Date: August 24, 2011
Dear All,
Not few but most of the Islamic ideologues and scholars including Ghazali justify and support use of violence and force against not only infidels, idolaters and polytheists; but also the Muslims who copy their life styles, appearance, customs etc. They are vociferous about it and do not chew their words. The reformist movements of Muhammad Abu Wahab and Shah Wali Ullah were all about this. During last century Abul Ala Maududi and Hassan-ul-Banna carried on the same mission defending and advocating the doctrine of Jihad which is exactly what Taliban believe today. The above named two are widely regarded as most learned and knowledgeable Islamic scholars of modern times.
The fashionable classes and English speaking elite Pakistan have their own perceptions of Islam that suit their convenience. They switch off the pop music show on TV when there is Azan (prayer call) in the air from nearby mosque and resume it when Azan ends.
What Farrukh and many people in Pakistan call "Wahabi" dogma is the puritan version of Islam believed and followed in most of the Middle East and can not be cast out of Islam by the Fatwa (religious decree) of the likes of Farrukh. There are fewer followers of this creed in Pakistan and India, where Islamic beliefs and practices are greatly influenced by Hinduism. Their numbers are on the increase though, due to Devbandi madrasa network all over Pakistan. But even views of Shi'ite scholars, specially those in Iran, do not differ from those of so called Wahabi sect as far as Jihad against infidels is concerned. The situations leading to and ensuing Salman Taseer's murder, proved that the Bralvi or Sunni sect, which comprises majority of population in Pakistan, is second to none as far as aggression in religious matters is concerned. So where is the majority of moderate Muslims that Farrukh is talking about? If you ask the views of a man on the street in Pakistan, he will talk about unity of Muslims to destroy and annihilate India, Israel and US. The roots of these views are found in the same doctrine of Jihad, which is an integral and inseparable part of Islam. I can quote of dozens of verses from Holy Quran and hundreds of Hadiath (sayings of the Apostle) in support of Jihad against infidels.
Here I am not judging any belief as good or bad. But if one embraces any belief, one should accept it for what it is; not the way one wants to see it. The common phrase used by the fashionable class i.e. Moulvi ka Islam (Islam of the clergy) is sweeping under the carpet. Moulvi has not invented any Islam; but tells us what he has studied in the religious books. On the contrary, can fashionable class tell honestly as to how deeply it has studied Islam apart from text books, school curriculum and some selected verses? The so called "moderate Muslims" could at the best be called non-practicing Muslims.
Nayyer Khan
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