This is because they are Shia. The Shia of Kashmir have always been mildly pro-India because in Pakistan they are targets of various Sunni extremist groups like Sipah-e-Sahaba.
You might recall that during the Kargil war, the villagers around Kargil were supportive of the Indian army. Same reason - that is a Shia area, and so they support us. The bakarwal community (shepherds) who informed Indian Army of Pakistani positions are all Shia as well. They are the only friends we have in Kashmir valley. Sunnis hate us like anything.
That's not an easy question to answer in short. I can email you a long answer.
It takes a trained eye to spot a shia vs. sunni. The differences are subtle - the way they pray - shi'a raise their hand to waist before kneeling, sunni keep it down. The mosques are also subtly different - shi'a mosque's dome is little more elongated than sunni.
Very roughly, Shi'a Islam follows the custom of Saints (like Hindus do), which makes them less radical. In general, Shi'a and Hindu get along fairly well. Iran is Shi'a, and it has a fairly pro-India voting record at UN etc.
Also, their relation is assymetric. Shi'a do not regard sunnis as Kafirs, but purist sunnis regard shi'a as Kafirs. So it is very fair to say sunnis hate shia much more commonly than other way round.
The historical split happened over who should lead the ummah after Muhammad died. Those who felt Ali should have been the next Caliph were called shi'at Ali (party of Ali) and so they are shi'a. Those who felt Abu Bakr was the rightful successor are the sunnis.
Almost all Jihadi terror in India is Sunni. Frankly, shi'a community has a very different outlook towards India and Hindus.
The third group is Ahmadi, who are entirely different. They refute the verses in Kuran that speak of Jihad, and have discarded the doctrine of Jihad. They are the most heterodox of the 3, sunni the most orthodox, and shi'a in between.
A few more diffs: Shi'a HATE Yazid. Sunnis don't mind him. Shi'a mistrust Aisha (because she was Abu Bakr's daughter). Sunnis revere here as mother of all faithful etc.
This is a very long topic - I am a student of Islam, so know a lot about this - can tell you over email if you like.
You can also sometimes tell by name. For instance, a person named Yazid is ALWAYS a sunni, same for a person named abu bakr. Women named Aisha is usually sunni. Some names like Ismail are mostly shi'a.
As I said, it takes a very trained eye. I have been studying Islam for decades now, and lived many years in Islamic countries, but even I cannot always tell.
There are also diffs in dress. I can usually tell by that. Shi'a imams wear a different type of headgear (look at Khomeini's headgear).
Another thing - Shi'a regard Ali very highly - some even say Ali is equal to Mohammad, which is very blasphemous to sunnis. There is a heterodox group among shi'a called alewis who think Allah actually wanted Ali to be his messenger, but Gabriel made a mistake and passed his house and went to the wrong house. Of course, if you say this in front of a sunni, you may be lynched, so be careful. In general, best not to talk about such things in front of pious muslims because you never know what is considered blasphemous.
YOu can also tell who is a salafi (fundamentalist sunni) by various cues - but another post on that...
Another thing that is often true - the name Shabbir is Shi'a (as in this soldier's name). But not always - I know sunni Shabbirs also, but 80% of the time it is shi'a.
Great blog btw - I come everyday. Are you in Sangh?
Thanks mate for taking time and explaining. This is very useful. I do this as a hobby and as my service to the society, which i think seriously lack correct info.. I am a swayamsewak.
I am a swayamsevak also. Keep the good work up in a dharmic fashion. No hatred, no bad language, no untruth. Simple truth. That is Hindu Dharma. Satyam-eva-Jayate.
Btw, I read in one of your post that you are from Kerala. Sangh is facing lot of violence in Kerala. We have collected some money for the families. We need to do more for the families. Kerala is really the backbone of Sangh I would say, because it is there that all the qualities of a swayamsevak are tested daily.
Love your blog - pl. post daily. I come every day.
Swayamsewaks in Kerala are tested for their grit every day, we have fought and are fighting pitched battles with CPM goons/Muslim fundamentalist/clerics. good news is we have thrived in spite of their best efforts. But parav Vaibham is still at a distance but it will come one day all we need is patience...
We all have to make our contribution to the cause in our small little ways
One question I have - you always have some great diagrams/photos. How do you make these? What software do you use? And what about the animation? Do you draw that yourself?
13 comments:
This is because they are Shia. The Shia of Kashmir have always been mildly pro-India because in Pakistan they are targets of various Sunni extremist groups like Sipah-e-Sahaba.
ahhhhh... thanks for clarification... that puts lot of things in perspective...I was also very confused...
You might recall that during the Kargil war, the villagers around Kargil were supportive of the Indian army. Same reason - that is a Shia area, and so they support us. The bakarwal community (shepherds) who informed Indian Army of Pakistani positions are all Shia as well. They are the only friends we have in Kashmir valley. Sunnis hate us like anything.
Whats the basic difference between Shia and a sunni?
How can you identify if a person is Shia or Sunni?
and what makes Shias more peaceful?
By the way thanks for the info...
That's not an easy question to answer in short. I can email you a long answer.
It takes a trained eye to spot a shia vs. sunni. The differences are subtle - the way they pray - shi'a raise their hand to waist before kneeling, sunni keep it down. The mosques are also subtly different - shi'a mosque's dome is little more elongated than sunni.
Very roughly, Shi'a Islam follows the custom of Saints (like Hindus do), which makes them less radical. In general, Shi'a and Hindu get along fairly well. Iran is Shi'a, and it has a fairly pro-India voting record at UN etc.
Also, their relation is assymetric. Shi'a do not regard sunnis as Kafirs, but purist sunnis regard shi'a as Kafirs. So it is very fair to say sunnis hate shia much more commonly than other way round.
The historical split happened over who should lead the ummah after Muhammad died. Those who felt Ali should have been the next Caliph were called shi'at Ali (party of Ali) and so they are shi'a. Those who felt Abu Bakr was the rightful successor are the sunnis.
Almost all Jihadi terror in India is Sunni. Frankly, shi'a community has a very different outlook towards India and Hindus.
The third group is Ahmadi, who are entirely different. They refute the verses in Kuran that speak of Jihad, and have discarded the doctrine of Jihad. They are the most heterodox of the 3, sunni the most orthodox, and shi'a in between.
A few more diffs: Shi'a HATE Yazid. Sunnis don't mind him. Shi'a mistrust Aisha (because she was Abu Bakr's daughter). Sunnis revere here as mother of all faithful etc.
This is a very long topic - I am a student of Islam, so know a lot about this - can tell you over email if you like.
You can also sometimes tell by name. For instance, a person named Yazid is ALWAYS a sunni, same for a person named abu bakr. Women named Aisha is usually sunni. Some names like Ismail are mostly shi'a.
As I said, it takes a very trained eye. I have been studying Islam for decades now, and lived many years in Islamic countries, but even I cannot always tell.
There are also diffs in dress. I can usually tell by that. Shi'a imams wear a different type of headgear (look at Khomeini's headgear).
Another thing - Shi'a regard Ali very highly - some even say Ali is equal to Mohammad, which is very blasphemous to sunnis. There is a heterodox group among shi'a called alewis who think Allah actually wanted Ali to be his messenger, but Gabriel made a mistake and passed his house and went to the wrong house. Of course, if you say this in front of a sunni, you may be lynched, so be careful. In general, best not to talk about such things in front of pious muslims because you never know what is considered blasphemous.
YOu can also tell who is a salafi (fundamentalist sunni) by various cues - but another post on that...
Cheers.
Another thing that is often true - the name Shabbir is Shi'a (as in this soldier's name). But not always - I know sunni Shabbirs also, but 80% of the time it is shi'a.
Great blog btw - I come everyday. Are you in Sangh?
Thanks mate for taking time and explaining. This is very useful. I do this as a hobby and as my service to the society, which i think seriously lack correct info.. I am a swayamsewak.
I am a swayamsevak also. Keep the good work up in a dharmic fashion. No hatred, no bad language, no untruth. Simple truth. That is Hindu Dharma. Satyam-eva-Jayate.
Btw, I read in one of your post that you are from Kerala. Sangh is facing lot of violence in Kerala. We have collected some money for the families. We need to do more for the families. Kerala is really the backbone of Sangh I would say, because it is there that all the qualities of a swayamsevak are tested daily.
Love your blog - pl. post daily. I come every day.
Jai Hind, and long live Jayakrishnan Master.
Pleasure to meet you. Thanks for the guidance.
Swayamsewaks in Kerala are tested for their grit every day, we have fought and are fighting pitched battles with CPM goons/Muslim fundamentalist/clerics. good news is we have thrived in spite of their best efforts. But parav Vaibham is still at a distance but it will come one day all we need is patience...
We all have to make our contribution to the cause in our small little ways
One question I have - you always have some great diagrams/photos. How do you make these? What software do you use? And what about the animation? Do you draw that yourself?
DhanyavAd
you can do lot of stuff with MsPowerpoint, Paint brush & visio
I am a Shia, and i hate shia of sindh Punjab and kashmir...
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