|
Home
Search
Subscribe Online
Archives
About
Us
Cartoons
Online
Book Store
E-Greetings
Jobs @ MG
Advertise
on MG
Our
Team
Contact Us
Muslim
Matrimonials
Our Advertisers
| |
Reflections of violence in Kanpur
By Anwar Ali, Advocate
Reacting to the destruction of
Buddha’s statue by Taliban, the Hindu Taliban i.e. workers of Vishwa
Hindu Parishad (VHP), by burning the pages of the Qur’an, have insulted
the Holy Book and injured the feelings of not only Indian Muslims but also
of Muslims throughout the world.
By burning a book, the messages contained therein cannot be burnt. A book
does not consist of simply writings on pieces of paper. Rather, it is the
name given to an article or message compiled by a combination of phonetic
and visual words. A message that is ingrained in human minds is, in fact,
the real and true book. Do the mischievous, stupid and misguided workers
of VHP think that by burning the Qur’an, they will destroy the heavenly
and divine messages contained therein?
Way back in 1952 when I was a student of intermediate class, a book was
published in Calcutta titled Religious leaders of the World which
contained an insulting and sacrilegious article on Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
A wave of anger and sorrow spread throughout the country. Muslims
organized peaceful protest meetings. Students of Islamia College,
Saharanpur took out a peaceful demonstration in protest. It was not even
five years when violent communal riots had erupted in 1947. Heart-rending
images of human tragedies were still intact in people’s minds. This
protest demonstration was construed as anti-national activity by the
administration. One inspector of schools, Ganga Dhar, ordered rustication
of four college students, including my friend Muhammad Hasan Ghanwi, now
an advocate. Four students were spared, on personal bonds by their parents
for good behaviour by their sons, after giving a warning. I was one of
them.
A protest meeting of citizens was held after Friday prayers in Jama Masjid
of Saharnpur. The first speech was delivered by Khan Bhadur Mahmood Ali
Khan, chief of Kailashpur who was a deputy minister in Pant’s cabinet
and a companion of Maulana Ata Ullah Shah Bokhari. His speech was forceful
and full of excitement Na’ra-e-Takbir was echoing in the whole
atmosphere. Thereafter, Shaikhul Islam Hazrat Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani
delivered the speech, which was full of secrets and mysteries of
Prophet’s mission and a detailed description of the trials and
tribulations undergone by him in his personal life, ill treatment by the
pagans of Makka etc. People appeared to be very much moved by the patience
and steadfastness of the Prophet (SAW) and his close companions. The
respected Maulana also expressed his views about the inevitability of the
prophetic mission during the evolutionary stages of morality. While
speaking on the ill and insulting treatment meted out to the Prophet (SAW)
he said that in a frozen and static society, evils go on multiplying.
People in such a society are overtaken by feeling of biased opposition to
prophetic missions and finding no reason or justification for their
opposition they stoop to the low level of abusive and insulting behaviour
and then to violence. Indulgence in abusive and insulting activities
either by word or deed, results from a feeling of inferiority complex.
This is a psychological disease which can be treated and cured by good
behaviour and preaching. The personality of prophets is embodiment of
virtues and highest human values. Truth and voice of truth cannot be
concealed or silenced by indulgence in mud slinging and insulting
behaviour.
He also said that ‘under the present circumstances feelings of anger
among Muslims are quite natural but Muslims are not overtaken by passion.
Sagacity and farsightedness are invaluable assets of a Muslim. The
commands of the Prophet (SAW) and the Qur’an are: “Expect and wish for
the help of God by having patience and offering prayers.” Patience and
namaz are effective weapons of Muslim. These are the sunnah of the Prophet
(SAW) under unfavourable circumstances.’ Believe me, the huge gathering
of Muslims which was raging with feelings of sorrow and anger, dispersed
silently after listening to his speech.
Another event pertains to 1960 when anti-Muslim communal riots broke out
in different cities of Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, viz. Sagar, Jabalpur,
Indore, Gwallior, Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Rourkela etc. This was the second
strong wave of riots after 1947. The daily Al Jamiat, the organ of
Jamiat-ul-Ulama was the harbinger of sane and serious voice of Muslims.
The views of its respected editor, Maulana Muhammad Usman Farqaleet were
read with respect in every section of Muslims. He wrote a detailed
editorial about these riots in three instalments wherein he had described
in detail the attitudes of majority sections towards minorities in
different countries of the world. After analysis, his words were:
‘Muslims should bear in mind that in India they are in a minority and
Hindus are in majority. If they act under emotions, instead of sagacity
and farsightedness, if they react in a sentimental manner instead of
patience, they will be at a loss. Muslims should work under the guidance
of their intellect and in their senses, rather than under excitement and
passion, see and judge every problem with wisdom and patience. These are
the weapons of the weak. The weak achieve victory and God’s help by
patience and prayers.’
Burning of pages of the Qur’an by VHP negates the claims of Hindus that
‘Hinduism is the religion of love and tolerance and that its fundamental
principle is ‘sarve dharm sambhav’ i.e., it treats every religion with
respect and honour’ Every reasonable and sane Hindu has condemned this
hateful act of VHP.
But what some leaders of our own Muslim community have done? Those
scholars and learned leaders and organizations, whose ideologue, mentor
and jurist, Maulana Maudoodi while testifying before the Munir Commission
in 1958, had said, ‘I want the establishment of God’s kingdom in
Pakistan. If India becomes a Hindu Rashtra and Muslims are treated as
second class citizens, there is nothing wrong. Muslims of India should
accept the status of second class citizens.’ These leaders of Indian
Muslims and the ‘Ulama’ are building their own world by fanning the
emotions of Muslims.
Whatever has happened in Kanpur, whatever violence and barbarism was let
loose by administration, PAC and police and perpetrated by VHP workers
with the help and protection of government machinery, is a living example
of ‘pogroms’ i.e., destruction of minorities through organized
terrorism. But what kind of strategy and farsightedness is it for us to
ignore the commands of God, and while exhorting simple Muslims to expect
for God’s help by patience and prayers on the one hand while, on the
other hand, pushing to collision with administration and security forces?
What is this if not asking for self-destruction by provoking the bull with
red cloth?
It is a great pity that the leadership of Muslims which claims to have
eminent, wise and farsighted leaders like Maulana Azad, Shaikhul Hind
Maulana Hifzur Rahman Sewharwi and the like has virtually abandoned the
duty of guiding the Muslims. Muslim leaders, whose motto is ‘while
promoting the religion of Muslims, we are building our worldly life’ are
leading the Muslims towards emotionalism and isolationism. They are not
bothered if Muslim children become orphans, women become widows and their
business is ruined. They are simply concerned with improving their own lot
and building their own world.
The need of the hour is that Muslim Ulama, intellectuals and leaders
should organize an ‘All Muslim Parties Conference’ and lay down
guidelines on the topic of ‘Bases of Relations and Attitudes of Muslim
minority with Hindu Majority.’ Authorities of both madrasas of Darul
Uloom, Deoband should take initiative in this direction and repeat the
historic role of leadership of Muslims. Constructive intellectuals of
Muslims like Sayed Hamid, AM Khusro, Professor Tahir Mahmood and such
others should also be invited so that they could suggest and lay down a
practical course of action on this topic and problem in the light of their
learning and experience.
(Translated from Urdu) q |
Subscribe
Now
|
