It is very tough for me to comprehend why time and again notorious elements of the majority community are on the incessant job of disrespecting religious emotions, religious texts and religious persons of the Muslim community. The recent comments by BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma during a TV show crossed all limits of humanity. But the painful story of innumerable derogatory remarks for our honourable Prophet does not begin here. On 17 August of last year, a self-styled Hindu baba had made derogatory remarks for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). On 11 August, 2020, communal riots erupted over an objectionable post uploaded by a relative of an MLA in Bengaluru. This clash took the life of three innocents because of police firing. Those who lost their precious lives may have been the only bread earners of their poor families.
In addition to this, blazing of the holy pages of Quran, making caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), and incidents of coerced conversions of poor Muslims are some of the most disgraceful acts which have darkened the face of whole humanity.
No religion in this world teaches religious intolerance. Those who consider themselves the contractors of their religion and guide people to hate people believing in other faiths and to attack the religious emotions of others are a threat to the infrastructure of secularism of India. Actually, they are unaware of their own religious texts. Religious books are filled with words which preach love, brotherhood, nonviolence, tolerance, equality, secularism and compassion towards fellow human beings and all creatures.
Text 42 of chapter 18 of Bhagvat Gita says: “Samo damas, Tapah saucam, Ksantir, Arjavam, eva co jinanam, vijnanam, astikyam, brahma-karma svobhava-jam” (Peacefulness, self control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge and religiousness, these are the qualities by which Brahmanas work).
The Quran in verse 108 of chapter 6 says, “Tolerance is the basic principle of Islam”. Quran in another place says, “To you be your religion, to me be mine.” In a Surah (Al Baqarah 256) the Quran says, “There is no compulsion in religion.”
The episodes of religious intolerance in our country have further widened the gap between the hearts of two communities living peacefully for so many years. This hate has also deepened abhorrence amid Hindu and Muslims towards each other.
In conclusion, I want to ask a question to the whole non-Muslim community: that if we also implement the same way of disrespecting your religious scriptures, would you leave us unchallenged? If not, then join me in raising a voice for the castigation of such disrespectful acts.

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SUNAINA MALIK