– Maaz Ahmed Javed (M.Tech. AMU)
Dear Friends,
As this year started, the whole world found itself caught up in the Covid-19 pandemic. However, more fatal diseases do exist among us in thousands, but this contagious disease made the world stand still. With the restrictions on social, political, economic and religious activities, we found ourselves in a very different world. Some people found this change healthy because of a sharp decline in the level of pollution but severe changes in daily routines and lessening of physical activities, created many complicated health issues too. Due to the lockdown, stranded migrant workers encountered very catastrophic situation. Due to the cash crunch, many workers met issues related to food, water and house rent. Which forced them to walk hundreds of miles on foot to reach their homes. The pathetic scenes of migrant workers walking with their beloved ones and belongings on their heads shook every sane mind. Abnormal time demonstrates the real image of an individual or a society; and this is what it is.
Trials and tribulations are part and parcel of human life, and this pandemic is also one of its forms if we ponder upon. However, we, Muslims of India experienced another tribulation of a very different kind, motivated by communal intent. When the whole world was busy finding roots and causes of the current pandemic, fellow Indians were demonizing Muslims as “super-spreaders” of Covid-19 in India. Government authorities, police, media and saffron brigade very cleverly portrayed Muslims as the “sole source” (or hot spot) of the virus. Communally charged videos with apparent messages to boycott Muslims socially as well as financially were made viral. Several incidents of lynching, harassment and boycotts by hospital staff happened, too. However, these incidents are not new, as Muslims of this country been facing them for many years. But, in the current case, proactive involvement of government and non-government actors is deeply shocking. The attitude of the people at the helm indicates that they have some ulterior motives under the guise of a secular facade. “Secular sections” also fall in the line. Muslims in India, specifically those who are outspoken advocates of Indian secularism and syncretic culture, went in total shock; they are unable to explain the situation. All these scenarios made the condition of an already downtrodden and backward Indian Muslim graver.
Trials do take people at awe. Yet, these processes bring bolt from the blue. Personalities evolve out of this, but only if one tries to inculcate qualities required to withstand trials. Iqbal put it rightly,
Tundi-e-baad-e-Mukhalif se Na ghabra Aye! Uqab
Yeh to Chalti hai tujhe oocha udane ke liye.
Flying against the wind flow makes Falcon master of adversities. Therefore, this is the right time for sound and sensible minds to ponder and devise strategies to bring out ailing Ummah from the current situation. Mere sloganeering and emotional catchwords have never paved the path of ascending in the past, and they can’t do any good in the future, either.
It’s our responsibility to work out the past mistakes and the reasons which resulted in this situation. Seventy years is a long duration to change the outlook of a community as a whole. It should b analyzed that as a community we made positive moves or not. Did historical experiences corroborate our precursor’s idea regarding the future of Indian Muslims? What are the turns of events which led us to tumble to the current position? Why we left the ground open for anti-Muslim forces pouncing upon us?
A big chunk of our country is still being fed by propagandists. Mainstream media is also a giant propaganda machine, delivering tonnes of filth daily. Outreaching commoners and conveying our stand is our basic responsibility, which we are unable to fulfill. To convey our stand is not just social and political responsibility, but also as a Da’ee (preacher) community But to fulfill this responsibility, we should ponder upon some basic questions. Like; what changes Islam wants to see in an individual and a society? What are the factors of the rise and fall of Nations? How come our forefathers made Islam the dominant religion of their time? Is Islam practical now? Does Islam have a solution to our Modern problems? We should start working upon these questions at the earliest and remain hopeful that our efforts with pure intent will not go in vain, Insha-Allah.
