Speaking in a broader context, Doval told a packed hall at the New Delhi World Book Fair that ‘the fidelity to religion or state should not be compromised. We should not allow our brains to be imprisoned. If you don’t introspect you lose time and direction. If done too late then you tend to lag.”
Doval said, “The phenomenon of the relationship between State and religion is not unique to Islam, although in Abbasid rule there was clarity on the role of state and clergy.”
He said the conflict (between religion and state) would continue but important is if we are looking for a resolution. For example, he said, in Hinduism, the conflict was resolved through meditation and shastrarth –debates of scholars and learned men from competitive thoughts or religions.
He said, that religion-based conflicts are inevitable since all ideologies are competitive and if they didn’t compete they would stagnate and eventually perish.However, to avoid conflicts flaring up it’s important to allow the free flow of thoughts and avoid stagnation. “Those generations who could not think out of the box have stagnated.”Quoting from history Doval said, “Resistance to adopt the printing press is one example where the resistance came from the clergy. They thought with the advent of the printing press the meaning of Islam which they perceived to be real would not be interpreted properly.”
Speaking on the occasion M J Akbar, former MoS MEA, said more than democracy, Muslims need to revert to a knowledge-based society as it was during the glorious period of Muslim rule. He said the fall of Muslim empires happened because they stopped sharing knowledge.
In the context of Islam, Akbar said, Sufism is practical because it teaches us a relationship that is not hostile. He said the real problem of Muslims is their inability to come to terms with modernity and understand the nation-state.
He also suggested to Dr Kuru to focus on Pakistan, which is a classic example of how religion was used to divide a country and to generate institutionalized and generational conflict.
Dr Kuru suggested that Muslims must accept their citizenship – both for their rights and to perform their duties – to end their backwardness.
He said the solution to Muslims’ backwardness could be found in democracy. Both the majority and minority communities in a country should respect citizenship. All should be given equal rights and be mindful of their duties towards their country as well.
He said Muslims did well when they believed in coexistence; and were open-minded and accepting of diversity.
Turkish-origin Prof. Ahmet is a Professor of Political Science and Director for Islamic and Arabic Studies at San Diego State University in the USA.
Khusro Foundation convenor Dr Hafizur Rahman said the foundation would continue to challenge the false narratives being associated with Islam through books. The Foundation, he said is working on bringing a series of books for children.
