Understanding the other side

When dealing with terrorism allegedly wearing the garb of Islam, what we must bear in mind is that the vast majority of Muslims are peaceful and law-abiding citizens. In fact, I have personally not come across anyone who is not. Despite this, the persistent terror attempts in Gujarat certainly leads to the sad conclusion that there are a handful of gullible youth disillusioned by Islamophobia and anti-Muslim pogroms who are enticed by the thought of taking the law into their hands. Witnessing mass murders of Muslims is certainly a traumatic event that could lead to an unbalanced psyche and thirst for revenge in some immature individuals. The presence of opportunist elements ready to fan such fires is definitely a dangerous trend. Let us not forget that these tendencies are not isolated to any particular religion or ideology (just remember environmental terrorist groups whenever you feel like bashing religion).

What is the solution? Apparently prompt apprehension and punishment of miscreants by the government could have averted many disasters. Sadly the wheels of justice turn in an excruciatingly slow manner. Meanwhile the sane majority (of all religions) can make a difference by reassuring those affected and providing physical, financial, and most important of all, psychological help to the victims. Respective religious leaders should invite them to walk the tougher path of forgiveness and forbearance and illuminate the portions of the sacred texts that enjoin such a response.

For beginners here are verses from the Quran (Chapter 5 Verse 8) - “Let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice.” (Chapter 5 Verse 2) “Let not the hatred of some people lead you to transgression (and hostility on your part). Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancour.”

A stumbling block to such efforts would be half a century of religious apartheid and ghettoization of Muslims in Gujarat that has bred a virulent climate of mistrust. There should be encouragement of intercommunity interactions and transactions until it becomes the norm and the question of the “other” becomes nonexistent and all are known and understood to be simply human, blood to blood, brother to brother.