Resala to Pakistan(Letter No.2 - 21/09/2014)
Bismillahi-arrahman-arrraheem
After greetings and salutations to Rasool sAllahu ‘alayhi wa wasalam
We seek guidance from Allah (swt) to “The straight path”, we pray to Allah (swt) The Creator and Lord of the worlds, Al Hakim.
Today Pakistani Muslims and non-Muslims need to unite and find a way to live their life, that doesn't undermine their religious principles and values.
The Muslim Ummah today faces a huge dilemma in how to live their lives according to The Koran and the Sunnah of The Rasool Mohammed (sws) PBUH. This subject is normally the domain of the Ullema and Muftis. However, since these erudite and learned people and authorities are in some measure seeming to be failing to maintain the Ummah on the “straight path”, maybe it is time for an average Muslim layman to make some comments. Comments and observations arise from living amongst Muslims and non-Muslims and travelling extensively to many Muslim and non-Muslim communities in the world.
Whilst writing the above paragraph my brain and to some degree my heart is beginning to question me, why do I want to write on such a difficult and often sensitive subject matter? I guess the answer lies in the fact that for the first time in my life I have began to follow online the news and events about my ancestral homeland, Pakistan. I say follow online because unlike most of Pakistani origin households in the UK, I have not installed a feed of Pakistan TV in my home. I have never felt the urge to watch Pakistani TV. My interest in Pakistani events has until recently been via technology, financial and economic news reports, articles and essays published mainly by western media.
The 37 days of peaceful demonstrations in Islamabad has highlighted to me the greatest obstacle to change demanded by Mr Imran Khan and Dr Tahir Ul Qadri, both leaders of political parties who want to bring change to the largely corrupt and undemocratic political system, which has resulted in The Pakistani nation performing very badly in almost all metrics by which nations are measured worldwide.
Before commenting on the challenges which Pakistan faces, it is essential to state that in my opinion Pakistan has largely failed to deliver on the ideals and beliefs of its founders Dr. Ilama Iqbal and The Great Qaid-e-Azam.
To date Pakistani political forces have purposefully and tenaciously divided society into Punjabi, Sindhi, Pakhtoon and Muhajar with some further minor subdivisions, enabling political control to be exercised by a few major families for the last 67 years, since the founding of Pakistan. This system of divide and rule is a continuation of the Empire. The dysfunctions of this policy have resulted in a situation where the current government of Mr Nawaz Sherif – PMLN has over 20 members of its family in senior positions of the government. Mostly, appointed on family connections and patronage rather than merit or experience.
A major reason for this is that as a Muslim nation Pakistan is clearly not implementing one of the fundamental principles which the Holy Prophet Mohammed (sws) PBUH, preached in his last sermon in Arafat and asked all those present to relay this message to the Muslim Ummah of the future. This imperative principle relates to all Mankind being equal, no matter their race, colour or ethnicity. Just so to, briefly remind everybody in relation to this subject, this is an excerpt of the Last Sermon relating to equality of mankind...
After praising, and thanking God, the Prophet, may God send His praises upon him said:
"O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore, listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today......
All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; white has no superiority over black, nor does a black have any superiority over white; [none have superiority over another] except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.
Remember, one day you will appear before God and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone....”
So relating this principle, Pakistan’s poor condition as a nation can largely be attributed to Pakistani people not following this basic principle recommended by the Prophet Mohammed (sws) PBUH. Furthermore, the political class has deliberately introduced division and sectarian sentiment into Pakistani society to control and rule over a nation of 180 million people.
The greatest achievement in my opinion of Mr Imran Khan and Dr Tahir Ul Qadri in the last 37 days is that they have managed to convey to the nation that all Pakistanis are one people and one nation. There are no Punjabi, no Sindhi, no Pushtoon, no Mahajur, no Brailvi, no Deoband, no Christian, no Sikh, no Hindu, no Buddist etc. They are all Pakistani.
This message is going back to the grass roots of the foundation of Pakistan and The last Sermon of The Prophet Mohammed (sws) PBUH. To succeed all Pakistanis of all colours, backgrounds and beliefs need to implement this practice in their life and the life of their family. This inshaAllah will bring unity of the nation and build future success. A united family combined with a united nation can achieve almost anything they desire. The massive and swift success of the Islamic Nation in Medinah and into lands far beyond came from such rock solid belief and impeccable fair and equitable practices.
Pakistanis immediately need to realise the importance of their nations geo-political position, military power, natural resources, historical and future role in world events, which now urgently need the nation to unite.
Therefore, I conclude that all those families and individuals gathering peacefully in Islamabad and demonstrations country wide are the beginning of Pakistan uniting under one flag. A united Pakistan where Muslims and non-Muslims, rich and poor, powerful and the powerless are all treated equal under the law. Furthermore, a beginning of making it easier for non-Muslims to live in peace and for Muslims to live in an environment where they can live and practice their way of life in accordance with The Koran and the Sunnah of The Holy Prophet Mohammed (sws) PBUH.
All that is good and righteous in this document is from Allah (swt) and any mistakes or omissions are mine. Tawwakalna ‘ala Allah.
Shafique M.B. Azam
This article can be published, copied, posted, forwarded and translated into another language as long as you give credit to and provide a link to the original publication at www.ShariaTimes.com
Azam is UK educated and has degrees in Economics, Management and Corporate Strategy. He has spent over 25 years working with Top Fortunate 1,000 corporates designing, building and operating leading edge international telecommunication networks. He is the former Regional Manager for the Middle East for British Telecommunications. He is a serial entrepreneur and is the Founder of the free to use online venture www.Sharia.com which will be launched in 2015, InshaAllah. Sharia.com aims to reduce poverty and hunger in the under developed nations by providing a free to use, fi-sabilillah online trade and commerce portal.
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