ISLAMCORNERED AND AT CROSS ROADS

Dr K Prabhakar Rao

PART I

Islam is a major world religion today and has entered all parts of the globe. In most of the Middle East nations, it is the State religion while in some of the other countries, the populations consist of large number of Muslims. India, Pakistan and Indonesia re the countries where large number of Mulsims exist. The religion of Islam has made great impact on the world affairs right from the days of it’s founding.After Prophet it spread by the power of sword. One by one the countries in Middle East fell to Islam and it entered Indian subcontinent. Even China and Russai ( Chechnya) has sizeable muslims. Of late there is some trouble The great Turkish Empire and modern Arab Nations such as Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Kuwait, Emirates, Saudi Arabia, non Arab Iran, influenced world politics greatly. New nations under Muslim rule such as Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and many African Nations such as Sudan, Uganda and Libya emerged over a period of time and are influencing the world political situation from time to time. In a nation like India, the Muslim invaders attacked Indian provinces in 11 Th century and the regular invasions followed from Kabul in Afghanistan. By this time, Islam was already 500 years old in the world and has swept across the Middle East countries and entire populations in these nations adopted Islam as the religion either by force or voluntarily. The invasions in India resulted in overthrowing of local Hindu States and Islam got a firm foothold in India in 11 th century. Islamic rulers had a sway in India for the next 500 years till the English grabbed the power under East India Company and later by the Crown of England. The atrocities on Hindus during Islamic rule resulted in development of deep fissures between the two communities and as India was edging towards Independence from the British yoke, Muslims opted for a separate nation fearing domination by majority Hindus and finally it could not be prevented. The outcome was the partition of India. The nation of Pakistan was born in 1947 along with Independent India. Massacres followed as populations exchanged. Fissures further widened and as a result, Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi declared as father of Indian nation was shot and killed at point blank range at Delhi on 30 Jan 1948 by Nathuram Vinayak Godse of Hindu Mahasabha (A Hindu Nationalistic Organization), and editor of Magazine Agrani, at a prayer meeting at Birla Mandir in New Delhi. He had no remorse for gunning down the father of the nation as he squarely blamed him for vivisecting the country with his policy of appeasement of Muslims. Nathuram Vinayak Godse and his associate Narayan Apte who were sentenced to death by the trial court climbed gallows on 15 Nov 1949 without an iota of fear or remorse (1). This was the last nail driven in the coffin of Hindu Muslim unity in divided India. The struggle in India even after partition of the communities is continuing and no solution appears close by. On the other front, Pakistan as a Muslim Nation confronts India on every front and has become a close and staunch ally of USA all these years. It has already fought three major wars over Kashmir apart from Kargil intrusion with India and lost. It was one of the strongest allies of USA during Afghan Crisis against Taliban regime. Pakistan has also emerged as a nuclear state in it’s own way. Iraq, Syria and Iran were the main speakers against US domination and were pursuing nuclear research with aim of making nuclear bombs as alleged by US authorities. As a consequence, Iraq under former President Saddam Hussein was subdued leaving Iran and Syria with anti western stance along with Organizations such as Hizbollah, Al Qaeda and Hamas. Thus, the world today appears to be divided into Islamic and Non-Islamic groups. However world leaders try to underplay the fact and naked truth. There are many nations in Africa Europe and Asia including India acting like a cat on the wall with indecisive policies playing safe.
Islam as stated earlier had made very great impact on world politics. The religion has spread like a wildfire under the might of sword and galloping horses and all the Middle East nations and most of the African nations turned Islamic. Islam even eclipsed the powerful Roman Empire. For nearly thousand years, Islam dominated world unparalleled with respect to civilization and wealth. It almost conquered Europe. Islam occupied Spain. Many crusades sent by Christians resulted in no success. The war in Spain of course ended the might of Islam in Iberian Peninsula. Islamic nations were subjugated only during the last two centuries after World War I and defeat of Ottoman Empire and liquidation of Caliphate, and during the scientific transformation of the world. The Western nations like USA, England, France, Germany and other European nations galloped with scientific growth and modern education in which the Islamic nations lagged far behind. The result was the subjugation and colonial rule of the Islamic nations. They remained medieval, primitive rather and educationally very backward. They preferred Madrasas with religious education to scientific modern education. Yet, Islam has spread rapidly in Asian and African nations than Christianity during last two centuries particularly in poor countries. There are ample numbers of third world countries that are Islamic which suffer in poverty, sickness, lack of education, backwardness, fundamentalism and destitution.
Islam is the most misunderstood religion of the world as per some scholors. The reasons are varied and many. However, the strongest and most important reason is its disagreement and confrontation with Christianity although Islam and Christianity claim from the same common originator Abraham. The idolatry practices that dominate Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism caused great confrontation with Islam in medieval times that has caused immense confrontation between the two distinct faiths in India, one of the most surviving ancient nations and civilizations of the world and resulted in the destruction, defacing and damage to the most beautiful and precious art and sculpture in India during medieval times. The most beautiful world heritage monuments in India lie in battered and defaced condition as a mute witness to the mindless violence and religious bigotry of Islamic invaders (2). There is no single place in India where Islamic fundamentalists have not defaced idols and damaged temples . On contrary Hindu kings did not destroy Ismaic edifices.Emperor Deva Raya of Vijayanagar in South India permitted Muslims to build mosques in his kingdom and recruited many Muslims in his army. He kept holy Quran on a throne next to his throne so that Muslim soldiers could bow to the scripture. However the Muslim soldiers and their Generals in later years ditched and betrayed Aliya Ramaraya in the battle of Tallikota fought in 1565 and caused his death. A disgrace in deed. The mistrust between both communities continues even today. In modern days too, the places of worship are the first targets during riots and demonstrations in India and other neighboring countries too. Occasionally, certain books are published by some quarters that cause immense harm to the efforts of reconciliation between Islam and other faiths and this is not in good sprit. No one in the world has freedom to pass adverse comments about other religion that cause great agony and pain to others. The long history of confrontation with Islam has resulted in deep-rooted mistrust and many rumors have found way that are not easy to be removed. Owing to the misunderstanding of the religion of Islam, Certain allegations and prejudices are almost impossible to be removed. Therefore, Islam has to be studied and understood very carefully. The religion is as pious, humane and promotes culture like any otherworld religion as claimed by most of the scholars around the world.
Islam today faces the greatest allegation from all quarters of the world as the sponsored of Jihad in various countries (3). The most important troublesome places on this account are Kashmir Valley in India, Palestine region, AlQaeda actions against US and British interests such as the terrorist attack on World Trade Center in New York on 9 Sept 2001 has caused the present turmoil between some of the Middle East nations and the Western Powers. Pakistan was almost dubbed as a terrorist State. Pakistan has created Talibans and continues to produce fundamentalists in their Madrasas spewing venom and hatred towards others. Yet it has managed to be on the side of USA. Rather it had no option and had to survive. It has become a camp follower of USA. Yet it exports terrorism. There are other lesser-known countries suffering Islamic Jihadi threat. The aspects of Jihad are discussed.
Jihad is the action initiated against the enemy by Muslims and the word was mostly confined to holy wars. However in the present times, all terrorist actions carried out by Islamic outfits are clubbed under Jihad. It is claimed that Palestine movement is a true Jihad as claimed by Sheikh Muhammad Mahmood Siyam, an eminent Islamic scholors and Ex Vice Chancellor of Gaza University who addressed a public meeting in New Delhi on 15 Nov 2005.He said the entire State of Israel and its people are the enemies of Palestinians and they were the illegal occupants of Muslim lands. Thus, they need to be put to sword and thrown out. He said Jews living outside Palestine are not their enemies and their struggle is confined against Jews who are occupying their holy lands (4). In similar out burst President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad of Iran on 26 October 2005 called the Muslim States to wipe out Israel from the map (5). The call is nothing new but reiteration of the call given by late leader Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini who deposed Shah Pehalwi of Iran. The entire world of Arab States drew swords against Israel ever since it’s birth. These States against Israel have already fought numerous wars.
Muslims claim that it is like a struggle against a stranger occupying one’s house. Coming to the aspect of Jihad it is highly relevant to quote following from Holy Quran:
“Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits, for Allah loveth not transgressors”.( Surah2:190)
“And slay them wherever you catch them , -and turn them out from where they have turned you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter , but fight them not at the sacred mosque, unless they ( First)fight you there, but if they fight you slay them . Such is the reward of those who reject Faith”.( Sura 2:191)
And fight them on until there is no more persecution and the religion becomes Allah’s. But if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression”.(Sura 2:193)
Fighting is prescribed for upon you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing, which is good for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not” (Sura 2:216)
Thus, it has been made mandatory by the Holy Scripture to fight the oppressors and those who have displaced the Muslims. Thus, Muslims claim that Jews displacing Muslims forcefully occupied Palestine. Therefore, their Palestine struggle is justified and it is a holy war. Similarly, Islamic terrorist Organizations that are being harbored in Pakistan claim that Kashmir is forcibly being occupied by the Indian Govt and the local Muslims are being suppressed. Therefore, they claim that their terrorist actions are actually actions of Jihad against Indians. However the world opinion differs on the Jihadi actions by Islamic terrorist outfits. Some of these outfits call themselves as liberation Armies to glorify their actions.
The general world opinion is that Islam promotes violence and Muslims as people resort to violence. However it is also a fact that not all Muslims are terrorists but all terrorists are Muslims. The actions of Al Qaeda sponsored outfits against American and British interests have made things difficult to the Muslim world and unfortunately entire community is being seen as suspect in most of the countries worldwide. The series of Bomb blasts in England and attacks on American Consulates at different locations, attack on Indian Parliament, Bomb blasts in Temples at Benares in India, Terrorist attack on Akshardham temple in Gujarat, Terrorist attack on Raghunath temple in Jammu, Terrorist actions on Army camp at Kaluchak in Jammu and bomb blasts in suburban trains in Mumbai (Bombay) in India are the few examples highlighting the nefarious activities of the terrorists. The latest is 26/11 in which the Jihadis struck at star hotels in Bombay exposing the weak willed India unable to do any thing except shout around shamefully in helplessness. The castrated nation literally lay prostrated in front of Jihadis. There are no accounts for the terrorist actions in Afghanistan and Iraq and Kashmir. Under these circumstances the aspect of co existence of Islam with other faiths is being widely questioned by many scholars worldwide.
The intellectuals in Islam however claim that Islam is a religion of peace and taking the lives of innocent is considered as a grave crime and sin in the eyes of the God. They quote various Suras from the Holy Quran in support of their claim. The world today is in the grip of terrorist actions that are let loose under the banner of Jihad. Scores of innocent lives are being lost in these mindless actions. Yet, the Muslim leaders and Islamic organizations have not come out with any concrete actions to isolate the misguided terrorists who are on the path of violence bringing discredit to the religion. Islam is the religion of peace (Sulekhul) as claimed by noted scholars. But, it is completely engulfed by the actions of violence that are being questioned worldwide. There are certain questions that are needed to be answered some of which are in particular reference to India (7).
Why Indian Muslims should demonstrate against the visit of George W Bush, the American President to India in 2006 who was a distinguished guest of the nation?
Muslims in Old city of Hyderabad in India attacked and looted shops of Hindus after prayers on Friday months after Cartoons on Prophet Mohammed (Peace be on him) were published in Danish Newspapers. In what way Hindus were involved in the incident? Why they should be targeted?
Saudi Arabia allows Hindu doctors, engineers and other workers to take up employment in their country. But it does not permit them to carry pictures or images of their gods, goddesses, prophets and saints. It is claimed that Islam is a tolerant religion and stands for protecting other faiths too who live in their country. When they are not tolerant to other faiths how they can expect that Muslims would be tolerated in countries where they are in minorities? Justice should be equal for every one.
Muslims are vehemently opposing introduction of common civil code in India while in Nations like USA, France, China and Russia the common civil code exists irrespective of religion.
Muslim Organizations are opposing registration of marriages in spite of directives of Supreme Court. Why?
USA has led a war on Iraq to safeguard it’s interests. But Indian Muslims are demanding that India should not have any link with USA. Are they justified?
India has voted against Iran in the meeting if IAEA in the best interest of the country. Indian Muslims up in arms are demanding that India should not vote against Iran. How the national interests would be jeopardized for the sake of some Muslim countries?
Indian Muslims go berserk on Israel Palestine conflicts. They demand that India condemn Israel and support Palestine cause for retuning to Israel. In our country Muslims in Kashmir have driven out Hindus and Sikhs. Why they are not demanding return of Hindus and Sikhs to Kashmir?
In Saudi Arabia, the house where Prophet Mohammed (Peace be on him) lived was removed to make reconstruction of some other buildings. There has been no protest from Indian Muslims. There are many mosques and tombs in the center of the Hyderabad roads causing great traffic jams. Why their relocation is being made a big religious issue? As per history, Mughal Emperor Baber was first buried in India and subsequently his remains were carried over to Kabul and finally laid to rest. It is also claimed that the body of Mumtaz Mahal the wife of Emperor Shajehan was exhumed and reburied in Tajmahal subsequently. The administration is helpless in the situation as similar prayer houses and small temples of other faiths cannot be touched in a volatile situation. Why Indian Muslims turn every issue as a religious affair?
Sri FM Hussein the noted artist has several times painted Hindu goddesses in nude form in bad taste and why Muslims have not raised a single finger in protest against such actions if they have respect for all faiths? They have not issued any Fatwa against Mr. Hussein. Why?
Suicide Bombing and terrorism are against tenets of Islam. Rather It is a Shia legacy. Why Fatwa was not issued against such activities and organizations?
Muslims can marry four wives as per the sanctions of Holy Quran in the interests of society and produce as many children as they can. Thus the strength of population can steeply rise disturbing the balance as claimed are carried -out under the banner of Jihad and these outfits are being named in Arabic and Urdu languages associated with Islam. Examples are Al Fatha, Jaishe-E-Mohammed,Lashkar-E-Toiba, Al- Badr, Hizbollah Mujahideen, Palestina Islamic Jihad, Harkat Ul Mujahideen, Sipahi Sahib by certain Indian parties. The statement of a senior RSS leader recommending Hindus to produce more children to safe guard against the danger is widely condemned by the Muslims. How they are bothered? He did not ask Muslims to produce lesser children or marry lesser number of wives? But they only asked Hindus to produce more children. Very interesting indeed!
The Shahi Imam of Jama Maszid in India issued Pro Taliban statements when Bamiyan Buddhas were being destroyed in Afghanistan. How can he take a stand that is against the national interest?
CONTINUED