– Maaz Ahmed Javed (M.Tech. AMU)
Some sections of Muslims rejoiced over the Congress party’s clear majority in the Karnataka state elections so much so that it felt like these results were due to the efforts of Muslims. It was suggested that a Muslim organisation had shown great political insight, otherwise the situation of Muslims would have worsened. Some even think that there is still a hopeful future for the Muslims in India in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections based on these results. Some support the Congress by saying, “We believe that the Congress is not a good party for the Muslims, but since we have been asked to choose the lesser of the two evils, Congress should be our choice.”. Congress is the oldest political party in this country. It was the largest political party before the partition of India and for many years after that. We are all familiar with the foundation of the Congress, its aspirations, aims, leadership, procedures, and also its concerns. The deceits and betrayals of the Congress are not hidden. Be it the important issues of the Muslims in India like the Babri Masjid or triple talaq or the other anti-Muslim activities, the Congress party does not seem to stand in favour of the Muslims, rather it appears to often be in the opposite tent. In such a case, what is the meaning of this attitude?
Congress swept the Karnataka Elections
Seventy-five years ago, the British gave India independence and transferred power to the natives. In these seventy-five years, the Congress party ruled for almost fifty years. No one hesitates to admit that the credit for the development in these years goes largely to the Congress. However, the Congress and its supporters should have no problem in accepting that the Congress Party and its policies are also responsible for the worsening of the state of affairs, corruption and the current plight of Muslims. Many reports of the Congress government itself are a clear indication that Muslims have been left behind politically, socially, and educationally in this country. Although the Muslims themselves share the responsibility of their current situation, its undoubtable that the major credit goes to the state and non-state institutions, of which, the biggest responsibility falls on the political party that has been in power for the longest time.
Congress & BJP: Two sides of the same coin
At this stage, we should first take a leap of faith to stop relying on all secular parties. It should also be understood that we cannot categorize them into “lesser evils”, rather all political parties are equally harmful. Therefore, equal distance from all of them is necessary for us. Then the question arises that even Muslim-led political parties are not doing any good work, so what is the solution? The only reason for not finding a clear solution to these problems is because we are looking for solutions in electoral politics even though we have tried unsuccessfully in all its alternatives in the period of seventy-five years. The need is to find new alternatives after announcing our complete absolution from electoral politics. Before proceeding in this direction, we must consider a few points. For example, what is the purpose of our political efforts? Do we want to give the Ummah only academic, economic, and social strength through it? Or without political success we will lose our respect and dignity? If we have these objectives, then these itself are the cause of our retreat and destruction. Some people may think that all the nations of the world have these objectives, and these are the standards of development of nations in today’s world, then what is wrong with this thought? These people should understand that Allah has given this Ummah Muhammad ﷺ as a role model. It cannot adopt the standards of right and wrong from others. Just as the work of fire is to burn and of water is to extinguish fire, the main work of this Ummah is “Amr Bi Al-Ma’roof Wa Nahi An-il-Munkar”. If fire, water, air, and other elements exceed their nature, chaos will spread everywhere. Similarly, if this Ummah stops working to promote good and prevent evil, not only the Ummah but the entire humanity will be doomed to destruction. In the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ, this task is compared to the sailors of the boat who do not stop their fellow passengers from digging a hole into the boat and as a result, both drown. This hadith makes it clear that only by striving towards the objective that is bestowed upon the Ummah will we be able to achieve success in both the worlds. We are witnesses to history that when the companions of the Prophet ﷺ worked towards this objective, the boundaries of their kingdoms kept on widening and the world was brought to their feet.
koī andāza kar saktā hai us ke zor-e-bāzū kā
nigāh-e-mard-e-momin se badal jaatī haiñ taqdīreñ
