Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Opinio
Source & Credit: Aleem’s Weblog | Dubai
By Abdul Aleem | June 1, 2010
As the Shock and Distress from last Friday settles down and the news of distant relatives and friends being laid to rest and being treated in hospitals has stopped, feelings of Anger, Hopelessness and Disappointment are taking over. Anger towards the merciless animals who attacked and killed innocent people (including young children) and disappointment from the Pakistanis, especially from “mainstream” (in quotes) SUNNIS who consider them the champions and defenders of Islam.
The nation who sends “LANAT BESHUMAR” on the FACEBOOK users and indulges into a fierce campaign to defend the dignity of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by stopping the publishing of caricatures does not particularly consider the killing of innocent humanity in the name of religion as a defamation of the Prophet (PBUH) or any threat to Islam’s dignity, at least not to the same extent as the caricatures. No protests, No gatherings, No banners against the Taliban, TTP, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Sipha-e-Shaba, No Fatwas, and not even “LANAT BESHUMAR” for them.
Instead the defenders of Islam simply choose to go mute and lay low since the people who were killed were not Muslims (in their dictionaries). Ironically this nation complains the most about the WEST being inconsiderate of their religion and should know better not to draw the caricatures, while killing of innocent human beings having different views in their own country is lesser of an issue.
Such is the BIGOTRY and DISCRIMINATION facing Pakistani Society today. The terrorism in the north does not come from outside but is rooted within our own settled cities and within the brain-washed and selfless hearts and minds of the majority.
I cannot even begin to comprehend the feelings of Ahmedis in Lahore, family and friends and specially the people who were inside the mosque when the incident took place, people saw grenade ridden human remains and the trauma was enough to make them cry and be fearful of what lies ahead for them in this CASTLE OF ISLAM founded to avoid the persecution of Muslims at the hands of Hindus and yet where other minorities are facing state sponsored persecution stamped into the law.
I have always wanted to go abroad even during the time in Punjab University and I utilized the opportunity when I got one during the first year of my career. However, my brother a graduate of FAST and Masters from LUMS has more Pakistaniat in him, even after repeated attempts from me to convince him to apply for Canadian Immigration or join me here in UAE he has never thought of going abroad. He even missed a full paid scholarship to Netherlands. He was infact so ambitious about being in Pakistan that he left his permanent job in a reputed Software House recently to start his own business in his beloved Lahore. I kept cautioning him that there is nothing in Pakistan and you should at least apply for abroad, but I could not budge his enthusiasm. In all these years he has told me “Apna Mulk Apna hi hota hai, why to be second grade citizen in WEST when you have your own country”
Yesterday, I sensed Hopelessness and Dejection in his voice for being in Pakistan, his voice wanting an escape from what he saw and experienced on Friday and a realization of being a second grade citizen within his own country finally settling into his consciousness.
Ahmedis have long given up hope and effort to convince PAKISTANIS that their worship places are “MOSQUES” not TEMPLES and they pray five times a day in same way as ordinary SUNNIES, they pray JUMA on Fridays and do not just celebrate some nameless religious event as consistently put forth by the news channels. One cannot blame the media organizations though when you have a law to persecute anyone who would blatantly state the obvious. Still, even in their silent prayers they pray for this country which is their own, for which their forefathers also gave blood and migrated from combined India. Our grandmother used to tell us stories about how members of her family died during partition and how my father was born during the migration.
The once modern, open-minded and progressive Pakistan of the 60’s is now being eaten up by the extremism that we have sown during the last 30 years. We have been left far behind by our rivals and neighbors who once saw Pakistan as a progressive Muslim State; we have lost dignity of being Pakistani and are continuously becoming a reason of damaging the image of Islam with our hatred for the world and for minorities within our own boundaries. The hate of everyone who differs from us has consumed us, weather it is religion, politics or drawing room discussions, PAKISTANIS have become a nation which cannot accept criticism, cannot accept a difference in ideology or view even if it risks their very own existence in the world. One can only pray that Allah help us all in understanding the real message of our Prophet (PBUH), give us humbleness, humility and kindness similar to him, kindness not only to Muslims but to everyone around him irrespective of the gender, age and religion or views. May Allah show this nation the right path and help Pakistan through this difficult time.
As for Ahmedis, they as a community do not believe in violence (which has given rise to a wrong myth that they do not believe in Jihad, they do but they prefer Jihad of restraint and knowledge than killing people) so one should not expect any backlash or demonstrations on the streets. However, I have sensed gruesome fear and concern for their children and families. It will open a new wave of Ahmedi migration similar to what took place in 1974 and then in 1984 after consistent persecution of the community.
Who knows how many Dr. Abdus Salam, Zafarullah Khan and MM Ahmed Pakistan is going to lose in this wave.
(With the Fazal of Allah Almighty my immediate family is safe; my father attends Juma in Garhi Shahoo mosque being near to his office. Fortunately he wasn’t feeling well on Friday and took the day off and my brother was at home with him. A lot of other cousins and relatives were in Model Town during the attack but they got out safe as well)
(May Allah give place to the deceased in Jannah)
Read original post here: A Lost Nation on a Path of Self-Destruction!
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