‘Labels imposed on Muslims’: Hilal Ahmed on fundamentalists, liberals, ‘new India' | NL Interview

In his latest book ‘A Brief History of the Present’, scholar Hilal Ahmed has tried to reimagine the space for minorities, especially Muslims, in the “new India”.

In this conversation with Manisha Pande, Hilal dissects the labels imposed on Indian Muslims and how they fail to capture the complexities of Indian society. He says the Muslim community is usually represented by two extremes in the media – either fundamentalist voices or individuals who criticise Islam.

The scholar also talks about his mother, who was a devout Muslim, but could never read namaz. She also had “great faith” that it would rain on Janmashtami and said that “we must respect Krishna”. “All these categories are imposed on people like my mother but we should look at their ways of engaging in the world they live in.”

Hilal also talks about historical figures such as Aurangzeb and Maharana Pratap, Hindutva politics, the true Indian Muslim and how they can negotiate their space in the new India.

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[dineshkumaryadav]

UK me bJP, RSS etc nahi hai fir bhi.
Islam and Humanity can't Live Together 😂😂

[AmitKumar-mjjx]

Muslim community never prefered liberal leadership.moreover they always disown liberal voices of thei community leaders.

[prasankumar]

Quran is the representative of all the muslim talk about Quran all muslims r linked to Quran but not all hindus r related to bjp so be factually correct do not manupluate people here.

[vyshakreghukumar]

Liberal Muslims should not remain silent and raise voice against radicals and extremists who twist words of their religion for nefarious intentions.

[nildipsinha]

Still no videos on RG Kar MD trainee doctor rape and murder issues?

[mdimran]

On that janmashtmi thought I completely agree with you that day should rain it's good sign my mother also told me that since my childhood.❤

[ASGARALI-ppmn]

Nasiruddin shah muslim h lkin koi bhi muslim islam nhi . islam quran btata h Nasiruddin quran nhi padhe or Nasiruddin shah as a actor good usse jyada koi bhi muslim kisi bhi insan ki bat follow nhi krta islam me siwaye quran hadith ke isliye ye sab controversy gair muslimo k liye h usne ye kaha isne vo kaha muslim ko koi matlab nhi islam kya h sabko pta h ..

[jamilakhtar]

MUNAFIQ : can be recognize Easily, Mr. Hilal, our NABI (saw.) informed Muslims about "MUNAFIQ"

[SORICKHAN]

Qura'n aur hadith me bar bar zikr Hua ki
Namaz (Salat) qayem karo.

1) Faith : la ilaha illallah muhammadur rasolullah.
2) Namaz ( Salat)

[sgmhggh]

I was wondering, all these days, i really thought some of you guys were neutral media. But now im really questioning that. No video on a brutal rape and murder case . Either you guys are waiting for clarity on the case as you don't want to report rumours. Or we just now know where your loyalties actually lie.

[speak-upwithimran]

This is a fact. I totally agree with this thought.

[bharatbahte]

क्‍या तमाशा हुआ इस्‍लाम की तक़दीर के साथ
क़त्‍ल ए शब्‍बीर हुआ नारा ए तकबीर के साथ
•- अल्लामा इक़बाल

[combinatorics]

There are no "Liberal" Muslims or Catholics. If a Muslim bows down before a Ganesh Murti in Mumbai during Ganesh Chaturthi then he/she is doing "Shirk" or idolatry. Many Islamic scholars will not even consider him/her as a Muslim. Roman Catholicism and Islam are religions which have sticked to their scriptures and traditions till now... So they are "fundamental" in nature. There are no "Liberal" Muslim or Catholic.... the "Liberal" Muslims or Catholics are layman or "name only" or "non practicing". In Christianity all Protestant denominations starting from Methodist, Baptist to Episcopal.... have reformed themselves with time which we haven't witnessed in Islam. Islam is not like Buddhism.... In Buddhism I can criticize the Buddha harshly as Kalama Sutta(of Abhidhamma Pitaka) gives the liberty to accept and reject theories based on individual's own reasoning skills.... Whereas Islam is all about copying or blindly following the prophet without questioning (Doing the Sunnah).

[kgck]

I feel platform gets automatically get formed if there is a need for it.

[vishalrai]

Arre kehna kya chahte ho sir. He twisted whole conversation. That's what most hindus fear agar inki choice aegi to ye apna dharam dekhenge tumhe nahi and he justified it. Bhai jab tak ye rahega ki humara dharam hi sabse acha hai BJP will continues to win most muslims don't want to understand just like him.

[debjitsrc]

Plain whataboutery. Nothing else. He doesn't know what he's trying to say. Dolt!!!

[subhradeepchakraborty]

He's actually so correct on this
my parents also never used the the words secular or liberal ever in my childhood, it took me a lot of time to decide on what ideas I liked

[muki]

Nonsense on Kolkata Victims.... Mubandh Chabhi gulll

[sayedfaiztanvir]

I would love to watch the entire interview. I have read some of his articles in The Times Of India. His anecdotal evidence with reference to his mother who despite being an unlettered woman was an staunch Muslim, though she never offered namaz, and celebrated Janmasthmi, simply chips away at the rationale of what he was trying to articulate: A farrago of opinions sans logical conclusion.

[NAZionist]

Boht sahi NEWS LAUNDRY !
Tum bhi karlo yeh sab jo Godi media pehle seh hi kar rahi hai.
Karlo karlo !
As a 19 y'o muslim, meh yeh sab kabhi nhi bulunga !
aur mere jaise millions of teenagers.
Sab Media neh pareshan kar diya hai !
Study par focus hi nhi kar paata ab....infact kuch par bhi focus nhi kar pata