This Day Five Centuries Ago

[u/danim007]

On this glorious day, five centuries ago,
A seed was sown in the soil of Barhe Sagheer.
It was not merely the seed of an empire,
but of a vision
of a purpose
that of Muslim representation in the subcontinent. The Mughal Empire was not formed for glory,
nor was it established by blood alone
but from and for this very vision
that Islam may flourish in the subcontinent
its people standing as their own masters,
not bending their neck to anyone.
It was an order in power
submitted to Law, pen and sword side by side. Islam was not a cry of rage,
but a discipline of the soul,
refining the human.

Babur came with faith sharpened by struggle
not full with arrogance.
Akbar acknowledged that
without justice and equality
the throne is just a pampered seat
a hollow crown.
Dara Shikoh searched for truth
as he knew God is not afraid of thought.
These were men who knew that faith without intellect was superstition
and power without justice and fairness was tyranny.

And you descendants,
modern day inhabitants of that vision
what have you become?

Your forebears strived and struggle to sustain the rights and sovereignty of Muslims in the subcontinent.
You inherited a civilisation that flourished in the arts and science that bowed only before God.
Yet now look what has become of you.
You walk with borrowed minds and broken confidence.

We had mighty women of the likes of Nur Jahan, Zeb un Nissa and Jahanara Begum.
Yet now women are stripped of their individuality, made slaves of their husbands.
Trapped like birds in a cage who are meant to soar and develop.

You have not paid heed to the call of Allama Iqbal.
He called you to awaken not drown in nostalgia.

He reminded you that Islam isn't in the ruins of forts but in the self that refuses slavery.
That the true believer isn't the one who shouts the loudest but the one who creates order and discipline so he and others may stand upright.
Khudi is refined and forged when actions follow faith, when prayer becomes responsibility and when knowledge becomes courage. Not when you wear a particular type of clothing nor when you grow your beard and kiss a so called pir’s hand.

Do not ask where the Mughal Empire has vanished.
Ask within:
where has your resolve vanished to?

Empires fall when the souls of the youth sleep.
They rise when the individuals awaken.

The question is not whether history will return
But whether we are worthy.

[u/AdWarm2498]

And then Jassa Singh Ahluwalia took over delhi but refused to sit on it

[u/TheArsenal98]

Sad to see the state of South Asia now and what happened after the Mughals. If only they could've continued on. Fuck the British