JAKARTA — The Cooperation Secretary in India’s Mufti’s Office, Sheikh Muhammad An-Nurany, has said reports of aggressive pressures on Muslims in India are exaggerated and in fact in good condition.

This was conveyed during an international dialogue held virtually by the MUI Committee on Foreign Relations and International Cooperation (HLNKI), Thursday (24/2/2022).

He acknowledged that there had been acts of intolerance and persecution by a handful of Hindu extremists in some areas. However, he said, these are just small ripples in the social life of Indian society.

“These incidents happened several months ago, and the situation is now under control and has improved,” he said.

He explained that in general, relations between Muslims and Hindus are going well and they are in a safe, peaceful and stable state.

Regarding the rise of the militant Hindu government regime, he did not deny that it appeared to be the driving force behind Hindu radicalism. However, he continued, the Indian government remains kind to Muslims.

Conscience, as it is colloquially known, said that the Indian government has always been neutral towards all religions and that there is no special treatment for certain religions, including Hinduism.

“Muslims in India really value the freedom to practice and express their religion. Government relations with Muslims are very good, Muslims in India are not hindered from carrying out their socio-religious activities,” he said.

Awareness shows that the freedom felt by Indian Muslims has enabled them to develop Islamic educational institutions from elementary to higher level.

“Religious educational institutions and hospitals set up by Muslims are growing rapidly. Even religious ceremonies, Islamic da’wah and celebrations of Islamic holidays can take place freely and safely,” he said.

Not only that, Nurani said, due to freedom of Muslims to operate in India, Mufti of India i.e. Sheikh Abu Bakar was able to build 3500 mosques all over India and other projects by himself.

“One of the concrete proofs of the freedom and security felt by Indian Muslims is the establishment of the City of Knowledge (Madinah al-Ma’rifah) in Kerala-India City, two days by train from New Delhi “, he continued.

The city of Karela is the center of the Islamic civilization which was founded on an area of ​​more than 300 hectares which is located at the Markaz at-Tsaqadah al-Islamiyah University which opens various faculties in the fields of general sciences and religion.

Although this university is termed as an Islamic university, it offers non-Muslim Indian students the opportunity to study here. All students studying there receive full campus scholarships whose fees come from Indian Muslim philanthropists.

In this city of knowledge, there are also hotels, apartments, hospitals, libraries and the largest mosques in India. The Muslim population of this city represents 50% of the total population. This proves that Muslims in India are free to be creative and active.

“For Indian Muslims, outbursts caused by a small number of radical Hindus need not be reacted to in a reactive manner, as they will in fact cause greater damage,” he said.

He said that the Indian clerics under the leadership of the Mufti of India have shown good leadership of the Ummah. He added that under the guidance of scholars, Muslims in India were able to be patient and wise in responding to aggressive actions against them.

“The maturity of Ulema leadership has proven to be effective in making people mature and wise in their attitudes, as if to emphasize that the positive energy they spread will be very effective in dealing with and eliminating the seeds of hatred and hostility from anyone,” he said.

This dialogue brought together a number of personalities from the HLNKI MUI commission, including Dr. Ali Hasan Bahr, Dr. Ubaidilah, Dr. Andy Hadiyanto, Ambassador Safira Mahrusah, Ust Yanuardi, Ust Ghazali Munawar, Ust Muh. Faisal, KH. Tajul Mafakhir, Ust Ihsan Nahromi, and from the MUI Fatwa Commission, Dr. Fakhrurozi.

Nurani, who is also a lecturer at Markaz at-Tasaqaf al-Islamiyah Vity of Knowledge India University, hopes MUI and India’s Diyar Mufti can establish cooperation, especially in the area of ​​quality improvement. Muslim Human Resources (HR).

In addition, he also hopes that there can be an exchange of experience between MUI and the Diyar Mufti of India in promoting Muslims.

Responding to this expectation, the participants in the dialogue of the HLNKI MUI commission were very enthusiastic and promised that in the near future a broader forum of meetings between Indian and Indonesian religious would be held.

It’s about discussing various things, especially efforts to strengthen community moderation and improve the quality of life for Muslims.

(Sadam Al-Ghifari/Fakhruddin)