January 3rd 2021
This blog is inspired by Imam Aly Lela’s khutba on Friday, January 1st, 2021.
Last year was one of the most difficult years for Muslims in India. After the re-election of Narendar Modi in 2019, things have gone from bad to worse. The list of grievances is long: the revocation of article 370 for Kashmir (with the jailing of all the civil and political leaders and total curfew and blackout of the Internet for months), the passing of the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act, which can potentially revoke citizenship of millions of Indian Muslims, putting them at risk of being placed in the detention centers), the Babri masjid verdict by the Supreme Court of India (while agreeing that there was no temple where the mosque was built in sixteenth century and decrying the destruction of the mosque, its verdict was to hand over the property to a Trust created by the government to build a temple, basically favoring the demolishers of the mosque and opening the way for court verdicts based on majority sentiments rather than law of the land and justice), the Delhi riots and police brutality against Muslims (there is nothing new here, this has been going on since partition, but now it is happening as the world watches), blaming Muslims for the Corona virus (Corona Jihad, identifying Muslims as a bad omen for India, as aliens who don’t belong there), the jailing of Muslim and other human rights activists (not to mention immense intimidation and threats), the passing of Love Jihad laws in BJP states to harass Muslims (any Muslim man can be targeted by any non-Muslim woman and can be put in jail for years, a great tool for law enforcement to specifically harass Muslim men), the hijacking of the celebration of Aligarh Muslim University’s 100th year anniversary by Modi to humiliate Muslims and to fool the world, specifically the Muslim world about India’s secular credentials. All of this follows beef lynching and other instruments of harassments that were employed before 2020.
Just by reading this list, one would become despondent and lose hope in the future of Indian society in general and Muslims in particular. If not already, Muslims in India are very close to becoming second-class citizens in their own country. Their life, property and dignity are at the mercy of Hindutva hooligans. India’s secular constitution is worthless against the BJP majority in parliament and Hindutva influenced judiciary at all levels up to and including the Supreme Court. In 2020, personally, I lost few very close friends to Hindutva. Where could anyone find hope in this?
As a Muslim, I always find hope in Allah SWT. I find hope in His infinite Mercy and Justice. I find hope in His full and complete control of all our affairs and their outcomes. I find hope in the saying of the Prophet SA that ‘mayoosi is kufr’ (hopelessness is disbelief). I find hope in all peace loving Indians of all faiths who are struggling to keep secular. I also find hope in the resourcefulness of Indian Muslims, who are steadfast in their effort to keep India a pluralistic and just society that treats all its citizens equally. I find hope that Muslims are more aware of the plight of others in Indian society, mainly of Dalits and other non-upper castes and OBCs, and want to work together with them for their rights. I find hope that Muslims are part of the groups helping Indian farmers in their right to protest against unjust bills, which will adversely affect their livelihood. I find hope in Indian Muslim Youth helping everybody in times of natural disasters, whether it is covered by Indian Media (mostly sympathetic to Hindutva, and in the forefront of demonizing Muslim citizens) or not. I see hope in Allama Iqbal’s famous couplet.
nahi hai na umeed iqbal apni kasht e veeran say
zara nam ho tu ye miti bari zarkhez ha saqi
I find hope in people of all faiths coming together to fight against Hindutva here in the USA. I find hope in advocacy organizations all over the world, including America, raising their voice for the plight of minorities in India. I find hope in Indian American youth of all persuasion and faith denouncing Hindutva and worrying about losing the pluralistic & democratic India and sometimes reminding their Hindutva leaning parents about their cognitive dissonance of demanding & expecting equal rights for themselves as a minority in this country (USA) while cheering for the denial of the same to minorities in India. I find hope in Western media which has finally taken notice of what’s going on in India under Modi and have published front-page stories on this topic. I find hope in the fact that the US Congress is paying attention to the human rights situation in India. I find hope in US bureaucrats who are better educated about ground realities in the largest democracy in the world.
In Surah Mulk, Allah SWT makes it clear that Authority/Mulk belongs to Him but He expects us to do our part. Life is a test and we are required to put our best effort against all the odds, and be hopeful without worrying about results. I think that's where I have failed. I have focused on what’s not in my control and versus what’s in my control. What’s in my control is to use my God given capability of intelligence, time, money, speech, and words for a just cause. I intend to do better in 2021, inshaAllah.
I believe in the dignity of all human beings (Quran 17:70) and hence believe that everyone has the right to dignity and security of their life and property. I resolve that I will never return hate with hate. I will return Hindutva hate with education and advocacy. I will support oppressed people no matter where and what faith they belong to. I will work with anybody and everybody who will support this just cause. I resolve that I will put whatever meager resources I have for this cause, not forgetting that my time and my prayers are the most important resources. I understand that I have means which others don’t and hence I have a greater responsibility. The journey ahead is long and arduous and I will follow the guidance in the Holy Quran in my behavior while dealing with friends and foes alike.
To end, here are my principles of engagement for 2021:
On perseverance
On charity
On justice and righteousness
On respecting those of all faiths
On truth
On humility
On patience
