Either you believe or you don’t believe. There is no fifty percent in religion. This day sees the greatest rift in religious ideologies in History. Opening with a simple Shia-Sunni issue, and continuing with intense hatred for all those who disagree with the minutest of religious, ethnic or political difference. Every leader has advocated tolerance for all communities, but this message is not only necessary for the Islamic militants who would very easily give up their lives for what they believe, but also for the so-called secularists, who in turn are extremist to the point of judging a man by his facial hair, or the clothes he or she wears. Just as strongly as I am opposed to religious extremism, I must heartily contradict secular extremism, especially in Pakistan.

Pakistan is one of those countries where the caste system is much appreciated. Like the England of lore, marriages are often set between families of the same social level, and it is seen from a very negative eye if a union of different classes takes place. Although the caste system is not as much prevalent in the Urdu-speaking population of Karachi, it is, nonetheless, present. Classes are divided not because of ethnic, but of demographic origin. Instead of Rajput, Jat, Arain or Chaudhry, the self proclaimed Muhajirs are divided into Lucknow, Delhi, Hyderabad Deccan etc. More often than not, the city from which a bride or grooms family migrated influences decisions for marriage. Although statistics can probably prove some truth in these ‘castes’ (since no such deliberation can withhold the test of time unless there is some truth in it), it does nonetheless break off relationships that might otherwise have been perfectly healthy. The sufis and pirs often leave behind a legacy of castes, which are treated with religious reverence. In some communities Syeds are treated like divine beings, whose simple touch can change the destiny of a child forever. The paradox, however, is that Islam gives caste no importance whatsoever. In fact, in principal Islam specifically does away with castes stating that ‘all men are equal’.

Unfortunately, religion today is nothing more than a power struggle. It seems that the most important turning point in Islamic history is the issue of the column of religion in the passport. With not a single word of support for the poor Muslims who have died or have been rendered homeless by the tsunamis, our religious leaders (by this I mean ALL the religious leaders of the world, even besides Islam) can do no more than smile upon the power they hold in the eyes of ordinary, foolish men. Whether or not local bishops and hierarchies choose to acknowledge it, the fact remains that the Catholic Church has lost the birth control battle in the countries of the western world.

Contemporary religion, as a whole, is failing to attract attention based on its merits. Is this the reason why terrorism is spreading? Because no one listens anymore? As a matter of shame, it is never officially acknowledged in the Vatican that ordinary Christian families do not follow their decree. Pope John Paul II’s ‘Humanae Vitae’, his religious thesis on birth control has not created the impact it was meant to. However the Catholic Church still continues to declare that its decree has been honored above all else. Above all else what? Fact remains that morality always, and I repeat always, kneels in awe before economics. Practicality suggests you need to steel if you want to eat. Then steel away.

Fortunately for us, Islam gives no one institution the power to decide over all others. The system of ‘every man equal’ obviously suggests that everyone has the power of opinion (Islam does however state that an illiterate or uneducated person does not have the power of opinion, therefore education, even western and secular, is compulsory in Islam, since it will be used to take decisions for the betterment of Islam in a continually changing world). This, however, leads to the suggestion that if every man has the power of opinion, and if every man must make his or her own decisions in life (Islam states that the responsibility of every man and woman rests on his or herself alone, no one will be held accountable for things that are unrelated to them, and they cannot intercede on any ones behalf), then who can say what is wrong and who is right? Actually, no one. Except for those decisions that affect community, the most any one, even the state, can possibly do is to express their point of view.

The right of judgement, especially regarding the execution of religion, has been withheld by Allah. No one can point and say that any other person is a good Muslim or not, except perhaps that person himself. Therefore any puritanical element that exists in society and claims to cleanse it of hypocritical people is directly in opposition to the principals of Islam. This said, the issue of unconditional and racial judgement is not limited to religious clerics alone. The seculars do it just as much.

Most seculars attempt to follow a very moderated way of life. They think they are as religious as one should be, blatantly call out the religious extremists and vilely humiliate them. Unfortunately, in this they are so wrong, that they become the most classic examples of psychological distortion and disturbance. First and foremost, they completely lose their balance in the sense of judgement, and point to all religious men and degrade them. I don’t mean argue against them, I mean fully tread them under their feet. Religious men, and most religious men, are very pious indeed. One should respect and learn from the wisdom of these leaders, who live their lives according to rules (lets leave the word religious rules out for now, since many people don’t believe in religion. Most religious rules make excellent secular rules as well). One should absorb their discipline and attempt to be as nice and well meaning as they are.

I knew a wonderful lady once, who was rich and famous, and much appreciated in the highest of circles. Once she told me that she hated people with beards. Kindly, to humor this poor author, read the sentence again. . . hated people with beards. . . I find that to be the most ridiculous assertion of racism I have ever heard in my life. She told me beards reminded her of the religious extremists who wore them. I wish to address her here ... "You feel shame in acknowledging something that is just an expression of self-interests, just like your daughter wears jeans and a tee-shirt. And as it is not my business to claim whether she is right or wrong in doing so, exactly the same way it is none of your business whether a man in the street wears a beard, a green turban or not. It is not your right to criticize someone who spends the night in prayer, and object to objectivity of it, when he undertakes his pilgrimage. It is this one-sided monotony of thought that exerts religious extremists to attack you. I am sorry, madam, but in my eyes you are one of them. "