Page 1 - Cursing non Muslims is not Islamic

LIVING ISLAM February 2014 10
Cursing Non-Muslims is Not Islamic
Behind the Legislative Deprivation
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan Of their own accord, many Muslims
Muslim representation in the Lok Sabha and legislatures across the states wrongly consider some people or communities as
in India is coming down election after elections. While some sections Some weeks ago, someone sent me a list of the ‘enemies of Islam’. Seeing others in this light
of Muslims have been pleading for reservation for the community in questions by email, seeking my responses to is their own self-styled belief. It has nowhere
legislatures, a more worrying aspect has skipped the attention of the them. Some of these questions had to do with the been mentioned in the Quran that these people
community i.e., seats and segments with Muslim preponderance being manner in which many Muslims relate to people are enemies of Islam.
reserved for the Scheduled Castes (SCs). This robs the community of the of other faiths. Among these questions was the In this regard, Muslims are committing a double
prospects of victory such constituencies offer the contestants. following:
The political reservations for the SCs and STs have proved a boon in “Last Friday, I went to a mosque for self-styled belief of considering some people as
empowering these sections who were kept away from positions of power the Friday prayer. The was in Arabic, enemies of Islam; and, second, this belief has
but although I cannot speak Arabic, I could no sanction in the Quran. Thus, it is not their
reservation of constituencies, their representation in seats of power has gone get a gist of some of the things the imam was right to say that someone is an enemy of Islam.
up beyond the numbers they deserved. But it is unfortunate that this is being saying. He was talking about the Christians Saying so is, without doubt, an unlawful act. If
done at the cost of Muslims who are being deprived of getting elected from and Jews in negative terms—perhaps as you see that someone is a , or oppressor,
their areas of concentration. ‘oppressors’ of Muslims—and he also according to your way of thinking, then why do
Several Lok Sabha constituencies where Muslim represent more than 25% seemed to be praying for their suppression you curse that person? You should instead engage
have been reserved for the SCs as a general pattern. For instance, Karimganj or destruction. He was talking of Muslims as in with him. You should communicate the
Lok Sabha seat from Assam where Muslims constitute 59% of the voters, persecuted people. I think he also did for message of God to him. Give the Quran to him
is a SC-reserved seat. Bijnore, Bulandshahar, Bahraich constituencies in their victory over non-Muslims. ” to read and understand. Under no circumstances
Uttar Pradesh (Muslim voters ranging between 35 and 40%), Birbhum in The questioner believed that the imam of the do you have the right to curse him. You can only
West Bengal (35% Muslims), and Gulbarga and Bijapur (25% Muslims) mosque seemed to think of Christians and pray for his guidance, convey God’s message to
Jews—or, probably, all non-Muslims—as by him and try to make him understand. Beyond
constituencies scheduled castes make up less than ten per cent of the voting this, everything lies in God’s hands.
population. Evidently, the reservation for scheduled castes is being done at that the imam was praying for their destruction. Our responsibility is to do work, to
the cost of deprivation of legislative representation of Muslims who stand a He wanted to know my reaction to this imam, convey God’s word to people, and to help them
better chance to get elected from the areas and segments of their dominance, his and his . discover the Truth. If people express doubt or
if not exactly preponderance. Almost a similar pattern is visible in state I replied to the questioner saying that this kind apprehension, then one should sincerely try to
legislatures, mainly in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar. of and are quite contrary to the discuss the matter with them, rather than curse
Much against the outcome of the last Delimitation exercise, the National Islamic spirit. I said that I was aware that this them. If you take the name of Islam, or want to
Commission to Review the Constitution set up by the former National practice is very common among Muslims. But, I do something in the name of Islam, then you
Democratic Alliance Government (which had presented its report in 2004), added, it is a fact that this practice is un-Islamic. must understand that there is only one domain
had recommended that the next Delimitation exercise should strive to Muslims have developed what in Urdu is called in which you should exert your energies—and
work.
that
is,
One
should
explain
and
consolidate the minority concentration pockets into constituencies in order a mentality—they wrongly help people understand the message of God.
to enable them to enhance their representation. It seems the recommendation
has gone totally unheeded. The Muslim representation in the current i.e., and perceived community interests. That is why, One should also pray for them. But, to declare
that some people are enemies and to engage in
15th Lok Sabha stands at mere 28, coming down from 33 in the previous I explained, they have developed this kind of cursing against them is certainly not allowed in
Lok Sabha. Several large states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, psyche. People who think in this way cannot be Islam.
Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand have no Muslim representative good s. According to the Quran (7:68), the Our task is to convey the message of God. The
in Lok Sabha although Muslims have a considerable presence there. is being a well- Quran says: “So, [O Prophet] exhort them: your
Muslims should take up the issue with all parties that believe in fairplay and wisher for the . If you have hatred in your task is only to exhort, you are not their keeper.”
justice, and demand that the next Delimitation exercise is called earlier than heart for the and curse him, how can you (88:21-22). This means that the believer’s task is
it is due, to set right the anomaly. engage in ? How can you be a ? to perform work. The believer does not
work needs sincerity on the part of possess the right to take any action against others.
LETTERS the as well as -friendly behaviour. Prophet is told that only peaceful is his
Without inculcating this behaviour, neither can domain, and the rest has to be left to God.
the do work properly, nor will he
AAP and Muslims be rewarded by God. is a great Islamic There are certain prerequisites or conditions for
work. These conditions can
carrying out
action, but it entails a necessary condition. And
There is a discussion going on in the Muslim circles about why Muslims this condition is the maintenance of a normal adopts patience
should support AAP (Aam Aadmi Party). Muslims are standing at the cross relationship between the and the . The and tolerance. If the does not remain
roads thinking, what role they can play in the forthcoming elections of 2014. responsibility for establishing such a relationship patient, he cannot engage in the work of .
On one hand, there is a Congress party and on the other hand, there is a fear devolves unilaterally on the . That is, it is For work, it is essential to maintain
in their minds that Modi is gaining popularity in this country to become the he, and not the , who is responsible for normalcy, that is, a peaceful atmosphere. And for
Prime Minister. Every day, we read newspapers with stories about AAP. normalizing the situation between himself and that you have to be patient with the , not
Many felt it could become an alternative, but unfortunately till date, AAP the . This injunction can be found in several to go about cursing him! If you think positively
has not addressed or even bothered to address the issues of minorities in the verses of the Quran. For example, the Quran and wish well for the , then you will be able
country. There is no representation of Muslims in Kejriwal’s government. (22:67) says: ‘Let them not dispute with you on to rightly convey the message of God to him by
Till date, no policy has been framed with regard to Agriculture, Finance, this matter. Call them to the path of your Lord— taking into account the demands of wisdom and
—dealing with the
in a manner
Industry, External Affairs or Foreign Policy. Nothing has been talked about for surely, you are rightly guided—[…]’. that causes the softening of his heart towards
the backward classes and the Dalits and not a single word has been said by If praying for the destruction of non-Muslims is the and the message of Islam.
the AAP about the inclusive growth of the country. not the Islamic way, then, what should we do Today, curses are invoked against others with
Mohd.Khaleequr Rahman, Hyderabad for people of other faiths, the questioner wanted great fervour in mosques. I can say with full
Dec. 2013 Issue was Excellent to know. conviction Muslims consider as or oppressors are
that
those
communities
people
In my reply, I said that we should pray for all on
whom
the
e issue of December 2013 had some very good articles. To an equal basis. The Quran (1:2) refers to God not oppressors at all. These communities are not
mention some, “Muslims Unveil 2014 Poll Agenda” was very thought as the “Lord of the Worlds” and not as “God anti-Muslim or anti-Islam. But, for the sake of
provoking. The news item, “ campaign to respect the name Muhammad” of Muslims”. This fact has been declared in the argument, if it were true that certain groups are
also was inspiring and I was happy to know that the students are doing oppressors, even then it is not permissible for
such a noble task. Varsha Sharma’s article “Prophet Muhammad’s Noble (21:107) calls the Prophet , Muslims to pray for God’s wrath to come down
Character and Muslims Today” was indeed excellent. Another very that is, a mercy for all mankind. The Quran does upon them. In every situation, we have to be
important piece that needs to be applied in our daily lives is about Prophet’s not say that the Prophet is or a mercy well-wishers for others, maintain our composure
(Pbuh) humble food habits. Other articles in the December 2013 issue were for Muslims alone. The Prophet prayed for the and convey God’s message to them. We must
also worth reading. guidance of others. He never prayed for their pray for their guidance, and leave everything else
Kazi Mohammad Ayub, Shehar Khateeb and Pesh Imam, Jodhpur destruction. to God.