Syed Karar Hashmi
Silence of responsible people, intellectuals and awakened Citizens has made life of every common man difficult and in dilemma. The lives of the people in Kashmir are at stake due to ongoing happenings without a pause. Someone have to break the ice, otherwise we are moving to change the valley into a biggest graveyard in Asian sub continent soon.
Every day Kashmir is moving back towards worst and dark phase in its entire history. The problems confronting the inhabitants of Jammu and Kashmir are serious in nature and demands introspection to find amelioration in a time bound manner without chaos, confusion and dual stand. The laws, appeals and messages of the leader must represent the aspirations of the people of the whole State and all shall be for the wellbeing and benefit of common masses.
Honestly to admit here, in keeping view the contemporary situation of the Kashmir Valley, our leaders have failed to restore peace and push forward a systematic and logical dialogue as an instrument to redress the problems and demands of the people in a prioritised way with all the stakeholders concerned.
The injustice, atrocities and crimes are day to day phenomenon in Kashmir Valley, on the other hand, the silence of responsible persons like Ulemas or Islamic scholars over such unfortunate happenings is concerning which otherwise have bigger role to play.
Every problem has a cause behind it; one who is more aware with the cause of a problem can suggest more lucid solution to it. Ulemas have a close interaction with society, live among the people, know their problems and have the capacity to resolve them. Fully aware about the Kashmir situation, they can surely play a pivotal role than anyone else in resolving it. Ulemas are the inheritors of prophets.
The prophets did not leave behind Riyals and Dollars rather they left behind history and knowledge. Given the clout and regard they command in society, Ulemas hold high esteem and position in Kashmir society, they have to shoulder major responsibility to restore peace and to discourage all tyrannical acts of the respective existing actors.
Besides Ulemas, it is everybody’s duty and a cup of tea to play their crucial role in building peace and solution to the contemporary issues confronting the society.
The wise words of a great historian Kalhan, “Kashmir can never be subdued by the military might but only by the spiritual forces.”
Kashmir is the biggest concern for the world today and a big challenge for all those lovers of peace and justice. Scholars have the responsibility of being guides and teachers of the people so that peace be prevailed in the Valley. Equipped with knowledge, the scholars are better placed than other segments of society to espouse and advance the cause of peace.
The misuse of the religion by extremists is highly damaging the image of Islam. We must take stand against terrorist organisations and ideologies like DAISH, ISIS, Boko Haram, etc and against atrocity, pain, injustice and sufferings of the common people in such a way that whole world will salute our peaceful struggle for a rational cause.
Ulemas know well how they can change the society and launch a crusade against corruption which holds the society hostage to injustice, ignorance and backwardness.
No Kashmiri feels secure while walking through markets and attending public meetings. The killings and counter killings on daily basis have made the lives of every common people vulnerable in Kashmir. We must bear this in mind that a faithful Muslim will never kill innocent people, children or women.
Even killing of non-believers is prohibited according to the teachings of our holy religion. It is worth mentioning that the fresh wave of political and police killings are a matter of grave concern. Terrorism is not a Jihad and Jihad is not terrorism.
Abu Dawood once pointed out that “To speak words of truth before a tyrant ruler is amongst the best of Jihad.”
The clerics should start a dialogue with all the stake holders and spread the message of peace and brotherhood in Kashmir Valley. Let Ulemas unite the people irrespective of region, religion, caste and affiliation for the cause of bigger end without further delay, so that people again start to watch dreams in a conducive and peaceful atmosphere.
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