A Rebuttal to the Article ‘Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam Must Discover Their Spiritual Symbiosis for a Conflict-Free, Environment Conscious World' By Sultan Shahin, Editor, New Age Islam
By Mohammad R. Awal, New Age Islam
18 September 2015
Dear Sir,
I welcome your emphasis on “Spiritual Symbiosis” of world religions that will hopefully settle the dust of war and its by-product—terrorism. Presumably your hope and mine derives from the same notion and indomitable spirit once espoused by India’s great Freedom Fighter, Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar, who is commemorated by both India and Pakistan, in the following words:
“I had long been convinced that here in this Country of hundreds of millions of human beings, intensely attached to religion, and yet infinitely split up into communities, sects and denominations, Providence had created for us the mission of solving a unique problem and working out a new synthesis, which was nothing low than a Federation of Faiths... For more than twenty years I have dreamed the dream of a federation, grander, nobler and infinitely more spiritual than the United States of America, and today when many a political Cassandra prophesies a return to the bad old days of Hindu-Muslim dissensions I still dream that old dream of "United Faiths of India." — Mohammad Ali; from the Presidential Address, I.N.C. Session, 1923, Cocanada (now Kakinada).
There is no denying the fact that the cycle of War and Terrorism in the Middle Eastern countries must come to an end. It is easier said than done.
And a lot has been said, to the world audience, by the printed and visual media dominated by the powerful countries in the Western Hemisphere.
And in the process, truth has been the first casualty, for who does not know the nexus between the Powers and the Press, since the early twentieth century CE? As a prologue to my thesis, in response to your half-baked one in the above captioned article, let me point out that in order to counter the Western Press, Mustapha Kamal Pasha had to create a new news agency, the Anadolu Agency, in order to successfully prosecute the War of Independence of Turkey (1919-22). See, http://www.aa.com.tr/en/corporate/61991--history... and
“….Two intellectuals discussed the necessity that a news agency should be established to counter the allied occupation administration′s censure over the news. They chose Anadolu as the name. Mustafa Kemal, whom they meet in Ankara, immediately launched initiatives to herald the establishment of the Anadolu Agency. [58] Mustafa Kemal wanted to transmit news stories to the world. Kemal also stressed the importance of making the national struggle heard inside and outside of the country.” at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_War_of_Independence.
Therefore, I would urge you to keep a tab on http://www.aa.com.tr/en for checking news as they arrive from the west. And that also drives a point, if we must bring back the legacy of Islamic Leadership in the Indian Subcontinent, in the model of Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar, the other architect behind the successful War of Independence of Turkey (1919-22).
But then your article just paints one side of the story. Therefore, my intention is to present the other side of the story.
The "misguided Islamic violence" is the EFFECT of the CAUSE, which is clearly caused by the End Game of the Cold War between US-led Western Powers (the "victors" of the two World Wars) and the Soviet-led (now Russia) Superpower rivalries. The US used the Jihad concept to push the Soviet out of Afghanistan, and at the same time instigated Iraq via Saudi and Kuwait regimes to ATTACK Peaceful Iran…. MILLIONS of Muslim women, children and able-bodied died through these Exercise of Power between the two Power Blocks, and still counting!
It was the SAME concept of JIHAD used by Ata Turk Kamal Pasha to SUCCESFULLY kick out the armies, from Turkey, of Britain-France-Italy-Greece (the then World Powers and victors of World War I). It was successful and HONORED in History because it was led and guided by TWO credible leaders: Mustafa Kamal in Anatolia and Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar of Hind (present Bharat-Pakistan-Bangladesh). Seethe research paper, titled: “The Help of the Muslims of India in the Turkish War of Independence,” by Dr. Fida Hussain (Department of Social Studies, Faculty of Divinity, University of Ankara, Turkey), at: http://www.academia.edu/6408234/Indian_muslims_and_turkey.
The ONLY WAY to Stop the Current Misguided Jihadist:
Let there emerge the Rightly Guided Islamic Leaders (like the two above-mentioned), who will Call the Shots. And here are the shots, like India's Shashi Tharoor recently demand REPARATIONS from England for its occupation and usurpation of Hind's resources during Colonialism: see, "Dr Shashi Tharoor MP - Britain Does Owe Reparations," at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7CW7S0zxv4)
1. Ask for Reparations from the US Govt for the Overthrow of the first Democratic Government of Iran, 1952
2. Ask for Reparations from Russia for invading and occupying Afghanistan
3. Ask for Reparations from US Govt for invasion of Iraq on the false charge of weapons of mass destruction.
Do the Muslim Ummah in particular, and the Peace-loving citizens of the world have to wait till the advent of Imam Mahdi (AS) and 'Isa (AS)?
Not necessarily. Just a few days after the terrible 9/11 bombings, the present US Presidential aspirant, Ms. Carly Florina (https://carlyforamerica.com/) underscored the importance of LEADERSHIP, by citing the great example of Ottoman Caliphate, as follows:http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/execteam/speeches/fiorina/minnesota01.html
Carly Fiorina (CEO, Hewlett-Packard)
September 26, 2001
"Technology, Business and Our Way of Life: What's Next"
"... As business leaders, as we are faced with questions of life and death rather than how much our stock is worth, the significance of our business contribution to the world may be increased. And that is a good thing.
I’ll end by telling a story.
There was once a civilization that was the greatest in the world.
It was able to create a continental super-state that stretched from ocean to ocean, and from northern climes to tropics and deserts. Within its dominion lived hundreds of millions of people, of different creeds and ethnic origins.
One of its languages became the universal language of much of the world, the bridge between the peoples of a hundred lands. Its armies were made up of people of many nationalities, and its military protection allowed a degree of peace and prosperity that had never been known. The reach of this civilization’s commerce extended from Latin America to China, and everywhere in between.
And this civilization was driven more than anything, by invention. Its architects designed buildings that defied gravity. Its mathematicians created the algebra and algorithms that would enable the building of computers, and the creation of encryption. Its doctors examined the human body, and found new cures for disease. Its astronomers looked into the heavens, named the stars, and paved the way for space travel and exploration.
Its writers created thousands of stories. Stories of courage, romance and magic. Its poets wrote of love, when others before them were too steeped in fear to think of such things.
When other nations were afraid of ideas, this civilization thrived on them, and kept them alive. When censors threatened to wipe out knowledge from past civilizations, this civilization kept the knowledge alive, and passed it on to others.
While modern Western civilization shares many of these traits, the civilization I’m talking about was the Islamic world from the year 800 to 1600, which included the Ottoman Empire and the courts of Baghdad, Damascus and Cairo, and enlightened rulers like Suleiman the Magnificent.
Although we are often unaware of our indebtedness to this other civilization, its gifts are very much a part of our heritage. The technology industry would not exist without the contributions of Arab mathematicians. Sufi poet-philosophers like Rumi challenged our notions of self and truth. Leaders like Suleiman contributed to our notions of tolerance and civic leadership.
And perhaps we can learn a lesson from his example: It was leadership based on meritocracy, not inheritance. It was leadership that harnessed the full capabilities of a very diverse population–that included Christianity, Islamic, and Jewish traditions.”
This kind of enlightened leadership — leadership that nurtured culture, sustainability, diversity and courage — led to 800 years of invention and prosperity.
In dark and serious times like this, we must affirm our commitment to building societies and institutions that aspire to this kind of greatness. More than ever, we must focus on the importance of leadership– bold acts of leadership and decidedly personal acts of leadership."
One should follow up the above speech by Carly, now a US Presidential aspirant (https://carlyforamerica.com/) by the following complementary history on the Ottoman Empire, which was a quintessential Muslim Khilafat:
http://lostislamichistory.com/islam-and-the-ottoman-empire/
Best regards
Mohammad R. Awal, Ph.D. Lubbock, Texas, USA
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