If the foundations of a Muslim state are not based on Quran and Sunnah, the
social injustices and economic exploitation would remain order of the day. But
the West has always manipulated the situation in the Islamic world to treat
the religion as a non-entity to create spiritual vacuum. Our successive
governments have tried to screen a religious cover that could simply be termed
as hypocrisy. Today, all the available tools are being employed to divide and
mislead the Ummah. Along with this, the everyday life has been made so
unbearable, expensive and difficult that the people are totally lost in the
dark. This gulf has given a strong excuse to the ruling classes of all most
all the Muslim countries including Pakistan to pursue their secular goals and
please their God Fathers in the West only to maintain their grip over the
state power. Whether they succeed in doing so or not is a matter of judgement
but certainly it is creating much frustration and fragmentation in the
society.
Today, the cultural invasion through the electronic
media, has assumed a much greater intensity and effectiveness. The techniques
employed are so very sophisticated that it simply gets under the skin without
being noticed. Along with this, the West is fully exploiting the religious
sentiments and emotions of the Muslims that have been made very fragile by the
myopic theocrats. With the Muslims, Allah should have been the top priority
but instead they have been misguided and charged to give greater importance to
sectarian issues and other doctrines and philosophies. Many Islamic states,
including Pakistan are being manipulated by the hidden hands to create a wedge
amongst the Muslims. It is unfortunate that the Ummah have fallen prey to this
trap and are wasting their precious resources and blood. The affluent class
has taken to the lucifarian culture of the West while the middle and the lower
class have been gripped by sectarian and ethnic forces. The lower class
particularly in Pakistan is either resorting to suicides or immoral and
corrupt practices for their survival that no civilised society can support.
The key point remains that the masses have been distanced from following the
‘Deen’ as enunciated in the Quran and Sunnah.
Presently, the Pakistani society is under tremendous
pressure. People are increasingly going through a period of despondency,
oppression and depression. They have a feeling of being exploited and
victimised in every conceivable manner. Murder, rape and arson have become
order of the day where woman and child abuse are assuming unprecedented
proportions. As Muslims, we are under obligation to react to the call of such
people and if we do not than, we shall be awnserable to Allah. “And why should
you not for the cause of Allah, and for the helpless old men, women and
children who say: ‘Deliver us, Lord, from this city of wrong doers; send forth
to us a guardian from Your presence; send to us one that will help us?” Al-Nisa.
This verse is very clear without any ambiguity; therefore can we as Muslims
flout the instructions of Allah? As believers certainly not. In fact it is
obligatory on every Muslim to respond to such a call. There is no relief in
sight to the mounting problems that are mostly socio-economic in nature. The
Military take-over in October 1999 was received with jubilation, hoping that
the common person would find relief but on the contrary, the problems are
mounting. People have a strong feeling that the military rulers are also
executing their policies preferentially and selectively by ignoring the
Islamic principles of justice and fair play. Although, the people desire and
wish that the present government should come up to its promises but that
jubilation has fast turned into grief and despondency.
The educated youth of today is visibly the most
disturbed segment of the society. Although they have a very clear thinking but
present politico-religious culture is a great obstacle in their way; their
frustration is mounting by the day. They do not understand how to steer clear
off the strife stricken society. They aspire to follow the teachings of the
Quran and Sunnah but the sectarian and ethnic forces pull them into different
directions thus distancing them from Islam. This youth is yearning for proper
guidance and congenial atmosphere so that they develop into good Muslims thus
improve the society accordingly. In the present scenario, it is the
responsibility of every learned Muslim man and woman whose mind is not
polluted by the sectarian culture to come forward and discharge their
responsibilities to the Ummah.
Speaking historically, poverty has always been a curse,
exploited by the opportunists. It was only in the early days of the Islam
where the honour and dignity of the poor, labour and the peasants were
protected on equal footing. That respect, dignity and security of the poor
have to be restored in the society but it is not possible without adopting the
Islamic code of conduct. Wealth and power are just but the tools of Allah by
which he tests his people, the ignorant assume these as their right to
subjugate and exploit their fellow brethren and sisters. Under the prevailing
conditions, the poor can neither get justice nor earn their living in a
respectable manner. In most cases, the tables are turned against them by
implicating them in the same case of which they have been a victim. In a
country like ours, justice is seldom dispensed but it is the judgement that
seals the fate of the innocent poor people. It has become exceedingly
difficult for the poor to raise sufficient money to go through the rigours of
the law to redress their grievances. If for some reason, the funds are
managed, then the affluent oppressors and tyrants prevail upon the system to
get their desired results. This helplessness is becoming far more visible
where the poor are forced to commit suicides. Where do they turn to for help?
Again the onus lies on the believers (Momineen) to come forward and extend to
them all possible help.
The present political and socio-economic culture has to
be replaced by a more meaningful one based on the teachings of Quran. The
present economic system that is based on usury (Riba) is not only exploitive
and inhuman but also a flagrant disobedience of Allah. To add to the fire, the
system has been further complicated by bringing in numerous taxes that are not
supported by the Quran. This economic order of the West that is being forced
through the IMF and the World Bank is designed to accumulate wealth in fewer
hands and strengthening the ruling class at the cost of the rest. For this
reason, Allah (SWT) who loves His creation has declared war against the
exploiters and has said in the Quran, “O believers, have fear of Allah and
waive what is still due to you from usury, if your faith be true; or war shall
be declared against you by Allah and His Apostle,” Al-Baqar. Going by this
verse, if we have to end the miseries of the poor, then we will have to stand
up to the IMF and the World Bank and not accept their dictation; any failure
on this account would prove disastrous and unforgivable. To defy the IMF,
World Bank and the West, would not be possible without persons of strong faith
and selfless devotion.
Given the proper management, we have enough resources to stand on own two feet
but in all earnest, the sacrifice has to start from the top. Should the
Islamic economic system be adopted, the prices could be brought down by about
sixty percent. Likewise, justice could also be dispensed almost free and
instantly; what a relief to the poor. To do so, some dedicated effort has to
be put in but mere lip service will not suffice. Allah (SWT) has said, “If
they observe Torah and the Gospel and what is revealed to them from Allah,
they shall be eating abundance from above and from beneath their feet,” Al-Maidah.
Allah (SWT) is providing the guarantees to His creatures, a guarantee that
supersedes all the worldly guarantees. Here Allah (SWT) has left nothing to
doubt or in ambiguity but it is we the humanity, who have to follow His word
in true spirit and with complete sincerity else it would be we the people who
would be the losers and none else. To do so, though it sounds very simple and
easy but it is an up hill task that can only be surmounted with unflinching
faith (taqwah). What it needs is to create a general awareness in the masses
and educate them properly about Quran and Sunnah and how its fruits can be
reaped.
The fragmentation, frustration and despondency in the
rank and file are causing strong ripples (in otherwise quite waters) that can
destabilise and destroy the society through bloodshed and other means.
Ultimately it is the state that suffers either by external or internal forces.
There is no better binding force available to the Muslims than their strong
and relentless faith in Allah (SWT). This is the only rallying point where the
Ummah can be united but to do so, we have to rise above all sectarian issues
and steadfastly hold on to the rope of Allah (SWT), Who has repeatedly said,
“Cling one and all to the faith of Allah and let nothing divide you,” Ale
Imran. The only remedy to such a disastrous situation is the application of
the Quran and Sunnah in its proper perspective and context. An objective study
of the Quran, would create awareness in the people and negate all such forces
that rise to exploit, subjugate and divide the humanity. The following verse
of the Holly Quran spells it very clearly. “Do not follow the example of those
who became divided and opposed to one another after clear proofs had been
given them” Ale Imran. To follow the Quran, it is essential to emulate the
Sunnah of the Holly Prophet (SAW) for he was the perfect living example that
the mankind has ever had. His teachings, especially the last sermon is of
great importance and relevance for all times to come.
Islam is a progressive religion that moves with the time
without compromising on its principles. It teaches tolerance and patience, the
basic ingredients to promote peace, tranquillity, brotherhood and equality. It
does not believe in aimless and merciless killing nor does it stand for
discrimination of any sort. Allah (SWT) provides the opportunity of pardon and
forgiveness and so are His faithful expected to practice. Those who project
Islam as a rigid ‘Deen’ and want to reverse the wheel, are doing a disservice
to it.
In view of the above, there has to be a team to provide
the guidance and lead with selfless devotion and zeal with a singular aim to
seek the favours and the blessings of Allah (SWT). On this also, Allah (SWT)
has said in the Quran, “Let there become of you a nation that shall call for
righteousness, enjoin justice and forbid evil. Such men shall surely triumph,”
Ale Imran. It is under these divine instructions, that a group must come
forward and face the challenges to recover the society from despondency,
slumber and hopelessness. It has to be Jihad all along, not to cause bloodshed
but to protect it. “He that flees his homeland for the cause of Allah shall
find numerous places of refuge in the land and great abundance. He that leaves
his dwelling to fight for Allah and His Apostle and is then overtaken by
death, shall be rewarded by Allah. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful” Al-Nisa. This
is the divine call to the believers (momineen and mominat), that should not go
unnoticed. We all have to step out in the cause of Allah and give a call to
others to come onto ‘sirat-e-mustaqeem.’ May Allah (SWT) bless us all in this
noble cause, ameen.
