Shia-Sunni Discord During Muharram in Kashmir Valley
By Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New Age Islam
9 August 2024
But The Contemporary Ahle Hadith And Deobandis Take
Mu’awiya As Exemplary Sahabi, And Try To Uphold His Status Similar To That Of
Imam Ali (AS) And Others, Which Is A Grave Injustice To Both Personalities And
Islam Too.
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Muslims mostly believe in conspiracy
theories, and on the arrival on Mehdi, whom they think will change everything
positively for them. Each sect among Muslims has their own understanding and
interpretation of Mehdi, and how he will help them triumph over other sects.
Leaving the Mehdi debate aside, Muharram (2024) in Kashmir brought forth the
ugly Shia-Sunni sectarianism. Shias being a minority in Kashmir did not depict
their aggressive stance as they would in Syria and Iraq, where the persecution
of Sunnis at the hands of Shia gangs and violent groups is an open secret.
Sunnis mostly were aggressive particularly
the Ahle Hadith and Deobandi sect, who tried to describe themselves as vanguard
of honour of Sahabas (companions of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), whereas the Shias
stand for the love of Ahle Bayt (family of Prophet Muhammad particularly
through his daughter Fatima (RA). Sunnis also uphold the love for Ahle Bayt but
many among them start praising Banu Ummayah led by Mu’awiya, who was the first
king in Islam not a Caliph. It is in the stature of Mu’awiya and Imam Ali (AS),
that the current roots of discord lie and this tussle of granting the status of
Sahaba to Mu’awiya is where the contention really lies. Shias do not consider
Mu’awiya as a Sahabi, but his whole family as hypocrites. Everyone however has
a consensus over the fact that Mu’awiya’s rule was not caliphate but kingship
and he like any other ruler threw the fundamentals of Islam and morality to
winds. This fact has been established but most Sunni Ulema turn a blind eye to
these facts, but there are certain exceptions like Maulana Salman Nadwi in
India and Engineer Mohammad Ali Mirza and Late Maulana Ishaq in Pakistan.
In our contemporary era, these debates are
futile except for the Shia and Sunni mullahs who benefit from this historic
tussle immensely. This tussle has no relevance today, although the reality has
been accepted by all that Imam Ali (AS) was the real Caliph and Mu’awiya a
rebel leader, who destroyed the unity of Muslims and then usurped the power
while becoming a king further destroyed the real political vestige of Islam.
However, during Muharram as the Shias were mourning the massacre of Ahle Bayt
in Karbala at the hands of Yazeed, son of Mu’awiya, many mullahs of Deoband and
Ahle Hadith sect began to sing praises of Mu’awiya camouflaging and concealing
it with the Azmat e Suhaba
(Greatness of Companions of Prophet). It was done to provoke the emotional yet
illiterate masses, while confusing them in the name, honour and greatness of Sahabas.
According to Ahle Sunnah doctrine Sahabas are not a monolith, there is a broad
definition about Sahabas, but then there are categories among them. Mu’awiya
and his family falls in the last category who accepted Islam after the fall of
Mecca. They accepted Islam as the last resort because they would otherwise be
slayed. It can be simply concluded that they were subdued due to sword as part
of the Principle of Itmaam e Hujjat.
But the contemporary Ahle Hadith and Deobandis take Mu’awiya as exemplary Sahabi,
and try to uphold his status similar to that of Imam Ali (AS) and others, which
is a grave injustice to both personalities and Islam too.
Delivering sermons and making them viral
over social media about Mu’awiya in Muharram is provocative as it was his
system that led to the massacre in Karbala. It was a result of such
provocations that in Shaheed Gunj area of Srinagar, few Shia households were
attacked by sectarian elements who also chanted slogans like Kafir Kafir Shia Kafir. Now, the
conspiracy theory making rounds is that some hidden hands and nefarious
interests are behind it, while forgetting the role of few fringe Sunni mullahs.
The local police had to intervene to maintain calm, otherwise the situation
would have turned much more violent.
Later on, some mullahs appealed for Peace
and unity that again appeared to be farce because there are grounds to be
established on which unity can be forged, otherwise it will be superficial.
Unless and until the sectarian mullahs do not consider praying behind each
other as valid and marrying between the sects as preferable till then all such
statements of unity will be farce. They may appear to have a soothing timely
impact to contain the issue, but the real contentious issue will remain as it
is. Brushing the division under the carpet may lead us to believe that
everything is fine, however in reality the problem will remain lurking.
The practical steps certainly will be the
lived realities that need to be changed by implementing actions like praying
behind each other and marrying in the other sect. Only these steps will help
develop permanent harmony whereas the statements are just a mere lip service,
that will never help overcome the sectarian strife prevalent among Muslims of
Kashmir. These statements are issued by the Ulema more for the purpose of
maintaining their relevance among the masses, rather than for overcoming
sectarianism.
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M.H.A.
Sikander is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-sectarianism/shia-sunni-discord-muharram-kashmir-valley/d/132899