Inter-Religious Dialogues Way to Communal Harmony

By Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi, New Age Islam 14 January 2025 India is a great embodiment of ethnic diversity and cultural and religious pluralism. Its religious and cultural diversity can be observed in its variant life styles, marriage customs and different traditional outfits. Hindus and Muslims have an equal share in nurturing this pluralistic tradition. Mahatma Gandhi, Sir Syed, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Hazrat Amir Khusro, etc. profoundly advocated religious and cultural pluralism. Now the question is how to strengthen this heritage. What is happening today is very sad. It is an obvious fact that interfaith dialogues are an inevitable need of the present day. For that, many books and research articles are being written on this topic. Seminars and conferences are being organized. In this way misunderstandings can be removed and thus distances can be minded and the path of mutual respect and regard can also be paved. In fact, many misunderstandings about other religions and communities are perpetrated only on the basis of hatred. Thus, social relations and humanistic rituals are destroyed. If mutual relations are to be respected, then we have to understand other religions. Surely, this is the only way to save India's pluralistic traditions and religious diversity. (From Files) ----- The second important point for protecting India's plural values ​​and centuries-old fraternity is Hindu-Muslim unity. Obviously, all the efforts made regarding Hindu-Muslim unity can bear fruit only when we conduct religious dialogue in between them. Unity, integrity, cooperation and assistance are some basic values ​​for the development and prosperity of any society without which a righteous and peaceful society can hardly be imagined. The reason for the mutual hatred and hostility, that is growing in India today, is that we are weakening Hindu-Muslim relations deliberately. History is a witness that when we celebrated this cooperation and collaboration, the British had to pack up their bags from India. Therefore, today, those self-interested elements should remember that their actions will not only shatter the unity of the two community, but will also tarnish the prolonged traditions of India. It is important here to create such literature in which elements of Hindu-Muslim solidarity and collectivism should have been promoted and which are a milestone in terms of unity of humanity, human friendship and mutual love and affection. Now this is the path that is a beacon for Indian society. Professor Akhtar Al-Wasiyya in his article "Elements of Pluralism in the Thought of Sir Syed and Maulana Azad" makes a reference to Sir Syed. "Those who think that true friendship and heartfelt love for non-religious people is forbidden are wrong. What God Almighty has created in the nature of man is right and absolutely true. We should have and practice true friendship and heartfelt love for all our friends, regardless of their religion. But in all this love and friendship, it should be at the level of human love, not love of faith. Because love of faith is impossible without religious unity, and without unity it is impossible to be pure. And I believe that this guidance has been given to us by our true religion, Islam. The plural nature of India and its diverse cultural system are an absolute reality. Whether we believe it or not, we cannot erase history or the services of those great sons and intellectuals of India who have made successful efforts to shape India's mixed civilization and preserve its identity. Someone may deny history, but who can ignore the impressions and evidence that have been recorded on the page of paper regarding a pluralistic society? Of course, our traditions are different. Every religion and belief has its own characteristics. ---- Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi is an Author and columnist URL: https://www.newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/inter-religious-dialogues-communal-harmony/d/134326 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