Arkaan–E–Confusion

A single verse (out of over six thousand verses) was flashed on the huge background banner of Jamaa‘at-e-Islami Hind’s Ijtimaa‘e ‘Aamm stage on 4-7 November 2010 in New Delhi. How that one verse was coherently aligned, reasonably harmonized and satisfactorily explained in ALL the speeches and discussions needs to be seriously looked into. There were topics that, on closer scrutiny, ran counter to the core ideology of Jamaa‘at-e-Islami Hind, which is the establishment of hukoomat-e-ilaahiyyah or iqaamat-e-deen as it is understood by the Jamaa‘at. How did the Jamaa‘at deal with those topics without creating and reinforcing any confusion in its members is a point of serious consideration.

If the Jamaa‘at-e-Islami Hind raises the slogan “mulk bachaa’o ghareebi, ghulaami aur bad amnee se (save the country from poverty, slavery and unrest)” then who will save the country from ‘secularism’ and ‘democracy’ – the two arch enemies of Jamaa‘at-e-Islami? Then what was the essence and purpose of Tajdeed-e-‘Ahd? Tajdeed-e-‘Ahd and ‘challenges’ should be for hukoomat-e-ilaahiyyah or iqaamat-e-deen. Also, it is not clear what is meant by ‘tawaazun (balance) in the ‘works’ of Tahreek-e-Islami. Also, how can we reconcile it with the qurbaaniyaan (sacrifices) especially in the light of the history of Tahreek-e-Islami.

With what message a huge number (and we should not count heads) of Arkaan might have gone back home, I am not sure. And what they might be carrying out in their respective places – inspired by the clear collective message (or the lack of it) that they got (or didn’t get) from the Ijtimaa‘? By constantly looking at the verse in the background and then listening to the speeches the Arkaan might have become more and more confused – without realizing that they are confused. And this is the greater problem (museebah).

Confusion, self-contradiction and directionlessness are clearly visible in the conversations of the members of Jamaa‘at-e-Islami Hind. But the willingness to sort out the situation and find a clear direction removing all the cobwebs of confusion is missing. If I go to Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, I will be able to explain everything that happens in the Campus coherently. But I am not able to coherently describe what is happening and what everybody is doing in the Markaz of Jamaa‘at-e-Islami Hind in the same New Delhi. It is not apple and oranges. It is more than that. There is some serious problem somewhere.

It will be good if the Jamaa‘at-e-Islami Hind thoroughly discusses this matter in an appropriate forum and listens to the different views of its own members patiently and with a view to really change its direction. It should realize the fact that we need to go back to the cumulative spirit of Qur’an and stop quoting selectively. It should realize the fact that we have to extract guidance for today and every age from the whole Qur’an – literally. It should realize that we need to say good bye to the selective reference to Qur’anic verses which does huge injustice to Its total spirit.

The next Ijtimaa‘e ‘Aamm should not put the same verse on a huge banner in the background of the stage if it cannot be coherently and satisfactorily explained. It shouldn’t do so because then the gap between the speeches and discussions and this verse (as it is understood) will be wider and wider then. This situation will create even more confusion. It is no smaller a gap today. Imagine the gap tomorrow. And the day after. We cannot afford the wastage of energies and resources anymore. We cannot afford to spend so much and then go back home confused. What will be the accomplishments of a confused state of mind is not difficult to imagine.

Imagine, on the other hand, so many Arkaan-e-Jamaa‘at going back home with a very clear agenda of promoting and working for holistic education in non-exclusivist institutions! This change of direction is not a small thing. It will be a very big long-overdue step taken by the Jamaa‘at towards the expression and realization of the spirit of Islam in the form of a lasting wonderful civilization for the entire world – which is what the world needs so badly today. Every change exacts a price, though. What is the price for this change in the Jamaa‘at? It is to resolve to come out of its self-contradiction and confusion. Is ke liye naak katvaani paregi. Aur naak bachaaney ki yahi ek soorat hai ke naak katvaa di jaa’ay.

We the Indian Muslims have a herd-mentality. We cling to one personality. The ‘benefit’ (actually the harm) in sticking to one personality is that one does not need to look at anyone else. This is a very big luxury because it conveniently saves us from the toughest job on earth – THINKING. Let us learn from all the luminaries of the past and move on. The extra baggage from Maulana Sayyid Abul A‘la Maududi needs to be shed. It is breaking the back. It is leading to nowhere – in a flood of confusion. Maulana Maududi belongs to history. Time will decide what to take from him and what not.

May be we need to take more from Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Muhammad Iqbal and ‘Allama Hameeduddin Farahi. We did take something from the first. We didn’t take much from the second. And have conveniently ignored the last and confined him to classrooms and to seminars – as a routine. ‘Allama Hameeduddin Farahi can put the entire Book in our Right Hand. He can help dispel the darkness of confusion with the light of clarity. Are we ready for it?