I am a Muslim !!!!

Day before I encountered something that I am all too familiar with as a political ideology, something that I think is a detriment to humanity. That something is ‘nationalism’.

I’m going to warn you now that you may perceive this as an overly simplistic view on the matter, but I’ve come to this conclusion as a result of educating myself on the topic as I see fit.  And let’s be honest, a more ‘simplistic’ view often works better on a wider scale.

First and foremost, Islamically, nationalism is prohibited. One of the main reasons behind this is that it breeds racism and thus hatred.

“He is not one us who calls for `Asabiyyah, (nationalism/tribalism) or who fights for `Asabiyyah or who dies for `Asabiyyah.” – Prophet Muhammad

"A Kashmiri is no better than a non Kashmiri and vicecersa", "A Shah'ruk is no better than a Gamuk(Villager) and viceversa ", “An Arab is no better than a non-Arab. In return, a non-Arab is no better than an Arab. A red raced man was not better than a black one except in piety. Mankind are all Adam’s children and Adam was created out of clay.” – Prophet Muhammad SAW

Secondly, having close associations with UK I am exposed  to certain basic facts like colourful spectrum of nationalism on regular basis.  In British schools I have witnessed racism, discrimination due to nothing but nationality.  There are organisations such as the English Defence League spewing their venom, airing their racist opinions, proposing change.  All in the name of nationalism.

Same is not naive about Kashmir. 

"Ya Aayu Hal Lazina Aamanutakilu Kulo Qawlan Sadida"...

Meaning : Those who have come into the fold of Islam and fear Allah and whenever you speak your heart should endorse your words".

Deep I believe In heart of our hearts, our Kashmiri hearts, we believe we are superior and smarter and intelligent and charactered and humane and what not, and is it because of our colour or beauty of this land I fail to understand. Our land is pious, no doubts, no conflicts but at the same time things which make our land pious(Sufis n Saints) put an obligation to us to honour humankind and live as one Ummah.

In addition, I have witnessed myself how it causes conflict on an international scale. If we strip back the complexities of many a global crisis, it’s not difficult to see that there is a common root cause. There is the belief that one state is ‘logically’ superior to all other states or the consant strive for the establishment or protection of a ‘homeland’ for a particularly ethnic group. Throughout history, this struggle in the name of nationalism has seen an unprecedented number of deaths.

“Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.” – Albert Einstein

I think it’s barbaric that in the 21st century mass murder is committed as a result of such a ludicrous philosophy. As a collective race have we not evolved enough to make this primitive thing nothing but a memoryof our distant past? Evidently, not. One glance at Kashmir, Palestine, Diego Garcia, Iraq, Afghanistan and it’s plain to see that crimes in the name of nationalism are anything but a thing of the past.

I say we abandon this belief system. We are all children of the world. We are all one race. We are all brothers and sisters.

I am the Son of Adam and I am a citizen of the world.