Who are Islam's worst enemies? Not the west, not the United States of America, not Jews, not extremist Hindus.... Islam's worst enemies are Muslims.
I am not a religious scholar, but people whose opinions I respect and who have studied the Koran and Islam, talk of it being an enlightened religion, and also speak highly of its reiteration ofuniversal human values.
Yet Islam is constantly being misinterpreted in the most grotesque way. First, there are the extremists who themselves are safely ensconced in hiding places in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq but brainwash poor young men into 'martyring' themselves in the cause of Islamand while doing so take a huge toll of innocent lives (many of them Muslim).
Read the chilling conversations between Kasab and his fellow terrorists with their Pakistani handlers: "Allah ke pyare ho jao" the handlers cynically tell the young terrorists sending them to their doom.
Their terrorism has reached such a scale worldwide that the ordinary non-political Muslim has felt compelled to come out in the open to voice their protests. This was particularly evident after 26/11, when every march denouncing the atrocities always contained a sizeable number of Muslims, and every television discussion featured prominent Muslims expressing their denunciations as angrily and vehemently as everyone else.
A very important voice that was added to these was the voice of the cleric culminating in the DarulUloom at Deoband, issuing a fatwa against terrorism on February 25, 2008. ("Islam rejects all kinds of unwarranted violence, breach of peace, bloodshed, killing and plunder and does not allow it in any form").
Then comes the Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind's 30th General Assembly at Deoband last week held to usher in social and educational reforms. But for some reason, theconference reiterated a resolution it had passed in 2006, saying that Muslims should not recite Vande Mataram as "parts of the song are against the tenets of Islam".
Why did they do it? Three years ago the resolution had caused a furore and given the Hindutva brigade something to shout about.Was there a compelling reason to bring up the question again? Or are the Deobandis deliberately making life difficult for the ordinary Muslim by bringing up provocative resolutions?As it happens, the 10,000 clerics gathered there, gave even more evidence to the rest of the nation that they are determined to keep India's Muslim population as backward as possible. They opposed the women's reservation bill, advocated a special syllabus for girl students, made it compulsory for even young girls to wear the purdah, opposed the government's effort to reform the madrasa system of education, etcetera, etcetera.
In short, they made it clear that they want to ghettoise Muslims and make it impossible for them to join the mainstream life ofa modern vibrant India.
What are the credentials of these clerics?What gives them the authority to speak for all Muslims? They have been described as 'scholars' but have they studiedany of the subjects that a 21st century citizen of the world must know? How many women are there in that 10,000 strong gathering? If none, what empowers these men to speak about what women should do?
The Muslim community which came out in such strength against terrorism must now publicly distance itself from the reactionary fatwas of the Deoband conclave. They have already made it amply clear that they belong to India,something they did not have to do. Now they must make it equally clear that they want to belong to a modern India.
Readers' comments:
Muslim religious leaders prefer ordinary Muslims to not be in the mainstream of progress. Modern Muslims cannot be under the control of medieval mullahs. This article is worth sending to every educated Indian Muslim.
Saturday, November 14, 2009 0:24 IST
pskarri,
Looks like most Muslim commenters are anti Dharker's views... does this really show how regressive the community has become? The Deobandis can be called a fatwa machine, from fatwas against insurance to contraception to cinema. in any case one should read the complete text of the fatwa against terrorism and especially what terrorrism is as defined by them - on February 25, 2008. From the draft: The Conference expresses its deep concern and agony on the present global and national alarming conditions (sic) in which most of the nations are adopting such an attitude against their citizens, especially Muslims, to appease the tyrant and colonial master of the West... the conference strongly demands the Indian Government (sic) to curb those maligning the madrassas and Muslims'. Go figure.
Friday, November 13, 2009 8:04 IST
Commenter, Mumbai
Comments from reader Sanjay are totally wrong and show the ignorance people have about Islam, yet write and publish without checking the facts. His comments such as: "Can a Muslim be a good citizen of a non-Muslim nation? Theologically - no. Because his allegiance is to Allah. Religiously - no." My reply - how does allegiance to Allah make a person a bad citizen? He might add up that Christians have allegiance to Christ, so even they cannot be good citiens and give up Christianity. As far as facing Mecca is concerned, Muslims don't worship it, it just gives a direction in which all Muslims face during prayers as a symbol of universal brotherhood. He goes on to say that "Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews. Politically - no.". In fact the worse and uneducated Muslims of Afghanistan were famous for friendship. In fact, Islam puts more emphasis on duties of Muslims towards his non-Muslim friends. Even in this period of misunderstanding, non-Muslims are considered to be the best people to befriend. Comment: "annihilation of all infidel nations till they become Muslim." Reply:Koran which he is intentionally misquoting, actually says that if a person murders anyone (of any religion)other than the person who wants to spread mischief (person trying to harm you and your family), it is as if he has killed the whole of humanity. His other comment: Because he is instructed to marry four women and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him. Reply:Islam gives permission to marry maximum four (under conditions where woman/ widow needs support of a man otherwise wrong kind of people try to take advantage of these helpless widows/women). It's not compulsory to marry four. Koran itself tells you cannot do justice so marry one. I would request DNAIndia to check the content before putting up hate mails especially against any religion.
Thursday, November 12, 2009 20:09 IST
Farhath, hyd
I agree with all Islamic scholars. How can Anil Dharker decide anything about Islamic rules, where he himself is a non-Muslim? He is just a foolish guy and wants to make money by just writing on a controversial issue.
Thursday, November 12, 2009 16:34 IST
RIZWAN PATEL, Navi Mumbai / Maharashtra
I do not endorse Anil Dharker's views expressed here. The Deoband on its own is right in issuing a fatwa against the singing of Vande Mataram. Becasue it is against the basic priciples of Islam to worship anybody else other than Allah. And nothing is making life difficult for Muslims by this fatwa, because no one goes on singing it every day, or nor is singing Vande Mataram a ritual or compulsion in any place where Muslims go.
I think this article is just for the sake of creating confusion and a non-existent issue. They (the Deoband) said, we (Muslims) listened, that is the end of it.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 17:49 IST
Sajid, bombay
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