Islam, Muslims and Pakistan’s blasphemy law
Hameed Abdul Karim
‘Show mercy and you will be shown mercy’ - Prophet Muhammad
(peace be on him)
Every Muslim is obliged to love the prophet
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The assassination of Salman Taseer must come, not only as a rude
shock to those Ulemah (Muslim scholars) who had not lent their voices of
reason and logic in the charged atmosphere Pakistan finds itself in, but
also as a wake up call. It’s about time they got into action and explain
to Muslims the requirement of mercy, love, compassion and forgiveness
that is enshrined in the Qur’an.
Unfortunately there are certain Moulavis (preachers) who shoot
straight from the lip not realizing the effect their rhetoric might have
on those who act or react merely on emotions. Like, for example, Salman
Taseer’s assassin Mumtaz Qadri.
There are Moulavis, especially on the subcontinent, who vie with one
another for supremacy in the same way cheap politicians do to grab a
vote or two.
They must realize their job is to create an environment where the
life and the message of the Prophet Muhammad is celebrated with joy and
in sublime a manner as is required of Muslims. Harsh and combative
language will only serve as springboards to those with limited
understanding and parochial views.
The Qur’an calls on Muslims to ‘Invite them to the ways of your Lord
with wisdom and beautiful preaching and argue with them in ways that are
best and most gracious’ and also ‘lower you voice for the harshest of
sounds is the braying of the donkey’. Sad to say, some Moulavis have
missed these vital points found in the Qur’an.
Moulavis must never use language that arouses passions or emotions
that might generate hatred amongst human beings if they don’t want to
encourage intolerance.
Love for the Prophet
This does not imply support for the stand Salman Taseer took on
Pakistan’s blasphemy laws or for his jet set life style which arguably
may not have been in line with the nation’s Islamic identity, but
certainly his murder was not in keeping with the Shariah. It is true
that every Muslim is obliged to love the Prophet more than anybody or
anything else in the world. But definitely murder is not an expression
of that love. Rather it is a manifestation of the bigotry in some
sections of Pakistani society that has replaced the love and compassion
the prophet Muhammad wanted his followers to have for all human beings.
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Governor of Punjab Salman Taseer |
Salman
Taseer’s Assassin Mumtaz Qadri |
Under the circumstances that surrounded the controversial Governor a
group of Muftis (Doctors of theology) should have conferred and then
invite the offender to retract his views. Failing which they would have
had to campaign for his removal from public office and then leave him to
his devices.
The punishment or forgiveness for the likes of Salman Taseer falls
squarely in God’s department and is not the prerogative of the likes of
Mumtaz Qadri.
Insulting the Prophet
The case of Asiya Bibi is a mystery. There is no confirmed report in
the media of what she actually said that might have been offensive to
the Prophet Muhammad. In fact, the media reports that attract attention
are the ones that suggest the accusations had stemmed from a village
dispute over cattle.
Besides, what can this woman from a backward village have said that
could be worse than what Salman Rushdie or Taslima Nazreen have said?
Neither Rushdie nor Nazreen have succeeded in destroying Islam. So what
damage could this poor farm worker, who finds it hard to feed her four
children, have said that could be more offensive?
This brings us to incidents where the Qur’an talks about the insults
heaped on the noble Prophet by his detractors calling him a sorcerer and
a liar.
The Qur’an consoles him telling him, in short, not to be concerned by
these insults and that chastisement lies with God.
Posing a question the Qur’an asks the Prophet ‘Could thou be the
disposer of affairs for them?’ God almighty goes on to advise him in
relation to the blasphemers ‘And have patience with what they say and
leave them with noble dignity’.
Indeed if God Almighty wanted to introduce blasphemy laws, then this
was the opportune moment for Him to do just that. ‘Angry’ Moulavis and
their followers must reflect on these verses in the Qur’an and leave God
Almighty to do His work. Certainly He does not need any help from anyone
to protect His Prophet. It is true Muslims are required to defend the
Prophet’s person but they will have to do that in dignity and certainly
not in a radicalized manner. If the argument becomes profane then the
Muslim is obliged to take his leave with the word ‘salaam’ (peace).
Forgiveness
Let’s now turn to the aspect of forgiveness enshrined in the Qur’an,
especially in the case of those who hide the truth and distort the
divine message.
The Qur’an advises the Prophet, and by extension Muslims, ‘...
forgive them and overlook (their misdeeds) for Allah loves those who are
kind’. Another verse tells the followers of the beloved Prophet that
‘goodness and evil are not equal’ and encourages Muslims to ‘repel evil
with what is better’ so that God Almighty might make those who are
against ‘you your friend and intimate’.
What wonderful advice this is! Wish ‘angry’ Moulavis in Pakistan and
elsewhere heed this advice especially in the case of Asiya Bibi. She is,
after all, a creature of the same Allah Muslims worship five times a
day. Her Christian faith does not come into play.
If Allah wanted her, or anybody else, to be of the Islamic faith then
He would have seen to that, as He proclaims in the Qur’an.
Another event that is related to the subject of blasphemy or slander
or a wicked lie against the Prophet Muhammad is the incident that Ibn
Ishaq records in his biography where he claims that the Prophet ordered
the slaughter of a large number of Jews who had violated a treaty and
sided with his enemies during a battle.
Imam Malik, who is the founder of the Maliki Madhab (school of
thought), it is believed, was a contemporary of Ibn Ishaq and when he
heard this report he dismissed it as utter nonsense. A group calling
themselves ‘Jews for Allah’ conducted a thorough investigation into Ibn
Ishaq’s claim and came to the conclusion that this was a fib and that
Ibn Ishaq had not checked his source who, in this case, was a Jew. The
point here is that Imam Malik did not go into a rage and declare a fatwa
against Ibn Ishaq.
Matters of this nature in those early years of Islam were discussed
in accordance with the Shariah and any disagreements was left with the
words ‘Allah hu Alam’ (‘Allah knows best’). No Moulavi today will ever
dare equate himself with Imam Malik. Why then don’t they conduct
themselves, especially the ‘angry’ ones, like he conducted himself?
Shariah
Mumtaz Qadri is a murderer according to the Shariah. He had no
business to take the law into his own hands. In his case the Shariah
must take its course and it is hoped that when the verdict is delivered
the ‘angry’ Moulavis and their followers will behave in the way Islam
and Muslims the world over expect of them. It is undeniable that a small
section of Muslims in Pakistan have been radicalized due to the constant
killings of Muslim civilians in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The West, and especially the US must be held responsible for this
radicalization. But this in no way justifies the assassination of the
Governor of Punjab, even though, as reports claim, he was siding with
the Americans in its fake war on terror.
Muslims must enshrine in their hearts and minds the words in the
Qur’an that say ‘If you take one life (without due process of law) it is
like as if you have killed the whole of humanity and if you save one
life it is like you have saved the whole of humanity’. |