Reflections on Communal Riots

As a consequence of this mentality, Muslims either engage in escapist rhetoric or else talk in terms of confrontation and conflict. This is the case with almost every Muslim throughout the world today. The positive, constructive method does not seem to resonate or fit in with their mindset. But if we do not want to further waste our strength and resources, there is no option but for us to change this approach of ours and to develop an effective programme in the light of practical realities. The first and foremost task to undertake to end inter-communal conflict is to make Muslims aware and educated, so that they get over their emotionalism and also so that they understand how to respond to different situations. Muslims donate vast sums of money to help Muslim victims of inter-community violence. In the light of the fact that very often, such violence is triggered off by the actions of ignorant and unemployed people, a better way of spending this money is to educate Muslims and make them more aware and also to develop avenues for employment for unemployed Muslims. Muslim writers and public speakers excel in stoking Muslim emotions in order to acquire cheap popularity. This must completely stop. Instead, our pens and tongues must all devote themselves to promoting patience, realism and unity. The secret of the strength of any community is that its members know how to think in a serious way, not in excelling in making a hue and cry about this and that. Muslims everywhere must consider it their responsibility that whenever a fellow Muslim commits some mischief, they must make every effort to stop him. In this way, such incidents can easily be prevented from snowballing into inter-community violence. It is useless to create a furore in the aftermath of a riot. The wise approach is to focus one’s efforts in resolving individual or personal conflicts and complaints before they degenerate into collective or inter-community violence.