THE REAL ISSUE
Maulana Shakeel Ahmed Qasmi (38 years old) is the Head Teacher and Sheikh-ul-Hadith at Madrasa Imdad-ul-Islam in Meerut. On December 18, 1993, I met him in Delhi. He shared an experience that is very instructive.
He said that in November 1992, Mr. Inderjit Singh Ahluwalia, an educated Hindu from Sadar Bazar (Meerut), visited his madrasa. Mr. Ahluwalia stated, “I want my two sons, Gaurav Ahluwalia and Charlie Ahluwalia, to learn Urdu and Arabic. Please arrange a tutor for them.” Maulana Qasmi asked why he wanted his children to learn Urdu and Arabic. Mr. Ahluwalia replied, “I want my children to have an open mind and to think beyond narrow-mindedness.” It should be noted that Mr. Inderjit Singh Ahluwalia is affiliated with the RSS and is an active member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Maulana Shakeel Ahmed Qasmi believed that if he assigned a madrasa student to this task, they might not do it well. So, he decided to take on the task himself. When he told Mr. Ahluwalia about this, Mr. Ahluwalia was very surprised. But, after Maulana Qasmi’s insistence, he agreed. Mr. Ahluwalia then asked, “Maulana Sahib, how much do we need to pay you each month?” Maulana Qasmi responded, “Nothing. This is a joyful task for me. The only reward I need is the satisfaction of seeing some people in an area where Urdu is fading, learning Urdu and Arabic.” After some discussion, it was decided that Maulana Qasmi would go to their home to teach Urdu to their children.
Maulana Shakeel Ahmed Qasmi started teaching Urdu to these children using Maulana Ismail Merathi’s “Reader.” This program began on December 1, 1992, and continues today. During this period, these Hindu children have completed several readers. They can now write correctly and read Urdu newspapers like “Qaumi Awaz” easily. They have also begun learning Arabic through “Minhaaj-ul-Arabiyya.” Currently, they are studying the second part of “Minhaaj-ul-Arabiyya.” Urdu has become so prominent in their household that even Mr. Inderjit Singh Ahluwalia has started learning Urdu from Maulana Qasmi. In addition to Urdu books, he has also purchased the comprehensive “Feroz-ul-Lughat” dictionary to support his Urdu learning.
Mr. Ahluwalia consistently helps Maulana Shakeel Ahmed Qasmi in every possible way. He is always ready to cooperate with him on all occasions. For instance, since Mr. Ahluwalia lives in a Hindu-majority area, whenever Maulana Qasmi finishes teaching and leaves, Mr. Ahluwalia sends his children to accompany him for quite a distance so that people do not see him as a stranger.
This example illustrates the current issue in India. The real problem in modern India isn’t “Hindu sectarianism,” but the disconnect between Hindus and Muslims. If interactions and engagement between Hindus and Muslims were to start through any means, then all conflicts would disappear as if they never existed.
Distance breeds misunderstanding, while closeness encourages friendship. It is a common experience that misunderstandings often occur where Hindus and Muslims are separated. Conversely, increased interaction naturally leads to better relations between them.
Before 1947, India was an agrarian society where Hindus and Muslims often interacted due to rural life. After independence, India transitioned into the industrial era. The demands of industry caused families to disperse and people to move more frequently. This resulted in the breakdown of shared lifestyles and the loss of earlier relationships. Today, this is a significant reason for the distance between the two communities.
The solution is for Muslims to increase their presence in educational institutions and actively take part in modern economic and social activities. They should also follow the example set by Maulana Shakeel Ahmad Qasmi, as mentioned earlier. Insha’Allah, this will bring back a time of harmonious interactions between communities.
