Celebrating Christmas in Kashmir
By Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New
Age Islam
30 January 2023
Christian Missionaries
Have A Huge Role In Positive Awakening And Nation Building Of Kashmiri Society.
The Christian Missionaries Were The Pioneers In Establishing Hospitals,
Dispensaries And Modern Day Schools In Kashmir Valley.
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The biggest mass in the Valley was
held at the Holy Family Catholic Church at Maulana Azad Road in the heart of
the city, where hundreds of Christians, including women and children. (Image
Credit: Twitter)
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This year the Christmas in Kashmir had
altogether new vibes that resulted in controversy over social media with half
baked Maulanas, mullahs and social media preachers jumping the band wagon of
condemnation. The event got highlighted more because a bunch of exoteric Muslims
who always wear their identity on their sleeve joined the Christmas celebration
in main church of Srinagar. Soon the pictures of these exoteric Muslims with
long beards, shaved mustaches and completely niqabi hijab clad girls started
doing rounds over social media. Hence common people, laymen, illiterates,
educated literates all started condemning their actions. They quoted the
Quranic verse, which goes like this,
“O people of the Book! Do not go to
extremes regarding your faith; say nothing about Allah except the truth. The
Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, was no more than a messenger of Allah and the
fulfillment of His word through Mary and a spirit created by a command from
Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers and do not say, ‘Trinity’ Stop!-for
your own good. Allah is only one God. Glory to be Him! He is far above having a
son! To him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth.
And Allah is sufficient as a Trustee of Affairs.”
(4:171)
This is a very correct factual position of
Islam as it denies Trinity. But how does celebrating birth of Jesus Christ be
synonymous with acceptance of trinity? To add more insult to injury,
Televangelist Dr Zakir Naik’s clips condemning celebration of Christmas began
to circulate, whereas his mentor Ahmad Deedat allows and calls for the
celebration of Christmas like many Muslims except the Wahhabis of Saudi
celebrate Meelad on the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Dr. Zakir Naik, instead of promoting Dawah
and interfaith Dialogue is responsible for creating more antagonism with non Muslims
while fueling sectarianism among Muslims. He could not differentiate between
Dawah and Debate. Dawah is not an arena where the opponent is to be defeated to
claim victory over him. The Peaceful spread of Islam, stands in contrast to
debating as a tool of Dawah. Dawah is a slow process of reaching to the hearts
and minds of non Muslims, and clearing them from any prejudices and stereotypes
against Islam. Later that paves way for anyone to embrace Islam.
Muslims did earlier participate in the
Christian celebrations, but the exoteric Muslims highlighted the issue, that
again gave rise to rumors about them being used by clandestine hands to achieve
a political charade. Such rumors keep making rounds, but joint prayers and
joint celebrations certainly are a great way to build interfaith relations, but
our half baked Maulanas and mullahs seem to be quite unaware about its essence.
They just need some event to hop into limelight otherwise they remain in
oblivion about the real big issues confronting Muslims.
The Christian missionaries have a huge role
in positive awakening and nation building of Kashmiri society. The Christian
missionaries were the pioneers in establishing hospitals, dispensaries and
modern day schools in Kashmir valley. They were the ones who in fact documented
the history of Kashmir in English. Due to their efforts numerous lives were
saved, education became acceptable to the common Muslims particularly education
of the girl children. A campaign against prostitution of Kashmiri women was
initiated by Muhamnaad Subhan Hajam and this campaign was well aided by a
missionary C E Tyndale Biscoe. These efforts cannot be undermined. These
mullahs still could not establish a good primary school and the school
established by Biscoe still continues to function in the heart of Srinagar.
The failure to understand the fact that
greeting and celebrating Christmas does not mean to believe in the doctrines of
Christianity. Enrolling in Christian schools, being admitted to a Christian
hospital or working in a Jewish corporation does not render one as non muslim.
Similarly participating in religious functions like Christmas does not make one
believer in Trinity. This trend is something similar to what the Kharjis
upheld, about whom Caliph Ali (RA) observed, they recite the Quran correctly
but juxtapose it on wrong circumstances because Quran cannot interpret itself.
These wrong interpretations are responsible in building wrong images about each
other. Quran in a verse observes, “Verily ….you will find the nearest in
love to the believers (Muslims) those who say, We are Christians! That is
because amongst them are priests and monks, and they are not proud” (5:82)
So when Quran reiterates it so why quote selectively and use verses out of
context while exploiting their meaning? The Christians of Najran stayed in the
mosque of Prophet (pbuh) in Medina and no fatwas or allegations of being
believers in Trinity were hurled at Muslims not even by hypocrites and non Muslims.
Then another hadith is quoted out of
context that observes that “one who adorns the garb of others or imitates them
is among them.” This is something that was contextual to the first generation
of Muslims as a new distinct community was being created so it was essential
that some identity markers be guarded and some certain aesthetics be
temporarily banned like art of making sculptures and painting. There was
apprehension that some Muslims may fall back on old ways and start worshipping
them, but today there is nothing wrong about it. So many times we falter while
understanding the spirit and message of hadith, thus render lawful and
legitimate things as unlawful and sinful. So unless we do not possess a tinge
of Ijtihad, we cannot undertake Dawah and Dialogue, while assuming the
power of declaring something as forbidden whereas Allah has allowed and made it
legal. If we are able to separate the domains of God and man in Islam, numerous
problems will get resolved naturally, thus saving human and material resources
of Muslims from getting dissipated in futile exercises.
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A New Age Islam columnist, M.H.A. Sikander is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir
URL:
https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/celebrating-christmas-kashmir/d/128991
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