Surely and certainly, To Forgive is Divine.

Submitted by Mahfoozur Rahman (Bangladesh), Nov 5, 2006 at 16:33

Mr Vijay,

The number game in any war is a futile exercise. The number of civilian casualties in Iraq war, happening currently in the full glare of the international media, is totally uncertain as various sources put them much differently, ranging from 650,000 to 30,000. Whatever may be the number, one can certainly say that the country is suffering greatly and the casualties suffered are large. As a matter of principle, even one death unnecessarily caused is a loss to humanity.

As I said before we suffered greatly in the Civil War of 1971. The number here is irrelevant in the context and to the effects of the war that created Bangladesh. We had to start building a nation from the ashes and could not afford to count the numbers and then mull over them. I am surely not being insensitive, simply realistic. What purpose will these numbers serve other than rekindling old enmities among the peoples of this subcontinent that we both perhaps share, or at the least originated from. One has to look at Europe to see how ancient enmities have been buried and a new era of peace and prosperity has dawned in the EU. That is progress and that is modernity - the true reality of the 21st century. You only have to look at the relationship of post-war Germany and the State of Israel to know what I am talking about. But then, you would perhaps never like the Jews to forget and forgive the Germans for the wrongs and the genocide that they suffered. These two countries are friends and partners in development. That, Mr Vijay, is progress towards peace, a noble principle that you do not seem to understand or comprehend.

But some people can not tolerate peace and progress. They must raise old issues and try to create divisions and enmity. They will not allow old wounds to heal. They must endeavour to create new wounds over the scars of the past. They will stoop so low as to hurl aspersions on other people's faith, all to their nefarious ends, always forgetting their own little-mindedness, bigotry and racism. But then, they are the losing forces of history and will be defeated by the oppressed people of their own society and the inherent contradictions of their elitist social and religious system that separates people by birth and perpetuates so-called social strata. They represent the forces of the dark past, one that is rejected by progressive peoples everywhere. They represent repression and retrogression in society and hinder mankind's march towards reconciliation and peace.

If the above premises are historically and sociologically correct, then your adverse comments on the virtues of forgiveness may as well be put in the correct perspective. On the one hand, you question the high principles of a faith followed by over a billion people by most objectionable terms, at the same time; you remain silent on the inherent inequity, injustice and oppressive nature of Hinduism. Indeed Allah forgives all sins of mankind, even of those who incite hatred and enmity among peoples, but if only they repent and ask for it.Hindu extremists have played the game of divsion and social hatred among the peoples of Hindustan for centuries, one that you belatedly play. These forces of violence do not know the divine virtues of forgiveness and reconciliation. They only know intolerance, hatred and revenge. Their violent dogma culminating in modern times in the cruel assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, a man of faith, a devout Hindu, and the apostle of peace and amity among all the communities of the Sub-Continent. Do you know Mr Vijay, the reason that the RSS assassin declared for killing the great man for whom I personally and scores of millions of Muslims like me have nothing but the highest respect? Because, the assassin claimed, Mr Gandhi did not advocate killing of helpless Muslims of India. So, let us not talk about the deaths in a war or in communal riots. More than a million human beings, mostly Muslims, the minority community, were killed in the riots of 1947.

Do you wish to start a war, perhaps a nuclear war because of that genocide? More rationally and fruitfully, you may as well divert your attention to the extremists in your midst who killed the Mahatma, and even now regularly kill innocent Muslims in your country. The terrible riots of Gujerat, where massacres of innocent Muslims were organised at the State level by Mr Modi the Chief Minister is a case in point. You may not agree with me, but refer to the Reports of the Judicial Commission of your own country and the US State Department, who refused Mr. Modi, the genocidal Chief Minister's US visa. It was feared, with good reason, that he would incite communal hatred and riots in the USA also. But we believe that Allah will forgive Mr Modi, if only he repents and asks for forgiveness. For such a firm belief in forgiveness, brotherhood and peace among peoples, we become the target of your slur and ridicule. But in return, I only thank you and am grateful to you. For, by these attacks, you publicly display the true colours of your faith that was the fundamental basis of killing of Mahatma Gandhi.

As to what the Muslims stand for, and the qualities that their faith inculcate in them, I shall only quote the Mahatma, the Great Soul, who was violently murdered by your fellow Hindu, and whose interpretation of Islam was much more factual, as he had understood the essence of Islam. Thus, in the magazine Young India, he wrote:

"I become more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers and his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle."

I quote these words of the Mahatma, which are absolutely contrary to the statement of an obscure Byzantine Emperor of the Middle Ages that were quoted by Pope Benedict to describe Islam and History of Islam. May I ask who will you trust and believe in, the Mahatma or an obscure, shadowy figure from the Dark Ages? I shall be interested to know your answer.

Because you term me as one, as I advocate forgiveness and reconciliation, according to you, the late and greatly lamented, Mr. Gandhi must also been an 'Islamist!!' Right or wrong?

In the end, let me ask you a simple question. Just how many Dalits and other oppressed classes have converted to Islam in the last 10 years in secular India? And how many Muslims have converted to any other religion in your country during the same period, even as they are oppressed, victimised and killed in numerous communal riots?

Since you seem to be in love with, and know your numbers so well, please do obtain these for the general readers. Perhaps the Census or the Statistical Department of India can help you.

These number, once you obtain them from your own government sources, more than any false and biases statement will prove the point. The tens and thousands of converted Muslims of India will vouch for you: That to forgive is divine, as they have forgiven their oppressors and the unjust ruling class within your won society.

Truth, Mr Vijay, stands supreme in spite of all the adverse propaganda and falsification of history.

And I believe as an absolute Article of Faith: To forgive is divine, as Allah is all forgiving and most merciful. No agent provocateur will be able to divert or dissuade me, or my co-religionists from this noble principle.

Sincerely

M.R

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