By Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander
Many a youngsters, literate, well to do, self-made men included, are talking about the need of establishing Khilafah in the world. Ranging from quagmire in local Kashmiri resistance politics to global Muslim resistance against US imperialism, they question the beliefs of Shias that were based more on demonization of the minority than factual reality.
One such youngster I met recently discussed issues such as the Shia belief about fourth caliph being god; Quran not being complete according to them; Shias helping the imperialists; and legitimizing the war against the Shias as being similar to that of tussle against infidels. I was shocked at this description and to add more to my shock, he described Baghdadi as the Caliph of Muslims, who heads the brutal regime and rogue group of ISIS.
But mainstream Shias never have such beliefs. I can vouch for it as I am aware of their beliefs being active in Intra Faith Dialogue over a number of years. The difference between Shias and Sunnis is more political, that, over the centuries became theological and sectarian. The salvation in hereafter is not based on the belief in the status of four caliphs of Islam.
Further, if Shias as a political dynasty of Fatmids carried out attacks against the Sunni empire of Abbasids, it was more political than religious and South Asian Shias or even today’s Shias have nothing to do with the political wars fought centuries before.
Plus how can South Asian Shias be responsible for the atrocities being done by Syrian or Yemeni Shias and similar holds true for Sunnis. Further, Quran vehemently condemns the killing of an innocent describing it synonymous with the killing of whole humanity (5:32). Another argument is that due to their (Shia’s) beliefs and worldview which are considered anti-Islamic, thus their killings are legitimized.
Despite the fact that may do agree to these contentions and reservations for ISIS, still they are convinced that what ISIS is doing is better than every single Muslim revivalist movements’ efforts. This strong attraction for ISIS is certainly a result of the failure of every Muslim movement and reaction against the occupiers, imperialists and neo colonizers.
Further, the subsequent denial of justice, embedded corruption in the system, quagmire of politics and helplessness of a common man has resulted in the pent up of resentment, anger and frustration that finds its vent in the endless cycle of violence, that first of all initiates for correcting the wrongs.
The youth of Kashmir have always been at the receiving end, due to denial of justice and alienation, hence they certainly are finding the ISIS ideology charming because both mainstream and resistance politics has disillusioned them. Further, there is a deep anger against the administrative system because it fails to deliver without the fuel of bribes. The culture of bribery certainly frustrates youth. If the oppression, systematic failure, denial of justice and institutionalized corruption continues in Kashmir, then ISIS being a reality in Kashmir can’t be far from truth.
(M H A Sikander is writer-activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir and can be reached at [email protected])