What Constitutes Blasphemy?

MOB VIOLENCE: BEYOND THE FP

Why do people take the law in their own hands? Why can’t they settle their disputes peacefully? Is it due to the nature of various segments of our society? Is it because the rest of the society remains indifferent toward various every day issues and fails to see the bigger picture? Is it due to bad (or a lack of good) governance? These are some of the questions that we need to ask as responsible citizens of Pakistan (and the rest of the World). The following editorials provides a few answers. Are these answers sufficient? Do we need to ask additional questions and seek their answers? What are our social responsibilities? Comments welcome!

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad
P.S. I visited Quetta for a short visit (three weeks) when my Punjabi – Quetta born – cousin warned me not to engage in any “punga/pungah” (trouble) with the Hazaras. This was in 1957. I wonder if my cousin’s warning had any merit. Was it only a stereotype of one community for another?

Dawn, Editorial, February 13, 2001
“Trouble in Quetta

THAT a transport dispute between contending tribesmen in Quetta should have led to the kind of arson and rioting which has hit the city for two days running is less a reflection on the tribes of Balochistan than on the leaden-footed responses of a plodding provincial administration. Given the chaotic condition of the transport sector in any large city of Pakistan, such disputes are inevitable and will keep arising. But it is the duty of the administration and especially the local police to see that such disputes do not get out of hand. In Quetta, however, a spark was lit when five members of the Hazara tribe were killed in an ambush by their rivals. This event naturally inflamed passions and people took to the streets. On the second day property was being attacked and shops looted. The police and the paramilitary outfits of course responded as best they could, but looking at the scenes of rioting and looting in Quetta, it would be hard not to think that anarchy was taking over.

What is good administration? Usually it means maintaining law and order at all times so that situations like this do not arise. It means anticipating trouble and taking steps to prevent its occurrence rather than simply responding to events. It also implies an instinctive awareness of the distinction between too much force and too little. Only recently a farmers` rally which was peaceful and agitating a legitimate issue was fired upon leading to several deaths. That was excessive and unnecessary force. Now a bad situation has been allowed to get out of hand and become worse. Where the administration should have come down with an iron hand it is seen to be directionless and ineffective. An administration which allows its writ to be paralyzed in this manner is abdicating its foremost responsibility.

Peace and order must be restored in Quetta. Shops have been looted and in a few cases burnt down. The owners should be compensated. If the administration cannot perform its basic duty of maintaining law and order who is going to invest in Quetta, or for that matter in Balochistan? It is true the law and order situation is not exemplary anywhere. Robberies and dacoities are on the rise even in once peaceable areas. But the effects of disorder are much worse in neglected backwaters such as Balochistan whose politically aware or active citizens already dwell darkly on the step-brotherly treatment they get from the centre. The Balochistan administration should wake up and the federal government too should look closely at the undercurrents of strife and tension in Quetta and the province at large. In any case, as a first step the shattered confidence of the inhabitants of Quetta should be restored. They must not feel that they are playthings of circumstances. Rather they must be given to believe that the administration cares for their plight, that it has a sympathetic ear for genuine problems and that it will deal with the problem of lawlessness with a firm hand. Above all, they must have grounds for believing that the shocking events of the last few days will not recur.”

Reply #: 575

sigalph235

AOA

My friend did u bother reading one single book on the fall or is this the filth of ur mind u r unloading here.

Pakistan Army comitted gross violations of human rts in Bangladesh, I condemn those in unequivocal terms.

Al Badr and Al Shams have no part in that. I have met and worked with those ppl. Please get ur facts correct.

And btw I myself was tortured by the brave Pak Fauj at KU.

The army and IJT or Ji are and were never one.

Maududi was awarded the death penalty by a military court.

Please read history before commenting.

Adnan

Reply #: 550

Parvez Pirzada

AOA

If u r interested I suggest the following reading abt hadith, whn and how they were collected and why do we need them.

1. Hadith by Khaleel ur Rahman (Al Fawz Acad.)

2. Sunnat Ki Ainee Haisiyat Maudooodi

When u read this I`ll give an extended list on

Usool E Hadith etc.

wassalaam

adnan

Reply #: 557

ylh

Your disgusting reply deserves no comment.

However i end communication with an idiot like u after observing that this posting truly reveals ur inner filth.

May Allah Shower his Blessings on the Believers

Adnan

Reply #: 551

omarphoenix

AOA

Books on Shiaism:

1. Shism Hossain Nasr (He has written extensively on Islam)

2. Shiaism by Tabatabai

3. Shia Origin and Faith Kashif al Ghita

All of them are/were very learned ppl.

On the Sunni doctrinesI`ll advise u to read 1. Maulana Mawdudi

2. Syed Qutub

Where exactly do u live, then i can tell u where to find the literature if i know

Btw thats the rt approach to start off, no bias,

When I started my search I read Pervaiz, Syed Ahmad even Mirza Ghulam Ahmad etc. and tried to read them without any bias.

wassalaam

adnan

Reply #: 543

ahmadb

By the way the syuti book will answer the rest of ur questions very well. It will take quite a long posting to deal with all of them.

Please read it.

AOA

wassalaam

adnan

Reply #: 543

ahmadb

AOA

My sources are history books;

1 Seerat un Nabi Shibli

2 Tarikh ul Khulufa Syuti

3. Tarikh e Islam Tabari

4. Spirit of Islam Amir Ali

Yes the prophet (SAW) was rehmat ul lil aalameen.

But he was also the head of the islamic state and a law giver.

Recall after the Battle of the Trench, how the treacherous jewish tribe was dealt with. Their men were killed and their women and children made slaves. Now that would sound harsh, but it is not.

It was a punishment taken from the Torah for traitors. Btw this sheds light on the Rijm issue as well.

wassalaam

adnan

Barrister Amir,

First of all we both know you are not a barrister so please stop calling yourself one. Please, a degree from Fundoo law school of Al Azhar is not Bar at law...

Secondly, Khilafah, is no where an obligatory farz. You are a liar! Khilafah doesnot even have religious background. It was merely a title used by the early rulers of Islam for the lack of better word.

Now with that logic the first Caliph was

``Khalifaturasoolallah`` and the second Caliph should have been ``Khalifah tur Khalifah tur Rasool Allah`` (successor of the successor of the prophet). I am afraid what you say is utter nonsense and doesnot make religious sense.

For the love of Allah and the Prophet, stop misleading the people.

Yasser Hamdani

Adnan 672# 525

Thanks for quoting the verse. I am well aware of it.

It is very clearcut. In business transactions.

What is the Islamic law of evidence.

For example why the evidence of two women is equal to one man not in business transactions but in all evidences. Can you quote an Ayah to that effect.

If you believe this Ayah to be related to business transaction only, that is what most so called liberals are saying.

Can you proclaim this statement of yours clearly and does it contradict with Hadith and Fiqh you believe in.

The problem with you guys are that you think nobody has read Quran or Hadith. To assure you you might have wasted your energy by reading Mowdudi`s and Khursheed Ahmed`s book.

Anyway you are saying that you accept Hadith by Ayesha RZAH because evidence of men and women are equal except in business transaction. Did I get your point.

Adnan 672#

1-I asked you why did you support genocide of Bengalis at the hands of Drunkards, rapists and smugglers in 1970.You did not give the answer 2- Your point is well taken, that men makes mistakes regarding terrorizing and threatening opposition party women. But why mistakes done by Jamati`s are Islamic and mistakes done by common man is Un-Islamic.

3- Your point of justice system is also well taken. But why only Saif-ddin is to be acquitted because of this.

No need to mention your affiliation with Jamiat for 6 years. It usually takes this much time to change a person for good.

I will tell you interesting stories about affiliation with Jamiat myself. I will tell you the stories of people I came across.

To cut it short. Jamiat and Jamat-e-Islami is a very good party. Its Islamic ethoes and politics in the great spirit of pragmatism has provided almost all the working force for Mohajir Qaumi Movement and a substantial fighting force for Afghan Jihad.

It is another matter that the same people will now not tolerate you. Whether it is MQM or military.

And Qazi Sahab out of frustration is asking the remnant bearded (Mashallah Sub Pe including Imtiaz Sahab Corruption Ke Muqadme Hain. Mashallah) army high rank to topple the Pervez Musharraf Government otherwise before MQM workers were beating Jamatis, now their own workers will beat them.

Alhamdu-Lillah.

Re. #559

Tahmad321

Thank you for responding to my query [#550]. I am in your debt.

Yes, I have heard the Quran read to me in translation many times.

I was mortified to read my letter today in the Chowk. It was incoherent and replete with spellings mistakes.

I was half asleep when I wrote that letter at 3:30 in the morning. I knew something was wrong somewhere [in Denmark?] but couldn`t put my finger on it. Right now I can put both my hands on it! Sorry for being so off my elements.

Sincerely,

PP

CONTRADICTORY INFORMATION

The following letter to the Editor (Dawn, February 14, 2001) provides another challenge to all Muslims (and interested non-Muslim Chowkies) to look for authentic information about the punishment for blasphemy. The letter has originated from the Pakistani headquarter of the Ahmadis/Qadianis, though it may not be written by an Ahmadi (for me personally it does not “really” matter who the author is).

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

Blasphemy and punishment
IT appears that Islam has not prescribed any punishment for blasphemy. It must be a later development because we don`t find any precedent for it.

In Madina, one Abdullah bin Abai, the chief of the hypocrites, uttered a grave blasphemous remark about the Holy Prophet (pbuh). His own son came to the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and sought permission from him to kill his own father as a punishment for his blasphemous utterance. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) didn`t permit him to do so. Later, when Abdullah bin Abai died the Holy Prophet (pbuh) even offered his funeral prayers.

It clearly appears that in Islam, there is no punishment for blasphemy. Such a cases are best left to God.

HABIB AHMAD, Rabwah

RSaxena:

Nope. It`s not on my list. I am very selective! Though I am waiting for, `The adventures of Tom Sawyer.` It will be playing next month. Laiken, having watched Aida[beautiful and sweet], Beauty and the Beast[lovely sets], Scarlet Pimpernel[excellent], Jeckyll and Hyde[good], Macbeth[good], Art[bukvaas], Jane Eyre[great]...I could not appreciate the famous Ms. Saigon at all. In fact, I hated the whole nonsense. As a result, I am even hesitant to watch Chicago and Riverdance.

If I have to watch one again, I will go back to Aida and Beauty and the Beast. The sets are like a real play and you`ll love the ambience. Simply magnificent!

Hope the documentary was helpful!

Adnan 672 #527

I don`t get your point.

These are valid points, I mentioned.

Read Hossein Nasr, read Mowdudi.etc

The good thing so far I have noticed is that in none of post you said read Surah Baqr Ayah this or read Koran.

If I had enough time there are many writers who are taking part in the progress of God`s created creations. Why should I bother to read a person who incites hatred and superiority complex among Muslims rather being humble and afraid of God.

Anyway.

To you your way and to me mine.

You have taken the contract, I have not.

Don`t forget the Hadith that in later times people will be speaking big about religion and religion will not have touched their heart.

Pervez Pirzada# on your only post.

`Where were you``.

What were the words used in English thousand years back for this (Where were you).

Have you read Chaucer. If you can read one page of his book, let me know.

As far as reading translation of Arabic in English and Urdu, there is no harm as long as one knows it is translation.

I have tried to read translation with original text. Due to richness of Arabic Language for expression, it is impossible to translate with final authority.

That is why there are Tafseer to elucidate the meaning, but they also depend upon human understanding.

As far as Quran in Arabic. The reason was prophet PBUH was sent to Arabs.

But not a single word of Koran is changed in 1400 years. Be assured.

re adnan

``Al Badr and Al Shams were there to defend the homeland, ...``

Some defense they played by raping 200,000 Muslim women, and killing a third of the largely Muslim faculty of the Univesrity of Dhaka.

I am relieved to finally know what kind of `Islam` you are defending on this board. A true Jamaati to the core. Man, have you guys no shame? Even the Serbian government hesitates in publicly defending Gen Mladic and the Arakan Eagle thugs. And here you openly champion the butchers of Dhaka?

Your disgusting defense of the Al-Badr and Al-Shams is no different than the neo-Nazi defense of the glories of the Reich!