The History Channel is remiss in History

After the destruction of the Towers, The History Channel produced a documentary on the Prophet to balance the view of radical Islamists attributing the deed to his example at Badr and the furtherance of jihad.  

Although it was a timely and calming balm, in particular for those eager to gain traction on Islamic history, the commentary was remiss on issues too sensitive to be discussed in this forum. Suffice to say The History Channel diplomatically avoided issues to the point of dereliction of its duty to highlight historical evidence, such as a defining event of 627 that preceded the Prophet's marriage to Saffiya Huyayy.  

Another example of its dereliction is the founding of the Kaaba itself. Although Arabic history has lost trace of the origins of the shrine, an inscription on a gold dish hung inside bears evidence that it was built in the name of one King Vikramaditya, a revered Hindu who ruled Arabia before the advent of Islam. Vikramaditya ruled more than a century before Islam and shared the shrine, which eventually housed over three hundred deities, with other religions and pagans Arabs alike. 

A free translation of the inscription, found in a volume housed in the Makhatab-e-Sultania library in Istanbul, reads:-  

"Fortunate are those who were born (and lived) during king Vikram's reign. He was a noble, generous dutiful ruler, devoted to the welfare of his subjects. But at that time we Arabs, oblivious of God, were lost in sensual pleasures. Plotting and torture were rampant. The darkness of ignorance had enveloped our country. Like the lamb struggling for her life in the cruel paws of a wolf we Arabs were caught up in ignorance. The entire country was enveloped in a darkness so intense as on a new moon night. But the present dawn and pleasant sunshine of education is the result of the favour of the noble king Vikramaditya whose benevolent supervision did not lose sight of us- foreigners as we were. He spread his sacred religion amongst us and sent scholars whose brilliance shone like that of the sun from his country to ours. These scholars and preceptors through whose benevolence we were once again made cognizant of the presence of God, introduced to His sacred existence and put on the road of Truth, had come to our country to preach their religion and impart education at king Vikramaditya's behest." 

Point is, historical evidence is susceptible to distortion and misunderstanding if gaps are not explained and borne out truthfully. The origins of the Kaaba may be uncomfortable to some but the truth is its history underscores the benevolence of a Hindu King who once ruled within a multi-cultural and religious fabric, a much needed approach in the world today. 

Words, Videography - Tommy Peters.


Afterword: The commentary was first published by the writer on February 11th 2008. The video is dedicated to Jimmy and Liz - the occupants of the Alfa 159 cruising the buzz of Kuala Lumpur yesterday. He is enamored of his prized Underground Art On Wheels simply because the swivel-eyed beauty is firmly entrenched in the male bastion of industrial design underscored by a flagrant display of what appears to be a part of the female anatomy on the grill. They are fans of African fusion. 

(Advanced appreciation is rendered for materials used without express permission of copyright owners and for incidental occurrences where vehicles are inadvertently identified in the video)