PAKISTAN IS NEITHER SHIA NOR SUNNI BUT A MUSLIM REPUBLIC
MR ALTAF HUSSAIN’S ADDRESS TO A GATHERING OF RELIGIOUS SCHOLARS
Karachi, 9 February 2005
The MQM leader Mr Altaf Hussain while addressing a large gathering of religious scholars in Lal Qila ground, Azizabad, Karachi said that Pakistan was not created for Shias or Sunnis but the entire Muslims of India. No sect can claim superiority over the other. The founding father of Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah declared in his 11 August 1947 speech that every Pakistani will have the freedom to live his life according to his own faith. Mr Altaf Hussain said that we should live in accordance to the guiding principles of Quaid-e-Azam’s speech. Islam is a humane religion and does not permit any Muslim to commit bloodshed. The religious scholars should raise their voice against the injustices towards the smaller provinces, which is a very Islamic act, but to remain silent in the face of injustice is un-Islamic. He emphasised upon the religious scholars to form committees to keep an eye on miscreants so they cannot commit atrocities in mosques and other places of worship. Religious leaders must set aside their differences in the interest of sectarian solidarity. Mr Altaf Hussain pointed out that all Muslims believe in one God, one Quran and one Prophet, so to remove misunderstandings and rift among them is also Jihad. To protect the life and property of another Muslim is also considered Jihad. He acknowledged that he is not a religious scholar but he feels deeply about the loss of life of innocent Muslims in mindless bloodshed in Mosques and Imambargahs. As a person who stands by the truth I have always advocated solidarity among people of different faith and sects in the society. If anyone thinks differently then he can term it any way he likes, realising the fact the Muttahida has never expected anything in return for its efforts for solidarity. Who so ever preaches murder of fellow Muslims is not following the teachings of Islam. I was born in a Muslim family and whatever I have learnt is from my parents and teachers, so my understanding of religion is in true spirit of Islam. He said that the Holy Quran is in Arabic language, for a Muslim it is essential to believe in every word of the holy book. But the translations and explanations of the Quranic verses, in some places are not in accordance to the spirit of the holy book. If this statement is incorrect, then no one perhaps would have had better knowledge about the religion then the learned Imam-e-Kaba and had he fully grasped the essence and spirit of the Holy Quran then he would have refused and not occupying the seat of “Imam” until the end of Saudi monarchy.
Mr Altaf Hussain stated that similar was the case with Ahadees which was 14 hundred years old. He further elaborated that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) had said that armoury should not be of poor quality and that the Iranian bows and arrows were of high quality. This signified that the Holy Prophet had pointed out about the quality of armoury produced locally which was not of the quality matching the quantum of changing times and dynamics within the parameters of his requirement. If we inert the pendulum of the time and not consider it essential to attain the modern and scientific education and knowledge fulfilling the need of the time dialectically (Ijtihad) to reach a decision through reconciliation and consensus then how would it be possible to win a modern war by use of outdated armoury or reasons? Similarly, he added, that if we are not synchronized with the modernity as well as modern need of the time and not attain modern and scientific education then how could we and when be counted within the developed countries? He emphasised that Allah (God) has addressed himself as being the Allah of the entire universe and God forbid! Confining Allah (God) within the precincts of Muslims would be totally wrong. God has revealed in the Holy Quran that he has transcended all bounds of earth and skies for the mankind and there are secret codes for the knowledgeable and whichever nation deciphered those signs reached the pinnacle. He further added that the Orders or Proclamations of Allah are never wrong, whosoever will attain education and knowledge will progress and those merely engaged in degrading Jews and Christians and instead of following the teachings of the Quran merely recite Quran for the sake of reward (Sawab) would remain backward and desolate. He added that the sects existing amongst Muslims are not new but centuries old and no dichotomy exists in the fundamental teachings and preaching of Imam Abu Hanifa RH, Imam Shafa’iea RH, Imam Maalik RH, Imam Humbal RH, Imam Jafar Sadiq RH and other religious scholars, no one has pronounced fasting and mode of prayers incorrect and has accepted the oneness of Allah and Hazrat Mohammad (PBUH) as the last prophet of Allah.
Mr Altaf Hussain urged that religious scholars and clergy to move forward using the path of dialectical process (Ijtihad) fulfilling the norms and requirements of the modernity. Citing an example of Norwegian Muslims delegation which came to visit him said that the fasting according to decree is from sunrise to sunset while in Norway sunrise and sunset cycle is virtually six monthly then how do the Muslims fast in Norway and many Scandinavian countries? Responding to their question, he said for this you have to refer this problem to the scholars of Jama-e-Alazhar. However, so far as his opinion was concerned he said that using the average time theory of the sunrise and sunset to their closest Islamic country, they should set the time for fasting and in many countries fasting lasts up to 18 and 19 hours.
Mr Altaf Hussain emphasised that religion is not for tormenting the mankind but the necessity is that we should free ourselves from the cages of parochialism and follow the dialectical process to solve our issues amicably through reconciliation and consensus. He said that he was saddened that his vigorous effort for the unity between the Muslims has not produced solid result that he had expected. He questioned that in which verse of the Holy Quran or Hadees (traditions of the Holy Prophet PBUH) written that a Muslim should slay another Muslim? Islam is the religion of peace which does not permit even the slaying of a non-Muslim for no reason. He further added that unfortunately, all the concept of the Islamic state after the Khilafat was the reflection of monarchical imperialism; it was therefore, no Islamic state could have been established in any part of the world. He said that he would like to read and follow if any book exists which present the modality of establishing craft of genuine governance of state within the Islamic jurisprudence equipped or harmonised with modernity and genuinely if there exist a book which impresses him, he would become the advocate of the book.
He said, that nowhere the Quran has described in particular about the way to govern and type of government, even if Quran would have taught a way of offering prayers, we all Muslims would have adopted one definite way of offering prayers. He said, he lay stress on IJTEHAD (dialectical process, to reach consensus and reconciliation) because this is the only way that we could move forward. The Holy Quran’s one Surah, which describes how the attack by Abraha with army of Elephants on Kaaba responded to by special birds called Ababeel and the Army was completely crushed, signifies that we should acquire modern system of defence and not remain dependent on Ababeels. Emphasising further, he said that this also symbolises that to win a war besides war on ground, air war technique have also to be employed. He further said that Quran has so many hidden secrets, that, who is able to decipher it is bound to become the Super Power of the mankind and manly world and that, who fails to do this, despite abusing others day and night is dependent on them for F-16 and missiles. He said Moharram is around the corner, peace and harmony is what is required. He regretted the violent protest in Karachi in reaction to sectarian riots in other parts of Pakistan and proposed that the affectees should always prefer peaceful way of protest rather than a violent approach.
Regretting the injustices being committed to the province of Sindh, and Baluchistan he said that a process of injustice and discrimination is going on against the smaller provinces, the Ulema-e-kram (the honourable clerics) should also raise voice against this, as the act of raising voice against oppression and injustice is totally in accordance with Islam.
Mr Altaf Hussain requested the Religious Scholars to form peace committees in order to maintain sectarian harmony and promote unity and brotherhood. He also appealed to the people to form such committees at neighbourhood level and maintain complete unity in their ranks and files.