Show
of Strength
Sharjeel Ahmad
<sharjeel.ahmad@gmail.com>
A
couple of days back, Shakeel bhai had requested me to write an article
for BaKhabar, and I had told him I would definitely try to send one
soon, Insha Allah. Then, I could not think of a palpable topic to write
on; however, a recent incident set me thinking; and then finally
writing this…
It
happened just a few moments back, when I was having tea at one of the
roadside dhabas on Ansari Road, Daryaganj near my office. We normally
take a small break and go out to have tea on the roadside dhabas in the
evening. Numerous small shops are also aligned on the roadside, which
primarily include automobile technicians, welders, and others alike,
who work on denting, painting, and repairing of automobiles. The dhaba
in which we have tea is next to a welding shop. I found two people
discussing something interesting in this welding shop. One person was
saying, “Humein hi rokte hain; koi topi wale ko zara rok kar
dekhayein.” [They always stop us only; they dare not stop the people
wearing caps (implying Muslims).] The other person says, “Haan,
musalmanon ko kabhi na rokeinge bina helmet ke, hum Hinduon hi rokte
hain aur phir fine maarte hain. Unhein to bolte hain aye jaane de,
bachche hain”. [Yes! They never stop the Muslims who do not wear
helmets. Only stop us Hindus, and then slap fines on us for not wearing
helmets. Even if they come across a Muslim not wearing a helmet, they
let them go stating that they are merely children kidding.] The two
people were probably discussing some incident where one person [a
Hindu] had been stopped and fined by the traffic police for not wearing
helmet while driving a two-wheeler!
The
conversation was interesting; and I was astounded for a few moments. My
immediate reaction was pretty emotive and I wanted to respond harshly,
but could not. Then I set thinking – what they are saying is actually
correct. My office at Daryaganj is very close to Jama Masjid area of
Old Delhi – a place heavily populated and dominated by Muslims. Bikers
with small beards, eyes carefully and deeply lined with kajal/surma,
wearing white caps, and eerily and dangerously driving two-wheelers
without helmets [and honking whenever given a chance] is a normal sight
in this area. This fashion of driving out there is probably a
birthright for them – a legacy they have inherited for being born
Muslims and living in that area [call it my ghettoized predilection,
but this is how it is]. The traffic police dare not touch them; for
they know what it could imply. You never know who could turn out to be
a relative or acquaintance of some influential political figure or an
Imam out there. It would mean inviting instant trouble, with a grave
communal turnkey and the morbid and furious anti-Muslim antithesis. So,
how could they afford to stop such a person who was not wearing a
helmet??!!
Talking
about helmets, I am reminded of another incident that happened probably
four-five years back, while I was employed with a company in Hyderabad.
This is another place strongly
dominated by
Muslims. The rule of
helmets was not very strict in Hyderabad those days, and transport
authorities in Hyderabad had then declared it to be followed strictly.
The entire Muslim population [a strong majority, again comprising
mostly residents of the Old City of Hyderabad, in and around Char Minar
area], had vociferously revolted against this decision – claiming it to
be subversion of freedom!! It had really left me appalled with respect
to what the Muslim minority is hell-bent on doing whenever they are in
majority. I would copiously add here that Hyderbadi motorists
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and
two-wheelers are probably world’s most dangerous – I was involved in
the worst accident of my life because of this [Alhamdulillah, I did not get much hurt,
though; but it could have actually been fatal. I was riding my
two-wheeler then while driving back home after office, and was struck
down by a car that was initially parked on the roadside and suddenly
took to the main street without noticing that I was driving there –
this is how they generally drive, where you have to fend for yourself.
I was thrown across the middle of the road, where a trail of cars was
coming, and I was saved by inches when the nearest car screeched to a
sudden halt, spurring a series of collusions behind it. Had the driver
taken a second longer to brake, it could have ended differently, but
all thanks to Allah.] But then, what subversion of freedom do
we find in wearing helmets?! Till the time I stayed in Hyderabad, the
rule of wearing helmets on two-wheelers could not be implemented
because of the turmoil and uproar against it!
The
story doesn’t end here;
and it’s not just about helmets. It’s more about something called “show
of strength!” Something similar is witnessed on occasions such as
Yaum-e-Aashurah, where Tazia processions are acclaimed as show of
strength… I remember once while in AMU, one of my friends had marked
how Muslims thronging the roads during Jumma and Eid prayers presented
a show of strength of the Muslims. The indication was to the fact that
the traffic at almost all the roads in Aligarh used to come to a
standstill during Jumma prayers, at times actually forcing the other
citizenry into uncalled for problems. I was really amused and elated by
this thought then, not anymore now. Is it really what we call show of
strength?? Show of inferiority??!! Admitted that we are in minority
[one of my friends has a different angle to this – he calls us as
second largest majority – which makes more sense!!]; does that
rationalize and endorse callous show of strength by subduing the rules
and regulations whenever we are in majority?? What kind of show of
strength is this?? Which strength of ours are we trying to show off??
Strength of numbers was never a parameter of pride for the Ummah.
Remember that the Muslims were very few in number when they became
victorious in the Battle of Badr. What brought about that victory was
not show of strength amounting to numbers – it was the show of strength
of their character and identity of being a Believer – which was
endorsed by Almighty Allah Himself. How much of strength of character
and identity of a Believer do we have now?? How many of us are able to
show the strength of our character and identity in our respective
societies?? I would leave this question unanswered – to be answered
individually by every Believer.
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