By
Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New Age Islam
11 February
2021
Islam is
being labelled as extremist religion in our contemporary times. Muslims are
being described as fundamentalist, who are always ready for violence
particularly if something hurts their religious sentiments. These ‘sentiments’
are variegated; so many times one group of Muslims feels hurt by a different
sect of Muslims. Hence internecine tussles are not uncommon among Muslims.
Despite the freedom of religion being accepted as a fundamental right, the
tolerance about the plurality of religious interpretations has witnessed a
decline.
Islam
Ka Nazarey Aitedaal: Aman, Samaji Hum Ahangi Aur Baien Mazhabi Taluqaat Kye
Aainey Mey (The Islamic Concept of Moderation in the light of Peace,
Co-Existence and Interfaith Relations)
Author:
Dr Waris Mazhari
Publisher:
Al Balagh Publications, New Delhi, India
Year
of Publication: 2017
Pages:
272 Price: Rs 168
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To question
a certain interpretation, aspect or a theologian has become akin to raising
doubts about religion and God itself. God and religion are beyond question for
most believers, something that Islam desists from but masses have been given to
understand this liberating value from Islam is missing, so they are ready to
act violently against the dissenters. This un-Islamic trend has become
mainstream in most muslim countries and communities, hence even progressive
scholars of Islam are forced to pay for their interpretations by various
measures including silence, exile or imprisonment.
Dr Waris
Mazhari is a seasoned scholar, theologian and academic of Islam who has been
trained as a traditional madrasa scholar and through his personal efforts has
been able to study in the mainstream university educational system. Currently
he is teaching at Jamia Hamdard University, and has written various tomes about
the need for reforms in madrasas and other contemporary issues facing Muslims.
This new book is a collection of his various academic conference papers and
research articles that bring forth his efforts for new interpretation and Ijtihad.
Dr Mazhari
in his papers describes Islam as a religion of tolerance and moderation. So
exaggeration (Ghulu) in religion creates imbalance in religious affairs
that renders believers to emphasize for minute details while forgoing and
forgetting big and important ones. This emphasis on small details leads to
fundamentalism, sectarian extremism and indulging in Takfir (labelling Muslims
as Kafir/infidels). So the Takfir is based on intolerance towards varied
interpretation of texts. Dr Mazhari is a strong votary for Ijtihaad and
Dialogue. He believes that the goal of unity among different schools of thought
will be achieved through Dialogue only. But he laments at the fact that
different sects and schools of thought among Muslims in India just unite for
political and identity issues not on religious and theological ones.
The
revolutionary interpretation of Islam has become mainstream and popular in our
contemporary era. But Dr Mazhari very well points out that there is no word for
Inqilab (revolution) in the Holy Quran but only Islah (reformation) has been
reiterated. So what Islam really aims at is purification of the soul from the
baser animal instincts a term holistically defined as Tazkiye Nafs,
instead of focusing on collectivity of humans and masses. The misunderstood
term of Jihad has been wrongly constructed to mean fighting in physical terms
whereas in reality it means fighting against the evils of human nature. Its
contours also encompass stopping vices and evil particularly those being
promoted by so called Islamic groups. Further Jihad in the terms of Qital
(killing and be ready to embrace death for a lofty cause/ideal) needs requisite
strength, and given our circumstances has been rendered to defensive mode only.
Also the aim of Islam is not to gain political supremacy over others or strike terror
in the hearts of unbelievers so suicide bombing is to be abhorred too.
The
relations between Hindus and Muslims in India is still being constructed as one
between a conqueror and conquered that has resulted in insurmountable
obstacles. The miss-constructed efforts for Islamic revivalism that includes
criticism of values like democracy and secularism even boycotting these
institutions by fringe elements among Muslims has resulted in Hindu revivalism
and communalization of spaces. It has further given birth to stereotypes and
misconception about each other. The participation in Hindu festivals of Muslims
is an old tradition and that needs to be celebrated as Islam does stands
against Shirk (associating partners with Allah) not abhorrent towards maintaining
social relations with Non-Muslims. The participation helps in bridging the divide
between Muslims and non-Muslims. Also madrasas can play an important part in
this Hindu-Muslim dialogue.
The
perception of Muslims about West is flawed and stereotypical and vice versa.
There is xenophobia prevalent among west and Muslims, so misconceptions about
each other galore their interactions. West although is full of contradictions
but they have learnt to deal and tolerate them. This tolerance was a value
among Muslims too as there was no Takfir against Khawarij despite their
subversive role in the caliphate of Ali.
Currently
this tolerance is absent even in Muslim madrasas and universities where freedom
of speech and criticism is absent that has led to stagnancy in creative output
and Ijtihad in the Muslim world. Badeuzzaman Said Nursi had progressive
and pragmatic views about West and Dr Mazhari engages with these views in a
paper. Peace as a value and aspect of
life was permanent in Prophetic scheme of things whereas fighting was
exceptional. Tolerance towards non-Muslims and their religious spaces was
factual in the Muslim history unlike what Taliban did in case of statues of
Bamiyan Buddha.
The book is
an important noteworthy addition that engages with the contemporary questions
and challenges in the light of Islam using the paradigm of Ijtihad. The
relevance of this work qualifies it to be translated in other languages too
particularly in English for a wider dissemination. Dr Waris needs to be
complimented for this important work and we hope that in future too he will
continue to write more on these different issues that are baffling muslims. His
writings depict that Islamic teachings still provide an answer and alternative
to the current challenges given that the scholar and theologian is ready to
indulge in Ijtihaad.
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M.H.A.Sikander
is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir .
URL: https://newageislam.com/books-documents/islamic-concept-moderation-light-peace,/d/124277
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