Friends, Almighty has created human beings as the best creature in this universe and gifted them with knowledge, wisdom and intellect to think and analyze, and without this there may not be any difference between humans and animals. Advancement and development in the world is a product of human mind, and destruction and downfall is also a result of human mind. It is important to know how a human being uses it. And here human needs a supreme guidance for its proper orientation where he needs to turn towards the creator. In this century after huge advancement and modernization we the human beings are now realizing that we need some supreme guidance to attain peace and happiness. Beyond the discussion on presenting the teachings of religion/s, we should try to understand one another. While respecting the differences that we have owing to different faiths, we should come together on a single platform for common struggles. We should not come to a conclusion that everything is right, rather search for the truth and real harmony with sound heart and free mind, not caged by sheer dogmas. Let us have discussions and dialogues and come for some common causes not only in academia but also physically we should come for joint struggle. Never should we impose our faith and belief on others unless he/she accepts by understanding and his/her own will. And unless our education is grounded in values of common goals we cannot spread communal harmony across the nation.
Communal harmony is also related to social issues of communities; the poverty, hatred, unhappiness, corruption and other pressing problems of the nation. It is unthinkable to even think of development without addressing these issues. The holistic view that we need to take of Islam is based on a universal philosophy of being the voice for all, not for just a particular community or a nation. Islam addresses all irrespective of time and spaces or any other affiliations be they related to nations, tribes, gender or sexuality . However, today Muslims should understand that they being the claimants to this faith have a great responsibility of presenting Islam in its true form. Human beings may develop aircraft technology and start floating in water and air with supersonic speed but cannot become human unless he follows the law of the Almighty. Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) struggled and fought for the independence of humanity from curse of hatred, unlawful killing, poverty, injustice, illiteracy and taught them the lesson of love, justice and eternal Peace. Finally, it is very difficult to uphold communal harmony if the misunderstandings among communities are not been cleared, and surely inter-faith dialogues, discussions and one-to-one interactions at multiple platforms will help to accomplish it.
On the discussion about religion and religious practices, we need to come together and have a free-flow dialogue- an informed one. Religious harmony can be built only when we have an informed yet not prejudiced discussions and conversations. The national and international media have presented a very regressive picture of Islam. It has even been misrepresented by few and misinterpreted by many. As India is a multi religious country with the beauty of unity into diversity, to bridge the gap among different communities of India there is a need of few dedicated and humble humans like the freedom fighters who fought for Independence of India and again we need independence from the so called politicians and the slavery of human psychology for their materialistic lives. Here there is a need to understand the point, Instead of living with harmony and love many will promote hatred for their personal gains, but the fact is – O mankind! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female and We made you nations and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, (the) most noble of you near Allah (is the) most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah (is) All-Knower, All-Aware. (Quran 49:13)
India is a country of all Indians and here no one is the owner and the other is tenant. speeches and statements will promote communalization and will divide unity of Bharat. India is of all and it’s a nation for its citizens and when almighty did not differentiate the water, air, light, and other natural resources for Muslims and Hindus, then who are we to differentiate. Bharat is formed by the vision of 18th century Bahadurshah Zafar, Nana Sahib Peshwa, Azeemullah Khan and Rangobapuji Gupth who at that time planned for freedom of India from Britishers. But at the same time we cannot forget the sacrifice of Chandreshaker Azad, Raj Guru, Sukh Dev, Ashfaq Ullah Khan, Ram Prasad Bismil, Liyakhat Ali and others during this movement.
Finally, the government in power need to make the policies for people to benefit from and nation cannot be developed by polarizing and hatred and communalization. If people friendly policies are not brought, development will still be a dream and “India is under-developed country” will keep haunting us.
Lets follow the sayings of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) “Help your brother if he is a culprit or victim”. The companions of Prophet asked him that helping victim is understood but what is the meaning of helping culprit, then Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) replied “stop him from doing unlawful activity”. This is a message of developing a sense of resistances against both oppression and oppressors.
Question that worries me always is: who are these people who promote the hatred and perpetuate violence when every religion speaks of love and harmony? When we eat the food cultivated on the same land, breathe in the same air and drink the water of the same rivers then why Hindu-Muslim, Hindu-Sikh riots take place. My answer to this is- the politics of hatred and bunch of politicians who are devils and trumpet about sectarian agenda.
When political parties can have consultation and run the nation with some uniform policies then why religious leaders cannot come to uniform program with common minimum goals and why we all cannot be united on this, why to be exploited always by politicians.
Let’s make India a golden bird which was a dream of thousands, which has tolerance in its nature along with beauty of various cultures, traditions, languages and religions.