Communal Tensions, Deaths and Arrests Mark Eid Milad un Nabi Celebrations in India

Muslims Show Unguarded Zeal during the Eid Milad un Nabi Celebrations.

Main Points:

1.    Communal tension in West Bengal marks the birth anniversary of prophet of Islam.

2.    Six people die of electrocution during a Eid Miladun Nabi julus in Bhadohi in UP.

3.    Nineteen Muslim youth arrested for wielding swords in Eid Miladun Nabi procession in Bengaluru.

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By New Age Islam Staff Writer

12 October 2022

Although three days have passed since the birth anniversary of the prophet of Islam (Eid Milad un Nabi) was celebrated with religious zeal and fervour on the 9th of October, the scars of untoward incidents that occurred during it will remain for a long time. Six Muslims died due to electrocution in a village in Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh during a procession taken out to mark the birth anniversary of the prophet of Islam. The tragedy happened due to callousness of the participants who were holding flags that touched an electricity cable hanging loose in the street.

Communal skirmishes between Hindus and Muslims took place in the Muslim majority area of Iqbalpore on the eve of the celebrations as the Hindus objected to the putting up of Islamic flags in the streets in the mixed population of Mayurbhanj Road. People belonging to both the communities clashed and pelted stones at each other. Section 144 has been clamped in the area and dozens of miscreants from both the communities have been arrested by the police.

In Bengaluru, 19 Muslim youths, mostly minors, have been arrested by the police for wielding swords during the procession.

The incidents show how the processions marking the birth anniversary of the prophet pbuh is increasingly turning into a cause of communal tensions and accidents. Eid Miladun Nabi celebrations in India on this scale is a recent phenomenon. It was not celebrated as a major festival even two decades ago. The birth anniversary of the holy prophet pbuh was declared a public holiday during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi as Prime Minister. He had done this favour to Muslims for political reasons. This gave Muslims a reason to celebrate. And to do so, a long forgotten historical event was revived. The procession marking the birth of the holy prophet pbuh was first taken out by Jamiat Ulema Hind before Independence to defy the restrictions on the use of the cantonment ground for public meeting by the British government. The procession was taken on the birth anniversary of the prophet pbuh and therefore was named Juloos-e-Mohammadi. Many prominent Hindu and, Muslim leaders participated in the procession. It became an annual event participated by both Hindus and Muslims. However, the procession was stopped after Independence due to the communal divide due to large scale bloodshed and because the Juloos-e-Mohammadi was started against the British government. It was more of a political nature than religious.

Ironically, Juloos-e-Mohamnadi has turned into a purely religious event. As years pass, the passion and zeal to celebrate increases and the Muslims have been made to believe that celebrating Eid Milad un Nabi and joining the Eid Miladun Nabi procession is the proof of the love of the holy prophet pbuh. It is also the belief of a section of the Muslims that the holy prophet pbuh visits the earth on that day and so decorating and lighting up the streets and houses is necessary to greet him. In some places, Muslims cut 'birthday cake' of the holy prophet pbuh with a sword and say 'Happy Birthday Ya Rasulullah'. This belief is the reason of so much zeal and fanfare in Muslim neighbourhoods.

But this zeal and passion has become a cause of communal tensions, deaths and accidents during the celebrations. Islam preaches simplicity and sincerity of heart in the observance of religious duties and festivals. The major festivals of Eid -ul-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha are celebrated worldwide peacefully and with simplicity. There is no pomp and show and no sloganeering. Islam has only two Eids but the birth anniversary of the prophet pbuh has also been given the status of Eid.

The communal tensions, accidents and tragedies happening during the Eid Milad un Nabi tell us that there is something wrong in the approach of Muslims to the celebrations. Deaths, accidents and riots can never happen if a festival is celebrated in true Islamic spirit. The untoward incidents are proof that the behaviour of Muslims is not in accordance with the teachings of the holy prophet pbuh and the Quran. According to Ulema, the holy prophet pbuh was born on a Monday and so he did fasting on Mondays. On the contrary, Muslims, instead of fasting, Muslims do feasting. Islam preaches simplicity but on his birth anniversary Muslims spend lavishly on decorating and lighting up houses and streets. Naat is played on DJs. High decibel sound of DJs disturbs the peace and sleep of Muslims and non-Muslims alike. In some places, communal slogans are also played or raised on loudspeakers. This causes communal tensions.

Common Muslims have been made to believe that with the demonstration of love for the prophet (pbuh) in this way, they can please God and his prophet. But by indulging in violence and callous acts, they only invite death and tarnish the image of Islam. God and the holy prophet do not preach violence and hatred in the name of celebrations. It is time Muslims realised that Islam believes in simplicity and peace. It does not allow Muslims to cause violence in the name of love of prophet pbuh.

URL:   https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/communal-tensions-eid-milad-nabi-india/d/128163

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