Ancient Wisdom for Modern Kashmir

Amid anxiety and social pressures, two forgotten Islamic practices offer Kashmiri youth practical and spiritual guidance for life beyond home.

- Dr. Rameez Ahmad

Life in Kashmir has grown heavier over the years. Economic uncertainty, political tension, and social expectations touch every part of daily life. For young people, even stepping out of the valley for studies or work at times feels risky.

After the recent Delhi suicide attack, I saw friends hesitate and reconsider journeys that once seemed simple. Profiling, stereotyping, and suspicion have become routine. Fear now shapes decisions that used to depend on ambition or curiosity.

From my perspective as someone who studies society, this feels like what Emile Durkheim called excessive regulation.

When expectations, scrutiny, and moral pressures pile up, people shrink under the weight. I see young Kashmiris caught between performing perfectly for others and avoiding misjudgment.

Families, once sources of warmth, drift into routine. Friendships weaken, community bonds strain, and anxiety grows silently in homes and streets.

Some young people I know shrink their own worlds, choosing what to do, where to go, and even what to dream based on fear.

I have often thought about how Islam addresses such moments.

Two practices, Istisharah and Istikharah, speak directly to the uncertainty we face.

Istisharah is seeking advice from those with experience and wisdom. Istikharah is turning to God when our own judgment falters.