APRPOS the article ‘Different gods’ (Nov 14), it is incorrect to say that the clergy has exploited our ignorance to impose its own interpretation of Islam on us. All Muslims are required to know the fundamentals of the religion firsthand from its basic sources whose translations are available in English and other languages and are easy to comprehend. The information thus obtained is not subject to endorsement or authentication by any cleric.

If we are even then ignorant about them and are misled by others because of our ignorance, it is our own fault. It is strange that those who condemn the clergy for its viewpoint are seen going about telling Muslims not to mind too much about crossing the red line in their everyday life.

The diminishing value of fossil fuel as a source of energy and its likely replacement by renewable energy sources in the near future is extremely worrisome for the monarchies of the Gulf region whose primary concern is to somehow protect and consolidate their rule.

However, as their powerful “god” is waning in strength, they have to look for other “gods” and “march to the beat of a different drummer”. They have to think in terms of tourism and foreign investment as alternative sources of income, and even befriend Israel, the sentinel of the outpost of Western imperialism in the Middle East, for their security. Indeed, adversity makes strange bedfellows.

M. Zubair Farooqui
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2020