The Muslims of Sri Lanka

This is no extract from Lorna Dewaraja’s Book – One Thousand years of Ethnic Harmony. It is neither enlightenment for those who may not exactly know. It is just a bit of my own observation, findings and word of mouth hearing so there’s a high chance that some of the facts may be incorrect. The objective of this, I will highlight later.

The Muslims of Sri Lanka consists of the majority being the Moors from Morocco, the second highest Muslim population – the Malays from Indonesia and Malaysia (brought here for defence purposes small as they are) and the Memons, Indian Moors and Boras from Pakistan and India and I’m not sure if Iran is involved here. The Arabians and Persians also have some mark here. All the above mentioned are followers of Islam and what distinguishes them is nationality and race and not religion. As for me – I am truly Sri Lankan having the gay name Vedaralalage Gedara (not very sure of spellings) and my origins being the early people of Colombo and Kandy.

I don’t know how we got here (trading or something) but reading from some reliable sources I understand that the Muslims of Sri Lanka have a long history. There are indications that Muslims have been in Sri Lanka as far back as the 7th century. Marco Polo who broke journey in Ceylon had observed a significant Muslim presence in the country in the 13th century. Ibnu Batuta in 1344 when visiting Ceylon had also noted Muslim settlement in the hinterland

One of the objectives I’m trying to highlight with this post is that the Muslims are sometimes afraid of speaking of the rights and privileges of the community, or to study its needs and create far sighted policies and programmes for it’s wellbeing or for effective interaction with other communities. “The misconception that many Muslims have is that the other communities would consider the Muslims to be communal if they spoke about a Muslim Factor. This misconception has always been the greatest obstacle for the Muslim unity and progress in the country. There has been a misconception in the Muslim Community that if they speak of their needs, rights or aspirations, it would create communal disharmony. This unfounded fear has created a situation where the needs and aspirations of the Muslim Community of Sri Lanka are not properly portrayed by the Community and therefore not properly understood by other communities and the state. The waves of destruction of 12/26 also washed away, this grave misconception.”

If Muslims do not speak of their problems, their needs, their aspirations and their rights, who would? Can highlighting the factors that significantly affect any community be termed “Communal”? Why, in this country is a Muslim looked at as a Muslim and not as a person? I am not to forget here that Muslims who do not reside in rural areas of course have so many privileges rather than the ones that even in live Muslim nations. Let me emphasise “Muslim” but not “Islamic” nations. To most of us, meeting the person first is more important than meeting his/her religion or the race but unfortunately to the majority this is not the case. Religion is a right of all human an each is entitled to his/her belief why should it interfere with anything? We should always try to keep out of what is not our business. Part of a man's good practice of Islam is avoiding what does not concern him. There is almost no need that each community interfere with the others rituals and beliefs unless of course it be a socially unethical and unacceptable thing to do (not necessarily agreed by the majority).
Coming soon… “Islam and slaughtering”

Islam and terrorism

“Whoever sees a vice should stoi it by hand, if not by tongue or should hate it – but this is the lowest”

Islam has been given a false image by especially the west and ironically more so, by the some of the Muslims themselves. Terrorism, war, killing and bloodshed are nothing close to Islam. ‘Islam’ means ‘peace’ both literarily and spiritually. Islam is derived from the word salaam which also means peace. Salaam is the way in which Muslims great each other. Assalamu Alaikum means “May peace be with you”

Many intellectuals, movies, newspapers and periodicals demonstrate Islam as an evil creating a false impression for those who blindly believe. The sword symbol of KSA has almost no relationship to Islam which did not spread by the sword.

Jihad or Islamic war is only allowed for self defence or if taken over by a tyrant. But this war need not even be physical. Jihad means “striving” and this striving is not only in the use of weapons. Patience is greater jihad. The Prophet (PBUH) said “Powerful is not he who knocks the other down but the one who controls his anger”.

What we see around is nothing like jihad. Many Muslims tend to practice Islam in manners that are far from it and hence the reason for wrong impression and misinterpretation. The Prophet was a peaceful man who lead Islam by example. In many countries like Singapore, China and even India (most parts) and Sri Lanka Muslims are considered to be a peaceful community that harms no one and hates no one. In Sri Lanka, Muslims are known to have been playing a more or less passive role except at certain extreme situations. Muslims in the north and east of Sri Lanka have been the innocent victims of a war that was fought between two other communities.
It all boils down to one thing – we are all human and the bottom line is that no one man by nature hates another. All children are born pure and free of sins. If the sahabis or friends of the prophet were around during this moment of terror, torture and war they would never have fought in such a way that harmed the unarmed – the women, the old, the children, plants and animals. (May peace be with them)

Is it obligation or affection?

Does family really love you or is it just a cliché? They have you, so they have to feed, educate and bring you to a satisfying living status. If it’s just duty and responsibility and nothing more, is there anything wrong with it or will it blemish the mental development of an individual. Love is a need like food – true. But for those who know not what it is, will it ever feel like a need?

Although a few cases are accidental most parents and families tend to want and love their children long before they are even concieved and it is not just something brought about by social pressure like most other things are. It is true and it is more than obligation and satisfaction.

All you can do in a day

I left on Thursday evening to Kandy. I was not able to convince my way out. The traffic was nauseating. I however realized there’s a lot I can do in a day.

I started Friday with mopping and cleaning. Yes – good work out. Made time for a quick shower, carom and some scrabble. Ate for two at lunch. Read “Dissemination Point” from Dan Brown. Yeah good story but not good enough to keep me awake. I fell asleep with it. Yes a good, long deep sleep and the weather was perfect. Woke up with that sick feeling. Gossiped with the cousins. Read through some assignments. Just read – no marking. On Saturday morning I was on my way back to home-sweet-home and the miserable thought of having to sit at a five hour lecture starting from 2:00pm. On the way the sun was too bright to let me sleep so I thought back on the previous days events. Yes I did do a lot, didn’t I? and I was able to suppress the indolence. The reason was because number one – I didn’t have the lap top and number two – the channels weren’t clear on TV. Not there is anything to watch on our pathetic tv channels. Anywayz… its back to a work week now and believe me there are way more important things that I should be doing right now

God didn’t will it!

It went wrong. God didn’t will it. It can be bad when u have to make plans and they change due to matters that are beyond your control. I didn’t think it would be, but it darn is.

Everything seemed to work perfectly for a while. It was like my whole life was set and going on well. I was happy and there was nothing I wanted to change. But then it hit me… and everything got topsy tervy and now I just am going on wherever it takes me.

Is there a really a reason for all that is happening or is it some stupid chemical reaction, I cant help thinking.

She

Many sweet words about a mother

Many great men have put down on paper

This would be yet another unsuccessful attempt

In putting down something so spiritual

So divine… as motherhood

Just in simple words and nothing more

Forgive me my dear mama

If words demean this grand stature

That God has blessed you with

Yet this little booklet

spares me nothing more

Than a few simple words

To tell you what I care for

Today and everyday

For the rest of my life

You were the only soul

That loved me long before

Even I knew who I was

How much of your sweet slumber did I take away?

How much fear and pain did I cause?

How much love did you give me in return?

How much do I owe?

When I was bad

The world turned against me

But to you I was the same

However good or bad

With my faults and my weaknesses

You never jeopardised your love for me

Not one single moment

You punished me for my wrong

And you rewarded me for my good

You made me grow out of my tears

And face the real world

You cried with my sorrows

And smiled with my joys

Now you leave me nothing more to ask for

All my life

This great debt I’ll have

This bond we share

Beginning from before birth

And going on until beyond death

Our bond will be

Like the umbilical strand that

Once attached you and me

Only…

This shall never

Never break ever