By Nigar Ataulla for TwoCircles.net
“As Muslims and as people who follow Islam, A positive approach should be the motto of our life. Allah Almighty says again and again in the Quran that one should be positive. Negativity is not part of Islamic lifestyle or thinking. Muslims should think positively and be a vibrant community. We should work on the positive motto that we are here to lead, not to be led….” K. Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha.
Hailing from a small taluk called Krishnarajpet in Mandya district in Karnataka, Mr K. Rahman Khan completed 12 years as MLC and has been with the Congress Party for 40 years. Successfully running through his second consecutive term as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and his third consecutive term as Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) he comes across as an unassuming and extremely down-to-earth person. A disciplined lifestyle has ensured that he looks years younger than his 69. Neither the luxurious lawns of his home in Delhi, nor the sparkling red lights on his car have affected his outlook towards life and the world. He remains simple and maintains a realistic approach towards things around him. Away from the formality of the pillars of Parliament, in this conversation with Nigar Ataulla he pours his heart out on various issues related to the Muslim community and life in general.
My father, the late Qasim Khan Saheb, who passed away about 18 years ago, was the major source of inspiration for me. I was born in a small town. My father had a small kirana shop in Mandya. He followed Islam in its letter and spirit. In business, he strictly adhered to Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) principles. Even today, my father is talked about in the whole of the town as a legend who set an example of honesty, integrity and straightforwardness. In the entire taluk of Krishnarajpet in Mandya, there is not a single person who does not know my father. I inherited his vision of positiveness. He was a businessman, but never hoarded. He also set up a chemist shop, which still exists today and is managed by my younger brother. The virtue of honesty and its fragrance left behind by my father lingers on today too, and in the town people throng to this same chemist shop even today.
K. Rahman Khan
In India, for the past 60 years, the Muslim community has been involved in one or the other emotional issue, be it the issue of the Urdu language, Muslim Personal Law Board, discrimination or reservations and so on. After Partition, the Muslims inherited several problems, for which the current generation is not responsible.
Democracy and the Indian Constitution are the greatest strength of India and its citizens. As far as religion is concerned, the Indian Constitution has given complete freedom to its citizens to profess and practise any religion they wish to. And it has also given everyone freedom to propagate his or her own religion. This makes it possible that no religion is threatened. At the same time, while propagating one’s religion, it should be kept in mind that the sentiments of no other religion are hurt.
Muslims in India after Partition are an integral part of the Indian society and in the last 60 years, they are suffering from a psychological blockade that they are discriminated, that Islam is in danger or even that their empowerment is only possible through the government. They also feel that their leaders have misled them, which is quite true. Muslims have failed to develop the confidence that they can be self-reliant. In any nation or society, discrimination is common. In a mixed society like India’s, or, for that matter, in every other society, discrimination is common. Some Muslims might feel that because they are Muslims they are discriminated against. Similarly, others too feel that they are discriminated against, such as Dalits, Advisasis etc. By saying this, I am not undermining the ills in the society. Take an example. Suppose a person is born with a physical or mental handicap. Can he or she spend his or her entire life lamenting about this? Can he or she keep blaming God and people around him? No! He or she has to try to overcome the handicap in different ways. What I wish to convey is that as Muslims and as people who follow Islam, a positive approach should be the motto of our life. Allah Almighty says again and again in the Quran that one should be positive. Negativity is not part of Islamic lifestyle or thinking. Muslims should think positively and be a vibrant community. We should work on the positive motto that we are here to lead, not to be led.
If there are four people, who is the most useful? It is the one who is most vibrant and useful to the other three. Muslims today should demonstrate that they have knowledge of the Quran, and act in accordance with its teachings of justice, fairness and equity. Let us introspect as a community. While accepting the fact that Muslims are being discriminated against, let us introspect why this discrimination is happening. We as Muslims cannot shift responsibility of our failure onto others. When Muslims ask something and the government gives it, then it is wrongly taken as ‘appeasement’ by the rest of the society. My point is: who is stopping Muslims from climbing the ladders of success?
I hail from a little town. Did anyone stop me from coming up? No! Think about the Muslim scholars of the past, who set up educational or religious institutions. Take the case of the respected scholar, Maulana Ali Miyan. He was respected not just in India, but across the world. Did he not struggle on his own to gain knowledge and reach that level? Then why this state of affairs now? I have always felt uncomfortable with the idea of Muslims carrying the label of “sufferers” around their necks.
If we really introspect, a fact comes to light that we have not been giving to others enough. Allah’s quality is giving. In the past, Muslims contributed in every field, But now, why this passivity? It is because of the present frame of mind. Why cannot Muslims be positive thinkers, positive intellectuals and learn to give more, qualitatively and quantitatively, in various fields? As a community we should have an agenda. We know our weakness, but not our strengths. Our leaders are spreading a sort of psychological blockade among the masses that we are being discriminated against. We have forgotten to rectify our faults. Muslims, including the religious clerics, should participate more in social and humanitarian causes. We have forgotten our huququl ibad, our obligations towards the creatures of God. We unfortunately give too much stress on ritualism. We need to make our presence felt in the society by our contribution and performance. We have forgotten the method of dialogue. We need to inculcate and imbibe the qualities of Allah in us—qualities such as mercy, forgiveness, generosity etc.
I do not believe that Muslim youth are involved in terrorism. A few miniscule number might have been misguided to feel that their anger can change society. But the Prophet (pbuh) never guided the community with anger. Jihad is a sacred word, and it is misused by the media too. The Prophet gave clear guidelines about war. Some Muslims misinterpret some Quranic verses and then think that by giving their own lives and killing innocents they are gaining shahadat. I dislike this sort of Muslims who say they are jihadis or mujahideen and kill innocents in the name of Islam. Take Kashmir. This is a political problem and territorial problem, not a religious one, unlike how some self-styled Islamists present the issue, to justify which they have misinterpreted Islam.
I strongly feel that Muslims should have 10 year planning like a Vision Statement that covers various issues like poverty, illiteracy, empowerment, women’s education, child labour etc. I appeal to the Muslim community to have a positive approach. We should not get distracted by the obstacles and hurdles that come our way. In the current scenario, amidst all the differences we have, we have to rise and shine.
Muslim youth today should understand that if someone is suppressing them from coming up in life, in their educational or professional fields, then they should learn to struggle against these peacefully and emerge victorious. It all lies within them -their inner will power and strength. It’s all in the minds and hearts. Muslims really need to work on their potential talents and qualities and prove themselves.
I have always believed in positive thinking and belief in Allah. I did not plan anything major, but only planned to strengthen myself. I never asked for favours or a post. I believed in working on my own potential.
Through Islam we can bring peace. Not through anger. It is time we brought about the positive spirit among ourselves. Without it, how can we bring about changes in others and solve our many problems? Despite differences of opinion, Muslims should dialogue with the other communities in the country, as well as among themselves. Infighting among maslaks will only complicate things. Look back at our past history, how developed the community was. Who stopped them? Nobody. They worked on their potential skills. Even in a small family there is discrimination—if a father favours one child, others feel left out and discriminated.. So this is a reality we need to accept it and still continue to work with a positive approach amidst these challenges.
We can all give angry speeches, deliver fiery discourses, badmouth various political parties etc, but for how long? Instead of this, Muslims should become aware of the rights available to them in the Constitution and make use of them. I often talk to community members and stress on self-reliance. Every year when the IAS list comes up there are a few Muslim names, too. How did they achieve this? I suppose they worked on their strengths and potentials. In this regard it is vital that our ulema play a central role by conveying positive thoughts through jumma khutbahs. So, basically what I am trying to say is that in the face of the challenges that Muslims are facing, the only way out is by cultivating a positive approach, instead of simply lamenting about our problems.