By Anwarulhaq Baig
New Delhi: Stressing the significance of interfaith dialogue and social engagement in India’s diverse society, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Secretary General T. Arif Ali has asked Muslims to engage with all communities, and given a call to Muslim organizations to establish ‘Sadbhawna Manch’ (Harmony Forums) across the country.
He made this appeal while speaking at a programme on “The role of the Muslim community in restoring communal harmony” at the JIH headquarters here recently. JIH is one of the leading socio-religious organizations of Indian Muslims.
Underlining the need for fostering brotherhood and understanding among diverse communities in India, particularly at a time when communal tensions have risen in different parts of the country, he asked Muslims to actively participate in broader social issues and build relationships across religious lines with other citizens.
Stating that “Islam is a complete integrated movement,” and “promotes brotherhood in a plural society”, he pointed out that “Islam’s message of communal harmony is not a strategy for survival but an integral part of Islamic teachings.”
“Brotherhood is the soul and spirit of Islamic social philosophy,” he highlighted.
“We must understand that communal amity is not just our strategy because we are oppressed. Rather, this is the essence of Islam. If Islamic governance, according to Allah’s command, is established, there will be brotherhood and a harmonious atmosphere because Islam is a complete integrated movement,” he remarked.
Giving practical advice for Muslims living in a multi-religious society like India, Mr Arif Ali encouraged the community to build relationships with people of all faiths.
Asking Muslims to address the issues of all communities, not just the Muslim one, the JIH leader stated, “Islam teaches us how to live in a plural society, how to fulfill our responsibilities, and how to relate to all members of the community. If Islam doesn’t teach us this, how can it be called a complete and comprehensive movement? Therefore, we must learn from teachings of the Quran, Hadith, and Sunnah and adopt strategies that promote relationship-building,” he suggested.
Criticizing the tendency of some Muslims and organizations to focus solely on Muslim issues, he suggested that Muslims should fight not for Muslim issues alone but for the issues and problems of people belonging to all communities. Beneficiaries of our programmes should be from different communities, not from the Muslim community alone.
Call for broader engagement: Establishing Sadbhavna Manch
The JIH leader, Mr. Arif Ali, urged Muslim community organizations to create “Sadbhavna Manch” (Harmony Forums) nationwide to promote interfaith dialogue and cooperation. He emphasized that these forums should foster a positive and peaceful atmosphere where individuals from diverse faiths can come together to discuss shared values and address differences respectfully.
Mr. Ali envisioned a space that encourages open expression of beliefs while working collaboratively towards common goals, highlighting the importance of mutual understanding and respect in building a harmonious society.
Cow vigilantes kill Aryan Mishra
Mr. Arif Ali recounted the tragic incident of the killing of Aryan Mishra, a 12th-grade student from Faridabad. The vigilantes, led by Anil Kaushik, chased Mishra’s car for 30 kilometers before fatally shooting him near a toll booth. Later, accused Kaushik told the police that they believed the victims were Muslim cattle smugglers. Mr. Ali noted, “When the victim’s father, Siyanand Mishra, met Kaushik in police custody, the accused fell at his feet, and what he said is noteworthy. Expressing remorse, Kaushik said, ‘By mistake, I killed a Brahmin, and killing a Brahmin is a sin.’”
Pointing out a disturbing aspect of the case, the JIH leader lamented that Kaushik’s remorse was not for taking a human life, but specifically for killing a member of his own caste. “If it’s a Muslim, Christian, or Dalit, killing them is not a sin, but killing a Brahmin is a sin,” Mr. Ali remarked, highlighting the dangerous mentality being propagated in Indian society, where the value of human life is determined by caste or religious identity.
“According to this mentality, only two things need to be protected: Brahmins and cows. Everything else is expendable,” he added.
Quoting the famous Urdu poet Rahat Indori, he warned, “Lagegi aag to aayenge ghar kai zad mein, yahan pe sirf hamara makaan thodi hai” (If a fire breaks out, many houses will be affected, not just ours). He emphasized that the atmosphere of discord threatens all communities, not just minorities.
The JIH Secretary General highlighted two contrasting responses from Aryan’s parents. The father questioned, “How did Modi or the Haryana government give anyone the responsibility to take the law into their own hands? Even if they were cow smugglers, how did cow vigilantes feel they had the authority to kill them?” Whereas, his mother, Uma, asked a poignant question: “If they killed my son thinking he was a Muslim, would a Muslim be killed? Are Muslims not our brothers? Are they not human?”
Mr. Arif Ali stressed that Uma’s question resonates with a large portion of India’s population who still consider Muslims their brothers despite the rising communal atmosphere. He pointed out, “This is not just Uma’s, it reflects a sentiment among a significant portion of India: Are Muslims not their brothers?”
He urged the Muslim community to strengthen these positive sentiments and work towards changing negative perceptions.
Islamic teachings about human dignity and diversity
Speaking about Islamic principles regarding human dignity and diversity, the JIH secretary general pointed out that every individual is respectable and worthy of honour simply by virtue of being human because Allah has made humans in the best form.
He also highlighted the Islamic perspective on diversity, explaining that differences in language, culture, and structures are part of Allah’s design.
Muslim Ummah and its responsibility regarding communal amity
Discussing the responsibility of the Muslim community in establishing communal harmony and amity in society, the JIH leader said that Muslims were not a ‘qaum’ but an Ummah with a clear vision and mission.
Quoting Quranic verses, he said that the basic duty of the Muslim Ummah is to invite people towards good and forbid people from evil as per Quranic teachings.
Stressing the importance of maintaining a healthy atmosphere for interfaith dialogue, Mr. Arif Ali said, “It is our responsibility to convey the message of Islam among people through logical debate.”
Diminishing space for interfaith dialogue in India
The JIH leader, however, expressed concern over the diminishing space for such dialogues in India, warning that a lack of such atmosphere could lead to a “closed and narrow society.”
He said, “If anyone wants to discuss any matter with us, this environment for logical debate should exist in every society, and we should strive to maintain it. If such an environment disappears, breathing becomes difficult.”
He urged for an environment where everyone can freely express his or her thoughts and beliefs. Emphasizing the need for peaceful coexistence, he called for mutual respect and love among all Indian citizens, regardless of their religious background.
Addressing Misconceptions, Isolation, and Ghettoization
Warning against the dangers of “ghettoization” that leads to marginalization, he said that similar marginalization occurred against Jews. Giving an example, he said that when a train caught fire in Kerala, a boy from Shahin Bagh in Delhi travelling in that train was detained and held responsible for it. He was called a terrorist.
“Marginalizing a community in one area and spreading enmity against them ultimately presents them as societal outcasts. All this is happening in India,” he laments.
He urged Muslims to actively work against this trend by engaging with broader society and demonstrating the true teachings of Islam through good character and actions.
