Every time US President Donald Trump calls coronavirus a ‘Chinese virus’, Muslims around the world breathe a sigh of relief that the deadly virus didn’t originate in a Muslim-majority country.
Because it is much easier and indeed fashionable to tarnish the entire Muslim population of the world with just one example. In India, the fool-hardy ignorance of 3,000 members of Tablighi Jamaat, an Islamic reformist group, has come as an excuse for the bigots to put their hatred for 200 million Indian Muslims on full display. The blame must be collectively shared by all Muslims.
It’s not just the Nizamuddin meeting of the Tablighi Jamaat. This is part of a pattern. Heroic acts by Muslims — from Wipro’s Azim Premji to Cipla’s Yusuf Hamied — are always seen as individual acts. But a negative act is ascribed to the whole community. For Muslims in India, and perhaps even across the world, the shame is collective while the glory is always individual.
Also read: Coronavirus was a test of secular nationalism. Then Tablighi Jamaat became the scapegoat
No oneness in kindness
Prejudiced people armed with an agenda to spread constant hate against the community conveniently ignore the Muslim identity of benevolent individuals and consider them as an outlier, not the norm.
When Azim Premji donates billions of dollars to charity or when his foundation and company contribute Rs 1,125 crore in the fight against coronavirus, he is just a philanthropist, not a Muslim philanthropist. When Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s Meer Foundation helps survivors of acid attacks, he is just a kind-hearted actor, not a Muslim actor. Those who perceive Muslims as barbaric simply neglect the compassion of a Muslim man who forgave the murderer of his wife who was killed in Christchurch mosque attack.
But when the act is something negative, Muslims become a collective entity for those who want to exploit every opportunity to blame them. The reminder that Muslims will be seen as a group, bereft of any diversity, keeps coming with every incident.
Women of Shaheen Bagh sat on a peaceful protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) for nearly 100 days. Their appeals for unity — from Republic Day celebrations to interfaith prayers — failed to make them the face of community. But when Sharjeel Imam purportedly asked for roadblocks to cut off Assam from India, he was projected as the collective voice of the Muslim community, which allegedly wants to “divide” India.
In incidents such as the attack on a gurdwara in Afghanistan or when members of the Tablighi Jamaat are tested positive for Covid-19 — all in the community, regardless of their ethnicity or belief, are made to share the burden of their Muslim identity.
Also read: From Ola to Zomato to social media, I now hide my Muslim identity everywhere
Bigotry over tragedy
The actions of Jamaat were irresponsible and stupid. The gathering cannot be justified by saying that people from other religions were also not self-isolating or that Kanika Kapoor partied after returning from a Covid-19 affected country. But it is hard to ignore that all singers from her community were not ostracised for her actions or made to share the blame for possibly infecting several people. This shows that religious discrimination in India is reserved only for a particular community.
News channels and social media users are both treating the tragedy involving Tablighi Jamaat as a fresh opportunity to vilify Muslims. The alacrity with which certain news channels and hate mongers on social media latched on to the development makes it seem like they were waiting to put the blame for the coronavirus crisis on Muslims. The negligence of Jamaat has provided fodder for TV channels constantly on wait to stoke communal tensions. One anchor even asked if this was a conspiracy to turn Delhi into Italy. This comes almost a month after the anti-Muslim Delhi riots, which polarised the city and left 53 people dead. But bigotry overpowers media responsibility whenever the issue is related to Muslims.
Also read: Tablighi Jamaat scare: Arnab calls it deliberate, ‘whole country in danger’ says Liyaquat
No other identity for Muslims
Social media, as always, is many steps ahead of news channels. Bizarre conspiracy theories about Muslims are being spread on Twitter and Facebook, accusing them of ‘corona jihad’ — implying that Muslims are deliberately infecting people with coronavirus.
The term ‘jihad’ is regularly used and abused by India’s Right-wing to categorise every action of a Muslim it doesn’t like. Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor was made the face of ‘love jihad’ by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, an outfit of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, when she married actor Saif Ali Khan.
The lifestyle choices of Muslims, which may or may not be connected to their religion, are predominantly seen from the communal lens. The community has been painted as ‘beef-eating fundamentalists’ even though the food choices can vary from person to person. This stereotyping is not limited to hate on social media but has resulted in several incidents of mob lynching.
Stupidity, especially in the name of religion, is a luxury, which Indian Muslims cannot afford — not unless they are seen as individuals with separate identities.
Views are personal.
Can we all ponder over it: We separated and started together in 1947 and see where India has reached economically and we are global leaders for software technology. Why our brothers in Pakistan have been left behind and are still struggling to arrange two meals for most of the population.Where is the real problem ? Religion has played and is playing the role. We are becoming global software exporters and they are champions of global terrorism and exporting Jihadis.We have reached Mars/Antartica and they are still trying to sneak through porous borders.Our prosperity and their plight can be seen at the Wagah Attari border.RELIGION has to open up and amend itself for betterment of their masses otherwise GOOD will prevail over Evil in times to come.
An action of Muslim individual or group is considered as an action of all Muslims and Muslims haplessly defend it. If we go by their terms BJP gave seat and elected a Terrorist to the parliament, means the people who voted and the person who gave seat all should be Terrorist.
The Print will never write such an article if it was a congregation by some Hindu group. Amir khan talked about intolerance but never ever opens mouth against such acts by Tabilgi Jamaat. The problems lies there, just simple and straight forward!
THE SO CALLED LEADERS OF MUSLIMS, WHO ARE ALWAYS WITH THEM EVEN IN SMALL ISSUES, ARE NOT APPEARING AND APPEALING THE MUSLIM POPULATION WHO ARE MIS BEHAVING TO SPREAD THE CORONA AND ARE NOT HAVING ANY POSITIVE ATTITUDE FOR THE SERVING PEOPLE.
WHY CAN’T SOME MUSLIM LEADERS WHOM THE PEOPLE FOLLOW BLINDLY COME OUT AND REQUEST THE PEOPLE TO CO OPERATE FOR DEATH OF CORONA?
Now you see here in comments section people are not willing to believe Ajij Premji in muslim community because he does not fit in. He is not responding to any Jihad calls. Not doing anything anti national. KEEPING HIS RELIGION TO HIMSELF. If you take his name and he also gets tainted. Pl dont take his name here.
I am sure after getting these responses and not able to answer you also will come in your true colors.
You are absolutely right.instead of keeping silent the community should condemn the bad acts of fellow members
Preach! 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
yess madam ji, it’s natural & i feel sorrry that u guys r stigmatized & it would have hurted me also if i were a muslim too,but i wanna give some reasons that why u guys r being stigmatized & it’s not baseless as u think;
*One week back ,a group of muslims led by muslim brothers tajuddin & qutubuddin assaulted policemen in Bengaluru ,during their duty of lockdown ,& nxt day when qutubuddin was being arrested he again assaulted a lady constable ,then tried to flee ,after which police shooted to his legs.
*Doctors were atttacked with stones by Muslims ,when they went for surveying in Indore.
*the same happened with ASHA workers in Bengaluru , additionally involving the provokement by a local mosque.
*In Ghaziabad ,the tabhligi jammat patients were being quarantined in a gov. hospital ,during which they roamed naked & made obscene comments on lady nurses.
*these tabligi jammatis also refused testing at many centres ,even after knowing their mistake.
*In Hyderabad ,the brother of a tabligi jamaat patient who succumbed to covid , assaulted doctor brutally,,as if doctors killed the jamaat patient.
*and by the way i suspect tabligi jamaat as a organisation also,becaz it’s followers r soo radical & uncooperative with health agencies.
( by the way i didn’t include tabligi jammat conference in it,as it was also one of the reason,but I don’t want to communalize & also it happened before lockdown enforcement)
This is the time Muslim celebrities should have come and condemn in strangest possible manner acts of members of the Jamat. But we see them either defending them or maintaining silent,which is considered to be tacit support. This has angered the majority of citizens. If such acts were committed by radical Hindus, most Hindus celebrities would have condemned strongly. There would be no silent tacit support. Have we seen any tweets of Nassirudin Shah, Javed Akhtar, Aamir Khan and company condemning them. NO. WHY?. IF COMMUNITY FAILS TO CODMEN THEN THEY HAVE TO TAKE BLAME COLLECTIVELY
You are absolutely right.instead of keeping silent the community should condemn the bad acts of fellow members
Agreed completely celebrities need to come ahead and give message due to some unethical practices…all muslims are blamed..but even if they dont listen they are not true muslims but only nuisance…to tarnish image of true muslims
Res Nidhiji. Your observations and comments are 100 % true and based on reality. Every deed is good or bad. This observation, all about Muslims is globally recognised. Can Muslims introspect, why this is happening? In India no such incidents happens between other religions. For us, Hon. Azimbhai Premji and alike philanthropist are gods in true sense.Because we the Hindus create our own gods. It’s our culture. Indian muslims can’t be preached religiously because majority (almost all)of them are converts. They will always offer loud namaz. The real criticism on Indian muslims and Islam can be read or heard from Muslim intellectuals across the world and Pakistan in particular. Some of the muslims are good but not the converts in India. There is fanaticism. We don’t think Islam is bad . It’s always like all other religions . Nothing superior or inferior.
WHEN MUSLIMS WERE LYNCHED HOW MANY SANGH LEADERS CONDEMNED IT. INSTEAD THEY SILENTLY ENDORSED IT INCLUDING OUR PM JI
When Indian soldiers are killed by terrorists(“and people say terrorism has no religion but never found a jew, Christian or a hindu spreading terrorism), why does the people living in India support terrorists in the name of Jihad… ((Riyaz Naikoo was a respected maths teacher, teaching integration with AK47???))….
Let me tell you one thing. Why you call sabji mandi as subji mandi while you can get fruits there too.
Reson we call it sabji mandi because majority of items are sabji urf jihadi. That’s why situation is like that. Kanika kapoor intentionally did not spit as compared to jamatis terosists.
Sanghis brain is full of cow dung, no one can correct them
Madam you are correct this is happening. But have thought the pattern why it is happening forget your religion jut think. Every question have it’s answer, i also have questions why Muslims are anti CAA, NRC, NPR. Why the people off one MAJOR community is against it. CAA didn’t take anyone’s citizenship all knows you also, but it is against savidhan as your view. Then what is savidhan. Equality to all people.. ok .. if savidhan says equality then why There is sharia. Why there is waqt board. Why sia and suni people have different waqt board. Also I have too many questions. When I try to find the ans the answer comes to my mind is freedom. Hindus have freedom from there religion like nothing is mandatory, you can be Nastik or astik nobody can change that accept you. There are regulations It no regulations depends no the person. Hindus are liberals accepting everything.
So the major problem of Muslims is freedom. Freedom from radicalism, Freedom from mulas and regulations. Freedom to accept others religion, freedom to be liberal.
The major problem off your community is hate. They hate all religions. They only want one religion that is Islam. You are so educated if you think you are liberal just say good things about Hindus. Your community will make your life miserable. Fact is fact you can’t change it.
Now about the questions you rise why indian look at your community the way you explain above because your community has shown the mirror to other think like that only. Love-jihad did this word came from Hindus. Why the fatva given by mulas about love jihad with money-making law. Convert convert convert.
There are too many questions , answers and individual views.
But fact is educated people in one community can’t Change the community views. They want us to accept everything but don’t want to accept others. This is fact and we can’t change it. Mulas can but educated can’t this is fact.
As an Afghan Muslim, I totally condemn the criminal misbehaviour of the Tablighi Jama’at, in particular its leadership. They have proven themselves to be disgustingly shameful and deserving the severest punishment under the law for not only their open defiance but their dangerous crime which has posed a grave danger to public health in the world’s second most populous country.
Shameful and disgusting is also the author of this article which is written by a pen dipped in cynical hypocrisy and outright deceit.
Great, an afghan guy is sensible and responding but what about our heroes like amir khan, sharukh khan who makes millions from hindus and marries hindu women….and that’s the problem!
It is high time the so-called secular and so-called liberal journalists also quarantined their senseless mental facilities by which such type of trash is turned out as this writer has done by conveniently ignoring and all the facts which are in public domain about Tablighi jamaat, its objectives and its output. This is time of worst ever crisi in life of Indian nation. Every ordinary Indian national is required to contribute in this fight by restraining himself in his house. Even the politicians who were alleged to have stashed billions of Rupees/dollars in Swiss Banks vaults , are practically muted at this time of human crisis. Why can, t the special class of their pets . Sorry for Harsh words.
Madam ask community to start looking within ……..
Your view suggests, criticising Jamat is criticising Muslims and criticising Muslims means criticising Islam so don’t say anything against Jamat……..
I would appreciate you appealing intelligent Muslims to criticise these insensitive Jamatis. ……
You don’t give enough credit to people. Most people aren’t blaming Muslims for the arrogance and stupidity of the Jamaat. The problem is all together different. Just yesterday, there was an editorial in a major (left wing) English paper blaming the govt for allowing such gathering. I remember all through the 90s, after every terror attack the left would blame it on the failure of “intelligence”. By blaming the all powerful govt (which in reality is quite weak), India’s left attempts to deflect blame that might fall on extremist Muslims. The alliance of India’s left with the most obscurantist Muslim elements and the corresponding destruction of history has taught the Muslims that they are never wrong. Just witness the continuing reports of how those in quarantine have behaved with violence towards doctors and police. Decades of these practices will take a long time to break. India’s Muslims have no monopoly over stupidity and they are certainly not responsible for the spreading the Corona virus.
In my area a labourer muslim who use to sell milk to hindus as well has faced such an ignorance after this incident. Hindus denied to take milk from him.. Dude just tell what’s his fault also a muslim man took a truck of vegetable to sell in the mountains (he was taking food make a note) but they denied. And after all this the Hindus say that no we are not taking this matter towards religious path. This is the godi media behind all this and not it alone we are also to be blamed to watch their channels. If steps aren’t taken against media then India will be destroyed.
Tell your Labourer to do a shudhi vidhi and convert to Hinduism
His fault is that he still might be congregating in mosques.
Even literate people in this community are actually communal when faced with testing times.
It is simple. The way your community people they are actively endangering the lives of others and acting opposite to I dian interests.it is safer to take milk from other safer sources.
I sympathise with the poor milkmans plight which cant be justified. But who is responsible for creating this atmosphere, ?It is the Muslim community leaders and elders who should have guided their followers proprly without taking them on a dangerous path. Please see the open appeal of 80 IAS/IPS officers yesterday to all muslims
Zaiba, this is the situation I am worried about. Muslims are following the path which will lead them to nowhere. If they have to identify themselves with foreigners, want to have the sharia model for the entire community in India, want to have a reservation for themselves, block the road for agitation, do not follow the simple social distancing laws to check the spread of disease, spit on doctors, fight with police which is just doing its duty, stone pelt the doctors ….what the majority community is going to do? They will just sit at home and let the Muslim fend for themselves and let the law takes its own course. You see the incident like in Prayagraj, man shot dead by Muslim history sheeters over an argument about Tablighi Jammat and their role in spreading the corona disease? Muslims have to carry out introspection whether they want these criminals as leaders? Shaheen Bagh has done no favour to Muslims but inconvenienced millions of people all around the country and generated the feeling for Muslims as anti Indians.
Seeno commentd on the Tabligi but on media…too much!
So there was a hindu in a hospital who are peeing, roaming naked around the hospital and misbehaving with nurses and health works.
Actually we framed this so innocent tablighi.
“ignorance of Tablighi Jamaat members”…..are you kidding? Don’t they understand the impact of deliberate spreading the virus all over India. The attitude of defending in indefensible by pseudo intellectuals like author is disgusting.
3000 people thoes are attend that this are wrong but all community blaming is not a good job
we must look other parts like ajim premaji saheb and sharukha khan just blaming we can’t make a unity in india
shaukha khan is a actor with no brains is he a role model
When Muslims repeatedly harm non-Muslims on purpose :
CAA protests
Delhi riots
And now this # Coronajihad, most Muslims are silent.
When you do not condemn these dastardly acts done in the name of Islam ( listen to Saad’s sermon). You are all responsible.
The Markaz attendees are culpable- all Muslims are responsible as long as they stick up for these religious zealots.
Islam is a scourge on India and humanity.
But are they seeing it? No. Whenever such news comes up,, they go straight up blind. Scums of the society. No wonder why the West hates them.