Strengthening Tolerance, Religious Harmony, and Brotherhood in India

By Shaukat Sahil, Tr. New Age Islam

Translated from Urdu by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam

17 February 2024

Religious Harmony and Society's Intolerant Trends

Main Points

1.    Religious harmony, which has become a taboo subject, is exploited by sinister elements.

2.    Importance of intellectual classes' prioritization in reversing intolerance.

3.    Need for brotherhood, love, affection, harmony, tolerance, and peace for community and country flourishing.

4.    Kashmir Valley Residents' Unity Despite Differences.

5.    Undermining Kashmir's rich history of Hindu-Muslim Sikh unity will fail.

6.    Sufi Saints and Rishis provided advice on maintaining religious tolerance and concord.

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Since its founding, Islam has been a significant force in promoting religious harmony globally. Its teachings have been emphasized in discussions of religious harmony, with the great Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) being seen as a prime example. His actions, as portrayed in Swami Laxman Parshad's book "Arab Kaa Chaand [The Moon of Arab]," serve as a testament to this. Other religions have also guided living in peace and love.

However, some bad forces—who have nothing to do with religion—are determined to destroy world peace. As a result, society has not only begun to drift towards intolerance but has also suffered from increased intergroup conflict.

Since religious harmony has become a taboo subject in our society that no one wants to discuss, sinister elements are taking advantage of it. Therefore, it is imperative that all intellectual classes—including educators, researchers, Ulama, and law-abiding citizens—prioritize this effort and contribute fully to reversing the trend of intolerance in society. For a community and a country to flourish, there must be brotherhood, love, affection, harmony, tolerance, and peace among its residents of all races, religions, and creeds.

Residents of Kashmir Valley also come from a variety of backgrounds and are united in their love and brotherhood despite their differences in religion, creed, and caste. It is also true that Sufi Saints and Rishis periodically offered advice on how to preserve the lovely balance between religious tolerance and concord as well as how to keep the spirit of brotherhood among all people.

The shrine of Hazrat Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom at the base of Koh-i-Maran [aka Hari Parbat] in Srinagar, as well as the temple and Gurdwara behind it, are a living example of this centuries-old tradition of brotherhood and religious harmony. Here, one can hear the sound of the temple bell, the Gurdwara Kirtan, and the Azaan of the mosque next to Makhdoom Sahib.

This place is a centre of pilgrimage for the Muslim community as well as for members of other faiths who come to realise their desires. Their exquisite gathering exemplifies centuries of religious tolerance, harmony, and peace.

When a local Muslim who has been maintaining the temple for the past thirty years opened the doors, a beautiful symbol of religious harmony bloomed even more. The temple welcomes all visitors, regardless of their caste, religion, or background. The Sikh population residing in the valley is a significant contributor to the centuries-old fraternity and communal harmony that exists here, in addition to the Hindu-Muslim community.

Not only do members of the Sikh community frequent the Gurudwara Chatti Patshahi for Kirtan in the morning and evening, but members of the Muslim and Hindu communities also often attend.

Since Kashmir has always been the birthplace of Hindu-Muslim-Sikh unity, attempts to undermine its traditions of religious tolerance and harmony will ultimately fail. The strong bonds of brotherhood, harmony, and religious tolerance in the Kashmir Valley have not been impacted by any unfavourable circumstances or other crises, and they cannot be in the future.

 

Urdu Article:  بھائی چارہ، مذہبی ہم آہنگی اوررواداری

 

URL:     https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/tolerance-religious-harmony-brotherhood-india/d/131742

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