News Kashmir Magazine

CREATIVE DEBATE AND NOISE: WHAT TO CHOOSE?

By Syed Mustafa Ahmad
Debate can be defined as to argue about a particular subject, in a formal way. Debate has been the salient feature of a civilized society. Any innovative thought is thoroughly discussed. The pros and cons of a thing are taken into account. There is no status quo in that society. A solid truth is reinterpreted according to the nature of time. However, it doesn’t mean that truth doesn’t remain the truth at all but the approach, understanding, behavior, etc., found in a particular period, may be different in another period. So, it is creative debate that removes anomalies, if found in a society. But on the other hand, we have noise. Some debates are no debates at all. There only is noise and noise. Nothing good comes out from those debates. The audience feels suffocated. They abhor the word “ debate’ and don’t want to discuss it in their lives.       If this is the case, what is the way to be followed to have a creative debate. In order to remain aloof from noise, what are the salient features that are to be accepted in order to have a creative debate. What is the difference between a creative debate and noise? When we call any discussion a creative debate and when not. Where is the creative debate organized? These are some prerequisites that come in a person’s mind when he wants to differentiate between the two terms. Here, I will try my best to make it clear that what is the creative debate in reality. Moreover, the main focus of my article will be about the conditions required for the creative debate.     First is that with the passage of time, the change is felt in every domain of life. Social life, economic life, political life, moral life, etc., go through a change. The obsolete thoughts give space to new ones. In this transition, there is necessity of changing our outlook. It is here where the need for the creative debate emerges. There is a deliberation about the past and the present. Those things that were true in the past and are relevant to the present, are taken into account. They are preserved and the future course of action is taken accordingly. Those things that are no longer relevant to the present, are discarded. If this is the situation, where the history of any nation is sieved, there are cent percent chances that this society will progress far and wide. But on the other hand, if the past only is the condition for the future, there are cent percent chances that this society will fall headlong into the pit of abyss. Like in case of the Muslims, they have the best Constitution in the world, i.e., the holy Qur’an. Its principles are unalterable. They are compatible with the society. It is for all ages. But the Qur’an itself wants from us is that you should make decisions according to the principles of this book, but the present world should be kept in mind. The ongoing circumstances should be pondered over and accordingly the decisions should be made. But sometimes, the orthodox people are not in a position to accept bit and called it blasphemy. At this point of time, it is difficult to carry out the creative debates.       Second is that we should be in a position to learn from others. When we have this feature, we will have the creative debates. A prejudiced mind never learns anything. He or she won’t be in a position to replace his or her obsolete thoughts with new ones. Hence, it will hamper the smooth functioning of the creative debates. The Muslims learnt philosophy from the Greeks while the world learnt hygiene, equality, Scientific temper, broad mindedness, etc., from the Muslims. It is a give and take method. But the problem starts when a nation exaggerates in many domains, without looking at the world outside. Every event leaves an effect on history. But the essential thing is that good principles from each other should be learnt, discussed and followed.       Third is that we should not judge a book by its cover. On the ground level, a thing looks filthy. But when we remove the layers, the thing comes to the surface with its splendor. This is the biggest fault in the modern times. We see a group of people by its outward appearance and never bother to learn about them deeply.  If we take an example of coal. A piece of coal is black in color. But among the pieces of coal, there lies diamond. Same is the situation in the present world. We have to find reasonable persons among all the communities so that the ground is prepared for effective debates. There are persons who have this capacity but due to many hurdles, they don’t come to the surface. They hate the same noise that has occupied each and every corner of the world. Without these persons, nothing good will availed of. So, this is one of the most important factors in this regard.      Fourth and last is that the common people should be prepared for this. They are not ready. Their minds are barren. They are biased and partial. Their minds are stuffed with some different material. That should be erased. A new initiative has to be started which can lead to new ideas. People generally take noise as a debate. But they should be taught that there is a wide gap between the creative debate and noise. Noise is made by the half intellectuals. They know things superficially. They have no hold over things. Hence, it may provide some boost to the creative debates.      In the light of above discussion,  we should be ready to learn everything that is good according to the divine principles. Take everything that is good for humanity. The principles that bind us together, should be welcomed and the things that disintegrate us, should be abhorred. We have miles to go in order to make this place fit to live. It still is full of challenges. Let intellectualism prevail and the society differentiates between the creative debate and noise.

MANNERS  ALWAYS ARE OBLIGATORY
By Syed Mustafa Ahmad

In the present world, it is quite clear that a majority of the Muslims, are not morally or ethically uplifted. In one of the traditions of Prophet Muhammad, Prophet said that Akhlaaq are obligatory for 24 hours. However, we have been preached that apart from Kalimah, we should offer Namaaz, give alms, remain on fast and go on pilgrimage, if conditions are fulfilled. If a sane person ponders over all these basic things, all are subjected to some conditions. If the conditions are not fulfilled, there are chances that any action may be called null and void. But in case of Akhlaaq, there are no conditions. They are obligatory through out the life. Whether one prays or not, he or she has to be morally uplifted in order to get closeness of God.        The above thing makes it clear that how much Akhlaaq are important. Without Akhlaaq, there is no guarantee that we can be called as true Muslims. But the question that is of utmost importance is that what are the reasons that make it possible to oversight more obligatory things than obligatory things? In the coming lines, I will discuss some causes in concise manner.       First is lack of knowledge. We are not enough educated to understand Islam in its original form. Nevertheless, we know a lot but we know partial things. Prophet Muhammad used to pray that God, show me the truth in its original form and the evil in its original form. This supplication encompasses a lot of lessons for us. It trains us that a mere translation of the Quran and Hadith are not enough. The origin of any verse and Hadith has to be seen. Moreover, all the verses of Qur’an must be inter related and the period of the world should be kept in front so that everything becomes crystal clear. Our irony is that more than 90% people don’t know the Arabic language. Furthermore, understanding Quran and Ahadith have been made so difficult to understand that it needs so many disciplines to be mastered over so that understanding of Islam is possible. This hard and fast rule is responsible, apart  from the role played by some immature and emotional maulvis, who have very narrowly understood Islam and its teachings. Quran is a guide. It has come to let us know why we are here and what to do here. Sunnah always has source from Qur’an. In other words, Sunnah is the practical translation of Quran. But this treasure has been hijacked by Muslim Jurists. Every Jurist has inclination towards a particular thought. He or she reads Qur’an and Sunnah; but still the particular thought doesn’t leave him or her. In this way, Qur’an and Sunnah is reduced to beliefs. Everyone tries his or best to align himself or herself with a particular ideology. If anyone doesn’t align with him or her, he or she is declared deviated. In this manner, the grand edifice of Islam is reduced to some hard core beliefs and the world of Akhlaaq falls into oblivion. Religiosity takes place of Deen( the complete way of life). Respecting like minded persons is followed in letter and in spirit while humiliating opposite groups is also religious deed. Hence, the result is that those things that are the cause of some punishment at some times, take lead over those things that are always welcomed by Islam.       Second is materialism. We honor those who have money to have a comfortable life. Moreover, we respect the rich in order to get something tangible from them while those who do some low class jobs,  are never taken into account. It is opposite of Islam. In the historical books, it is written that in the court of a Persian King, a Companion of the Prophet Muhammad walked on the rare or precious carpet with his mule. All the courtiers were amazed at his bravery. He responded that we have been taught by Prophet Muhammad in such a fashion that we live here; but we have something better that this waiting in the life Hereafter. What does it mean? It means that a majority of the Companions of the Prophet were poor but they got the statuses that no rich can think of. However, in the present world, it has become the futile norm to respect those who have material access while denounce those who are devoid of these. It is a clear violation of Islam. And hence, the result is that we are at the lowest rung of the ladder of Akhlaaq.     Third and last is imitation. We blindly imitate others. By imitating others, we have forgotten our basics. The Western world is not fully wrong. It has some best things to offer. But we cannot go on following them, without looking over good and bad things. Their cultures have a lot to offer to us but they have some loopholes that must be discarded. Ours position is that we imitate them without looking at the pros and cons of a thing. We think that the West have progressed. We have no recourse but to follow them. It is a fallacy to a large extent. Europe went through the “dark ages”. They were enslaved by the illogical rules and regulations. But today, Muslims are going the darkest ages.  In this way, the West lead us in technology and morality. But they have some apparent loopholes that defame their picture. They don’t respect old people the Muslims do. They have less respect for women than the Muslims. These apparent things are forgotten by us when it comes to following them. Hence, the result is that today, the West are right in saying that we are not morally uplifted. Have we shown them the character of Prophet Muhammad, Hazrat Usman, Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Hussain,etc., We must not have been where we are.!       In short, we should weigh everything the way it needs to be weighed. On the Day of Judgement, the most important deed will be of character. So, let us build our character first and then radiate the light of good character in every direction. Are we ready?

Opinion ,23 November,2020

                       ANT-PACED JUDICIAL SYSTEM
Suhaib Ashraf Bhat

 Now, should we treat women as independent agents, responsible for themselves? Of course. But being responsible has nothing to do with being raped. Women don’t get raped because they were drinking or took drugs. Women do not get raped because they weren’t careful enough. Women get raped because someone raped them.” ―( Jessica Valenti)
Rape – Just few days back in KANPUR: A seven-year-old girl was raped and was found dead with her liver extracted. Where the hell we are leading? Is this not the shame for whole society? Rape is one of the more appalling things that one human being can do to another, and yet there is no other crime about which our society is so ambivalent. That must change.
Rape is a heinous crime – which is increasing day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute and second by second. Thinkers are thinking to reduce the crime; Philosophers making another philosophy out of it yet the rate of the crime is increasing by increasing rate. Punishment for the rape cases are much lower than the harm caused. In Indian court, the person freely walks in the society for months and years together, because of the ant-paced judicial system where we get hearings after hearings.
 The effects of rape can include both the initial physical trauma as well as deep psychological trauma. Although rape victims commonly report injuries and issues with their reproductive health after the sexual assault, rape doesn’t always involve physical force. The most common and lasting effects of rape involve mental health concerns and diminished social confidence.
Aftermath of Rape:
The aftermath of rape involves a cluster of acute and chronic physical and psychological effects. It’s important that victims receive comprehensive care. This only adds to the psychological impact of the rape on the victim. Victims of extremely violent rape, or those who were assaulted repeatedly or at a very young age, may need treatment for the rest of their lives. Is this not really breathtaking? 
Increasing crimes is what we are witnessing these days. Criminals have come up with various strategies of committing crimes to which unfortunately our judicial system is continuously failing.
When a crime is done to a person and when the victim goes to register a complaint, the first thing our police personnel do is to deny taking the complaint. Even if they take the complaint, they file it in such an easy manner that the criminal can easily escape even if he has done a grave mistake like rape. When a victim is raped the police files the complaint of “sexual assault” or “attempt to rape” and when the victim is assaulted sexually or attempted to rape, these “kind” men advises not to file the case and get compromised as the career of the criminal will get destroyed. These people have soft hearts towards criminals and stone-hearts towards innocents.
When the victims force to file a strong case against the criminals these people have a very good strategy to harass them by taking counter case from the criminals and lay false charges against the victims. In this way the victim is harassed double. In some situations, the victims are unable to tolerate injustice and even go to the extent of committing suicides!
For any crime to get reduced or stop we ought to go to the root cause. Know the reasons why it is happening. Be honest in accepting the reasons and endeavour to solve the problem logically. When you bring your emotions, feelings, sentiments and passions in between the solutions, you will never stop the crimes that are prevailing. You fail to realize that the crime gains momentum due to your behaviour towards the particular problem.
The only solution for this problem and to defend the honour of women – “the jewels of the society” is to the hang the culprits. Please no more TAREEK PAI TAREEK. 

Suhaibbhatt85@gmail.com