Page 7 - Pakistan Link - November 15, 2019
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OPINION                                                                                                       NOVEMBER 15,  2019  –  PAKISTAN LINK  –  P7

                      n By Dr Aslam Abdullah                     Faith over Justice                         state institution would serve the interest of the political elites, be-
                               CA                                                                           longing to upper-caste Hindus who believe in a militant and resur-
                                                                                                            gent interpretation of Hinduism
              n the day when Kartarpur opened its arms to welcome                                               We know that there would be many more Muslim places of
              people from all over the world to worship in the newly                                        worship that would be taken away and awarded to upper-castes un-
        Orebuilt birthplace of the founder of Sikh religion, the                                            der the pretext that their gods and goddesses were born there.
        land where once stood the Babri Masjid in the north Indian city                                         We also know that the government institutions would be used
                    of Ajodhya for almost fi ve hundred years was                                           to create a narrative of history to negate the Muslim presence in In-
                    shut for Muslims forever.                                                               dia.
                        One of the oldest disputes over the ownership                                           We must realize the fact that the Supreme Court is not the ul-
                    of land fi nally came to an end when the Supreme                                        timate agency of justice. Th  ere is an authority higher than every hu-
                    Court in a unanimous decision decided to rescind                                        man authority that imparts justice to all those who are forced to
                    the Muslim right over the land and handed it over                                       accept injustice. Th  at authority has yet to implement its verdict over
                    to Hindus to reconstruct the Temple under the                                           this Court injustice. Until that happens, the believers in Him must
        supervision of the Ramjanambhomi Trust. It is an irony that while                                   not lose hope and work harder to make their lives meaningful.
        Pakistan announced the decision to renovate 400 Hindu temples in                                        But the resistance must go on, and we must fi ght back the in-
        Pakistan, India’s highest court decided to take away the Babri Masjid                               justice.
        from Muslims.                                                                                           How to fi ght back the injustice is the issue?
             Th  e Supreme Court explained that its decision is based on the                                    To educate every Muslim and empower each one with an un-
        basis of law, and not on the basis of belief and traditions. Yet, the                               derstanding of faith that leads them to make their existence relevant
        decision exposes the biases and the reliance on traditions and beliefs.                             to society and the time they live in.
        Th  is is how the Court’s biases become clear.                                                          It is the only way forward.
            Ram Lalla was the only part whose right to the land was ac-                                         Mosques are symbols of Muslim’s commitment and dedication
        knowledged and accepted. It is part of the belief system and tradi-                                 to one God and the Guidance He has given to humanity. But the
        tional accounts. It is not a historical fact as there are scores of places                          education and using it under the guidance of God to serve humanity
        that claim to be the birthplace of Ram.                                                             are the real manifestation of our true faith.
            Sunni Waqf Board that has managed the mosque for centuries                                          We need to think outside the box to rejuvenate our community.
        was not considered a legitimate body to contest the land ownership,                                 We need to take steps to inspire ourselves for a future that is mean-
        yet the Court awarded fi ve acres of land to the board to reconstruct                               ingful to us and others.
        a new Masjid elsewhere.                           most 500 years as a place of worship.                 Not only in India but elsewhere, we must organize ourselves
            Nirmohi Akhara was not considered a party to the land dispute,   Th  e Court claimed that the mosque was not used as a place   to ensure that no Muslim child remains uneducated in modern sci-
        yet the newly formed Trust was asked to include its members on the   of worship until the beginning of the 19th century, yet restored the   ences. Simultaneously, we must also ensure that each Muslim child
        board.                                            right of worship to a Hindu claimant in the Masjid land where there   receives basic religious education to empathize with humanity as
            Th  e Court acknowledged that no temple was demolished, but   was no proof of Hindu worship.    part of a commitment to God.
        the Babri Masjid was not built on vacant land.        Th  e court decision is based on politics and is not unbiased. But   To achieve this, we must create educational and social funds
            Th  e Court relied on the Archeological Survey of India’s recom-  it is a decision of the highest legal institution of India. Muslims have   to fi nance higher education as well as to create institutions such as
        mendation that said that the mosque was built on the structure that   announced their intention to accept the claim. But the acceptance   schools, colleges, hospitals, and orphanages, etc. We must also devel-
        did not look like an Islamic structure, yet did not prove beyond doubt   does not mean that injustice is accepted. History would always re-  op a religious and social curriculum that liberates us from focusing
        that the structure mentioned above was part of the Hindu Temple.  cord the decision of the Court a political one rooted in majoritarian-  on non-issues and empowers us with the capabilities of serving all
            Th  e Court failed to establish that there stood a temple dedicated   ism.                      the people around us to improve their living standards.
        to Ram, yet decided to accept the traditional belief that a temple ex-                                  It is possible only when our youth take the leadership role in
        isted on the land where the Babri Masjid was built.   Babri Masjid ‘s conversion to Hindu Temple    our organizations and institutions. It is possible only when we think
            Th  e Court described the demolition of the Masjid in the 1990s   Th  ere is no need to lament and no need to cry foul over the In-  critically and challenge every tradition that has shackled us for cen-
        unlawful, yet failed to restore the mosque to Muslims.  dian Supreme Court’s decision to award the land of the Babri Masjid   turies.
            Th  e Court claimed that its decision is based on law, but failed to   to Hindus to construct the Ram Temple. Th  ere is also no relevance   It is time to build the present and the future rather than curse
        present any legal document in support of the belief that the land was   to accept the fi ve acres of land elsewhere to rebuild a new Masjid.   the past. We have to change the reality for ourselves, and we can no
        the birthplace of Ram.                            Injustice is done, and injustice should be resisted and fought back.  longer depend on anyone else other than God and his guidance to
            Th  e Court failed to explain the existence of the Masjid for al-  We know the reality that under the present government, every   show us the path; and the path of God is the path of progress.





























































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