Agar firdaus bar rue zamin ast
Hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin ast
(If there is Paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here.)
This couplet is not applicable in the sense of Kashmir being an
actual paradise. However, it is right in another sense, that is, that
nature has provided a point of reference in the form of Kashmir, by
which one can have an idea of what Paradise is like and work towards
being held deserving of Paradise in the Afterlife.
The Quran tells us that whenever the people of Paradise are
given fruit to eat, they will say, ‘This is what we were provided with
before’, i.e. they had been given similar things in the world. (2:25)
The present world, in its creation, is an introduction to Paradise
(47:6). The world of Paradise is a perfect world, and the present
world, although like Paradise, is an imperfect world. This is true for
the entire planet earth. However, there are some places on earth
which are outstanding in their similarity to Paradise. These places
remind us of Paradise more than others. One of these places is,
without doubt, the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir is aptly
called
Jannat Nazeer
(similar to Paradise)
When anyone whose consciousness of Paradise is alive sees
the beautiful scenes of Kashmir he will exclaim: “O God, you have
shown me a scene of temporary Paradise, now let me enter into
eternal Paradise.” In this respect, Kashmir, without doubt, is a great
point of reference. On seeing Kashmir, an aware person can say a
prayer which is called in the hadith praying with Ism-e-Azam, that
is, with the great name of God.
But for such a prayer, a favourable environment is necessary.
In an environment of hatred and violence, such divine prayer will
not pour out of one’s lips. Launching a violent movement based on
hatred amounts to depriving the people of Kashmir of this great
blessing.
In an environment of hatred and violence, only curses and bad
language will fall from one’s lips, and certainly not divine words. In
such an environment people’s minds will become a jungle of negative
thoughts, whereas for noble spiritual prayer to be said, it is essential
for a man’s mind to be full of positive thoughts.
According to the Quran, Paradise is an abode of peace in the
full sense of the word (10:25). Paradise -- a garden of peace culture
– has no room for lovers of violence. Violence by its very nature is
The Lesson of the Spring
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