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‘Violent Reaction has no place in Islam’
As long as Islam
is concerned it has nothing to do with violence or any kind of
terrorist activities and it has been reiterated ample number of
times. The Holy Quran clearly declares that killing an innocent
person is equivalent to killing the whole humanity. Then how can
anyone term Islam
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Assassination of Salman Taseer, Governor of Punjab, Pakistan, has
unleashed debate both among conservatives and liberals about
justification or otherwise of the blasphemy law in Pakistan. It is
totally surprising that the conservatives in Pakistan are
demonstrating in favour of the assassin and not only that they are
openly saying that those who condemn assassination can also be
assassinated.
These conservatives should know that even if law is justified, it
is not for any one to assassinate the breaker of the law. Law
ceases to be a law if it is administered by any individual at
his/her sweet will without following due process of law or proper
legal trial. It clearly shows that law and order situation in
Pakistan has almost collapsed and detailing of Malik Mumtaz Husain
Qadri, the alleged assassin of Salman Taseer for security of a
liberal governor also raises question. Why such a man of
conservative views was detailed for his personal security.
It is equally shocking that 500 supposedly moderate clerics
publicly threatened those who mourn Salman Taseer’s assassination
will also meet the same fate and less shocking that when the
alleged assassin was taken to the court many lawyers showered
flower petals on him. And neither this threat by clerics nor
celebration of assassination by, of all the people, a section of
legal community, attracts any action from the state. Also, many
Islamic scholars were appearing on T.V. and endorsing the action
of the assassin and warning opponents not to condemn
assassination. This clearly shows state is completely withdrawn
and allowed fanatics to take over.
Law of Blasphemy – How Much Religious
There is no mention whatsoever of such a law in Qur’an which is
most fundamental source of Islamic laws. Qur’an only says to
believers to invoke Allah’s Mercy and Grace for the Prophet and
that is why Muslims always write Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH) in
English and Sallal lahu alayhi wa sallam (i.e. May Allah’’s Mercy
and Grace be on him). Also, the Qur’an describes the Prophet as
rahmah lil ‘alamin i.e. mercy of all the worlds. If the Prophet is
mercy for all the worlds how can one kill in his name? Is Qur’an
more fundamental or weak human sentiments?
Also, just because one thinks that someone has insulted the
Prophet (PBUH) how can one straight away kill him without any due
process of law, without establishing his/her guilt? If the
Christian woman Asia Bibi who was given death sentence by the
lower court for allegedly insulting the Prophet and some one felt
that justice was not done in awarding death sentence, does he also
become guilty of insulting the Prophet (PBUH)?
Any such inference would be totally against the law. Only fanatics
can so conclude without any legal justification. No civilized
society can tolerate this. Qur’an, as pointed out above, does not
prescribe any such punishment for insulting the Prophet, let alone
death punishment and here one is assassinated just because he
thought the death punishment is not justified. Where was insult to
the Prophet in holding such an opinion?
Those who support such a law argue that it is based on the sunnah
of the Prophet and cite the story of a Jewish woman who used to
write provocative poetry against the Prophet and Islam and
according to this story Prophet (PBUH) asked his colleagues as to
who will get grid of this woman and one of the colleague killed
this woman and reported to the Prophet and the Prophet praised
him.
First the question arises about how authentic this story is.
Secondly, even if it is authentic this relates more to sedition
than insult to the Prophet. All Jews in Madina had signed a
covenant with the Prophet that their rights to follow their
religion will be guaranteed and their properties and lives will be
secure and in turn the Jews will defend Madina, if attacked by
outsiders. This Jewish woman by writing such provocative poetry
which enemies of Islam were spreading throughout the Arab world,
had committed sedition and everywhere in the world, even in
civilized world today is death.
But when another Jewish woman insulted the Prophet by throwing
garbage on him whenever he passed from below her house, Prophet (PBUH)
never punished her. Not only that one day when she did not throw
garbage he inquired why has she not thrown garbage today and when
informed that she is sick he immediately went to inquire about her
health. She felt ashamed for throwing garbage at such a person and
immediately embraced Islam. Thus for personal insult Prophet
really showed that he is mercy of the worlds and not only pardoned
her but went to inquire after her health.
This is what is needed for a truly religious person. To avenge an
insult is not sign of religiosity but of worst human instinct. The
Prophet was so spiritual that he would never indulge in seeking
revenge for personal insult. He was sent by Allah as a model human
being to be followed by others. And he really behaved as a model
for others. Qur’an repeatedly advises Muslims to suppress
sentiments of revenge and anger and in view of this Qur’anic
teaching how the Prophet through whom Qur’an was revealed could
himself indulge in avenging personal insult?
In fact Zia-ul-Haq brought this law to serve a political purpose.
Moreover he was a military man who hardly knew teachings of Islam
and a military man knows only to humiliate the enemy and seek
revenge and this is precisely what he did, and very unfortunately
in the name of Islam, by enacting this law. He wanted to please
orthodox Ulama in Pakistan to win their support for his
dictatorship. He also declared Pakistan an ‘Islamic state’ and
married worst kind of orthodoxy to politics.
M.A.Jinnah, whatever his role in creation of Pakistan, no one will
accuse him of religious orthodoxy or using Islam for
post-Partition politics in Pakistan. He wanted modern, liberal and
secular Pakistan. However, real democracy, for various reasons,
not to be discussed here, have had no real chance in Pakistan and
lesser politicians grossly misused Islam for their political
benefits. The first military dictator, Ayub Khan, was fortunately
a liberal and secular individual and hence whatever his other sins
he did not misuse Islam for political purposes. On the other hand
he brought about some reforms like Family Ordinance of 1961 to
give relief to women.
Yahya Khan who took over from Ayub Khan through a military coup
was hardly bothered about anything serious including governance
carried on until Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto took over in early seventies.
A modernist and played politics in the name of Islamic socialism
but resorted to worst kind of religious opportunism. To please
Mullahs and buy peace with him he declared Ahmadiyas as non-Muslim
minority and thus buying peace with mullahs cost very dearly to
Pakistan.
Though Liyaqat Ali Khan had declared Islam as state religion after
death of Jinnah, it was during Bhutto’s regime that Islam came to
be seriously exploited for political power in Pakistan and Zia who
captured power overthrowing Bhutto really declared Pakistan as an
‘Islamic State’ and it is Zia who introduced blasphemy law which
is now grossly misused for even petty personal revenge. Muslims
are as much its victims as non-Muslims, particularly Christians.
Fifty percent of those accused under this law are Muslims.
Now Pakistan is suffering in various ways due to fundamentalists
and mullahs who cannot get elected and form government are seeking
their pie in power by provoking religious sentiments and
bargaining with those in power. A general atmosphere of
intolerance prevails in the Pakistani society. It is difficult to
say whether there was any wider political conspiracy behind
killing of Salman Taseer or an individual act of the security
guard as the alleged assassin claims, it is certainly result of
intolerance of other’s views.
Also, like in India Pakistani text books taught in schools are
part of problem. It is these text books which inculcate attitude
of intolerance and illiberalism right from young age in the minds
of children. Future citizens are converted into bigots. It will
take years, perhaps decades, even if the task is begun in all
seriousness, to make Pakistani society a liberal and modern one,
once again. As Jinnah wanted it to be. Though its founder is
Jinnah but Pakistan’s architects are all narrow-minded mullahs.
Iqbal had rightly said that the task of mullah is not ‘jihad’
(struggle efforts) in the way of Allah but ‘fasad’ (depravation,
destruction and immorality) in His way. This depravation and
corruption in the name of religion has gone very deep and would
require a person of great vision and courage to correct its course
and to build a liberal, moderate and modern society building on
fundamental values of Islam which are truth, justice, compassion
and wisdom.
Killing people in the name of religion is worst kind of
irreligiousness.
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