Why Aren’t Muslim Women Converting to Christianity?

Answer: According to some `ulema` the punishment for leaving Islam is death. Yet it is these very same `Ulema` who tell us that the Prophet (PBUH) said `There is no compulsion in Islam`.

I am not sure but I think Pakistani law forbids you to convert if you are Muslim to any other religion. If you marry a non-Muslim it is the non-Muslim partner who has to convert.

What really stood out in this article for me, wasn`t all this `Islam is superior` kind of stuff, as that`s no longer new, but the author`s `I live in the west, and know true Islam, you Pakistanis know shit and act like Indians, therefore i am a better Muslim than you jahil half Hindu half Muslim unable to pronounce Arabic properly pindos` Kind of attitude. Where due to the authors own insecurities and self worth issues, he tries to become superior to the countrymen of his origin by being what is perceived to be a `better Muslim` and according to this logic, a better Pakistani than the people who actually live there, even though the author himslef doesn`t reside there, and is completely unaware of the realities of that land and its people. He judges all Pakistanis by his (unrealistic) standards (which are divine of course!!!) and knowing most of the country doesn`t meet them he then quite smugly proceeds to look down at them.

For the sake of Pakistan, I thank God that people like this author reside outside of Pakistan. If he is in Pakistan then he must be living in a very cocooned and distanced from the majority community, in which case he must be filthy rich to be able to afford to do that, and therefore even more distanced from the normal populace.

How does the author purport to be the `voice of the majority` Has he held a consensus? Did this claim come with some sort of an election victory? Which majority is he talking about, The Pakistani majority, the Muslim majority (in the country where he resides), or the Overseas Pakistani Muslim majority?

Through which art is a mental illness being shoved down your throat? And which mental illness?

Pakistani people are constantly under attack from our neighbours in the east for not being Indic enough, and from our western neighbours (and overseas Pakistanis) for not being Muslim enough. Having become accustomed to letting such abuse pass us by, it is tempting to see this article as from another ‘holier than thou’ expatriate/child of expatriate, telling us how Un-Islamic we are (which it is) and just let this pass too. However, I feel that this article warrants some sort of a reply, if only for the fact that the author is Pakistani (at least in origin).

As Pakistan is a majority Muslim country, people there are brought up with Islam, it is part of the backdrop to everything, they do not need to think about it, it is just there, pretty much the way Christianity is in the west and Hinduism in Nepal. Therefore people in Pakistan don’t feel the need to wear their religion on their sleeves, as Islam is a given.

Now within this, there are many hues and shades of Islam. For the most part they co-exist quite peacefully. And within every hue and shade there are various levels of practice and interpretation. Some people hardly practice, some people do, some people don’t fast, some do etc. Most are quite happy and content with their Islamiat, and their level of adherence to it. They are secure in themselves, and with who and what they are, they don’t feel the need to show their affiliation with Islam at every turn, as for the most part, the people they will encounter will also be some sort of Muslim.

Regards your views on culture, Islam came to the land that is now Pakistan to a very musical and spiritual people who have already had millennia of sophisticatedly and naturally connecting with the divine spirit. Through the ages the indigenous people (us) discovered that indeed, every aspect of a person’s life can be used to form a continual connection with the divine inside and the divine omni present. Through music, song, dance, breathe, exercise, and stillness to the mundane everyday tasks of work and daily routine, each one connecting you to the One worthy of connection.

The culture, language, environment, economy, and everything else were very different from that of the Prophet (PBUH) when Islam was revealed to Him. The people of this country for whatever reason accepted Islam, and decided to follow that faith, as in its purest form it is not much different from the purest form of the faith at that time (Sanata Dharma).

The people amalgamated the two philosophies where possible, to bring about a very South Asian version of Islam, something that is natural to them, as the people of this part of the world are much less naturally austere (for want of a better word) from the people of the land where Islam was revealed. This has happened not only in Pakistan, but in every other part of the world where Islam is now dominant, and you will see it has already started in Europe and the US, where the people there are coming into their Islam, so to say, with an Islam that works for them. This is the natural process and progress of a philosophy and if it’s worth its weight this is how it survives. The something about it as you say or the kashish as I would say, is what remains and every culture and country in the world keeps it alive in their own way and the way they know how.

Think about it, if an Eskimo was to accept this faith, it would be impossible for him to practice the faith identical to the followers in say Kuwait. Islam is much bigger than people’s pettiness and practices, it is also much more flexible than the current rigidity of the land from where it originally came.

Just as poetry can be used to connect to the divine (The Koran!) so it can also be used to describe every other emotion a human being experiences. And this is the same for every other way of reaching the divine i.e. dancing, singing, music, breathe, etc. Hence EVERY country EVEN Saudi Arabia has some sort of musical and dance tradition, these are often the cultural shows that you see on TV.

Where you see dancing on Eid disrespectful, others may see it as an expression of their joy on the occasion. If it is something you do not like, then do not partake in it. The same can be said about fashion shows, if the people concerned are not complaining then why are you? A fashion show is a very important way to display the cloth and fabrics made in our country, they help our ailing industries, who in turn employ millions of people (mainly poor). You have no idea of what is in that person’s heart, their intention, their wishes, their desires, their majboorian, etc. The fact is, you cannot judge, you don’t have the Theka or contract for entry into heaven.

May Allah bless you with tolerance not only for non-Muslims but for the billions of Muslims who exist on this earth that don’t share all your views. May Allah keep Pakistan from the many like you. Ameen!

Re: # 111
You didn`t do well here, understandable.

But I got ur point as I have outlined in #108! :;)

Re: # 111
You didn`t do well here, understandable.

But I got ur point as I have outlined in #108! :;)

bharath--108:

the pain, anguish and tears for pakistan adorning your visage is from the chuuri in your armpit.

bharath: 112

thanks for understanding. [:;)] this said more than words

wiseguyin:114

let it be their decision & it will for Pakistanis to praise or punish them for it. You , at your end, would do well to attend to the dhoti-prashaads...to advise them to give alms or armpits to the uniformed beggars.

Thanks in advance for understanding

Why would any one in his right mind like to leave Islam? You tell me. I thoght no one could do that volunteerly except in a coffin. Have you read Abdur Rahman`s case in Afghanistan?
Kamath

If Islamiat is so good above all, then could the author tell me why he has decided live in Dar ul Harb and not chose to live in Dar-ul-Islam? Take your pick from three Islamic paradises; Saudi Arabia, pakistan, Iran ,Sudsan and more for instance!.

Re: # 118

So basically you are trying to tell me that MQm`s 15 members of National Assembly, 34 members of Provincial Assembly; and 6 Senators couldn`t even move a resolution in either of the houses for the past 5 years regarding ``stranded Pakistanis`` because Punjabis won`t let them? Can`t they even request for a joint session of the Parliament for this issue, despite being the right hand of the oppressing murderous dictator? What about setting up an NGO in Bangladesh to at least monitor the situation of concentration camps; you people couldn`t even do that either?

The truth finally comes out as `` Maybe, that is the correct approach, but we will have to wait for Karachi/Hyderabad to become independent first.`` Like I said you people are basically backstabbers and thankless ``Mohsin-kush``. Probably, that is the reason Sindhis oppose any attempt at bringing the stranded Pakistanis back home, because they rightfully think that these refugees will turn out to be just like you.

#110, Urstruly {``Please explain to me why MQM government in sindh is not doing anything and havn`t done anything to bring the Pakistanis back in the past 5 years? ...
The fact of the matter is that you people are a hateful, shamelss, and thankless people whose hands are red with the blood of thousands of Punjabis, Pakhtoons, Sindhis, Baluchis, and even your own in the past two decades. ...What happened to you when there was democracy in the country in NS and BB era is known to everyone.``}

Maulana Sahib,
The local provincial government is not allowed to negotiate with foreign governments for the repatriation of Paki citizens. Maybe, that is the correct approach, but we will have to wait for Karachi/Hyderabad to become independent first. You know and I know that nothing can happen in Pakistan without the prior approval of Pakistani Punjab - except for the Kalabagh Dam, the first sign of defeat that you guys have had since 1971.

Now, if Mohajirs are so bloody and our hands are red with blood, then why are the Punjabis the ones who are bombing in Wana and Waziristan, in Baluchistan, in PoK - including Gilgit/Baltistan. It appears that Punjabis in their smart uniforms, paid for by the taxes imposed on the citizens of Pakistan, are the ones busy with bloody red hands in killing non-Panjabis. And don`t you dare utter one word about Mushy being a Mohajir and all that. Because if you do, then we will have to designate India as an Islamic country because its head of state is a Muslim. :)

Oh, about what we Mohajirs were doing doing the ``democratic days`` of BB and NS? Yes, we were dying mostly. Some of us were trying to prevent the loot as it made its way from poor ``democratic`` Pakistan to rich ``democratic`` Switzerland. :) It looks like both BB and NS were being ``democratic`` and ``liberal`` with both hands.

I am happy to note that when it comes to Pakistani Punjaibiyat, both mullas and secularists sound about the same.

MY ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.

Remove the dagger of 295 and that will free many. I talk from experience and lets not endanger the lives of many people in Pakistan by discussing specifics.

Cheerios

zeemax:
invisible to me. For them it might be all that matters, good for them. I am one of those whose hearts and minds have been sealed and no redemption now is possible, look at the great Quran, Allah mian says so Himself.

peace.

Re: # 123 tahmad

I want to make this clear to you and this venomous little punk that I have nothing against Mohajirs, urdu-speaking people, or Krachiites per se. My only bone of contention is with the terrorist outfit that calls itself MQM. These people spew their venom from time to time because only and only ethnic prejudice is the raison de etre of their existence. I have lived among them, worked with them, and endured their genocidal machinery so I know what they are made of.

Mr. Salim: ever since i admonished you a month ago for trying to suck up to Indians by ridiculing fellow pakistanis and for your gratuitous insults to non-muhajir ethnic groups in Pakistan, you have been calling me all sorts of things - hypocrite, racist and so forth. I have not dignified your allegations with a response.

Now I see Urstruly (with whom I am often at odds on certain issues) is taking you to task with some facts - and showing the mirror to your face of what you have of yourself on chowk on at least (I am giving you the benefit of the doubt that in real life you have some more self-respect and dignity than you have been displaying here - as I would for anyone else). Urstruly is obviously more conversant with these facts than I am, and so I can only thank him for taking you to task for your disgusting behavior. It is not me who is the hypocrite - rather you who is the backstabber, as Urstruly has made clear. I agree with Urstruly`s assessment here.

Urstruly:
You are right about Nawaz government`s efforts for rehabilitation and resettlement of stranded Pakistanis. MQM in its heyday tried to run the city like a Mafia - it was one of the worst times for karachi city besides their proxy student organization introduced killing and gun violence in educational institutions. Not to mention the whole new concept of torturing political opponents in their underground setups. Military and law enforcement agencies also played an active part in playing these thugs against one another for political gains.

#123, Mr. Tahmed,
Just because I am raising an issue that is embarrassing to Pakistanis in general and Pakistani Punjabis in particular, you are now resorting to personal insults. By calling me a ``back-stabber,`` or referring to my viewpoints as ``ridiculing Pakistan,`` you are showing your inherent intolerance for any dissenting views. Morever, you and your Pakistani Punjabi cohorts and tyrants don`t even want this discussion of the plight of ``stranded`` Pakistanis to take place. Shame on you, your hypocrisy, and your so-called ``Muslim`` facade.

I am not surprised at Mullah Urstruly and you being in total agreement on this issue. After all, Panjaibi hegemony is also an issue in Pakistan today. Don`t worry about me - just convince the Baluchis, Pathans, Sindhis, Mohajirs, Kashmiris, Gilgitis, and Baltis about what they think of you and your nefarious intentions. May Allah give you Pakistani Punjabis your just rewards for your perfidy and cruelty.