Communal Harmony Doesn’t Come From Dargah Visits, It is Achieved Through Religious Tolerance

In contemporary India, the concept of Hindu-Muslim unity is often commodified into simplistic gestures that grossly misrepresent the richness of religious and cultural diversity in this country. Let’s be clear about this – Hindu-Muslim harmony is not about Hindus visiting Dargahs, nor is it about Muslims partaking in Diwali celebrations.

This reductionist approach not only trivialises the deeper issues at hand but also distorts the true essence of religious coexistence.

Scrolling through Reels, one comes across videos encouraging Hindus and Muslims to engage in each other’s religious practices in an attempt to showcase unity – whether it’s a Muslim, burqa-clad woman being invited to a Hindu temple festival by a priest or a Muslim man selling Hindu idols.

These viral sentiments, often accompanied by idealised narratives, suggest that the bridge to harmony is built on participation in each other’s religious rituals. But I argue that this well-meaning, yet misguided, approach overlooks the most crucial aspect of peace-building – respect for each individual’s right to their own religious practices, unencumbered by societal expectations or external pressures.

Unity lies in granting communities the space to observe their faith

Unity does not lie in adopting each other’s rituals, but in granting the space to observe their faith as they see fit. Rahul does not need to pray Eid prayers to prove his respect for my religion, just as Abdullah should not be compelled to celebrate Diwali to demonstrate his regard for Hindu customs.

Therein lies the problem: participation in religious rituals is not, and should never be, a litmus test for one’s loyalty or respect towards another community. The issue arises when these gestures are treated as obligatory acts of goodwill – when a refusal to partake is seen as an affront to the other’s faith.

Imagine, for instance, if that Muslim woman in the video declined the invitation to join the Hindu temple festival. In the eyes of some, she would instantly be branded as “anti-Hindu”. This is where the real disconnect lies and reflects the fact that we have failed to grasp the true meaning of religious freedom.

It is not about participation in the rituals of others, but about the autonomy to practice one’s faith without fear of censure or coerced participation in someone else’s traditions.

Religious tolerance – at its core – means not just tolerating the existence of other faiths but respecting the boundaries of each individual’s religious expression. It is not about forging a homogenous society where we all blend our rituals and beliefs. Rather, it’s about recognising that our differences are a strength, and that coexistence is rooted in the freedom to practice our respective religions in peace, without interference.

Systemic actions that actively infringe upon religious freedom

Let’s shift our attention to the real issue – systematic actions that actively infringe upon religious freedom, the actions that make it impossible for individuals to practice their faith in peace, without fear, or any compromise to their dignity.

Take, for example, the hijab ban in Karnataka, whereby Muslim girls are denied their basic right to education, due their veils. Young hijabis sent back home for wearing it and heckled by mobs as they protested. This isn’t merely about a piece of clothing; it’s an overt attack on their dignity, autonomy, and, fundamentally, their right to religious expression.

How can we claim to be a secular, inclusive nation when we restrict the most basic of freedoms – the freedom to dress according to one’s faith?

Similarly, the widespread beef bans across several states of India present a blatant violation of personal freedom. By restricting the consumption of beef, the state not only interferes with dietary practices, but it also forces a uniformity of belief upon its citizens.

In India, a secular nation, the act of consuming beef is treated as a threat to the social fabric, while at the same time the country is among the largest beef exporters worldwide. This hypocrisy is compounded by the horrifying rise of mob lynchings based on mere suspicion of beef sale, slaughter or consumption, with lives lost over baseless rumours.

And then there is the Halal ban in Uttar Pradesh, where the state government took the step of banning the production, sale, and distribution of halal-certified products. Halal certification internationally is regarded as a source of fresh meat, but in India, the label is used to monger hate against the dietary practices of a community and spread misinformation of what it actually means.

Empty gestures mean little

These issues cannot, and should not, be solved with empty gestures – such as sending a Chadar to a Dargah or partaking in each other’s festivals for the sake of appearances. What India desperately needs is a deep, top-down systemic shift in its collective mindset, one that recognises and upholds the sanctity of religious freedoms in its truest form.

Religious tolerance is not about embracing each other’s faiths. It is about living side by side, in all our diversity, and honouring each other’s right to exist as we are. We are a plural society, and that pluralism should not be seen as a challenge to our unity, but as the very essence of what makes us who we are.

Let us recognise that respecting these choices is not a concession; it is a fundamental right. No one should be coerced into participating in rituals that do not belong to their faith, and no one should be forced to abandon their beliefs to make others feel comfortable.

This is the India I want to live in. Not one where religions are reduced to token gestures, but one where we stand together, in our diversity, with the power to say, “You do you, and I’ll do me.” Because only then will we truly achieve unity in diversity.

Hana Muneer is a media student at the Qatar University.

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