Adil Najam
Ordinarily, I might have just posted this photograph below as a comment on yesterday’s post on Diwali celebrations in Karachi (also here). But please, just look at the people in this photograph; its way too interesting to be relegated to a comments section.
The occasion is a Diwali celebration at the Islamabad Headquarters of the Pakistan Muslim League, standing (and clapping) extreme left is Syed Mushahid Hussain, Secretary General of the Pakistan Muslim League, next to him is Ijaz ul Haq (Minister of Religious Affairs, and son of Gen. Zia ul Haq), fourth from left is Tariq Azim, State Minister for Information.
The Daily Times (31 October, 2006) provides more details of the event:
Members of the Hindu community from across the country participated in the event where they performed their religious rituals and traditional dances in candlelight to mark the event… A number of office bearers of the party and ministers, including PML Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Syed, Minister for Religious Affairs Ijaz-ul-Haq, State Minister for Information Tariq Azim, Minister for Minorities Affairs Mushtaq Victor and members of the National Assembly (MNAs) Bindara, Donia Aziz, Akram Masih Gill and others were present on the occasion. Officials of the Indian High Commission also participated in the event.
Hussain said that Quaid-e-Azam had envisioned a Pakistan where all the religious minorities enjoyed equal rights. He underlined the importance of inter-faith harmony for the greater prosperity of the nation and announced that the PML would also celebrate the birthday of Baba Gurunanak next week. He said that the minorities played a vital role in building any nation. He said that the present government was allocating high importance to giving all minorities’ equal. Hindus are playing a leading role in country’s economic development and the present government will leave no stone unturned to ensure their safety and well being, he added.
This is, of course, a political gesture – some might even say a gimmick. But if so, let us have more such gestures and gimmicks. They will, in time, hopefully help change our perceptions and treatment of religious minorities in Pakistan.
[quote post=”393″]“And who determines this “rightâ€
[quote post=”393″]Why do you forget that Islam came to kill all pre-Islamic customs[/quote]
They complain about being discriminated against all over the world, yet their vision for their own societies is one where the minorities are held hostage as second-class citizens and their customs are systematically (or randomly) “killed”.
[quote post=”393″]The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)… the greatest man to walk the earth… opened the masjid-e-nabvi to christians for worship.[/quote]
Well the question arises, did Christians pray according to MUSLIM style? you gotta eleborate it.
Second, Alcohol was halal in early islam era during the life of Muhammad[SAW]. Now some Jiyala Alcoholic comes up and say Sharab is halal in Islam because it was allowed in early days. People do give such reasons to justify alcohol in Islam. I already gave a genuine example of changing of Qibla.
It also happened that several times Prophet[saw] suggested His companions to refer Old Testament and new to verify ancient incidents but He also instructed not to follow things which contradicts islamic teachings. Now some one says that Muslims SHOULD follow OT and NT because Prophet[saw] did. Every muslim knows all shariyah prior to Islam was cancelled by Allah.
Scholars of early age had involvement with chritians and jews than modern days this is why there were several non-muslims had entered into Islam.
Islam is an easy religion but don’t take advantage of it to twist the orignal teachings by picking irrelevent examples. When something clearly mentioned in Hadith then I have no reason to produce my interpetition to fullfill my desire.
Well said, Siratul-Mustaqeem. It’s always heartening to hear a voice of sanity in this insane world.
Sirat-e-Mustaqeem,
Well said sir. You are indeed a voice of reason to elicit such long winded hogwash from certain ungainly quarters.
Islam is not an intolerant faith. It is a tolerant faith which places a lot of capital in according women, minorities and children their rightful due.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)… the greatest man to walk the earth… opened the masjid-e-nabvi to christians for worship.
With such great examples, why are we stuck in such a quagmire?