shouting provocative slogans. Predictably, the situation escalated to
the extent of causing Hindu-Muslim riots. People suffered greatly in
terms of the loss of life and property.
This reaction on the part of theMuslims was a wholly communal
one, and had nothing to do with Islam. Had these Muslims been
truly religious, they would have remembered that when the Prophet
of Islam started the mission of monotheism in 610 AD, there were
several hundreds of idols in the Kabah, but the Prophet was not
provoked by this, and continued to call people, peacefully, to accept
the message of monotheism.
In such a case, bearing in mind this example set by the Prophet,
Muslims should refrain from being provoked by such baseless
speeches, and should simply ignore them. They should rather take it
as an opportunity to convey to people the message of Islam, just as
the Prophet did.
This is an example which shows how present-day Muslims
are engaged in non-prophetic activities, ostensibly in the name of
following the way of the Prophet. They launch such movements in
the name of Islam, as have nothing to do with Islam. Such Muslims
must learn that the matter is not going to end in this world itself.
They will be questioned in the Hereafter as to how they invented a
religion which God had not revealed to His Prophet.
Violent agitation is, without doubt, against the spirit of Islam.
Its instigators are never going to receive God’s blessings for such
action.. This is the reason why such agitations in present times only
aggravate bad situations rather than improve them.
The People of Kashmir on the Day of Resurrection
During one of my journeys to Kashmir I came to know of a
significant incident concerning oneMirzaMohdAzam, who worked
as a forester in Jammu. It is as follows: whenever he went home after
his day’s work (See
Al Risala
, July, 1978) he would take some sweets or
other eatables for his children. One day in September 1975, for some
reason, he reached home without taking anything for his children.
As usual, the children gathered around him when he arrived. When
they did not receive anything from their father, one of his children,
a 6-year old called Arshad Mahmud Tariq, said in his local dialect:
“Agar tusan asan waste kujh ni anda phir tus kumhane waste aaye?”
(If you did not bring anything for us, why did you come here?) The
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The Dawn Over Kashmir
