Stop Islamophobia: Irresponsible Muslims Don’t Represent the Entire Community

Islamophobia is on the rise because of the irresponsible behaviour of some Muslims. Sehar quotes the Holy Quran, explains the flexibility of offereing namaz and tells us that a true Muslim is God fearing and a law abiding citizen. An exclusive for Different Truths.

Today, when I sit down to write, I find myself lost in thoughts…

What should my weekly column talk about, should I talk about mental health, children, family or should I talk about how, I as an Indian Muslim, feel.

I feel deeply saddened and pained to see the irresponsible behaviour of many members of the community.

I feel deeply saddened and pained to see the irresponsible behaviour of many members of the community.

The news on the social media has been doing the rounds about the outbreak of COVID-19 cases across the nation and the conference that took place in Delhi, what seems to be a clear cut case of negligence and irresponsible behaviour has been turned into something else. Though it reflect the rigid and orthodox behaviour of some of the members of the community  we need to understand the root cause which lies the absence of enlightenment and education.

We have managed to become a literate nation but are we educated enough?

But today, when I watch videos of people fighting over spaces to pray, I am shocked. Being brought up in an environment where my father taught me that the “Whole world is a masjid”, I find it difficult to understand the reasons behind such a debate.

Before I begin to write, I remember the first day I rolled out the prayer mat to establish the Salah or Namaaz. Growing up, I associated these minutes of the day with peace, tranquillity and inner strength. But today, when I watch videos of people fighting over spaces to pray, I am shocked. Being brought up in an environment where my father taught me that the “Whole world is a masjid”, I find it difficult to understand the reasons behind such a debate.

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad), peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The entire earth has been made a place of prayer, except for graveyards and washrooms.”

Battling with Motor Neuron disease, the image of my father lying on the bed offering the namaaz with actions lying on his bed is still fresh in my mind. As Muslims praying five times a day is one of the 1^st religious obligations one has to comply with steadfastly. Having said that, I would also like to explain the flexibility that the Holy Book gives us to offer the namaaz, but if I begin to explain it here, I think it would take up the entire column. All we have to do is to read the Holy Book with understanding and the intention to lead our lives according to the teaching of the Quran and the Sunnah.

Surah Fatiha, the opening chapter of the Quran, also called the essence of the Quran carries within the essence and meaning of being a Muslim. This Surah has to be read in every namaaz.  As I write this column the memory of my father explaining the Arabic verses of Surah Fatiha to us (my brother and me) in English crops up at the back of my mind…

Guide us to the Straight Way….The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray.  ~ The Quran, Chapter 1 (Al-Fatiha), verses 6–6-7

Now, coming to the provisions made by the religion during an epidemic, pandemic or lockdown.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) strongly disapproved any kind of any kind of indifference towards precautionary measures and admonished his followers for the same.

1. Praying at home –On 14^th March’2020, Adhan (Azaan)  was made in Kuwait telling Muslims to pray at home due to the spread of Coronavirus. Instead of “Hayya ‘ala al-Salah” (come to prayer), the muadhin says “al-Salatu fi buyutikum” (pray in your homes).This was made at the time of the Prophet ﷺ during heavy rain and wind.
2. Abiding state directives and rulings– Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) strongly disapproved any kind of any kind of indifference towards precautionary measures and admonished his followers for the same. It is narrated in book of Hadith, “One day Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him), noticed a Bedouin leaving his camel without tying it. He asked the Bedouin, ‘Why don’t you tie down your camel?’ The Bedouin answered, ‘I put my trust in Allah’. The Prophet (PBUH) then said, ‘Tie your camel first, and then put your trust in Allah’. The disease is not religious centric and neither should we put a blind eye to it.

Quoting an example from a news piece, in the United Arab Emirates, the council in charge of religious affairs issued a fatwa — a legal opinion on Islamic jurisprudence — that equated adherence to public health directives to religious duty.

“It is a religious obligation for all segments of society to strictly adhere to all public health directives and regulations provided by the dedicated state agencies as well as to take all necessary measures to prevent the transmission and spread of the illness,” said the fatwa.

3. Quarantine– Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) say: “If you hear that (the plague) is in a land, do not go there, and if it breaks out in a land where you are, do not leave, fleeing from it.” Bukhaari (5739) and Muslim (2219)
4. Maintaining Hygiene –“Whenever the messenger of Allah sneezed, he would cover his mouth with his hand or a piece of cloth. Abu Dawud; Tirmidhi (Book 43, Hadith 2969), Sahih
5. Adherence to Treatment– Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Make use of medical treatment, for Allah has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease, namely old age” (Abu Dawud). Muslim (2204)
6. Allah says in the Quran:“Who saves one human life, it is as if he has saved all Mankind” (5:32)

On 2^nd April when the news broke out and the media was reporting the cases, the social media was ablaze with posts that either abused the community, called the members ‘Live Bombs’, Terrorists and even Traitors. It not only pained me but it disturbed me to to see people I knew closely, gave it a communal colour. We all know where it started how it started, how it spread everywhere and soon became a pandemic. The whole world stands united against fighting the disease and yet here we were playing the blame game.

I questioned myself, should we be involving ourselves in this mud-slinging or should we for once think of only about humanity and rise above all.

I questioned myself, should we be involving ourselves in this mud-slinging or should we for once think of only about humanity and rise above all.

But as I sat down that night thinking of what has happened and the blurred lines, my WhatsApp notifications started to blink and then there was a stream of comforting texts that made my believe stronger in this secular thread of my nation. Sharing a few here:

“Humanity is one, one person got infected in some corner of the world and now each one has to be careful. No religion is safe. Corona does not infect only specific religion people.…”

l “Islam jitna aap ka hai utna hi mera hai,” ~ Himanshu Raul, Friend, Writer

l “No community, no humans want chaos. We need to rise above the chaos and religion. Don’t let it trouble you my dear. Much love.” ~ Monica Bansode, Friend, Colleague

l “Humanity is one, one person got infected in some corner of the world and now each one has to be careful. No religion is safe. Corona does not infect only specific religion people…. It is God’s (Allah / Jesus) way of reminding us oneness of humanity.” ~ Ria Mewlani, Friend and Neighbour

l “None of the religions teach hatred and animosity . There are few idiots who have been using religion to acquire power and they are the ones who are misleading people. Education is the only tool which can bring about a transformation.” ~ Pallavi Chandel, Senior from school and team member

l “No religion teaches us wrong things but there are fools in all religions who interpret the teachings wrongly and brainwash their people to indulge in wrongful acts ! They need to be condemned!” ~ Alka Dhawan, a learned member of the society

l “No religion teaches hatred. Some misled fanatics use religion – I mean all religions here – to mislead people. Those misled need to be shown the light of love and truth.” ~ Arindam Roy, Editor-in-Chief, Different Truths

I might not be the most apt person to have penned down my thoughts on this topic, I might have missed out on points, skipped a few facts, and didn’t manage to delve too deep. But here I am, talking straight from the heart, writing what crosses my mind. I do not see myself as a perfect Muslim. But as my elder brother Syed Kaleem Raza puts it, “If you like how I speak, write, behave, remember that I only practise 10% of what my religion is, imagine the love and respect we will share when I am able to practise it 100%”

Islam is a religion of modesty, balance, cleanliness and honesty and the Holy Quran is a book of guidance and one has to read it with understanding

Islam is a religion of modesty, balance, cleanliness and honesty and the Holy Quran is a book of guidance and one has to read it with understanding so that we can lead our lives in the light of its guidance and the teacher of our beloved Prophet (PBUH).

Let there be education, let there be enlightenment, let there be brotherhood, because at the end, we are all humans and the disease does not discriminate.

Photos from the Internet