The state of polity in Kashmir cries for faith — faith of the people, and a faith to hold itself accountable. The perception of politics has unjustifiably grown cynical, borne out of the quiet resignation of Kashmiris to illusory promises and a growing sense of indignation.
As I see it, Jammu and Kashmir’s politics lacks a conscience, a zameer. It envisions itself as above all authority. Often and as dictated by colonial projects, politics bereft of religion is the politics of justice and equality. But what shapes our sense of morality if not our faith?
The Quran tells us to help one another in goodness and piety, but not to tolerate wrongdoing under the guise of cooperation. Upon Adam (as) was bestowed the ideals of faith, modesty and sound mind by Allah (swt) through the angel Jibreel (as) — deen, haaya, and akal.
The three exist together in symphony. There is no faith without the akal – the mind and critical thinking. Intelligence and rationality, knowledge and observation equally shape our belief and practice — faith without the contemplations of the mind is dangerous. That is a faith bereft of the path paved by individual conscience, an inner moral compass.
I do not envision a society without politics. It is after all, what binds us and our communities together to throttle forward, evolve and progress.