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| March 14, 2008 | Friday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 5, 1429 |
Centcom chief quits
Blessed by the alphabet
Moderation in Islam
OTHER VOICES - Pushto Press
AN endless debate has been raging on the issue of extremism and moderation with special reference to Muslims, particularly since the 9/11 attack on the WTC in New York City. Muslims are singled out for attack as radical Islamists. Even Islam itself is blamed for preaching extremism.
SPECULATIONS abound. The PML-N leadership has alleged that as many as 21 attempts have been made at the behest of President Musharraf to sow seeds of dissension between it and the PPP since the two main parties decided to form coalition governments at the centre and in Punjab. If true, this raises serious concerns, and not only on moral grounds, for the stability of the next government. The president and his backers, whether politicians or those in uniform, must not resort to such below-the-belt tactics because the parties concerned have been given a popular mandate by the people to work for the restoration of democratic institutions. It should be left to the election-winning parties to decide how far they are willing to commit themselves to mutual cooperation to cobble together a stable government. The president’s caveat going out to the nation via a recent interview to an American channel,
that the failure of the new parliament to work with him would have catastrophic implications for democracy in Pakistan, is as ill-advised as was his Nov 3 imposition of emergency rule, the subsequent sacking of the higher court judges and the gagging of the independent media. The message emanating from last week’s corps commanders’ meeting at the GHQ, making it a point to deny that the army has distanced itself from the president, too, should be seen and judged as such. Such disparaging signals coming at a time when a wary electorate has pinned its hopes on a democratic order emerging out of the chaos of the past many years must not be supported by anyone wishing for political stability in a country mired deep in conflict today.
That said, the onus of acting responsibly towards each other is also on the parties concerned. The faux pas committed by a PML-N leader, whom the PPP president Makhdoom Amin Fahim has in turn accused of running a defamation campaign against him, should be taken stock of by the PML-N leadership. For his part, Mr Zardari should come out clean on his party’s nomination for the premiership, sooner than later, to dispel all ‘wired’, or otherwise, speculation. The task ahead is a daunting one, and the challenges faced by the country are multi-faceted. It is time, for instance, the coalition partners started discussing ways and means to combat terrorism, inflation, the energy crisis and other issues affecting the lives of the people before public fatigue to their political causes sets in. There is a need to understand that the people’s support alone can help the politicians stand up to any pressure brought to bear on them from extra-constitutional quarters. For this, they will have to stay relevant to public needs and sentiments, and not only to their own political agenda.
THE Centcom chief’s decision to resign because of differences with the Bush administration over its Iran policy underlines the gravity of the crisis in Iran-US relations. Admiral William Fallon and Defence Secretary Robert Gates have denied there are any differences. If the denials are taken at their face value, one would like to know why the admiral chose to quit. A Centcom chief would not resign unless he disapproved strongly of the Republican administration’s Middle East policy with its blatantly anti-Iranian orientation. In fact the resignation seems to reinforce suspicions that plans for military operations against Iran are in an advanced stage. The Centcom chief’s move came in the wake of an article in the Esquire magazine which said Admiral Fallon was pleading with the administration not to invade Iran. Mr Gates denied the magazine’s report that America was planning to attack Iran and described it as “just ridiculous”. But that is not going to satisfy
the world, because similar denials preceded the Iraqi invasion for reasons — the Baathist Iraq possessed WMDs and was sponsoring terrorism — that later on turned out to be lies.
A new set of sanctions has recently been slapped on Tehran, and Israeli and American leaders have continued to issue threats of military action against that country because of the Ahmedinejad regime’s nuclear ambitions. Of late, however, there have been some other developments that must cause greater concern to policymakers in Washington. Iraq and Iran, two major oil powers, are coming closer as President Ahmedinejad’s recent visit to Baghdad showed. A more subtle move on Tehran’s part is to leave the dollar market for oil trading and switch to the euro by establishing its own bourse at Kish. This is likely to provoke Washington, as had happened in 2003 when Saddam Hussein was about to do the same for Iraq’s oil trade. If the pattern set by Iran and Venezuela is followed by other oil powers, the dollar could face a major challenge and deprive America of the geopolitical advantage it enjoys at present because of the dollar’s hegemony.
It would be a tragedy if America were to invade Iran for any consideration — WMDs or Tehran’s own bourse. America is already bogged down in Afghanistan and Iraq, and it goes without saying that Lebanon’s destruction by Israel in 2006 and its depredations in Palestine are viewed by the Muslim world as having full American support. An American attack on the heart of the Middle East has the potential of igniting a new and more dangerous wave of extremist forces that could topple ‘moderate’ regimes and give political and military power to the extremist elements.
IN the past, a long life was not much more than a matter of fate. Today, however, people have discovered new techniques in their pursuit of a longer, healthier innings. Many life-enhancing theories have also come into play. Thus, there is the ‘eat to live’ theory that advocates portion-control with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables and lean meats. Others prescribe low-fat, low-salt and high-fibre and some swear by age-old disciplines of yoga and meditation. Then there is the current favourite of the exercise mantra that seeks to trim the flab and accelerate the blood-rush.
Of late, this journey to longevity has also taken some novel turns. New versions of older fitness philosophies include happiness and education in their daily staples. Nutritionists as well as therapists put mirth and literacy above regular chow, making them the most important of lifestyle choices. Interestingly, education has left glee behind as it promises wider-ranging benefits. For example, American researchers believe that education allows access to information regarding healthy lifestyles along with technologies that make goals such as physical activity and discarding habits like smoking, alcohol, substance abuse and unhealthy diets easier to achieve.
International surveys reveal that life expectancy grew amongst all races and genders from 1990 to 2000 — an educated white man on average lives 5.8 years longer than his less educated counterpart and this difference grew to 7.9 years in 2000. The data for African-Asian races was just as positive, except in “poorly educated or illiterate black and white women, whose life expectancy went down by 0.9 years and 0.2 years over 10 years…largely due to lung diseases”. Education, especially in this context, spells knowledge which serves as a tool of not just awareness regarding one’s body and all that works well for it, but is also a major deterrent when it comes to harmful pursuits. It also helps convert stress-inducing lifestyles to calmer routines, which do the ticker some significant favours. In short, there is more to the written word than meets the eye.
But ‘extremism’ and ‘moderation’ have been given arbitrary connotations as the historic letter of Martin Luther King Jr. from Birmingham Jail reveals. Los Angeles Times published a special report on the issue of how to define a moderate Muslim after interviews with a wide cross-section of people.
According to the report, “Many said a key criterion for Muslim moderates is that they in fact be Muslim.”
This is a clarion call for the Muslims to rediscover Islam. The first step in this journey, however, would need generating a sense of pride in their Islamic identity. For example, the Quran is the only religious scripture that is a word for word record of the Divine Revelations. And the Prophet they follow is the only one, the minute details of whose life are faithfully chronicled.
But such an enterprise must begin with an unflinching faith that the Divine Message is infallible and that the words and deeds of holy Prophet (S.A.W.) provided its practical interpretation. The conclusion is simple. If Muhammad (S.A.W.), as a human being, could practise it why can’t other humans; we?
Here is an example reported by the New York Times. Laleh Bakhtiar, an Iranian American, was stuck with the meaning of the word daraba in Sura Nisa: 34. In English translations the verse says, “As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty … Admonish them …. Beat them.” But she could not reconcile the meaning of the word daraba as ‘beat’ with, “either the Prophet’s conduct with his wives or the innate Mercifulness of Allah.”
She therefore went on with her quest till at last among six pages of definitions for “daraba” in an old Arabic-English Lexicon by Edward William Lane, she found one of the definitions as “to go away,” which amounts to an expression of displeasure. That, she told the NYT, was her ‘eureka moment’ because the Prophet never beat his wives.
In this voyage of rediscovery, the seeker must be careful also to steer clear of the lurking shoals that lie in the twist vested interests have arbitrarily given to the universally accepted meaning of certain words.
Moderation is one such. For example, Gary Ratner, executive director of the Jewish Congress’ Western region office in Los Angeles, told LAT that “his group believes support for Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state is central to the definition of a moderate.”
The Jewish Congress, therefore, has honoured Salman Rushdie, “a self-described atheist”, and two women who say they left the faith years ago, Wafa Sultan and Nonie Darwish.
But, according to Reuven Firestone, professor of medieval Jewish and Islamic studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles, “By honouring Muslims who are not practising Muslims, the given message … is that these people are good because they left the faith.”
This is an echo of Al Baqarah 2:135: “They say, ‘Become Jews or Christians if ye would be guided (to salvation).”
Firestone defines moderates as “those committed to settling disputes without violence and willing to hear and consider other points of view, especially those contrary to their own.” But if that be the criterion, then the Peace of Hudaibiyah stands out as a unique example of settling disputes without resort to violence. And it is well chronicled that the Prophet listened to his non-Muslim visitors who often questioned his status as Allah’s Messenger and the truth of his Message, without ever getting ruffled.
Islam teaches the universally accepted meaning of moderation which, according to the dictionary (C.O.D.) is “avoiding extremes; temperate in conduct or expression.” It forbids extremes and excesses of all sorts and enjoins toleration. Not only should a Muslim tell the unbelievers, “To you your way; to me, mine.” (Al Kaferoon 6), but also refrain from denigrating other people’s gods. “Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah…” (Al An’am: 108). Coercion in religion is out, persuasion is in. “Invite to the way of the Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reason with them in a better way,” Al Nahl: 125.
Six hundred years before Dale Carnegie produced his recipe of “How to win Friends and influence People,” the Quran declared, “Repel the evil deed by one which is better. Then lo! He, between whom and you there was enmity (will become) as though he was a bosom friend. …” (Fussilat 41:34). And its practical example was the transformation of Omar, who had gone with a drawn sword to slay the Prophet, into one of his most devoted friends.
At every step Islam enjoins temperance, discourages excess of every sort, such as swagger in walking, speaking in a loud voice, (Isra: 37; Luqman: 18-19); exultation at some windfall and despair at loss (Al Hadeed: 23). Even in eating and drinking, it is said, “Eat and drink but be not prodigal.” (Al-A’raf: 31).
But it is most significant that even in offering prayers, recital of the Quran and spending for God’s pleasure, moderation has been advised. When the Prophet, in his ardour would stand for long hours in prayer, he was told, “Stand to prayer by night, but not whole night.” (Al Muzzammil: 2) and in Isra: 110, “Be not loud voiced in your prayers, nor silent therein but follow a middle course.”
And, finally, spending in the way of Allah: The Book is replete with denouncements against miserliness and amassing of wealth and inducements, commands and exhortations to spend in His way. The highest inducement is that it is a loan to Allah which He will repay manifold. At one place it is said, “By no means shall you attain piety until you spend of that which you love.” (Al An’am: 92); at another: “They ask thee what they should spend. Say, “that which is beyond your needs/superfluous.” (Al-Baqarah: 219). Yet there is a note of caution even here. “And let not your hand be chained to your neck nor open it to your utmost capacity lest you become blameworthy and destitute (Isra: 29). Similarly Al-Furqan: 67, refers to “those who when they spend neither too lavishly nor yet hold back and here is ever a balance between the two.”
These are only a few examples of what Islam teaches about moderation. Everyone who is really Muslim shall reflect these qualities.
New US demands list
Wahdat, Peshawar
THE new list of demands that the US government handed down to the Government of Pakistan is simply meant to ask the [latter] to abide by American laws on Pakistani soil. The list, consisting of 11 demands, states that American officials must be allowed to visit other countries without being asked for visas. The list further ordains that American citizens must be allowed to carry light weapons licensed by American authorities.
The list further states that Pakistan should allow the applicability of American laws in Pakistan. American contractors, the list enunciates, must be exempted from all taxes within Pakistan.
The list adds that American citizens must be allowed to move around freely in Pakistan, and that any kind of material exported and imported by American citizens has to be exempt from checking. It is also included in the demands list that American planes and vehicles be allowed to move freely in the country. It states that American citizens must be exempt from claims of damage caused inside Pakistan.
The interior ministry has rejected these demands but has said nothing beyond that in response. The US demands list is a big joke with the sovereignty of the Pakistani state and is absolutely against all principles of diplomacy.
The US government must keep it in mind that Pakistan is a sovereign and independent state with a Constitution and laws derived from this Constitution. The body of laws in Pakistan provides for principles that apply to the citizens of other countries. The demands list may be acceptable only when Pakistan loses its independence and sovereignty.
But Pakistan is sovereign as well as independent and has the capability to retain its sovereignty. The Government of Pakistan must take serious notice of this list so that nobody in future can dare dictate demands from across the border. — (March 10)
Interim government’s gift
Khabroona, Peshawar
THE interim government increased the prices of petrol, gas and electricity a few days back. It recently also included a dam surcharge, which comes to 10 paisas per unit and has been imposed without any prior notice, in electricity bills while asking the masses to be prepared for increases in the surcharge.
As is clear from its very name, an interim government is supposed to be in power for a short while to bring about peace, conduct elections and hand over power to the elected representatives of the country. Constitutionally, an interim government does not have the right to take decisions regarding crucial issues related to the people.
It has to run the government until elections are held. Regrettably, the interim government in our country is hell-bent on increasing the problems faced by the masses by taking decisions that are the sole prerogative of an elected government. The burden on the masses is multiplying.
Since it took charge, the interim government has twice increased the price of electricity per unit. Flour sold for Rs260 per 20 kg when the interim government took charge — it has reached Rs380 in just a few months. The price of ghee per five kg used to be Rs270 and is now Rs657 in the utility stores. Never before in the history of Pakistan has an interim government remained so disorganised and oblivious to the concerns of the masses. Ministers in the interim government kept announcing from day one that prices of daily commodities would be controlled but they proved to be incapable of keeping prices at the levels seen before the interim government came to power.
It is therefore necessary that power is handed over to the elected representatives as soon as possible to save the people from more ruthless decisions by the interim government. — (March 9)
— Selected and translated by Khadim Husain.