There was a dispute between Muslims and and Hindus over a land in Muzaffarnagar. This was during the times of British rule. The Muslims wanted to build a Mosque over the disputed land, while the Hindus claimed it to be theirs. The British judge decided to sort out the matter through mutual talks and he asked both parties to name a person who was trustworthy for them and whose decision they would accept willingly.

The Muslims refused to name any person and preferred to rely on the decision of the judge. The Hindus, surprisingly named an old Muslim of the locality whom they knew as a man of character. The judge sent for the Muslim but he refused to come saying, “I have boycotted the British system because of their atrocities in my country and therefore I have vowed not to even see the face of any British in my life.” The Judge found it interesting and wanted his statement over the dispute so he invited the man to come and give a statement without looking at him. The old man agreed and he came but when he entered the court premises, he started to walk in a with his back towards to court so that he would not have to look at any British and fulfil his vow.

The judge asked for his statement and the Muslim was a man of truth and a follower of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in true sense. He said, “In my entire life, I have never seen the Muslims having their rights over this land and in reality, the land belongs to the Hindus.” The Muslim gave his verdict in accordance to the Qur’anic verse, “O you who Believe! Stand up for justice even if it is against your own self.”

The court was stunned and the ruling went in favour of the Hindus, against the building of a Muslim prayer hall on the testimony of a trustworthy Muslim upon whom the Hindus decided to rely.

Interestingly, the Hindus in the court were so amazed at the character of the Muslim that the entire group decided to accept Islam in the court, there and then,and built a Mosque over the same land at their own expense.

Umar bin al Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him), a prominent pious Khalifa used to say, “It is the character that speaks.” That is what the Muslims need to display along with the Islamic Monotheism. Islam is not based upon mere claim but displaying the Oneness of Allah, with fair dealings not just out of Allah’s fear.