Beyond Religion: A Muslim Family Has Been Caring For Assam's 500-YO Shiva Temple For Generations

While some people stop at nothing to spread hatred in the name of religious differences, this Muslim family has quietly been teaching the world a lesson in harmony and love. For generations, members of this family have been looking after a 500-year-old Shiva temple located at the Rangamahal village in Guwahati.

Both Hindus and Muslims of the area strongly believe in the deity (Shiva) and offer prayers and perform all the rituals here. The caretaker, Haji Matibar Rehman also said that ¡®Lord Shiva¡¯ is like his maternal grandfather.

ANI

"I call him Nana (maternal grandfather). It's a 500-year-old temple, our family looks after the temple. People from both the religions - Hindu and Muslim - come here to offer prayers," Matibar Rehman said.

Assam: A Muslim family looks after a Shiva temple for last 500-year in Rangamahal village, Guwahati. The caretaker Matibar Rehman says,' It's a 500-year-old temple, our family looks after the temple. People from both the religions- Hindu and Muslim- come here to offer prayers.' pic.twitter.com/6HZTGtPhAy

¡ª ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2019

"Muslims perform 'dua' while Hindus perform 'puja' here. Everyone's wishes are fulfilled here," he added. Rehman also said that he himself offers dua in the temple.

The devotees who visit the temple also praise the dedication of the family and the temple has become the symbol of Hindu-Muslim harmony.

Similarly, in Kashmir valley, two Muslim priests, Mohammad Abdullah and Ghulam Hassan, take care of a 900-year-old Lord Shiva temple and this temple is the only holy shrine in the entire valley which has Muslim priests. The priests started taking care of it after the migration of Kashmiri Pandits from the village.

There might be a lot of things that threaten to divide us, but it is love, compassion and people like Matibar Rehman who make sure that these forces never succeed.