A youth from Jammu division is writing on religion and different social issues to keep the young generation away from social evils.
Hailing from Bhalessa in district Doda, Dr Yasir Aaffaaq who was born and raised in Srinagar and is presently based in Jammu has recently published his first book.
Born to doctor parents, he followed the footsteps of his father, Dr Ishtyak Ahmed Mir a cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon of repute, and completed his MBBS in 2017 and MS General Surgery in 2021. Yasir is also a professional general surgeon and has been studying traditional Islamic texts under various scholars for more than 10 years.
Yasir did his schooling from Srinagar and started to develop interest in Islamic studies from his school days. It was then that he started attending a local Masjid library at Karan Nagar and learned the holy Quran.
After completing his schooling he shifted to Jammu and joined MBBS. During his college days he felt a need to work actively for the religious and moral upliftment of the community. He started addressing Friday sermons emphasizing on the teachings of holy Quran and life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He also started Dars- e- Quran among students and youth in a local Masjid during his college days.
Yasir said that Islam is not for a specific class of people, everyone is equally responsible for fulfilling the responsibility and playing his/her part.
He tries to prove his point by being a practical example of what he preaches. He conducts weekly discourses on exegesis of Quran according to contemporary times. His lectures are available on the internet. He is also involved in various efforts for helping the needy, eradicating social evils, communal harmony and combating Islamophobia by presenting the true image of Islam, the religion of peace.
“It is our responsibility to show the world what exactly Islam is and defy the so-called torchbearers of Islam who misrepresent the religion of Allah,” he said.
Yasir has written a book ‘Reminder to the Muslim Youth! For the revival of Islamic values’ published by Wular Publishing House, addressing the youth of subcontinent in particular emphasising the importance of following the true teachings of Islam and denouncing religious sectarianism in Islam.
Yasir considers writing as an efficient way of awakening the masses and inculcating true morals and sense of responsibility in them.
“Writing is a way to reach out to masses with the ideas and concerns in your mind and motivate them for a change to bring about the betterment of society,” he said.
For the young and budding writers Yasir quotes the verse from Quran ‘Nūn. By the pen and what they inscribe (68:1)’, adding that it shows the importance of writers and their writings at all times.
“This is because writings are considered the most authentic form of communication. Whatever is the interest, religious, poetry, story, scientific or fiction, the sole aim should be moral and social education of society and not mere worldly gains,” he said—(KNO)