Sanjay Pandita
Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 28: After a disturbing video of Delhi’s suicide bomber, Dr. Umar Nabi, surfaced on social media and sparked a nationwide debate on radicalisation among educated youth, leading Islamic scholars have strongly denounced extremist elements who misuse religion to mislead vulnerable young people into taking violent paths.
The video—which shows the accused doctor expressing extremist ideological beliefs—has raised urgent questions about the growing influence of radical preachers who operate from behind the scenes, often from outside the country, while manipulating the emotions and faith of unsuspecting youth. The incident has triggered discussions within social, academic, and security circles about how extremist forces are exploiting digital platforms and religious spaces to propagate distorted interpretations of Islam.
Religious scholars expressed deep concern over what they described as a growing trend of “commercialised radicalism”—where self-styled preachers enjoy luxury lifestyles abroad but continue to manipulate youth in India by portraying violence as a religious obligation.
“They live in comfort. Their children study in foreign universities. Yet they push our boys toward violence,” said a senior cleric in Jammu, reflecting the broader sentiment among Islamic scholars.
Mohammad Shahaab, a well-known Delhi-based Islamic scholar and independent thinker, said the core message of Islam is being deliberately mispresented by radical elements.
“Islam is a religion for all humankind. Its teachings are not meant for one race, one nation, or one region. Islam gives a message of peace, love, justice, brotherhood, and humanity to the entire world. It is a source of guidance for every era and every situation,” Shahaab said, adding that ordinary citizens must recognise the difference between genuine religious teachings and extremist propaganda.
He emphasised that Islam encourages coexistence, compassion, and mutual respect among people of diverse cultures and faiths.
“In a modern society where different communities share the same cities, institutions, and workplaces, religious teachings must become part of our practical everyday life—not just theory or ritual,” he said.
The scholar further underlined that religion instructs people to uphold peace even in the face of provocation.
“The most remarkable feature of Islamic teachings is their insistence on peace, patience, equality, love, humanity, and brotherhood,” he said.
“If an unpleasant or even blasphemous incident occurs, the response must be lawful—within constitutional and judicial frameworks. Violence, aggression, and mob protests are not Islamic principles. They reflect emotional manipulation, not religious devotion,” he added.
To counter extremist narratives, Shahaab invoked numerous instances from religious history to demonstrate that the great religious leaders faced injustice and torture yet never resorted to violence.
“We have countless examples where religious leaders were humiliated, oppressed, or threatened, yet responded only with patience, wisdom, and moral strength,” he said.
He reminded that early followers of Islam endured some of the worst hardships at the hands of polytheists.
“They were beaten, starved, boycotted, insulted, and even targeted for assassination. Stones were thrown at them. Families were separated. But despite such brutal treatment, they never chose the path of riots, unrest, or violent retaliation.”
Shahaab stressed that violent protests not only fail to solve grievances but also severely damage the global image of Islam.
“Violence distorts the peaceful message of Islam and creates a negative perception of Muslims worldwide. Many times, protests turn violent, public property is destroyed, and the real issue gets overshadowed,” he said, urging community members to reject tactics that harm society and discredit the faith.
Instead, he appealed to all Muslims to adopt constitutional, lawful, and democratic means to address grievances and seek justice.
In his concluding remarks, Shahaab urged the community to take responsibility for how their religion is seen globally.
“Show the world that Islam is not confined to rituals. It is a comprehensive message of goodness, peace, and human welfare,” he said.
“The actions of a few radical voices cannot define a faith followed by more than a billion peaceful people.”
Security agencies are continuing their investigation into Dr. Umar Nabi’s case, while scholars say the episode should serve as a wake-up call for parents, institutions, and religious leaders to collaborate in preventing youth from falling prey to ideological extremism. |
