Why this kolavari di?
-Photo Courtesy Ayesha Vellani/White Star
What have the Ahmadis done to deserve this treatment in this Islamic republic of ours? The latest bout of hate speeches against the Ahmadi community and threats hurled at them was witnessed in Rawalpindi’s Satellite Town last Sunday. Thousands gathered near a community centre on the call of banned militant outfits like the Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan and the Jamat-ud-Dawa, flanked by local leaders of the PML-N and trade unions.
They demanded not only the closure of the Ahmadi community centre but also that all Ahmadis be expelled from Pakistan. The country’s Christian minority also came in for a shock when the hate rally’s meeting point, the Holy Family Chowk, was rechristened as the Khatm-i-Nabuwat (Finality of Prophethood) Chowk.
Contradictions, social and legal, abound on the touching issue of the Ahmadis’ treatment in Pakistan. The said hate rally took place a week before Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday which falls on February 5; the Quran calls the Prophet Rahmat-alil-Alemeen (Blessing for all the worlds [creation]); surely, Ahmadis are not only Allah’s creation but also His worshippers.
The rally itself was organised by a minority group of Muslims who also regard the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday as unacceptable, according to their sectarian leanings which are similar to those of the Taliban; similar groups have attacked Friday congregations of rival Muslim sects and bombed many shrines across the country, killing and maiming innocent citizens. Such groups have also targeted girls’ schools and colleges, even a women’s bazaar in Peshawar. So basically, according to their ideology, it is kosher to kill anyone not subscribing to their particularly rigid view of Islam. That makes it the majority of Pakistanis, and possibly of Muslims everywhere in the world.
As for the anti-Ahmadi sentiment in Punjab, it dates back to 1953 when anti-Ahamdi riots in Lahore had resulted in the imposition of martial law in that city. Later a judicial commission charged with an inquiry into the riots, which was headed by Justice Mohammad Munir, found that no two Muslim clerics out of the 50 odd who were consulted, could agree on a definition of ‘who is Muslim’. Therefore, the government had rejected the demand that Ahmadis be declared non-Muslim.
This was left to the country’s first democratically elected government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who in the 1973 Constitution declared Pakistan an Islamic republic, and then went on to castigate the Ahmadi community as non-Muslim through an act of parliament. Gen Ziaul Haq’s dictatorship further tightened the noose by enacting more anti-Ahmadi legislation.
Thus, in a country where on the eve of Independence, Jinnah had proclaimed “You are free to go to your temples … mosques … or any other places of worship”, Ahmadis were barred from calling their places of worship mosques; the kalema of Islam was removed from such buildings’ façade; holding prayers and congregations similar to those held by Muslims inside a building that resembled a mosque and keeping copies of the Quran in such places, were proscribed. An official declaration defaming the Ahmadi creed and its religious leader was henceforth required from citizens to acquire basic identity documents or even to open a bank account if you declared yourself Muslim. The kalema and Quranic verses were also ordered to be removed from Ahmadi gravestones. Pakistan’s anti-Ahmadi apartheid thus had the full force of the state behind it.
It can be argued that from an Islamic point of view such rulings contravene an important Quranic injunction in Sura Al Haj, which reads: [They are] those who have been evicted from their homes without right — only because they say, “Our Lord is Allah”. And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned. And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might (22:40).
Similarly the Pact of Madina in 632 CE, signed by the Prophet with non-Muslims living in the vicinity, gave the latter full rights alongside his Muslim converts; their places of worship were accorded full protection and they too were declared as part of the same Ummah, even though the word now only appears as exclusively defining Muslims alone.
Such have been the wages of historical distortions espoused and propagated by Muslim zealots of today since the injection of petro-dollars into furthering their intolerant creed.
That said, in Pakistan, a few questions remain unanswered regarding the religious, social and official persecution of Ahmadis: whether the anti-Ahmadi legislation is legal or not; whether it is in contravention of the basic structure of the constitution that guarantees religious freedoms; whether parliament has a constitutional right to ascertain the faith of an individual or a community or not; and lastly, between Parliament and the Constitution of Pakistan, which is sovereign or supreme, the institution or the basic law that even governs that very institution?
It is our moral and intellectual bankruptcy that not a single individual has dared to legally address these anomalies that have pitted the entire state apparatus and society against one, small religious community.
The writer is a member of the staff at Dawn Newspaper.
William Sheikh Peer "there is nothing either good or BAD, but thinking makes it so".
i appriciate bravery of this honest writer.thanks to dawn for publishing it.
Professing the Kalima is required to become a Muslim, with a belief that the finality of Prophets came as Prophet Muhammad. The amended Pakistani constitution (Article 260, clause 3) defines a "Muslim" as a person who believes in the oneness of God, in the finality of the prophethood of Muhammad, and does not believe in any person who claims to be a prophet after the prophet Muhammad…………Equation is simple ,,Follow constitution of Pakistan u shall be respected
And Shall be Punished if u don't!!
First of all, it's not fair for a constitution to declare who is a Muslim based on the beliefs of the majority and reject the rights of the people in minority groups who has different beliefs. Secondly, it is not the case that 'follow the constitution, you'll be respected' since there are so many other attacks towards other minority groups and other religions.
Nice article, very well written and articulated blog, tribute to bravery of mr rizvi.
Seriously… I am pinching myself… can't believe that is the headline of the story…
An excellent article. Yes, of course Islam does not permit anyone or any institution to decide about one's stated faith. Also, every citizen of Pakistan has equal basic rights and the Government, as well as SC, should take a note of this bias & hatred being spread so blatantly & openly. May Allah have mercy on our nation. Aamen
By writing this in an english newspaper you are pretty much preaching to the choir…
My deepest regards to the writer for having the courage to write on this issue, on which very few of our journalist brothern have the will to comment/report. When going througth the comments on this article I came across some comments in which people defended the ahmadis being declared as non muslims. I being an ahmedi, will like to clarify just one thing. We do not care whether people call us muslims or non muslim, kafir or whatever!!!! Think of us what you want, hate us as much as you can, the truth will open to all of us when we die and face our Creator. Tilll that time my only request is that let us live!!! When they kill our community members, we never demonstrate on the roads any where in the world.. We never ever raise or start any hate campaigns. Just let us live, give us the same freedom that you demand so balatantly from the goverments of west when you migrate there…
with so many peace loving and moderate voices… better days are ahead for pakistan.. god bless
subhanullah! excellent article, it is high time that right thinking muslim Pakistanis show the true Din to our bigots
The basic facilities in Pakistan are a dream what to talk of other issues, so relax and keep your faith hidden here.
It is very interesting to note that any article on religion invites enormous amounts of comments and commentary in Pakistan – there are far too many people in Pakistan who seem to think that they know religion better than the other person.
Everyone seem to be jostling to tell about their version of Islam (again, Islam, not religion – the point is they know only about Islam, nothing else) and all sense and plurality is lost in din.
I wonder why?
So called protectors of ISLAM in pakistan should learn from Turkey, Malaysia or even Bangladesh, on whom they unleashed the worst ever military action in the world.
you may have a point?
Muslims are paying for the beliefs they carry.It is not the same Islam which Prophet Mohammad professed.
Put your trust in One God and live with a good character.
Thank you Mr. Razvi for writing this and bringing the topic of the most contorversial and atrocious declaration in the history of this region. It is about time that people of Pakistan and muslims in general should know the true reality of this long propaganda that has been unjustly publicized against the minorites of Pakistan especially the Ahmadis. I salute you sir. Thank you once again.
I would say that no one should be treated unfairly, let me tell Mr Razvi that he the objectivity resolution which is seen as the basic problem in the Pakistan was zealously supported by Sir Zafrullah khan who was an ahmadi hismself, Ahmadis have issued decrees against rest of the muslims and have declared them Kafir and out of the pale of Islam, Is it not extremism on their side, just check " Truth about Split" page 56, by Mirza Bahsir uddin Mahmood Ahmad second successor to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian founder of Ahmadi faith. It's an irony that Ahmadis getting lot of sympathies for being a marginalised community which is also true socially but on academic front they are no different . just check their literature, they are not what they appear. no offence to anyone but its a fact , I would ask all those fellows who have left comments in the support of Ahmadi community , Please check their website and literature and get to know them , believe me they are not what they claim and appear.
Dear Salman sb and everyone,
I would really ask everyone to read the literature of Ahmadiyya community PLEASE before making judgements and I would ask you Salman sb to read it too before making these statements. But I agree with you Salman sb that they are not what they are made to appear by the vicious Mullas. I saw one Maulvi saying their Kibla is different!! They openly allege they do not love the Holy Prophet (saw) and do not beleive in him being Khataman nabiyyeen, and so much more. Such blatant lies that I am amazed at the extent of their lying ability. What you have mentioned is again a twisted propaganda and I would again request you to read the context. You say Ahmadis are just like the Mullas? Open your eyes sir. Unlike the Mullas who want to kill all kafirs after declaring them kafirs, Ahmadi's have the motto of "love for all and Hatred for none" and they practice it. from building hundreds of hospitals and schools in Africa (since not allowed to do that in Pakistan) to praying in the face of all this persecution and keeping fast every week for this country's well being.
My dear Yahya Ahamd Khan,
While I am strongly against any kind of prosecution and mob justice which is on rise in Pakistan. I would also like to say that unlike many Pakistanis including, Ahmadies themselves, who have not read the ahmadi literature,I have read some Ahmadiyya Literature. I know what kind of lies and deceptions are there in it. So don't try to spread your propaganda on the wave of sympathy.
About the building of schools and hospitals in Africa every body knows the intention behind it, whether built by Ahmadies or Christian Missionaries.
Regards,
So you are declaring the intentions of all the hospitals and Madrassahs built by KSA, Qatar, Kuwait & UAE. Please remember one thing that the only way you can attract someone is love and your character. There are many examples of other religious groups who claim to many sucess but infact are failed. The Character & the values are cause Islam was spread all over the world.
well, if one believes in prophet Mohammad (PBUH)teaching he will not harm anyone,if you judge people,then one day you may have to face similar situation,the real judge is Almighty Allah, is int it? your reasoning is exactly same as kufare mecca
Your comments are welcomed. Question is not that who called Kafir who? It is matter of just very basic human rights. Do they enjoy the same religious freedom as rest of the population? Do they have equal opportunity at all levels of society? O.K they are not permitted to preach or profess thier religion( though it is not the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan), but they should at least be allowed to pray in their places of worships. Question is not what they believe but what harm it cause rest of the community? Extraditing them is not the answer, but to convince them with dialogue is the bestway to coop with this situation. Not all the people believe in the finality of the Prophet Muhammd(PBUH), as a matter of fact lot of people of the world dont even consider him the prophet then why it is so annoying for the Muslims if ahmadis do not believe in the finality of the prophet Muhammad(PBUH)?
an eye opener response by you.
Education is a tool…but I have seen many educated Pakistanis but chanting slogans in favor of Mumtaz Qadri…so ????
What is the solution ???
A war ??? Destruction ??
Aftermath peace ???
By declaring Ahmadies as Non Muslims, a Pandora Box has been opened. As of today there is not even a single sect or group who we can claim to be above this allegation by any other rival faction. And in the end a nice article which has highlighted the plight n vulnerabilities of the most peacefull n harmless segment of our society.
If we have guts then right from now all those who believe that this is against islam,start calling Ahmadi muslim and their Mosque as mosque,from now!
I think you are missing the point here. It is not about changing out personal beliefs regarding the Qadianis or any other minority for that matter. I can still consider them non-Muslim, personally, however, as a state, Pakistan shouldn't have anything to do with that. Qadianis
Its the constitution which call Qadyanis non muslims. Every one should follow the constitution and law of the country. Yes no person or religious place be hurt due to any prejudice.
Constitution was not made by God but originally by well meaning people. Later on the likes of Zia introduced their personal biases in to it. This constitution MUST be amended to give equal rights to minorities as was the vision of Qaide Azam. Else will get worse by each additional extremist that Pakistanis will elect.
OK then all of us Pakistanis should have access to the proceedings of the parliment which decded the fate of the Ahmadis. Why not publish it?
Plus we all know what our constitution is like,what kind of parliment we have,noone respects them,even judiciary s political .
Many intellects like the author Murtaza Rizvi have pointed to many of the existing problems in the society. At the same time many comments also point to the reasons for such problems. It will be nice if the authors of such blogs and the people commenting can propose a solution for people as individuals, government and the nation as a whole.
What hurts most is when I see some educated people have very narrow minded approach about the rights of minorities