Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s recent speech in Parliament was eagerly awaited by political analysts and Indians alike. They were, after all, curious about the Opposition’s agenda following its neck-and-neck fight with the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Lok Sabha elections.
The nation clearly wasn’t disappointed in this regard. From taking jabs at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, bringing politically charged Hindu references into Parliament, to remarks about violence by Hindus and questions on Manipur, everything one could anticipate was addressed.
While Rahul Gandhi put up a solid fight with his newfound confidence, he couldn’t avoid stirring controversy. He invoked the ‘abhay mudra’ (the image of an open palm) to draw a parallel between the religious motif and the Congress symbol. However, Gandhi’s attempt to connect it with every religion did not sit well with some within the Islamic clergy.
While the LoP’s intention was admirable, it also showed that he wasn’t well-prepared. He demonstrated ignorance when he claimed that Muslims use abhay mudra during namaz.
Both Sayed Naseruddin Chishty, Chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council, and Haji Syed Salman Chishty, Gaddi Nashin Dargah Ajmer Sharif, objected to this speech. Theyclaimed that there is no place for such symbolism or imagery of the divine creator in Islamic spiritual tradition or the Quran. They emphasised that there is no mention of idolatry in Islam, nor is there any kind of mudra, and that Gandhi should correct himself.
A slippery slope
As an Indian Muslim, I have observed that the subject of imagery and icons extremely controversial. There is a huge rift, for instance, among Muslims in India over visiting a kabristaan (graveyard) during Shab-e-Barat, the night of fortune in Islam. The observance of Barat involves a festive nightlong vigil with prayers. In most regions, it is a night when one’s dead ancestors are commemorated. Growing up as a Barelvi Muslim, Shab-e-Baratwas an integral part of my life. However, with the growing influence of outside cultures, it started being seen as bidah (innovation), even being deemed a sin by some.
There is no concept of idol or image worship in Islam, and from time to time, this idea extends to other practices prevalent among the Muslim community. For example, while visiting dargahshas been part of the tradition of Muslims in the subcontinent, many voices are now being raised against the practice.
Sunni scholars, in particular, have been very careful about rejecting any form of imagery and symbolism. The reason for viewing visual depictions of the Prophet Muhammad and other messengers as blasphemy is to avoid any possibility of shirk (idol worship or polytheism), which is considered a sin in Islam. Even though Shia scholars have historically opposed such depictions, instances of these pictures existing among Shia and Alevi Muslims have come to the fore.
These examples give insight into why Sunni scholars are so particular about steering clear of symbolism and imagery. And they also confirm that there are nuances and conflicts within the community regarding this subject. It can be easily said that there is no abhay mudra in Islam. Although, if we want to focus on the symbol of the hand specifically as part of Islamic culture, it does exist among Middle Eastern Muslims and is called Hamsa in Hebrew and Khamsa in Arabic.
Also Read: Owaisi doesn’t represent Indian Muslims. ‘Jai Palestine’ shows his desperation, not conviction
Hand symbol in Islam
Khamsa, known as the Hand of Fatima, is traditionally mentioned in Abrahamic religions, particularly in the Shia tradition of Islam, and is believed to protect from the evil eye. It is depicted as a right palm with fingers held together and pointed upwards. According to Amina Inloes, aPhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter who specialises in Shia hadith, it is a cultural or regional symbol. The hand as a protective symbol predates Islam and is not limited to Muslims; for instance, Jews also use the hand symbol, and some people call it the “Hand of Mary.”
However, Inloes added, some Shias have given it religious significance by using it to represent the ahl al-kisa’/panjtan (that is Prophet Muhammad, his daughter Fatima, his cousin and son-in-law Ali, and his two grandsons Hasan and Husayn.The Khamsa is also used by Shias to symbolise the protection offered by Fatima.It’s a sign of her status and importance.
Since this hand gesture is rooted more in cultural and regional practice, it exists in both Jewish and Muslim regions in the Middle East. It’s not part of Muslim practices in the Indian subcontinent.
While I understand Gandhi’s desire to highlight a Hindu identity that is not Hindutva and focus on pluralism, he should have been more careful. It is easier to draw such parallels among Indic faiths, but it can be tricky with Abrahamic ones.
Amana Begam Ansari is a columnist and TV news panelist. She runs a weekly YouTube show called ‘India This Week by Amana and Khalid’. She tweets @Amana_Ansari. Views are personal.
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)
Nobody cares . This is just moronic and not newsworthy
It’s educative article. Didn’t know there is so many things going on within community.