Victory for the Sharifs?

THE Supreme Court’s decision on Thursday does more than just open the door for the return of Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif. It also changes the entire political complexion of the country in a positive way. It is still too early to say with certainty that the Sharifs are on their way back home, and when. There are many factors that they may ultimately have to take into consideration. But the apex court’s short judgement should be welcomed for the principle it upholds. It ruled that the Sharif brothers are Pakistanis and, under the Constitution, no Pakistani citizen can be barred from returning to his country and the documents submitted by the state to prove an accord between the Musharraf government and the Sharifs had no constitutional legitimacy.

Apart from its legal rectitude, the verdict is also significant for its political implications. It has no doubt provided a moment of rejoicing for the Sharifs and their party workers who have stood by their leaders through these difficult times. What is more, it will have a far reaching impact on national politics as well in what is to be an election year. If the polls are to have any credibility it is essential that all political parties and their leaders should be allowed to participate. That is the only way to ensure a level playing field and make the exercise meaningful. The experience of the 2002 elections clearly establishes that if leaders are kept out of the contest by devising unfair means a vacuum is created that is not good for the country. The government should find it in its own interest to hold fair and free elections with the participation of all major stakeholders. Thus alone can the constitutional crisis and the political confrontation, that grip the country, be resolved. Since President Pervez Musharraf’s reaction to the Supreme Court’s judgment is not yet known it is difficult to say what the government’s future course of action will be.

As can be expected, many politicians will make a beeline for the Pakistan Muslim League-N in the post-verdict days. After all nothing succeeds like success and the euphoria in Lahore, the Sharif’s hometown, suggests that many feel that Nawaz Sharif is still a brand name to contend with. The possibility of the two brothers’ return has certainly given a boost to the party’s future prospects as the front-runner for the coming polls in Punjab. This turn in the situation has put Ms Benazir Bhutto and her Pakistan People’s Party in an awkward position. With hindsight Ms Bhutto can perhaps be given credit for anticipating a court decision in favour of the PML-N leaders. Yet, her plea for a general amnesty for all politicians a day before the Supreme Court decision may not redeem her credentials as a popular leader who until just recently stood by Nawaz Sharif in a joint struggle for democracy. In the present circumstances her secret meeting with President Pervez Musharraf and the deal she now acknowledges she was negotiating with him will not exactly add to her popularity. If anything, she may find herself to be more on the defensive when trying to explain her move. Faced with the prospects of the Sharif’s return, Ms Bhutto can no longer take for granted an easy walkover for the PPP on which presumably her deal with the government was pinned. With the weakening of this premise the political standing of the People’s Party will also suffer.

Rain crisis yet again

SCARCELY had Karachi started recovering from the heavy spell of monsoon rains on Aug 9-10, than it found itself reeling from the after-effects of the downpour that began in the early hours of Wednesday. Given the city’s past record in this regard, it would not be inaccurate to term the recent heavy bout of rain as something of an aberration. However, in the light of changing weather patterns across the globe and in Pakistan itself, one can expect such vagaries of nature to become a permanent feature. Sadly, not only are the municipal authorities not in a position to prevent large swathes of the city from being submerged by floodwater, they are also ill-equipped to handle the crisis that erupts after heavy rains. This is quite evident in the impassable state of the main roads and lanes all over the city, the clogged gutters and broken electricity wires. Municipal services are so badly affected that even basic amenities such as water supply are hard to come by while many educational institutions and clinics are rendered almost non-functional.

However, the city government, instead of being proactive and providing relief to the common man while it debates a long-term strategy to prevent future rain-related chaos, has been giving lame excuses for its performance, besides passing on the blame to other civic agencies. This attitude will not do. While some of its suggestions like the centralisation of services can be discussed, indeed implemented, there must be greater accountability of those providing municipal services. Heavy taxes are extracted from Karachiites who have a right to better services and to know how their money has been spent. But, so far, complaints remain unattended and remedial action is long in coming. If the municipal authorities ensured regularity in the cleaning of drains and if they were alert in preventing encroachments by the rich and the poor alike on storm water drains and the rivers, they could provide some respite to Karachiites. But the real need is for a comprehensive and practical rain emergency plan, one that would advocate the pooling of resources by all municipal agencies and call for greater accountability of those providing civic services.

Taliban’s ban on music again

THE local Taliban’s disdain for music — or any form of recreation for that matter — was shown on Monday when they banned music in Zargari and other areas near Hangu in NWFP. They also went one step forward and banned the sale of narcotics which would be commendable if the self-proclaimed morality police had any authority to legislate. The coming together of “leaders” to form shooras which then pass edicts like banning music or fining violators Rs50,000 for disobeying them is not recognised by the government — yet it continues and causes difficulties for people. It would be wrong to assume that everyone in the tribal areas adheres to rigid views like disallowing girls from going to school or prohibiting men from shaving their beards. The tragedy is that people do not have a choice but to follow the orders, as failure to do so can result in the Taliban unleashing their violence on the community.

This has been evident in the past few years during which the Taliban have gained ground in the tribal areas and have challenged the writ of the state, spreading terror along the way. They have blown up shops selling music and CDs and on more extreme levels, they have beheaded men on the suspicion of their being spies. They do not respect a person’s right to healthy recreation nor do they care where or how a music shop owner is supposed to earn money after his business is forcibly shut down.

This menace of the local Taliban becoming a law unto themselves has to be put to a stop. They must be challenged by authorities for they are in clear violation of the law. Any failure will have far-reaching consequences, especially for the people who live in these places where the Taliban “rule”. The government cannot afford to fail them by turning a blind eye to their miseries.

Friday feature: Christianity in Quranic perspective

IT is widely believed that Muslims have been instructed to offer Islam or the sword as alternatives to non-Muslims.

The ignorance about the teachings of the Holy Quran and Hadith (Sunnah) and the irresponsible and deplorable attitude of certain Muslim groups has equally contributed to the development of such utterly false notions about Islam.

In general, social theories do not work in an absolutely deterministic manner due to human factors despite the fact that religions offer peace to society. Among these factors are various social and historical engagements, possible misunderstandings and misinterpretations inherited from the past, political aspirations and so on. This article discusses how Islam interprets Christianity. I analyse these two religions, one of which is a religion of love and peace and the other a religion of love and mercy. However many unfortunate events have taken place between them. For the purpose of this article I have set all such events aside on the grounds that every historical event should be evaluated in light of its original circumstances.

It would not be fair to judge the past by using today’s arguments. We can probably just say: Those who believe (in the Quran), who follow Jewish (Scriptures) and the Sabians, Christians, Magians and polytheists, God will judge between them on the Day of Judgement for God is witness of all things (22:17) the only benefit from recalling these events might be to discover the mistakes made in history so that they can be avoided in the future.

Now that we are in the age of information, followers of both religions should review their knowledge and think carefully about whether existing misunderstandings are based on something other than the written sources, especially the Holy Books of both religions. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) once said: “People are the enemy of what they do not know”. So do we really know each other well? If not, what does such ignorance lead to? Do those who have sharp critiques of another religion even know its fundamentals? Unfortunately none of these and similar questions have a similar answer.

Christianity and Christians: Is Christianity a divine religion? Yes! According to the Quran, Christianity is a religion from God and all religions from the Divine Source are the same. The only differences are some modifications made by God according to the prevailing conditions of a particular age. The name of this religion is Islam and Prophet Muhammad brought its final version: ‘He has established the same religion for you as that which He enjoined upon Noah-which We have sent by inspiration to you––and that We enjoined upon Abraham, Moses and Jesus’ (42:13). Other verses such as 4:136 and 2:213 point out this in a wider approach.

That is why the Quran most of the time carefully distinguishes unbelievers from followers of the Holy Scriptures, although there is no agreement on all points of these beliefs. The fact that the Quran calls them the “People of the Book” is important. The Quran sometimes refers to the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) or previous scriptures as supporting the Messenger, and sometimes declares itself a reference for verifying previous scriptures. In fact, both show that the Quran somehow accredits Christianity.

We read: “They say, ‘Why does he not bring to us a sign from his Lord?’ Has there not come to them a clear evidence of what is in the previous books? (20:133; see also 6:114, 10:9, 13:43, 29:47, 28:52) and He has revealed to you the Book with truth, verifying that which is before it, and revealed the Torah and the Gospels aforetime, guidance for the people.” (3:3; see also 35:1)

In the following verse, the Quran gives special importance to Christianity: “Behold! God said: O Jesus, I will take you and raise you to Myself, and clear you (of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme. I will make your followers superior to those who reject faith, until the Day of Resurrection. Then shall you all return unto Me, and I will judge between you about that which you dispute” (3:33). In 22:40 the Quran mentions churches as being among those places in which the name of God is commemorated.

Christians and their relations with Muslims: The following verses state the basic characteristics of Christians in general, which can be summarised as being trustworthy, adoring God during the night, being lowly before God, not taking a small price for communications of God, not behaving proudly, being strong believers and crying on account of the truth, having Compassion and Mercy in their hearts and so on.

We read in the Quran: “Among the People of the Book are some such that if you entrust one (of them) with a heap of wealth, he shall pay it back to you (3:75) They are not all alike. Of the People of the Book there is an upright party. They recite God’s communications in the nighttime and adore (Him) (3:113) and Most surely, among the People of the Book are those who believe in God and (in) that which has been revealed to you and to them, being lowly before God; they do not take a small price for the communications of God. These have their reward with their Lord. Surely God is quick in reckoning (3:199; see also 29:47).The Quran also states: “When they hear what has been revealed to the Apostle, you will see their eyes overflowing with tears on account of the truth that they recognise. They say: “Our Lord, we believe, so write us down with the witnesses (of truth). And why should we not believe in God and in the truth that has come to us, while we earnestly desire that our Lord should cause us to enter with the good people?” Therefore God rewarded them, on account of what they said, with gardens in which rivers flow to abide therein. This is the reward of those who do good (to others) 5:83-85; and bestowed on Jesus, son of Mary the Gospel, and We ordained compassion and mercy in the hearts of his followers (57:27)

A Muslim man or woman is forbidden to marry an unbeliever and to eat the meat of any animal that has not been sacrificed in God’s name.

However the following verse cancels that restriction for the People of the Book: “This day (all) the good things are allowed to you. The food of those who have been given the Book is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them, and chaste believing women and the chaste from among those who were given the Book before you (are lawful for you).” (5:5)

This obviously means that Allah wants Muslims to interact with Christians in their social lives. But more importantly, and in addition to issues of marriage or food, Muslims are asked to be nice to them at all times: “Do not dispute with the People of the Book except by what is best, except for those of them who act unjustly” (29:46).

Can their status as People of the Book be one reason why Muslims are told to be nice to them? “You will find the most violent of people in enmity towards believers (to be) Jews and the polytheists, and you will find the nearest in friendship to believers (to be) those who say: we are Christians. This is because there are priests and monks among them, and they do not behave proudly” (5:82 see also 13.36)

Who is saved: Christians or Muslims? The above discussion naturally may lead one to a desire to know who will be in heaven. However we are not in a position to really answer this question, for heaven belongs to God and its people are His people. Thus talking about who will and who will not be in heaven does not seem to be a respectful behaviour toward God: “Whatever is in the heavens and earth is God’s and you too be careful of (your duty to) God. If you do not believe, surely, surely whatever is in heavens and in the Earth is God’s. God is self-sufficient, worthy of (all) praise.”(4:131)

Those who consider themselves to have some kind of guarantee, who try to restrict the ways of heaven according to their own will, or letting everybody have a place in it ahead of time may be at fault. We probably can talk about being saved if it is clearly states in the scriptures.

Let’s consider seriously what the Quran says: “(As for) those who believe and do good, We will make them enter into gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide therein forever. (This is) God’s promise, (which is) true. Who is truer of word than God? (This) shall not be in accordance with your vain desires or those of the People of the Book. Whoever does evil will be requited with it and, besides God, such people will not find for themselves a guardian or a helper. Whoever does good deeds whether male or female, and he (or she) is a believer –– they will enter the garden and will not be dealt with unjustly in any way” (4:122-24). Clearly, these verses are talking about both Muslims and Christians but not in accordance with their desires.

The Bible and the Torah are both mentioned in the Quran and refer to those existing at the time of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

As for the Torah the Quran states in a verse revealed after a group of Jews asked the Prophet (SAW) a question and then disobeyed his decision: “How do they make you a judge when they have the Torah, wherein is God’s Judgement? Yet they turn back after that. These are not the believers…. And we sent after them in their footsteps Jesus, Son of Mary verifying what was before him of the Torah. And we gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light, and verifying what was before it of the Torah, and (serving as) guidance and an admonition for those who guard (against evil)” (5:43-44, 56 also 5:27, 7:157).

As the Gospel verified the Torah, the Quran verifies both (3:3 also 9:111). Likewise the following verse also encourages followers of the book and read the Book as it should be read: “Those to whom we have given the Book read it as it ought to be read, they believe in it. Those who do not believe in it are the losers” (2:121

In conclusion the two largest religions of the world should have better communication and understanding of each other and the resultant inter-faith harmony will contribute positively to the progress of mankind, peace and stability in the world.

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