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The little girl was crying, on being asked by her mom, she told her that when she went to buy some sweets from her uncle’s shop, he touched her body and tried to kiss her, and he said if she told anyone about this he would do this again.
“Mama, please save me from this uncle”, said the little girl who was scared and drenched in fear to her mother. Her mother was tensed and didn’t know what to do and was thinking: “What will his father do after knowing that his own friend tried to rape his daughter? And what if that man whom I call my brother refused that he didn’t even touch my daughter? Where shall we go then? No one believes in us because he’s famous as the most religious person and he will hide his sins behind his long beard. It’s better to keep quiet to save my family from shame”.
She told her daughter to never mention this thing again in front of anyone and try to forget it.
This is how we close such child abuse and rape cases to save ourselves from the shame and disgrace that they might bring, along with the problems they might create. But can we remove these things from our own children’s minds? The answer is NO. This isn’t the first case of child abuse. Every year, millions of children have to face this brutality and the worst part? They have to remain silent about it. This thing not only affects their body but also their minds and their views regarding relationships and humans.
What is child abuse?
Child abuse is any action by another person – adult or child – that causes significant harm to a child. It can be physical, sexual or emotional, but can just as often be about lack of love, care, and attention. We know that whatever form it takes, it can be just as damaging to a child as physical abuse. There are many forms of child abuse but the worst of all is “sexual abuse” which can be defined as: “non-consensual sexual contact of any kind with an elderly person.”
I have heard many stories of child abuse and rape which show that the issue is not being addressed at all. Those who have had the courage to speak out have been met with reactions of denial and shame. Such attitudes mean that children will continue to suffer in silence. Sexual abuse of children happens in all communities, religions. Yes, it happens around you. Yet, we don’t want to pay attention to it and we are doing nothing except sweeping it under the carpet. We have a general concept that Muslims won’t do such a thing. Why is that so? These types of crimes don’t belong to a specific community or religion. It belongs to your thinking and your mind.
I am finding that more and more Muslims feel that it is their duty to criticise others for actions they consider sinful – quoting the following popular saying of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) to justify their interference:
“If you see something wrong, you should correct it with your hand and if you are unable to, then speak out against it and if you cannot do that, then feel that it is wrong in your heart.”
I wonder how we Muslims can remain silent when it comes to the taboo of sexual abuse then? Why do we have to remain silent over this brutality? Why don’t we raise our voices on this topic? Would we let this happen with your own child? No one can understand the pain, fear, and anxiety that such abused children have to suffer.
Stop living according to the society and rituals. Start living for your self and your family because it’s how you can bring change in you before the world. Such animals are everywhere, sometimes even closer than we imagine.
