—Photo Illustration by Faraz Aamer Khan/Dawn.com

On my recent visit to the homeland, I noticed something about Karachi that had never piqued my attention before: everywhere I looked and went, there were an unusual number of hijabis, and more bearded men than I had ever remembered seeing. When I asked “Is it just me or do more people now observe hijab?” I was told that hijab seems to have caught on with the people more than ever before. No wonder a smart marketing gimmick for a shampoo for hijabis has been launched!

Along with this development, I noticed something else too – the nagging presence of what I will call the ‘halal police’. The (self-appointed) halal police have been functional since centuries, but now you'll find these ‘warriors of the deen’ everywhere. If a guy has a beard, he will give you a look that says, “You infidel! How can you not have a beard?” And if a woman covers her head, her eyes will burn a hole through your (uncovered) hair. I personally find this behaviour bereft of humility and kindness, and precisely the reason why people run away from Islam.

I am quite sure you’ve come across those types of people who tell you in no uncertain terms that it is haram to chew gum. Some others will frown if you pray namaz with nail polish on, while still more will tell you that you pray your salah wrong and sajdah should be made this way, not that. Now, I am not questioning their religious beliefs, or indeed, expressing my views about namaz with nail polish because I am no scholar and I do not know what’s right and what’s not. However, what I do know is that noone has the right to be self righteous and bossy in the name of Islam. Suggestions could be made in a civil manner, friendships should be nurtured rather than nipped in the bud and people should be loved for being who they are.

These newly returned to Islam people are full of their knowledge and ready to give you guidance, and they do so at will to anyone who has a shorter beard than them (or none at all) or a hijab that doesn’t do its job. An increasing number of younger people are learning religion via mentors and internet lectures, suddenly gaining the authority to tell their parents they’ve got it all wrong for the past 50 years.

Let me clarify – practicing your religion and wanting to propagate it is a noble act, something that the prophets (peace be upon them all) did. But to look down upon those who don’t follow the same religion as you (or none at all!) or don’t have a beard, or don’t cover their heads is about as far from Islam as you can get. For before you suddenly learnt it all, weren’t you the same? And what gives you the authority to judge someone? Who but the Creator knows what’s in a person’s heart? For all we know – a person we think is far removed from religion might be dearer to God than we could ever hope to be.

Where does the halal police get the right to call someone a ‘kaafir’? Do people know God’s mercy is all-encompassing. Some days back, a woman shouted at me in a mosque, so loudly, and in such an uncultured manner, that I never went back to that particular mosque again. All this because I hadn’t removed the shoes of my two-year-old!

If righteousness must be enjoined than it must be done in a respectful and acceptable manner, because remember that there is no compulsion in religion and that people with a holier-than-thou are the most loathed; gentleness accomplishes far more.

The misconceptions about Islam rise sometimes because we as a people do not have tolerance, especially if we begin to learn the religion. We need to be humble and if we’re being critical, the first one we should aim to correct is our own self.

Mehmudah Rehman is a Dubai-based freelance writer who blogs at Ummanaal’s Musings.

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.