Muslims equal terrorists?

As the metro doors swished open, bringing with it the usual throng of jostling people, I singled out one man- a bearded Muslim -clad in white and carrying a black briefcase. A very inconspicuous briefcase and yet I couldn’t get my eyes off it and the man who it belonged to.

‘Terrorist’, I thought and then seconds later felt deeply ashamed of myself. Though ingrained in my mind that all Muslims are not terrorists, what were the chances of this man not being one? My thoughts tumbled over each other and refused to stop until finally at the next station the man in question got off the metro.

No blast took place. No bodies lay scattered. What remained was the sense of discomfiture I felt. I had just incriminated an innocent man because of his religion.

But am I entirely to be blamed for my thoughts? Haven’t Muslims become synonymous with terrorism? Newspapers and TV Channels carry stories of bomb blasts all over India by people who are incidentally Muslims. So if all Muslims are not terrorists how come all terrorists are Muslims?

The answer eludes me.

But what I realize now is that the average Muslim has more to worry about than I do. Not only are they subjected to prolonged security checks at metros and airports but a simple task of getting a visa seems more like an interrogation. However, they are not only incriminated as terrorists but also end up as casualties in terror attacks. Reason? Terrorism has no religion. What a paradox!

If I had put myself in the place of the man carrying the black briefcase I would have known exactly how it felt to have people shooting suspicious (maybe even hostile) looks at me. He, most likely, has to face many challenges everyday and overcome many fears-fear of being looked upon as a fanatic, fear of losing his job because of his faith, fear of becoming a casualty… the list is endless.

We in India consider ourselves to have a better understanding of the Islamic faith as we live in a culturally diverse country. But what about Muslims living in other countries? How do these countries treat their Islamic populace?

Take America for example: post September 11, there has been a considerable amount of prejudice against the Muslim community. Consequently, many American Muslims have denounced terrorism and have formed online forums and held rallies not only to make their voices heard but also to create awareness amongst those who see Islam as an evil.

People with limited understanding have severely tarnished the image of Islam all over the world. That Islam is a religion of violence – is a huge misconception. Even though Muslims are implicated for various terrorist plots, one must not judge all by the actions of a few. When terror strikes, everyone suffers regardless of religion.

Maasoom Dhillon