Daily Times

Ideology on which an Islamic state is desired to be founded in Pakistan must have certain consequences for the Muslims who are living in countries under non Muslim sovereigns. This reminds one of a rare look into the orthodox mentality through famous Justice Munir Report. His report is an eye opener. It shows that our ulama are not even able to agree on a definition who a Muslim is. No two ulama agreed. It also exposes the pussillanimity of our so called scholars of Islam and their near total disregard of the beauty and generosity of Islam.

When Amir-i-Shari’at Sayyad Abdullah Shah Bukhari was asked,

“In your opinion, is a Musalman bound to obey orders of a kafir (non Muslim) Government?” He replied, “It is not possible that a Musalman should be faithful citizen of a non Muslim Government.”—-When he was asked, “Will it possible for the Indian Muslims to be faithful citizens of India ?” He said, “No.”

Maulana Abul Hasnat Sayyad Qadri, President Jamiat-ul-Ullama-t-Pakistan was asked, “You will admit for the Hindus ,who are in majority in India, the right to have a Hindu religious state ?” “Yes.” he replied. “Will you have any objection if the Muslims are treated under that form of Government as malishes or shudras under the law of Manu?” He replied, “No.”

Maulana Abul ala Maududee was asked, “If we have this kind of government, will you permit Hindus base their constitution on the basis of there religion ?” His reply was, “Certainly.I should have no objection even if the Muslims of India are treated in that form of Government as malishes and Manu’s laws are applied to them, depriving them of all share in the Government and the rights of citizenship. In fact such a state already exists in India.”

Before it, in 1949, an attempt was made to declare non-Muslims, second-class citizens. In 1956, the Government of Pakistan declared 32 castes and tribes, the majority of them Hindus, to be scheduled castes, including Kohlis, Meghawars and Bheels. Talking to these members of scheduled castes means talking the utterly wretched of earth.

The new citizenship law ,which was an amendment to a 1955 legislature, allows Indian citizenship to “persecuted” minorities —Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians — from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan, but makes no reference to Muslims in an officially secular nation of 1.3 billion people

The Second Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 and Ordinance XX declared Ahmadis to be non Muslims and further deprived them of religious rights. Hundreds of Ahmadis were killed in 1953 Lahore riots and 1974 Anti-Ahmdiyya riots. Then came Zia Ul Haq who reversed the universal voting rights and introduced a system of seperate electrorates that required non Muslims to register as a seperate category and vote for non Muslim candidates. This act by the dictator affected all the minorities adversely.

Indian Government has recently passed a law that grants citizenship to religious minorities –except Muslims — from neighbouring countries ,with legal experts saying it violates the country’s secular constitution. The new citizenship law ,which was an amendment to a 1955 legislature, allows Indian citizenship to “persecuted” minorities –Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians — from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan, but makes no reference to Muslims in an officially secular nation of 1.3 billion people. Muslims form nearly 15 per cent of the population.Critics oint out this move is part of a Hindu supremacist agenda pushed by the government of Prime minister Narindra Modi since it came to power nearly six years ago.

In this jaundiced and prejudiced political and historical background , people of both the countries are more than ever are remembering leaders like Jinnah, Gandhi, Nehru, Azad and all who were for a sane world. Had they been present today, the political scenario is most likely to be different. There is an aroma of love and romance for all the leaders for peace and tolerance and all the writers that were more like Faiz Ahmad Faiz…as the great poet is once more being sung and celebrated throughout this land.

Hai dasht ab bhi dasht,magar khoon e pa se Faiz

Sairaab chand khaar-e.mugheelaan hue to hain-

(The desolate desert we walked through, still remains desolate Faiz

But at least the thirst of some of its thorns has been quenched by the blood of our feet)

The writer is a freelancer