ATP Editor’s Comment: It turns out that, in fact, the said line (husool-e-rizq-e-halal ibaadat hai) does still exist on the new note. Our thanks to the readers who were able to catch the oversight that we failed to. However, we have kept the post live partly because the discussion is itself interesting and partly because the issue of whether having such a line on the note makes any difference on people’s behavior on ‘rizq-e-halal’, is itself an interesting topic.
Original Post: For many years every banknote in Pakistan reminded its owners that to make an honest living was a form of piety in itself.
No one really paid heed. And those who did probably laughed it away as a joke. The State Bank of Pakistan has therefore decided to stop that nonsense once and for all. If you don’t believe what I am saying then believe your own eyes here:
The old currency notes at the back were all inscribed in Urdu:
husool-e-rizq-e-halal ibaadat hai
making an honest income is prayer
Here is the face and back images of the old currency note of Rupee 10 denomination, prominently displaying that powerful statement:
And abracadabra: That wording has vanished from the all of the new currency denominations issued in 2006 onwards.
Witness for yourself this image of the new currency notes of Rupee 10 denomination below. Same is true for all other denominations too.
This could not have been decided by some graphic designer. No could it be attributed to some artist playing a practical joke on the Government, the State Bank or the Nation itself. It must be a conscious decision.
Has the government accepted its defeat in fighting corruption and removed whatever little symbolic semblance of ‘conscience-pricking’ these words might have generated? The guilt-trip imbeded into this little statement on the banknotes never did really work. Now we can accept something less that “rizq-e-halal” without even that reminder of guilt!
“Zinda Baad Rishwatâ€
Reference: World Paper Money Image Gallery.
See ATP Post on Coins of Pakistan.
Whether it is written or not, How many of us really practicing it in our daily life?
Good spirit by Owais Mughal – wish all media people can display such grace.
For the new discussion topic “whether printing of such line on a currency note matters in first place or not”. it wil be worthwhile looking at currency notes from other countries – I am sure there are aficionados of currency notes (besides corrupt ) who will be delighted to share their thoughts here and maybe someone from State Bank can share few pearls of wisdom with us with reference to AXIOMS, LOGOS etc on currency notes.
Cheers
I share the blame for not double checking our facts and I apologize. May be the discussion can now lead into direction whether printing of such line on a currency note matters in first place or not.
O well, just shows how non issues become issues and eventually make it to NEWS.
Perhaps the journalists, writers, columnists need to do better research and thoroughly check the facts before rushing to meet the deadlines.
Thanks God, though it is only a currency note we are talking of here BUT knowing the nature of our society it is small things that trigger our emotions and snowball into major disasters.
I am so glad that a discerning reader got it.
Hurray for the reader
Hey the words are still there enclosed in a circle on back side of note.
As many have already said here :)