WE THE PEOPLE
Marriage season has already set-in, Ostentations and Extravaganzas at peak in Kashmir
Hence Conscientious Citizens urge Religious Scholars, Social Reformists to raise voice against such Un-Islamic activities
By: MNS/M. Shirjeel
Srinagar: With the change in weather conditions, people have started solemnizing marriages on mass scale. Buntings, decorations, illumination and bursting of crackers have become main features of the vale of Kashmir today. Prices of edibles had already skyrocketed and now have started going up with no one to check them. One wonders to see such sheer ostentations at a place, which has been witnessing dance of death and destruction since 1989 and even now loss of precious human lives continues to remain unchecked. It is equally astonishing that majority of people claiming to be staunch Muslims are performing marriages in such a manner, which is totally un-Islamic.
It needs to be mentioned with emphasis that Islam does not believe in ostantations, but teaches simplicity and balanced approach to all activities concerning human beings. Since marriage is a solemn requirement for both men and women so its performance must be strictly in accordance with the teachings of Quran and Sunnah. On the contrary, Muslims in Kashmir are engaged in rat race to score points and indulge in extravagances. Lot of wastage of mutton, rice and edibles is observed wherever marriages are solemnized. A keen competition goes on in inventing new dishes. This has created a very serious social problem, especially for those girls who are born in poor families. There are reports that many such girls have crossed the marriageable age, as they are not able to find suitable matches. Had Muslims followed the teachings of Holy Prophet (SAW), the emerging scenario would not be so grim today. There are defined codes of conduct and if followed both in letter and spirit, the marriages of girls would not be assuming alarming dimensions today. There are reports of suicides being committed by young girls when they see no bright prospects for their marriages. This trend is growing and needs to be curbed with all the force at our command. It is the duty of religious scholars, social activists and reformists to rise to the occasion and launch a crusade against social evils in the society.
"It was during the period of Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) when he wanted to introduce some modifications in the dower, but he was ob-jected by a lady who was sitting in the last row of the congregation. She rose and challenged Hazrat Umar (RA) as to how he could amend that what had been stated in Holy Quran and not amended by the Holy Prophet (SAW). The Muslim men are enjoined to give heaps of gold to their wives if they have the capacity to do so. Perhaps this had been enjoined in the background of girls getting buried at the time of their birth in the Arab land during pre-Islamic era. It was the Holy Prophet (SAW), who revolutionized the society and raised the status of woman in the society. Even today boy's marriage in Saudi Arabia is a difficult proposition as he is to offer nearly 3 lakh Riyals to his would be wife while entering into marriage bond. But here in Kashmir, we are away from the teachings of our beloved Prophet (SAW). This is the reason that poor girls are left with no choice, but to end their lives in cold blood. However, there is a silver lining as there are reports that some Muslim youth are against dowry system and have risen in revolt against their parents. This is a healthy trend which needs to be encouraged if we want to have a welfare society", said a group of Keen Watchers of Kashmir valley.
Therefore, there is urgent need to go against the tide and social evils which have overwhelmingly overtaken our society, it becomes obligatory on the part of Imams and Khatibs of Mosques, social activists and intellectuals to rise to the occasion and launch a crusade against the evil of dowry system in Kashmir. They must also launch an offensive against all types of ostentations and extravaganzas, which have divided our society into two cl-asses. Islam believes in a cl-assless society and is against all social evils, which push Muslims nearer to the Devil and to the devilish acts. Let all Muslims, particularly the youth take a pledge to abide by the teachings of Quran, fully explained and practiced by our beloved Holy Prophet (pbuh).
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