Daily Times

The seventh century Medina was fair and compassionate. It was a perfect example of what any society should aspire to be Prime Minister Imran Khan has mentioned multiple times that his ultimate vision for Pakistan is a society that emulates Prophet Mohammad’s (pbuh) Medina. Every management textbook teaches that one’s goals should always be realistic and achievable. A ‘Riasat-e-Medina’ in Pakistan is a noble dream, but it is neither realistic nor achievable. The following are three reasons why that is the case.

One, Riasat-e-Medina does not exist even in modern day Medina. Earlier this year in Medina, a taxi driver beheaded a six-year old boy named Zakaria with a piece of broken glass. This happened in front of the boy’s screaming mother. It happened because the taxi driver noticed that his passengers were Shia. They were on their way to Masjid-e-Nabvi. This barbarity is in stark contrast with the famous communal harmony between the residents of the seventh century Medina. It is just one example to show the sectarian hate spewing from Riyadh, which perpetuated such an act.

Sadly, there is no comparing the virtues, justness, righteous governance, and equality of the early Islamic society to that of the current Saudi kingdom.

Two, the prophet had supreme control and authority on all affairs. He regularly consulted his followers on many matters, and mostly ruled by example rather than decree. But he was the chief justice, chief of army staff, president, prime minister, and parliament all rolled into one. It was with that consolidated power that he was able to mould and maintain his state accordingly. He did not have constitutional limitations or other vested interests to compete with. Khan, on the other hand, has fragile numbers in the assemblies, a rowdy opposition, international overlords like the IMF, and a deeply entrenched establishment to consider before undertaking any task.

Three, the prophet was surrounded by the most pious, loyal and ideologically committed people of the time. The current cabinet is essentially a group of born-again politicians with less than exemplary pasts. Though the prime minister personally enjoys a stellar reputation, which may inspire his team to put their best foot forward, it is nonetheless a liability. There is only so much one man can do.

The prophet (PBUH) was surrounded by the most pious, loyal and ideologically committed people of the time. The current cabinet is essentially a group of born-again politicians

The seventh century Medina was a safe haven for the persecuted. It was a multi-cultural city where all residents, old and new, rich and poor, lived in harmony. The laws were fair, the judgments were made on merit, and equality was prioritised. To imitate such a utopian society, Khan would need a radically committed team devoted to that same vision. So far, turning Pakistan into Medina seems to be a personal pet project of the PM rather than a national movement.

Improving Pakistan is a gallant goal, and the ancient Medina is as great a source of inspiration as one can get. But unfortunately, it simply does not apply to Pakistan. In fact, any movement with religious undertones should be avoided altogether. Pakistan is currently bursting with a population that can best be summarised as quantity over quality. The majority are uneducated, unskilled, and young. More than anything they require jobs and an economy that can accommodate them. Rather than concentrating on merits of ancient Medina, the PM should focus on manufacturing. He should look towards more contemporary and relevant examples of developed nations such as Singapore, Malaysia, and China. If he does, he will notice that religion and economic revival do not mix. Of all the modern examples of nations that rapidly industrialised, none did so with the help of religious institutions.

After years of manipulations, artificial propagations, and schisms, Pakistani religious institutions have tapered. If one needs a drama before Eid or numbers to fill a protest, they are still the experts. However, when it comes to the industrial and economic revival of a nation, they are not. For example, a major perquisite for any kind of prosperity is modern education. How that will mix with the current religious institutions requires no further comments.

The seventh century Medina was fair and compassionate. It was a perfect example of what any society should aspire to be. In the twenty-first century, however, the situation is different. Pakistan needs to generate dollars to pay back its debts, reinvigorate its ailing economy so it can absorb the workforce, and eradicate systemic corruption. To complicated things further, it is surrounded by Goliath neighbours, each with its own priorities.

These are twenty-first century problems that require twenty-first century solutions. Now is the not the right time to dwell on the past but to work tirelessly on the future.

The writer can be reached at skhanzada@ymail.com