In a notable display of communal harmony and the true spirit of India, a Gurudwara in Gurugram offered space to Muslims for Namaz. The development comes after the Gurugram administration withdrew permission for Friday Namaz offered by Muslim community at 8 specific sites in the city. To lend a helping hand to the Muslim community, a committee of 5 gurudwaras has offered their space for Muslims to offer namaz.
President of the committee, Mr. Sherdil Singh Sindhu was quoted by ANI saying, “It’s ‘Guru Ghar’, open for all communities with no discrimination. There shouldn’t be any politics here. Basement is now open for Muslim brothers who want to offer ‘Jumme ki Namaz’.”
Background
The Article 25 of the Indian Constitution states that “all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion.” However when one reads between the lines, the Article states that this law is subject to “public order, morality, and health”.
This means that although every Indian is free to practice religion and propagate it, it is subject to public order. When an administration deems a particular community’s right to practice religion a threat the “public order”, it is legal for them to pass an order which may appear to curb freedom to practice religion, keeping in mind the law and order situation in the region.
Something similar is happening in Gurugram currently. Read on to know more.
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The Facts of the Matter
In the current atmosphere of growing religious enmity and intolerance, humanity has prevailed where a few residents from Sikh communities are showing solidarity by offering spaces to Muslim communities.
How the Agitation Started?
It started when several sites that were previously used by people of Muslim communities were seized by the Gurugram administration. The administration cited that the RWAs (Residents Welfare Associations) objected to prayer sites being offered to Muslims.
Earlier in September, several groups held a small protest near the Sector 47 prayer site of Muslims and shouted down on Muslims that were offering the prayers. The agitation then spread to several other areas in Gurugram.
Muslim Prayer Site Used to Conduct Govardhan Puja
A week later, the same site was used to conduct a Govardhan puja. Further, the site, which was used by Muslims to offer prayers, had cow dung cakes all across it the very same evening. All of this led to rising tension amid the two groups. Soon the administration cancelled permission for offering prayers at 8 of the 37 sites, which was initially agreed on.
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Sikh Community Comes Forward, Shows Communal Harmony at its Best
In a true testament of communal harmony, the Sikhs in Gurugram decide to offer their spaces to Muslim community. Sherdil Singh Sindhu, the President of Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha was quoted in an Indian Express report saying, “A gurdwara is the house of the Guru. People from all communities are welcome to come here and pray.”
He further added, “If the Muslim community is facing problems in praying at designated sites, they can offer prayers in the gurdwaras. The doors of gurdwaras are open to all.”
The offer was welcomed and appreciated by the President of Jamiat Ulama, Gurugram. Mufti Mohammad Saleem, the President of the community was quoted saying, “This is a very welcome step and will go a long way in promoting harmony among communities.”
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Gurugram Shop Owner Disturbed For Muslim Community, Gives Space for Prayer
A similar instance was witnessed earlier in Gurugram as well. Akshay Rao, who owns several shops in the district said that several Muslim people were facing issues when it came to offering prayer. In a Times of India, Mr. Rao was quoted saying, “I was disturbed after reading reports about namaz being disrupted. My aim was to let our Muslim brothers know that it’s only a handful of people who are causing this. We have been living together peacefully and will continue to preserve and maintain our social harmony,”
Mr. Rao has offered his commercial space he owns in the Gurugram district to Muslim people so that they can offer their Friday prayers.
