Removing A Muslim Child's Amulet Is Also A Superstition

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 9 September 2024 "Right-wing propaganda website OpIndia also reported on the video, describing the child as Hindu and alleging that the Maulvi removed the Tulsi mala. Although the article was later updated to clarify that the child’s religion could not be definitively confirmed, the URL of the article still labelled the child as Hindu. (Archived link)." This refers to Tulsi Rosary Was Not Removed From Bangladesh Child’s Neck; Muslim Boy’s Video Falsely Viral. While the boy is indeed a Muslim and not a Hindu, there's no denying the fact that this happened and a Muslim cleric in Bangladesh Abdul Malek Miyaji removed the amulet from the boy's neck. The Salafi or Ahle Hadees sect opposes wearing Taa'veez (amulets/talismans), and several videos of Salafi followers cutting talismans are available online. But, so many Muslims of a number of Islamic sects wear amulets. They also visit the Mazar and Dargah of Sufi saints. Faith is a personal matter. Hardcore monotheistic Islam believes that Only the belief and worship of the one Supreme Creator can help solve one's problems. Sincere prayer and supplication is the way to go. To believe in any talisman, bracelets, charms etc. is a form of shirk which is to believe in any other protector but Almighty god. But average human mind is drawn to tangible things. It cannot easily relate to the intangibility of an invisible and unknown god or Allah. Rationalists like M N Roy, Periyar, Abraham Thomas Kovoor, Sir Carveth Reid and Dabholkar argued that at times, abolition of superstitions also takes on the form of a superstition! This incident in Bangladesh will make it clear. To a certain school of Islam, wearing amulets and talismans is a shirk (sacrilege) and a superstition. But here in this context, removing a superstition is also a superstition (a delusional belief that only Allah can and will help). Believing in a higher or transcendental power itself is such a huge universal superstition that it ceases to become a superstition! In other words, faith in some supreme power doesn't appear to be an irrational or superstitious act to mankind because it has got the acceptance of crores of people. Any act of religious belief is a superstition. Let Muslims of some sects wear amulets and Muslim men wear gold ornaments if that helps them give a semblance of solace, a modicum of worldly happiness and a smidgen of psychological help which's often placebo. ------ A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/muslim-child-amulet-superstition/d/133158 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism