The Answer Lies In The Holy Koran

A wave of anger and frustration is sweeping through the Muslims of India. The Gujarat pogroms are producinga convulsion that may have far reaching consequences for the community and for the country.

The Modi Government has inflicted immense suffering on the Muslims, just to win the next elections inGujarat. The horror is amplified by the disgraceful manner in which politicians like George Fernandes,Mayawati and Mamta Banerjee are using our blood to secure or strengthen their hold on power. 

What do we make of a Prime Minister making such a repulsive speech in Goa? Where do the Muslims go fromhere?

Unfortunately the events of September 11, have only made life more difficult for Muslims all over theworld.  The absence of democracy, coupled with a very poor human rights record in almost all Islamiccountries, make the Muslims of India particularly vulnerable to the hatred of the Sangh Parivar. 

The answer lies in the Holy Koran. It repeatedly urges steadfastness and patience. The Prophet bore the mostvicious verbal and physical abuse, with the utmost dignity and restraint. His life teaches that the best wayto handle an opponent is to make our own lives most upright and blameless. For that alone will affect theconscience of the tormentor.

In that context I am troubled that many traumatized Muslim youth in Ahmedabad and other cities areorganizing to defend themselves. While self-defence is understandable, any form of aggression will prove mostdamaging to Muslims and also to the country.

Fortunately the national media, business leaders and the Western democracies have played a sterling role inhighlighting the plight of Muslims in Gujarat. These interventions are bound to alleviate their sufferings.Ultimately Muslims will have to stand on their own, find their own solutions on how to live in a Hindumajority country.

In Gujarat, the Muslim priority must be to reach out to the widows, the orphans and the homeless. Secondlythe focus must be on education, particularly of our girls. Many Muslim families have been reduced to penury.This combined with the sense of insecurity will cause most girls to give up their studies. That has to beavoided at all cost.  For it will push back the community by another generation.

Further, the communal polarization would mean an increase in urban ghettos. The only way out would be tobuild taller structures in Muslim localities. Particular importance would have to be given to cleanliness andtree planting, as dirt and disease will increase with the ghettos.

Nationally, it is time Muslims had a clear vision. The madrassa system will have to be completelyoverhauled. The Koran must be understood by our young minds. It is the Message of Allah. Memorizing, withoutunderstanding, has no meaning. This requires fewer moulvis, but of a much higher stature and well paid.

Muslim schools must be run most professionally, with proper attention to discipline and high importance toMathematics, English and Science. For nothing will help the Muslims more than a scientific approach to life.Most important, Muslims must turn to business and industrial activity. 

Our role model has to be Azim Premji. Muslims will have to generate wealth on a massive scale. That willsolve most of the problems facing Muslims not just in India, but even the world over.  

The problem is complicated by an absurd feeling among average Hindus that Muslims are pampered in thecountry. This inspite of all social and economic indicators that suggest that Muslims constitute the bottom ofthe Indian scale. 

Muslims will have to show greater maturity in handling relations with Hindus. Why should Muslims take Hajsubsidy from the Government?  By taking financial help from a secular Government, to perform Haj, weinvalidate the Haj itself.

Another issue is that of polygamy. Repeated surveys have shown that polygamous marriages are most prevalentamong Adivasis, Jains and Hindus. The minimum rate is among Muslims.  Then why not demand a repeal ofthis law? Incidentally the Koran in Surah 2, is very clear that monogamy is the preferred pattern. Polygamy isto be applied only in extreme cases. The Koranic injunctions of equal treatment of all wives, makes polygamyextremely difficult in modern times.

Hindus are disturbed by terms like jihad and kafir. Muslims must explain their correct meaning, and pointout the manner in which they have been misused. Most Hindus do not subscribe to the Sangh ideology. They aredecent, sober people, and it is our duty to clear up any doubts and suspicions they have on Islam.

These are dark days for the Muslims of India. Yet we must not lose faith and hope. After all Islam isreborn after every Karbala.

(The author is on the faculty of M.S. University, Baroda. He is the Gujarat vice-president of thePeople's Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL) and the general secretary of the Baroda Welfare Society, anorganisation that focuses on the economic and educational uplift of Muslims, particularly women. Temporarily,he is not in Baroda.)