As I grow
old often go in reminiscence of old events and try to know what right
and what wrong happened. In a way it was like reviewing my life. In
one of such memories, forty years ago, I learned about three religion
concept that was put to me by one business man from Afghanistan who
was friends with me.
Haji
Rahemtullah is his name, an elderly gentleman from Afghanistan. He
was importing dry fruits from Afghanistan and exporting textile to
Afghanistan. One day I happened to visit his office as I always used
to do. Hajisaab was sitting in his chair and he welcomed me as usual.
There was nothing special to talk on and so we were siting without
any conversation. After some time as time for Asr prayer began Haji
saab stood for the prayer and I was watching him perform his prayer.
That was usual scene. However, on that day something else happened.
Haji sab had just completed one rakat, began his next rakat and phone
began to ring. Those were days when mobiles were not available. Haji
saab stopped his prayer and went to his sit and took that phone call.
He continued his conversation on the phone for a long time and after
that call was over he began to make calls to other contacts and that
conversation continued for some time after about twenty minutes of
talking business was over. He relaxed in his chair contemplating on
his business discussion. I realized that he has forgotten prayer, Asr
prayer time was not over until then.
I became
curious about his this behavior. I wanted to know why he did not
continue his prayer? I was so much curious about that so I could not
control and asked him to remind him of his prayer. On that he gave a
big grin.
He took a
time and began to answer my query; "Look Ashok bhai, I am not
very particular about all these things but I have to continue to
practice these things because I have to stay honorably in my
society". Then he told me about his theory of three religions.
He told
me that he believes in three religion theory for a person to make his
living honorably in whatever society he lives. Haji saab told me his
first religion is for his soul or Atman, that is religion of
goodness. To be good and encourage goodness around, to discourage
badness anywhere. This is religion for his soul.
Second
religion is for his body. That is business or service or career whatever is
required to make living possible. Without this religion he told me
anything is not possible. So this is a very important religion and
everybody must abide by it. Of course, this religion one must
practice in accordance with first religion of goodness. That means he
cannot indulge in any such avocation that breaks rules of goodness.
Here he made to me clear about preferences in these three religions.
Religion for Atman is first priority and religion for body has second
preference.
Last
comes religion for society. He told me with a smile on his face that
Islam is for society. That has least priority in the three religion
arrangement.
Then he
told me why he did not bother to continue prayer. He told me if in
place of me a Muslim person were to sit he would have continued the
prayer but since I was not a Muslim he told me laughingly, he did not
need follow third religion meticulously.
That
explanation satisfied me and then we together chatted on many
relevant topics. I wonder if all sensible people accept Haji saab's
three religion theory there will be less tension in this world. In a
secular society like ours third option becomes irrelevant and so not
necessary! However, first and second religions are essential and
cannot be neglected.
You may contact me on
my Email ID given below,
You are invited to visit
my other blogs
I
reckon,
http://kotharesviews.blogspot.com/
for philosophy
You
may visit blog, Freedom
of Expression,
http://blogs.siliconindia.com/kothare/
for intelligent discussions.
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