Terror
in the name of Islam: what purpose does it serve? (Comment)
By Sarwar Kashani
Indo-Asian News
Service
Perpetrators
behind the recent terror attacks in major Indian cities -
including Saturday's Delhi bombings that left at least 20
dead and scores injured - are still shrouded in mystery. But
the needle of suspicion is pointing towards groups with Muslim
names. And if they are indeed to blame, we need to ask what
purpose do such acts serve other than damaging the standing
of the community in whose name it's all being done.
Irrespective
of whether or not Muslims have a link to these dastardly attacks,
as a society we are again confronted with shame that a small
bunch of radicalised people acting in the name of faith carry
out crimes against innocents. Men and women hysterically screaming
for their dear ones who died in these terrible blasts should
be an indictment enough from a religious, moral and humanist
point of view.
On
Saturday, when Muslims observed Ramadan and Hindus were engrossed
in Ganesh Chaturthi, five bombs ripped through three market
places crowded with weekend shoppers in the national capital.
The intent was evident. Target innocents and scare the others.
Why
are you doing this? This is the question that requires answer
from those who do it purportedly in the name of Islam. With
whatever conviction they do it, all reasons fall flat in the
face of the death of an innocent. If it's really done to avenge
the Gujarat 2002 mayhem and the demolition of Babri Masjid,
why do they forget that Islam prohibits acts of vengeance
and shedding of innocent blood.
In
fact, the holy Quran teaches us to repel evil with good: "Those
who patiently persevere, seeking the countenance of their
Lord; establish regular prayers; spend out of (the gifts)
We (Allah) have bestowed for their sustenance, secretly and
openly; and turn off evil with good: for such there is the
final attainment of the (Eternal) Home." (verse 13:22)
If
it is true that the Indian Mujahideen - which claimed responsibility
for Saturday's mayhem - is indeed a Muslim outfit, they must
understand that nothing more can harm Islam and Muslims than
this act, which from all angles is anti-Islamic. The ultimate
debasement of human values inflicting agony on innocent people
cannot be justified on any count.
To
believe that such shameful acts will help rebuild the demolished
Babri Masjid, reverse what happened to innocent Muslims in
Gujarat or make India pack up from Jammu and Kashmir is nothing
but delusion harboured by corrupted and insane minds. Terror
does no good to anybody and states rarely cave in to terror.
Such
acts only shrink the space for Muslims in the entire world
and of course in India, where anybody with a Muslim name already
faces difficulties to find a house in cities. If the mindless
violence continues, time is not far when our expulsion becomes
inevitable, only because of a handful of extremist Muslims'
provocation.
And
the outfits which benefit from such situations will try to
cash in on it. Our country has no dearth of fanatics using
such violence for vote bank politics. It is time to wake up
before it gets too dark to see the light of truth.
(Sarwar
Kashani is with IANS and can be contacted at s.kashani@ians.in.
The views expressed are personal.)
Indo-Asian
News Service
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