Mumbai Mayhem-Separation of goats from sheep among Muslims

by Saybhan Samat

(December 10, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The statement by the president of the Muslim Council of India after the Bombay mayhem on 3rd December was an important landmark to distinguish between the main stream traditional Muslims and the extremists. This statement is reproduced.

Mumbai: The terrorists behind the Mumbai strike should not get a “final resting place anywhere in sacred Mother India”, because Islam does not permit the killing of innocent people, a prominent Muslim organization said on Monday.

Muslim Council president Ibrahim Tai said he has written to the trustees of Bada Kabrastan in south Mumbai, the biggest graveyard in the city close to the JJ Hospital where the autopsies of the slain terrorists were conducted, as well as to the Mumbai Police and the Maharashtra Government.

“ As per Islamic tenants, killing of innocent persons is not permitted whatever may be the cause. What these terrorists have done is anti-Islam and shames all followers of Islam,” Tai said.

He added that even wasting a drop of water was considered a grave sin in Islam. “These terrorists have killed so many innocents and shed streams of blood. They cannot be Muslims or followers of Islam. So they cannot have a final resting place anywhere on sacred Mother India,” Tai said.

He said the authorities could dispose of the bodies in any manner, but not inter them on Indian land or Indian waters.

At least 183 people were killed in the 60 hours between Wednesday night and Saturday morning when 11 terrorists targeted about 10 locations in the city.. Ten died in gun battles and one was taken captive by the security forces. Monday, 01 December, 2008,17:13

For a long time it was a vexed conundrum for Muslims to know whether the Taliban, Al-Qaeeda and the Salafi movement were right in their jihadist adventures. On the surface they seemed correct because they were fighting against the occupation of their lands in Afghanistan and Iraq .. However what was reprehensible was the killing of innocent non-combatants.. In addition they would without compunction kill fellow Muslims who do not agree with their interpretation of Islam. In Iraq for every American that was killed these jihadists would kill hundreds of Muslims to spread sectarian conflict. Jihadists are noted for mindless killings, beheadings and suicide bombings. They have given a macabre image to Islam that has worried troubled and dismayed the traditional and moderate Muslims world wide. Whatever the motives of these violent jihadists their methods like those of Taliban in Afghanistan were extremely counter productive and short-sighted. Their evident belief that Islamic standards, can be imposed by force or threats of violence, and all that Islam requires is to burn down video-shops, raid body parlors prevent girls attending schools or force women to wear the burqa alienated many more people than it attracted. Islam has a much broader vision and higher purpose. First of all the Prophet (S) who played the role of a warner in Mecca when the people were corrupt and in ignorance; he changed their thinking. Only when he was a ruler in Medina later did he implement divine laws of punishment for those who offended the civil, criminal and other laws. The enforcements of laws regulating conduct in society is the responsibility of governments, not organizations, individuals or madrasahas, however well meaning they may be.

Would the destruction of every video store, and the closure of every massage parlour, turn Afghanistan and Pakistan into an Islamic state?

Such limited understandings of the nature of Islamic societies and institutions are one reason that the Islamic movements in Afghanistan and Pakistan have only limited credibility, despite general sympathy with their aims.

To understand this point properly, one must turn to the tradition and practice of Prophet (S). For thirteen years, there were no injuctions prohibiting gambling, drinking or even auti-social behaviour in Mecca . The Quran’s emphatic message was to reorient people’s thinking towards committing themselves to one God. This was a direct challenge to the prevalent system in Mecca based on a multiplicity of Gods, but god (Allah) did not instruct His beloved Prophet(S) to emphasize changing people’s immoral behavior at that time. First their belief in God the Almighty and conviction in the righteousness of their cause had to be strengthened. Once they were clear about the nature of struggle, the next phase would become simpler.

In most Muslim societies today, there is very little clear understanding of Islam, the functions of the Islamic state and how to go about establishing one. Unfortunately the majority of the Muslims understand Islam primarily in terms of restrictive laws concerning personal behaviour. The much longer questions of political legitimacy and social and economic justice are seldom discussed. Islam injunctions are not merely concerned with taheera (cleansing) and najasa (dirt). They are just as concerned with regulating the market place as they are with the weighty issues of power and authority.

Islamic movements must be clear on three issues; first they must understand and be clear about their ultimate objective, the establishment of the Islamic state; second they must understand the process by which this can be achieved , third, they must generate a pious, God fearing leadership that operates above, parochial or narrow class or economic interests. Before any of this is possible God mindfulness and consciousness must be understood in broader terms than simply personal piety, represented by routine activities like prayer, fasting, keeping a beard or wearing hijab and performing the Haj if possible. These are essential of course, but hardly sufficient in themselves. It is regrettable that the Islamic Republic of Iran has in these contemporary times shown the Muslims how to establish an Islamic state, but the majority of Muslims ignore this example because it belongs to the Shia sect.

As the Islamic Republic of Iran progresses to one day occupy a central position on the world stage, perhaps the other Muslims may follow. Till then mis-guided and astray, they especially the Al-Qaeeda, Taliban and Salafi Muslims will continue, beheading, suicide bombing and creating mayhem and strife in this world, where innocent Muslims and non Muslims alike will be unnecessarily killed. - Sri Lanka Guardian