Faith, Religion and National Direction

Preamble
Speaking at a Seminar at ‘The Nation Forum’ on 3rd August, Qazi Hussain Ahmed expressed his great anger and disappointment with the Hizb Ul Mujahideen for having declared a ceasefire against the “infidels”. The respected leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami was reported to have, “ --- impressed upon the Hizb command that their declaration was repugnant to the Quranic injunctions which ordained not to trust the infidels and cease fighting against them until they come to terms --- “. (my italics)
Herein lies the rub and the basis for divergence in the ‘logical’ and the ‘emotional’ understanding of our Faith. A divergence that is causing a crisis of confidence as well as disillusionment, amongst the people within the different strata of society. The issue of Kashmir and national well being, the very quality of Life of our people is at stake. From drawing-room chatter to the street buzz, particularly in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar, Pakistanis are at odds with themselves over the two issues of ‘Jihad for Kashmir’ and ‘national development’.
Muslims are traditional believers in destiny. It is cultivated in our psyche and practiced. This is a generalised truism at all levels of society; this seriously impairs rational thinking, depriving the Muslim entity, particularly us Pakistanis, the wherewithal to be more pragmatic and balanced in long-range decision-making based upon the rudiments of everyday life. Such is our national failing, even with the most pious of intentions. This failure becomes more pronounced when the intentions are also murky and party politics and interests overcome the national interests. Rational thought is reduced to a shambles in the give-and-take of the polarized and personalised politics of State.
This article is not intended, nor in any way projects, hostility to the Religious Parties per se. There is a crying need to rationalise our thinking, perhaps a more pragmatic approach being an achievable option for survival as a State and for national integrity. The '7 Point Agenda' formulated by the Chief Executive in October 1999, does create a workable foundation to build upon. The common-man, the middle class and the middle-of-the-road believers are all united in their demand: a clear break from zealous bigotry/ethnicity that masquerades as religious edict. It is time for change.
The Factors
Pakistan has been burdened with a major socio-religious ailment: a plethora of religious parties,
schisms and groupings of different religious schools, fiqahs and sects. We are subject to a mushroom
growth in this (according to a recent survey, there are 72 'parties' in Pakistan, some of them boasting of 1 or 2 members only!) Pakistan is also one of the three countries in the world where religion interacts with society as an obligation and de facto (also de jure, insofar as the Objectives Resolution is part of the Constitution, and recently also included in the PCO) area of governance. This is how it should be — up to a point. Dirigisme must be conditioned by prudence, understanding and judicious application. Some of the factors that need urgent rectification and a balanced approach are:
\* Ideology and Motivation
\* Morality and Modernisation
\* Religion Teaching and Doctrine
Ideology and Motivation
Proponents of the so-called "Track-II diplomacy" have a serious misunderstanding of the Indian mind. This has been devastatingly highlighted since 11 May 1998 and the aftermath, the most recent being the shattering of the ceasefire in IHK. The 'secular' credentials of India had always been suspect, more so when the leading lights of their Centre kept hammering on the impasse in Indo-Pakistan relations based upon what they saw as a flawed theory of 'two nations' and the repetitious shrieks on Pakistan’s involvement with the cause of the freedom fighters.
The unambiguous offer of the cease-fire by the Hizb ul Mujahideen was a red light for Qazi Sahib. More so since he felt personally betrayed due to the deep affiliations the JI has with the Hizb and the uncomfortable fact of Qazi Sahib being in Washington at the time of the cease-fire announcement. Indian negativism and the parallel emotional mind-set of the BJP Government (and Mr. Vajpayee’s personal inclinations!) have put paid to the glimmer of hope for some forward move on the Kashmir front. This does not auger well for the future.
For those who indulge in blood-curdling calls for jihad and fanatic rhetoric, it must be made clear that Pakistanis as a nation are not an endless stream of saber rattling and obfuscating horde of fanatics. The time has come to stop the barbaric outrage in Kashmir and get on with the Agenda for change. The ideological foundations of Pakistan are strong and have never been in need of any misplaced motivational input of the theological and religious groups. Unfortunately, the Chief Executive’s repeated calls for dialogue are gravely misinterpreted by both Indian leaders and our own misled and ill informed Right.
Morality and Modernisation
Our national failing, one that has permeated all walks of life, is that which deals with only one aspect of morality: related to the baser instincts of gender relations. No sermons are made, nor steps taken, to ward off the immorality of ill-discipline, shoddy workmanship, poor work ethics and the never-ending recourse to sifarish and bradiri tie in public dealings, policing, revenue-collection and whatnot. The absence of even an acknowledgement of these failings in the PML ranks, let alone the perpetrators of this culture, has been a major disappointment. The conviction of the former Prime Minister on two grave issues, has been met by him with near-traitorous statements and publicity garnishing theatrics. The Government too has faltered in going through with some popular reviews of discriminating laws, and bowed to the unruly fulminations of the religious extremists who have been successful in thwarting even some progress in redressing the wrongs being perpetrated on the minorities and women. (The recent conviction of Major Muhammad Yousuf [Retired], is a sad outcome of the Government’s withdrawal on the changes to the procedural aspects of registering an FIR on the Blasphemy Law)
Modernisation of the State is not at odds with morality. The 'good' of all religions is the same: whether we call them "Islamic Ideals”, "Canons of Justice", "Asian Values", Islamic, Christian or Jewish. The cultivation of modernisation in thought and practice (as opposed to modernity, which may be disputable) had long been a clarion call of Allama Iqbal. We faltered in taking his advice. The Quaid-e-Azam had categorically enunciated the parameters of the Islamic state that was to be Pakistan, in his maiden address to the Constituent Assembly in 1948. We altered the text of his address. Time and again we keep falling prey to the divisive trends of false morality and fail on the high road to modernisation. We have to check the drift and set our feet away from the running sands. “The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving" (Oliver Wendell Holmes)
Religious Teaching and Doctrine
Iqbal Akhund writes in his book 'Memoirs of A Bystander', "... that all would be well with Muslims and every problem of theirs would be solved, if only they would become Muslims-in-the-true-sense” This is perhaps the singular failing of our nation-state; a poor understanding and irresolute conflict between the 'teaching' of religion and 'doctrinal' religion as propagated, and forcefully propounded, by the State organs, Religious parties, scholars of differing schools of thought and, last but not least, all shades of madrassah-trained young turks brandishing kalashnikovs and maces. We are well aware of the general malaise that afflicts our 'Deeni Madrassahs' and the grooming of 'religious teachers' in the country. Holders of diplomas/certificates from such institutions being conferred the task of imparting religious/ideological/motivational leadership and guidance to the general public (particularly in the rural and lesser privileged urban areas), has led to a serious deterioration in the system. Community and family elders have willingly absolved themselves and their peers of any input in this major responsibility of nation building and crafting young minds. More often than not, the 'teaching' of religion gets mired in the many conflicts between differing groups and settled questions of 'doctrine' become major flashpoints of discord.
The crisis of banking and economy in Pakistan has been held hostage to this dilemma, even to the point where the Government itself (the same Government!) had vacillated on its petition to the Supreme Court. The recent confusion of this is demonstrated in the dithering on the questions of survey of the Madrassahs and the pronouncement by the senior functionaries of Government that the religious party leaders would be beyond the pale of accountability. (Incidentally, the confluence of interests of some religious leaders and the ABAD of Karachi seems to have convinced our Finance Minister sufficiently to warrant his writing a letter to the previous Governor Sindh requesting for review of building laws violations!)
A firm resolve and unfettered recognition of Islam as a dynamic, enduring and unalterable Faith and Creed is needed. The continuous endeavours and slogan mongering to make all “Muslims-in-the-true-sense" can be stopped. Doctrinal aspects of Islam were founded more than 1400 years ago and, unlike Christianity and Jewism, are not subject to re-interpretation.
The National Response
"I feel humiliated to belong to a State with no outlook for the future, nor ambition; a State that is authoritarian if not despotic; in which there is neither science, nor reason, nor beauty of life, nor real culture. This State holds me back and in this provincial, ruralised society, I feel smothered as I suffer at being governed by uneducated and ignorant leaders."
- Hichaim Djait, "Culture et politique dans le monde Arabe", quoted by Fatima Mernissi, 'Islam and Democracy’
We in Pakistan have perhaps not sunk to such a level of despondency - yet! However, the future does look hazy. We may hide behind the curtains' helplessness, but must bear a large measure of guilt for the dismal state of affairs. "Democracy is a luxury of the literate" may be truer than we care to accept. The 'culture of politics' poignantly stated by Hicham Djait, survives due to the inherent failure in our collective merit We all crave our own personal lines of 'better' and 'keeping up with the...' syndrome. This subverts the system, wobbles the edifice and provides grist for cronyism and other maladies with which our Rulers and Administration minions are wont to suffer from. Some years ago Khalid Hassan wrote of the 'The Holy Terror' (The News, 14 June1998) but can we deny the culpability of' all of us in this? Pontificating by any and everyone is the sufferance brought on us because we stand to suffer: we willy-nilly would rather create the shrieks of the hyena pack in mock terror, than roar the dignified response of the disciplined pride.
The national response can only come about by a true and undiluted adherence to Rules and Procedures (proper) of good governance: the idea of an Islamic Welfare State is not new, nor coined by a despotic Ruler in a fit of sudden inspirational wisdom. It is a living, pulsating and ever-adaptable formulation weaved by, and with, the advent of Islam. This implies that the people and the Administration (which includes any Government-in-being, Administration, the Parliament-whenever, Judiciary et al, for purposes of 'governance') must be at one in disclaiming any wrong, any deviation, any meandering from the rightful path. A motorist jumping the red tight is as much liable to be called an 'offender', as one who bribes the lineman for stolen electricity, or a kalashnikov serial killer. This is true polity and has very rightly been placed at the top of the Chief Executive’s Agenda.
Human Dignity and Respect are not commodities that can be generated by the Government or any Administration. It is in each and every one of us – criticism of governance, expressed or implied for the sake of buttressing arguments against “military rule”, are insufficient to tide over the failings of the other organs of State. The bleakness of the 'yesterdays' seem to be mirrored in the 'todays'; and the 'tomorrows' seem to be more so. "A winner makes commitments, a loser makes promises”. Let us all make our commitments today, now, for a better tomorrow and the best future our coming generations can have. The 14th of August in the new millennium should be decidedly rosy and enlightening – the actual new millennium starts on 1st January 2001!"Success is a Mind game".