Extremism is Deception
By Peer Faizan Bashir
This Saturday evening, I ran into the audio clip which was being widely shared on social media. There was this empathetic conversation between a father and his militant son. Father not enjoining on his son to relinquish the fight-and save the precious life, but hold onto his religious belief! And, die to fight the Indian forces.
It reminded me of my journey how I led myself away from the extremism.
Very inspiring and ebullient was one of my neighbours while indoctrinating me about his version of Islam. What happened afterwards was beyond my little comprehension. I did later go through all the sects in Islam with in-depth knowledge, which most probably prevails within oneself.
In one of the sects and at inception, I came across some of the videos which were being passionately liked and shared by most of the people. What stuck and attracted me in these videos were some Muslim extremists claiming to endeavour for the establishment of Islamic caliphate in Iraq. And, I begin realizing Muslims to be a bunch of extremists only.
Despite the fact that it was for sure that I would be brought to book by the so-called civilizations, I would be ironclad in striving for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate thereof. I got too fanatical about the beliefs. But, gradually, with profound observation and research, I came to the realisation not to radicalise myself anymore, for it to be bluff.
What engendered my thinking process to alter from Islamic extremism was by getting education. By going through science and history of the world left no means through which I would be radicalised further. It taught me how, when life begins; why is it pivotal to live with contentment. Chronicles of history made me aware of all religions and their genesis. So by defining it, it’s quite obvious that prudent education is the way through which we can modify ourselves and come out of a narrow and suicidal trap.
I will mention two main beliefs which all the extremists keep—democracy is shirk, and so called secular world a fasad or corruption or anti Christ. If we draw back to the earlier times, we had made progress in governance with time, as time passes we came to discover new things, owing to rise in the number of religions, it gave away the secular world and democracy in the same way.
What triggered some Muslims (extremists) to say progression is the time of corruption, is by taking the radical side which is quite deleterious to one’s life…and need to be moderated by us, so that progression will be ours.
Creating hullabaloo and clamouring slogans vis-a-vis freedom, freedom in Kashmir, in fact, most of the people are oblivious of what they are shouting? There again education plays an important role which must be acquired first before jumping on the popular bandwagon.
It wouldn’t be bullying those Kashmiri people as I mentioned who are oblivious, to tell them that they must go through history again and again. Perhaps by making ourselves aware of the unaware realm of unknown the dawn of our freedom may hasten on the Kashmir horizon.
Tears filled my eyes when I heard the aforementioned audio clip. What can I do beyond conveying a message?! It would be fateful if they relinquish the path they have chosen for themselves. Don’t let anyone befool and radicalise you at a stretch. Melancholia is clearly visible on the faces of your family. Please come back!
(The writer is a student and can be mailed at [email protected])
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