I
had an eye operation in April 2008. Last week, my eye surgeon, Dr. Shakaib
Anwar , a very fine surgeon, who listens to his patients carefully, and a very
fine man, advised me three test to be conducted at the Shifa Eye Hospital,
Rawalpindi. I was fascinated by the electronically operated equipment both at
the doctor’s clinic as well as at the hospital.
The results containing measurements, which were Greek to me, were given
by hand within two hours. I showed them to the doctor the next day. The entire
experience was fascinating for me. I wished that the inventors were Muslims.
Inventions
viz. fiber optic, television, the internet made in the west have brought the
world in to the living room. One can read the newspapers of the world or shop
over the internet. However, for Pakistanis, they can shop against cash only
because they have cheated again.
My
previous essay ‘Why
am I confused ‘and this one are not meant to cast adverse reflection on individual
Muslims. Indeed, there are many individuals who do good deeds without anyone
else knowing. It is a small effort to make the Muslims realize that many bad
customs and human failings that have crept into our society are totally alien
to the spirit to Islam. And we care more about Haqooq ul Allah than Haqooq ul
Abad.
As
regards inventions, there was a time when the Holy Prophet (Peace and Blessings
of Allah be upon him) was conferred Prophethood, he started his mission among
the pagan Arab . However, at his death, Muslims became scientists, academicians,
mathematicians, astrologers, astronomers, philosophers. Diplomats visiting the
courts of great emperors like the Roman Empire and the Iranian Empire. They
learnt to live by following the Holy
Quran. The presence of the Holy Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him) played a vital part in this transformation.
I
have repeatedly told my friends or my readers that I am a cynic and I do not
trust anyone: extended family and friends; nor the successive Governments. Many
have deceived me or played foul with me. A couple friends and family members
behaved positively rude with me. Both are loyal till their interest demand.
Friends are fellow travelers going in the same direction up to a limit.
Imagine
driving thirty kilometers in each direction to Rawalpindi to meet an old class
fellow only to be told that he was busy in reciting the Holy Quran. Thus he
could not meet me. Similar incidents happened again with me twice.
A
noted news columnist was telling the compare in a TV talk show the other day
that each person from a population 180 million has his hand in the other
person’s pocket. To which I add, or in the till. I cannot justify our claim
that we are Muslims with reports of various sources that Pakistan is one of the
most corrupt countries across the globe. Yet I was amazed when I see innocent
faces of young girls on the Universities’ campuses.
I
do not want to write on politics in the country. However, despite my ardent
wish, I have to perforce write on it. I have been frequenting the Parliament
since my joining the Government as a public servant. Hardly had the quorum been
full. Oh yes; when the bill for perks and privileges of the Parliamentarians,
the quorum was always full. I cannot reconcile this with the Caliphate of
Hazrat Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).When there was a famine in Medina,
the Caliph vowed not to eat meat till the famine was over. And yet we claim that Pakistan is a citadel
of Islam.
Pakistan
had two parts; east and west Pakistan. What happened to the Eastern part is
history. But in the war of 1971, atrocities were allegedly committed by the
Pakistan army, a Muslim army. The world media graphically portrayed these .We
were rudely awakened when I read on the internet the Hamood-ur-Rehman
Commission Report to know the truth. We
are rudely awakened what is happening in Karachi where Muslims are killing
other Muslims. And what happened to two teenagers in Sialkot? What happened to
Sarfaraz Shah? What is happening in the courts in Pakistan, in the markets, or
the educational institutions where the poor and innocent fell prey to
exploitation. I cannot justify these. And yet we are all Muslims. I can’t
imagine these.
When the first part of the essay was posted on
Facebook, a reader referred to the Holy Quran which provides salvation. I wrote
back that given the literacy rate in Pakistan, imagine the required time for
full literacy. We venerate the Holy Quran by keeping on high place .We recite
it by rote without understanding and practicing it.
I
recommend reading Allama Iqbal’s ‘Jawab e Shikwa’ to know what I mean. I also
recommend an Urdu book ‘Talaash’ (Search) written by Mumtaz Mufti .The theme of
the book was the author’s search for Allah and the truth . I disagree with
parts of the book .
Despite
our tall claims that we are the chosen people of Allah because we are Muslims,
the world sees us differently particularly during the past few years. The world
sees us as illiterate, boorish, crude, barbarians especially killings in
suicide bombings and the repeated blood baths in Karachi. Undoubtedly
terrorists have no religion. But how do we explain to the world when those who
are responsible for these acts of barbarity bear Muslim names.
For
the last years, Pakistan passports are looked down upon. After one bad
experience at Jeddah, I prefer to travel abroad on non PIA airlines. And after
another bad experience, I have stopped to travel on domestic PIA flights.
While
travelling in Saudi Arabia once, I frequently heard that the people of Pakistan
are lies and cheats. An example of cheating is the kunda (hook) connection for
stealing electricity in Karachi. Stealing office stationery for children is a
common phenomenon in Pakistan Government offices. Similarly there are massive
misuses of petrol, electricity in Government offices. Water taps once opened
are seldom closed unless there are in their private homes. We can making an
enormous savings by using those resources discreetly.
I
drove to my office in my own car while my junior used an official transport
which he parked in his house. He never missed any prayer. Office drivers submit
inflated repairs. When a minister of General Musharraf’s Government wished for
a new seven seater sofa set for his office, it was made by a firm located on
Murree Road, Rawalpindi at a price of Rs 35000/- whereas I got a similar seven seater sofa set
from the same shop at Rs 24000/-.When I challenged the concerned officer, he
made lame excuses. Admittedly this amount is notional. But sin big or small is
a sin.
I
was overworked once. I had to prepare four or five summaries or briefs for the
Minister or the Secretary to be submitted the same day. I waited uptill eleven
for my junior to share a part of the work. At that time, I learnt that he had
gone to a religious congregation which was being held in town. Many years have
passed since, I could not reconcile with this kind of behaviour.
Mahfooz ur Rahman
rahman.mahfooz.pk@gmail.com
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