By Mushtaq Hurra
A heart-wrenching episode of death by suicide of a teenage girl from Sopore township, in northern Kashmir, has shaken every soul, has grieved every heart, has moistened every eye. Her body is still in the deadly maelstrom of river Jehlum. Netizens on social media platforms have expressed their sorrow and sympathies with the bereaved family. Though suicides and suicidal attempts by young people has seen a surge in Kashmir but the recent Sopore incident has shuddered and shattered every Kashmiri.
An ailing young girl, suffering at the hands of a harsh and cruel life was set to difficult trials at a tender age. She was too young to understand the ebbs and flows of life. She was a girl whose wings of aspirations and longings were about to spread out but her lack of privilege made her succumb to miseries.
It’s a pathetic tale and we have a reason to bow our heads down in shame. We still look at the tragic incident as spectators – as something outside of the tragedy. We look at the incident with an animalistic approach, with an inconsequential grief.
Posting videos on social media networking sites, writing obituaries in newspapers, exhibiting commiserations on different print and digital rostrums won’t heal the scar, won’t eradicate the malignant tumor from our social setup. We need to rise to the occasion. We must take pragmatic measures to check the menace. We must do meticulous planning and ensure surgical execution to make our society an exemplary and ideal one. We should not wait for any divine apostle or prophet to descend upon us and nudge us into the right direction. Angels won’t come to mend and rectify our skewed value systems. The onus on us. We should come forward to initiate the desired changes.
Let’s pledge to give a serious thought to it. Let’s all introspect our ways of living as true muslims and real human beings, and ask ourselves a simple question, “Is there a contradiction between what we proclaim and what we do? Undoubtedly, there is. Aren’t we filling the shoes of Abdullah Bin Abai? Hypocrisy is the most suitable term which probably defines our character and faith. Ibadah ( Worship ) alone won’t secure our place in Jannah and win the pleasure of Allah. There are of course other parameters which will decide our eternal fate. Rubbing our foreheads on the prayer-mat rigorously, moving our fingers on the beads of rosary frequently, hurting our bodies by abstaining from drinking and eating during Ramadan, circumambulating around Kaaba and other holy places of Makkah, sporting long beards, covering our hair under a white turban and donning Kurta Payjama is not the licence to paradise.
We need to ask some tough questions. What made the young girl feel so helpless? How can we, as a society, be so oblivious of those in need around us? We are either complacent with our paltry contributions of charity or insensitive towards the poor, needy and destitute.
Only giving alms is not charity in its true sense. We need to have the skill and sympathy to identify who around us needs help. Some people do not open up about being in need. We often value our own self-esteem but hardly weigh others’. So, reaching out to the needy without hurting their self-esteem is very important.
Now, let’s look into the remedial measures. Allah swt and Rehmatal-Lil-Aalameen (Peace be upon him) have already taught us how to overcome such scenarios and circumstances in our society. Zakaat (obligatory tax) is a panacea for poverty in our society. Even Sadaqah is believed to please Allah the most.
According to stats available with the chairperson of Jammu and Kashmir Yateem Trust, Mr Zahoor Ahmad Tak, “Only five percent Sahibi Nisab (Muslims possessing requisite wealth and assets to pay Zakaat) Kashmiri muslims pay Zakat”.
We brag and boast big in Masjids but weigh very meager when scrutinized against the true spirit of Islam. Custodians of Pir-vaer can’t afford double standards. It is sheer hypocrisy. Disciples of Makhdoom Sahab (ra) and Nundreshi (ra) can’t be hypocrites.
Hazrat Syedna Umar (ra) had threatened Zakaat defaulters of dire consequences during his reign. He (ra) had called Jihad obligatory against the defaulters. We don’t have the power to intimidate Zakaat dodgers but we can’t evade it either. Zakaat is one of the five foundational pillars of Islam. One who demolishes it, is actually razing the building of Islam down. True believers calculate Zakaat and Ushr of their belongings, in accordance with Islamic jurisprudence, and pay the calculated amount with utmost care.
We have Masjid Intizamiya Committees in villages, towns and cities. We should entrust the job to honest, determined and compassionate souls of our society. We must come up with a robust strategy to tackle the issues of destitution and poverty. Creation of Baitulmal will resolve many burning issues of our society. It will even cease stray collections, a menace that has now turned into a mafia. Allah SWT will definitely hold us accountable for our silence and indolence. Yet, there’s still time.
- The author is a Teacher and a Columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]
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