“The disparities between Muslims, which make up 13.4% of the population, and India's Hindu population, which hovers around 80%, are striking. There are exceptions, of course, but generally speaking Muslim Indians have shorter life spans, worse health, lower literacy levels, and lower-paying jobs.” – Yahoo News, Aryn Baker
Assalam wa’laikum wa rahmatullah brothers and sisters,
I would like to remind myself before reminding others. We all heard about the recent incidents that happened in India where about 200 innocent people were killed. Of course this is all over the news and is being called the Indian 9/11 with the blame always edging towards Muslims even though we denounce this type of action. I was reading an article for which I have provided the link below called “Behind the Mumbai Massacre: Indian Muslims in crisis”. This article shows a somewhat unbiased view of the Hindu/Muslim relationship in India and it brought out some good points. Muslims in India are badly oppressed by the Hindu majority and oppressed by “us” as well because we forget about the struggles they face and we forget to remember them in our prayers.
Just search Gujarat massacre or oppressed Muslims in youtube and you will find the gruesome stories of Muslims being murdered by them. Over 2000 of our brothers and sisters were killed in Gujarat in 2002. You can find a video on youtube about one of the Hindu Nationalist talking about his success in ripping out a baby out of a pregnant woman with his hands and killing them both, then stating, “We are showing Muslims what we are capable of”. Think that’s bad, there is tons of stories like this, some of which we cannot even conceive. I am sure the media did an excellent job in exposing all this.
What about the destruction of Babri Masjid, where over 150,000 Hindu nationalists destroyed the Masjid and killed, stoned, burned several of our brothers and sisters once again. Just try and watch some of these videos or read some of these stories and I guarantee you, you wont be able to complete it. Imagine being in these massacres and seeing your family getting chopped up or burned just because you worship One God.
What did we do when these things happened? Just sat at home and watched Bollywood and indirectly supported the oppressors? What did the so called Muslim actors “heroes” do? With such status they could have at least made public statements against this type of behavior. But no we need to assimilate with their culture, wearing their clothes, listening to their music, watching their movies, conducting similar weddings and supporting their industry etc.
Yet at the same time, this industry mocks and humiliates the Muslims in their movies. Do you think they would ever accept and at the same time “assimilate” (just like we did) to our ways of living? I remember the treatment some Muslim sisters received from flight attendants of Air India just because of wearing a hijab. I was informed that Air India does not even provide Halal food, whereas all Muslim airlines provide Hindu “veggie” meals. And keep in mind the population of Muslims in India is the 2nd or 3rd largest in the world.
What are we doing brothers/sisters? Why are we adapting to this culture when their hatred and mockery towards us is crystal clear? What happened to our Islamic values? Why do we mock and look down at brothers/sisters who have chosen Islam as their Deen and adapt the way of kufr?
Don’t get me wrong, this is not to spread hate against any group as Islam condemns any violence against the innocent. It is also not to insult any brothers/sisters; rather it is to remind my brothers/sisters to come back to the Qur’an and Sunnah and to enter into Islam perfectly and completely. It is a reminder to live up to our claims of being Muslims.
Brothers and sisters we are on the Deen of Haqq (Religion of Truth), we are commanded to enjoin good and forbid evil. Allah has mentioned in the Qur’an that He has perfected our religion and has chosen Islam to be our religion. So let’s practice our religion with certainty and let’s not mix it up with garbage.
Remember the oppressed in your duas.
May Allah purify our hearts from hypocrisy. Ameen!
And remember Allâh's Favour upon you and His Covenant with which He bound you when you said: "We hear and we obey." And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is All Knower of the secrets of your breasts. (5: 7)
O you who believe! Enter perfectly in Islâm (by obeying all the rules and regulations of the Islâmic religion) and follow not the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan). Verily! He is to you a plain enemy. (2: 208)
And of mankind, there are some (hypocrites) who say: "We believe in Allâh and the Last Day" while in fact they believe not. 9. They (think to) deceive Allâh and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not! (2 : 8, 9)
And when it is said to them (hypocrites): "Believe as the people (followers of Muhammad Peace be upon him , Al-Ansâr and Al-Muhajirûn) have believed," they say: "Shall we believe as the fools have believed?" Verily, they are the fools, but they know not. 14. And when they meet those who believe, they say: "We believe," but when they are alone with their Shayâtin (devils - polytheists, hypocrites, etc.), they say: "Truly, we are with you; verily, we were but mocking." 15. Allâh mocks at them and gives them increase in their wrong-doings to wander blindly. (2: 13, 14, 15)
Beautified is the life of this world for those who adapted the way of disbelief, and they mock at those who believe. But those who obey Allâh's Orders and keep away from what He has forbidden, will be above them on the Day of Resurrection. And Allâh gives (of His Bounty, Blessings, Favours, Honours, etc. on the Day of Resurrection) to whom He wills without limit. (2: 212)
Fares Elahi
Link to the article:http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20081127/wl_time/08599186265000;_ylt=Ah026nDcdiRjxZswI_9OeRn9xg8F
