If our society is to become a welfare-oriented one, different rules for different people will not serve the purpose
LET us sit down together and discuss the most sensitive topic, blasphemy that stirs storm, and leaves many a head rolling. An obnoxious act, verbal or written ill-willed expression, a passing remark, even personal opinion of a person against a religion whether Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, or for that matter, any religion is considered blasphemous, and tantamount to committing an act of blasphemy. But, in Pakistan prompt notice of blasphemy is taken only for intentional or unintentional remarks against Islam. Once I saw a young Muslim scholar pick up Gita in his one hand and the Holy Bible in the other on a television programme of a local channel that he occupies dominantly. His remarks about Gita and the Holy Bible were lamentable. He got away with it.
In this brief article we will look at the issue of blasphemy from a Muslim’s point of view. Is it in the behavioural life pattern of a person that his omissions and commissions tantamount to blasphemy? Or, is it because of an utterance, intentional or unintentional, that a person is charged with blasphemy?
We will look at the issue of blasphemy in Pakistan with two hypothetical examples. Here, the names of the two characters are fictitious, but these persons are real. They are from our society. After going through the two examples you will realize that you know them. Our society abounds in people like them. The first example relates to a person who through slip of his tongue, or because of an inadvertent remark or opinion on Islam, lands himself in a grave trouble and meets a miserable death. The second example depicts the lifestyle of a person who flouts the basic norms of Islam without pronouncing a word, and enjoys a comfortable and an enviable life.
Dr Abdul Wadood, a social anthropologist, was busy explaining Darwin’s theory of evolution of man to a postgraduate class of 30 students. A student rose to his feet and said: “Our religion rejects Darwin’s theory of evolution of man.”
“My son, as we do not mix-up religion with physics, chemistry, microbiology, engineering, medicine, and statistics, let us not mix-up theory of evolution of man with religion.” Dr Abdul Wadood smiled and said: “No religion can teach you how to fly an aeroplane or evolve an atomic submarine.”
Thereupon, many students rose to their feet. They violently thumped their desks, raised slogans and furiously condemned the teacher. After leaving the class they discussed the matter with like-minded friends and other teachers. A case of blasphemy was registered against professor Dr Abdul Wadood at a police station. He was arrested and was tried in a speedy trial court. No less than 20 students testified against him. The professor who was honest, humble and a gentleman to the core of his heart, was sentenced to death. The friends of the professor filed an appeal in the High Court against the verdict of the lower court. The High Court, on the basis of strong eyewitness account upheld the verdict of the lower court. During the ordeal Dr Abdul Wadood languished for four years in prison among extremely hostile criminals who opined he was a kafir, an infidel and deserved to die at any cost. He was very often insulted, humiliated and manhandled by the hardened criminals.
The well-wishers of professor Dr Abdul Wadood moved Supreme court against the judgment of the High Court. Before the apex court could give its verdict, professor Dr Abdul Wadood was assassinated in jail by a condemned murderer who had slaughtered a family of seven including men, women and children.
He had managed a revolver through mysterious means and pumped several bullets in the chest of Dr Wadood. After killing the professor the condemned criminal shouted Allah-o-Akbar at the top his voice, claiming he had killed a kafir, therefore nothing could obstruct his entry to heaven.
There are numerous examples of inquisitive persons who landed themselves in trouble by asking simple questions of the maulvis, the clergy, such as, ‘how a Muslim astronaut should offer prayers five times daily when in space?’ In space the sun neither rises nor sets.
But, Sultan Bhai never enters into such inquiries. ‘Why’ and ‘how’ do not bother him. He lives a luxurious life. His elaborate villa in the posh locality of your city is a hub of the corrupt civilian and non-civilian bureaucrats, bankers and the businessmen, and of course the vivacious elite women of the city. His well-stocked bar and grilled food attracts everyone. They remain immersed in mirth and merrymaking till late in the night. They watch striptease and x-rated videos, and giggle. They never discuss what Islam permits and forbids.
You will not be able to recall even an isolated case in which a person who openly flouts the norms of Islam was ever booked for committing blasphemy. Bribery is openly practised in Pakistan. Bribery in Islam is described as eating your brother’s flesh. People give and officials take money for legitimate and illegitimate purposes. A frustrated young man once asked of a corrupt officer: “Does Islam allow you to take rishwat (bribe)?”
The young man was immediately caught for committing blasphemy. Once a disillusioned person said: “Pick up a baton of Islam in one hand and the flag of Pakistan in other, and then rampage Pakistan. No one will stop you.”
