Youth in Kashmir drawn to Islamic teachings to attain salvation

Shahana Butt
Press TV, Indian-administered Kashmir

Day in and day out, as the global media reports incidents of hate crimes against Muslims around the world, youth in Muslim-majority Kashmir have developed the passion to understand Islam closely.

20-year-old Saleema Bano is pursuing her bachelor's studies in arts. But recently, she developed an interest in understanding Muslims’ holy book, the Quran. Her interest led her to read the entire Quran along with its meaning. Later, she started to handwrite the sacred book. Itt took Saleema four months to wirte the entire Quran.

Saleema intends to translate the holy book Quran into her local language Gogri. She believes this way she will help her community to have a better understanding of the holy Quran and Islam.

Kashmir, a region situated between two nuclear-armed rivals, India and Pakistan, has witnessed tremendous violence in the past three decades resulting in socio-economic problems in the region. However, despite a dented past, Mubeena Ramazan sees hope.

For the past 25 years, Mubeena Ramazan has been running an Islamic studies institute for women in Kashmir. Mubeena Ramazan says in recent years she has seen a drastic change among youngsters in Kashmir.

Mubeena’s institute has taught scores of young women about the Quran, Islamic laws, the philosophy of Islamic laws, and the Islamic lifestyle. And for these young women Islam is a complete code of conduct.

Besides understanding Islam, and handwriting the Quran, this Ramadan many youngsters in Kashmir have devoted themselves to memorizing the Muslim holy book.

Religious experts say the difficulties faced by the youth in Kashmir have steered them towards religion and faith, in which they seek salvation.

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