Every discourse is oriented by the space and time within which it takes place. This rule is applicable to all discourses within Islamic thought as well. Besides Quran and Sunnah every thing else within Islamic thought is result of efforts of fallible human beings who tried to interpret eternal Islamic principles in context of their situations. Once the situation is changed this Interpretation also needs to be updated. What is true about Islamic thought is also true about the Organizational behavior structure and Methodology. It is probably because of variability of situations of space and time that Allah has arranged for a chain of Mujtahids in every epoch to accomplish this task. Had Ijtihad of a Single Mujtahid being sufficient there was no need for new Mujtahids which is not the case. Unfortunately Muslims have over looked this fact. Interpretations and Organizational patterns are perceived to be sacred and any change in these treated as blasphemy. This Phenomenon seems to have over taken Jammat-i- Islami of Kashmir as well. Problem with the Jammat is that its literature has been produced in context of Indian and Pakistani situations. This literature is relevant to Kashmir only as for as it elaborates the ideology in abstract terms. Kashmiri Jammat is facing a situation which is unlike the context in which its literature has been written. This literature does not offer any concrete guidance for Kashmir situation. Jammat leadership in Kashmir has mastered in oratory but failed in producing a thought that could correlate its ideals with local realities. Result of this situation is confusion. This confusion is often compounded by extra interests which out siders takes in its affairs or are made to take by various factions within Jammat. Another problem is that jammat has been over shadowed by its full timers. For them every approach and strategy of Jammat has to ensure their survival ands sustenance. Unfortunately inspite of so many efforts Jammat leader ship has failed to coop up with these problems. All attempts to rectify the situation result in a hush-up exercise instead of a serious discourse on the real problems. The issues resurfaced at the time of recent elections within jammat and became an issue of deliberation for local national and international media. The public relation office of Jammat instead of putting things in right perspective too contributed in escalation of this debate. Thank God that
Inspite of Hassan Zainageri’s election manifesto for Ex-amir-i-Jammat GM Bhat whose tenure triggered all these controversies didn’t get elected for the post. Zainageri projected achievements of Bhat as (i) u turn in Jammat policy towards insurgency in Kashmir (ii) in lieu of that safety of lives of Jammat workers. Jammat is an Islamic movement. Contribution of such a movement is not assessed by the escape routes it adopts and number of workers it manages to save but with reference to its adherence to the ideals for which it stands. Even in terms of saving Jammat workers from getting killed Zainageri seemed to be wrong. Number of Jammat workers killed after formation of Tehreek-i- Huriyat may even now be more than those killed from Tehreek-i-Hurriyat. Decline in killings has nothing to do with change of Jammat policy while it may have to do a lot with dormancy of insurgency, peace process and internationalization of Kashmir issue.
Jammat-i-Islami is a cadre based organisation. Nazir Ahmad Kashani allowed those of its workers to join Tehreek-i-Huriyat who perceive that Kashmir cause deserves more attention from them. There is nothing wrong in dual membership as long as objectives of the two organisations are same. Dual membership facilitates workers of different tastes to work in line with their priorities without making others to suffer for their actions. Jammat and its constitution are supposed to be subservient to Quran and Sunnah. Neither Quran nor Sunnah forbids one to be part of so many organizations as long as objectives of these do not collide with their basic tenets. Basic sources of Shariah recognize only one membership that is of Ummah or Aljammat. Jammati Islami is not a substitute for Aljammat nor its Ameer Ameerul Mumineen. It is simply an attempt to revive Aljammat along with so many such efforts going on in different parts of the globe. Islam preceeded Jammat. It will proceed beyond Jammat. Problem of dual membership of Jammat is result of a wrong notion among some Jammat people that Jammat is a substitute of Aljammat. There has been a paradox in Jammat right from its inception. Paradox relates to priorities between social transformation and political dimensions of the Islamic movement. It was this paradox that led to division of Jammat in Pakistan in early fifties when Maulana Ameen ahsan Islahi and Dr Asrar Ahmed left it. Inspite of absence of an ideologue Jammati Islami of Kashmir has made so many experiments and innovations. These have made it focus of global attention. One of the innovations has been blending of freedom moment with Islamic moment like Hamas. The idea of dual membership may also be one of such experiments. Dual membership however should not be stretched too far to sharing of double responsibilities. The present controversy has been triggered by decision of Jammat to debar those of its members from participating in election who have joined Tehreek-i-Hurriyat. Election process should have been allowed smoothly and those of its workers made to abandon their positions in either of the organizations who might have got elected to any position within Jammat. Jammat is no more a small group. Its election no more a concern of its workers only. Muslim masses after demise of communism have tied their fate to Islamic movements. The revivalist movements should not betray them. The way freedom movement of Palestine can’t be perceived with out Hamas same way emancipation of Kashmir can’t be visualized without an active and decisive role of Islamic movements. The fate of Islamic movements can not be divorced from fate of Muslim Ummah and its various segments be they in Palestine, Lebanon, Chechanya or Kashmir. If Jammat and other Islamic movements keep aloof from these issues and the state of affairs of Ummah they can do it on their own expense. It will lead them nowhere except to marginalization. Where as active participation on the other hand can remould Muslim response to global hegemonistic onslaught in line with tenets of shariah.
Now when Jammat elections are over and it is headed by a sensible Ammir he must give priority to resolution of dual membership issue. Carry different shades of opinion along by restoring membership of those who have been suspended. The rank and file of Jammat which instead of perusing their cause seems to be more concerned with factional feuds. This state of affairs is disastrous and needs to be rectified if Jammat has to survive. It must be clear to every one that Islam has come to flourish whether Jammat survives or not. Excessive politicization bereft of social transformation is also dangerous. Political change without social transformation can lead to any thing besides Islamic revolution. Those who wish to plunge Jammat exclusively in political process they too need to reorient their thinking. Politics is not name of political activities only. Appreciation of a situation, its conceptualization and devising appropriate strategies to coop up with it is prerequisite for any successful political activity. Those who are for pro active role of Jammat seem to be failing on this account. Situation demands an in depth discourse and assessment of the circumstances lest thoughtless action leads it to an endless tunnel of quos and confusion. Where whole blood is shed by Islamists and all results harvested by un- Islamic forces.
Inspite of Hassan Zainageri’s election manifesto for Ex-amir-i-Jammat GM Bhat whose tenure triggered all these controversies didn’t get elected for the post. Zainageri projected achievements of Bhat as (i) u turn in Jammat policy towards insurgency in Kashmir (ii) in lieu of that safety of lives of Jammat workers. Jammat is an Islamic movement. Contribution of such a movement is not assessed by the escape routes it adopts and number of workers it manages to save but with reference to its adherence to the ideals for which it stands. Even in terms of saving Jammat workers from getting killed Zainageri seemed to be wrong. Number of Jammat workers killed after formation of Tehreek-i- Huriyat may even now be more than those killed from Tehreek-i-Hurriyat. Decline in killings has nothing to do with change of Jammat policy while it may have to do a lot with dormancy of insurgency, peace process and internationalization of Kashmir issue.
Jammat-i-Islami is a cadre based organisation. Nazir Ahmad Kashani allowed those of its workers to join Tehreek-i-Huriyat who perceive that Kashmir cause deserves more attention from them. There is nothing wrong in dual membership as long as objectives of the two organisations are same. Dual membership facilitates workers of different tastes to work in line with their priorities without making others to suffer for their actions. Jammat and its constitution are supposed to be subservient to Quran and Sunnah. Neither Quran nor Sunnah forbids one to be part of so many organizations as long as objectives of these do not collide with their basic tenets. Basic sources of Shariah recognize only one membership that is of Ummah or Aljammat. Jammati Islami is not a substitute for Aljammat nor its Ameer Ameerul Mumineen. It is simply an attempt to revive Aljammat along with so many such efforts going on in different parts of the globe. Islam preceeded Jammat. It will proceed beyond Jammat. Problem of dual membership of Jammat is result of a wrong notion among some Jammat people that Jammat is a substitute of Aljammat. There has been a paradox in Jammat right from its inception. Paradox relates to priorities between social transformation and political dimensions of the Islamic movement. It was this paradox that led to division of Jammat in Pakistan in early fifties when Maulana Ameen ahsan Islahi and Dr Asrar Ahmed left it. Inspite of absence of an ideologue Jammati Islami of Kashmir has made so many experiments and innovations. These have made it focus of global attention. One of the innovations has been blending of freedom moment with Islamic moment like Hamas. The idea of dual membership may also be one of such experiments. Dual membership however should not be stretched too far to sharing of double responsibilities. The present controversy has been triggered by decision of Jammat to debar those of its members from participating in election who have joined Tehreek-i-Hurriyat. Election process should have been allowed smoothly and those of its workers made to abandon their positions in either of the organizations who might have got elected to any position within Jammat. Jammat is no more a small group. Its election no more a concern of its workers only. Muslim masses after demise of communism have tied their fate to Islamic movements. The revivalist movements should not betray them. The way freedom movement of Palestine can’t be perceived with out Hamas same way emancipation of Kashmir can’t be visualized without an active and decisive role of Islamic movements. The fate of Islamic movements can not be divorced from fate of Muslim Ummah and its various segments be they in Palestine, Lebanon, Chechanya or Kashmir. If Jammat and other Islamic movements keep aloof from these issues and the state of affairs of Ummah they can do it on their own expense. It will lead them nowhere except to marginalization. Where as active participation on the other hand can remould Muslim response to global hegemonistic onslaught in line with tenets of shariah.
Now when Jammat elections are over and it is headed by a sensible Ammir he must give priority to resolution of dual membership issue. Carry different shades of opinion along by restoring membership of those who have been suspended. The rank and file of Jammat which instead of perusing their cause seems to be more concerned with factional feuds. This state of affairs is disastrous and needs to be rectified if Jammat has to survive. It must be clear to every one that Islam has come to flourish whether Jammat survives or not. Excessive politicization bereft of social transformation is also dangerous. Political change without social transformation can lead to any thing besides Islamic revolution. Those who wish to plunge Jammat exclusively in political process they too need to reorient their thinking. Politics is not name of political activities only. Appreciation of a situation, its conceptualization and devising appropriate strategies to coop up with it is prerequisite for any successful political activity. Those who are for pro active role of Jammat seem to be failing on this account. Situation demands an in depth discourse and assessment of the circumstances lest thoughtless action leads it to an endless tunnel of quos and confusion. Where whole blood is shed by Islamists and all results harvested by un- Islamic forces.
No comments:
Post a Comment