Thursday, January 06, 2011

Macaulay's Children



I wonder what on earth is the criteria for a person to be appointed the "group editor" of an Urdu national daily newspaper? How ignorant or shortsighted one has to be to fit into that slot?

Abbas Ather of the daily Express has not only rattled sabers again in his column today by insisting on calling Salman Tasser 'shaheed' but has also claimed that he could not find any evidence of any desecration or disrespect of the Prophet Muhammad or of any Islamic norms in the last 1400 years until 1990 when Zia-ulHaq's law was enforced and blasphemy cases started appearing. To erroneously prove that blasphemy law is not an Islamic one he merely quotes how it has been misused.

Why the heck he wants to call his hero by an Islamic term anyway?

I don't want to waste the rest of my blog post by quoting his long-winded but absurd arguments. I will just show how wrong he is in saying that there was no incident of blasphemy in the last 1400 years until Blasphemy Laws of what he insists on calling Zia's 'Kala Qaanoon' made them appear in a cascade. I am quoting from the Time magazine of April 16, 1979 - the same issue that coincidentally had the story on Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's death printed in its pages:

"Early Christian polemicists against Islam used the Prophet's human person as their butt, accusing him of whoring, sedition, charlatanry. As writing about Islam and the Orient burgeoned—60,000 books between 1800 and 1950 — European powers occupied large swatches of "Islamic" territory, arguing that since Orientals knew nothing about democracy and were essentially passive, it was the "civilizing mission" of the Occident, expressed in the strict programs of despotic modernization, to finally transform the Orient into a nice replica of the West."


I am sure Thomas B. Macaulay, that supercilious English snob who was a member of the British Supreme Council in Indi, amust be smiling, from wherever the heck he is now, to see the products of the educational system he had proposed, who now proudly call themselves liberal, enlightened and secular. The term used for these people is Macaulay's Children who are born of Indian or Pakistani ancestry but adopt Western culture as a lifestyle, or display attitudes influenced by colonizers.

Macaulay was so disdainful and contemptuous to the Eastern culture and scholarship that he said: “The whole native literature of India and Arabia was worth but a single European library shelf." (Mind it he did not Arabic or any of the Indian languages.)

The passage to which the term, Macaulay's Children, refers to is from his Minutes on Indian Education, delivered in 1835. It says:

"It is impossible for us, with our limited means, to attempt to educate the body of the people. We must at present do our best to form a class who may be interpreters between us and the millions whom we govern; a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals, and in intellect. To that class we may leave it to refine the vernacular dialects of the country, to enrich those dialects with terms of science borrowed from the Western nomenclature, and to render them by degrees fit vehicles for conveying knowledge to the great mass of the population."

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Salman Taseer: Shaheed Or No Shaheed

The following is a letter I wrote this evening to Abbas Ather, the group editor of the Daily Express, an Urdu newspaper of Pakistan. I have asked him a few questions that I had after reading his column in today's paper . It is self explanatory.

Dear Mr. Ather, Daily Express

Sir, let me say this first that I like your columns and the first thing I do every morning after perusing the headlines in the Express is to turn to the second page to see if your paper has carried your column.

Mostly, I find your column very incisive, analytical, and well-rounded. Once in a while, I catch you taking untenable partisan positions but not enough to prompt me to write something about it. (I joined PPP at a relatively tender age in 1968 enchanted by ZAB's charismatic personality and his program to uplift the down-trodden.)

But after reading your column today (Jan 5) I feel I should write something. I know I don't have the privilege of having a bully's pulpit in the shape of a newspaper column that reaches millions uncontested, as you do. So I have to be content with an email.

Anyway, let me come to the point. First thing: let us not confuse and mix up things. We can mourn all we want the emotionalism of our nation, the extremism of our often-denigrated 'Maulvis', the poison they are injecting in our body-politic, the fact that the Prophet Muhammad is 'Mercy to all species' and how he treated his opponents and enemies, Quad-e-Azam was a liberal or fundamentalist, some Maulvis called him Kafir-e-AzamI and opposed him in his efforts to get a separate country for Muslims, and Maulvis called Boota Singh a shaheed even though he had committed suicide. We can discuss all that but not in the context in which you have done in your column.

There are a few issues here:

(i) Is a person entitled to call one person he likes a 'shaheed' but another who he does not like but died in similar conditions 'not shaheed'? I would say 'yes'. Because a particular person could be a rascal to one and a saint to the other. A religion could be a superstition for the one who doesn't believe in it. But it doesn't matter. We are not the ones who can render a final verdict on this. It is for the Creator to judge whether a person is a shaheed or not. Our saying so, though it may please us, doesn't make him one or vice versa.

(ii) The real issue here is whether the blasphemy law is based on an injunction that was revealed to Zia (as you have said) or to the Prophet in the Holy Quran? Just because Zia introduced it or had had it promulgated does not make it wrong or 'controversial', or does it? By the way, even if a law is revealed to Zia or the Prophet it would take some personnel to prepare it as a bill to get it passed into a law.

(iii) Is Blasphemy Law is the only law in Pakistan that is misused to persecute the innocent?

(iv) Is it the only law in which here say may be admitted as an evidence?

(v) To answer your question that which other Islamic country has the Blasphemy Law, Iran is a theocracy and and its official religion is the doctrine of the Twelver Jaafri School. Yes, and it does have a blasphemy law. Does Iran having a Blasphemy law makes it Islamic?

(vi) Did Salman Taseer called Blasphemy Law 'kala qaanoon' (Dark Law) just because it was introduced by Zia? or because it has been misused to persecute minorities?

(vii) Is there any other law in Pakistan that has ever been misused to persecute some innocent or has been used improperly? Did Salman Taseer said that other law was also 'kala qaanoon'?

(viii) What if Blasphemy Law is derived from Shariah as Iranians claim that it is and Salman Taseer has called it 'kala qaanoon', do you still believe that he is 'shaheed' and you will pay tribute to him?

(ix) If Salman Taseer has called a Quranic Law a 'kala qaanoon' and Mumtaz Qadri has killed him because he thinks he was blasphemous then why Salman Taseer is better than Rajpal and Mumtaz Qadri is inferior to Ilm-ud-Din (should I call him shaheed?)?

Last question: would you please have my email printed as is?

Sincerely

Khalid Masood Butt

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Why Record Number of Britons Are Embracing Islam?


The Independent newspaper calls it the Islamification of Britain because record numbers of Britons are embracing Islam. The number of Britons choosing to become Muslims has nearly doubled in the past decade, about 5000 a year.

This increase in number of those adopting Islam is despite the fact British Muslims are under enhanced scrutiny, criticism and analysis than any other religious community and the often negative portrayal of Islam in media.

The figures are comparable with studies in Germany and France which found that there were around 4,000 conversions a year.

According to Fiyaz Mughal, director of Faith Matters, the think-tank that has done this survey it is "the prominence of Islam in the public domain" that prompts people to find out "what Islam is all about" and "some will inevitably end up liking what they discover and will convert."

Then the Independent tells the interested one how to become a Muslim:

Islam is one of the easiest religions to convert to. Technically, all a person needs to do is recite the Shahada, the formal declaration of faith, which states: "There is no God but Allah and Mohamed is his Prophet." A single honest recitation is all that is needed to become a Muslim, but most converts choose to do so in front of at least two witnesses, one being an imam.


Then some of the new converts to Islam have been introduced:

Hana Tajima, 23, fashion designer
Hana Tajima converted to Islam when she was 17. Frustrated by the lack of variety in Islamic clothing for converts she founded Maysaa, a fashion house that designs western-inspired clothing that conforms to hijab.

"It's true that I never decided to convert to Islam, nor was there a defining moment where I realised I wanted to be Muslim. My family aren't particularly religious. I was interested in religion, but very disinterested in how it related to my life. I grew up in rural Devon where my Japanese father was the ethnic diversity of the village. It wasn't until I studied at college that I met people who weren't of the exact same background, into Jeff Buckley, underground hip-hop, drinking, and getting high. I met and became friends with a few Muslims in college, and was slightly affronted and curious at their lack of wanting to go out to clubs or socialise in that sense. I think it was just the shock of it, like, how can you not want to go out, in this day and age.

"It was at about that time that I started to study philosophy, and without sounding too much like I dyed my hair black and wore my fringe in front of my face, I began to get confused about my life. I was pretty popular, had good friends, boyfriends, I had everything I was supposed to have, but still I felt like 'is that it?' So these things all happened simultaneously, I read more about religion, learned more about friends of other backgrounds, had a quarter life crisis. There were things that drew me to Islam in particular, it wasn't like I was reaching for whatever was there. The fact that the Qur'an is the same now as it ever was means there's always a reference point. The issues of women's rights were shockingly contemporary. The more I read, the more I found myself agreeing with the ideas behind it and I could see why Islam coloured the lives of my Muslim friends. It made sense, really, I didn't and still don't want to be Muslim, but there came a point where I couldn't say that I wasn't Muslim.

"Telling my family was the easy part. I knew they'd be happy as long as I was happy, and they could see that it was an incredibly positive thing. My friends went one of two ways, met with a lack of any reaction and lost to the social scene, or interested and supportive. More the former, less the latter."

Denise Horsley, 26, dance teacher

Denise Horsley lives in North London. She converted to Islam last year and is planning to marry her Muslim boyfriend next year.

"I was introduced to Islam by my boyfriend Naushad. A lot of people ask whether I converted because of him but actually he had nothing to do with it. I was interested in his faith but I went on my own journey to discover more about religion.

"I bought loads of books on all the different religions but I kept coming back to Islam - there was something about it that just made sense, it seemed to answer all the questions I had.

"I would spend hours in the library at Regents Park Mosque reading up on everything from women's rights to food. Before I went to prayers for the first time I remember sitting in my car frantically looking up how to pray on my Blackberry. I was so sure people would know straight away that I wasn't a Muslim but if they did no-one seemed to care.

"During Ramadan I'd sit and listen to the Qur'anic recitations and would be filled with such happiness and warmth. One day I decided there and then to take my shahada. I walked down to the reception and said I was ready to convert, it was as simple as that.

"My friends and family were rather shocked, I think they expected there would be some sort of huge baptism ceremony but they were very supportive of my decision. I think they were just pleased to see me happy and caring about something so passionately.

"I grew up Christian and went to a Catholic school. Islam to me seemed to be a natural extension of Christianity. The Qur'an is filled with information about Jesus, Mary, the angels and the Torah. It's part of a natural transition.

"I do now wear a headscarf but it wasn't something I adopted straightaway. Hijab is such an important concept in Islam but it's not just about clothing. It's about being modest in everything you do. I started dressing more modestly - forgoing low cut tops and short skirts - but before I donned a headscarf I had to make sure I was comfortable on the inside before turning my attention to the outside. Now I feel completely protected in my headscarf. People treat you with a new level of respect, they judge you by your words and your deeds, not how you look. It's the kind of respect every dad wants for their daughter.

"There have been some problems. Immediately after converting I isolated myself a bit, which I now recognise was a mistake and not what Islam teaches. I remember a lady on a bus who got really angry and abusive when she found out I had converted. I also noticed quite a few friends stopped calling. I think they just got tired of hearing me say no - no to going clubbing, no to going down the pub.

"But my good friends embraced it. They simply found other things to do when I was around. Ultimately I'm still exactly the same person apart from the fact that I don't drink, don't eat pork and pray five times a day. Other than that I'm still Denise."


Dawud Beale, 23

Dawud Beale was a self-confirmed "racist" two years ago who knew nothing about Islam and supported the BNP. Now a Muslim, he describes himself as a Salafi - the deeply socially conservative and ultra-orthodox sect of Islam whose followers try to live exactly like the Prophet did.

"I was very ignorant to Islam for most of my life and then I went on holiday to Morocco, which was the first time I was exposed to Muslims. I was literally a racist before Morocco and by the time I was flying home on the plane a week later, I had already decided to become a Muslim."

"I realised Islam is not a foreign religion, but had a lot of similarities with what I already believed. When I came back home to Somerset, I spent three months trying to find local Muslims, but there wasn't even a mosque in my town. I eventually met Sufi Muslims who took me to Cyprus to convert.

"When I came back, I was finding out a lot of what they were saying was contradictory to what it said in the Qur'an. I wasn't finding them very authentic, to be honest. I went to London and became involved with Hizb-ut-Tahrir, the political group who call for the establishment of an Islamic state.

"But while I believe in the benefits of Sharia law, I left this group as well. The problem was it was too into politics and not as concerned with practicing the religion. For me, it is about keeping an Islamic appearance and studying hard. I think we do need an Islamic state, but the way to achieve it is not through political activism or fighting. Allah doesn't change the situation of people until they see what's within themselves.

"I have a big dislike for culture in Islamic communities, when it means bringing new things into the religion, such as polytheism or encouraging music and dance. There is something pure about Salafi Muslims; we take every word of the Qur'an for truth. I have definitely found the right path. I also met my wife through the community and we are expecting our first child next year."

Paul Martin, 27

Paul Martin was just a student when he decided to convert to Islam in an ice-cream shop in Manchester four years ago. Bored of what he saw as the hedonistic lifestyle of many of his friends at university and attracted to what he calls "Islam's emphasis on seeking knowledge," he says a one-off meeting with an older Muslim changed his life.

"I liked the way the Muslims students I knew conducted themselves. It's nice to think about people having one partner for life and not doing anything harmful to their body. I just preferred the Islamic lifestyle and from there I looked into the Qur'an. I was amazed to see Islam's big emphasis on science.

"Then I was introduced by a Muslim friend to a doctor who was a few years older than me. We went for a coffee and then a few weeks later for an ice cream. It was there that I said I would like to be a Muslim. I made my shahada right there, in the ice cream shop. I know some people like to be all formal and do it in a mosque, but for me religion is not a physical thing, it is what is in your heart.

"I hadn't been to a mosque before I became a Muslim. Sometimes it can be bit daunting, I mean I don't really fit into this criteria of a Muslim person. But there is nothing to say you can't be a British Muslim who wears jeans and a shirt and a jacket. Now in my mosque in Leeds, many different languages are spoken and there are lots of converts.

"With my family, it was gradual. I didn't just come home and say I was a Muslim. There was a long process before I converted where I wouldn't eat pork and I wouldn't drink. Now, we still have Sunday dinner together, we just buy a joint of lamb that is halal.

"If someone at college had said to me 'You are going to be a Muslim', I would not in a million years have believed it. It would have been too far-fetched. But now I have just come back from Hajj - the pilgrimage Muslims make to Mecca."

Stuart Mee, 46

Stuart Mee is a divorced civil servant who describes himself as a "middle-of-the-road Muslim." Having converted to Islam last year after talking with Muslim colleagues at work, he says Islam offers him a sense of community he feels is missing in much of Britain today.

"Everything is so consumer-driven here, there are always adverts pushing you to buy the next thing. I knew there must be something longer term and always admired the sense of contentment within my colleagues' lives, their sense of peace and calmness. It was just one of those things that happened - we talked, I read books and I related to it.

"I emailed the Imam at London Central Mosque and effectively had a 15 minute interview with him. It was about making sure that this was the right thing for me, that I was doing it at the right time. He wanted to make sure I was committed. It is a life changing decision.

"It is surprisingly easy, the process of converting. You do your shahada, which is the declaration of your faith. You say that in front of two witnesses and then you think, 'What do I do next?' I went to an Islamic bookstore and bought a child's book on how to pray. I followed that because, in Islamic terms, I was basically one month old.

"I went to a local mosque in Reading and expected someone to stop me say, 'Are you a Muslim?' but it didn't happen. It was just automatic acceptance. You can have all the trappings of being a Muslim - the beard and the bits and pieces that go with it, but Islam spreads over such a wide area and people have different styles, clothes and approaches to life.

"Provided I am working within Islamic values, I see no need in changing my name and I don't have any intention of doing it. Islam has bought peace, stability, and comfort to my life. It has helped me identify just what is important to me. That can only be a good thing."


Khadijah Roebuck, 48

Khadijah Roebuck was born Tracey Roebuck into a Christian family. She was married for twenty five years and attended church with her children every week while they lived at home. Now, divorced and having practiced Islam for the last six months, she says she is still not sure what motivated her to make such a big change to her life.

"I know it sounds odd, but one day I was Tracey the Christian and the next day I was Khadijah the Muslim, it just seemed right. The only thing I knew about Muslims before was that they didn't drink alcohol and they didn't eat pork.

"I remember the first time I drove up to the mosque. It was so funny; I was in my sports car and had the music blaring. I wasn't sure if I was even allowed to go in but I asked to speak to the man in charge, I didn't even know he was called an Imam. Now I wear a hijab and pray five times a day.

"My son at first was horrified, he just couldn't believe it. It's been especially hard for my mum, who is Roman Catholic and doesn't accept it at all. But the main thing I feel is a sense of peace, which I never found with the Church, which is interesting. Through Ramadan, I absolutely loved every second. On the last day, I even cried.

"It is interesting because people sometimes confuse cultures with Islam. Each Muslim brings their different culture to the mosque and different takes on the religion. There are Saudi Arabians, Egyptians and Pakistanis and then of course there is me. I slot in everywhere. A lot of the other sisters say to me, 'That is why we love you, Khadijah, you are just yourself.'"