Jinnah and the Islamic State – Setting the Record Straight Important point is being missed.
The problem in siding with theocratic state argumnet is that it gives power to war mongerring mullahs who also consider that shariah suggests complete islamisation of the society where every non muslim is a convert and then one can imagine foreign policy agenda of such a state where the only viable foreign policy objective acording to shariah would be an effort towards the islamisation of the whole world through dawas and if not through terrorism as can be seen today where shariah proponenets carry extreme symathies for the cause of extremists.

Now europe is secular, but church and christianity is promoted vigorously. pakistanis need to understand there is no contradiction between secularism and islamic Pakistan. The reality is that Pakistan is muslim majority state and laws will be formed according to their religious orientation, however it is short of imposing a system also in letter and spirit which was one ofth most progressive systems some 1500 years ago unless and untill some fundamental changes are carried out through educated ijtehad so that it can suit a society which is 160 million strong and need resources to feed them, where basic facilities of life be provided.

The Shariah bearing saudi economy with its traditional closeness is financed by Oil money. Also the middle east peripherries like Dubai and others have a most progressive outlooks which are part of larger plans of middle east. However there is strong pattern that the Arabs want to use Pakistan for maintaining its political clout primarily by funding brain washing campaigns, where they can find millions of poor people ready to die and also terrorise the masses.

Pakistan is no Saudi Arabia. The survival of pakistan is its smart economics and human capital, if developed further. It is impractical to implement Sharaih when Pakistani economy cannot sustain itself and where millions are below poverty line for whom religion out of any thing else makes the most sense. Showing them the way of extremism is criminal.

God is a Metaphor Dear Anil,

Whose human Mind you want me to worship?

Yours, Dr. Sohail`s, Einstien`s, Hitlers`, Gandhi`s or mine......gengis khan`s?

This is ignorance at its height

God the best creation of human mind......so is the weather....?

or you claim that science understands the weather, then why it has failed to control it and why they are crying for global warming and why physics they talk about butterfly effect.

Donot go so high on science as it is still largely nothing but bunch of theories when you start discussing something as abstract as God.

So instead of start worshipping your mind, or an idol make your life more simple? fail to understand why you cannot believe in one God with the entirety of what you understand and what you donot.

God is a Metaphor secondly,

isnt it logical to believe in the one who believes in you.

Mushammad (PBUH) believed in jews and christians (except that jesus is not a son of GOD). He seeked help for his comrades from a Christian emperor who after listenning to them said indeed Muhammad is a prophet of God.

Muhammad did fought with some jewish tribemen who supported the non believers of quraish due to the power game but he never called for war against any jew or Christian or asked them to become a muslim with force. His was only the way of reasoning.

WHat he expected, requested and reasoned was that God is one and he is a prophet of God. simple isnt it?

He did criticise some of the illogical practices of Christians and jews though which in no way undermine their religion. It is the same as criticising a wrong policy in its historic account regarding a country or a social group. much the same as Muslims are criticised and is correct if seen only in its contemprary context. something like that......

Similarly as mentioned in Quran, the fight was against the ones who did not believe Muhammad but also ridicule his message and preferred to retain their ignorance. The fight was not to have power but to convince and spread the message of truth.

In today`s world a simple click on internet may do the job. Thus trying to relive a similar color of muslim struggle in contemporary times can easily be argued as far less effective and in most cases irrelevant.

Today, due to economic and social development, countries as states work based on efficiency, trust and responsibility and not entirely based on self interest. Though existence of hegemonic foreign posture by some as well as corporate race of interests still trap us into a debate rational and progressive individuals in societies would best like to avoid.

So trust is the whole game and mutual respect is the missing link. secularism seems only a logical step forward. Education and universal wisdom is only to follow. Time is the only real judge here as we behave most times as if world is the same as it is 100 or even thousand or sometimes millions of years ago.

God is a Metaphor ````now i

believe that religion needs to be a private affair and state law needs to be based on secular

and humanist priciples so that all citizens have equal rights and privileges.sincerely sohail```````


Now that is a correct assertion. And it is in no way a contradiction to theology and minute details of religious practices. Law of the land in contemporary world should be secular where as you say every one has equal rights irrespective of their set of beliefs or what have you. Secular laws are the first step to global harmony and welfare as well as combined human quest to unravel further truth and mystery of life.

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth Dear mr Gill,

I would refer you and others to watch a movie a documentary by an australian woman. The title is ``The Secret``. It entails interviews from physics professors also. The movie is rgarding a phenomenon, a universal one. Some statistical patterns have confirmed that such phenomenon exists.

I hope it will help you to understand the existence of God though the documentary never implicitly mentions anything like God. But I hope you can then connect some links yourselves.

Best

God is a Metaphor ``` if you

were born in a christian or a jewish or a hindu family what would you have believed in?

most muslims that i met never understood the meaning of the holy book they believe

in...how sad...don`t you think people need to understand the book they would like to follow

in their life and discover the right interpretation````

Dear Dr. Sohail

I try to believe in the truth. The Islamic definition of the muslim is to say this:

Allah (God) is one (most logical acceptance of a fact)

Muhammad is the prophet of God (again most logical historic conclusion)

Now I am a muslim.

I belive in jesus. Now i am a muslim again.

I believe in Einstein and admire him dearly. and there is much more to belive in . Again I am muslim (simply put a believer in truth). That is the effort for all of us. Find truth and believe in it . Or atleast be near to the truth.

Eienstein The Genius has this to say to us who could now only read him...

(I have no idea where my ideas come from).
(knowledge is limited and Imagination encircles the whole universe)
*He realised as always a marvelous genius he was that God exists and he had a very defined idea about God sometimes much the same way a Muslim reasons).

So Dr. Sohail you donot have to find reasoning of God from a theologian. Read Einstein you would find ample and rich hints.

God is a Metaphor ```````my request to all believers in GOD is to share with me their encounters with GOD...being a

student of human psychology i have a great interest in such mystical encounters....if they

did not have any encounters that means that their belief is based on a blind faith...````


Dear Dr. Sohail,

I did have elobrate and a bit out of usual encounters and shades of exposure. Though it is quite complicated than to be simply put here. WHat I can say is that I have a greater understanding about the philosophy of life. Though suffice to say: Imagination is an encounter to God in open day light anytime at any place.

You are right that some have blind faith and it is upto me and you and like ones to explain to such individuals the philosophy rather than confuse them by suggesting that God is the creation of our mind.

There is a stark difference between creation and realisation. Muhammad realised and not created God. Hence all the prophets of God (some critical analysis may tell us the definition of prophets ) realised the existence of God (as I defined subtly in earlier posts) not created God.

However many do try to create something of God out of things which is illogical. Thus to end the confusion which still entails us regarding a simple realisation, Muhammad and earlier prophets made a very humble request to beilive in One God (one force) and tried to argue that they themselves are only humans and only a mode to realise the fact that Allah exist.

ALlah says in Quran: There is everything where you can have the proof of Allah.

Yes some minds can see beyond what may an average eye see in it surroundings and find the patterns of his abstract being in a more eloborate and astonishing manners.

It is much similar to your experiences that you mustvehave `realised` that climate is changing, you have realised that like any other human or living organism you age, you have realised that fire can do many jobs, you have realised many and many more........But indeed it would be unfortunate if you have not realised that what simple message of truth some one of the most humble and kind people realised and worked all life to let the others know sacrificing everything they pertain: time, power and resources.

Or you would like to realise it yourself. Then seek it in your own way. Donot create God for yourself dr.Sohail and make an effort to realise it on your own turf which indeed would be if i may say a better scenerio rather getting confused yourself while trying to help out some less logical individuals.

We can have further discussions . Best

Understanding the Death Fatwa on Taslima Nasreen sure
have a usual field day at Chowk
best

Understanding the Death Fatwa on Taslima Nasreen Well Muslims are neither entirely powerless nor most powerful but stupid in many cases.
For example Saddam and his way of rule.
For example Taliban in post 911 and their intolerance towards every thing. ete etc

There is no conspiracy against muslims but yes there may be some miniscule. really cheap and insignificant conspiracy against Islam which also manage to get some headlines as well as some audience every once in a while. However such activity is quite insignificant. There are in the West many non Muslims scholars doing Phd and professorships on islam and they have nothing but praise about Islam and its contributions. Though some may also be the critics but they rarely adopt Taslima way of commenting on Islam.

So if some of such independent opinion givers in the West act in stupidity doesnot mean that whole muslim Ummah act as a militant body. Yes Taslima and her Ilks are not to be insulted or threatenned of life but rebuked and discouraged with intellectual prowess and grace. That is far more powerful methodology as the world is watching and analysing too.

If every one is not without any sin today, how we can claim to bring violence upon others` sins as our political responsibility. It is a simple contradiction for outside world.

Our prophet (PBUH) forgave the ones who insulted and tortured him. Can as his followers we not start forgiving and concentrate more on more important matters. Faith is the basic ingredient of character but not the sufficient one.

More unjustice are done by muslims on other muslims so if any one from outside comes and manipulate, it is not a conspiracy against Islam but our own fault. Islam is not a political movement but a philosophy of life. And the bearers of the philosophy better need to update their knowledge as well as act in coordination and wisdom since only then others may be more interested to hear what emotional solace Islam has to offer.

Understanding the Death Fatwa on Taslima Nasreen Dear Zeemax

On second thought I have lot of respect for you and your opinion...
What you generally mean here is misunderstood and only becuase most of your critics donot care and or they just like to keep their biasness as it is or they cannot simply understand....

Any person who puts his life on line is a person of character but there is a difference between a soldier and a terrorist though subtle in nature.....

A terrorist, before he plans to blow himself up is as much human as any of us is....
A person who is not a terrorist but an ET, extra terrstrial, out of this world, a standard error, who want to sacrifice his precious being for a cause, and that is anyone who do not put his/her life dare to him or her but only for the good of humanity.

But the moment the same person becomes a terrorist, take upon himself to take up his life and life of other innocent beings makes him a nonhuman, an illogical machine who has no respect for other lives..such exposition of irrationality is done under stress and misplaced emotions...when he gives up hope....it is an extreme measure and a tragic but also wicked shortcut to achieve some political end .. Thus they are transformed into machines of destruction and ones who may rightly be accused of being brainwashed. And no one would care for such an individual if coming from a muslim society but a muslim and muslims should care for such lives as they care for theirs and their childrens and thus outrightly discourage and isolate any voices of extremism which encourage such violent rhetoric.

There is no difference between a suicide or a suicide bombing.....both are same and illegal or haram in islam. Thus the hate and disgust by the society which is affected by such extremist acts is entirely justified and for them it is entirely reasonable to claim such acts as acts of cowardice and evil.

Islam is a message of hope not some minscule philosophy of militancy...

So it is unfortunate that inidividuals are shown the way of such extreme measures who were if not transformed into terrorists might very well be the people of some good character. These Mullahs, the socalled leaders of Islamic Ummah, encourage into a criminal activity if they motivate or encourage such notions of extremes as suicide bombings.

So we need to curb it and the State is quite right to curb it. Again I repeat it is the prerogative of state and state only to act or retaliate with force through a well maintained, well defined and disciplined army. Though, ideally peace is the only best solution among nations and the larger world, where wisdom does flow easy, and in recent times the wise ones are working more vigorously for the possibility of a peaceful and globalised world through many international initiatives.

The first condition to achieve global harmony is tolerance and restraint (diplomacy) and reign of logic and philosophy would follow through science and technology, the ultimate ground of contemporary human progress.

A person of character in a civil life needs to be identified and energies need to be used for the progress of society and it is only unfortunate to transform a young, vibrant, emotional individual into a terrorist or even extremist of any kind.

Thus respect is the key and practiced democracy is the way forward where opinions are not made out of hate or even superiority of own`s metal stature but through logic, a natural facet of every human being.

Understanding the Death Fatwa on Taslima Nasreen Dear Zeemax,

There are two issues clearly.

Islam and muslims becoming every one`s whipping boy. Now the fault lies two ways but really one way and that is our ownselves. Why would we expect that someone from outside would come and really solve every thing for us. Most are just worried . many donot care and some conspire against muslims. In short no body is really interested, sympathetic or even care what we have to say or not say.

What is Jehad. The literal meaning is fight. 1500 years ago Jehad bin talwar was afzal bcause the times were such. Now such methodology is out rightly out of date and obsolete as far as idividaul`s decision to take up arms is concerned. It is the prerogative of state only.
The dynamics of world have changed. Today it is information age. The requirements to bring across the message, whether message of peace, logic and rationality or a propaganda against Islam , mostly media is used and abused. Subtle advertisement and image building campaigns are run over the actions of very few.

So muslims need to change the strategy. Educated and professional muslims with good knowledge of Islam are needed then psuedo Mullahs who would know not much then Islamic history and also in a certain expressionist form which would pshycologically take them to the periods of Crusades or before. Thus not only do they are living in fantasy world but bring the same vision of de ja vu to their audience and thus every one is brainwashed.

And who is doing all the good things for them and making life convinient for them, western multinationals who donot really care what these Mullahs and their armies do as far as all of them are happily consuming their good products be it information technology or simple electricity and other simple urban life consumer products.

All this is not to say or undermine their role in the society and it could all be positive. We all need to be proud of our religion and we are. But we should also be proud of larger philosophy of life and contributions of many to the society who come from worlds these mullahs hate so much.

With Populations at a staggerring figure of 160 million, my friend we cannot afford these luxuries of militancy. The Nation needs to adopt a positive mindset. Issues are not resolved like what the Lal masjid crowd did. We are not Saudi Arabia, who are endowed with Oil. We need to adopt smart strategies and give confidence to the State. Use media and forums to expose the wrong doings of State. Indulge in campaigns. Show to the outside world that Islam is what we claim and not some like Taslima claim.

At the end of the day it is all about marketting. And we are living in lucky times. logic and reasoning is indeed in demand, only if some one is interested to hear.

p.s. I donot blame the students of the Hafsa. They are young and their anger and disgust is quite right over an issue like prostitution or sale of pornography in shops. However, they should ve adopted a more wise approach. It is high time we start taking education seriously and take lessons of diplomacy and not militancy. If some aspects of our Islamic history teaches us militancy, we need to give it up if that militancy mean taking up arms by individual in a state at their own whim.

Why we forget the messages of Illama Iqbal who visioned Pakistan. Such religious fundamentalism is doing rounds in the country that suggests we have forgotten the messages of sir syed ahmad khan and illama iqbal and rather more interested in violent militancy campaigns against state machinary. This is not a rational approach and would not do any good to Pakistan or Islam which is one of the most logical, simple and progressive philosophies of life and not merely a political movement of some who can claim to be better muslims than us.


All this is not to say that we copy cultures or imitate Indian policies or western ones for that matter. As we here in Chowk all know too well about the goods and bads about those places as well. What I mean is, we can be the best ones only if we all learn to cooperate, respect each other`s point of view and look for a median ground.

God is a Metaphor Dear Dr. Sohail,

I have a question for you.

Allah in Arabic is a combination of two words. Al which means what is and lah which means what is not.

Muhammad (PBUH) didnt say God, Kuddah etc neither did Jesus of Nazreth. You must know that in times of jesus or before , Roman kings used to claim they are son of Gods. So God was more of an empror and ideed a metaphor.

However elah and Allah have entirely different connotations.

So my question is do you know what Muhammad meant when he said `Allah is one` . What was Muhammad really referring to?

Allah is a very specific word a phenomenon never to be used for idols or even persons. None ever claimed that ``I am Allah``. As the word which means what is and what is not (every thing) can simply be not used. It is very defined expression and at the same time very simple expression and definition of God which is quite different than the representaions you put forward to defend secular athiesm. Since you are writing articles not purely on psyciatry, are you not delving into a bit of philosophy. If you are, then why would you present an argument based on misunderstood notions and cleche`s as if you are being part of the same confused audiences you in the first place wanted to help out with this article.


Thanx

Understanding the Death Fatwa on Taslima Nasreen Dear Zeemax,

sorry to say Your post 194 is piece of emotional bull.
The Madrassah or who so ever should not undermine the Sate....Period

Now you may come up with ususal justification that law is being trampled, victom of autocratic rule etc

Even then taking law in hands is unjustified and criminal.........The Madrassah women may have not crossed many limits as They are being clearly used by some religious and probably extremists or politically motivated elements in the Madrassah

People`s party had every right to come out on the streets. Though yes they should have raised the issue of prostitution etc as well. But anyway The madrassah people instead of using kidnappings as a methodology to curb prostitution shouldve instead initated a awareness campaign or very well undertaken a peaceful rally.
Prostitution is going on in Pakistan since 1947 and the religious mafia of Lal masjid has waken up only now?

Any educated observer would conclude that there are some other motives. What are they I donot know but definitely it is not what it seems.

Façade of Pseudo Feminism ````Let me give you my example..........I always wear jeans in Pakistan( even in rural areas)...I never ever felt any kind of harassment).......all they do is respect me and love me.....

Most of the times, rural poor men take me to their families and introduce me to their wives and advice them to listen to me and do exactly what I tell them.....they do not get offended....Men I have experienced are more supportive and like to change their women folks.................. ````

Thanks for the encouragement and you are quite right the issues of women are more regarding their economic empowerment. If women carry themselves with grace and confidence, I think they will only get respect from any one who is reasonable despite being educated or not.

Façade of Pseudo Feminism Dear Zeena,

No idea why so many of these men or women are frustrated and giving such negative reactions. ARe they all New york times journalists asked by Chowk to edit articles?

I said pseudo feminism in the garb of feminism or they think feminism is the most pure activist and academic initiative ever started and why because it is started by `Women``so I am all the more SINFUL who questioned it.

Every thing in this world can be questioned and ridiculed but not FEMINISM. Well that is the problem. Have not we notice same inflexibility in the point of Fundmentalists who are not ready to listen to anything other than their point of view.

In the start of my article I say femisism and women empowerment is all the more important but I question pseudo feminism in the garb of feminism and women rights.

. Now the frustrations show that most associated themselves with pseudo femisism and thus all frustrated . Well not only I write articles, in my personal life also I am very vocal about it and quite right some times it is a cause of my social exclusion and gets frustrating but I am not gonna give it up.

Regarding Pakistani women they are indeed so repressed that anything they say and do is justified. Though not applicable for Pakistani women who have spent significant time in the West as then they should be smart enough to realise what is a fad and what is not. So I guess this article may look a bit of out of place me sitting here in the West interacting and going about doing things in an environment which is entirely different then Pakistani environment where even if a woman comes out on a street in jeans there is some possibility of harassment.

Understanding the Death Fatwa on Taslima Nasreen On second thought

We humans in a universal sense ``how singificant and how insignificant we are at the same time``
But we think we are significant and most significant...its another of the tragedy of commons being part of the scientific age....but only wonder whether for each burning star when it explodes do we matter?

But Allah says in Quran yes we matter because we understand and logic



However the reality is most act in a manner as if we donot matter much to each other though many have tried to prove and claim otherwise

This is the whole fuss and quite evident at Chowk: trying to prove significance of one over another...or significance of oneself

and then come the athiests who basically claim ``Humans are the Gods`` well we are not what is and what is not

we are just a small equation in this abstract universe. we are someones who have achieved something in one of the most insignificant planet in the Universe. whether what we have achived is achievement is only true because we have no comparisons which basically should mean we still remain ignorant to the larger secrets of this universe.


In one of the verses in Quran Allah says ``humans are at fault`` quite true it is because as a social group we would never overcome our pshycological dillemmas of inherent mishief so that life becomes more colorful.