I am a Pakistani & I am Confused

By Sonya Anjum Saba

Starting from the very beginning, Pakistan’s formation is still a confusion for many… Some blame education system, some blame politicians etc, but no one wants to take the responsibility. Is history of our formation such a stone age fact that no one wants to dig out research and study???

Pakistan was made on the basis of “TWO NATION THEORY” now for some people they have their personal idea of it. But what Sir Syed Ahmed Khan wanted to teach the Muslims of Sub-Continent was that; Islam never stops you from learning new things, getting parallel with the world in terms of education, development, growth, but not at the cost of your traditions, norms, culture and faith. What he observed in Muslim Community of that time was adapting many of the Hindu traditions which Islam denies. They adapted dowry (Jahaiz), practice of cast systems, they still practice gendercide (killing daughters) which is one of the major issues even in 2012, hating the concept of free will or consent of their children in marriage because according to Hindu traditions only arrange marriage was considered the most superior and most dignified format… But Islam stresses even on the daughter’s will in marriage. Islam only wants you to seek piety, humility, honesty, and modesty in your spouse.

Keeping such elements from getting mixed up in Muslim community, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan came up with the idea of a separate state. Where our trade, business, education etc can be exchanged with every other country in the world, but that physical and geographical distance will help people maintain a decent practice of a simple and non-materialistic state. Even Non-Muslims of that time supported their Muslims fellows in formation of Pakistan, simply because they wanted a place where society has a welfare system, life is easy even for the poor and no hi/low casts can affect anyone. They didn’t have degrees like Pakistanis of today, but they had so much of the insight which is very rare now. Degrees can not earn you enlightened mind, you have to develop it on your own. People of that time knew what was the need of the hour and they put their trust completely in ”Jinnah” for helping them reach their goals.

Instead majority today loves cross questioning, spreading hate speech, maligning on personal character of others. People earned money and degrees over the passage of time, but lost sensibility, rationality, tolerance and insight in return. In the name of “Freedom of Speech” and “Liberalization” people never mind hurting the religious sentiments. The ones who believe Pakistan was made to be secular tend to bypass the foundation of this country “Two Nation Theory”… Why they are dying to convert or direct it to a secular society… where a single man can be superior than the entire community or a state or even law??? Just because he wants to practice “Freedom of Speech” where no respect or sacredness for religious beliefs, or places remain??? To me they are no different than Talibaan they are very much the same. Talibaan and such hate spreading individuals are the two extreme ends of the same rope. Where none of them represents true picture of Islam, Patriotism and Humanity.

Islam is a religion that teaches moderation… Islam has always taught to maintain balance between two extremes in every walk of life. Actual Islam is tolerance and patience, but when it comes to self defense and protection its Jihaad. Its not killing the innocent. If uneducated people have given it a wrong direction then what are so called degree holders, elites and confused liberals doing??? Blaming “Islam” for human actions. A crime is committed by a single fanatic and the first remark that comes from so-called liberals is an attack on teachings and preaching of Islam/ Quran…. This is also an extremism in its own way.If west is what they idealize then they must learn good things from west too… if a crime has been made by a POPE assaulting a 10year old in a church premises… they take it as a human crime… not as something related to their religious tradition or as something taught in the Bible. Same applies to crimes committed by people who were born in Muslim families but never cared enough to learn their religion. The same kind of frustration and materialistic war has popped back in Pakistan, which has affected an entire generation.

Our media was hijacked from the very moment when Indian content started going on air via dish, cable… I don’t mean we should ban everything… but we were supposed to put a limit on things that actually corrupt the roots of our society. People were already weak in their basics of culture, religion and traditions, they followed gilts and glamor of media so blindly that these past 15/20 years have left the current generation nothing but confused. We need to wake up… We are a nation suffering from ignorance… and this time its worse than the ignorance that people had before Islam.As a very ordinary Pakistani these are the things I see around myself every other day… and they leave me with a lot of concern for the future.