Lenin and Islam
By Mohammed Abdullah
Was Lenin ever interested in Islam? The answer is yes. This is what the renowned Islamic
author Dr Hameedullah says.
After the downfall of the Czarist regime, when Lenin came to power and established the first
communist government, he one day invited his closest associates to a secret meeting. He told
them that, “we have succeeded in establishing our rule, but that is not enough for perpetuating
it. This will be possible only if our ideology confirms to human nature. Man requires not only
bread but also a religion to satisfy his body and soul simultaneously. I have studied all the
religions known to us. None seems to be capable to live in harmony with communist ideology,
except one. I am disclosing the name to you, but do not hurry to judge, for it is a question of life
and death to communism. Take your time, I may be wrong. Let us calmly meditate over the
pros and cons of our decision. Islam is only communistic in material ideology.”
Hearing him, there was uproar in the assembly. Lenin again pleaded for patient hearing and
calm thinking, and said, “this day exactly after one year we shall meet again and then decide if
communists should have a religion and if so which one.”
Dr. Hameedullah proceeds to say, “There is reason to believe that Trotsky was of the same
opinion as Lenin, with regard to utilization of Islam.” [For further details see Dr. Hameedullah’s
recent publication “Islam, A General Picture” published by Kazi Publications, Chicago]
It will not be out of place here to quote something from the “Historical Role of Islam” by M.N
Roy, who was an active member of the Communist International in Russia from 1921 to1928.
He played an important role in the workers movement in Germany, France and the Chinese
revolution. In his above mentioned book, he expresses his views about Islam in the following
words.
“The apparent, sudden and dramatic expansion of Islam constitutes a most fascinating chapter
in the history of mankind. How did this stupendous miracle happen, this has been one of the
baffling question for the historians.
Today, the educated world has rejected the vulgar theory that the rise of Islam was the triumph
of fanaticism over sober and tolerant people. The phenomenal success of Islam was due to it’s
revolutionary significance and it’s ability to lead the masses out of the hopeless situation
created by the decay of the civilization’s of the period and preceding it, not only of Greece and
Rome, but also of Paris and China and of India. Learning from the Muslims, Europe became
the leader of the modern civilization. Even today, her best sons are not ashamed of their past
indebtedness. Unfortunately India could not be fully benefited by the heritage of Islamic
culture. Now in the throes of a belated renaissance, Indians, both Hindus and Muslims could
profitably draw inspiration from that memorable chapter of human history.” [Historical Role of
Islam, by M.N Roy - 5th impression 1938.Vora and Company Publishers, 8 Round Building
Bombay 2]
The question is whether Islam and Communism can accommodate each other. Is it a fact that
Islam minus God is Communism, or Communism plus God is Islam. Dr. Hameedullah has
discussed this question in his publication “Islam and Communism” [Kazi publication Chicago.]
The Holy Quran declares “Islam will prevail over all isms and ideologies” [chapter48 verse28
and chapter61 verse9]. In fact the fittest will survive.
In an era dominated by imperialistic and colonial powers, Lenin’s scheme, however pious and
innocuous, could not escape the notice of the major players of the time. The most active of
them, Great Britain, wasted no time in conceiving a very clever and diabolic stratagem to kill
Lenin’s plan even before it took some concrete shape. It engaged pliable scholars from a world
renowned Islamic institution, to declare Islam’s co-existence with a Godless creed
“Communism” a sacrilege and totally unacceptable to the Muslim world. This ruling, which
Britain obtained under pressure and by greasing palms of these scholars, shocked Lenin
beyond belief and he dropped the idea of discussing it with his top comrades. It also gave a
deathblow to a golden opportunity for the Islamic world, to regain lost place in the comity of
nations when it was in the throes of decline.