Friday, April 4, 2008

Need for change in Muslim mindeset:an Article

LAAL MASJID MINDSET
By
Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi

Pakistani government at last gathered courage to bombard the ill-famed Laal Masjid and arrested and killed those who had coined untrue justifications for violent means for serving the religious interests.It is quite untrue that the Laal Masjid inmates were an isolated lot. This is now a known fact that these propogators of violence in the name of religion were having full support of the so-called Jehadi organisations and the majority of the clerics in Pakistan and outside. Pakistan is a labeled Islamic country but its social and political standing of the last six decades proves it contrary to its labeled claim.It has established as a terror sponsoring country selling the Laal Masjid mentality to the rest of the world in the name of Islam.Islam means peace but the country which claims to be the Islamic Republic has emerged as the hub of the violence production centers.The Jehads of the great Prophet (PBUH) were only to stop agression from the enemies and establish peace.But Pakistan has become the strong exploiter of the pious concept of Jehad and has spread venom around the world in the name of this holy war and lastly has fell prey to it.
To me Laal Masjid is not a structure housing some mislesd people but a mindset that has been inculcated among a large section of muslims throughout the world.Myself being a proud muslim,feel ashamed of such mindset which has projected a very horrible image of Islam and muslims all over the world.It is not because of anti-Islamic intrigues that the image if muslims and their religion is projected negatively but because of muslims who allowed Laal Masjid mindset to be associated with Islam.I am of the firm belief that such muslims who carry the weapons in hand to attack have no right to call themselves muslims.a muslim can never be an attacker or aggressor.
Since that cleaning operation, I have been deeply pondering on the immidiate reaction that came out of my mind when I heard Musharaf boosting of eliminating the evil gang and again warning the supporters of violence in the name of religion with dire consequences.I feel fear with the groung realities at home where a mission of turning whole Jammu & Kashmir into a Laal Masjid is on. I find sufficient reasons at social,political and religious levels which can lead us to such awesome situations.With the help of Pakistan's Violence-Shops and ambassadors of destruction,attempts are on to convert the innocent minds of Kashmiris into Laal Masjids. This anti-Islamic movement in the name of Islam is operational at many levels.Mis-information about whole of the world affairs and the mis-representation and mis-interpretation of religious teachings are used as tools.Talking loudly about the peace and then supporting the violence and the killings in the name of religion was prevelent in the era of "Jahiliya" in Arabia before the great Prophet(PBUH) came to end this attitude.Isn't the same attitude of the religious,social and political leaders seen in Kashmir?I as a true muslim,and the daughter of the soil cannot be a silent watcher and allow my youth to be buried in graveyards.So I find it obligatory to vehemently oppose our political and religious shopkeepers and stop them from erecting the unpious Laal Masjids in the minds of the youth.We are indebted to the Hazrat Sheikh Nooruddin (Nund Reshi)for making us understand the meaning of Islam in the right perespective.He taught us to convert our spades into shovels. He wanted us to be productive and not destructive.
Laal Masjid endorsed the untrue but common view of non-muslims that Islam preaches violence.It is the biggest challenge every muslim is facing now.As muslims it is our turn to clean the mirror that reflects us badly.I believe it is better to look at our weaknesses than directing the fingers towards others for our bad portrayal. Every muslim needs to come out openly against the inculcation of the mindset that gives birth to Laal Masjids.
We have hundreds of mouths talking about Kashmir, Kashmiriyat and so-called Kashmir issue etc but the biggest issue we are facing is the Laal Masjid mindset which is purely un-Islamic and has only extended our graveyards and earned a bad name to the great religion of Peace.
(This article appeared in many newspapers in Jammu & Kashmir in 2007 soon after Pak Laal Masjid episode)

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