The Dilemma of Faith

-Zeyad Masroor Khan

“Children of nowhere”. That’s what you can call the Muslims at this point of time
in history. Overwhelmingly proud of their glorious past, but no inkling of where
they are going. All these things are really true of Muslims of Aligarh, an old
sleepy town, which had represented the ethos of Muslim society every time
history has asked.

If you can fathom, it’s a difficult time being a Muslim. No, not because they are
discriminated against or considered alien to Indian culture. Things are still much
better than some will want us to believe. But Muslims are facing a confusion of
faith and ideology. And a crisis of belonging. Where to go? What to believe?
Whether to stick to your traditions, or accept the neo liberal ideas? Few of them
had been able to choose the middle path.

This Crisis is nothing new. It was here before any of us. The late nineteenth
century was also a turbulent time for Indian Muslims. They were confused. The
Dilemma was: Should they stick to their Madarsa education, or accept the British
and Western education, still shunned at that time. The answer was provided by
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan is the form Of Aligarh movement and the Aligarh Muslim
University.

But Aligarh is also famous for not so good things. Yes, it was Aligarh where
Muslim League was born, and the idea of Pakistan gained ground. At that period
of time, Aligarh was the battleground between Moderate Muslims supporting
Congress, and the fundamentalist in favour of separate nation. This town
witnessed Gandhi and Jinnah fighting for their foothold in Muslim community.

Coming to recent times, the Babri Masjid verdict reinforced the hidden fears of
Muslim society. If it was ten years back, Muslims would have retaliated in an
aggressive manner. But those who don’t know the Muslim psyche, the responses
were surprisingly muted than would have been expected some years back. What
was the reason? Have the Indian Muslims suddenly become more wise and
generous?

Even this question can’t be understood, if you haven’t come to Aligarh. No, they
have not become less religious, or for that matter, more tolerant. If you go deep
enough, you will find that the nation and the world have changed quite a lot in
the last decade or so. And dramatically for the Muslims. Post Godhra Riots
showed Indian Muslims their place. September 11 attacks and the subsequent
Invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq furthered this feeling of helplessness.

Most of them would deny it, but the truth is that they are scared. No, they don’t
want any piece of land now. For them, the most important thing is the future of
their children. They don’t want them to be killed in the religious frenzy. Or picked
up from their homes for being associated with SIMI, Indian Mujahidin, Al Qaeda or
whatsoever.

It would have looked impossible some years back, but now it is quite common
for the parents to ask their sons to shave off their beards. My late father actually
ordered me not to go to a Mosque at all. I don’t know whether he will go to hell
for that. But this is the situation and the insecurity. And Aligarh and Indian
Muslims gradually understand the realities.