What Constitutes Blasphemy?

ahmadb #126

aoa

when the Salman Rushdie issue proped up ppl like u were clamouring

``at least read the thing before criticizing``

now when some newspaper prints a translation

u say ``SINISTER``

make up ur mind please

wassalaam

adnan

yme #114 That letter was as much off-base as the mullahs who attacked it. As a Muslim, I have a right to set the record straight and expose the factual inaccuracies and extreme bias in that letter. This is a much more effective way to defend our religous feelings against baseless attacks than to physically threaten and attack those people. The use of blasphemy laws to pass the death sentence on five people, as the mullahs are calling for, is a gross violation of Islam - and a very stupid way to defend Islam. Let us not let the stupid mullah reaction detract from the fact that the letter was a piece of trash that was designed to elicit exactly the reaction the mullah`s displayed.

AAKER PATEL has mentioned that some letter was not published by Chowk..that is very sad...WHY CHOWK...WHY ?? THAT WAS NOT EXPECTED FROM CHOWK Is CHOWK worried that CHOWK OFFICE in SILICON VALLEY will be RANSACKED ..by BUSH ADMINISTRATION....

Zahra #121 Agreed on hamidm. I am getting a bit tired of listening to his monotonous beating of the same old drum.

Hamidm Brotherm: How about changing the topic? and the tune too?

adnan #148 aoa

Please read the Quran carefully and ask yourself honestly: Is the Message so complicated that you need the help of commentaries on it? Is there anywhere in the Quran where it says that it is not meant for ordinary people but for those specially qualified to interpret it? Indeed, the Quran repeatedly warns against those who wish to serve as intermediaries between man and God. It repeatedly warns that there is no partner of Allah. This may seem totally opposite to what you have been taught from childhood, and I am sorry to offend your sensibilities. But please have faith in your God-given abilities to think for yourself and have faith in the Word of God. Dont worry about the commentators and dont be afraid of what everyone around you will say if they found you trying to understand the Quran by yourself. And then dont be afraid to see for yourself how vast the gap is between the clear Words of the Quran and common beliefs that people have in Pakistan. Only then will you realize what the true path is for a muslim.

JR:

Welcome Back !

:-)

In response to adnan_672 (Reply # 149)
Dear Adnan:

How your comment is relevant to my cut-and-paste post (Reply # 126)? Kindly explain your viewpoint (and please don’t disregard what I have written so far).

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

tahmad

dear tahmad

suggested reading

1. sunnat ki ainee haisiyat by mawdudi

2. ilm ul hadith by fazl ur rahman chishti

will help clear ur misconceptions

and btw the prophet (SAW) was a LAW GIVER as well

basic flaw in ur thinking as i see it

sorry to offend

but u must be ready to tolerate other opinions

u seem bugged if someone differs

wassalaam

adnan

nameless #130: I think you have rightly pointed to the clues of this conspiracy. The JI is worried from losing its influence in military and government because of Pervez Musharraf. They definitely have their eye on the next COAS as someone more favorable to JI. Who could he be? Is Musharraf planning to promote someone else of his liking? Are some members of the military backing JI in this effort?

The FP event clearly puts pressure on Musharraf, to be hard on ``culprits``. Notice, today the offices of JI`s newspaper Jasarat were raided by police confiscating the pamphlets with Urdu translation of the infamous letter? What is in the interest of JI to print out pamphlets with translation of Ben Zac letter? Why JI and Jasarat interested in inciting violence and destabilising Musharraf?

Is JI part of the original conspiracy to get the letter publushed in FP or producing fake copies of FP?

Another possible conspiracy is related to drug trade. The owner of FP is in prison on drug trafficking charges, I believe in US. He obviously knows who else, including Taliban, are involved in the drug trafficking. Is this a way to sent him a message or taking revenge for some information he has disclosed to the authorities?

I seriously doubt that it is a simple case of carelessness on part of editorial staff. I smell something really fishy in all this episode. This is just my opinion and I do not mean to convince anybody here.

On a more serious note, the internet makes a lot of people vulnerable to be charged under blasphemy law. Anybody can send you a blasphemous e-mail without solicitation and if you are careless not to delete it immediately and a mullah/ or a nemesis finds out its contents-you are in deep trouble.

I suppose a society without cinema, newspares, electronic media and internet is less sinful than one with all the ``trappings of the west``. Actually a world without human beings is even better, completely sin-free, a utopia for fundamentalists.

na rahe ga baNs, na baje gi bansari.

Ref: hamidm (Post#102) & Urstruly (Post#119)

The taliban version of Islam is not the only interpretation available. They might be severly mistaken, but if they are not....Allah forgive us.

Also, every body who speaks of Islam and its system cannot be branded as taliban. Please remember that the scenario had changed just now, Around a century back West was also clinging onto wht ever was left of their religious beliefs. But Christianity could not adapt to the rapidly emerging industrial revolution and its implications until it was discarded by its own champions.

The same trauma constituted by Industrial revolution and post colonial conditions was felt in the muslim world as well and it emanated various reactions. Some very rigid but others quite moderate. These moderate ones shall constitute a force which will be the hall mark of Islamic faith in the twentyfirst century, Inshallah. (hamidm even in these moderates you wont find it possible to enjoy the booze).

One such example is the Al Refah party in Turkey. Out of the ashes of forgotten ottoman empire rose this resurrgence. I think they had set an example to the world that in a secular state (secular than thou), people will revert to Islamic faith not because of any subjugation but because they are not comfortable with the so-called secularist system.

Islam offers a complete and distinct system which had developed after centuries of evolution. This system is at par with all presented so far. It also shows the capability of facing all upheavals be them Industrial, Information or Social.

Only thing required is a fresh interpretation in complaince with post modern era while holding fast the Islamic Shariah. This adaptation would not be easy to come by.. it requires a clear & rational thought on part of the clergy and thinkers of Islamic World.

Moreover, one thing should be kept in mind that phenomena like the Taliban are sponsored and run by western nations to fuel their bogey of Islamic fundamentalism. They in no manner can depict the character of Islamic civilization which has flourished for a millinium and half.

As for people, who like to tarnish Islam just for the heck of it will have their reward on day of judgement.

Wassalam

Muzammil

PM #132

I am waiting for further hearsay.

And that is why christians are not promised Ghulaman because in whites the most common mode of transmission of AIDS is homosexuality.

Leave Ghulaman and Houris for us.We know very well the purpose of each.

Aakar Patel

Still you have guts to come to this forum.

Shame on you.

You are the editor of a newspaper and very powerful. Indeed you have taken the job of Razzaq. Giving and taking Rizq on your own will.

Publish that material in your own paper. Why are you so chicken.

Begging Chowk to publish.

(By the way almost all interactors have read it.

Thanks.

yme #114

I don`t know whether you understand what you are writing.

Writing something baseless to infuriate some group is different from critical writing to clarify a matter.

If you have not read the letter read it.

It not only has no facts, but highly derogatory tone.

It is like saying Mr. yme you are a mother f--, a mad and cata-mite.

If you try to defend it you will be a complete fool or make a complete fool of yourself.

The proper response will be either slap or give worse abuse to person saying this to you.

So whether Prophat PBUH is a property of Muslim or not. He is in such high esteem for us that we defend it more than our life, honor and whatnot.

Mannyd #105

We need more.

Once more:-)

In response to fawad79 (Reply # 143):
Dear Fawad:

I agree with the main trust of your post. However, the state and civil society in Pakistan is not organized to protect the kind of rights you are asking.

Are you aware of the specific chronology of post-publication events? Can you or somebody else construct it for our benefit?

Your post reminds me of a true story. During the Great Depression, some farmers (who were about to lose their farms due to foreclosure) abducted the judge from Sioux City, Iowa, USA. The angry farmers took him to a nearby farm, and they wanted to lynch him. Sanity somehow prevailed. The judge was released. After this incident, the police started its legal responsibility. The perpetrators who had fled to several adjoining States were arrested within a few weeks. And, you can figure out the rest of the story. This was in the early 1930s.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

In response to SaadPAslam (Reply # 140)
Dear Saad:

It requires great courage and character to accept our own mistakes and to rectify them. We all get carried away occasionally. I commend you for your new position.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad