The West continues to assume that mosques are entirely and in every instance benign institutions that teach peace and brotherhood. This is, at best, an unfounded assumption.
“Here’s how schools of faith, mobiles are radicalising Kashmir,” by Aarti Tikoo Singh, TNN, July 9, 2017 (thanks to Lookmann):
Last month, in a south Kashmir mosque, a fiery cleric in his raucous voice and shrill cries, defended former Hizbul commander Zakir Musa’s call for Islamic jihad. For the first time, a cleric, using his religious pedestal, was exhorting his audience to support Kashmir’s most wanted terrorist who recently aligned ideologically with al Qaeda. The audio recording of Mufti Shabir Ahmad Qasmi’s incendiary speech was widely circulated on instant online messaging platforms in the valley. The Mufti very likely converted many of his ardent followers into Musa cheerleaders.
Kashmir’s mosques have always been used for religio-political ends, and for separatism since 1989 when the militancy broke out. But the character of the mosque has changed dramatically in the last decade.
Hanafi/Barelvi Islam, the traditionally moderate school followed by the majority in Kashmir, is being replaced by the radical Ahl-e-Hadith, the local moniker for Saudi-imported Salafism or Wahhabism. Though many Hanafi clerics like Moulana Abdul Rashid Dawoodi are resisting their Wahhabi competitors, “the attendance in annual fairs of all major Sufi shrines has been decreasing,” said Muzamil, a Sufi practitioner. Of the roughly six million Muslims in the Valley, the once-marginal Ahl-e-Hadith now has over a million followers, claimed its general secretary, Dr Abdul Latif.
The Arab funded Wahhabism finds convergence with other already established conservative strains of Islamic movements, such as Deobandi and Jamat-e-Islami in Kashmir. The mufti who made a plea for Musa is a Deobandi from a Jamati household. Such religious intersections are not limited to fundamentalists. Last year, Sarjan Barkati, a self-proclaimed Sufi, earned epithets like ‘Pied Piper of Kashmir’ and ‘Freedom Chacha’ for mobilising people and glorifying the Hizbul commander Burhan Wani who had wanted to establish an Islamic Caliphate. These mutations from moderate to radical have been happening insidiously and manifested themselves in the mob that lynched deputy SP Ayub Pandith on Shab-e-Qadr.
The coalescing of all the schools of Sunni Islamic thought in Kashmir is result of a “common broad-based platform, Ittehaad-e-Millat, created to resolve differences” not only among the puritanical groups but also with syncretic Barelvi outfits, said Jamat-i-Islami Amir chief Ghulam Mohammad Bhat. Incidentally, IeM was actively involved in organising protest rallies in favour of Wani last year….
Official sources said that there are over 7,500 mosques and seminaries in Kashmir, of which over 6,000 are Hanafi and around 200 are syncretic Sufi shrines. Ahl-e-Hadith, Deoband and Jamat put together have just over 1,000 mosques and charity based seminaries, of which Ahl-e-Hadith has the largest number. “Ahl-e-Hadith mosques are popular for their modern furnishing and facilities,” said Shahnawaz, a Barelvi follower in Anantnag, adding that the organisation also funds several orphanages, clinics and medical diagnostic centres.
Sources said Ahl-e-Hadith mosques and seminaries have doubled in the last 27 years. FCRA annual reports show that top donors to India among the Salafist Islam practising states are the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Although it is not clear who the top donor and recipient in J&K is, the state has received between 10 and 100 crores as foreign funds each year in the last decade.
A lot of Salafist literature was being distributed for free in Kashmir through last 30 years, a Shia Kashmiri said. “There is a sizeable number of Kashmiri diaspora in the Middle East who send remittances, mostly through Hawala to fund not just this radical doctrine but terror too.”…
Cinemas, bars and discotheques were shut in Kashmir in the early 1990s when militant groups issued diktats against all things “un-Islamic”.
Buford says
It is a proven fact that in both Germany & Brittan Mosques are used for Terrorist activity & it will be a reality here before long the so called religion of Peace uses the Mosques for preaching hatred towards Christians & Jews covering up & providing mis information as was the case in San Bernardino they need to be leveled in all non Muslim Countries. It is just a matter of time until even the Stupidest of Libs sees how Dangerous they are & finally turn on Muslims
Bob says
Our UK politicos’re all wearing rose-tinted spectaclesas far as islam is concerned. They’d prefer to see the country become a caliphate rather than upset the muslims!
gravenimage says
Kashmir jihad incited from mosques and Islamic schools
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Disgusting–but this should in no way surprise.
abad says
There is a reason mosques and Islamic schools are called terrorist training centers.
mortimer says
HERE IS WHAT THEY TEACH IN ISLAMIC SCHOOLS: TO HATE THE DIRTY KUFAAR !
Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said:
«The declaration of LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAH requires not to love or hate, except for the sake of Allah; neither should there be any al-walaa’ and al-baraa’, except for the sake of Allah; and that one should love and hate that which Allah loves and hates. »
Linguistically the word al-walaa’ implies: love, help and drawing close. And al-baraa’ is its opposite. Another term that is frequently used for al-baraa’ is the term ‘adaa (enmity).
The technical meaning of al-walaa’ and al-baraa’:
Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said:
« Wilaayah (closeness) is the opposite of ‘adaawah (enmity). The root of wilaayah is love and intimacy, and the root of ‘adaawah is enmity and being distant. »
Shaykh ‘Abdul-Lateef aalush-Shaykh said:
« The root of al-walaa’ is love and the root of ‘adaa is enmity. From them both actions of the hearts and the limbs. Those [actions] that enter into the reality of al-walaa’ and al-baraa’ include: the giving of help, socialising, co-operation, jihaad and their like. »
So al-walaa’ and al-baraa’ are necessary consequences of the kalimah – as is proven from the Book and the Sunnah. Some of the evidences from the Book of Allah include:
« Let not the Believers take the unbelievers as intimate friends and helpers (awliyaa) in preference to the Believers. Whoever does so will never be helped by Allah in any way; unless you fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against punishment from Himself. And to Allah is the final return. » [Surah Aal-‘Imraan 3:28]
« Say: If you do love Allah, follow me. Allah will love you; forgive you your sins. Allah is Most-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Say: Obey Allah and the Messenger, but if they turn away, then know that Allah does not love the unbelievers. » [Surah Aal-‘Imraan 3:31-32]
Chand says
Can the funding of fundamental Islam from the rich Sunni Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia be stopped? It has become apparent that Sunni Salafist Wahabbism is the main force behind today’s Jihadism. And it is coming from Saudi Arabia. Who will bell this cat now? Can Donald do it? Who will directly confront this truth and prevent these wealthy Arabs from funding madarsas and schools that teach the hatred of the ‘kafir’ as literal truth and religion? Will Putin do it? Or NATO? Who will call a spade a spade?
Or does money really talk and this bullshit will keep walking?
Strong Aingel says
Add Borough Councils, e.g. Luton .. to that List ..