29.09.2013 Live and let live
Islam is a most tolerant religion which some self-proclaimed interpreters and agents of ‘God’ have distorted, playing havoc with the society
Dr Syed Hussain Shaheed Soherwordi
Islam, a religion of peace, is followed by a section of people who do not believe in a pluralistic society. They aim to convert all other religions into their group. Why can’t they accept another person with different ideas and beliefs?
Where is religious pluralism — the outcome of an attempt to provide a basis in theology for tolerance of other religions and sects. 9/11 affected every aspect of our life. It has turned us intolerant even of the harmless communities of our society — the Christians. But Quran says: “Let there be no compulsion in religion” Surah Baqrah, Ayat 256). Why do we coerce people in the name of religion?
All Saints Church of Peshawar was blown by two suicide bombers of Jandola group, a broken fraction of the TTP, also considered as the Punjabi Taliban, headed by Asmatullah Muawaya. They don’t want to negotiate with the government of Pakistan. The attack took place at a time when the country’s army and political parties were in the process of conducting peace talks with Taliban militants.
When non-Muslim citizens live under Islamic sovereignty, they enjoy a special status and are known along with other minorities as ahl adh dhimma or dhimmis. Dhimma is an Arabic word, which means safety, security, and contract. Hence, they are called dhimmis because they have agreed to a contract by Allah, His Messenger, and the Muslim community, which grants them security.
Ibn Ishaq in his seerat (biography of the Prophet) states: “When the delegation of Najrani Christians came to the Prophet at Madinah, they entered his mosque in the afternoon to meet him. It was their prayer time, so they began to perform their prayer in the mosque. Some Muslims were about to prevent them from doing so, but the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said, “Let them pray.” So they faced eastward and performed their prayer.
In addition to the covenant made by the Prophet with the Christians of Najran, which placed them under the protection of Allah and his Prophet and provided for the safeguard of their wealth, religion, and churches, the one made by Umar ibn Al Khattab with the citizens of Iliya (Jersusalem) stated: “This is the protection which the servant of Allah, Umar ibn Al Khattab, the commander of the faithful extends to them (non-Muslims): the safeguarding of their lives, property, churches, crosses, and of their entire community. Their churches are not to be occupied, demolished, or damaged, nor are their crosses or anything belonging to them be touched. They will not be forced to abandon their religion, nor will they be harmed. None of the Jews will live with them in Illiya (Jersusalem).” (Tarikh At-Tabari, Volume 3, p. 609)
Our Prophet (peace be upon him) said that security of the minorities is the primary responsibility of the Muslim state.
When the Bamiyan’s Buddah statues were bombed, I wondered why. Who were they harming? It’s not Islam which is intolerant but few people who do not accommodate others; who try to coerce against the spirit of Islam.
Islam replaced earlier religions in the very beginning. However, its practice in Pakistan and in the subcontinent in general is different than in the Arab world. Spiritual as well as publically conformist, most Pakistanis are influenced by Sufism and integrate local paraphernalia such as visiting the shrines of saints, devotional songs and dancing. Pakistan is generally composed of a society that is tolerant and pluralistic, believing in religious harmony. Extremists, on the other hand, take a different view: they believe the accommodation of other religions as a dangerous deviation from Islam.
“If you want to understand inclusiveness and tolerance in Islam, you have to turn to spiritualism which will lead to the core of tolerance,” says Sidra Aziz Alizai, a researcher in Peshawar.
Taliban are using Islam as a means to influence the people in Pakistan. Pakistanis’ anger at the Taliban is counterbalanced by anger at the US policies in Afghanistan and Pakistan, especially drone attacks on Pakistan’s tribal belt and Iraq. They believe that the US is following a distinct anti-Muslim policy. The question is why should the Pakistani Christians bear the brunt of the US wrong policies?
These extremist elements, organised in the 80s, stepped into war with lofty assurances that “their version of ideology is the solution”. They did not lack for listeners or, within a few years, for dollars provided by the US administration. Petrodollar spawned funding for the most radical Muslims.
Their ‘great expectation’ has been that a return to strict Islam would provide the strength for a final victory over the US. A strict Islam has gained momentum after the Taliban customised religious vocabulary and visuals for political ends. In Peshawar University, people jokingly say that in paradise, wine will be alcohol-free.
It’s high time to preach legitimate co-existence. We committed serious crime against our people by keeping them illiterate and promoting intolerance.
Islam can be observed in ways that complement pluralism rather than suffocate those practicing other religions. Live and let live must be the slogan of the time. No one has the authority to act on Allah’s behalf, that too will tantamount to blasphemy.
The author teaches at the Department of International Relations, University of Peshawar). syedshaheed@hotmail.co.uk