As the following series of articles by a Deobandi cleric Maulana Nadeemul Wajidi published in several Urdu newspapers show, so-called Ulema in India are no less obscurantist and extremist in their views. They justify killing in the same way as do the Pakistanis. They are as happy at the killing of Salman Taseer, Governor of Pakistani Punjab, as are their Pakistani counterparts.
These articles reveal the way this assassination is being justified in India’s Muslim Press. The minds of common Indian Muslims are being poisoned in the same way as has been done in Pakistan. The couplets by Zafar Ali Khan Zafar the Maulana quotes with approval are enough to reveal his mind. A loose translation is being presented below:
(A blasphemer of the Prophet deserves death every which way,
This is the principle Muslim self-respect has been following since the beginning of Time;
If even one blasphemer of the Prophet remains alive,
God will not accept a single prayer of yours.)
And of course, there is no need for any evidence against a blasphemer. The courts or even media cannot perpetrate the ignominy of asking an accuser to repeat the act of blasphemy. So just if some so-called Muslim accuses any one of blasphemy, he or she should be condemned to death and since the modern courts may not do that in the absence of any evidence (except in Pakistan), so-called Muslims should take the law into their own hands and carry out the act of execution sanctioned by their “faith” or, to be more precise, the interpretation of their faith given by these obscurantist Mullahs.
This is the view being widely propagated. And this at the same time as Maulanas also proclaim that Islam is a religion of peace and amity, fit to be allowed to prosper in the 21st century, even in multi-religious, multi-cultural societies.
Let us hope India’s moderate Muslim intelligentsia is aware of the growing radicalisation of the Indian Muslim society and is ready to face what is coming. As many do not read these articles in the Urdu Press, we are providing an English translation. –- Sultan Shahin, Editor, New Age Islam
URL: http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamUrduSection_1.aspx?ArticleID=3963
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Punishment for Blasphemy and Laws of Pakistan - 1
By Maulana Nadeemul Wajidi
Even a non-practising Muslim cannot tolerate a word against Hadhrat Muhammad (PBUH). This fact was once again proved to the world when a guard of the security squad of the Punjab governor Salman Taseer shot him dead. Selman Taseer was a leader of the ruling People’s Party and had come from Lahore to Islamabad to play his role in the current developments in the political circles of Pakistan. After finishing his assignments he reached the restaurant Table Talk in Kohsar Market of Islamabad to have his lunch. As he moved towards his car after finishing his lunch, Malik Mumtaz Qadri directed his gun towards him and before Salman Taseer could perceive the danger, the bullets did their work. The news of his assassination evoked mixed reactions. The media and the ruling party condemned the killing and called it an unfortunate event. On the other hand, the people all over the country expressed joy over the incident and Mumtaz Qadri became a national hero. When he was produced before the anti-terrorism court, thousands of people present there showered him with flowers and wished him a long life.
Salman Taseer was an influential leader and had a prominent place in the party. As a governor he had been provided comprehensive security. Nevertheless he was killed in broad daylight. The assassination was carried out by none other than his own bodyguard who was appointed to guard his life. Pakistani people were well aware of the motives behind the murder but the world outside was shocked by the news. It did not know that Salman Taseer had himself created situations for his murder. Pakistani people had anticipated this eventuality. The governor had been continuously issuing provocative statements and the Muslims had been losing patience because he was a governor and was above the law and the government but he forgot that there was such a court and law which was above the both of them and that his case had been decided in that court. To understand why it happened we need to look into the past.
The mischief (fitna) of Qadianiyat emerged in the undivided India and the ulema put their efforts to fight it on both educational and practical levels. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani was a self-appointed prophet and claimed to be the last prophet. His claim negated the basic beliefs of Islam. So ulema came to the forefront, cases were fought in the courts and the truth prevailed. This fitna had the support of the British so the Qadianis continued to flourish and spread their influence all over the country till the country was divided. This fitna spread its tentacles in Pakistan too. Unfortunately, the rulers of Pakistan were weak with regards to both beliefs and practice. Taking advantage of their weakness, many Qadianis also remained on important posts in the government. But the struggle of the ulema continued in the mamlikat-e-khudadad (God’s own country). Many ulema attained martyrdom and many went through incarcerations but they did not accept defeat. They demanded that the Qadianis should be declared non-Muslims and their activities against the Muslims and Islam should be banned. If there was any nationwide, effective and passionate movement in Pakistan, it was on this issue. The movement was run first in 1953 and then in 1974. The Pakistani rulers realised the fact rather belatedly that the issue of blasphemy was not too ordinary to be ignored. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto reached the seat of power on the promise of accepting the demand and fulfilled his promise. The Qadianis were declared non-Muslim minority. Notwithstanding, their activities continued that are going on even today.
On the other hand, in the undivided India, some other sects also continued to play with the sentiments of the Muslims. Sometimes they would make defamatory remarks against Hadhrat Aisha (R.A.), sometimes they would make unsavoury remarks against the Quran and sometimes they used blasphemous remarks against the holy Prophet (PBUH). Muslims confronted this section as well, went through legal proceedings too and even brought them to book. But this section could not be done away with completely. The members of this section are still present in the form of Salman Rushdie and Taslima Nasreen. There is no dearth of people in Pakistan too who time and again hurt the sentiments of the Muslims. Such provocations were not illegal during the British rule. In later years too, the law failed to reign in these foul mouths. This way the rebellious elements continued with their task. The government of Pakistani parliament had passed the Anti Blasphemy Law (295-C) in 1980 on the demand of the ulema and the common people. Under the Bill, claim to prophethood was declared punishable with death and the death sentence was prescribed for the person who commits blasphemy against the Prophet (PBUH) with his words or acts. The so-called intellectuals of Pakistan had opposed the law. The so-called flagbearer of human rights Asma Jahangir had issued the unfortunate statement after the promulgation of the law that “Muslims take pride in being the ummat (followers) of an ummi”(One who has not received formal education in schools). The so-called broadmindedness of the ruling class of Pakistan did not take action against Asma Jahangir though she should be the first victim of the anti-blasphemy laws. The woman had committed blasphemy by regarding the word ‘ummi’ synonymous with ‘illiterate’. Although she was well aware of the truth that the word ‘ummi’ was used for the Prophet (PBUH) in the sense that he (PBUH) was never a pupil of any teacher. Otherwise the verse of the Quran ‘wa almaka maalam takun taalam’ shows that his (PBIH) real teacher is Allah who gave him( PBUH) all knowledge of the universe and the hereafter. Who can then be a greater scholar and educated person than him? The tradition carried forward by her reached to Salman Taseer and the government could not punish him as well. But the Almighty did not like a blasphemer to go scot free.
The incident that culminated in the assassination of Salman Taseer occurred on June 2, 2009. The incident revolves round a Christian lady Asia Bibi who drank water from the bowl meant for two Muslim women Afia and Asima during their work in a Falsa orchard in Itan Wali in Nankana Saheb. They did not say anything but drank from another bowl. This act of Afia and Asima offended Asia Masihi. If she had said something to them as a reaction, it would not have meant much. In fact she said something blasphemous about the Prophet (PBUH), Hadhrat Khadija (R.A.) and the Holy Quran. The owner of the orchard also reached the spot. She said the same thing before him as well. Even when an FIR was registered against her and the investigations were initiated against her she admitted her guilt before the SP in the presence of the villagers. On the basis of her confession, the statements of the witnesses and the inquiry report, the court had no option but to pronounce death sentence for her under the Anti blasphemy Laws. The court did the same. The Additional Sessions Judge’s court pronounced death sentence and a fine of Rs One hundred thousand against her on the basis of circumstantial evidence and testimonies of the witnesses.
Now, the flag bearers of human rights started their work. It was said that the court’s decision was barbaric. The governments of America and England protested against it. The religious heads of the Christians appealed that Asia should be released and deported to a western country. Punjab governor Salman Taseer was one of those who criticised the court order. Infuriated at the incident, he called the anti-blasphemy law a black law although the law is the voice of millions of Muslims. He did not stop at that. He went to the jail with his wife and daughter to see Asia. He put his hand on her head, wrote a letter asking for pardon on her behalf and promised that he will take rest only after getting her pardoned. He called a press conference outside the jail and reiterated his resolve and said that he will get the ‘black law’ repealed.
It can be said that Salman Taseer was no less guilty; rather he was a greater criminal. He committed contempt of court by calling the judgment wrong though the judgment was pronounced by his own court under his own laws. He did not rest at that but to express his indignation at the judgment of the court set up by his own government he went to the doors of the jail. No other person of his stature had gone to that extent ever before. Not only that, by calling the Anti-Blasphemy Law ‘black law’ he also proved that he did not have respect for the Prophet (PBUH). His statements were not only hurtful but also against the law of the land. Favouring someone convicted of blasphemy is also a blasphemy. The punishment will be the same for everyone for this crime, whether it is committed by a common man, a governor or a President. Salman Taseer committed the crime but he was not punished because he was a associate of the President of the country and an influential personality. Action should have been taken against him but it was not. So in these circumstances if people get infuriated, lose control of their emotions, take some action in a fit of anger or under religious passion, how can they be held responsible? It was bound to happen. If Mumtaz Qadri had not done it, someone else would have done it. The people of Pakistan have demonstrated their unity by observing a strike on December 31, 2010 against the statements of Salman Taseer and in favour of the punishment to Asia and conveyed the message to the world that the Muslims might differ in their sectarian interests and political views but on the issue of their love of the Prophet (PBUH), their views are unanimous. (To be concluded)
Source: Hamara Samaj
URL: http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamUrduSection_1.aspx?ArticleID=3963
9:50 PM
Moderate Islamist here
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