Identity Crisis - Part 1: Religion

If you are not facing identity crisis, you are so lucky because I’m not. Religion, nationality and profession made sense to me. So, in a well throughout sequence, I proudly liked to be called Muslim Pakistani soldier. Over the years, questions marks began to surface like “which Muslim” (since I don’t subscribe to any sectoral franchise), “which Pakistani” (since I don’t subscribe to both political and apolitical narratives of patriotism) and “which soldier” (since I don’t subscribe to wrong communiques). No wonder, getting older is synonymous to loneliness and as the adage goes ‘no country for old men’. 

Firstly, let’s talk about Islam. Which Islam? I don’t know but I do find some real nice bits and pieces from all of these franchises and adopt them. At the same time, everyone is so deeply entrenched in their sectoral identity that small crossover tantamount to betrayal leading to expulsion. Truth of the matter is that every single one of them have deviated and traditions/ rituals became defining characteristics. 

Growing up as Hanafi Sunni always intrigued me. Why am I not just a Muslim? I don’t even know Imam Abu Hanifa, nor those around me. But I guess, my elders, who donated land for the mosque in my native town had to give it a title and rest of us had to subscribe. But The Book encourages every step of the way to ponder and not to blindly follow the forefathers or prevailing trends. So I started tracing my religious thread backwards.

Story of Islam in Subcontinent didn’t help at all.It further complicated the issue. Almost 13 centuries ago, Shiites fled Ummayad persecution, took asylum in coastal India and along came Shia Islam. By that time, Shia Islam had not branched into Ismaili, Uthna Ashari or Zaidi Shia Islam. In 711 CE Ummayad Islam entered this land which got briefly replaced by Ismaili Islam - branch of Shia Islam. How Shia Islam got branched is still a mystery for me because no one has ever produced the divine decree which anointed a particular son of an imam as successor. After a brief stint, Yemeni Ismaili Shia Islam got replaced by Abbasid Islam. Shafi Islam also entered this land from Kerala because Mukkuvas women conveniently entered concubinage with Arab maritime traders. By 10th Century, from Ghazna, entered Hanafi Islam which got meshed up with Sufi Islam originating from Baghdad. Hanafi Islam was still the mainstay of Delhi Sultenant of Turk Salves which got influenced by Sufi Islam of Ibn Arabi. Mongols after thorough massacre of Muslims across the continents reverted and became Mughals. Unlettered Akbar introduced a wholesome package of Deen e Elahi and Aurangzeb sealed the deal by compiling Fatawa Alamgiri- probably the reason my elders and I subscribe to Hanafi Islam. Bohra with 21 Imams subscribe evenly to both Shia and Sunni traditions survived Aurangzeb’s persecution and live to this day. Then Shah Wali Ullah felt the need to connect with Hadith, thus Ahle Hadith Islam came into being. Wahabi Islam was trending in Arabian Peninsula where Muwahid ideologue Muhamad Ibn Wahab’s dogma was highjacked by Al Saud for their political ambitions. Being subsidiary of Deobandi Islam, Wahabi Islam sneaked in to subcontinent via UP madrasahs. Running out of ideas for new franchise, Ghulam Ahmed Mirza introduced brand new variant altogether. 19th Century was booming business for new franchises. Salafi Islam from the lineage of Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal, Ibn Tammiyah and Qayyim finally made its way into subcontinent by mid 19th Century. By the end of 19th Century, Ahmed Raza Khan successfully launched his Brelvi Islam franchise. Start of 20th Century saw the advent of Deobandi Islam. Iqbal’s Islam had a unique flavour to it. He didn’t subscribe to any franchise nor was he owned by any. Though his thought and poetry has been quite useful in writing and delivering speeches. British also cultivated apologetic colonial Islam which spiritually incapacitated the slave nation. Post independence, the legacy continued by Post colonial Islam i.e. state owned maulvis. Azadi brought more freedom to introduce new franchises like Tableghi, Jamaati, Labaiki, secular, liberal, extremist and YouTube Islam. 

Like YouTube channels, Islamic franchises survive and thrive on subscriptions. It has always been about power, hegemony, recognition and money. 

Wonder what will happen to non subscribers like the scribe? Will they not get entry in heaven without sectoral coupons? Which Islam should be forced upon tech savvy Gen Z (1995-2010) by the confused Gen X (1965-1980)? What will become of Gen A (2010-2024)? Will any of it make sense to them at all?

Please do give your valuable feedback with advance apologies if this piece in any way offended you because it was not meant for it.

Only Allah knows the whole Truth.