Adil Najam
Pakistan is a land of creative cell-phone ringtones. Sometimes, I feel, a little too creative.
You are sitting in a meeting with some very self-important and staid people - officials, businessmen, buzurg grandfather types - and one of their cell-phone rings: and the ring-tone is a computer synthesis of “Sanou Nehr Waaley Pul Tey Bulla Kay” or “Nawa Aaya Aye Soonia.”
Even though the first is one of my favorite Noor Jahan songs and the second my all-time favorite movie, my head spins and I wonders if in a society where everyone is always so proper and so cognizant of “loug kiya sochaiN gay” (what will people think?), cell-phone ringtones are like catharsis. One of the things that lets people show that little bit of their “fun side” that they were otherwise suppressing. Kind of like the otherwise all-too-serious professor in the US coming to class wearing a Mickey Mouse tie (I actually own more than one of those).
Yet, it seems that the vigilantism of the piety police that is the extremist fringe in Pakistan wants to even snatch (literally) this little pleasure from us.
Here is a small news item in the Daily Times (January 18):
Militants snatch computers from ringtone shops
LANDI KOTAL: Local Taliban militants snatched computers from ringtone shops in the main Landi Kotal Bazaar on Thursday, sources said. Earlier, they added, the militants had warned them to stop downloading ringtones onto mobiles, terming it an “un-Islamic” practice. Around 10 armed Taliban came to the bazaar and took away computers from ringtone shops at around 5pm.
Whatever else you do, folks, please do not try to answer the question in the headline. It is rhetorical. Frankly, I have very little interest in what anyone, least of all some militants, have to say about this and I am sure that God has far more important things to deal with right now than how my cell phone rings.
I have chosen to write about this question because I think there are two types of people who do take things like this seriously. So serious are they in their beliefs that they are even willing to condone violence in the name of those beliefs. I am afraid of what the fanaticism of these two extreme groups can lead to, especially in Pakistan.
One type are the puritanical extremists within Islam who think that they and they alone have a monopoly on piety and theirs and only their view is right and who are willing - even eager - to impose, even violently, their view on all others. The Taliban, of whatever ilk, are one such group. The second type are those who obsess about things that are supposedly wrong with Islam and who love to believe such nonsense because it reinforces their existing prejudices. Who are prone to taking such actions by the extremists and then project it as if all Muslims are like this. This set of people are often equally extreme in their beliefs.
Luckily, neither is a majority. Unfortunately, the ranks of both are swelling. Oddly, but not surprisingly, these two extreme types have much - too much - in common; including the monopoly they think they hold over the truth.
Sadly, but also not surprisingly, these two groups are probably the biggest threat to Islam and Muslims today, including and especially in Pakistan. Even though I fear their impact and influence in Pakistan and on Pakistan, I - like most Pakistanis I know - reject the message of both these extreme groups. I prefer, instead, to listen to cell-phone ringtones that go “Sanou Nehr Waaley Pul Tey Bulla Kay” or “Nawa Aaya Aye Soonia.”
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If must add, we must entertain all opinions. If it means listening to one that is opposed to our own.
I think this is good blog. For me this is my virtual network of friends. It gives me chance to air my opinion and vent my frustration though they are trimmed but, I do not mind.
All said, humain aur mujhay adaab ka khayal hona chaheye. Adab to humari sareisht mein hai aur dar guzr humaray akhlaq ka zamin.
Last year alone, ~3500 people became target of terrorism!!!!
It is about time people stand up for sanity and sanctity of life and liberty. This is the first time, I see some readers standing up against extremism.
In our time when only thing that is constant is change to use a cliche and you have people brain-washed to see things in things in white and black, momin and kafir, right and wrong, friend and enemy, what is to follow other then senseless violence.
These mullahs, taliban and their supports do not stand for Islam. They stand for themselves and their deficiencies because they can not deal with modern world.
WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG?
1. Allah has answered this question clearly.
2. It is not a matter of opinion, we all are obligated as Muslims to live life by HIS commandments.
3. There is only ONE book we all have, there are no ambiguities, no room for debates and arguments.
IS IT OK TO FORCE RIGHTEOUSNESS?
1. Islam does not support violence.
2. Suicide bombings are wrong according to Islam.
3. A non Muslim can only be invited to Islam by peaceful and intelligent discussion.
4. HOWEVER, a misguided ‘westernized’ Muslim can be brought back to the right path by force. He will be thankful for this when he dies.
WHY IS THERE TROUBLE IN PAKISTAN?
1. The rulers of Pakistan do not believe in the word of Allah.
2. Those who do believe in the word and want to live in a society of Allah’s rules are suppressed and obliterated in Pakistan.
3. The oppressors are doing the bidding of the West.
4. Moderate Pakistani Muslims are not strong enough in their faith to embrace the Islamic law with both arms.
BOTTOMLINE
Pakistan was created by Islam, from Islam, for Islam. Islam is the be all and end all of Pakistan. The only way Pakistan will fulfill it’s destiny is by embracing the word of Allah.
By the will of Allah, my brothers you will see that once this happens, there will be no more violence, no more troubles in Pakistan. It will be a Pakistan we all want to see, a one that is an example for the world and all future generations.
Yes both are fighting wars against Muslims, one in Iraq killing Muslims by occupation the others in Islamabad Landi Kotal Karachi Peshawar and Lahore killing Muslims by suicide bombings.
well played Adil bhai, now both groups are against you, Islam bashers as well as Deen kay muhafizeen!
Better hire a body guard!
Pray tell me, Adil, how can one put the extremist Mullas/Talibans/Islamists and liberal secularists in a single basket? Don’t you feel there is a huge dichotomy of approach, the means employed and the ends sought between the two groups?
One group believes in violence and is not reluctant to target fellow (lesser?) Muslims to achieve their self-righteous goals; the other abhors violence. One group prides itself in denying basic human rights to almost everyone; the other group struggles for universal rights. I can go on.
If there is any threat to the Muslims of Pakistan today, it is from militant Islamism, not from any other dogma or lack of it.
Adil also says that even Islam is in danger. How can a philosophy or religion can be in danger from an external force? A philosophy is only endangered form its internal malaise and stagnation by becoming irrelevant to its surroundings and time. It leads me to ask if you feel that’s the case with the Islam being practised by many in Pakistan? If we take Islam as a political system, as many mullahs lead us to believe, then it should be tolerant to same level of criticism as any other contemporary form of government.
@Ismail Ali: “Try explaining to them Bhai that “there is no such thing as absolute truth.””
Ismail bhai, you misunderstood. What I said in essence is that the belief that there is no such thing as absolute truth is “secular fundamentalism”.
I agree with you and others on the point that the real conversation that needs to take place is the conversation between folks who may hold orthodox or formal Islamic characteristics and those that hold informal and syncretic view of Islam. But before that conversation can happen the obstacle of fundamentalism, both religious fundamentalism and secular fundamentalism, needs to be removed.
Different people have different views on various aspects of religion. We have several different sects within Islam, and there are numerous religions the world over. You are free to convince other people “by argument”, but in no circumstances are you allowed to physically enforce your viewpoint upon others. There exist social structures and processes (such as a political system) through which communities can reach consensus on various matters of interest, but in no circumstance should one group of people be allowed to infringe upon the rights and freedom of others. If this is allowed to continue, this can only lead to anarchy as all the different groups work to impose their version of righteousness upon others.
My advice to supporters of such elemens is … grow up! The world isn’t as simple as black or white, right or wrong; there are a lot of grey areas. Learn to respect the rights of others, and reach conclusions through consensus and argument.