RSS Terrorism Poses Threat to India's unity and the world Peace

Their line of thinking is very clear and simple. After over a thousand years, upper-caste Hindus have now total control of power over the whole of India, something not even the most powerful Hindu kings and Rajas had and if this power is not used to shape the faith and society in their image, they would never get a second chance. The Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh (RSS), the mother of all Hindutva parties in India does not believe in secularism, pluralism or minority rights because in its view the minorities were all part of the Hindu caste system who were converted to Islam, Buddhism, Christianity or Sikhism through force or through bribes, In their views in order for gods to be happy, Hinduism must retain its caste hierarchy and since the conversions have brought imbalance in the structure and function of the faith, hence the converted ones have to be brought back by any means. If they do not return, then they must be annihilated because those who by birth is defined as impure cannot be equal to those who are pure.

This is as simple and clear as one can state. Yes, their ideologues and propagandists may say whatever to justify their political or religious perspective, but the truth cannot be denied that they are all for a system of government called Ram Rajya.

What is Ram Rajya?

Nothing but a system that through the might of the Kshatriya (warrior class) and the money of the  Vaishyas: agriculturalists and merchants and the labor of Shudras, laborers and service providers would empower Brahmans to set the directions of the state on the basis of the guidance of gods and goddesses.

In this classification system, Dalits and tribals are not included. They are called avarna or caste less. Their existence is meaningless. Muslims, Christians, and people of all other faiths with the exception of Jainism are considered untouchables whose shadow makes things profane. 

In Rigveda, the above classification is described in this way:  

When they divided Purusa how many portions did they make?
What do they call his mouth, his arms? What do they call his thighs and feet?
The Brahman was his mouth, of both his arms was the Rajanya made.
His thighs became the Vaishya, from his feet the Shudra was produced.

Ram Rajya is the system to restore this division and inequality. 

Even though Rama is a mythological figure and there is no historical record of his existence in the physical realm, the Ramayana, the Hindu epic that describes the Ram Rajya records the following incident in which a Dalit was killed by Rama simply because he was trying to imitate upper caste in his religious knowledge. The following story from Ramayana illustrates this:

An aged peasant, a brahmin, bearing his dead child in his arms came to the palace gate, weeping and crying out again and again “What sin did I commit in a previous existence?" Overcome with paternal grief, he repeated “0 My Son, My Son! Ah! Of what fault was I formerly guilty in another body that I should see mine only son meet with death? This boy had not yet reached adolescence, his fourteenth year not having been completed! To my misfortune, before his time, this dear child has been struck down by death! In a few days, I and thy mother too will die of grief, O Dear Child! I do not recollect ever to have uttered a lie; I do not remember ever inflicting an injury to any animal or doing harm to any person! The People perish under the unrighteous rule of an impious monarch. The evil conduct of a king brings about the premature death of his subjects. When, in the cities and country, crimes are committed and no supervision is exercised, then death is to be feared! Undoubtedly the king will be held to be at fault in the city and country, hence the death of this child." Such were the countless recriminations that the unfortunate father addressed to the king whilst he clasped his son to his breast. The piteous lamentations of that unfortunate brahmin reached the ears of the king and he, in the profound distress, called together his ministers, Vasishtha and Vamadeva, with his brothers and the elders of the city also. Then eight brahmins were ushered into the king's presence by Vasishtha, who resembled a God, and they said: "May prosperity attend thee!" Thereafter those foremost of the Twice-born, Markandeya, Maudgajya, Vamadeva, Kashyapa, Katyayana, Javali, Gautama and Narada took their seats, and those Rishis being assembled, Rama paid obeisance to them with joined palms. Then the ministers and citizens received a cordial welcome, as was fitting, and all those highly effulgent persons being seated near him, Raghava informed them of the reproaches of that Twice-born One. Hearing the words of the prince, who was fined with distress, Narada himself made this memorable reply in the assembly of the Sages “Learn, O King, what has caused the untimely death of this child! When thou art conversant therewith, do what thou considerest to be thy duty! O Prince, Joy of the Raghus, formerly in the Krita Yuga, the brahmins alone practiced asceticism; he who was not a brahmin in no wise undertook it. At the close of that age, all was consumed and absorbed into Brahman. Thereafter the 5 brahmins were re-born enlightened and endowed with the gift of immortality. In that age, none died prematurely and all were wise. The Treta Yuga followed when the sons of Manu were born, one who practiced austerities; these noblemen were the rulers, and full of power and heroism. In that era, Brahmins and Kshatriyas were equal in power nor could any distinction be found amongst them; it was then that the four castes were established. In the Treta Yuga, brahmins and warriors practiced asceticism and the rest were under the supreme obligation of obedience, proper to the Vaishya and Shudra classes; the Shudras' duty being to serve the other three. O Great King, in the Dwapara Yuga, untruth and evil increased, unrighteousness having placed a second foot on the earth, and then the Vaishyas began to practice penance, so that dharma, in the form of asceticism, was performed by the three castes, but the Shudras were not permitted to undertake it during that time, O Foremost of Men. O Prince, a man of the lowest caste may not give himself up to penance in the Dwapara Yuga; it is only in the Kali Yuga that the practice of asceticism is permitted to the Shudra caste. During the Dwapara Yuga, it is a great crime for one of Shudra birth to perform such practices. At this time, in thine empire, a rigid penance is being undertaken by a wretched Shudra, O Prince, and this is the cause of the death of that child. An act of mortification that is prescribed is well done and a sixth of the merit goes to the king who rules with justice. But how should he, who does not protect his people, enjoy the sixth portion? O Lion among Men, thou should investigate the happenings in thy kingdom and put down evil wherever it is practiced, so righteousness may flourish, man's life be prolonged and the child be revived." Rama makes a Tour of Inspection of his Kingdom hearing the nectar-like words of Narada, Rama was delighted and said to Lakshmana “O Dear Friend, thou who art faithful to thy vows, go and console that leading brahmin and cause the body of the child to be placed in a jar of oil with precious unguents and fragrant salves so that it is covered and does not suffer decomposition. Act in such a way that the body of the child does not dissolve or decay." Having issued this command to Lakshmana, who was endowed with auspicious marks, the highly illustrious Kakutstha thought of Pushpaka, and said: “Come hither!" Conscious of his intention, the golden chariot appeared before him in the same hour and bowing, said to him “U Behold, I am here at thy service, O Long-armed Prince! U Listening to the gracious words of Pushpaka, Rama paid obeisance to the great Rishis and ascended the chariot. Armed with his bow, his two quivers and his glittering sword, Raghava left the city in the charge of his two brothers, Saumitri and Bharata, and thereafter that monarch directed his course to the western region, which he explored on every side; then he went to the northern region bounded by the Himalayas, but found no one. No trace of evildoing there; later the eastern region was carefully searched by him and that long-armed Prince, from on high in his chariot, beheld people of pure morals there, as stainless as a mirror. Then he, who causes felicity to the great Rishis, ranged the southern region and, on the side of the Shaivaja Mountain, a vast lake appeared to him, on the banks of which the blessed Raghava beheld an ascetic practicing an extremely rigorous penance, his head hanging downwards. On this that Prince approached the one who had given himself up to rigorous practices and said "Blessed art thou, O Ascetic, who art faithful to thy vows ! From what caste art thou sprung, O Thou who hast grown old in mortification and who art established in heroism. I am interested in this matter, I, Rama, the son of Dasaratha. What purpose hast thou in view? Is it heaven or some other object? What boon dost thou seek by means of this hard penance? I wish to know what thou desire in performing these austerities, oh Ascetic. May prosperity attend thee! Art thou a brahmin ? Art thou an invincible Kshatriya? Art thou a Vaishya, one of the third caste or art thou a Shudra? Answer me truthfully !" Then the ascetic, who was hanging head downwards, thus questioned by Rama, revealed his origin to that Prince born of Dasaratha, the foremost of kings, and the reason why he was practicing penance. Hearing the words of Rama of imperishable exploits, that ascetic, his head still hanging downwards, answered "Oh Rama, I was born of a Shudra alliance and I am performing this rigorous penance in order to acquire the status of a God in this body. I am not telling a lie, 0 Rama, I wish to attain the Celestial Region. Know that I am a Shudra and my name is Shambuka." As he was yet speaking, Raghava, drawing his brilliant and stainless sword from its scabbard, cut off his head. The Shudra being slain, all the Gods and their leaders with Agni's followers, cried out, “Well done! Well done!" overwhelming Rama with praise, and rain of celestial flowers of divine fragrance fell on all sides, scattered by Vayu. In their supreme satisfaction, the Gods said to that hero, Rama “Thou hast protected the interests of the Gods, 0 Highly Intelligent Prince, now ask a boon, 0 Beloved Offspring of Raghu, Destroyer of Thy Foes. By thy grace, this Shudra will not be able to attain heaven!" — The Ramayana of Valmiki: Translated by Hari Prasad Shastri p1585

Obviously, Ram Rajya is nothing but a system built on the racial superiority of a people who claim that they have the divine support to perpetuate inequality and annihilation of those who are below them. It's a system that has injustice built-in it eternally. 

It is this system that the RSS through BJP wants to enforce in India. It will do everything possible to cling to power. It will use every weapon to intimidate religious minorities and Dalits and coerce and bribe them to accept its supremacy  It would use rape, murder, a terror to achieve its objectives. It has the most organized gang of murderers and terrorists in its ranks and it would not hesitate to burn India for its ideological goals. The recent attacks by these terrorists on the citizens of India provide ample evidence of that.

It is this danger that the world has to recognize, a danger that is far bigger than the Taliban and ISIS, a danger that the world has not yet seen. It must be stopped but the only people who can stop are those Indians of all faiths who believe in plural and secular society where non-violence and human dignity become the cornerstones of the society through a constitution that is respected and loved.

A Tribute to Uncle Dr. Irfan Ahmed Khan: A legendary scholar of the Quran

by Dr. Aslam Abdullah

He was over 85, unable to walk properly, living on medicine more than the food, yet, until the last conscious minute of his life, he was inviting people to the Quran. His last travel for this purpose was in California and Georgia just 10 days before he had three massive heart attacks in his hometown Chicago. He visited California and Georgia as if he had gone there to say goodbye to those who were his disciples and students.

I called him uncle and during his last visit, I had the opportunity to listen to him and learn from him immensely. Wherever I drove him, he was always sharing his vision and dreams and his efforts. He was a man of peace and justice. He lived in this world, yet every minute he was conscious of the world he has to move on. During his stay he would every day call his daughters and wife and inform them of the itinerary. He would share with them the details. He visited during his stay in California the offices of Islamicity.org. He spent the whole day there and accepted the request from this largest Islamic portal in America to serialize his work. It is good that what he taught would now be available to the world. 

He was my mentor, my teacher and my friend and his absence would stay would me until I also leave this world.  There are only a few people who live a life they talk about. There are only a few who always think of others. There are only a few who view entire humanity as their own family and he was no doubt one of them. His life must be celebrated as he enriched those who came in contact with him.

He indeed was a sign from among the signs of Allah. He reminded people how the true life of a believer should be. He offered his life as an example of dedication and sacrifice to the ideals he was promoting. His main focus was the Quran. His life was the Quran. Everything he did, revolved around the Quran. He was in the process of writing a few more books on the methodology of understanding the Quran before he was recalled by Allah leaving the task to his students. 

His main thesis was simple and appealing. The Quran comprises 114 discourses and each discourse or Sura focuses on a few dominant themes and each aya highlights an important issue. All ayas are interconnected and all Suras are related. The ayas and Sura offer guidance to humanity as a whole to create a peaceful environment to explore the universe and serve humanity to reach a higher degree of consciousness. It was a methodology that a few great scholars of the Quran such as Maulana Hameeduddin Farahi and Abdullah Mubarakpuri had also focused on. It was unconventional because it viewed the Quran as a complete message not collected from scattered ideas. It is a revolutionary methodology capable of ensuring the universality and continuity of the divine message.

His scholarship did not prevent him from activism. Until he breathed his last, he was actively involved in interfaith dialogue. In fact, during his visit to California, he attended the dialogue between Christians and Muslims on the theme Prophet Moses.

He was the president of the Association for Quranic Understanding. He was the founder and a trustee of the revived Parliament of World Religions.  He was the initiator of several interfaith dialogues in the world. More important than all this, he was the mentor and teacher of hundreds and thousands of young people in India and the USA. He did not run after fame. He did not seek any position. He served the cause of peace and justice quietly and left a legacy that would continue to benefit people all over the world.

Dr. Irfan Ahmed Khan was born in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. He got his education at the Muslim University of Aligarh and became a professor of philosophy. In 1973 he moved to the United States and completed his Ph D in philosophy and then taught at various colleges and universities in the US.

Despite the struggle in raising a family of five daughters and two sons with meager resources, he remained active in reminding people that the Quran must be given due place in Muslim thoughts and actions. His opinion that the Quran should be understood directly by everyone, including non-Muslims was often challenged by traditional scholars, yet he was firm in his opinion that was fully supported by the Quran. He is one of those few scholars of his life and work, a Ph.d was granted to a student from a prestigious Chicago school.

Dr. Irfan was active in the Jamat e Islami, India. He organized several youth conferences while in India and offered youth training in interfaith work and understanding the Quran. His life deserves to be studied closely and his work needs to be referred to by all those who are making efforts to understand the divine guidance. His book Reflections on the Quran: Understanding Surahs Al-Fatihah & Al-Baqarah is a monumental work on the Quran.

Indeed to God, we all belong because from him we all come. But there are some who leave behind them imprints that remind people of the meaning of this life and the struggles that one goes through in it. He indeed was one of them.

May God have mercy upon the family