Dr. Martin Luther King JR. Is
an established icon of American history who fought racism relentlessly ,
nonviolently and changed the course of history.
MLK jr ( 15th January 1929--April 4 1968) was a clergy man. He is best known for
his prominent role in African- American civil rights movement which was a
nonviolent resistance civil disobedience movement.
On October 14 , 1964 MLK was awarded Nobel prize for combating racial inequality
through a nonviolent movement. In the next few years he mainly focused on
eliminating poverty and stood against Vietnam war.
King got assassinated on April 14, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee.
In a sermon delivered nearly 55 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. described
what he called the “Drum Major Instinct” to the congregation in Atlanta's
Ebenezer Baptist Church. The words he spoke that day were the inspiration for a
national service award that recognizes leaders who give their time serving
others but seldom seek the spotlight.
The sermon includes the following passage from Dr. King that acknowledged the
desire to lead but emphasizes selfless motives: “Yes, if you want to say that I
was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice; say that I was a drum
major for peace; I was a drum major for righteousness… We all have the drum
major instinct.”
The Martin Luther king JR Drum Major program gives organizations and groups an
opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate those volunteers who perform
extraordinary everyday acts of service with reliability and commitment but
seldom receive recognition. As part of the MLK Day of Service, the Corporation
for National and Community Service (CNCS) provides two options to recognize
individuals who have demonstrated the “drum major instinct” in their
communities.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent
question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"
The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President's national
call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to
work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national
problems.Americans from all 50 states will join thousands of organizations and
commit to service this weekend as the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
coincides with the 57th Presidential Inaugural and National Day of Service.
Commemorating this day of Service we should remember about the service to
humanity in Islam and as a Muslim what we are obligated to.
The verse of the Holy Qurán, which so comprehensively covers this concept of
service to humanity, reads
O people of Islam, "You are the best people ever raised for the good of mankind
because you have been raised to serve others; you enjoin what is good and forbid
evil and believe in Allah." (3:111)
You will remain the best as long as you are service-minded, promote good and
promote the welfare of society. If you fail to do this, you no longer have a
right to boast of the superiority of Islam and the Muslim Ummah. A society which
is insensitive to the suffering of other human beings and is not always inclined
to serve the cause of humanity cannot be described as an Islamic society, no
matter how much it adhered to other aspects of Islamic teachings.
The fundamental qualities that we must all acquire to serve mankind or to
develop a passion to serve mankind are: love for humanity, kindness in our
hearts for others, a charitable disposition, humility, honesty, a thirst for
knowledge, a desire to share knowledge with others and a constant desire to
strive in the cause of Allah by doing good. We must be a people from whom
goodness flows towards others. Most of our Muslims possess these
characteristics.
The teachings of the Holy Qurán and the example of the Holy Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be on him) direct us on how best to serve mankind. The Holy
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) practiced the teachings of the
Holy Qurán to the fullest extent and is the best example of the true
representation of service to mankind and to Allah. That is why Allah says in the
Holy Qurán:
"And do not forget to do good to one another." (2:238)
And about the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) the Holy
Qurán says:
"and we have sent you not but as a blessing (mercy) for the entire universe (for
all peoples)" (21:108)
"Verily you have in the prophet of Allah an excellent model." (33:22)
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) emphasized love,
sympathy, and kindness towards all. He also emphasized that we must show each
other great appreciation. He said, "One who is not grateful to mankind is not
grateful to Allah." (Tirmidhi)