Who are Rohingyas?
Mayu Maung @ Mayurkhareir Bhai
Bismillaahir Rwah’maanir Rwah’eem.
Alh’amdu lillaahi Rwabbil A’alameen, Wasswalaatu Wassalaamu A’laa Saiyidil Mursaleen wa A’laa Aalihee wa Aswh’aabihee Ajmae’en.
Before going to the subject it is assumed to be
appropriate of forwarding a hint to the Quranic understanding of human life and
its relation to here and hereafter as introduction in the beginning and as conclusion
in the end.
THE NOBLE QURAN IS A UNIVERSAL ADDRESSES, FROM ALLAH ALMIGHTY THE CREATOR OF ALL CREATURES AND THE ALL DOMINION OVER ALL UNIVERSES, TO HUMANKIND IN THE PAST, IN THE PRESENT AND IN THE TIME TO COME UP TO THE LAST DAY. MOHAMMAD IBNE ABDULLAH (SAW) IS MADE HIS LAST MESSENGER TO HUMANKIND FOR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE GUIDE OF NOBLE QURAN.
English equivalent of some Arabic alphabets written in the following Quranic passages:-
Th = ث ; j = ج ; h’ = ح ; kh = خ ; د’ = d-d when an alphabet holds dal it sounds double; dth = ذ ; rw = ر when it is with fat-h’ah and hdwammah ; sh = ش ; sw = ص ; hdw = ض ; tw = ط ; dthw = ظ ; a’, e’, u’ = ع ; q = ق ; lw = ل when the alphabet holding lam-e-Allwaah is with either fat-h’ah or hdwammah ; wa = و ; aْ = اْ when an Arabic alphabet holds hamzah with fat-h’ah, eْ = ىْ when an Arabic alphabet holds hamzah with kasrah, uْ = وْ when an Arabic alphabet holds hamzah with hdwammah.
A hint to the Quranic understanding of human life and its relation to here and hereafter.
Auoodthu Billaahi Minashshaitwaanir Rwajeem.
Qadkhalat ming Qablikum Sunanung Faseerwoo Fil Arhdwi Fangdthwuroo Kaifa Kaana A’aqibatul Mukadthdthibeen (3:137). Many similar ways (and mishaps of life) were faced by nations (believers and disbelievers) that have passed away before you (as you have faced in the battle of Uhud), so travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who disbelieved (in the Oneness of Allah, and disobeyed him and His Messengers).
Lillaahi mulkussamaawaati wal arhdwi wa maa feehinna, wa huwa a’laa kulli shaieeng qadeer (5:120). To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is therein, and He is Able to do all things. (Dominion = All-ruling authority).
Wa Kaanallwaahu Bikulli Shaieem Muheetwaa (4:126). And Allah is ever encompassing all things. (that is, nothing is kept out of His encompassing and grip.)
Innee Jaae’long Fil Arhdwi Khaleefah (2: 30). I (Allah) shall create a vicegerent on earth.
Wa Maa Khalaqtul Jinna wal Ingsa Illaa Liya’budoon (51: 56). And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone). (Allah SWT has created mankind and jinn, only to obey and worship Him).
All these verses indicate that as long as obeying of Allah Almighty is left on earth i.e. till one man alone is left obeying Allah Almighty on earth; Allah Almighty shall preserve the existence of earth intact with him. When no more obeying of Allah Almighty is left on earth, Allah Almighty shall end the existence of earth. This shall be the last day of all creations.
Mainyutwie’rrwasoola Faqad-d Atwaa-a’llah (4:80). He who obeys the Messenger (Mohammad SAW), has indeed obeyed Allah SWT.
Wamaa Yangtwiqu A’nil Hawa (53:3). Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. Inhuwa Illaa Wah’yui Yooh’aa (53:4). It is only a revelation revealed. (Whatever guidance the Messenger Mohammad SAW is giving to human life for living, is from Allah Almighty.)
Yaa Aiyuhalladtheena Aamanuttaqullwaaha wa Qooloo Qaulang Sadeedaa (22:70). O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. Yuswleh’ Lakum Aa’maa lakum wa Yagfir Lakum dthunoobakum wa Mainyyutwie’llaaha wa Rwasoolahoo Faqad-d Faaza fwauzan A’dthweemaa (22:71). He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger SAW, he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hell-fire and will be admitted to paradise).
Laa Nufarriqu baina Ah’adim Minrrwusulih (2:285). They (Who believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books and His Messengers) say, “We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers”.
Wa Idth Akhadthallwaahu Meethaaqannabiyyeena Lamaa Aataitukum Ming Kitaabiyaun wa H’ikmating Thumma Jaa Akum Rwasoolum Muswaddiqal Limaa Ma A’kum Latuْminunna Bihee wa Latangsurwunnah, qaala A-aqrwartum wa Akhadthtum A’laa dthaalikum Iswree, Qaaloo Aqrwarnaa Qaala Fashhadoo wa Ana Ma A’kum Minashshaahideen (3:81). And (remember) when Allah took the covenant of the prophets, saying: “Take whatever I gave you from the book and Hikmah (understanding of the Laws of Allah), and afterwards there will come to you a Messenger (Mohammad SAW) confirming what is with you; you must, then, believe in him and help him”. Allah said: “Do you agree (to it) and will you take up My Covenant (which I conclude with you)”? They said: “We agree”. He said: “Then bear witness; and I am with you among the witnesses (for this)”.
These verses indicate that without obeying of Mohammad SAW there is no obeying of Allah Almighty and His other Messengers.
INTRODUCTION
Rohingyas are Muslims. They want to live as Muslims according to Quran and Sunnah. They desire peaceful co-existence among all communities they are living with. Their struggle is for establishment of justice and peace.
Rohingyas are aboriginal inhabitants of Arakan. The word Rohingya is not a surfacing from politics. It is a historical name of a community living in Arakan. Historically the old name of Arakan is Rohang and her people are Rohingyas. Rohingyas did not write the history of Rohang, it was written by other people, mostly Europeans. It appeared not only in a single book, it appeared in many books. It is not a myth; it is a history by evidence.
Arakan was an independent sovereign
ADVENT OF ISLAM TO ARAKAN
The Arabs were seafaring people since 4th and 5th centuries in the Bay of Bengal, which in early days was called
THE NAMES ARAKAN, ARAKANESE AND RAKHINE
In fact, geographically, Arakan is a continuation of
Actually the name of Arakan in Burmese is Rakhine. Rakhine is not a separate name from Arakan. A biological scientist who reached Arakan in eighteenth century discovered a variety of banana in the banana plantations of Rohingyas. This scientist named it Musa Paradisiaca Arakanensis. He attached the Muslim name to its variety as it was found with them. Magh Buddhists called it Kala Ngappyaw Thi that is Muslim banana. Kala is a derogatory term to Muslims given by Buddhist Maghs and Burmans. Burmans call this banana Rakhine Ngappyaw Thi. This mentions that Rakhine is translation of the word Arakanese in to Burmese. In Field – Marshal Sir William Slim's "Defeat into Victory" page 146, wrote: "When we withdrew, …. was followed by a bitter internecine struggle for land and power between the Arakanese and Maughs ", which is attributing Arakanese to the Muslims and Maughs to the Buddhists. Major Anthony Irwin, another British officer who served in Arakan front, in his Burmese Outpost pp. 21-22, wrote, " At first Maghs had it all their own way, for they were better organized and better armed, having a fair sprinkling of rifles. But as they pushed north, so they met up stiffer and more organized resistance and were not only held but forced to retreat, for they are, man to man, no match for the Mussulman Arakanese ", which is clearly attributing the term Arakanese to the Muslims.
The almost certain is that the name Arakan became popular after the Muslim conquest of the country in 1430 CE. The Arakan kings were well versed in Persian and it was official language of Arakan upto 1845. In the Journal of Burma Research Society (JBRS), 50th anniversary publication No. 2, pp. 491 – 2, under the caption, Arakan's Place in the Civilization of the Bay, wrote, "It took a hundred years for the kings (Arakan Kings) to learn the doctrine of Islam. When it was well understood they had founded what was known as the Arakanese Empire". “In 1531 Minbin (Zabuk Shah) ascended the throne, with him the Arakanese graduated in their Moslem studies and the empire was founded”. “The last king Thamada 1782-5, bearing as if in irony the name of the first king on earth has less authority than ever, for he was from the despised race of Ramree” (Outline of Burmese History by G. E. Harvey. P. 97). Ramree is an island to where Muslim archers were deported earlier. Medieval Portuguese and other European travelers mentioned it Arracan, Aracco, Orracan, Arrakan and Van Linscoten writes it Arakan which is nearest to the modern name (A History of Chittagong by Dr. S. B. Qanungo Vol. I, page 232). One of the coins found in Arakan and preserved in the
In a made up history of Arakan by Magh Buddhists and Burmans wrote about Mrauku Dynasty's Islamic identities that when Sulaiman Shah was reinstated to his throne with the help of
1. Persian language should be official Language of Arakan;
2. The kings should bear Muslim names;
3. On one side of the currency coins Islamic Kalema “Laa Ilaaha Illallwaahu Muhammadur Rwasoolullwaah" should beimprinted and the other side should bear Muslim name of the king;
4. The imprint of State Emblem should be "Laa Ilaaha Illallwaahu Muhammadur Rwasoolullwaah";
5. The State should stay feudatory to Bengal Sultan etc.
In
THE MONGOLOID BUDDHIST PEOPLE OF ARAKAN ARE MAGHS NOT RAKHINE
Magh Buddhists of Arakan under the patronage of Burmans lordship reaped maximum benefit from the ignorance and unconsciousness of the Rohingya Muslims. Nowadays only, the educated class of Rohingya community, after making thorough research into the history of Rohingyas, comes to know that Rakhine is the name of Muslims living in Arakan. The Buddhist community of Arakan owns the name Magh only as their lineage of ancestry traces to
In the society of Arakan's Maghs, there are those who are politically moving against Rohingyas are mostly from
Today's politicizing of words Rakhine and Rakhine Pre for Buddhist Maghs is nothing but a conspiracy to make Rohingyas foreigners in their motherland and Arakan devoid of Rohingyas. Actually Maghs are not Rakhine, They are Maghs. If they want to disown the name Magh, then they are Burmans only, not Rakhine. At the time of independence movement the leaders of so-called Rakhine had served in the movement of Burma Independence Movement under the leadership of general Aung San, instead of moving for the independence of Arakan. Burmese kings were ivited by Maghs to occupy Arakan. They had even abandoned the name Rakhine and bore the name Burman and took pride to be member of big star in the national flag. After coming of military regime, when Maghs are totally assimilated into Burmans with negligible differences in few factors and Rohingyas are made constitutionally foreigners and politically impotent, then only
Most of the present day Buddhists of Arakan and
The Maghs (Buddhists) of
From the east, Burmans are regularly immigrating into Arakan. In southern Arakan they are majority. Today Burman communities are being settled throughout Arakan by the regime including northern most Arakan to get rid of its original ethnic communities. It is assumed that in near future there will be no more either Rohingyas or Maghs. Today Burmese authority says that there is no Rohoingyas, next day they will say, there is any Maghs. O’ Magh people, wait for this.
BURMANS
It is necessary to mention what Burmans are. General mass of original Burmans is simple and kindhearted. They are pleasant and cordial towards friends and guests and helpful to strangers. Naturally they are not harmful to any one. But I doubt the survival of this nature when each and every body of Burmans is adopting the policy of their leaders. It is the ruler’s policy of racism polluting Burman community. Throughout the time it is found that the nationalism was exploited for the interest of rulers only pushing the country into chaos and the people to pauper. We hope if Allah Almighty wills our beloved Su shall be able to lead the country to peace and justice to prosper. From Central Asia to
MAGH PEOPLE OF ARAKAN
Why do Maghs want to disown their own name? The fact is that for more than 2 centuries from the middle of 16th century till 1784, the year of Burmese conquest of Arakan, the Maghs of Arakan in collusion with Portuguese freebooters caused such an agonizing terror and consternation in the minds of people of
An account of the mid-seventeenth century historian Shahabuddin Talish "Fathya–I–Ibriya p. 183" suffices to authenticate the fact that those Maghs marauders belonged to the
THE ROHINGYA LANGUAGE AND ITS COVERAGE
The old languages of Indian subcontinent are Pali, Sanskrit, Bengali and Hindi. The South East Asian languages were derived from these languages of Indian subcontinent. The later derived languages are regionally different from each other and become almost different from the ancestral languages. The plain containing
Rohingya language is an admixture of different languages developed during a course of more than thousand years. Persian had been official language of Mrauk-U kings till 1845, 22 years further beyond the conquest of Arakan by the Britishers. Many famous Muslim court poets who served the kings of Arakan like Shah Alwal, Daulat Qazi, Magan Siddiqi etc. wrote in Persian and Arabic or in the language of Rohingyas, a mixture of Bengali, Persian, Arabic, English and Burmese. Although the Rohingya language was wide spread during the era of Arakan kings (The Muslims of Burma, A Study of Minority Groups by Moshe Yegar 1972 p. 25) today its existence as a written language has diminished as it was mainly destroyed by the Burman invaders in 1784 and not preserved well by subsequent colonialists.
ROHANG AND ROHINGYAS
The term Roang/Rohang/Roshang – the old name of Arakan is a dialect from Arabic term Raham (blessings, mercy). Arab and Persian traders of earliest days attributed this name to the old kingdom of Vesali (a century prior to the Chandras) the country they used to visit. In 788AD the shipwrecked Arabs having been washed ashore on an island in the west coast of Arakan called the land Raham Borri in Arabic that means "The
The term Rohingya is derived from the word Rohai or Roshangree, a terminology perverted to Rohingya (
When we study the relation between the Arabic words Raham, Raihan and Rohingya words Roang, Rohang, Rakhine, Arakan, we surely find that they are same words. The differences found in these words are due to the differences of time and place as naturally happening everywhere in the world. Out of many examples, here is being cited one. A green scented plant called Roang Phul (Roang flower) by Rohingyas and taken as national flower which is being used holily to send to Masjid on Friday prayers, is called Raihan flower by Arabs. It is clearly indicating that with a change of time and place, the Arabic words Raham, Raihan are pronounced by Rohingyas as Roang, Rohang, Rakang or Arakan.
A British army officer who served in Arakan front during Second Great War remarked about the ethnic character of the Muslims as follows: "and to look at, they are quite unlike any other product of
In the history of Arakan written by Burmese authorities and Magh Buddhists, the presence of either Rohingyas or Muslims in Arakan is not mentioned except those Kaman Muslims for whom they expect their conversion to Buddhism in near future. As such these Kaman Muslims are put under such pressure of authority and Magh Buddhists that they shall have no alternative but to be converted to Buddhism in future. Such writing mentioned above has appeared in the booklet of Arakan published by the Burmese authority. There is another small community like Rohingyas called Barua, practicing Buddhism and speaking Rohingya language is also listed as an ethnic minority of
The Burmese regime is always issuing clarification that there are no Rohingyas in
IDENTITY OF MAGHS AND ROHINGYAS
Both Maghs and Rohingyas must realize a real undeniable factor that is controlling the identity of both communities. When Maghs with Burmans and Rohingyas with Bengalees, are living together, their identities are no more left, but when both of Maghs and Rohingyas are living together, their identity is remained intact. Is there any evidence that the Magh community has disappeared in the society of Rohingyas or Bengalees? It is being made a challenge to anyone to bring evidence in this regard. It is as clear as full moon in the cloudless sky that Maghs have completely disappeared in the society of Burmans naturally. Alleging Rohingyas as infiltrators on account of difference in religion and their resemblance to Bengalees, is nothing but a conspiracy to wipe out Rohingyas from Arakan to pave the way for assimilation of Maghs into Burman society easily.
THE ANTI-ROHINGYA POLICY OF BURMESE JUNTA AND THE WAY OF ITS IMPLEMENTATION
The Burman mind is consistently haunted by the apprehension that one day the history of Arakan might be repeated and they have to wash their hands off Arakan. For prevention of such situation they have adopted a persistent clandestine policy to wipe out Rohingya Muslims of Arakan the potential danger in their eyes. The ethnic cleansing operations being launched off and on against Rohingyas are the result of this deep-seated fear, the Burmans are harboring secretly in their hearts. The irony of fate is that, the governments of Burmans especially military regimes through many decades, by all means of their media are propagandizing against Rohingyas in such a way that today the people of Burma ignorantly perceive that Rohingyas are foreigners. The worst is, Rohingyas’ sister community the Maghs, not all, who are always fanning the flame to burn more and aiding Burmans in implementing their plan of wiping out Rohingyas from Arakan.
After occupation of Arakan by Burman in the year 1784, all Islamic and Magh-Buddhist identities were vandalized and the population of Muslims and anti-Burman Magh Buddhists were massacred. Bringing of Burman-Buddhist appearance to the land was being carried out, the drive of which is active up to these days. It is a noteworthy fact that the original Magh-Buddhist identities were different from that of Burman-Buddhist appearance. At the time of British occupation from the year 1824 to 1948 the Burmans were not able to carry out such activities. But unfortunately in the year 1942 when there was an administrative vacuum due to the leaving of Japanese from the area and the Britons were about to re-enter the place, one hundred thousand unarmed Muslim civilians were massacred by well organized armed Magh Buddhists of Arakan under the patronage of Burman political party leaders with the aim of total cleansing of Muslims from the land to give it a total Burman Buddhistic appearance.
Nowadays throughout the time Muslims are being uprooted and Buddhist people mostly from proper
The Rohingya Muslims of Arakan are not recognized as citizens of
The Maghs and Burmese authority are always alleging that Rohingya Muslims are infiltrators from
Under the patronization of Burman policy makers, being
not content with their above anti-Rohingya activities, with the advancement of
information technology, to mislead the world, some Maghs are further forging
ahead seriously in misinforming and mispropagandizing about Rohingyas and their
struggle for survival, either inside or outside the country, under the pretext
of present day war against terror by the US. As Rohingyas are Muslims, Maghs
think that they will be able to persuade Americans to wipe out Rohingyas from
their native land as they have been doing the same with the help of Burmese
junta. It is a universal nature of Allah Almighty that false never gains
victory over the truth.
The measure of persecution being perpetrated upon Rohingyas by the authority is so cruel that the native Rohingyas have no alternative but to flee their beloved motherland leaving hearths and homes behind with tears. Today more than half of them are found in foreign countries passing a life of illegal immigrants under the sympathy of respective governments.
The measure of persecution being perpetrated upon Rohingyas by the authority is so cruel that the native Rohingyas have no alternative but to flee their beloved motherland leaving hearths and homes behind with tears. Today more than half of them are found in foreign countries passing a life of illegal immigrants under the sympathy of respective governments.
In foreign countries they are found either in the form of villages, quarters or scattered here and there. A few of them reached
For more details see “Arakan Past and Present” by Dr. Mohammad Yunus.
Laa Ekrwaaha Fiddeeni Qadtabaiyanarrwushdu Minal Gaiyi. There is no compulsion in religion. Verily the right path has become distinct from the wrong path.
Waqulil Haqqu Minr Rwabbikum, Famangshaa-a Fal Yuْmin Wa Mangshaa-a Falyakfur, Innaa Aa’tad-dnaa lidthwaalimeena Naarwan Ah’aatwa Bihim Surwaadiquhaa. And say: “The truth is from your Lord”. Then whosoever wills, let him believe; and whosoever wills let him disbelieve. Verily We have prepared for the dthwaalimeen (polytheists and wrongdoers), a fire whose walls will be surrounding them (disbelievers in the oneness of Allah).
These verses indicate that no any Muslim has right to force or persecute non-Muslims to accept Islam. Acceptance of Islam or to have faith in Islam is left on the will of all mankind and jinn. It is based on the freedom of their choice the gift of which is granted by Allah Almighty so that their human wisdom and will may have chance to realize the Oneness of Allah Almighty. If they accept they will be winner of the paradise; if they reject they will be losers in the here and hereafter.
May Allah SWT guide us on His path – Aameen.
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