I write further, read their conversations below:
RAEES: You tricked me, Musa. You made me transport explosives instead of gold.
MUSA: You have performed a noble task. You’ll go to heaven.
RAEES: You can’t when you’ve killed innocent people, Musa.
Analysis
Towards the end of the 143-minute film, RAEES – the lead character, played by Shah Rukh, a bootlegging merchant – ran into debt after spending all his wealth on the welfare of his community and thereafter, contesting for elections against the will of his political godfather, the Chief Minister, Gujarat.
Shahrukh was desperate in his search for survival, and ran back to Musa (an Indian actor, Narendra Jha) in Mumbai, who had, at the beginning of the film, given him money to start his bootlegging business.
Musa saw a desperate Raees and promised to assist him, but on one condition; he must help him smuggle gold. Raees accepted and got the money, which he used to pay all his debt.
Unfortunately, the gold was a cover-up, the real contents of the wooden boxes were RDX explosives, which were later used to kill innocent people during the Hindu-Muslim crisis in North India.
A lot of people died in the crisis and it was then that a heartbroken Raees realised he had been fooled. He immediately realised his mistake and confessed to his wife, Aasiya (a character played by a Pakistani actor, Mahira Khan):
“In trying to save my people, I have burned down the city”, he said, regrettably.
Raees made up his mind to surrender himself to the police, but before doing that, he went straight to the man (Musabhai) who deceived and betrayed him to transport explosives instead of gold.
The dialogue above was, in brief, what ensued between them.
He eventually killed Musabhai and his goons, then surrendered himself to the police, headed by ACP Majmudar ( Nawazuddin Siddiqui) who eventually killed Raees through extra-judicial means.
Message
There are many innocent, brilliant and promising youths who have been recruited, brainwashed and tricked by terrorists to believe that killing innocent people amounts to Jihad, and its reward will be Al-Jannah Firdaus, similar to what Musabhai told Raees.
“You will be blessed with 72 virgins and everlasting happiness in Paradise if you carry out a suicide bombing!” This is a common example of the crap terrorists sell to their would-be bombers.
For instance, Boko Haram, a group of brainwashed youths, has inflicted devastating damage on Nigerians, indiscriminately killing Muslims and non-Muslims, and destroying mosques, churches and property worth billions since it embarked on its killing spree years ago.
Allah says; Whoever kills a soul without a just cause, then it will be as if he has killed all mankind. And, if anyone saved a soul, it would be as if he has saved the life of all mankind. Qur’an 5: 32.
In another verse, Allah warns against unjust killing even if it’s one soul (Qur’an 17: 32).
Even in war, what the Westerners call collateral damage (incidental killings of non-combatants) is haraam (completely forbidden) in Islam and this was practised in several wars fought by the Prophet Muhammad and his companions.
The prophet of Islam instructed the Muslim soldiers not to kill monks in monasteries, those who sit or take refuge in a place of worship, old people, children or women.
Friends, don’t be deceived! Don’t allow yourself to be tricked into carrying arms – either for personal or business reasons. Don’t be too desperate in your quest for survival. “Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us).” Qur’an 3:173
Have a lovely weekend!
- By Rasheed Abubakar/ twitter@rawshieldpr
