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Aug-03-2009
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"If we are resolved to describe Islam as a system of superior values, we are obliged, first of all, to acknowledge that we are not the true representatives of Islam." - Sir Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938).
The weekly Saturday Opinion column (Dawn, August 1, 2009) by Mr. Irfan Husain illustrated that social change or activism is globally proliferating through cyberspace. The cyber revolution is making life difficult for those trying to impose censorship or self-righteous views. The cyber communications by Iranian dissidents in last few weeks have exposed that the recently concluded 2009 presidential elections were rigged by the ruling junta and Ayatollahs. The elites of 21st century who promote that maintaining medieval and pre-medieval social order in traditional Islamic lands should remember words of poet Iqbal quoted above. Poet Iqbal is known for authoring the Tarana-e-Hind (The Song of India), popularly known as Saare Jahan Se Achcha and another poem Tarana-e-Milli (Anthem of the (Muslim) Community). He may also have delivered the following:
Yeh hukamat ke Pujari hain, yeh doulat ke gulam
Jo jhanam ki musibat se darate hain muze
Khud to bana lete hain Duniya main Jannat apni
Khawb khoi hui Jannan ke dikhate hanin muze
The worshipers of power and slaves of wealth instill fear by reminding me of (what awaits) in hell; they make heaven on earth for their pleasure and offer me dreams of heaven (if I should follow their radical vision and get martyred; italics are mine).
I am reminded of such sentiments when reading many columns by Pakistani Opinion writers.
Prof Muzaffar Iqbal sahib in a two part article, Muslims and the Quran (The News, July 24 and 31, 2009) blamed Western education and influences for producing religious illiterates in traditional Arab speaking Muslim lands starting mid-20th century. He contended that the existing Encyclopedia of Quran (EQ) published by E J Brill (actually correct title is "Encyclopedia of Islam," New Edition (2005), Volumes 1 - XI plus Volume XII (Supplement) with contributions from Muslims and non-Muslims is not authentic as the new Integrated Encyclopedia of the Quran (IEQ) in making will be. The IEQ in seven volumes will be published from August 2011 to July 2017. The IEQ webpage claims that it will be based on 14 centuries of Muslim scholarship to offer a unique blend of classical and contemporary Islamic scholarship on Quran. The EQ is not authentic, Iqbal sahib claims, as it links the evolution of Islam from Jewish, Christian, Zoroastrian or Manichean, etc sources.
A problem with Professor Iqbal and others like him is that for them Quran was revealed and hence not linked to preexisting knowledge. An absurd claim is that in 21st century scholarship of Arab and non-Arab Muslims not influenced by Western though is superior to that of Islamic and non-Islamic or Western scholars. The flawed belief carries seeds of self destruction by undermining self-esteem.
News stories showing public display of Muslim intemperate behavior in Islamic lands are common. Muslims are easily provoked by mutilation of Quran (see links below) and objectionable cartoons, jokes, logical challenges to their authority and beliefs and/or even to personal habits and preferences (un-kept beard, hijab, dress codes, etc). Such radical views and behavior are examples of hate and intolerance of non-Islamic believers. The Shariah system of personal Law teaches Muslims to deny human rights to women and non-Islamic followers. News media are full of heart wrenching stories of atrocities committed in the name of religion in the Islamic belt at two ends of Middle East in many nations from Africa (Sudan and Nigeria) to Pakistan and Indonesia.
The following latest news stories show how the LeT operatives aligned with Taliban and al Qaeda have internationally carried out suicide attacks on soft civilian targets and what life is like in Afpakia areas dominated by radicals.
. LeT responsible for Mumbai attacks: A report by the powerful Foreign Affairs Committee quoted a former CIA
. Six Christians die in riots with Muslims (Dawn, Saturday, 01 Aug, 2009)
. 7 Christians burnt alive in Gojra riots, (Daily Times, Sunday, Aug 02, 2009)
The quality of Islamic scholarship has been dubious for 14 centuries. By holding sword over heads of non-Islamic believers Arab Muslims expanded extraterritorially as was also done by Roman Catholics for several centuries before Islam. The radical Muslim dictators spread Islam to west and east of Arab lands. In my previous few columns (see Pakistan: Impact of Radicals and Weak Economy Impact of Radicals and Weak Economy and browse my webpage following the article) I have observed how insecurities have induced feelings of hurt and discrimination associated with a loss of the cultural and scientific supremacy that Muslims once enjoyed.
The results of self-righteous Saudi trained clerics operated, Arab funded 20,000 madrassah in Pakistan exposes flaws in Professor Iqbal"s arguments. Youth age below 30 constitute more than 55% of population of Pakistan. Without firing a single shot Arabs have radicalized most of the youth through madrassah brand education in Arabic. An unintended consequence is internal destabilization of Pakistan by more than 40 militant organizations such as LeT, TTP, JuD, JM, Sipah-e-Sahaba, etc. that operate private militias employing radical youth. A claim is that militancy will never be eliminated in Afpakia areas because collectively the private militias funded by Arabs have recruited an estimated 250,000 of 60 million radical youth for jihadi causes.
Applying the logic used by Professor Iqbal one may conclude that education in a language other than mother tongue in traditional Muslim lands explains why the Muslim populations become dominated by religiously illiterate radicals. Mother tongue of a vast majority of Pakistanis, a Muslim land by traditions it follows, is other than English and Arabic. Pakistan in last 30 years has converted an estimated 60 of 173 million youth to religiously illiterate graduates in 20,000 madrassahs funded by Arabs of Persian Gulf and Red Sea and operated by Saudi trained semi-literate clerics teaching Quran in Arabic.
The Article 256 of the Pakistan Constitution bars private militias. Under late Dictator Zia ul Haq rule, Pakistan ignored the constitution, specifically the Article 256 and allowed establishment of private militias in 1980s for use as Taliban to free Afghanistan of Soviet occupation. Starting 1990s Pakistan under administrations of Mrs. Benazir Bhutto (1993-96), Mr. Nawaz Sharif (1997-99) and Dictator Pervez Musharraf (1999-2008) allowed proliferation of private militias and they are the operating arms of Taliban and al Qaeda. Taliban invaded Afghanistan in 1994, joined forces with al Qaeda to rule it from 1996 to 2001. America destroyed and forced surviving Taliban and al Qaeda operatives to escape to tribal and other parts of Pakistan in 2002. Under Taliban and al Qaeda fundamentalist dominated rule in Afghanistan (1996-2001) and of the Afpakia areas (2002 to present) the world has witnessed operating practices of a fascist Islamic regime. Taliban violated human rights and destroyed historical Buddhists monuments of Afghanistan, not to mentions threats it issued against America, India and the West. Dictator Musharraf (2002-08) was also responsible for further destruction of one and destabilization of other of two nations, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Taking Islam or any religion too seriously can be self-destructive, especially if most population turns into fanatic radicals such as Taliban and al Qaeda.
A friend recently suggested that he has three philosophies: "life goes on", "who cares?" and "how should I know?"
"May be a little too profound," I suggested.
"Who cares?"
"How should I know?" and
"Life goes on," was his response as long as not a victim of religious fanatics.
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