Daily Times

When I speak to Muslims in Pakistan, they say you cannot discuss the Islamic laws its blasphemous, not agreeing with them is blasphemous, not following the Quran the way they are following is blasphemous, not believing in all of the Ashabs of the Prophet Mohammad is blasphemous, and not praying the way they pray is blasphemous.

Man made laws cannot be discussed or criticised in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, but Quran provides me the space to discuss anything. When I speak to Quran; God says ignore them, it’s my PREROGATIVE not theirs, it’s my Book not theirs, I have sent the Prophet not them, I have sent my Book through Prophet not them, I, the God is the guardian of the Book, not them, to guard even a single dot in Quran is my RESPONSIBILITY.

They can’t guard the sanctity of my Prophet and my Book, Can’t you read?

“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an and indeed, We will be its guardian.”

The Quran, Al-Hijr 15:9

Let’s discuss the background of the law, an international view, some recent incidents, and the replies of the Holy Quran to my questions, about blasphemy, finality of the Prophet Mohammad pbuh, and who is the GUARDIAN of the Holy Book and the Prophet’s honour.

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom: “Pakistan’s frequently invoked blasphemy law carries the death penalty or life in prison. There are no procedural safeguards, making the law ripe for abuse. While the death penalty for blasphemy has never been carried out, individuals accused of blasphemy have been murdered in vigilante violence. Mere allegations often serve as an accelerant in combustible situations, resulting in mob attacks or violence that undermines Pakistan’s stability and empowers EXTREMISTS. Despite the law’s rampant abuse and lack of procedural safeguards, Pakistan’s Federal Sharia Court recently ruled that the death penalty should be the sole penalty for blasphemy.”

The Pakistan Tehreek Insaf government on Tuesday introduced the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2020 in the National Assembly to make intentional ridiculing and defaming the armed forces as a punishable crime. According to an insertion 500A in the Pakistan Penal Code Act 1860, whosoever intentionally ridicules, brings into disrepute or defames the armed forces or member of the armed forces shall be guilty of the offence. It will be punishable with two years’ imprisonment or Rs0.5 million fines or with both.

In June this year the National Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution making it mandatory to write ‘Khatam-un-Nabiyeen’ along with Prophet Muhammad’s name in official documents, books and wherever the holy name is used.

Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from ERROR.

The Quran, Al-Baqarah 2: 256

Pakistan’s anti-blasphemy law enacted by President General Zia-ul-Haq in1986 and later amended by the parliament in 2004. The penalty includes a mandatory death sentence for defaming Prophet Mohammad (pbuh)and life imprisonment for desecrating the Holy Quran. Prior to 1986, only 14 cases pertaining to blasphemy were reported. An estimated number of 1,500 people have been charged under the stringent blasphemy laws of Pakistan between 1986, and 2017.

An estimated number of 1,500 people have been charged under the blasphemy laws of Pakistan between 1986, and 2017

Junaid Hafeez: a university lecturer was arrested in March 2013 and accused of posting derogatory comments about the Prophet Muhammad on social media. He had studied a Master’s degree in the US on a Fulbright Scholarship, specialising in American literature, photography and theatre. After returning to Pakistan he took up a lecturer position at Bahauddin Zakariya University in Multan, where he worked until his arrest.34 year-old has been imprisoned without trial for six years, with much of that time spent in solitary confinement. He was sentenced to death in December 2019.

Mashal Khan: In April, 2017, a large group of students formed into a mob, accusing these students of running a Facebook page where Mashal was allegedly publishing blasphemous material. Mashal was killed inside the premises of the Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan. He was in the hostel of the university when he was stripped naked and severely beaten by a group of students and then shot. He succumbed to his injuries. Graphic video footage of the lynching showed Khan was lying on the floor; his body bore marks of severe torture and was not moving. The mob was seen kicking his lifeless body and beating it with wooden planks. He was also thrown from the second floor of the building. At least 25 policemen were present in the university premises when Khan was killed. On the following day, Mashal Khan’s funeral was led by his father. Most neighbours kept away from the funeral, as threats made earlier by a local to anyone attending led them to fear follow-up attacks from religious mobs.

On the topic of blasphemy:

And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together.

The Quran, Al-Nisa 4:140

Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; but turn away from the ignorant.

The Quran, Al A’raf 7:199

And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace.

The Quran, Al-Furqan 25: 63

Those will be given their reward twice for what they patiently endured and [because] they avert evil through good, and from what We have provided them they spend. And when they hear ill speech, they turn away from it and say, “For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. Peace will be upon you; we seek not the ignorant.”

The Quran, Al-Qasas 28: 54, 55

[He is] the Lord of the East and the West; there is no deity except Him, so take Him as Disposer of [your] affairs. And be patient over what they say and avoid them with gracious avoidance. And leave Me with [the matter of] the deniers, those of ease [in life], and allow them respite a little.

The Quran, Muzammil 73: 9, 10, 11

On the Finality of the Prophet:

“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things.”

The Quran, Al-Ahzab 33: 40

About the book itself:He it is Who has revealed the Book to you; some of its verses are decisive, they are the basis of the Book, and others are allegorical; then as for those in whose hearts there is perversity they follow the part of it which is allegorical, seeking to mislead and seeking to give it (their own) interpretation. But none knows its interpretation except Allah, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge say: We believe in it, it is all from our Lord; and none do mind except those having understanding.

The Quran, Al Imran 3: 7

Please read the verses yourself to confirm what I have quoted from the Quran.I will be at peace even if one person will understand what Quran is preaching not a cleric.

Sanity must prevail.

The writer is a traveller and freelance writer based in UK. He has previously written for @the_nation @Dawn_com @DunyaNews @TheAsians He can be contacted on Twitter @SyedIHusain