Martyrdom Frenzy

The Muslim world is going through a martyrdom frenzy and confusion.

Two groups of Muslims are at each other’s throat, and the deaths at both ends claim martyrdom. We have leaders with charges of corruption and they are continuously dodging the law. However, if they are assassinated, they also become martyrs. Also, the national forces who have been deviated from their oath of defending the land and its people, begin to kill its own people upon the orchestra of foreign governments. Even when they die, while serving the non-Muslims and the non-Muslim cause, rather the anti-Islamic cause, they also become martyrs, while the freedom fighters of the Islamic cause are the ones killed, not martyred, mind you.

The concept and word ‘Shaheed’ stems from religion. A title coined by religion has to have a religious criterion behind it. I thought that martyrdom was of the one who was working or fighting for an Islamic cause by the Islamic code of conduct.

The Nobel prize is given out by the Nobel prize awarding body only. The title of a Dr. is given out by a Ph.D. awarding educational board only. However, in the Muslim world today, any layman has the authority to call his family member, friend, group member, party member, leader, any other person he fancies Shaheed ad hoc.

I address the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Pakistan to formulate a board who document the criterion of Shaheed from the Quran and Sunnah. Further, they should make it a law that the title of Shaheed will only be awarded by the board itself either proactively or upon a case file.

Muslims and Newton's Law

‘We know that a military operation is not going to benefit anybody but one is forced to consider this option when circumstances reach the current situation’ – Statement by Parnab Mukharjee, Foreign Minister of India in his address to All Foreign Ministers of India Conference, Reported in Daily Awaz Lahore, December 23, 2008

What was this unbearable situation?

Mumbai, the capital of India, had been attacked by guerilla fighters on November 26, 2008. India blamed Pakistan based Muslim militant groups for these attacks. Pakistan immediately banned the named group, even before evidence was provided. However, Pakistan refused to handover anybody to India, saying that anyone found guilty would be tried in the Pakistani courts.

All this has happened in a count of twenty-seven days.

Yet, the situation remains unbearable for India, and they are forced to consider war, which would be a possibly nuclear war, as an option.

Consider the following,

Palestine.
Muslim men are tortured. Muslim women are raped. Muslim children are slaughtered.
Kashmir.
Muslim men are tortured. Muslim women are raped. Muslim children are slaughtered.
Bosnia.
Muslim men are tortured. Muslim women are raped. Muslim children are slaughtered.
Afghanistan.
Muslim men are tortured. Muslim women are raped. Muslim children are slaughtered.
Iraq.
Muslim men are tortured. Muslim women are raped. Muslim children are slaughtered.

While the Muslim governments are sleeping on upon their personal interests, what do you think the aggrieved individuals and communities would resort to in about seventy-five years?

Makes No Difference, Bangladesh

How many Muslim countries were there at the time of Prophet Muhammed SAW?
One.

How many Muslim countries were there at the time of Khalifah Abu Bakr RA?
One.

How many Muslim countries were there at the time of Khalifah Umar RA?
One.

How many Muslim countries were there at the time of Khalifah Usman RA?
One.

How many Muslim countries were there at the time of Khalifah Ali RA?
One.

How many Muslim countries were there as late as 1924?
One.

How is this possible whence the Muslim rule expanded out of Madinah to spread as far as China in the East through Africa till Spain in the West?

Answer: There are no boundaries in Islam. All areas under Muslim rule formulate one country, or state, or empire, whatever name you want to give it. Islam calls it the Muslim Khilafah. Only, each area is assigned an individual governor for administrative purposes, similar to the idea of provincial autonomy.

Hence, it does not matter at all that East Pakistan was renamed to Bangladesh in 1971. It still remains only a state within the Muslim Khilafah. And so does Pakistan.

It would be nice if we let go of our foreign induced ideas and instead recognize Khilafah as the reality of national existence and choose a unanimous leader as the Khalifah of the Muslim Ummah. Else, we would be in a very sorry mood when Imam Mehdi appears amongst us, which the Ulema expect to be soon now, and we present to him an Ummah strategically divided by foreign ideology and agenda into pitiful third world countries.

Allah's Plan

They plan. And Allah SWT plans too. Indeed, Allah SWT is the best of planners.

We, the Pakistani Muslims, turned around treacherous upon our Muslim brethren, namely the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, about seven years ago. These are the very people with whom we fought the Afghan Jihad in alliance with America. We turned treacherous because we became cowards in the face of foreign threats.

We stepped back from our coalition with them, turning a blind eye to the fact that they were our breed to begin with and were backed by the USA itself to fight Russia in Afghanistan which was the American interest at that time.

Next, we began to call them foreigners while there is no such concept in Islam. The basis of nationality in Islam is religion, not a mere piece of land. All Muslims, wherever in the world, are one nation and have equal right to be given protection by the local Muslim government.

Then, we started hitting them and killing them under the ‘Do More Formula’ pushed by foreign powers.

In the face of all this, I salute the Taliban for their spirit of forgiveness and understanding towards miserable Muslims like us, for they have issued the following official statement at a time when Pakistan is in danger of war with India and being weighed down by international pressure,

‘We, the Taliban, will fight side by side with the Pakistani army and Pakistani people against any attack on Pakistan’ – Daily Express

It is not too late. Let us say sorry to our Muslim brethren, Taliban, and join hands once again with our real and dear friends.

We were not distinguishing friends from foes otherwise. We were not rolling up our sleeves against foreign invasion in the north-west otherwise. Perhaps this unexpected turn of events was Allah SWT’s plan of uniting and preparing us Muslims for upcoming times.

National Cowardice

We are stumbling over our words in our hurry to say ‘Yes, yes, I guess you must be right that Jamat’u Dawa is responsible for Mumbai attacks and ought to be banned and sealed and cracked down…’

Will the international community stop at having Jamat’u Dawa banned? No.

“The Jews and the Christians will never be pleased with you, until you follow their faith. O Muhammad, tell them: "Allah's guidance is the only guidance;" and if after all the knowledge you have received, you yield to their desires, there shall be none to protect you or help you from the wrath of Allah. Those to whom We have given the book and who read it as it ought to be read, they are the ones who believe in it; as for those who reject it, they are for sure the losers.” [The Holy Qur~an, Surah Al’Baqarah, Verse 120-121]

Jamat’u Dawa has only just been suspected of being responsible for the Mumbai attacks and Pakistan has already banned it, sealed its offices and is cracking down its members. Our north-western lands and people are openly and constantly being attacked and bombarded since many months. Why is not Pakistan sealing the embassy and related offices of the responsible state and cracking down its officials within Pakistan?

Secondly, it is appreciable that Pakistan has shown some bravery in many months and said ‘No’ to India upon the issue of handing over the accused but trying them in our own courts. However, does our bravery go shopping when we hand over and sell our Muslim brethren to countries other than India? People like Aafia Siddiqui?

Next they would like to have Jamat’e Islami banned. Then they would like to have Imran Khan shut out. Perhaps Nawaz Sharif could be done away with too. But their favorite solution would be to have Pakistan packed up. Truly. Have they not maps ready already?

What would you like to do now? If you think you are going to remain safe by staying quiet and sitting home no matter happens around you, you are wrong. Just remember Fatima each day; she was an ordinary girl of Iraq who wrote out a letter with her blood from Jail Abu Gharaib, Iraq, after its invasion in 2003. She reported having being kept naked, being tortured to bones, raped more than nine times a day and not allowed to pray. Do you know what she wanted from us? To save her? No. To help her? No. She wanted us to kill her so that her misery ends.

As I write this piece, I hear the zoom of cars out there on the highroad. And I think, the leader of Jamat’u Dawah must be listening to similar sounds of the outside world while being in house arrest. He must be thinking, ‘I have helped this nation so much in times of tribulation (e.g. 8th October Earthquake) through my organization. Today, will no car, no people turn towards my troubled home to show solidarity with me? Where is the brave nation of ’65 who used to fear not to fight the enemy with sticks and slippers?

Eid-ul-Azha, Moral of the Story

"‘O Rabb! Grant me a righteous son’.
So We gave him the good news of a gentle son.
When he reached the age to work with him, Ibrahim said to him:
"O my son! I have seen a vision that I should offer you as a sacrifice, now tell me what is your view."
He replied: "O my father! Do as you are commanded: you will find me, if Allah so wills, of the patient."
And when they both submitted to Allah and Ibrahim laid down his son prostrate upon his forehead for sacrifice;
We called out to him: "O Ibrahim stop!
You have fulfilled your vision." Thus do We reward the righteous.
That was indeed a manifest test.
We ransomed his son for a great sacrifice and We left his good name among the later generations.
Salutation to Ibrahim.
Thus We reward the righteous.
Surely he was one of Our believing devotees.”

[The Holy Quran, Surah As’Saffat, Verses 100-111]

Prophet Ibrahim AS was very special to Allah SWT. He became so special to Allah SWT because he proved himself every time Allah SWT tested him for faith, loyalty and commitment to Allah SWT. So much so, that Allah SWT titled him Khalil’ullah, meaning Friend of Allah.

The greatest test he stood through was when Allah SWT inspired him to sacrifice his son for the sake of Allah SWT. It was truly the biggest test of the beginning and end of times. Prophet Ibrahim AS sought to do it, for the trust he had in Allah SWT.

Prophet Ibrahim AS has been childless till the age of eighty-five. Allah SWT heard the distress of his wife and inspired her, “Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ismael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.” Prophet Ibrahim AS thus named his son, Ismael, meaning ‘God shall hear’, for indeed God did hear. [1]

Prophet Ibrahim AS was tested yet again, when he was inspired by Allah SWT to place his beloved wife and son in the barren valley of Becca, now called Makkah. Hajrah AS asked Prophet Ibrahim AS in torn emotions, ‘Who are you entrusting us to in this barren valley?’ Prophet Ibrahim AS said nothing except pointing towards the Heavens.

It were the thirsty cries of this great baby, Prophet Ismael AS, that welled up the Holy Water, Zam Zam, in this barren valley. And the wallowing of a great mother, Hajrah AS, that set in practice a ritual amongst the rituals of Hajj, in remembrance of her great patience and struggle for the Pleasure of Allah SWT.

This great family was tested a third time, the test we Muslims conceptualize every year upon Eid-ul-Azha. It is the concept of sacrificing your beloved for the sake of Allah SWT when called for, whence Allah SWT never actually harms you, only fortifies you and whatever happens is for the best.

Prophet Ismael AS had reached the loveable age of running around and speaking when Prophet Ibrahim AS was inspired to sacrifice him. Prophet Ibrahim AS conferred with his son as to what he thought of the idea. Prophet Ibrahim AS found his great son steadfast and encouraging upon Allah SWT’s Will.

Only, having sympathy for his father’s fatherly feelings, he suggested him to tie a blindfold upon his eyes so that he may not waver while sacrificing him. Thus Prophet Ismael AS was laid, the blindfold tied and the knife brandished. The Earth awaited and the Skies looked on and the knife was slaked. And behold! Prophet Ismael AS stood there all and well and in his place a sheep had been slaughtered from the Heavens.

Moral of the Story,
We should seek newer recipes each year to cook the meat that comes from the ‘sacrifice’ we make for the pleasure of Allah SWT upon Eid-ul-Azha.

Is that a correct conclusion?

Is this not what we exhibit each year of our understanding of Eid-ul-Azha?

Point to Ponder…
Have I recently been tested with something I love and the Will of Allah SWT? Did I make the right choice between the two? Did I follow the Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim AS and thus truly celebrate Eid-ul-Azha this year?

[1] Muhammad, by Martin Lings, Published by Suhail Academy

Crossed Borders

It was the year 1965 when the Prime Minister of Pakistan addressed the nation over the radio, “We are at war with India…”. It was because India had crossed over the Pakistani border.

Have we come up with a new definition of ‘crossing borders’ today that we have received no such address yet? Is not our north-western border continuously being crossed today? So why are we not on the war defence yet?

A few years ago, a religious figure of Okara had a Kashf (intuition revealing a happening). He had a vision that there have risen in the city of Islamabad, a group of people bearing black flags, demanding the establishment of Shariah. They are crushed, but only temporarily.

Could this group be Lal Masjid and Jamiya Hafsians? The ones who stood up for the establishment of Shariah, holding up black flags and donning black gowns only a year ago in 2007?

The second part of the Kashf was that a war will start soon after, which would divide the country in two parts. One part, that of the weaker Muslims will choose to retreat back with India, while the other part, that of stronger Muslims will choose to join the brave Afghanistan.

Let it be noted here that a Kashf is something that the hearer may choose to believe in or not. It is okay both ways by religion. Basically, a Kashf is a bearer of good news or a warning against some calamity so that one may prepare for it. So, it is for one’s own good whether one chooses to take it seriously or not.

Current affairs suggest that a demolishment of Pakistan is in fact among the agenda of one lobby. Further, Pakistanis themselves are getting severely polarized. One group is still drunk to the tune of dancing with hip-hop songs, partying around and merry-go-lucky lifestyle. While the other group’s eyes are getting bloodshot upon witnessing the atrocities upon Muslims world-wide and within its borders. So, the first group shows the tendency that they may choose to go back to India, while the other group may choose Afghanistan. It is the presumption of some that Punjab and Sindh may become the first block, while N.W.F.P. and Balochistan may become the second block. It should not be of any surprise to us, for many of our areas still exhibit enslavement to India in lifestyles instead of enslavement to Allah Subhaan’o wa Ta’ala even after sixty years of Independence. However, the same some hope that they are proven wrong, and the in fact the entire Pakistan stands up like an honorable nation and defends its identity, however much broken, but nevertheless defends it honorably.

As I said in the beginning, a Kashf is only a warning, not the final word. It is for each one of us to think where we stand in strength of character and who would we side with when tested for character? Are going to chicken out and choose to go back to slavery or are we going to stand up and take a stand honorably?

Secondly, it is for us to choose if we are going to wait till the foreign invaders are standing at our doors and then we are also sending out letters like the Fatima of Iraq or are we going to send out letters to responsible authorities today?

It takes a few people ages to crack down a bolster, but it might take only a very short while if the entire population is at work. Like Vietnam, whence no man, no woman, neither old nor children, left it to others to defend the nation and the borders.

“Do not grieve and get disheartened: for you will have the upper hand if you are true believers.”

[The Holy Quran, Surah Al-Imran, Verse. 139]

Khalid bin Walid RA, the greatest soldier of Prophet Muhammed SAW’s time, having fought the greatest number of battles, after all died at an age and peacefully in his bed. And when he was dying, he said, “Inform the cowards (who fought not for fear of death) that Khalid bin Walid RA is dying in his bed (despite being on the battlefield so many times)”.

Rashid Minhas

Rashid Minhas Is a suicide attack halal or haram? We have been having this confused debate for the last many months. The more the attacks, the more we are pressing the Ulema to declare them haram pronto. We are not actually interested for the Ulema to do a serious Ijtehad upon it and really find out whether it is haram or not, but we want them to declare it so, period, to serve as a deterrent to its growing practice. 

How can we really be interested to know whether it is haram or halal? When the same Ulema declare alcohol to be harm, we look the other way. When they declare interest to be haram, half of us shake our heads in bafflement. When they declare music and dancing as haram we run around and bring out incomplete scriptures titled “Khuda ke liye” to prove that the Ulemas saying so are half-learned dim-wits (Sorry respectable Ulemas, but I had to be a little direct). But now, when we want suicide attacks to be declared haram, we sit all respectful, wide-eyed and hands demurely folded in laps, audience to the same Ulema. As if, when the declaration comes, the suicide attacker will say ‘Oh, really? I am sorry…’ and take off his suicide jacket and go home, just like we dropped our bottle of alcohol, or called off our banker from interest schemes, or replaced our music collections with nasheeds. That is what we did, right? And that is what we expect the potential suicide bombers to do, right?

Coming back to whether suicide attacks are halal or haram. I pose you a similar question. Was the invention of a bullet right or wrong? You would say, or most of you would say, it depends who is being incapacitated with it. Then why is it that when the topic of discussion is suicide attack the first reason given for its ineligibility is that it kills innocents. That is not the issue under debate. The question is, is a suicide attack, by the nature of its technique, halal or haram? For example, if the affected of 9/11 were offered a suicide attack on Osama, they would be happy to allow it. But my question is yet different. I am not asking about its legality or illegality based by virtue of its target. I am asking about it as a technique in itself. The way we have international laws of war which declare bullets and similar to be lawful and chemical and biological warfare to be illegal. Similarly, by the Book of Allah SWT, is suicide attack allowed as a war technique?

Another reason given for the illegibility of suicide attacks is that they are wrong within Pakistan but allowed in Iraq and Palestine and such. For within Pakistan you would be killing your Muslim brethren but in those other places is the non-Muslim enemy. Duh! I know it is not allowed for a Muslim to kill another Muslim. I knew it even when the Lal Masjid was attacked and Muslim soldiers killed Muslim students. I wondered then why there came forth no Fatwa that this attack is haram. Contrarily, Muslim policemen kill Muslim murderers. Of course! Here the sanctity of the Muslim life will not be honored because he violated it in the first place and deserves to be punished.

To sum up, yes innocents should not be killed, neither in a suicidal attack nor in a non-suicidal attack. Sadly, the tragic reality is that however much targeted a war attempt is, some number of innocents do get in the way. Such happened in all the wars ever happened in history and is happening in current guerilla wars. I guess then all wars of the past should be renamed to Terrorist World War I, Terrorist World War II, and so on.

Second sum, yes a Muslim should not kill another Muslim (non-Muslim neither). But what if the Muslim has become a criminal? What if the Muslim has become anti-Islam? What if the Muslim has become an ally to the enemy?

So, coming back to my question a third time, minus all the diversions. Is a suicide attack, as war technique within itself, halal or haram?

I remember a national hero from my childhood textbooks, Rashid Minhas. He was a jet-fighter officer. He was practicing one day with his coach, Mati-ur Rehman, a Muslim. The coach suddenly hit him with an iron rod, knocking him unconscious. When he gained consciousness, he saw the coach steering the airplane towards the enemies’ borders. The coach held Pakistan’s important defence information with him. Rashid Minhas understood that the coach had become a turncoat. It was now up to him to save the information from getting across the borders. He tried to contact the control tower for help, but meanwhile the plane was about to cross the borders. Left with no choice, Rashid Minhas chose to give up his life in the cause of the nation’s defence. He took hold of the airplane gear and turned it full force toward the ground below, crashing the plane, Mati-ur-Rehman and himself to death and burying the sensitive information to safety with it. He was awarded Tamgha’e Jurrat, the highest military award of Pakistan for bravery.

I also remember three other soldiers of the Pakistani army. The Indian tanks were approaching. The soldiers tied bombs with themselves and lay in the mud pretending to be dead. The Indian soldiers saw three bodies lying lifelessly in the mud and maliciously drove over them. They got blasted away but so did the Pakistani soldiers. Was it suicide? I have forgotten the names and place of this episode but I am sure many of you readers have read this episode in history. Them soldiers were much applauded for their bravery and sacrifice.

Why was a Fatwa not passed then? Or is a Fatwa being dodged now?