Bilal Hasan (M.Lib & I.Sc)
There was certainly quite a heavy turbulence in the Indian politics for the last few months. As India headed for the 2024 Lok Sabha election, two major coalitions locked horns against each other. On one side was the NDA led by BJP, which aimed at crossing more than 400 seats while on the other side was the INDIA bloc constituting all the major opposition parties which aimed at defeating the existing BJP government. As the election started, followers of each alliance predicted their victory, and the turbulent nature also supported the cause. Finally, when the verdict was delivered, it was neither a win nor a loss situation for both the alliances. BJP, which was sure of getting an absolute majority felt short of it’s mark while the INDIA bloc scored quite a good seat tally especially in some BJP strongholds.
As stated, followers of both alliances were predicting their party’s success, there was a community which was not politically or ideologically inclined to INDIA bloc but was also praying for its victory. Yes, it was the Muslim community. This community constitutes almost 15-20% of India’s population. When the elections started, leaders of Muslim community repeatedly encouraged to go out and vote. They said that it could be the last election and end of democracy in India if BJP wins again. They swore by religion that if we don’t go out and vote we would be responsible and must answer before Allah. Such statements were delivered from the minbar that if we analyze them with regards to Islamic teachings, we wouldn’t find a good reference. But all in vain, the emphasis was laid in such a manner that the Muslim masses believed it wholeheartedly and went out to vote. After the results were declared, the leaders of Muslim community jumped to take credit for the temporal loss of BJP and some even went to compare the election atmosphere with the tussle between Pharoh and Musa A.S.
Muslims took part in the recent Lok Sabha elections overwhelmingly. But their conditions remain the same after results.
But what happened? In few weeks after the results, we witnessed the same mob lynching, bulldozer politics, anti-muslim hatred and other such Islamophobic activities. The opposition leaders on whose behest the Muslim leaders were assuring that serenity would return, kept mum as usual. Now the question arises, did we gain something in this election or are we still sitting ducks? The answer is clearly negative. The condition of Muslims is same as it was before the election. Their social, economic, and political condition is still deteriorating. Hatred against them is similar and could get worse too. We need to ponder now, are we going on the right political track?
Since the independence of India, Muslims are told to believe that their future and security lies in the electoral politics. If they vote for the “good” party, their conditions will improve. Ironically this absurdity is also refuted by the same Muslims leaders too and they also speak of how the secular parties exploited the Muslims, but still, they think it of “lesser evil” somehow and vouch for them. Allama Iqbal’s couplets perfectly fit in this space.
Tha Jo ‘Na-Khoob’ Batadreej Wohi ‘Khoob’ Huwa
Ke Ghulami Mein Badal Jata Hai Qoumon Ka Zameer
We are the same community which ruled this subcontinent for 800 years. After we lost our rule, we didn’t sit idle but fought till the last breath against English imperialism. We dreamt of returning our lost glory and worked hard for its revival. From Islamic revivalist movements like Tehreek e Shaheedain to political movements like Muslim League or social movements like Aligarh Movement, we all dreamt of restoring our glory in all possible manner. This all was up until the partition of India.
After the partition, if we investigate the condition of Muslim leadership in India, we see that it became too lethargic to work out in a comparable manner, rather it got dependent on the electoral setup only. Also, one major setback was that it refused to unite under a single leadership and relied on the non- to secure their future.
Muslims are the same community that ruled the sub-continent for 800 years, but currently are facing their worst conditions in the country.
Now since the “divided” leadership of Muslims has given its keys to the non-, it doesn’t even dare to ask them basic questions like what your plans for our community are, what would you do if we vote you to power. They don’t even dare to ask as to why you don’t at least speak our name in public gatherings, etc. This is a natural consequence a community faces when it gives its affairs to the others. Although as a Muslim community we were obliged to manage our affairs in the way that was defined by Allah SWT, we are too far away from it, or rather we don’t look it as a solution either. Hazrat Umar correctly said
“We were the most humiliated people on earth and Allah gave us honour through Islam. If we ever seek honour through anything else, Allah will humiliate us again”
If we investigate the condition of Muslim community in India, we seek our honour in “others”. We try to emulate their ways be it socially, politically or economically. We try to find our solution in the purview of their mindset, although they even aren’t succeeding much on their path.
Now for us to return to the correct path, it’s necessary for us to at least handle our affairs within our community and for that purpose we need to unite for this task. Look at the Sikh community. They have many sects, many factions, yet they unite when a calamity befalls their community. We must take Islam only as a beacon of success and live according to it. Then only our conditions would improve Insha’Allah. Until then we would be no lesser than the people of the book to whom Allah gave a straightforward dictum.
And if only they upheld [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to them from their Lord, they would have consumed [provision] from above them and from beneath their feet. Among them are a moderate community, but many of them – evil is that which they do. (Qur’an 5:66)
