Self love and its fruits
The middle class is acknowledged as the back bone of every society in the contemporary world.
Every nation’s middle class has some distinct features of identity. So has ours. But our middle class has some unique features of distinction too, ranging from some that may amuse, to many that are tragic.
Pride is a defining color of our middle class. But we do not think any performance is necessary for pride. We live in a land of four seasons; we have mountains in our north and in this blessed land, God even sends rains when dust makes it hard to breathe; is it not something unique to be proud of? The other day a young proud Muslim with a college degree pointed out all these blessings to me, and then explained, “We are so blessed because we are Muslims, you know.”
This innocence is the fruit of a well organised movement which teaches our students that the whole world, not a part of Arabia, was dark and ignorant before Islam. Civilization started in the 6th century after Christ.
A lack of awareness is a precondition for narcissistic pride. Bragging is as natural to a child as humility is to a wise man. An organised movement has been active for centuries to keep us away from wisdom, which grows only when we learn and think. This movement was put in motion in our past to maintain the dominance of Muslim kings and aristocracy who needed some dedicated force to fight for them. Hindu subjects could not be that force. So, Muslims were pumped with pride: the pride of faith, pride of valor, of ability to kill, of sexual prowess.
Our literature is replete with stories of massacre, of ravaging the infidels and their cities, and of sleeping with so many wives, although we claim our ancestors were the kindest, so delicately spiritual, the most pious and just of all mankind. We have been told that reciting the Qur’an was enough to be self-righteous; all skills of life except wielding the sword were low jobs for the subject people. No system of education, therefore, developed during the 800 years of the Muslim rule.
What is learning? What fields need learning? Do we need to know about agriculture, trade, manufacture, health or social matters for a peaceful society? These questions were seldom taken up; countless issues, that need the good ruler’s attention, were left to their fate. Our Muslim kings had little interest in the famous handicrafts of South and East India beyond collecting taxes or using their products. So the ancient India of arts and crafts, of mathematics and music did not grow in any field except some architecture. We make tall claims that our rulers of India established justice and equality, but the tragic truth is that the untouchables were never rescued and Sati was never challenged while our kings collected taxes on Hindu worship.
When the British colonialists ended the rule of our kings, our religious leaders declared it a tragedy for Islam and pitted us against new sciences. The narcissist self-love, which had alienated us from Hindus for centuries, again served as a tool to keep us from “Christian sciences”. Those who pleaded for new sciences were declared infidels and continue to be declared so, to this day. Whatever the motivation of Pakistan’s founding fathers was, our aristocracy and clerics were clear on their mission. The mission was to keep us sick with nostalgia and pride, to hold us from the wisdom of humility. Islam served as the most effective tool to perpetuate their hold.
An ever expanding religious upsurge and an ever deepening self love inevitably complement each other. A similar self love was injected by Hitler and also by the Japanese generals into the veins of Germans and Japanese. Unlike us, these nations were recognised by the world for their creativity and innovation, they did not borrow or steal scientific secrets as we did, and nobody doubted the character and courage of their generals. What fate befell them in spite of all their merits, is history. Who really knows why our religious, holy men and our ruling elite have pushed us into ignorance through the arrogance of faith. Maybe it was done in good faith or in sheer lack of vision. But the process has created the Taliban with their suicide explosions who rip apart the entrails of our own people, pushing us ever deeper into chaos, toward a senseless clash with the world. It’s weird that even after such tragedies our leaders insist on the same way of thinking.
There is not a single nation to support our Islamic politics of clash. On the other hand, we hear rumors of a united action by the Nato forces, Russia and India, while China will probably keep her cool. Let us hope our leaders are not preparing our people and armed forces for some horrendous sacrifice! For whose benefit can they do so? And what benefit can that be?
Listen to this blog in Urdu
The author is a renowned Pakistani intellectual. His urdu books Tehzeebi Nargisyat and Mubaalghe, Mughaalte are widely regarded as the revival of critical thinking and free inquiry in Urdu non-fiction.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
Writer need to go back in history and study more about the education system, science, medicine and other contributions done by muslims. Muslims were the one who introduced the first education system and many other things… for current situation its right and need a big change and not at national level first at individual levels.
It has long been known that uneducated people tend to be easier to control. All early religions made great use of this principle, however, over time, education flourished and most religions lost their hold. Islam did not – it did its best not to educate, especially for women.
You hit the nail on its head.
Actually Islam did its best to educate people. Prophet PBUH said “learn even if you have to go as far as China”. Quran at many places says “why don’t you think”, “Sun, moon and stars follow a set path and there are revelations in this for those who seek”, etc.
Unfortunately the control of government passed to people like Yazeed, who were Muslim by name only. Now Taliban are following the same path. They want to keep people away for education for their political benefit. Taliban have nothing to do with Islam. All religions including Islam, Christianity, Judasim, Hindumat, etc teach peace and love. It is some followers that use the name of religion for their political benefit.
Funny though,the contagious virus to ridicule and making fun of history is fast spreading.It is time to put a break to this suttle art Instead we should try to study our past objectively .We should try to learn reasons,seriously,why we lagged behind other communities?.Kings and rulars are all same, some less and some more Middle class is never a back bone of a community as it is always opportunist and unreliable,it is the working class which ii the back bone.
I believe that there is a lot of things for us to be prude of ourselves, of our culture, of our religion and of our history. The world should remain indebt to muslims that they designed the standards of education in asia and went through spain into europe. We, muslims, have ruled the world for centuries. Yeah they were warriors. They fought for their land, for their people and their religion. we can not call bad names for all of them. There were too many good people too. There is a big list of those people who with their kind, civilized and fair play of their character inspired people to accept islam and follow it as true religion. To add, such along history would have some mishaps, however, this doesn’t mean that all were barbarous and brutal. The author should go back to history and realize that we have not borrowed knowledge we have respected the work of non-believers and spread it throughout world. Had muslims not spread the light of knowledge to the world the germans and japanese would not have succeeded in their technology and science. there have been some blacksheeps that happens to be everywhere. As for taliban are concerned our religion doesn’t own them at all. Why to blame religion then?
@Danish, I dont know who told you this but India had university even before Islam came in existenece. Just search about Nalanda it was started in 5th century and education system in india goes back to thousnds of year . In ancient Hindu book Mahabharata it clearly states the education of Kaurav and Pandava. Mahabharata is around 6000 years old. Even before that in Ramayana it is clearly written that Ram and Lakshman went to Guru Ashram for education and training purpose.
Some time German and japanese definitely would like to know that what was the knowledge you enlighten them but could not enlighten yourself.
The author deserves appreciation for sharing his convictions despite them being controversial.
The only one here with the most incredible bias towards promoting delibrately the views of leftist/liberal thinkers is Dawn itself. I ask Dawn if you claim to be an ‘awami’ newspaper then a huge section of the ‘awam’ subscribes to orthodox Islamic thought, based purely on Quran and Sunnah upon the understanding and methodology of the sahaba and those they taught, why should you not publish articles/blogs in which they can respond to all allegations thrown at them in your newspaper, and give out their views and opinions in solving the people’s problems in their writings?
You are voicing your opinion right here right now… People like you blame dawn and other such forums just because they voice the opinions differing from yours as well…
Undisputable artical.In India , the population survey of minority reveals sikhs are outclassed in population 20 times by the muslims live in india but they contribute 50 times more then the muslims in national wealth or GDP.Not all sikhs are in Army or big landloards but majority of them in service sector and contributing a lot where if we look at muslim population ,in almost all states they have significant figure but their contribution in GDP is very low as tax payer , wealth generator.It is all due to lack of interest in education which they are still dening and showing cold feet .No teacher in system can deny teaching but a good student is needed always.
Absolutely gem of an article. it all starts with education, its the key for a better change. start educating the future generations in a different and creative way than teaching of the false prestigious past.
You seem to be as much unaware of the progress of Muslim civilization as much as the one who is proud of it. You picked the worst examples and tried to paint a dirty picture of subcontinent under Muslim rule. Lets talk about Poverty during mughals, lets talk about the rights of non-muslims, lets talk about the education curriculum, lets talk about why everyone in the world wanted to conquer india ( british, portugese, Nepolean, russians etc)
Stop seeing the picture from the “everything was worst” angle, and I am definitly against the “everything was best” angle.
Give a balanced opinion. Not a biased one!
Umair, please stop dreaming, wake up and face the harsh realities. The article paints a true picture and truth hurts.
Boss it was a critical essay and not an opinion… Change comes by first recognizing the ills rather than cure…
Realistic, informatic but unfortunately majority of our people will not agree rather cannot understand. Such articles should be translated in Urdu and propagated in electronic media. Our mindset is developed by Moulvies of nearby Masjids which keep our minds unable to accept realities. However, with spread of education minds of new generations are gradually enlightened to some extent. There is need for revision of syllabus of schools / colleges and uniform syllabus even for Madrassahs.
But sir what is the solution. Now we are fed up of reading these harsh realities. It is more appreciable if we focus on the solutions.
Solution is simple: regulation of every mosque, madrassah and molvi in the country (like our “ideal country” Saudi Arabia does) to ensure no maniac exploits religion for his personal gain, peace (however undesirable) with India to render our military (and militants) redundant and use that money on education and finally to confiscate any land/wealth which is illegally acquired or not fully utilized to reduce income disparity.
Who will carry out the solution? That is the hard qestion.
Very true. So it might be worth mentioning the Army that also plays a role in reminding us what a stellar role our glorious martial traditions are playing in routing the infidel enemy.
The author has given a very relaistic picture of past mistakes including the presently prevalent attitudes of middle class regarding denial of facts under the cover of false pride. I would request the author to discuss the middle class dilemma more in detail and share some suggestions which can help to change the situation.
Writing is one thing ,practicing and implementing its belief is another. Author life might be in danger but his courage is appreciable to speak the bitter truth of Muslims particularly Pakistani. Religion is so deep rooted into mindset of people that honestly it is impossible to penetrate and cultivate modern thinking. I have seen this very closely while growing with muslim boys\girls in Uttar Predesh India. What ever you do they not only just donot get it but also become violent if you do not stop. This is the situation of majority Indian muslim even though they are far better moderate and professional than muslim in other countries. So simply forget about Pakistan which is created based upon Muslim agenda and remained deeply rooted in the stone age thinking and on top of that the rulers of this country cultivated this culture systematically in people generation to generation. There were religious fanatics also arose in India after partition and wanted to implement their strategy but its rulers and intellectuals were far beyond their approach and never let them successful. Thats why India produced leaders\intellectuals from all the religions to the level of international standard. Truth is bitter and I know many will not like it.
Stunningly brilliant and bold article. Bravo Mobarak Haider and Dawn for publishing. Spot on and leaves the mind refreshed when viewed from a different angle.
And still we have writers like you, good job sir.
The best critical thinking about the present day affairs of Pakistan ever written in English Press.
I appreciated your thinking Sir…I like the way you delivered a nice message for whom understand…
Amazing! wow just amazing! I am very pleased with this article ! just amazing and wonderful… So clear sighted, so direct and the to the point… so fluid! there is hope maybe for our people yet … it makes me want to cry for our poor and battered and broken people….for those who suffer at our hands and for our own suffering….