After having gone
through four biographies of personalities reflecting the conceptual positions
of Islam at two different times in Indian landscape, there comes the dilemma
which is needed to be resolved. Two of
them, Aurangzeb and Zia- Ul- Haq, orthodox, austere and strictly believing in
Islamic culture. The other two, Dara Shikoh and ZA Bhutto, mystical, extravagant and believing in ethic
culture. While Dara Shikoh wished to
include Hinduism in Islam, Bhutto attempted the similar exercise with the
dominant rival ideology of his time, socialism, endorsing the concept of
Islamic socialism. Bhutto’s death on
gallows merely confirmed the established Sufi tradition. Both the groups on genealogical lines were electic
and syncretist.
Conceptually, General
Zia Ul Haq was a spiritual descendent of Aurangzeb. Personally austere, committed to Islam and
the ummah, where as Bhutto like Dara shikoh, believed in mystical, informal
Islam, believed in Sufi saints, dance and ecstatic. He was personally extravagant, drank alcohol
and encouraged ethnic languages. Critics
of both the groups accuse them of exploiting religion to further political
ends.
The question that
arises is: How accurate are the stereotypes of both, the one is rigid fanatic,
the other is syncretist Humanist. Are Aurangzeb
and Zia are the extreme orthodox fanatic portrayed by their critics? Recent
historical research indicates that Aurangzeb was not as popularly supposed, a
destroyer of temples. On the contrary records exist showing numerous grants to
Hindu temples. Similarly Zia’s image in
the western press is that of a harsh Islamic judge ordering criminals to be
stones to death or lashed and their hands cut off. The facts show a very
limited use of these punishments. This type suffers from a bad press.
On the other hand
just how far has the other type drifted consciously or unconsciously from
religion. Here too the answer is interesting. This type does not see himself as
leaving Islam for non Islamic ideologies, but rather as bringing the latter
into the former. There understanding of
Islam may be faulted not his intentions. With Iqbal, himself a Sufi Poet believed
that at critical moment in their history, it is Islam that has saved Muslims
and not vice-versa.
It appears that the
confrontation between the two types is destined to end by the death of one at
the hands of the other. There is no
compromise or synthesis between the two. The death warrant signed by Aurangzeb
and Zia sealing the fates of Dara Shikoh and Bhutto thus reflects unresolved
dilemma of Indian Islam and illustrate the continuity of the tension in historical
perspective.
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