Test of Faith

Test of Faith

In India, discrimination can be blatant and open or subtle and hidden depending on who you are interacting with. It can also depend on the time and place. So there are millions of variables that can determine the degree of prejudice that you experience.However, there are several paradoxes at play in those situations. Most Indians will talk of their favourite film stars(mostlyt Muslim by birth), their favourite foods, their favourite clothes, their favourite clothes (mostly Muslim in origin) etc and "those Muslim terrorists" in the same breath.Who are these Muslims who have gained us this epithet? Who are these people who gain entry or steal across the countr's borders and then proceed to commit crimes against humanity in the name of Islam? What do they know of Islam? have they ever read about Islam? its history? the life of its prophet?Ironically, most of their "knowledge" has been acquired from the local bearded mullah who is totally threatened by the new world order and the shape of economies.It is these men, with their prejudices agaisnt women, modern education, democracy and liberal thought who trap the poor and the frustrated in their politics of hatred. Again, most Muslims caught in this vortex don't realise that the goals of terrorists are political. These goals are NEVER social or economic upliftment.If they were then there would be a focus on education, social renaissance and movements to take our communities forward rather than reactionary beliefs and so called "fatwas".How can anyone claim with complete faith that his beliefs/faith/religion/ideas are the best, the most correct or the purest?How can anyone kill in the name of God? rape and pillage in the name of religion?To be Muslim was always a test of faith but now in these times, being a Muslim, a woman and a citizen of a third world country has become the greatest test of all