Islamic radio station to promote ‘Halal' entertainment in Kashmir

Srinagar: Restive Kashmir has a ‘halal’ (permissible as per Islamic law) radio too now. A group of musicians in the Valley has launched the online radio to make an impact on local Muslim youth particularly those who, they say, are highly influenced by Western culture and Hollywood and Bollywood melodies and movies.

“We wanted to create a better alternative which provides them good in this life and the hereafter,” said Muhammad Aamir, the founder of Radio ‘Saut ul Islam’ or the ‘Voice of Islam’. He said, ‘Radio Saut ul Islam’ is such an application which provides a platform to the scholars to propagate the message of Islam based on Qur’an and Sahie (true) Sunnah’. Sunnah or Hadith is the traditional portion of Muslim law based on its Prophet Muhammad's words or acts accepted together with the Islam’s holy book.

He added that there was no such ‘Islamic Radio’ or FM relaying its programs 24x7 from Jammu and Kashmir and he thought to start it as “it was need of the hour”. He and other team members prefer to call it ‘Halal’ radio.

Mir Saqib Mushtaq who would earlier replicate Bollywood songs and was involved in Western-oriented music and songs too has also joined the team. He said he was highly impressed by Pakistani singer-songwriter Junaid Jamshed’s work and, in fact, it prompted him too to give up Western music and serve Islam through his talent. Jamshed who died in an air crash in December last year left both his engineering and music careers and subsequently focused on his religious activities for Islam and reciting nasheeds (chants) and na’at (poetry) in praise of Muhammad) on TV and releasing them on CD's.

Mushtaq said that 'Radio Saut ul Islam' is “a humble effort to spread the true message of Islam by means of the latest possible ways.” Aamir added that the channel aims to broadcast lectures, interviews, learning sessions, Islamic songs, Muslim World news and much more in future. Presently the broadcasts are mainly in Kashmiri and Urdu languages but Aamir and his team plan to do it soon in English and other language as well.

Aamir claimed that he recently received a phone call threatening him to close the channel or be ready to face consequences. He has no idea who the caller was and why he wanted him to shut ‘Radio Saut ul Islam’. Analyst Sheikh Abdul Qayyum said that the radio will spread the message of Islam and that ‘Islam like all other religions stands for peace’.

He asserted, “It will spread the message of peace. It would be but naive to think that this Internet- based radio will promote terrorism in or bring Talbinisation to Kashmir”. He also believes. “In today’s world when Internet and other means of Information Technology have made the world smaller mainly through social media such threats can’t stop anyone from reaching out to the people.”  

Aamir who is founder and the president of Islamic Fraternity (Kashmir) and Editor-in-Chief of ‘The Islamic Revival’ magazine besides heading an aid group called Centre for Humanitarian Aid, said that an Android application has also been developed for his ‘halal’ radio. He said that apart from programmes on teaching of Qur’an and Hadith, ‘Radio Saur ul Islam’ will broadcast live Q&A sessions with reputed Islamic scholars and discussions on late marriage, polygamy and various women-related issues such as hijab (veil) and dowry.