THE OTHER COLUMN: Up shitcreek —Ejaz Haider

[fatman17]

THE OTHER COLUMN: Up shitcreek —Ejaz Haider

Listen to Haji Muslim Khan on tv channels. What kind of system and society would have him, with his pathetic knowledge of almost everything, including Islam for which he supposedly stands up, as a public figure?

Apropos the faith -reviving video from Swat: let me congratulate, not necessarily in the same order, various people — Mr Imran Khan, the Jama’at-e Islami leadership, Lt-Gen Hameed Napoleon Gul, the ANP government in the NWFP, the majority of Urdu-language columnists, some English ones who write poetic prose, and yes, tv anchors and my fellow Pakistanis.

Finally, we have something to emulate, straight from the pure times of the rightly-guided caliphs. Islam, ladies and gentlemen, is here. General Zia’s dream has been fulfilled. Allah be praised.

Since yesterday I have this strange sensation coursing through my veins, the feeling one gets after reading about the brave Muslims of yore in a Naseem Hijazi novel. I can’t forget the sight of three specimens of Islam’s purity, two of them pinning down a fallen young woman and one flogging her backside for having allegedly committed zina while the girl, may she be damned, cried and repented.

This is Islamic justice at its most effective. It is simple, straight, speedy, effective, earthy and devoid of the meanderings and trappings of modern existence, historical accretions and bid’a-infested innovations. That’s the stuff the satanic West is made of.

Okay, sure. I am bullshitting. But really? How far from the truth am I? Let me recount.

Columnist upon columnist has been writing about the brave Taliban in Afghanistan; how Taliban rule had recreated khilafat-e rashida; how there was peace in that country; how everyone was secure and so on.

Mr Khan has been hell-bent on reversing all his great contributions to this country, both as a scintillating cricketer and a remarkable philanthropist, by misguiding this nation on issues of politics and inter-state relations — about which his knowledge rivals only that of a kindergarten student. He has been talking incessantly about ghairat, how this is not our war and how our sovereignty is under attack from outside etc etc.

The Napoleon, Lt-Gen Gul — or shall I say Hans Guderian, since Gen Gul is an armoured corps officer and not a gunner — has been mouthing his conceptions of grand strategies even as he carries the weight on his shoulders of the shameful defeat in Jalababad, a veritable fiasco.

The religious parties, especially JI, have been fudging issues and telling lies about everything under the sun.

C’mon folks. Go back and focus on the discourse in this country. From news anchors and tv hosts to columnists and experts and politicians. Revisit the days of the extraction operation against Lal Masjid and how we dealt with that. Recall how we have done everything possible to pull down the state in our enthusiasm to voice dissent on the basis of democracy which, incidentally, will be the first concept to lick the dust when the warriors come knocking on the doors.

I had a hard time deciding how to deal with this issue of the flogging of a girl in Swat: express my deep resentment at the obscenity I saw or congratulate fellow Pakistanis for having successfully brought the state to this. Listen carefully to what people say on tv; deconstruct the discourse; discover the lies; the dissembling; the fudging and you would know why the flogging happened in Swat.

I carried an article some weeks ago in these pages by Nasir Abbas Mirza (“How we lost Swat”, Daily Times, March 9). Go and reread it to see how and why Swat has been lost and how and why we are likely to lose the rest of Pakistan. I see outrage now. Why? Was everyone sleeping?

The Urdu-language tv channels, for the most part, should be ashamed of the role they have played in giving airtime to the likes of Mr Khan, our various Napoleons and moronic politicians; for asking leading questions; for allowing them the opportunity to mouth crap; for supporting extremists in the name of jihad; for giving these thugs an aura of respectability and acceptability.

So what the hell are we shocked about? Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. It’s as simple as that. We are still unclear and confused about the threat. Every outrage begets a standard response: “Muslims can’t do this; this is a conspiracy”. In which case, we deserve what happened in Swat; in fact, far from expressing any outrage, we should celebrate the incident.

The truth, however, is that Muslims can do this and more. They are doing it and will continue to do it. Listen to Haji Muslim Khan on tv channels. What kind of system and society would have him, with his pathetic knowledge of almost everything, including Islam for which he supposedly stands up, as a public figure?

Listen to his fudging and his threats. Listen to what ANP minister Zahid Khan had to say about this being the tip of the iceberg. The question is not about when this incident was filmed but the fact that it did happen; also, that the Taliban, according to their admission, have been giving these punishments and will continue to do so since this is what shariat calls for.

Well, how about telling them to stuff it; that we do not accept such barbaric and medieval practices in today’s world; that Pakistani society is sophisticated enough to reject, in categorical terms, the obscenity the Taliban stand for.

Are we prepared to do it; or will we remain confused about the nature, direction and extent of this threat?

Finally, hello Pakistan Army. Are you guys there? I remember the in-camera briefing given to a select group of analysts back in November 2007. We were told that come March 2008, Swat would be reclaimed. Whatever the hell happened to that? Would someone tell me?

But before I sign off, let me make a confession. Insert in all spaces whatever expletives you can think of because they are all there. That’s the kind of column I wanted to write.

Who gives a f*** about niceties, intellectual and of other varieties, in the face of an existential threat that a collection of people has brought upon itself simply because they have some morbid notion of religion coursing through the body politic. I don’t.

So, fellow Pakistanis, here you are: up shitcreek without a paddle. Enjoy!

Ejaz Haider is Consulting Editor of The Friday Times and Op-Ed Editor of Daily Times. He can be reached at sapper@dailytimes.com.pk

 

[fatman17]

THE OTHER COLUMN: Up shitcreek —Ejaz Haider

Listen to Haji Muslim Khan on tv channels. What kind of system and society would have him, with his pathetic knowledge of almost everything, including Islam for which he supposedly stands up, as a public figure?

Apropos the faith -reviving video from Swat: let me congratulate, not necessarily in the same order, various people — Mr Imran Khan, the Jama’at-e Islami leadership, Lt-Gen Hameed Napoleon Gul, the ANP government in the NWFP, the majority of Urdu-language columnists, some English ones who write poetic prose, and yes, tv anchors and my fellow Pakistanis.

Finally, we have something to emulate, straight from the pure times of the rightly-guided caliphs. Islam, ladies and gentlemen, is here. General Zia’s dream has been fulfilled. Allah be praised.

Since yesterday I have this strange sensation coursing through my veins, the feeling one gets after reading about the brave Muslims of yore in a Naseem Hijazi novel. I can’t forget the sight of three specimens of Islam’s purity, two of them pinning down a fallen young woman and one flogging her backside for having allegedly committed zina while the girl, may she be damned, cried and repented.

This is Islamic justice at its most effective. It is simple, straight, speedy, effective, earthy and devoid of the meanderings and trappings of modern existence, historical accretions and bid’a-infested innovations. That’s the stuff the satanic West is made of.

Okay, sure. I am bullshitting. But really? How far from the truth am I? Let me recount.

Columnist upon columnist has been writing about the brave Taliban in Afghanistan; how Taliban rule had recreated khilafat-e rashida; how there was peace in that country; how everyone was secure and so on.

Mr Khan has been hell-bent on reversing all his great contributions to this country, both as a scintillating cricketer and a remarkable philanthropist, by misguiding this nation on issues of politics and inter-state relations — about which his knowledge rivals only that of a kindergarten student. He has been talking incessantly about ghairat, how this is not our war and how our sovereignty is under attack from outside etc etc.

The Napoleon, Lt-Gen Gul — or shall I say Hans Guderian, since Gen Gul is an armoured corps officer and not a gunner — has been mouthing his conceptions of grand strategies even as he carries the weight on his shoulders of the shameful defeat in Jalababad, a veritable fiasco.

The religious parties, especially JI, have been fudging issues and telling lies about everything under the sun.

C’mon folks. Go back and focus on the discourse in this country. From news anchors and tv hosts to columnists and experts and politicians. Revisit the days of the extraction operation against Lal Masjid and how we dealt with that. Recall how we have done everything possible to pull down the state in our enthusiasm to voice dissent on the basis of democracy which, incidentally, will be the first concept to lick the dust when the warriors come knocking on the doors.

I had a hard time deciding how to deal with this issue of the flogging of a girl in Swat: express my deep resentment at the obscenity I saw or congratulate fellow Pakistanis for having successfully brought the state to this. Listen carefully to what people say on tv; deconstruct the discourse; discover the lies; the dissembling; the fudging and you would know why the flogging happened in Swat.

I carried an article some weeks ago in these pages by Nasir Abbas Mirza (“How we lost Swat”, Daily Times, March 9). Go and reread it to see how and why Swat has been lost and how and why we are likely to lose the rest of Pakistan. I see outrage now. Why? Was everyone sleeping?

The Urdu-language tv channels, for the most part, should be ashamed of the role they have played in giving airtime to the likes of Mr Khan, our various Napoleons and moronic politicians; for asking leading questions; for allowing them the opportunity to mouth crap; for supporting extremists in the name of jihad; for giving these thugs an aura of respectability and acceptability.

So what the hell are we shocked about? Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. It’s as simple as that. We are still unclear and confused about the threat. Every outrage begets a standard response: “Muslims can’t do this; this is a conspiracy”. In which case, we deserve what happened in Swat; in fact, far from expressing any outrage, we should celebrate the incident.

The truth, however, is that Muslims can do this and more. They are doing it and will continue to do it. Listen to Haji Muslim Khan on tv channels. What kind of system and society would have him, with his pathetic knowledge of almost everything, including Islam for which he supposedly stands up, as a public figure?

Listen to his fudging and his threats. Listen to what ANP minister Zahid Khan had to say about this being the tip of the iceberg. The question is not about when this incident was filmed but the fact that it did happen; also, that the Taliban, according to their admission, have been giving these punishments and will continue to do so since this is what shariat calls for.

Well, how about telling them to stuff it; that we do not accept such barbaric and medieval practices in today’s world; that Pakistani society is sophisticated enough to reject, in categorical terms, the obscenity the Taliban stand for.

Are we prepared to do it; or will we remain confused about the nature, direction and extent of this threat?

Finally, hello Pakistan Army. Are you guys there? I remember the in-camera briefing given to a select group of analysts back in November 2007. We were told that come March 2008, Swat would be reclaimed. Whatever the hell happened to that? Would someone tell me?

But before I sign off, let me make a confession. Insert in all spaces whatever expletives you can think of because they are all there. That’s the kind of column I wanted to write.

Who gives a f*** about niceties, intellectual and of other varieties, in the face of an existential threat that a collection of people has brought upon itself simply because they have some morbid notion of religion coursing through the body politic. I don’t.

So, fellow Pakistanis, here you are: up shitcreek without a paddle. Enjoy!

Ejaz Haider is Consulting Editor of The Friday Times and Op-Ed Editor of Daily Times. He can be reached at sapper@dailytimes.com.pk

 

[AchtungSpitfire]

Thanks for posting that. I bookmarked the site. It's really refreshing seeing that kinda brutal honesty anywhere and especially in this region. Calling a spade a spade these days is getting ever more harder for those us not encumbered by reality.

 

[JK!]

Got an email from my Grandfather today saying he's had enough of not being able to go out in the afternoon or at night in the village where he was born and that he is making a withdrawal to the UK.

Sucks to be you guys out there my prayers are with you.

 

[fatman17]

Got an email from my Grandfather today saying he's had enough of not being able to go out in the afternoon or at night in the village where he was born and that he is making a withdrawal to the UK.

Sucks to be you guys out there my prayers are with you.

JK - can u kindly name his ancestral village!

 

[Bane Blade]

Well swift justice is maybe what we really need because our other judicial system would have thrown the girl in jail and given the guy compensation out of the taxpayers pocket here hardly any money was spent and justice was delivered Shariah is quick but very effective all the people having seen that video won't dare commit Zinah and if gid forbid the courts dole out injustice they will purge in hell how much more complicated do we need it to be Shariah is swift and straighforward.

 

[qsaark]

There is lots of hue and cry on the fateful incident recently surfaced. I as a Muslim am not against the punishments (Taazirat) described in the Shariat. Since I believe in the eternity of the Islam, I also believe in the eternity of its laws and described punishments. No punishment is inhumane or as described by the (un)able author of the column as "barbaric and medieval practices", what is inhumane is the crime for which a specific punishment is proposed. These Taazirat have not come from some barbaric and medieval Emperor, but are from Allah hence not debateable. Allah says in Quran:

[Noor 24:1] This is a surah which We have sent down and decreed its commands, and in which We have sent down clear verses, in order that you may ponder.

[Noor 24:2] The adulteress and the adulterer - punish each one of them with a hundred lashes; and may you not have pity on them in the religion to Allah, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day; and a group of believers must witness their punishment.

However, as many Ulema and Scholars have pointed out and rightly so, not anybody has the right to try and punish people. There is a whole procedure that has to be followed, that includes the Qazi, the circumstances, and the witnesses. Publicity of the punishment is also not an issue as per Sura Noor "and a group of believers must witness their punishment.", since there are two major reasons behind punishing a person (male or female). A. Because the person has broken a law and therefore should be punished so he/she avoids committing the crime again and B. To show and make the society realized that such crimes are punishable and people should avoid committing them because they can also be tried and punished. An Islamic society is not an individualistic society like we see here in the West. One’s actions are not just his/her personal matters, because their actions affect the rest of the society.

On the issue of punishing a 17/18 year old girl: The important thing we have to look into is, whether the girl was punished lawfully or not? Was she presented in the court of Qazi? Whether there were witnesses? Was she given a chance to defend her actions? If answer to any one of these questions is in no, then the people who punished her un-lawfully must be tried and punished accordingly. Allah say in Quran:

[Noor 24:4] And those who accuse chaste women and do not bring four witnesses to testify - punish them with eighty lashes and do not ever accept their testimony; and it is they who are the wicked.

[Noor 24:23] Indeed those who accuse the innocent virtuous, believing women – upon them is a curse in this world and in the Hereafter; and for them is a terrible punishment.

Pakistani society in general is a male-dominated society. Irrespective of ethnical or tribal affiliations, women are mistreated and that is a fact of life. I would be careful in accusing Pashtuns for beating their women and Balochs for burying their women alive. Because more news break out on alleged rapes of women in Punjab and abductions in Sindh.

 

[SSGPA1]

I strongly believe that Shariah is the only way for Pakistan but at the same time I also believe that rules should be followed. Rules can be followed by Alims and not some nut case Taliban.

I am not sure if the proper Islamic judicial procedures were followed in this case.

Also there is a very important part of Islam and that is compassion. I have read (I hope I remember correctly) that a shabi (RA) committed zina and was taken out of the city for sangsaar. When people came back, Prophet (PBUH) asked about the sahabi's wish etc. Other sahabis told the Propohet (PBUH) that he was asking us to take him to Prophet (PBUH) and said he knows that Prophet will forgive him but we carried out the punishment.

On hearing this, Prophet (PBUH) said that you should have brought him to me and I would have forgiven him, and Allah knows the best. There are many examples of Prophet's compassion and this is why he was called Rehmat for the entire universe.

Why we need to make an example of a 17 year old kid? Why can't we make her an example of Islamic compassion?

 

[fatman17]

There is the Federal Shariat Courts? - whats wrong with them!
my father (God Bless his soul) got justice on a land case through these same courts in 1-yr as compared to the civil courts where there was no justice for 11 years!

 

[All-Green]

Islamic Law has many boundaries which the Taliban were not taught in their Terror101 class.

One of the many things that i find appalling is associating the Shuttle **** Burqaa with mandatory Islamic Pardah...I have read a lot and found no conclusive evidence to suggest covering the whole of face.
Many narrations/incidents involving the Sahaba also makes me believe that this was not something mandatory.
In Islamic society the women were liberated but this new brand of Islam has no such tolerance.
We have instances of womenfolk fighting alongside men in the battle of Yarmuk in large numbers and tending to the injured who were of course strangers to them!
Muslim women were not as meek and submissive as we have been made to believe by these Mullahs and Taliban since they want to establish a male dominated society.

I do not claim to be a scholar by far, but as far as i have read the Quran and the Muslim traditions in Hadeeth i am convinced of a deliberate attempt by our Mullahs to twist many things against women whereby there is no such implication in the Quran or Hadeeth. This is typical of our Mullahs and likes of Jamaat e Islaami.

I was seeing the TV for a change yesterday and Dr. Ghamdi was interviewed via telephone in a program to ask him what he thought was the reason of Talibanization.
He was very honest (the first Pakistani Aalim i have seen) and said that this concern was there in Zia's era and selected Ulema did raise this concern regarding the indoctrination on juiced up militant Islam in a society as diverse as Pakistan where tolerance was absolutely must.
The real shocker was when Ghamdi said that it is our Mullahs and Religious parties who are still supporting such acts, he said that the new Ameer of Jamaat e Islaami has openly said that "we sympathize with Taliban and if this is the way to implement Shariat then so be it".
This was really a shock to me.
If Jamaat Islami is issuing such nonsense statements then it means there is no hope for the religious parties.
But what can we expect from these Mullahs and Islamic parties.
MMA was willing to resign if amendments were made in the Hudood ordinance which is one the most pathetic parts of our law.
In Hudood ordinance the raped person is under more pressure to prove her rape or face punishment for Zina (illegal Sex), this is a fact but we (the idiots that we have become) still think that it is some Zionist plot to amend the Hudood ordinance.

I know a certain scholar and he has had death threats from various organizations because he preaches logical interpretation of Islam in which difference of opinion can be there.

I know many sympathize with Zia but he took many steps which have proven to be ill fated decisions.
My father was an officer in the Army and served Marshall law duty as well as being part of Afghan Jihad.
I know for a fact that most officers were quite upset at the religious doctrine being preached and the hosts of militants which we were creating.

My point is that we knowingly sowed the seeds of our destruction and still most were quite. Now the time to reap is here and still we are in denial!
I want our nation to come out of denial.

The massive participation of USA in many of these things is something which we cry about but we do not see (as a nation) that it was our responsibility to safeguard our house.
If our house is on fire it is ourselves who will suffer and not USA.

Regarding the Islamic law implementation i have one interesting occurrence to share which i read some time ago.

The Caliph Umar (RA) was making his nighttime round of Medina when he came across Abdul Rehman (RA) who was another of the blessed ten (given tidings of heaven by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)).
Umar asked Abdul Rehman to join him and he did.
They passed close to a house when Umar heard some senseless rambling from within the house and realized that there was someone who was drunk in the house, he became angry and told Abdul Rehman that i know whose house it is and sped towards the door of the house.
Abdul Rehman blocked Umar's path and said "It was not the instruction of our Prophet (PBUH) to uncover people's hidden flaws and leaving them no hope for redemption"
Umar realized this immediately and was grateful to Abdul Rehman for reminding him something important.

We find many sayings which emphasize on reforming society by punishing open base acts which have a negative bearing on the social integrity and harmony, as opposed to deliberate attempt to uncover/punish each and every personal failing leaving no room for forgiveness and redemption!

Our Mullahs and thugs like TTP will implement their own interpretation (focusing on Shuttle **** Burqa) which is so much out of synchronization with Islam that it makes me puke.

The veil concept in Quran was specific to the wives of the Prophet (PBUH) since the vile hypocrites in Medina would barge in the Prophet's house to catch his wives unaware in an attempt to scandalize their private life.
It is twisted by our Mullahs into something totally different and totally opposed to what i have gathered by reading many many accounts in the Muslim History.

I like women to cover themselves decently.
My wife wears a Hijab, My mother wears a Dupatta.
They both cover their heads and look decent while maintaining their identity and comfort. It is their choice what they wear while maintaining modesty.
This shitty concept of forcing things on people which are not in Quran is something i will never agree to.

I know i have rambled on and bored most of you with the concept of Pardah in Islam, but i believe that it serves as a good example of what damage the Mullah has done and is still doing.

 

[fatman17]

All-Green - God Bless you and your family!

 

[qsaark]

I strongly believe that Shariah is the only way for Pakistan but at the same time I also believe that rules should be followed. Rules can be followed by Alims and not some nut case Taliban.

I am not sure if the proper Islamic judicial procedures were followed in this case.

Also there is a very important part of Islam and that is compassion. I have read (I hope I remember correctly) that a shabi (RA) committed zina and was taken out of the city for sangsaar. When people came back, Prophet (PBUH) asked about the sahabi's wish etc. Other sahabis told the Propohet (PBUH) that he was asking us to take him to Prophet (PBUH) and said he knows that Prophet will forgive him but we carried out the punishment.

On hearing this, Prophet (PBUH) said that you should have brought him to me and I would have forgiven him, and Allah knows the best. There are many examples of Prophet's compassion and this is why he was called Rehmat for the entire universe.

Why we need to make an example of a 17 year old kid? Why can't we make her an example of Islamic compassion?

In the light of Sura Noor, this Hadith looks weak. The punishment for Zina is made clear by Allah, and if you read the verses I have quoted, even Rasool Allah (PBUH) can't change the punishment. The only right a Qazi has is to delay the punishment given the circumstances. For instance, when a married and pregnant woman was brought to Rasool Allah and she confessed of committing Zina. Rasool Allah asked her to give birth to the child, than she will be punished, she came after that, and Rasool Allah told her to nurse her child for two years, and than she came, and she was rijm (to kill by stones).

These are religious matters. One has to be very careful especially when talking about what is written in Quran, or the direct orders of Allah.

 

[qsaark]

One of the many things that i find appalling is associating the Shuttle **** Burqaa with mandatory Islamic Pardah...I have read a lot and found no conclusive evidence to suggest covering the whole of face.....

You have raised a good point. It is 7:44 AM and am getting ready to go to the office. I'll try to put few lines regarding this issue when I get some time. Anyway, you are right here, there is no such thing as the hiding of the full face at least for common Muslim women. This has not been proven by Quran and Hadith.

‘ And when ye ask of them (the wives of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) anything,ask it of them from behind a curtain. That is purer for your hearts and for their hearts.’ (Part revelation of verse:53 Surah Ahzaab)

‘O, Prophet ! (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go out). That will be better so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.’ (Verse: 59 Surah Ahzaab)

"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their modesty, that is purer for them. Lo! Allah is aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husband’s fathers or their sons or their husband’s sons or their brothers, or their brother’s sons or sister’s sons or their women or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of womens nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O, believers in order that you may succeed." (Surah Noor, verses: 30-31)

The Quranic verses give rise to 3 differing grades of hijaab. The highest of these 3 grades of hijaab is that a woman should remain within her home as far as it is possible.

The second grade of Hijaab is that if the need should arise that a woman must go out then this should be carried out in such adornment which conceals her entirely. Whilst observing this grade of Hijaab, the application of scent, the wearing of tinkling jewellery, to exercise caution when walking so as not to enter the heart of a mixed crowd etc, are also points to be borne in mind.

The third and lowest grade of Hijaab is in accordance to the Aayah of Surah Noor, "Except that which is evident." This verse is one of differing interpretations. Some scholars believe that ‘evident’ connotates the actual burqa and niqaab whilst other scholars have interpretated that ‘except that which is evident’ refers to the face and hands.

From amongst the 4 Imams, Imam Malik, Shafi and Ahmed (R.A) have unanimously agreed upon the first of the two interpretations. According to the schools of thought related to these three Imams, no room has been given to the unveiling of the face and hands regardless of the fear of unlawful acts or not.

Imam Abu Hanifa (R.A) has differed in his opinions favouring the latter of the two interpretations, however, he has only accepted the unveiling of the face and hands if there is no fear of unlawful acts arising in the process of this third grade of Hijaab.

 

[niaz]

Well swift justice is maybe what we really need because our other judicial system would have thrown the girl in jail and given the guy compensation out of the taxpayers pocket here hardly any money was spent and justice was delivered Shariah is quick but very effective all the people having seen that video won't dare commit Zinah and if gid forbid the courts dole out injustice they will purge in hell how much more complicated do we need it to be Shariah is swift and straighforward.

I watched ‘Alim on line’ yesterday on Geo TV by Dr Amir Liaqat Hussain where all the renowned Islamic scholars of Pakistan unanimously denounced this action and called it against the Sharia and un Islamic. Here we have members of this forum defending this action in the name of swift justice. What about the basic premise of any law that it is better to let 10 guilty men go free than punish one innocent victim? Incidentally Taliban justice head of Swat was invited but he declined to participate.

The episode as I understand was:

A 17 year old married girl was seen coming out of her house in the company of her “father in law” when her husband was not at home. On the complaints of a neighbor she was arrested and found guilty of being with a ‘non mahram’ alone thus suspected of committing adultery.

Father in law was not tried but only on the girl! No trial took place in the normal sense of the word; no other witnesses were called. Even I, with limited knowledge of Hadith, can say for certain that there can be no “Hadd” applied without four witnesses who swear that adultery actually took place. In the absence of these witnesses one could prove the same in today’s world by presence of the man’s semen thru medical examination. However no such test was carried out.

Here we have a clear case of somebody accused on mere hearsay. I am of grand father age myself; do you mean to say if I am home alone with my daughter in law, I would be suspected of committing adultery! What kind of dirty mind do these people have?

Good heavens Taliban lovers! Is there no limit up to which where you will excuse Taliban’s savagery. Haven’t you guys heard of the famous incidence of ‘necklace’? On such flimsy circumstantial evidence; had there been Taliban Islam, Ummul Momineen Hazrat Ayesha (Razi Allah Taala Anha,) would have been stoned to death! Whereas her innocence was vouched by Allah in a verse.

I am growing despondent about the level of the cruelty and ruthlessness that has crept into our polity. This is not the question of swift justice, neither of Islamic compassion. It is a clear case of people with little or no knowledge of the Sharia interpreting their prejudices and heretic beliefs as the word of Allah and applying it ruthlessly. This is a travesty of justice. If this is Islam, than I am would rather be called a Kafir but I refuse to accept this as Islam as preached by the holy Prophet (PBUH) who is nicknamed as Rahmatul al alameein (Kindest person in all the worlds).

To me Satan has got into people’s hearts that they are defaming the most peaceful religion on earth by interpreting it in the cruelest possible way. Nevertheless, even the Jamaat Islami Amir, Syed Munawwar Hassan has come out in the open by declaring that he likes Taliban and that Taliban rule in Afghanistan is the best gov't he has seen. Is this the level of thinking among the Islamist parties!

 

[fatman17]

^^Dear Niaz Sb - it takes guts to write this post!
God Bless you!