How Literature, Writers, and the Arts Can Help Fight Extremism
By
Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam
26 August
2023
Writers
and Poets Must Emulate Sufism, Promoting Peace and Harmony
Main
Points:
1. Extremism is
increasing globally. Preventing extremism is crucial, as we are surrounded by
deadly scientific weapons and have a responsibility to contribute to its
prevention.
2. NewageIslam.com
promotes peace theology and de-radicalization.
3. Extremism
involves denying others' opinions, blindly imposing beliefs, abandoning human
decency, coercive exploitation, and hindering human progress.
4. Terrorism
and extremism require authors and artists to promote human values through
literature, TV, radio, and discussions, preventing conflicts and promoting
diversity.
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Everyone is
aware that extremism is increasing in the modern world, despite the fact that
it ought to have decreased along with advances in science and culture. Today,
conferences and seminars are held all over the world to combat extremism, which
is quite welcome. Books are created, and publications like newspapers and
journals publish articles and columns. I believe that NewageIslam.com is the
best place to spread peace theology and actively work towards de-radicalizing
people. It seems as though the entire human race has come to the realisation
that preventing extremism has never been more important than it is right now.
Today, everyone is aware that they are surrounded by deadly and devastating
scientific weapons and that merely a single spark from any direction has the
power to wipe out all of humanity. Therefore, each of us has a responsibility
to play a part in preventing it in light of these grave concerns.
More people
need to be aware of the harm that extremism—individually or as a group, locally
or regionally, internationally or nationally—causes to humanity. In order to
live peaceably in this world and achieve salvation in the hereafter, man
should, therefore, adopt a moderate attitude towards settling his worries,
behave with compassion and forgiveness, and give up the road of extremism.
We shall
first understand what extremism is. How does this upset the global system? How
does extremism affect human society? What ill effects does extremism have on society?
After that, we will talk about how literature and writers can combat extremism.
Extremism
involves adopting extreme behaviour or opinions, often used in political or
religious contexts, denying others' opinions while maintaining one's own,
blindly imposing beliefs, abandoning human decency, coercive exploitation,
hindering human progress, and negatively impacting others' finances and quality
of life. It is responsible for conflicts, wars, killings, and massacres
worldwide, including the murder of Hazrat Adam's son Haabeel, the Karbala
incident, the Crusades, and various battles in the 21st century. The
destructive repercussions of extremism are evident worldwide.
Who would
contest the fact that extremism fosters international and intra-national conflict,
which inevitably leads to the extinction of mankind, noblesse oblige, and
civilizations as we know them? Which region of the world has become peaceful
and is characterised by a strong sense of community and fraternity? This
extremism is pervasive. The adherents of all religions have adopted extremist
behaviour. The dominant people are about to choke the other. Every strong group
is working to eliminate the weak ones. Every strong country is determined to
destroy the others. It seems as though fanaticism has torn apart the bond of
humanity and capsized the raft of civilization. All of this was brought on by
extremism. Until the human race upholds the golden rule of "live and let
live," the dream of making the world a cradle of peace and a centre of
civilisation cannot come true.
Let's now
discuss literature, writers, and the arts and how they might contribute to the
fight against extremism. Writers and artists are very kind and sensitive
people. In light of the shifting circumstances, they not only recognise them
but also light the candles of love and affection with fresh perspectives. They
join the group of heartbroken people. To turn people away from extremism, they
promote moderation.
The
importance of literature and writers to the struggle against extremism can be
summed up by the adage "feet of the people of the pen who create world
literature remain on their earth while the fingers and pen are touching the
heights and expanses of the sky." Literature and writers are essential to
transforming extremism into moderation and building a peaceful, harmonious
society. The writers shed light on the perilous paths of human existence with
the help of their pens.
Literature
is not only a label for imaginative frivolity; rather, it’s true use is to
advance humanity and transform society. The appeal of literature and the
creative arts is actually the establishment of ethical principles, spiritual
tranquillity, beauty, and a harmonious society. The most significant and
influential role in fostering a world that is peaceful, balanced, civilised,
and welfare-oriented belongs to authors and poets. The lifeblood of society is
its writers and poets. A writer, poet, or artist is like a flame that burns
itself out while also illuminating others.
The
literature that writers and artists create with their talent and passion is a
source of love, peace, and brotherhood. Hatreds end and love deepens with the
aid of literature and the arts. Through literature, society is installed with
high moral standards. Literature teaches good manners, modesty, and a noble
attitude to people. Writers consider humans to be a component of one another.
Today, in
the context of the entire world, acts of terrorism and extremism take place on
a daily basis somewhere. In order to overcome these difficulties, authors and
artists must completely exercise their responsibilities. It is the
responsibility of writers and artists to emphasise human values and inform the
public about the necessity of spreading humanity and human values through
fiction, essays, and lyrical works as well as through TV and radio productions
and discussions. Instead of promoting the agenda of hatred on television
focusing on one-sided extremism, writers and poets must provide intellectual,
moral, character-building, training, and resistance literature against
oppressors. Give this work the proper space and importance in order to
understand social and political consciousness, prevent class conflicts and
extremism, and promote religious, regional, ethnic, and linguistic unity in
diversity.
What type
of literature would there be if there was no literature that connected the
bitter and sweet tastes of the past and present with human life and ambitions
for the future? Our eyes are filled with blood today as we hear the tragic
tales of the thousands of families who worldwide are victims of terrorism and
extremism. Is it not the duty of today's writers and artists to lessen the pain
of these defenceless people?
Given that
we are currently trapped in a vortex of extremism, the clouds of dreadful
terrorism are also casting a terrible shadow over the entire planet. In this
situation, wonderful literature and beautiful art can disseminate the colour of
beauty and foster peaceful community development. With the help of poets and
authors like Hazrat Khawaja Mu'in al-Din Chishti, Baba Farid, Baba Kuhi of
Shiraz, Baba Shemin, Sheikh Saadi, Hazrat Amir Khusrau, Hafiz Shirazi, Shah
Abdul Latif Bhittai and Bulleh Shah etc, humanity was filled with pearls
plucked from the sea of mysticism and Sufism, and for centuries, human society
served as a haven for peace and harmony. Writers and poets of today must
relight the same lamp.
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Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a
regular columnist for New Age Islam.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-society/literature-writers-arts-fight-extremism/d/130529