18 Jun A life for the Ummah: A tribute to Basha Bhai
Praise and Blessings on His Noble Messenger
A few days ago, another leader and commander of the path of Jihad met his Lord. This brave-hearted leader, who dedicated himself to the blessed the path of Jihad fi Sabeelillah, endured the hardships of imprisonment with a smile. He was a Mujahid who neither bowed nor begged for mercy or concessions from our enemies. Until his last breath, he lived with the pain of the Ummah. For the last 40 years of his life, he fought against the enemies of Islam, constantly being a thorn in their path. This great son of the Ummah, a leader in both da’wah and the battlefield, a source of comfort for the Muslims of Tamil Nadu and a beloved brother to all the Mujahideen of India, including myself, Syed Ahmed Basha, commonly known as Basha Bhai. He departed this temporary world while in captivity, attaining martyrdom in the path of his Lord.
Merely glancing at the Islamophobic media is enough to gauge how happy the enemies of Islam are over his demise. Dear youth, ponder upon this: how many people die every day, including believers and others? How many scholars and preachers return to their Lord? But how many of them cause the world of disbelief to celebrate their death with such joy? How many brave Mujahideen lead lives that illuminate our path and serve as guiding lights for us? When the movement of Ghazwa-e-Hind reaches its completion, as it surely will, how many will be remembered as having fulfilled their duties and laid the foundation for this ultimate victory? Basha Bhai is among the fortunate few who fulfilled their duties admirably. We consider him as such, and Allah is his ultimate judge. May Allah grant the youth of the Indian Muslim Ummah the ability to emulate his steadfastness and bravery. Ameen.
Belonging to Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, a land that has been home to many lions of our era, Basha Bhai adopted piety and religiosity from an early age. Allah blessed him with immense wealth and a thriving business through his hard work, yet this business and wealth never distracted him from serving the Ummah.
In 1983, he led his first retaliatory operation against the oppressive Hindutva elements. From then until the demolition of the Babri Masjid, he and his companions were tirelessly engaged in defending the Ummah. They responded to every act of oppression so decisively that the Sanghis could not rest peacefully. In 1992, when the Babri Masjid was demolished by these forces, he established the *Al-Ummah* organization. Through this platform, he and his close associates took retaliatory action against those responsible for the Babri Masjid’s demolition.
In this struggle, he faced numerous arrests and severe torture, especially at the hands of the Q Branch—a governmental department notorious for targeting Muslim organizations. In 1997, when the police and Hindutva mobs collaborated to massacre Muslims and loot their properties in Coimbatore, the lions of Al-Ummah resolved to make the ultimate sacrifice.
They carried out large-scale retaliatory operation, fully aware that it could cost them their lives. Yet, they cared neither for their wealth nor their lives. Their aim was to shake the foundations of the Hindutva forces and send a strong message. Their actions were so impactful that, from that day onward, the Sanghis dared not target Muslims in Tamil Nadu on a large scale again.
When history is written, and the moment of ultimate victory unfolds, the sacrifices of Basha Bhai and his companions will shine even brighter. Yet, even today, some people question, “What did they achieve? They spent their lives in prison. What did they gain?” To them, we ask, “What have you gained while staying outside prison? What role did you play in defending and reviving the Ummah while these lions shed their blood?”
These individuals, who spent the prime of their youth and the best years of their lives in this struggle, will always be remembered. History has not ended here; wars are fought over years and centuries. Had the lions of Al-Ummah not deterred the Sangh forces, the atrocities and barbarities we witness today, such as lynching and demolitions, would have started three decades ago. The reprieve granted to the Ummah is the result of their sacrifices. Their reward lies with Allah, and those who are ungrateful will never understand this. Yet, history will honor them with dignity, as their legacy lies in defending the dignity and honor of the Ummah.
My dear youth of the Indian Muslim Ummah, your brothers have sacrificed their lives and livelihoods to defend your lives and honor against the onslaught of Hindutva and its allies. Basha Bhai, along with the leadership and Mujahideen of Al-Ummah, revived the memories of the Malta and Kala pani prisons in this era. Among them, Imam Ali and other Mujahideen gave their blood to keep this movement alive, hoping that their sacrifices would result in a strong defensive front for Muslims in India.
If you recognize the worth of these sons of the Ummah, who sacrificed their youth, wealth, and families for your worldly and eternal success, and if you stand by them, it will indeed be your own success in this world and the Hereafter.
Once again, my Mujahid brothers, let us renew our pledge to respond to every oppression faced by brothers of Al-Ummah and complete the initiatives they undertook for the defense of the Ummah, In Sha Allah.
**“ Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah. Of them, some have fulfilled their vow, and some are still waiting; but they have never changed their determination in the least. ”**
Finally, I pray that Allah accepts Basha Bhai’s sacrifices, grants patience to his family, and awakens the Muslim Ummah of India through his sacrifices. May Allah deliver the Indian Muslims and the entire Ummah from the clutches of disbelievers and oppressors, and grant us steadfastness on the blessed path of Ghazwa-e-Hind.
Ameen… Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.
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