Religion Needs Moral Conscience, Not Mob Fury

 Irfan Ahmad’s Strong Statement: Violence in the Name of Islam Is Entirely Inhuman and Unacceptable

Reyasat Ali Sameer | Senior Correspondent

New Delhi : Expressing deep concern over incidents of mob violence, killings based on allegations of blasphemy, and the misuse of religious sentiments to take the law into one’s own hands, Irfan Ahmad, former member of the Haj Committee of India and the Central Waqf Council, Government of India, and a senior social activist and human rights defender, issued a clear and unequivocal statement asserting that there is neither space nor legitimacy for violence in Islam.

Referring to recent incidents of mob killings in Bangladesh and other parts of the subcontinent, Irfan Ahmad said such acts compel Muslims not to question others first, but to engage in serious self-reflection.
“When a human being is killed in the name of protecting religion, religious scripture, or Islam itself, it is a clear sign of profound moral failure,” he said.
He emphasized that a faith whose foundational purpose is to uphold human dignity, justice, and compassion cannot be used as a justification for taking innocent lives. “This is not merely a legal or political crisis; it is a grave moral and religious crisis,” he added.
Highlighting the teachings of Islamic scripture, Irfan Ahmad stated that human life has been accorded the highest sanctity, and it is unequivocally taught that the killing of an innocent person is equivalent to a crime against all humanity. He stressed that this principle allows no exception for anger, wounded religious sentiments, or public outrage. Human dignity, he said, cannot be subjected to mob emotions or collective hysteria.

Irfan Ahmad observed that in many societies today, rumors are replacing truth, mobs are assuming the role of courts, and violence is being portrayed as justice.
“In this process, neither justice nor religion survives. Such acts do not protect Islam; rather, they inflict severe damage on its moral image,” he said.
He categorically stated that Islam does not require violent mobs to defend its truth. “Truth is not so fragile that it needs the blood of innocents to sustain itself,” he remarked.
Drawing extensively from the life of Prophet Muhammad, Irfan Ahmad recalled that during the early years of his mission, the Prophet endured ridicule, humiliation, and physical persecution, yet never resorted to revenge or violence. He cited the events of Taif and the prolonged hostility in Mecca, emphasizing that the Prophet consistently chose the path of forgiveness, restraint, and moral strength.
Even after achieving victory, he noted, the Prophet refrained from retaliation and instead declared general amnesty. “This was not weakness, but the highest form of moral courage,” Irfan Ahmad said, adding that claiming to defend the Prophet’s honor while violating his character and conduct is a profound contradiction.
He further explained that while historical religious scholars did engage in discussions on issues such as blasphemy, such debates were always conducted within the framework of state authority, legal process, credible evidence, and judicial balance.
“No respected scholar ever endorsed punishment by mobs or the spread of chaos,” he asserted.
According to Irfan Ahmad, what is being witnessed today is not the implementation of religious law, but its complete erosion. “Violence driven by emotional frenzy is neither religion nor justice,” he said.
Addressing the socio-political misuse of blasphemy allegations in South Asia, Irfan Ahmad expressed concern that such accusations are frequently weaponized against religious minorities, the poor, the vulnerable, and dissenting voices.
“This clearly indicates that religion is often transformed from a matter of faith into an instrument of control and dominance,” he said, calling it a blatant violation of justice, which lies at the heart of Islamic teachings.
In his concluding remarks, Irfan Ahmad urged the Muslim community and religious leadership to move beyond reactive anger and adopt a stance of moral confidence. He stressed the urgent need for open condemnation of mob violence, legal accountability for perpetrators, ethical and values-based religious education, and the protection of religious minorities as a religious obligation, not a concession.
“Silence is never neutrality,” he said. “When injustice is committed in the name of religion and society remains silent, faith itself is wounded. Islam is not defended by killing innocent people, but by standing firmly for justice, compassion, restraint, and moral courage.”