Over the last couple of days when the world was occupied with unifying efforts to fight the deadly Covid19 pandemic, sections of Indian media provided viewers a familiar scapegoat – the Indian Muslims – who are often stereotyped as a community being constantly at loggerheads with the citizenry and the State. Biased media channels were quick to resort to blaming the entire Muslim community for the spread of the disease in the country, thanks to an ill-timed Tablighi Jamaat gathering at its international headquarters in Delhi’s Nizamuddin. Unsurprisingly, the opprobrium was also marked by a sudden spike in WhatsApp forwards of videos with people wearing skullcaps licking spoons and performing Sufi breathing rituals, suggesting some sort of wild conspiracy on the part of the community to spread the virus. Some media channels were quick to formulate, hypothesize and provide loose definitions of a newly discovered form of Jihad i.e. ‘Corona Jihad ’ thereby vilifying the Islamic faith and its followers.
While the investigation on the culpability of the organizers of the Nizamuddin event is still ongoing, there is enough information to suggest that the meeting was held before any lockdown was in force, and the problem began when there was no way of getting people out once the curfew was announced. Be that as it may, there is little doubt that organizing a meet of such a scale when there is a global pandemic smacks of gross misjudgment, and definitely the organizers should be held accountable if laws or public orders were defied. Attendees who attempt to defy quarantine measures must be dealt with strictly. However, what is alarming is that the focus and narrative have now shifted from the unfortunate event at Nizamuddin to the Tablighi Jamaat itself.
For those not familiar with the Tablighi Jamaat, the organization was founded in 1926 in Mewat by scholar Maulana Mohammad Ilyas. The Jamaat’s main objective was to get Muslim youth to learn and practice pristine Islam shorn of external influences. This is achieved through individuals dedicating time for moral and spiritual upliftment secluded from the rest of the world for a brief period of time. There is no formal membership process. More senior and experienced participants typically travel from one mosque to other delivering talks on religious topics, inviting local youth to attend and then volunteer for a spiritual retreat for a fixed number of days to a mosque in a nearby town or village to present the message to their co-religionists. Contrary to ongoing Islamophobic rhetoric, the movement does not actively proselytize. The focus is rather on getting Muslims to learn the teachings and practices of Islam. This grassroots India-based movement has now grown to almost all countries with substantial Muslim populations. Its annual meets, or ‘ijtemas’ are among the largest Islamic congregations in the world after the annual Haj. One of the reasons for its popularity and wide network in the subcontinent and wordwide is the fact that it has eschewed the need for scholarly intervention, focusing on peer learning of fundamental beliefs and practice rather than high-falutin ideological debates. The Tablighi Jamaat also distinguishes itself from other Islamic movements through its strictly apolitical nature, with a focus on individual self-improvement rather than political mobilization. Hardships and difficulty in the world are expected to be face through ‘sabr’ (patience) and ‘dua’ (supplication), than through quest for political power or influence. In terms of ideology, it is very much based on mainstream Sunni Islamic principles derived from the Deobandi school.
So, why is all this background important in the current context? While biased media entities have expectedly brought out their Islamophobic paraphernalia out for full display, more neutral commentators have tried to paint the Tablighi Jamaat as a fringe group and have tried to distance it from 'mainstream Muslims'. While the intent is no doubt innocent, this is a trap we must not fall into. This narrative, unfortunately, is also gaining ground due to apathy some Muslims have for the group, accusing it of being “disconnected from the realities of the world”. Unlike other Muslim organizations and movements, the Tablighi Jamat, by virtue of its political indifference, does not boast of high-profile advocates and savvy spokespersons who can defend it in mainstream or social media. The use of adjectives such as 'outdated' and 'orthodox' by liberal columnists to describe the Jamaat feeds into the malignant attempt to change the narrative from the control of the spread of the pandemic due to the Nizamuddin gathering to 'raison d'etre' of the organization itself.
A large mainstream religious group like the Tablighi Jamaat with nearly a hundred-year history, normally considered to be peaceful, apolitical and minding its own business is now suddenly being villainized owing to unfortunate circumstances. Biased media reactions filled with disgust and hate seem to feed the Indian public conscience with a danngerous misconception - to be a nominal Muslim is okay but being a practicing one is not. For those committed to the truth and fighting the spread of Islamophobia, the temptation to throw the entire Tablighi Jamaat under the bus must be resisted.
The writer is a lawyer and research scholar at Qatar University. Her research interests include Islamic law and politics.
The 42-year-old Beary artiste-cum-politician, who had earlier served as the vice president of the Dakshina Kannada district unit of the Minority Morcha, will now also be in-charge of the minority unit of the saffron party in twin coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.
Comments
Please watch PK Movie, you will understand what does PK means... Cheddis alwz see Pakistan in their dream, its your fault for not using your mind to recognize the cheddi deception. Till when will you submit to the cheddi's lies and follow & support their evil agenda..
Use your intellect and be honest. We all clearly see their Lies and deception. Never think they will not be accountable...
DONT BE A WATCHMAN OF BJP AND RSS
Mr.Raheem, You have the right to join any political party. But please do not misquote Quran & Hadees for your benefit. i watched many debates in local channels , you were misquoted some ayath & Hadees about Go Hatya & Conversion. Political position is temporary but atleast show little bit ethics in your life. Do not justify Kalladka Bhat Hate speech /Soolibele about madrasa.
People are ready to release their families for their personal benefits. This guy doesnt even know what is Hajj Subsidy. He was claiming in one of his speech that \Muslim are receiving subsidy which was supported during AB Vajipaye govt time\" and muslims should support BJP. My dear, there is provision of subsidy to all religion if they are travelling abroad as pilgrim. Search it. Dont be so cheap to claim against own religion. Shame on you."
Dear brother Rahim uchil,
Congratulations for getting new responsibility. Hope to see some positive results this time from saffron party towards muslims. Take those comments as challenge and do something good for community. Hope to see you in more and more good positions. Wish you all the best.
Rahim, Uchila, you give answer in Mashara OR jahannam.....who bothers ???? your answer proves that you do not have guts to face the people........ Some one compared you to abbas naqvi and shanawaz hussain...... they married to young Hindu women .
If possible, do one more thing, work for the cancellation of Haj Subsidy..... Owaisi is struggling to put this in Modis Bheja, but it is not going.... try your best and tell the Muslims, that Allah do not need the haj from us with the begging from Indian govt.
Congratulations brother.
Masha Allah. Congrats Rahim Uchil. You are doing good job. BJP is far better than Congress and Rahim Uchil is far better than all Congress leaders from the coastal. He is a pious Muslim and a die hard fan of internationally acclaimed scholar Shaikh AP Abubakar Musliyar.
My message to Rahim sir: Dont care wahhabis and salafis. Our prophet has said muslims will be divided into 73 sects and only one will enter jannah. Who knows that sect might be the one which is with BJP!
Good answer brother Rahim Uchil. Dont care about jealousy people. We are all with you. In fact this news portal has more Wahhabi commentors. Just dont care them. Let them keep blaming. As Rohan sir rightly said, you may one day become a minister. Then those who are blaming you now, will be at ur threshold for your permission to bring their zakir naik to mangaluru. hahaha.
Bjp and RSS is behind minorities and daliths, they are doing every efforts to curb these two relegion. Their paid servants are asking our leaders head for lacs of rupees. So any one who go behind these RSS is not our men. He is against our relegion and against us.
I really dont understand why some people are so much narrow minded. he has given some responsibility. Muslims must congratulate him and try to take maximum benefits from his position. Who knows after next election he may also become a minister.
Anyways. All the best Mr Uchil. Go ahead and do good for the society and also for your community.
Just reward for defending communal news paper which published article against Islam and our prophet. He losing religion/people for Duniya's political career.
Mr PK (Comment No.8)
Your name also suggests that u r a pakistani fan. by the way Mr Rahim Uchil is appointed as BJP Minority Morcha vice president. And you are advising him to do the works of Mukri Morcha vice president! thats very funny!
Dear raheem uchil, may allah guide you to understand islam...aameen
Before answering to all the above questions you need to prepare yourself here in this world.
Congrats Rahim Bhai. You are one of a very few nationalist Muslim. We are all proud of you. Hope you will change the fate of ur community and teach them nationalism.
His life style fits into BJP which is built on corrupt foundation. The man never hesitates to do anything crime for personal benefits. This is the quality against the Islamic values.
EFFECT OF DIGITAL INDIAAAA.....
Dear Uchil,
Now that cheddis have given you the certificate for your commitment. from president to vice president.
Atleast save them from falling into the fire.
Tell them : Idol worship is wrong, its also mentioned in vedas (na tasya pratima asti - there is no image of God)
Tell them : There is no god worthy of Worship except ALLAH and Muhammad pbuh is the final messenger of ALLAH.
Tell them : Every deed in this life will be accounted and will be judged for an enternal life of heaven or hell.
Tell them Good deed will take you to heaven
Tell them if anybody did evil... ask forgiveness with God and promise never to commit again. & also ask forgiveness with the person they committed crime.
Tell them :
Dont hoist pakistan flag and blame muslims
Dont create JNU and doctored videos
Dont keep news anchors who decieve public with Lies.
Dont create unrest with false love jehad
Dont create face book page in the name of Muslim identity
Dont catch innocent MUSLIMs and DALITS & torture.
Dont Make bombs, they were already caught many times while doing it.
Dont kill humans for cows. it doesnt look better when we see international news.
Govts are not permanent, tomorrow it may be out of power.. People already know now who is a leader and who is a deciever.. Y dont YOU recognize it?
Another Naqvi or Shanwaz he too will be fit in nothing
Poor Chap what a pity.
I will give answers in mahshara.. In sha Allah
Clearly Cheddis are barking against Muslims and Dalits... and this Cheddi chela blind to see it...
Cheddis are very cunning in deceiving the people including their own cheddi members.
U have already become a weapon for cheddis to fight our own BROTHERS in faith.
They use dalit members to attack innocent which we now know .... whats their fate (Some spending their life in prison and some are on the run to the courts and some even in hideouts)
Only ALLAH knows Whats your intention by joining the haters of Muslims who opening deceive public about the peaceful religion.
Head Master of the school where there is only one master in the entire school.
Congrats Rahim Yachil, Engage Praising R.S.S an BD Goons acts and following kalladka Bhat, you will be prosperous future in National level.
Congratulations Master Rahim, For Saffron Terrorist team Have to Have a good Speaker like you Uchilas keep it up so far you doing great work for Saffron Criminals, you criminals forgotten about Master Chaddi Anwar Manippady, he might have seen this message sure he will do like before how he left our great National party Congiieee!!!!! look like nowadays barking dog never bites.
any way master uchil you lucky man become a member of Yeddianna group.
BJP needs such muslims who are ready to sell themselves for the sake of money and seat though their own people are suffering from this hate mongers of BJP.
I hope this man was there in the sangh parivar processions who attacked Muslims and ransacked their propertities plus places of worship.
Dear Rahim, i could not understand what will be your fate on the Day of Judgement for your injustice to your own people You are supporting the terrorists who are after Muslims. shame on you.
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