By Syed Zubair Ahmad,
Prophet Muhammad says: ‘Those who are not thankful to the people are not thankful to God’. The Muslims who proclaim to be the believer of Quran and Hadith seem to have stopped practicing many virtues mentioned in the holy book and practised by the Prophet including being grateful to the people and God alike. Apart from developing many demerits they have also turned ungrateful lot. Neither have they any feelings for the suffering masses nor do they support who fight against the injustice and exploitation. They are indifferent to the sufferings of mankind; they are not concerned about the atrocities and injustice being faced by the humanity in general. Their pathetic and indifferent behavior doesn’t end here. They don’t even lend any kind of support to those who raise voice against those atrocities.
We have seen what happened after US-led attack on Iraq. While the oil rich Arab nations and their rulers were enjoying the luxuries peacefully, the European and Americans came out on the streets of Paris, London and New York in millions to protest against the attack on Iraq and Afghanistan.
Not only masses strongly protested against the US-led attack on Iraq but politicians, columnists, writers, university professors, Hollywood actors, singers, dancers, human right activists also came out on streets to protest against the American atrocities on Iraqi people. Such people are not only the proud of West but also the essence of humanity. The Muslim world must salute them.
Now coming to India, who are strongly fighting against the atrocities and injustice and exploitation being committed on Indian Muslims? Are they Muslim politicians, Muslim human right activists, Muslim police officers, Muslim journalists, Muslim writers or Muslim religious organizations? No. They are our Hindu brothers who are fighting against the atrocities and injustice being meted on Muslims. They are Hindu politicians, Hindu human right activists, Hindu Police officers, Hindu lawyers, Hindu journalists who are tirelessly fighting for the cause of Muslim community.How can the we forget the bravest and the most honest Hindu police officer Hemant Karkare who unearthed the terror network of Saffron Brigade and successfully removed the permanent terror tag from the face of Muslim community ! The 200 million Indian Muslims will be grateful to the honest Karkare forever . There are thousands of non-Muslims who are fighting against the injustice and atrocities being done to Muslims. There are Teesta Setalwad, Sanjiv Bhat, Mukul Sinha, Ashish Khetan, SR Darapuri,Kavita Krishnan, Harsh Mandar , Rajiv Yadav and Atul Kumar Anjan. These are a few names I have mentioned, we can find such Hindus in every village and city of India who oppose injustice and who are always ready to fight on behalf of Muslims. Muslims must salute them and be thankful to them.
How thankless Muslims have become can be seen on the street of Lucknow where the people attached with Rihai Manch are sitting on dharna for last 26 days. They have put mainly three demands to the UP government: (i) suspend and arrest police officers guilty of arresting and killing of Khalid Mujahid; (ii) take action as per the recommendations of RD Nimesh Commission; (iii) release the innocent Muslim youths falsely implicated in terror cases.
Shamefully, barring a few like Zafrul Islam Khan of Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat, SQR Ilyas of Welfare Party of India, Mohammad Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and Sharif Ahmed, Mohammad Suleman of Muslim League, no prominent Muslim leaders came up to support the indefinite dharna of Rihai Manch. The Maulanas of Nadwatul Ulema even didn’t think it right to support the people of Rihai Manch even verbally . No Firangli Mahli cleric came out of their Mahal, no Kalb came out from Farrash Khana in Lucknow. Neither Chacha (Fidae Millat…) bothered to support Rihai Manch nor Bhateeja (Qaede Millat…) uttered a single word in support of Rihai Manch. Neither Bukharis went there nor Naqshbandis and Raza Khans bothered to support them.
When Khalid Mujahid was killed in police custody on 18th May Muslims rightly condemned the Muslim political leaders for keeping silent on the custodial killing. But there is no condemnation or protest over the criminal silence of the Milli organizations and religious leaders who are mum over the killing of Khalid Mujahid.
Muslims have not made a permanent agreement with Samajwadi Party or any leader. Our support to any one should be issue based. If Modi bans liquor in Gujarat today, we must support him; likewise if Mulayam Singh justifies or gives lame excuse for the custodial death of Khalid Mujahid we must oppose him tooth and nail.
Muslims must salute justice loving Christians and Hindus. Muslims must be thankful to the organizations like Rihai Manch. They are the pride of India, they are the essence of humanity, they are silver lining in the dark cloud.
Christians and Hindus are playing their part by opposing injustice and atrocities meted on Muslims all over the world. Are the Muslims playing their part by protesting against the injustices and atrocities committed on non-Muslims in any part of Muslim world? Did Muslims ever protest against the atrocities on Dalits and Tribals?
Fighting against injustice no matter who are the sufferers is among the basic teachings of Islam.
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