CASTE

Caste- one of the most horrifying words I have come across, especially when people forget the purpose and rituals that started the various castes!! But in the present society, though the entire context has changed people still follow it giving it a new meaning.

There are so many religions being followed in our country, and all have castes and sub castes. I don’t want to rather I can’t comment on the caste system followed in other religion, but would want to share about what is being followed in Islam, in general.

Friends, please forgive me if I hurt anybody’s feelings, but my only intention is to gather your views and eventually take some steps against such ‘not needed’ so called social practices!! I really find them anti social! These things, for which we cannot argue with our respected elders, can surely be taken care of at our own levels. We, as an individual can stand for the peace, avoiding such unnecessary issues, as we grow old. We can, need to, bring about changes in our thinking and start afresh.

As I mentioned in my previous post regarding following basics in Islam, same thing I would like to say again, to please follow basics. It is mentioned in HOLY QUR’AN, that the person who follows the caste system is bad in the eyes of The Almighty! But we find almost 99% of our Muslim friends following the same. Every body says, “You should be afraid of Allah, you should not do anything which is disliked by The Almighty” and similar things, but still people do follow this caste system which is not preached by Him! Where the fear of Allah goes while we discriminate people in the name of caste? Why?? The social image gets bigger than Allah?? All the values are kept aside, why? Doesn’t this mean that it’s all manmade and is easily manipulated by man as per convenience?? In that case where are the beliefs?

There are many more questions that arise within! All this makes me wonder what people mean by belief and are they true enough in following their religion!

Friends, this is not the way Islam is! In Islam, when a person is asked, “Who are you?” Then the reply should be, “I am a Muslim”, simple! No caste, no creed is required.

Most commonly these issues and discrimination arises in matter of marriages. Parents want their children to marry in the same caste; they see only caste and not the person. Parents do not allow their children to marry the person of their choice because of caste differences even if the individual would have all the desirable points. When their child insists, parent make the situation worse by putting the blame on their upbringing saying things like, “We could not be good parents, there must be something missing in our upbringing for which God is punishing us!”. This neither convinces the child, nor gives good feeling to parents. Instead builds in guilt within the child and a gap in the parent –child relation. This adamancy does no good; I believe that if we think that religion is all about beliefs and one wants to stick to beliefs, then one need to clarify the beliefs, their origin, and meaning.

With every passing day, I try to gather as much information about the do’s and don’ts in detail and about the good and evil practices being followed in Islam. It’s my requirement to know because I don’t want to follow any such anti social practice in the name of Islam, as I believe in Islam and want to maintain this belief with purity!

ISLAMIC MISCONCEPTIONS

My religion- Islam

I believe in Islam, I feel that the religion is my way of living. I have been living and following the religion for last 23 years, since my birth. I cannot claim that I know all about Islam, there is still much more that I need to and want to know and understand. I have known Islam through those few statements that my parents and our respected ‘MAULWI SAHAB’ (Muslim priest) have taught me and also some from the society.

Since childhood we've been taught to just follow what is being said in Islam, never thought about the logics behind them. I never bothered to find out the reasons behind some strictly followed practices under Islam

Just follow blindly is what I have been doing and I find most of the Muslims doing the same. Some might feel bounded by the society whereas others might just want to be the perfect Muslim

Recently with my observations and experiences around in the capital city, Delhi, I have realized that they all are not perfect. The intentions behind following Islam are deviated. People are following practices, doing activities which are not at all guided by Islam, but they are being practiced…….

In reaction to what I have been observing around, thought to share my viewpoint with you all.

Say for example, many a times I get some forwarded messages regarding STANDING AGAINST SOME COMMUNITY ON THE NAME OF ISLAM or PRAYING ill for SOMEBODY just because he\she has done something to show MUSLIM community down. One day I received the following message from a Muslim friend, which said:
"IN AMERICA SOMEBODY HAS OPENED A BAR NAMED ‘KAABA’ AND ITS SHAPE IS ALSO EXACTLY LIKE KAABA, SO PRAY FOR THAT BAR TO GET DESTROYED SOON".

Please I request all of you, of other religion also, don’t forward such religion based messages. They might bring feeling of oneness among the same community members, but will surely seep in violence and hatred also which is not the purpose of Islam. Islam does not ask you to pray ill for anybody.

First of all, please stop praying so. If somebody has done wrong, the ALMIGHTY will punish him/her on His own. We need not worry about it. Secondly, if we have ample of time lets look at ourselves! Are we doing everything good in our life?
If yes, then great! Let’s keep doing the good, let’s not harm anybody, let’s not be violent, almighty will make everything good for us in the end. Feel peace!
If no, then let’s utilize this ample time to do good; good for self, for the society.

Many Muslims get angry on Whites’ behaviour with Muslims. And they tend to just take actions against them. But do we think what made them behave the manner they do? Do we sit and analyze the situation? When and where do they misbehave? What is the overall situation? Is it only that they misbehave? Are we nice with them, especially when they are in our country?

On a day out with my closest friend, when we planned to go to Jama Masjid in old Delhi, an incident happened that raised all these questions in my mind! While we were entering the mosque, we saw the keeper was not being nice with two foreigners, was rude with them, who had come all the way to visit our sacred place of worship. He told them that its namaz time, nobody can enter! While others were entering, so they were confused that why only they are being stopped! On the top of it the man was talking at his highest pitch to shoo the foreigners away. Nobody around bothered except one Indian lady, who was equally curious to know the actual reason.

I intervened, but the man stopped me and asked not to interfere! But I did, as his behavior was giving Islam’s social picture on a negative side. Although my intervention could do no good, and the foreigners left saying that they won’t come back to such place! They went off with the image of entire religion which was based only on one man’s behaviour!

But every Muslim is not the same. Every Muslim does not behave the same manner. There are good Muslims also, like any other good human being! Like there are good and bad in any religion, any caste, any creed, there are good and bad Muslims too! They are humans! Like every human, Muslims also avoid violence.

There are few who think of just spreading out the terror in the name of Islam. Such people exist not only in Islam but in every religion, every community as well. Only because all these terrorists have names belonging to Muslim community, that doesn't imply that they are following Islam. Actually they are not; they don't abide by the rules of Islam.

We all should be alert of them all, but should analyze and then act. Instead of encouraging violence and rage in the name of religion. Not a single religion speaks of violence. Same goes for Islam.

Generally many people do not stand against such things only to avoid any kind of personal harm and communal riots too. But aren’t we responsible towards our own community, our religion? Should we not see to it that our community is getting a bad name around because of certain activities, which are not depicted or guided by Islam? Can’t we stand for the right and maintain peace at the same time?

I just want to request all, that friends please don't get Islam and its rules in a wrong manner. It is full of peace. Everything said in Islam has its own basic reasons, so please understand them to follow the basics not just the statements.

It’s my humble request to every person reading this, please don't bring any misconception about Islam in your minds, ISLAM is all about peace. In fact Islam took birth to remove violence and establish peace in the world. And for those who follow Islam, please try and understand the logic and reasons, and do not walk blindly. It would make things easier for all to follow the path towards peace easily.