Social
cohesion had already become a major issue in politics, issues of cultural
assimilation, the role of religious group and its impact on society, the impact
of ethnic diversity on social cohesion in communities’ level and lack of
solidarity among them is the topic of concern. Nepal is a state of religious tolerance and
co-existence among different religious group, each religious group has their
own sense of religious identity within diverse community. These religious
communities are varying in respective caste, class, ethnicity, language,
cultural tradition, believe structures and social evolution. All groups promote
different ways of life, mode of worship, food habits, clothing and notion of
what is sacred.
Islam
is not a homogeneous religion as Hindu. Islam originated in Saudi Arabia in the
sixth century, before that they used to worship idols as Hindu doing but within
a short period of time Islam’s monotheistic belief structure spread across the
Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The
Quran is unequivocally accepted by Muslims as the final message of God, Quran
was gradually revelation to the Prophet Muhammad through angel Gabriel which
contains a socio-political, economic and legal system based on canonical
(shariah) prescription of guide human behaviors at all levels of society.
Under
the Mogul Dynasty 16th and 19th centuries in India, Islam found a theological
home by adapting to local Hindu customs and traditions which spread into Nepal
through those Muslim who came to Nepal via Indian province. So, there are some
similarities between Hindu and Muslim in cultural practice like fasting,
marriage ceremony and others. Historical record of Nepal revels that Muslim
came to Nepal in 15the century A.D. during the rain of King Ratna Malla for the
trading purpose from the Indian province Kashmir and few from other part. Kashmiri
Jame Masjit beside the Trichandra Multiple Campus could be an example of
it. Muslim is in minority group of Nepal
so they are claiming to be recognized as a separate minority group and not to
mix them with ethnic group like Madhesis. According to the census report of
2011, Islam is the third largest population of Nepal (4.4%) after the
Hindu (81.3%) and Buddhist (9.0%) and rest Kirat (3.1%) Christianity (1.4%)
Prakriti (0.5%), Bon (13,006), Jainism (3,214), Bahai(1,283) and Sikhism(609).
Most of the Nepalese Muslim is from Sunni community,they are scatter around the
75 district of Nepal. The most Muslim populated district of Nepal is Kapilbatu,
Banke, Bara, Rautahat, Siraha and Parsa.
Festival
like Ramadan and Ed-Ul-Fitr has great important and best opportunity for social
cohesion. Ed-Ul-Fitr celebration starts with the end of Ramadan, a month when
People from Muslim Community fast throughout a day and eat only at night after
prayer. It is the Festival of feast and family get together. The first Eid of
the year is known as Eid- Ul-fitr. It is celebrated on the first day of
“Shawaal”, the tenth month in Muslim Calendar to mark the end of a month long
fasting during Ramadan. Ul Fitr literally means breaking of fast. Those Muslim
who has good income source put on new clothes, visit mosque to attend “Salatul
EID” (Eid Prayer), greetings of “Eid-Mubarak” or a “blessing Eid” are exchange.
It is the third pillar of religious obligation to Islamic people, Muslim
believe that fasting has many benefit like self-control, day light fasting
increase one’s spiritual quality to help them to come closer to Allah. Fasting
means experiencing the hunger and develops the sense of compassion among them
to support the unfortunate one who has nothing to eat. Taking fasting is good
for healthy living and it is the way to thank god for all of bounties.
Ramadan
is the most holy month for the Muslim community which falls in the 9th month of
the Islamic calendar the term Ramadan literally means scorching in Arabic. It
was established as a Holy Month for Muslims after the Quran was gradually revelation
to the Prophet Muhammad through angel Gabriel. Holy book Quran’s Chapter of Surah 2, Ayah 185: speak about the observance of Ramadan
is mandatory to Muslim. Most of Muslims persist on the local physical sighting
of the moon to mark the beginning of Ramadan; Ramadan started since the evening
of July 8th with the first full day of fasting on July 9th and continue for 30
days until Wednesday, the 7th of August end with Eid-Ul-Fitr . The date of
Ramadan is shifting every year approximately 11 days due to the cycle of the
lunar calendar. According to Mohammad, Ramadan is the month when the gate of
heaven is open and the gate of hell would be closed.
Still
Non-Muslim of Nepal is not able to mix up with the Muslim community people as
they are mixing up with other religious group like Christian, Jain, and
Buddhist. The Christmas and other religious festival are widely celebrated in
Nepal with the participation of other religious group while in Muslim festival
no such cohesion is seen, except few invited political leaders. What could be
the silent feature of social cohesion? Is it fear?
I
have a good experience with my Muslim friend when I was abroad, named Guljar
Bhutt from Kashmir; he was having fasting in the month of Ramadan. As my nature
of no-prejudice in other religion and interest of religious learning for social
cohesion, I joined hand with him and I had fasting for the whole month of
Ramadan for my own spiritual quest. we all belong to the one creation but
approaching path to God may different. He used to do five prayers in each day: early
morning, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and in the evening, sometime even in
traveling vehicle if it is appropriate time for prayer. I have no idea about
the word which he use to chant during prayer, I used to closed my eyes with due
respect to all mighty God Allah! I just
learnt “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad rasoolu Allah” which means there is no
true God but God Allah and Muhammad who is the messenger of God. I enjoyed his
company and got chance to know more about Holy Quran. During the month of
Ramadan, he used to divide the Holy Quran into daily reading segments that
conclude on Eid ul-Fitr at the end of Ramadan. I share him about
Nepalese Muslim in Nepal and the Mosque which is situated in the heart of
Kathmandu city. He was very happy to know about it. We were good care taker of
each other, very nice and friendly. He
was such an honest Muslim who shares me more about Holy Quran. Friendship and
learning like these greatly help us in fostering emotional integration, social
cohesion and promote national and international unity.
Regrettably
more and more often, Islam has been associated with terrorism, after the 9/11
Islamic terrorist attack by Al-Qaeda in America, The bombings of Bali, Madrid,
London and attack on Taj Hotel in Mumbai made people suspicious toward the Muslim community. The
killing of 12 Nepali hostages by militant in Iraq on September 1, 2004,
unexpected attacked occurred up on Jame Masjid (Mosque) in Kathmandu which is
the dark side of Nepali History. The Nepalese Muslim has not done anything
against the Nepalese but they suffered here due to that incident in Iraq. Muslims
claim that their faith promotes justice, peace, and freedom, Quran does not promote
violent and armed warfare. The holy Quran speaks about hope, faith and peace
among community. The overpowering message is that peace is to be creating
through faith in God, and justice among fellow human beings.
We
need to celebrate festivals like Eid- Ul-Fitr together with full cooperation,
friendship and unity, irrespective of any religious considerations which will
promote national integration and unity for growth and development of the
country. Islamic people who came from Indian province and Pakistan have
knowledge of powerful URDU language which has great impact on Nepali society
and language so festival like Gazal, Sayari, Quwali singling and other cultural
exhibition could be a great tools to make social cohesion in Nepal from Muslim
community. I believe that the first Eid of the year Eid- Ul-Fitr may become
brighter as ever and bring bliss, Peace, harmony, Progress, health and wealth
among us. Eid-Mubarak to all!
By Giri Bahadur Sunar
The
author is Meditation Practitioner and sociologist by profession can be reached
at girithejorba@gmail.com
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