Selective Islam in Pakistan

IMRAN u r such a hpocrite and two face failed politician.
Mwaqar

Fantastic article, its quite an old one but it's brilliant.

I dont want this to be turned into 'Pakistan is awful and I live in England and in perfect harmony' type of commentary, as I can see a pattern here.

I am a typical expat, living in Kashmir (AJK), Isb and in England, however I dont have ANY fears about Pakistan, I love it wholly, flaws and all. Coming to the religious element, I have been raised by practising parents (uncles, grandparents.. the whole shebang), aside from making sure we recieved a brilliant education, they also taught humility, modesty and love. Things which I see are extremely rare and precious in this dog-eat-dog & tabloid-fodder-fed 'modern world'.

Like the writer, I too followed a selective version of Islam before, simply 'went through the motions', but I faced challenges in life which made me research and explore my religion, and I cant imagine living my life without my Deen, without that one-to-one link with God. I always try to become a better human like we are meant to be, be better believers, to do the 'rght thing', be kinder, forgiving, people who others aspire to be and to project a healthier, real wholesome image of my religion to people.
I dont wear a hijab (InshAllah I do intend to someday) and I'm generally really vain about my appearance too, I like to balance both modern-living with religious practices.

On that note, not all Pakistan based Muslims are in the same predicament, a lot of them inspire me, I've come across some marvellous people who we can learn a lot from. One of the biggest things my religion teaches me is respect for one another, something that modern society is severely lacking in.

I don't know, how this fellow have brought Islam with suicide in Western countries. How Islam prevents unhappiness? So many killings and violence around the globe involving islam/moslems (Iraq, Sudan, Nigeria, India, Thailand, Mynmar, UK, Spain,Israel, Indonesia...) says the opposite.
Regarding identity, it changes with time and a people bears multiple identities.

i agree with the theory that people in Pak or perhaps even else where on earth........its a conveneint game cuz people can make and change the rules.....you can go on a date wearing a burqa.....stare at women when u are on your way to the mosque.....plus...we the browns have done nothing to be proud of.....the 60 year history of pakistan has more looters and plundrers then heroes......and gora culture is easire to comply by ( dating, drinking, not throwing littre on streets etc ) then the browny culture .....where there are restrictions and responsibilities.... i dont think the family system is a blessing...imagine u have 6 sisters and a deceased father.....you have to get them all married being their only big brother....imagine a wife with a drug addict husband , she has five children along with in laws, is that not a problem? in the lower classes, the family is a burden you cant get rid of....people live together for the sake of security...large clusters of people...if islam is to accepted...the mind set should be changed......the preachers make it sound rigid.....everything ends you in hell so a softer image ..no kubber ka azab and dozakh ki aag....despite being ordained by god.....many things have a space for improvement....we have to do more then just reading Quran.....it requires effort........and diana does not matter.....she was but a rich glam girl who married a prince......and then did a little social work......
ammara

Re: # 44
I so agree. I personally have an inherent fear of Pakistan, I can`t even bear to think of it as my country.
I am a muslim and have always lived in England where I feel I have always been treated in a just manner, I now have a successful career and am respected amongst my peers (most of whom are non-muslims). Recently, I went to Pakistan - it was an horrifying experience. I am originally from Kashmir - which I always felt was a part of Pakistan - my husband is from Islamabad, all soon became clear, most Pakistani hold deep embedded prejudices. You are judged by where you come from, where your parents were born, your class and everything else they can find - it`s a cruel world.

Many of them I would not class as muslims as people many are worse than the british. I further aspect of Pakistan is that instead of developing its own, giving ALL its people the resources to become potential assests it is too busy chasing the already rich and famous of this world.

I`m sorry to categorise all, I fully understand that there are some very good muslims in Pakistan - and I did meet one wonderful person there - but on the whole my experience was horrifying.

I`m glad you acknowledge that you were suffering from an inferiority complex and that you were into the whole brown sahib thing--unfortunately, I think you never got out of it. It`s sad but it`s true that in spite of your achievements, you could never get out of that mold. Your lamenting over Diana`s death and hence inability to marry Dodi (?!?) as a tragedy for the Muslim ummah just highlights your convoluted vision of the situation. If you open your eyes and break out of the complex Mr. Khan you will see that Islam does not need Western Elites to become converts, we have a billion people in the Muslim community, many of them very capable people--we need leadership from within that community--not from without it!

First of all, whatever. After having read your aritcle, I was not sure if I should laugh or shout. I don`t know much about you. I came to America when I was 6 yrs. old. However, I have heard of you and your political ambitions. So, excuse the skepticism. First of all, glad to know you are a muslim, sorry to hear you think atheism is a bad road to take. To each his own. Perhaps that is the problem with Pakistan. The intolerance between muslims for their differences and between the people of different faiths. Get over it, God talks to every man in his own way and just because two people hear Him in different ways does not mean that either is wrong. The message is for the specific person. Now, for the princess. Wow, write a script and turn it into a movie. Who knows why it happened? How can you persume such a thing? I think I would have more respect for you if I found any honesty in what you had to say. Try, I want to be a political leader. I`m getting old. I`ve partied, but, now I want to set a ``good example`` so that I can get some votes. However, where do you stand on women`s rights, abortion, human rights, child labor, and religious tollerance. Get back to me with an article on these issues and perhaps I will take you seriously.

Imran Khan, I hope you read this article of yours once again, and especially the paragraph on your education campaign that you promised to launch in March (of 1996 or 1997). Where has it gone? Probably swayed away by the Tehrik-e-Insaaf. It would have been far more beneficial for the people of Pakistan and perhaps your own mental peace and sense of achievement if you had continued your good work - from cancer hospital to mass literacy movement. Being an unmatched celebrity you would have been a sure success there, instead of being a failed politician bashing at the government and blowing his own horn, just like any other politician, just one from the crowd.

Your `sarcasm` did come across and that is addressed below. By the way US is in the west and India is in the east! OOps sorry for `labeling`!

I am assuming you hate geography!

Born to Be:

I`m sorry. You seem to be a simple guy who doesn`t understand what I`m saying.

Two points:

I have not denied anything I was saying - I said Imran Khan`s reference to Diana in his article reflected a common tendency amongst South Asians to seek validation for their opinions in the West. My point was and remains that Imran`s hopeful speculation that ``the probability of Lady Diana reverting was excellent`` reflects that type of subservient thinking. You brought up the point that maybe IK was implying her death was not ``accidental`` because she was going to become Muslim and I responded to that as well.

You contrasted Islam and Hinduism as western vs eastern. It had nothing to do with what I was saying. I was being sarcastic about the labels you were applying. By your response, I think you missed my sarcasm.

Re: Truth

Apparently you are denying most of the things you said earlier.

As for the congratulatory note. it just shows the bias in your head. East/West does not mean good/bad. It is a geographical criteria! What are you going to do next congratulate me on living in NYC!

FYI hinduism is regarded as an eastern religion along with buddhism, taoism and other Asian schools of thought. And yes there are some very interesting stories in the Geeta. Now that deserves a congrats!

Re: Born to Be

I was not suggesting Islam needs validation from anyone, East or West.

What was the relevance of introducing Diana in Imran`s article? If the emphasis was on her death not being ``accidental`` because she was going to become Muslim, then Imran Khan is one of the greatest conspiracy-theorists that I am aware of. These people think the CIA or James Bond or somebody or the other is behind everything that happens including reporters chasing celebrity cars.

Congratulations to you on Islam`s status as a western religion. I thought it was universal. Frankly, I have no interest in whether Hinduism is eastern, western, northern, southern or fairy tales.

Asak Imran Bhai,

I was impressed by your article, and hope to this article will help me in becomeing a better muslim.

Salaam

Syed

Re: Truth

I think you grossly misunderstood IK`s statement regarding Diana.

It was not wishful thinking, he was speculating on the turn of affairs had Diana become a muslim. I believe it was a subtle hint at her ``accidental`` death, ``accidental`` being disputed here.

It doesnt matter if Diana became Hindu or Muslim. Islam does not need an endorsement from anyone. About the west factor, there is an increase in muslim conversion in Europe and parts of US. Islam is Islam whether in the EASt or West. FYI Islam unlike Hinduism is known as a western religion, not eastern.

There is not a single word which I could argue or disagree with.

Can somebody tell me what are the fundamentals of Islam and how do they differ from Hinduism or Christianity.

It appears to me that inadequate knowledge/ ignorance about other religions creates misunderstandings and conflicts.

Even though I am a Hindu, I appreciated Imran Khan`s article about his transformation from a Brown Sahib to a desi Muslim. Good for him.

However, he couldn`t shake off his inferiority complex as a Pakistani relative to the British. His article ended with the speculation that Lady Diana may have converted to Islam if she had lived. Why does he care what Diana may have done? I`m afraid it betrays a desire to seek validation in the West. A movie is only good if it wins an Oscar, a person is only great if he wins a Nobel prize, and Islam is elevated if Diana becomes a Muslim. What futile and pathetic speculation!