Shia-Sunni Discord During Muharram in Kashmir Valley

By Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New Age Islam 9 August 2024 But The Contemporary Ahle Hadith And Deobandis Take Mu’awiya As Exemplary Sahabi, And Try To Uphold His Status Similar To That Of Imam Ali (AS) And Others, Which Is A Grave Injustice To Both Personalities And Islam Too. ------ Muslims mostly believe in conspiracy theories, and on the arrival on Mehdi, whom they think will change everything positively for them. Each sect among Muslims has their own understanding and interpretation of Mehdi, and how he will help them triumph over other sects. Leaving the Mehdi debate aside, Muharram (2024) in Kashmir brought forth the ugly Shia-Sunni sectarianism. Shias being a minority in Kashmir did not depict their aggressive stance as they would in Syria and Iraq, where the persecution of Sunnis at the hands of Shia gangs and violent groups is an open secret. Sunnis mostly were aggressive particularly the Ahle Hadith and Deobandi sect, who tried to describe themselves as vanguard of honour of Sahabas (companions of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), whereas the Shias stand for the love of Ahle Bayt (family of Prophet Muhammad particularly through his daughter Fatima (RA). Sunnis also uphold the love for Ahle Bayt but many among them start praising Banu Ummayah led by Mu’awiya, who was the first king in Islam not a Caliph. It is in the stature of Mu’awiya and Imam Ali (AS), that the current roots of discord lie and this tussle of granting the status of Sahaba to Mu’awiya is where the contention really lies. Shias do not consider Mu’awiya as a Sahabi, but his whole family as hypocrites. Everyone however has a consensus over the fact that Mu’awiya’s rule was not caliphate but kingship and he like any other ruler threw the fundamentals of Islam and morality to winds. This fact has been established but most Sunni Ulema turn a blind eye to these facts, but there are certain exceptions like Maulana Salman Nadwi in India and Engineer Mohammad Ali Mirza and Late Maulana Ishaq in Pakistan. In our contemporary era, these debates are futile except for the Shia and Sunni mullahs who benefit from this historic tussle immensely. This tussle has no relevance today, although the reality has been accepted by all that Imam Ali (AS) was the real Caliph and Mu’awiya a rebel leader, who destroyed the unity of Muslims and then usurped the power while becoming a king further destroyed the real political vestige of Islam. However, during Muharram as the Shias were mourning the massacre of Ahle Bayt in Karbala at the hands of Yazeed, son of Mu’awiya, many mullahs of Deoband and Ahle Hadith sect began to sing praises of Mu’awiya camouflaging and concealing it with the Azmat e Suhaba (Greatness of Companions of Prophet). It was done to provoke the emotional yet illiterate masses, while confusing them in the name, honour and greatness of Sahabas. According to Ahle Sunnah doctrine Sahabas are not a monolith, there is a broad definition about Sahabas, but then there are categories among them. Mu’awiya and his family falls in the last category who accepted Islam after the fall of Mecca. They accepted Islam as the last resort because they would otherwise be slayed. It can be simply concluded that they were subdued due to sword as part of the Principle of Itmaam e Hujjat. But the contemporary Ahle Hadith and Deobandis take Mu’awiya as exemplary Sahabi, and try to uphold his status similar to that of Imam Ali (AS) and others, which is a grave injustice to both personalities and Islam too. Delivering sermons and making them viral over social media about Mu’awiya in Muharram is provocative as it was his system that led to the massacre in Karbala. It was a result of such provocations that in Shaheed Gunj area of Srinagar, few Shia households were attacked by sectarian elements who also chanted slogans like Kafir Kafir Shia Kafir. Now, the conspiracy theory making rounds is that some hidden hands and nefarious interests are behind it, while forgetting the role of few fringe Sunni mullahs. The local police had to intervene to maintain calm, otherwise the situation would have turned much more violent. Later on, some mullahs appealed for Peace and unity that again appeared to be farce because there are grounds to be established on which unity can be forged, otherwise it will be superficial. Unless and until the sectarian mullahs do not consider praying behind each other as valid and marrying between the sects as preferable till then all such statements of unity will be farce. They may appear to have a soothing timely impact to contain the issue, but the real contentious issue will remain as it is. Brushing the division under the carpet may lead us to believe that everything is fine, however in reality the problem will remain lurking. The practical steps certainly will be the lived realities that need to be changed by implementing actions like praying behind each other and marrying in the other sect. Only these steps will help develop permanent harmony whereas the statements are just a mere lip service, that will never help overcome the sectarian strife prevalent among Muslims of Kashmir. These statements are issued by the Ulema more for the purpose of maintaining their relevance among the masses, rather than for overcoming sectarianism. ----- M.H.A. Sikander is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-sectarianism/shia-sunni-discord-muharram-kashmir-valley/d/132899 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