These days the
Muslim Ummah is outraged by the blasphemous movie prepared by an American and
are agitating against this gruesome act. Pakistan is no exception. In fact, we as
a nation have always topped the list of those who react violently to such
provocations and, in the process, attempt to destroy our own country. Is this
the right way to demonstrate our love for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him),
would the perpetrators of such a heinous act be brought to justice by our
violence and what could be the implications of the course we choose to adopt, are
the questions we need to ponder. Debate on the subject, both in the press and
electronic media, must aim at educating, rather than agitating, the masses.
Let there be no
doubt in anybody’s mind that no true Muslim would hesitate to give his life for
preserving the sanctity of our Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). We love him
more than any of our worldly wants. It is how this love may manifest, needs to
be debated. What we are doing these days by coming out on the streets and
destroying whatever comes in the way, is the easiest but surely not the right way
to demonstrate our love for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), the best of
human beings. To me, though difficult but the most appropriate way would be to
emulate his personality, not by rituals but in essence, and follow his
teachings to the core. Are we as a nation or as individuals doing that? The
answer is in the negative and that is the reason powers that be are paying
little heed to the violent demonstrations, construing them as acts committed
for venting out of personal frustrations.
Unfortunately, our greatest
problem as a nation is our hypocrisy and selective application of religion, as
it suits our personal agendas. To quote an example, Allah Almighty says in the
Quran, “And make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including sinews
of war, to strike terror into the hearts of enemies of Allah and your enemies
and others besides them whom you know not but Allah does know”. That be the
commandment, it must be clear to us that we as a nation won’t be able to assert
unless we are strong enough to do so, both as a Pakistani and as part of ‘Islamic
Ummah’. Are our day to day undertakings and present behaviour directed at strengthening
the country? In this regard, I may also give the example of the Jews who,
though a few million, have become so strong that they can enforce on the West
whatever they want.
There are mainly
two types of leaders. First category is of those who play on public perception
to elevate themselves. They, at best, are mediocre leaders and ultimately are
of no consequence. While the other category comprises leaders who come up with their
own vision, steer the nation towards the right direction and make a difference
in the long run. Unfortunately, we only have leaders of the first category. In
the obtaining scenario also, they are exploiting the public sentiment for
fulfilment of personal agendas, oblivious of the consequences and implications
of such adventurism.
We also need to understand
that the religious clergy thrive in the environment of lack of governance, lawlessness,
poverty, deprivation, and disillusionment. Handing over the platform to them at
this stage for leading the masses, albeit agitated, is a sure recipe for disaster.
Since, we refuse to learn any lessons from the past, let me remind the nation
and our leaders that ongoing agitation is presenting spectre of the PNA
movement in the late seventies, which culminated into takeover by Zia, the
consequences of which we are suffering till today. Do we want the history to
repeat itself?
Our violent
reactions in the past to blasphemous acts perpetrated in the Western countries
have hardly stopped them from repeating such acts, but in the process they have
found out one of our major vulnerabilities. Now, they can initiate instability
in Pakistan at will, whenever they want. We may not rule out the possibility of
use of this vulnerability by the USA in future to station a large number of
their marines in Islamabad, after the expansion of their embassy into virtually
a base, and Karachi where construction of a large consulate building is already
in progress.
As the indicators
are, our violent agitation and destruction of own infrastructure is unlikely to
affect the maker of the blasphemous video, his sponsors or the country where
the act has been committed. In fact, as we have turned ourselves into a nation
on auto self-destruction mode, the perpetrators have achieved their objective.
If nothing else, they have reinforced the perception in the Western world that
we are an intolerant and extremist nation.
As such, while we may
continue to peacefully demonstrate our outrage, the long term solution lies in gaining strength as a ‘Muslim Ummah’ and adhering to Islamic tenets -
the only way to ensure respect for sentiments of the Muslims by others.
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