| In
a previous column, we had stated that Mufti Shafi (rahimahullah)
Quds Allah Sarrahu used to humorously call Maulvis as ‘Malamati
Firqa’ (censured group). The reason behind this was
that some people consider Maulvis, their every move and action
as objectionable and condemnable. They have always been censured
for their wealth, their poverty, their culture, their dressing
and their appearance. If they take a side and cut off relations
with the world, they are criticized. If they take part in
the national politics and stay active in the field of journalism,
they are not spared. There is a spate of criticism for Maulvis
from worldly people, particularly the modern and educated
class. Here we shall analyze only one objection.
Main criticism on Maulvis is that they are the hurdles in
the way of progress and prosperity. It is said: “The
world is progressing fast but the Maulvis are hindering the
developments. The time has changed, there are new opportunities,
new avenues, new demands. Man has stepped on the moon. Computer
and Internet have turned the whole world into a village. But,
Maulvis are repeating the old stories. Prayers, fasting, beard,
turban, mosque, madrasah, recitation of Holy Quran, Halal
and Haram, purity and impurity, loose dressing, Shalwar above
ankle, centuries-old views and practices, opposition to TV,
singing and dancing, making women observe Hijab.”
After these remarks, they say with great regret: “In
such a situation, how can the country progress well?”
It gives an impression that the Maulvis have misguided the
people, rendering the country backward and conservative and
from the hut of a religious man to the luxurious bungalow
of wealthy people, religious codes are being followed; every
rich person is paying Zakat; every man has grown beard, every
head has a turban, every house is purified and there is no
TV in any residence; recitation of Holy Quran can be heard
from each house; every lady is observing Hijab; un-Islamic
gatherings have stopped and every individual has said ‘no’
to the interest-based system of economy; anti-humanity representatives
of World Bank and IMF have been expelled from the country.
Nothing of this sort has happened, absolutely not. As these
people claim that preaching by the Maulvis have been a cry
in the wilderness which can be heard by the animals in the
jungle but not by the people living in cities, then the country
should have made good progress, there should have been zero
unemployment and there should have been rapid industrial development,
no child should have been deprived of easy access to the education,
each and every person should have access to potable water,
no-one should be sleeping hungry, no man should have committed
suicide on seeing his family on starvation, no patient should
have been left unattended, none of the city road should have
looked like a dent-ridden path, we would have defeated India
at least in the field of computer, we should have locally
manufactured vehicles, weapons and medicines.
But this did not happen, absolutely not. Why? … Did
any Maulvi prevent us from making progress? The voice of the
poor Maulvi does not go outside the mosque and madrasah. He
has nobody in his circle except the poor, uneducated and needy
people. Scientists, engineers, judges, lawyers, bureaucrats,
doctors and professors are “immune” from the Maulvis.
Then, why our beloved country could not lead the world in
the fields of science, medicine and engineering? Due to the
misdeeds of the rulers, corruption of bureaucrats, betrayal
of leaders, bribery of administration, partiality of judiciary,
infighting of power-hungry politicians, greed of government
officials and indifference of the public, the country could
not make progress. But the blame of decline was put on the
Maulvis.
Unfortunately, the people consider beard, turban, prayer,
haj, mosque, madrasah and hijab as the causes of non-progress.
Actually it is presumed that the progress and development,
which prevails in Europe and America, is due to freedom from
parental bonds, ignoring the religion, eliminating difference
between right and wrong. This sort of thinking is wrong. The
reason behind west’s so-called progress is different.
They have a system and discipline in their all affairs, while
we are victim of mismanagement in every field from politics
and governance to industry and education. Every project of
ours is erratic and based on ad-hocism. Despite the passage
of 55 years of the establishment of our country we could not
decide whether we should have presidential system or parliament
system; whether we should adopt Marshall Law permanently or
look for a modern form of kingship.
The Europeans are constant-minded and committed people while
we get tired very soon. That is the reason no country has
confidence in us. The world is of the view that the Pakistanis
change their mind very frequently. It is apprehensible that
they are adherents of Islam, but the other side of the picture
is that they do not take time in adopting the non-Islamic
culture. Neither their friendship is stable nor their enmity
is based on any principles. It was in the recent past that
they were settling the Afghans in the country, and the same
day it was seen that they were providing logistic support
bombing the Afghans. Developed nations know the worth of each
passing moment while in our society time is the cheapest thing.
For us, time has no importance. It is like a tap of water
that is left open without knowing whether the water is benefiting
the barren land or it is going in vain. Developed nations
think before they take any step while we think after taking
a step.
Developed nations keep in view the national interest while
planning a project and we give preference to the individual
and personal benefit. Everything is in a haphazard manner.
It seems as if the Day of Reckoning has approached and every
Pakistani is struggling for self-protection. Nobody bothers
about the national benefit and interest. Every influential
person is trying to do something for himself and for his own
family. People in the developed world never damage the respect
and honor of their fellow citizens. The developed nations
provide justice to the common people without any discrimination.
They provide unemployment allowance if anyone is not in job.
Jobless people are provided all sort of help including free
treatment and free education. The parents of disabled children
do not have to worry because their government is there to
support them.
Contrarily, Pakistani rulers and agencies are always bent
upon damaging the honor of common people. People at the helm
of affairs enjoy luxurious lifestyle on the basis of taxes,
and consider the common men as their slaves. An appeal by
Pakistani mujahideen languishing in Haripur jail was published
in a section of the press in the past week. In their appeal,
they described the atrocities and torture being meted out
to them in the jail and sought the help of human rights organizations
and influential people to get them out of there. They wrote
in their appeal that they were kept under subhuman conditions
and are made to go without food and water for many days. They
are subjected to severe torture by the jail officials. They
are asked question about the ladies of their families.
This is the height of atrocities being meted out to the Muslims
by the people of the same country and the same religion. Under
such a situation, scholars and high officials ask why the
country is not progressing well? Why the youth of the country
are hesitant to volunteer along with the Pak military as was
done in the past. People who raise this question know the
reply to this question, but they still hold the Maulvis responsible
for the miserable state. Government department like banks,
telecommunications, electricity, railways and judiciary are
controlled by the maulvis.
Corruption is the most dangerous thing in a country as it
undermines the institutions. The evil has damaged Pakistan’s
image in the world. Police are backing the robbers and criminals.
Law and justice is put for sale in the courts. Journalists
are indulged in unfair affairs. Horse Trading is common on
the floor of upper and lower houses. In all such affairs no
Maulvi is involved in any way.
The country that had two hands – East and the West –
lost one hand in just 25 years of its independence. Did this
happen because of any Maulvi? There are so many such questions
which can be raised anytime. But at present we are discussing
just the reality and propaganda by friend-like enemies. Some
people are of the view, “Had there been no Maulvi, Karachi
and Lahore would have become Paris or New York. On the other
hand, the Maulvis rightly think that the real peace of mind
is found in Makkah, Medina and not in imitating the non-Muslims
or bowing down to America and Europe.
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