Abdur Rashid Choudhury

The Assamese biographical literature is rich. A large part of this literature is Islamic biographies, primarily those of Prophet Muhammad and his four Caliphs. These books have enriched the Assamese language. Assam's first Chief Minister Bharat Ratna Gopinath Bordoloi wrote the first biography of the Prophet Muhammad in Assamese.

During the Quit India Movement in 1942 when Gopinath Bordoloi was in jail, he wrote several biographies for children. One of them was Hazrat Muhammad. Thus Gopinath Bordoloi’s book is the first biography of the founder of Islam in the Assamese language. Bordoloi in all his biographies began by addressing his readers (children) with 'Dear Son' or 'Son'. In the case of the biography of Prophet Muhammad too he begins, “Son, now I will tell you briefly about the biography of the Prophet Muhammad, the preacher of Islam”.

Before this book, Bordoloi wrote biographies of Sri Ramachandra, Buddha, and Jesus Christ. At the beginning of the biography of the Prophet Muhammad, Bordoloi says that the biographies of other saints contain many supernatural and wonderful things. Some people have added similar elements to the biography of the Prophet Muhammad but Bordoloi admits that Prophet Muhammad's biography is more historical than that of others.

Representative picture of Islamic Biography

The biography covers all aspects of the Prophet's life - from his birth to his preaching, ruling the country and death. Bordoloi beautifully describes how the Prophet was humiliated from the time he began preaching until he left for Medina. He says Prophet Muhammad was patient throughout. He tells his readers that humans can learn a lesson in patience from him.

Bordloi writes in his book that Prophet Muhammad never used sarcastic and harsh words against his enemies. “Even more admirable is his (Prophet) treatment of his contrarians and enemies. You have read how the sinful Quraysh treated him (Prophet) cruelly. But he never spoke harshly to these enemies. There was absolutely no place for coercion in the rule of the Prophet Muhammad. He ruled through negotiations, agreements, and trials. This kingdom was run by treaty negotiation and judgment. There was no place for coercion,” Bordoloi writes.

The Prophet Mohammad's kingdom provided security for all. However, he had to abandon the policy of non-violence to maintain law and order in his kingdom. Gopinath Bordoloi mentions the quotes of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on Prophet Mohammad.

An old picture of the Holy Kaba

"I am now more convinced than ever that it was not the power of the sword that brought victory to Islam in the world arena, but rather it was the very simple life of the Prophet of Islam, his selflessness, promise-keeping, and fearlessness, his love for his friends and followers and his trust in God. It was not the power of the sword, but rather these qualities and virtues that removed all obstacles and enabled you to conquer all difficulties. Someone told me that the Europeans living in South Africa are trembling at the spread of Islam, the same Islam that spread light in Morocco and gave the pleasant message of becoming brothers to the people of the world," Bordoloi quotes Mahatma Gandhi.

Towards the end of the biography, Bordoloi talks about the oppression he had seen and the oppression committed against others in the name of Islam. He had seen the Muslims resort to violence in their hostility towards people of other faiths. In the context of this completely anti-Islamic act, Bardoli wrote, “In fact, the root of this paradox is selfishness. There can never be quarrels between people who follow religion and people who believe in religion. In every country, there are some clerics and religious leaders who try to make other religions and people of other religions look down on and hate to make their religion look great.”

Like his other biographies, Hazrat Muhammad is written in simple and child-friendly language.

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Prophet Muhammad should be read by every Assamese. Not only they will come to know about the life of Prophet Muhammad, but it will also introduce them to the literary talent of Bharat Ratna Gopinath Bardoli and his secular attitude.

(The writer is a teacher at Anandaram Sr. Basic School, North Guwahati)