We live in a world of curious euphemisms. There are things we want to say at times but cannot. So we say them in different ways.
For instance, whenever we say Pakistan, what we really mean is Muslim. When we say Pakistan is behind something, what we actually mean is: These Muslims are behind it. But since it%u2019s still politically incorrect to blame an entire community, and a minority one at that, we blame it on Pakistan. Pakistan , to the average Indian, incorrectly I dare say, represents all that is wrong with Islam. Every time we blame Pakistan, we are actually blaming Muslims.
For we, or at least a very large section among us, are veering around to the belief that a secular India is not a place for Muslims- for Muslims owe allegiance, first and foremost to Islam, not to any nation.
While this may not be entirely true, as I know many Muslims who swear by India and secularism just as I know many Arabs who swear by Palestine, not Islam, the truth is also that, worldwide, Muslims appear to be firming up in their belief that their faith is more important than their nationality. That Allah is more important than India or UK or Saudi Arabia. We read about this daily. We watch it on TV.
As a result, even the most secular among us recognise that a new brotherhood of Islam is growing so rapidly-cutting across nations, cultures, financial communities-that very soon the world will be split between those who live by Islam and those who don%u2019t.
Just as, barely three decades ago, the world was split between those who believed in Communism and those who did not. Funnily, there was a time when Muslims hated the Communists most-for being Godless. Today, they occupy the very space that Communism has vacated. With just one crucial difference: Allah is at the centre of their universe.
Another euphemism we live with is terrorism. What we call terrorism today is actually any bloody and ghastly crime that cannot be explained. A terrorist is a person who kills others, in a flamboyant, random manner, for reasons that cannot be explained away by emotions like greed, lust, anger. The terrorist does not kill to inherit property-he inherits the Kingdom of God.
RE:4 Muslims, first and foremost is Islam, not to any nation
by Chanakya on Apr 11, 2007 06:38 PM Permalink
A person can multiple identities depending on which nation, caste, community, region, religion or even profession he belongs to. So a person can be a lawyer, Punjabi, Hindu, Indian and Khatri at the same time. But depending on the context he uses a particular identity.
Muslims somehow do not suffer from so many identities. Theirs is more homogeneous and monolithic society.
But there is a downside to that too. Nation states are still going strong, although people are predicting that Globalization will remove the concept of nation state finally. One of the numerous characteristics of a nation state is that people identify themselves with a geographical land mass. So at international level you may identify yourself as an Indian or Chinese or Japanese. Then what do you do at national level? You derive your identity from the region you originally come from. You call yourself a Punjabi, Bengali or Gujarati.
The problem with the Muslim community is that they do not identify themselves with the region they have been staying for hundreds of years. I have noticed that problem across India - from UP to Gujarat to Bengal to Karnataka to Tamil Nadu. I thought that might be a reaction to the so called "discrimination" that the so called secularists keep shouting about.
I visited a an African nation with a huge population of Indian origin. I met many people of Indian origin there. All of them acknowledged the fact that they were of Indian origin, although the migration might have happened three or four generations back. There was a Muslim in our group whose forefathers were also originally from India. He never - and quite deliberately so - used to acknowledge his Indian origins. During my stay I came across a few more Muslims of Indian origin there. Same problem!
I am not in position to comment whether placing religious identity ahead of all other identities is a wrong thing to do. But that is not really in sync with the values that our present day societies appreciate.
RE:4 Muslims, first and foremost is Islam, not to any nation
by Aman A on Apr 11, 2007 05:49 PM Permalink
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/OPINION/Editorial/LEADER_ARTICLE_Minority_Matters/articleshow/1887781.cms
RE:4 Muslims, first and foremost is Islam, not to any nation
by Sasi Kumar on Apr 11, 2007 05:58 PM Permalink
I disagree. Terrorists don't inherit any kingdom. They just kill, and die. There is nothing called "Kingdom of God".
RE:4 Muslims, first and foremost is Islam, not to any nation
by Ahimsa on Apr 11, 2007 07:28 PM Permalink
Terrorism comes from Quran. Read the fllowing verses, cross check in google if required.
Oh ye who believe! Murder those of the disbelievers and let them find harshness in you. (Repentance: 123)
Allah is an enemy to unbelievers. ( The Cow: 15 )
"Humiliate the non-Muslims to such an extent that they surrender and pay tribute." ( Repentance IX: 29 )
"Then, when the sacred months are drawn away, slay the idolaters (The non-Muslims) wherever you find them, and take them, and confine them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush" (Repentance, IX: 5)
"They (unbelievers) are Satan's party they are the losers.... Those (the Muslims) are God's party....they are the prosperers." (LVIII The Disputer: 20)
Whether you agree or disagree, violence has been committed in India and being committed now to on the basis of the above Quranic Verses.
