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Point Abid
Ullah Jan Time
to plead guilty
Ideologically Pakistan today stands in the middle of nowhere, notwithstanding the illusive gains of the religious party´s alliance (MMA) and Musharraf´s claim to practicing “enlightened moderation.” Both the Muslims´ promise to establish the Deen and the secularists´ dream to fully secularise Pakistan remain unfulfilled. The MMA is neck deep in the very mire of godlessness from which it has been promising to liberate Pakistan. There is a lesson in its becoming the forerunner of a system that negates both Islam and democracy. The MMA´s success in legitimizing a dictatorship and failure in establishing Islam are clear signs of the validity of calls, which asked religious leaders not to a) divide Muslims in numerous religious parties, b) participate in secular systems for the supremacy of Islam, and c) turn means — such as elected positions — into ends in themselves. Today MMA leaders claim to have sided with dictatorship for the “supremacy of democracy.” They do not say their actions are for the supremacy of Islam. Establishing one or another form of twisted democracy cannot absolve MMA and the nation from their real obligation of establishing the Deen. [1] Fifty six years is enough time to realize and admit that the course we have taken has landed us in kufr (disbelief) than Islam. The main folly behind the failure is our committing shirk to establish Islam. Referring to kufr and shirk for the first time in 15 years´ career should convey the fact that there is no other conclusion. The reality is as much harsh to digest as it is difficult to deny from where we stand today But this is where we stand. Can we deny that the Qur´an has repeatedly admonished those who establish Hukm — the system of law and justice — on the basis of ‘other than´ or ‘contrary to´ Allah´s authority and law? Can we deny the fact that Pakistan´s legal system is primarily based on the same common law of our colonial masters? Apart from the cosmetic inclusion of the legal code of Shari´ah, English case law remains a primary source of authority in commercial law matters. Can we deny that the Qur´an unequivocally condemns and accuses them of Kufr (disbelief), Dhulm (injustice and oppression) and Fisq (wickedness and enormous sin) who fail to establish law and authority on the basis of the revealed Divine Law after having the opportunity of self-governance in an independent state for 56 years? Can we deny that we perfectly fit this description: “ …. And whoever fails to judge on the basis of that which Allah revealed has committed Kufr .” “ …. And whoever fails to judge on the basis of that which Allah revealed has committed Dhulm ." “ …. And whoever fails to judge on the basis of that which Allah has revealed, has committed Fisq.” (Qur´an, 5:44 - 47) We and our flag bearers for Islam cannot deny our guilt. In exchange for MMA´s fake opposition and granting constitutional legitimacy to a dictatorship, it could not even ask the General to make the constitutional clause — "no legislation shall be done repugnant to the Qur´an and the Sunnah" — effective. In exchange for wholesale changes in favour of dictatorship, MMA could ask for a small amendment to make Article 227 of the Constitution part of the Objectives Resolution as article 2(b) to address the loophole that renders Islamic articles ineffective. The MMA, however, could not do so for Islam. It failed because its vague objectives have made it shift priorities and chose a course that is in total contradiction to Islam. The Qur´an tells us how Allah declared Pharaoh´s application of his law in the land of Egypt as acts of Shirk . It follows there from that the same declaration by the modern secular system and laws is also Shirk! Other than its title, Pakistan has followed the systems of a modern secular state that in turn have precisely done what Allah has called Kufr, Dhulm and Fisq. It is as simple as this: whosoever — Jews, Christians, or Muslims — established the secular state after having received the Divine Law through the Torah , Psalms , Gospel and Qur´an, would be guilty of having committed Kufr, Dhulm and Fisq! Casting vote in favour of any party that sustains secular systems and laws imply that the voter is following his Party and his Government into Shirk, Kufr, Dhulm and Fisq. Let´s look at the same issue from a different perspective. The Qur´an has denounced as Shirk the act of making Halal whatever Allah had made Haram (and vice-versa). Can we deny that the Supreme Court of Pakistan is the final hurdle in the way to declaring interest (Riba) Haram? Can we deny that David and Jesus cursed the Jews for acting exactly in this way (Al-Qur´an 5:78-79)? [2] If it were an act of Shirk when Priests and Rabbis made Halal that which Allah declared to be Haram , it is the same act of Shirk and hypocrisy (Al-Qur´an 9:67), deserving curses, when our government does the same things now. [3] The first faltering step was division into different religious parties without a clear strategy for establishing Islam. Some of the basic arguments of the religious leaders for participating in the secular system are: “without participation, we will have no political representation.” “Participation is necessary for changing the godless political system.” Pakistan is not an Islamic State by virtue of its title or a couple of dead constitutional clauses. The existence of Hadood laws or restriction on propagation of Qadyani views due to some reasons neither makes it Islamic nor exonerates it from being secular by the virtue of its roots, systems and consistent practice Participation in Pakistan´s electoral politics ipso facto signifies acceptance of the secular character of the state. Secularism today makes the same declaration that Pharaoh made to Moses: I am sovereign. My kingdom is sovereign. Its authority is supreme. Its law is supreme. That is Shirk. Any act that supports and sustains it is Shirk. The interest based institutions, lotteries, prize bonds, saving certificates, raffle tickets, and prevailing landlordism in Pakistan are just a few examples of how the government has already declared Halal nearly everything that Allah declared to be Haram. Casting votes for all parties and government that have already committed Shirk upon Shirk, imply the voters´ following them into Shirk, Kufr , Dhulm and Fisq! The right course was to match deeds with words, to act as a single force; launching campaigns for abolishing un-Islamic systems — starting with reviving the dead clauses of the Constitution and finishing with compelling the government into developing systems, ways and mean for making Qur´an and Sunnah supreme. We were supposed to be and not seem Islamic. We could "talk the talk," but we failed to "walk the walk." January 24, 2004 Abid Ullah Jan´s latest book, The End of Democracy, has just been released in Canada. The Nation January 28, 2004 Notes
Al-Mawardi The Ordinances of Government (Al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyya). Trans. by Dr. W. Wahba. 1996, pp. 3; also see Ibn Khaldun, “The Muqaddimah: An Introduction to History,” Princton University Press, 1967, p. 190,191. Al-Mawardi maintains that the establishment of the Khilafah is a religious obligation for the Muslims, because its main object is the defence of the Faith and the preservation of order in the world through the implementation of Revealed Law. In support of his argument he quotes that of the Qur´an in which David was appointed Khalifah on Earth by Allah (Al Qur´an 38:27). He is of the view that a secular state is based on the principles derived through human reasoning, and therefore it promotes only the material advancement of its citizens. But since the Khilafah is based on Revealed Law, it promotes the material as well as the spiritual advancement of the people. Constitution of Jammat-i-Islami, Pakistan says: “The duty of a Muslim is to strive for establishing whole of Islam without discretion or division.” See: http://www.jamaat.org/Isharat/2000/ish032000.html [2] The Qur´an says the Jews were cursed because: “They did not enforce the prohibition of that which was sinful and evil which they committed: evil indeed were the deeds which they did.” (Qur´an, 5:78-9). [3] “The Hypocrites, men and women, (have an understanding) with each other: They enjoin evil, and forbid what is just, and are close with their hands. They have forgotten Allah; so He hath forgotten them. Verily the Hypocrites are rebellious and perverse.” (Al-Qur´an 09:67).
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