Islamophobia is not merely a problem confined to one country; it is a growing concern across the globe. Yet, in India, it has become entangled with politics, media narratives, and the selective interpretation of religion and culture. During the COVID-19 pandemic, not wearing a mask could invite penalties because public health demanded collective responsibility. Yet, when it came to Muslims, sections of the media and those driven by Hindutva ideology selectively constructed narratives, turning an entire community into a target of suspicion and hostility. A public health crisis became an opportunity for communal polarisation. Facts were often overshadowed by prejudice, and the dignity of ordinary people was sacrificed at the altar of political propaganda. India is a land of countless gods and goddesses, magnificent festivals, elaborate rituals, grand processions, and deeply rooted spiritual traditions. Yet, what does the abundance of religious observance mean if it does not translat...