Pune: People must hold on to the beacon of light of the Prophetic message and do whatever they can to remove the darkness of injustice from society, said S. Ameenul Hasan, Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), while addressing a Seerat-un-Nabi programme organised by the Pune City unit of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.
Speaking on “A Lamp of Light in the Darkness: The Prophetic Revolution Against Social Injustice,” the JIH Vice President said that the world may appear illuminated by technological progress, but many forms of darkness continue to surround humanity in the form of oppression, inequality and exploitation.
S. Ameenul Hasan said the Seerah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ provides a practical model for confronting such darkness. He identified four major forms of social injustice that existed in the Prophet’s time and continue, in different forms, to challenge society: the killing of girls, oppression of women, exploitation of the weak and economic exploitation. He emphasised that the message of the Prophet should not be viewed merely from a Muslim perspective but also from a broader human and Indian perspective. The contribution of the Prophet to humanity, he said, has relevance for people of every faith because the principles he established addressed fundamental questions of human dignity, justice and social responsibility.
Referring to the historical practice of female infanticide, S. Ameenul Hasan said that discrimination against girls has not disappeared completely and can still be seen in contemporary forms, including female foeticide. He noted that the Prophet ﷺ transformed attitudes towards girls and women and established their dignity and rights in society. He also highlighted the rights of women to personal identity, inheritance, ownership of property and economic activity, describing these changes as an important part of the Prophetic revolution. He said the Seerah demonstrates that social reform cannot be limited to preaching but must bring about meaningful changes in the lives and status of people.
Turning to the exploitation of weaker sections, S. Ameenul Hasan spoke about injustice faced by ordinary people and economic exploitation, including practices that place the poor under a continuing burden of debt. He also referred to the Prophetic condemnation of usury and the effort to remove exploitative economic practices from society. He called for collective efforts against injustice and urged people to associate themselves with organisations and initiatives engaged in constructive social work and helping the oppressed. The struggle against social injustice, he said, requires individuals to move beyond personal concern and contribute to organised efforts for social good.
S. Ameenul Hasan then outlined four principles that, according to him, formed the foundation of the Prophetic approach to social transformation: human dignity, justice, supremacy of law and mercy. On human dignity, he said all human beings deserve respect and equality. He described inequality and the denial of human dignity as among the major problems facing society and referred to the Prophet’s rejection of racial and social discrimination. He stressed that justice must be upheld even when it goes against one’s own interests or benefits an adversary. Justice, he said, cannot be selective or dependent upon whether the person involved belongs to one’s own community, family or group.
S. Ameenul Hasan further underlined the importance of the rule of law, saying that law must not bend before power. Rather, those in positions of power must remain subject to the law. He presented this as another essential element of the Prophetic model of social justice. He also highlighted mercy and forgiveness as a defining feature of the Prophet’s conduct, referring to the forgiveness extended to former enemies at the conquest of Makkah. The JIH Vice President said Muslims should draw lessons from this spirit in their own relationships and learn to forgive spouses, relatives, neighbours and others rather than allowing grievances to become permanent divisions. S. Ameenul Hasan urged people to study the Seerah regularly, not simply as a collection of historical incidents but as practical guidance for different aspects of life. The life of the Prophet, he said, offers lessons for people in their roles as parents, children, relatives, traders, community members and leaders. Concluding his address, he called upon the audience to “hold on to that light” and do whatever they could to remove darkness from the world. He urged them to become part of the effort to spread light through service, justice, compassion and constructive social action.
The programme also featured an address by Maulana Ilyas Khan Falahi, Ameer-e-Halqa, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maharashtra, on the relevance of the Seerah in the contemporary world. In his address, Falahi emphasised that the Seerah is not merely an encyclopedia of information or a subject of academic research, but a living example and model for action. He stressed the need to understand and apply its teachings in contemporary circumstances.
The event was organised by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Pune City, in association with SIO and GIO. The proceedings were compered by Prof. Mirza Asim, while Sufyan Quadri, responsible for SIO Pune, presented a Naat-e-Rasool during the programme. The inaugural words were delivered by Pune City Nazim Tajammul Khan, who welcomed the gathering and explained the purpose of organising the Seerat programme. He said the initiative sought to present the Prophet ﷺ as an Uswa-e-Hasana and to bring out the practical demands of belief in Prophethood.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks and prayers, with speakers urging participants not merely to express love for the Prophet ﷺ but to translate that love into study, action, justice, mercy and service to humanity.
