‘Indian Muslims’ love for the Prophet is now a threat. ‘I love Muhammad’ row is political’

‘I never imagined that the Prophet’s birthday would become the centre of controversy because of a simple message of devotion. If we want to reclaim our festivals, our faith, and even our public spaces, then we must begin by refusing to let love be weaponised. But that can only happen when communities stop turning every difference into a battlefield, and when we learn to separate faith from the politics of power. Because once devotion becomes a competition, everyone loses—the meaning of religion, the spirit of coexistence, and the ordinary people who only want to live without fear.’ says columnist Amana Begam Ansari.