A heart-wrenching episode of suicide by a teenage girl of Sopore Township, in Northern Kashmir, has shaken every soul, has grieved every heart, has moistened every eye, has pierced daggers into every bosom, has left a scar on our collective conscience and has dug deeper into our human character. Her dead body is yet to be fished out from the deadly maelstrom of river Jehlum. Netizens on social media platforms have expressed their sorrow and sympathies with the bereaved family. Though suicides and suicidal attempts by young people have seen a surge in our valley, but the recent Sopore incident has shuddered and shattered every Kashmiri. We have a reason to bow our heads down in shame.
An ailing young girl whom harsh and cruel life had set to difficult trials at a tender age, who was too young to understand the ebbs and flows of life, whose wings of aspirations and longings were about to spread out ; succumbed to miseries and pains of strenuous circumstances so terribly. Pathetic tale of her family rips up hearts of compassionate souls. We all need to rinse our consciences, to see the truth through human perspective. But, alas! We still look at the tragic incident through animalistic approach. Animals of jungle too mourn and gather themselves up, around the corpse of their partner or group member. But, if our outlook is no different than theirs, then I am afraid, if we are the real successors of Allah’s viceroy on the planet earth.
Posting videos on social media networking sites, writing obituaries in newspapers, exhibiting commiserations on different print and digital rostrums; won’t heal the scar, won’t eradicate the malignant tumor from our social setup. We need to rise to the occasion. We must take pragmatic measures to check the menace; we must make meticulous planning and surgical execution to make our society an exemplary and ideal one, where core human values lay foundation of a state. We should not wait for any divine apostle or prophet to descend from the skies. Angels won’t come to mend and rectify our human value system. The onus is on us. We should come forward to initiate the desired changes. We should become torchbearers and role models for others.
We need to ponder upon what is happening around us. Let’s pledge to give a serious thought to it. Let’s all introspect our ways of living as true Muslims and real human beings, and ask ourselves a simple question – Is there contradiction between our sayings and doings? Undoubtedly, there is. Aren’t we filling the shoes of Hypocrites? Hypocrisy is the most suitable term which probably defines our character and faith. Ibadah (Worship) alone won’t secure our place in Jannah and win the pleasure of Allah. There are of course other parameters which will decide our eternal fate. Rubbing our foreheads on the prayer-mat rigourously, moving our fingers on the beads of rosary frequently, hurting our bodies by abstaining from drinking and eating during Ramadhan, circumambulating around Kaabah and other holy places of Mekkah, keeping long beards on our faces, covering our hair under a white turban and donning Kurta Payjama; is not the license to enter paradise and a certificate to designate someone pious.
What compelled the young girl to jump into the frozen waters of river Jehlum? The question is haunting us all, and it must. We are either complacent with our paltry contributions of charity or insensitive towards poor, needy and destitute. Even identifying a destitute and a needy, is as important as giving alms. Some people will prefer to die than to extend their hands before us. We often value our own self-esteem but hardly weigh others’. So, reaching out to needy without hurting their self-esteem is very important.
Now, let’s look into the remedial measures. Allah (SWT) and his Prophet (SAW) have already taught us how to overcome such scenarios and circumstances in our society. Zakaat (Obligatory charity) is the panacea for the chronic ailment of our society. Even Sadaqah is believed to please Allah (SWT) the most. But, data available with some charitable organizations will stun us all and will give us goose bumps. According to stats available with the chairperson of Jammu and Kashmir Yateem Trust – Mr Zahoor Ahmad Tak, ” Only five percent Sahibi Nisab ( Muslims possessing requisite wealth and assets to pay Zakaat ) Kashmiri Muslims pay Zakat “. The figures hang our heads down in shame. We brag and boast big in Masjids, but we weigh very meager when scrutinized through real religious angle. Custodians of Pir-vaer can’t possess double standards. It is sheer hypocrisy. Disciples of Makhdoom Sahab (RA) and Nundreshi (RA) can’t be hypocrites.
Hazrat Abu Bakr threatened Zakaat defaulters of dire consequences, during his reign. He (RA) called Jihad obligatory against the defaulters. We don’t have the power to intimidate Zakaat dodgers, but we can’t evade it either. Zakaat is one of the five foundational pillars of Islam. One who demolishes it, is actually razing the building of Islam down. True believers calculate Zakaat and Ushr of their belongings, in accordance with Islamic jurisprudence, and pay the calculated amount with utmost care.
We have Masjid Intizamiya Committees in villages, towns and cities. We should entrust the job to honest, determined and compassionate souls of our society. We must come up with robust strategy to tackle the issues of destitution and poverty. Creation of Baitulmaals will resolve many burning issues of our society. It will even cease stray collections which is spreading like an epidemic, in our society. I won’t discuss the issue of stray collection here, but I must let my readers know that the menace has turned into a mafia. Allah (SWT) will definitely hold us accountable for our silence and indolence. We can leave indelible impressions behind us, if we will rise to the occasion, or will perish like animals whose flesh is either eaten by scavengers or decayed under the soil. The choice is ours…!
(Author is a Teacher and Rising Kashmir Columnist. He can be reached at [email protected])
