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.
It may be true to say : husool-e-rizq-e-halal ibaadat hai
But when I look around I feel: husool-e-rizq-e-halal jahalat hai
Roshan,
I had a good laugh at your comment. My currency notes may be fake (after all, there is so much fake stuff all around us) but they are definitely halal.
Incidentally, after reading the post this morning (PST) and discovering to my amusement that we had been tricked by Ms. Shamshad Akhtar, when I went out for my daily ibaadat I also visited the bank to cash a check. I jokingly asked the cashier if the
Growing up in Pakistan as a teenager and reading this line and other advise that was available all around; in newspapers, on walls whatever…I used to think; this nation has a lot of advise to offer but not much action.
Please, check the currency note with open eyes. It
Deeda-i-Beena, I agree with Asif here. The statement is still there but the question remains – whats the impact of it on us?? Isnt the thought similar to the warnigng printed on cigarettes “Tambakoonoshi sehat kay liyay muzir hay. Mahkama e sehat.”
Humble Maxims like these are so difficult for the new generation to comprehend anyways.
From this link, I’ve gathered in 1982 these words were added. They are missing from this note.