by Umar Shariff
An article was published on the 9th April 2017 by the New Indian Express Newspaper, written by one Rakesh K Singh on the topic “Caliphate Radicalisation Rising In India”.The article talked about the issue of radicalisation of the Muslim youths to join the
The article talked about the issue of radicalisation of the Muslim youths to join the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. It also said that the youths were getting indoctrinated by the materials available on the internet to do jihad or join the so-called caliphate of Iraq and Syria. In the course of listing the names of the organisations influencing the Muslim youths, the writer has indiscriminately taken the names of well-reputed institutions and organisations along with some unknown ones of the Muslim community in India. Baseless allegations were laid against those organisations that have on the contrary always been vocal against ISIS and the extremism promoted by the terror outfits.
The list of the reputed organisations that are accused by the writer are:
Niche of Truth (Kerala),
Peace Educational Foundation (Kerala),
Jamiat ul Muflihaat (Hyderabad),
Discover Islam Education Trust (Bengaluru),
Tauheed Educational Trust (Bihar),
Islamic Research and Dawah Centre (Mumbai),
Islamic information Centre (Mumbai)
Popular Front of India,
Jamat-e-Islami Hind,
Tamil Nadu Tauheed Jamat
Kerala Nadwathul Mujahideen
The article didn’t make any reference to any content, or any statements made by any government official or the government department. The article didn’t have any proof to substantiate the claim.
Most of the organisations listed by the writer have had a history of working in the field of da’wah and education. Da’wah would mean “propagation of the religion Islam”. And some organisations have been in the forefront to work in uplifting the social and political status of the Muslim community. It is so unfortunate that a well-known newspaper could allow such hate-mongering polarising articles in its reputed newspaper.
The article also has a mentioning of the growth of the followers of Dr. Zakir Naik, by raising concerns over it. Why must Dr. Zakir Naik be feared when the charges against him were all proven wrong, while no connections to any sort of terror activities were proven. And nowhere can anyone find any statement of Dr. Zakir Naik prove him to be a promoter of terror. His past contributions to the Indian Muslims, through his talks and conferences, speak volumes of his mission to spread peace and harmony amongst the people of India. The whole world knows that the media trials were the cause for blemishing the image of Dr. Zakir Naik, that has happened only during the current BJP rule, while most of the TV channels are being purchased by the Ambanis, who serve the interest of the ruling BJP, that is faithful to the RSS ideologies that talks of anti-Islamic policies. Hence one need not be a rocket scientist to connect the dots together to understand the unfolding events that are politically motivated.
Many baseless charges made by the paid and biased media has been clearly exposed by the intellectuals of this country India.
Rakesh K Singh further goes to say that the “Growth of Wahabism-Salafism undermines Indian Islam which is based on Sufi-Barelvi practices that so far have been the most effective counter to radicalization.” He says that the ideology of Wahhabism-Salafism undermines Indian Islam. Can he give any reference to any author or book that can define the newly coined term “Indian Islam”? There’s nothing called the Indian Islam or the African Islam. Islam is one. And the Muslims are one community when they address the political issues, irrespective of their theological and methodological differences within them. The writer is trying hard to divide the Muslims between Salafis and Sufis to weaken the political strength of the Muslims of India. I can recall the statements made by the infamous economist and politician Subramanian Swami who once made a statement that he and his people will divide the Muslims into various factions, and divide the votes to form the government at the central. And it is now evident that all these articles are the manifestation of the vision of the ones like Subramanian Swami who are desirous to become the ruling statesmen of this country, after dividing the Muslims into bits and pieces.
Their purpose of publishing such articles is to demoralise the Muslim organisations, and to frighten the common Muslims from associating with these organisations so that the common Muslims will be disconnected from those who are equipped and trained to guide them to progress and prosperity. The people like Rakesh K Singh are those sold out comic characters who have no self-esteem to carry in their lives to live a dignified life through lawful earnings. They don’t care of spewing venomous ideas into the masses, as long as their coffers get filled by some dirty kickbacks. They are the perfect examples of ‘yellow journalism’ in our times.
Yellow journalism, or the yellow press, is a type of journalism that presents little or no legitimate well-researched news and instead uses eye-catching headlines to sell more newspapers. Techniques may include exaggerations of news events, scandal-mongering or sensationalism. And Rakesh K Singh seems to be a club member of Yellow Journalism.
Meanwhile, we from all the organisations that are working to help the Indian Muslims strengthen their brotherhood and solidarity are taking legal actions and peaceful protests against such articles that aim at defaming the leaders of the Muslim community. We will not be bogged down by any infamous human being, while we know that the Greatest One Who controls all affairs is by our side. We rely on Allah, and Allah is sufficient for His slaves.
By the way, we acknowledge that there are various factions and sects among the Muslims. We have been holding dialogues and debates within the purview of the constitutional guidelines that is conducive to achieve peace and harmony by enabling each other to understand the perspectives. We have our differences since ages, but those differences must not let us resort to any violence in the name of religion. Religions must help people to have a strong relationship with the Creator of the Universe. And religions must help people to be well wishers to one another, to help other prosper in this world and the hereafter. If religions don’t work towards justice to all people, irrespective of their religions and nationalities, then they are only carrying the names with hollow philosophies.
Such articles must be condemned by the masses from our community to ensure that these things don’t repeat in the coming days, God Willing. All those readers of this article, who are members of the listed organisations can do your bit by writing to the Editor of New Indian Express and by sharing your thoughts about the discreditable and disgraceful article written by Rakesh K Singh.
Umar Shariff is the President of the Bengaluru-based Islamic organisation Discover Islam Education Trust (DIET).
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Nasheman.in
