Binoo Joshi
Jordanian King Abdullah ‘s stunning message to bring in harmony between the peoples and the religions should serve as a commandment to all those who are expanding extremism in the name of Islam- the religion of peace .
Extremism is born out of ignorance or deliberate distortions of the teachings of Islam , which essentially is a religion that promotes peace and harmony with the founding principle of “ live thy neighbor.”
His assertion during his speech at Vigyan Bhvan on Thursday underlined an important fact that “fight against terrorism is not against religions or people.” This is significant because in the current situation the war on terrorism is being given a religious colour, whereas the fact is that terrorism has no religion . They are outlaws .
This was, in fact, reiteration , of his speech delivered at Arab –Islamic – American summit in May last year that the “ terrorist groups employ a false religious identity . Their aim is to mislead and polarize our societies and peoples . Terrorist groups do not inhabit the fringes of Islam – they are altogether outside of Islam ; they are khawarej, outlaws of Islam . Arabs and Muslims make up majority of their victims”
He had explained it further by saying that intolerance and ignorance will only aid terror groups.
This is the message that he echoed in New Delhi today.
For the Indian Muslims who for centuries have followed their religion in its true spirit , this was an endorsement of their long-held views . They know that the intolerance of some sections who claim to be fighting for Islam have bred extremism an terrorism .
This is posing problem for the whole of the community for it is suspected because of the misdeeds of few . They want to live in peace and harmony and that is what King Abdullah expected of his community. But at the same time, what is required is that the Muslim community in the country , should be treated and respected with love and compassion .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done well by touching upon the virtues of the co-existence and the role that Islam ha played in shaping the Indian values . These words also need to be translated into action by the system that is suffering from certain cracks – a symptom of unhealthy shape of things . This has to be averted and this requires combined efforts of all religions and political groups.
