A Call for Unity, Reform, and Progress in Our Community

By Mohammad Ali, New Age Islam 11 September 2025 Respected Leaders, Elders, and Brothers and Sisters in Faith, Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu, I write to you with deep respect and love, but also with pain at the challenges our community faces. This is not criticism, but a humble plea for collective reflection and decisive action. We are blessed with the Qur’an and the Sunnah, yet too often we follow rituals without understanding, traditions without transformation. Our madrasas rarely teach the Qur’an with meaning, and modern education, especially for women, remains neglected. Meanwhile, other communities progress in education, economy, and nation-building, while we remain behind. Mismanagement of waqf properties, sectarian divisions, absence from civil services, and pursuit of short-term gains weaken us further. Worse, unlawful activities by a few damage the reputation of the many. Above all, we must remember: our home is India. Our dignity and security lie in being proud Indian Muslims, faithful to Islam and loyal to our nation. What Must Be Done 1. Unite the Community – Rise above sectarian and ideological differences; act as one Ummah. 2. Modernize Education – Reform madrasas, promote modern learning, and empower women. 3. Responsible Leadership – Leaders must be accountable, visionary, and dedicated to faith and nation. 4. Revive Waqf Assets – Use them productively for schools, hospitals, and scholarships. 5. Promote Harmony – Respect all faiths and be law-abiding, peaceful citizens. 6. Nation-Building – Encourage youth to join civil services, the army, police, and administration. 7. Live Islam Beyond Rituals – Practice honesty, discipline, and community service year-round. A Final Plea Respected leaders, our condition is not destiny—it is the result of choices. Let us choose unity over division, dignity over backwardness, contribution over stagnation. If we act together, without ideological rifts, we can build a respected and progressive community, true to Islam and loyal to India. ….. Mohammad Ali has been a madrasa student. He has also participated in a three years program of the "Madrasa Discourses,” a program for madrasa graduates initiated by the University of Notre Dame, USA. Currently, he is a PhD Scholar at the Department of Islamic Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. His areas of interest include Muslim intellectual history, Muslim philosophy, Ilm-al-Kalam, Muslim sectarian conflicts, madrasa discourses. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-society/unity-reform-progress-community/d/136794 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism