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Oct

Call For Interfaith Dialogue To Promote Communal Harmony

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Anwarul Haq Baig

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New Delhi | Thursday | 3 October 2024

In a country as diverse as India, fostering interfaith dialogue and social engagement is crucial for maintaining communal harmony. T. Arif Ali, Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), recently emphasized the need for Muslim communities to actively engage with people of all faiths. Speaking at a program on “The Role of the Muslim Community in Restoring Communal Harmony” held at JIH headquarters, Mr. Ali called for the establishment of 'Sadbhawna Manch' (Harmony Forums) across the country. This initiative is aimed at promoting peace, understanding, and brotherhood among India's various religious and cultural groups.

Mr. Ali stressed that the message of Islam is one of peace and brotherhood, and this is not just a strategy for survival but an integral part of Islamic teachings. "Islam promotes unity in a plural society," he said, adding that Islam’s teachings on communal harmony are a core element of its philosophy, not a tactic to cope with oppression.

He reminded the audience that brotherhood is the essence of Islamic social philosophy. "Our commitment to communal harmony should not be viewed as a temporary measure because we are oppressed, but as a fundamental aspect of our faith," he remarked. He further elaborated that if Islamic governance were established, it would naturally lead to a peaceful and harmonious society, as Islam encourages unity and brotherhood among all people.

 

Article at a Glance
T. Arif Ali, Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), emphasized the need for Muslim communities to engage with people of all faiths to promote peace, understanding, and brotherhood. He called for the establishment of 'Sadbhawna Manch' (Harmony Forums) across India to facilitate open dialogue and address common values and differences. Mr. Ali stressed that the message of Islam is one of peace and brotherhood, and that Muslims should engage with people from all communities to build meaningful relationships and address issues faced by all.
He criticized the tendency of some Muslim organizations to focus solely on Muslim issues, suggesting that a broader approach is necessary. Mr. Ali also brought attention to the recent killing of Aryan Mishra, a high school student from Faridabad, who was mistaken for a Muslim by cow vigilantes. He lamented the dangerous mentality that values human life based on caste or religion, which threatens not only minorities but all communities in India.
Mr. Ali emphasized that every human being is worthy of respect and honor, simply by virtue of being human. He called on Muslims to take responsibility for promoting communal harmony, not as a separate group but as part of the larger society. He urged everyone, regardless of their faith, to contribute to creating an environment where people can freely express their thoughts and beliefs. Mutual respect and understanding, he said, are key to maintaining harmony in India's diverse society.

 

Living in a multi-religious country like India requires Muslims to engage with people from all communities, Mr. Ali said. He encouraged Muslim organizations and individuals to build meaningful relationships across religious lines and address the issues faced by all communities, not just their own. “Islam teaches us how to live in a plural society, fulfill our responsibilities, and connect with everyone,” he noted.

He also criticized the tendency of some Muslim organizations to focus solely on Muslim issues, suggesting that a broader approach is necessary. "The beneficiaries of our efforts should include people from all communities, not just Muslims," he said.

As part of his vision for promoting communal harmony, Mr. Ali urged Muslim organizations to create "Sadbhawna Manch" across India. These forums would serve as spaces for open dialogue, where people from different faiths could come together to discuss common values and address differences in a respectful and constructive manner. He stressed the importance of mutual respect and understanding in building a peaceful and harmonious society.

Mr. Ali also brought attention to the recent killing of Aryan Mishra, a high school student from Faridabad, who was mistaken for a Muslim by cow vigilantes. Led by Anil Kaushik, the vigilantes chased Mishra’s car for over 30 kilometers before fatally shooting him. In police custody, Kaushik expressed remorse not for taking a life, but for killing a Brahmin, which he believed to be a greater sin than killing a Muslim.

Highlighting the dangerous mentality that values human life based on caste or religion, Mr. Ali lamented, “In this distorted view, killing a Brahmin is a sin, but the lives of Muslims, Christians, and Dalits are considered expendable.” He pointed out how this mindset threatens not only minorities but all communities in India.

Quoting the famous poet Rahat Indori, he warned that communal tensions can have far-reaching consequences for everyone: “If a fire breaks out, many houses will be affected, not just ours.”

Mr. Ali also spoke about Islam’s teachings regarding human dignity and diversity. He emphasized that every human being is worthy of respect and honor, simply by virtue of being human. "Allah has created mankind in the best form," he said, reminding the audience that the diversity of languages, cultures, and communities is part of Allah’s divine plan.

He called on Muslims to take responsibility for promoting communal harmony, not as a separate group but as part of the larger society. He quoted the Quran, highlighting that the Muslim community, or Ummah, has a duty to guide people towards goodness and to prevent evil.

Expressing concern about the decreasing space for interfaith dialogue in India, Mr. Ali warned that without such dialogue, society risks becoming more divided and isolated. “If we lose the ability to engage in open, logical discussions, it will become difficult to maintain a healthy atmosphere for peaceful coexistence,” he said.

He urged everyone, regardless of their faith, to contribute to creating an environment where people can freely express their thoughts and beliefs. Mutual respect and understanding, he said, are key to maintaining harmony in India's diverse society.

Finally, Mr. Ali cautioned against the dangers of ghettoization and the marginalization of communities. He pointed to incidents where individuals were unfairly targeted simply because of their religious or cultural background. "When a community is marginalized and hostility spreads against them, they are treated as outcasts," he said, lamenting that such marginalization is increasingly evident in India today.

In conclusion, Mr. Ali urged Muslims to actively engage with the broader society, break down barriers of misunderstanding, and demonstrate the true teachings of Islam through good character and actions. By fostering dialogue and promoting brotherhood, he believes that all communities can work together to build a more harmonious and inclusive India.

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