Lucknow: The Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid
verdict has given Indian Muslims the best opportunity to
spread to the world the teachings of Islam, Justice S U Khan
of the Allahabad High Court has said.
Noting that Muslims here have been rulers of the land,
also being ruled over and currently share power, Justice Khan
said Indian Muslims are in the best position to spread the
teachings of Islam in the present time.
"They (Indian Muslims) are not in majority but they
are also not a negligible minority. In other countries either
the Muslims are in huge majority which makes them indifferent
to the problem in question or in negligible minority which
makes them redundant," he said in the epilogue of his 285-page
judgement on the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.
He said Muslims must also ponder that at present the
entire world wants to know the exact teachings of Islam in
respect of relationship of Muslims with others.
"Indian Muslims have also inherited huge legacy of
religious learning and knowledge. They are, therefore, in the
best position to tell the world the correct position. Let them
start with their role in the resolution of the conflict at
hand," he noted.
'A small piece of land where angels fear to tread'
"Here is a small piece of land where angels fear to tread...It is full of innumerable landmines".
This is how Justice Sibghat Ullah Khan described the Ram Janmabhoomi- Babri Masjid dispute in a prelude to his judgement and likened it to a 1,500-sq yard minefield which he and his brother judges had to clear.
"Here is a small piece of land (1,500 square yards) where angels fear to tread. It is full of innumerable landmines. We are required to clear it."
"Some very sane elements advised us not to attempt that. We do not propose to rush in like fools lest we are blown. However, we have to take risk. It is said that the greatest risk in life is not daring to take risk when the occasion for the same arises," he wrote.
The judgement yesterday that ran into 285 pages says that judges cannot decide whether they had succeeded or failed in their attempts.
"Once angels were made to bow before man. Sometimes he has to justify the said honour. This is one of those occasions. We have succeeded or failed? No one can be a judge in his own cause," he said.
The Prelude concludes with: "... herein follows the judgement for which the entire country is waiting with bated breath."
PTI
First Published: Friday, October 01, 2010, 16:22