The words of Maulana Tariq Jamil
He commands a lot of sway over his supporters and such a degree of influence comes with certain responsibilities
PHOTO: FILE
Renowned religious scholar, Maulana Tariq Jamil, is currently in the news due to his controversial remarks about “immodest” women. In a telethon, organised by Prime Minister Imran Khan for raising funds to combat Covid-19, Maulana Tariq Jamil remarked that the pandemic was God’s punishment for society’s sins, such as lying, deceit and obscenity. If he had stopped here, perhaps such a controversy would not have arisen, but instead he went on to explain what he meant by obscenity. With his voice breaking down, he put the blame squarely on women and their immodesty.
To label these statements as being problematic is an understatement. Maulana Tariq Jamil directly blamed Pakistani women and their attire as one of the major reasons as to why a pandemic is affecting millions across the globe, including those countries where religious attire like the hijab is compulsory. Even if one assumes that this virus is indeed a result of the ills which plague society, the culprit according to Maulana Tariq Jamil are not those men who rape and sexually harass women and molest children, but instead are those women who in his eyes dress in an “immodest” manner.
We have to understand that in a society where misogyny is already deep-rooted and victim blaming extremely common, such statements, when couched in religious lingo by a figure of Maulana Tariq Jamil’s influence, assume extraordinary potency. In fact, more than the content of his words – after all, this kind of thinking is unfortunately common in our society – the fact that he said them is what makes his comments even more worrisome.
Maulana Tariq Jamil, after all, is not just another mullah but an individual who has, over the past few decades, attained a great deal of influence across every strata of Pakistani society. His influence is particularly strong amongst Pakistan’s urban middle-class, including its relatively ‘moderate’ sections. He also hobnobs with the powerful and the influential and the fact that Prime Minister Imran Khan requested him to offer a prayer in that telethon is a testimony to his influence in the upper echelons of power. And, above all, his social media following is second to no other religious figure in the country; and is composed of impressionable young men and women, many of who are fanatically devoted to him. This makes the situation extremely complicated because such followers, instead of questioning such utterances, either hurl abuses at Maulana Tariq Jamil’s critics or justify his statements through an apologetic defence.
To be fair, Maulana Tariq Jamil has steered cleared of inciting sectarian hatred and has also tried to promote interfaith harmony. While these are laudable qualities, his views with regards to women are undeniably problematic. He may not have blamed women for natural disasters before, but he has often linked societal problems to women’s clothing. For instance, in one video he partially attributed the “bepardagi” of women as one of the reasons behind the Kasur incident. Yes, it is true that he also advises men to lower their gaze when interacting with women but, after watching his videos, one gets the sense that he still places the onus disproportionately upon women and their clothing.
His defenders argue that the real purpose behind such sermons is to control mens’ desires by showing them a glimpse of the “rewards” they can attain in the afterlife. Frankly, I doubt this method is serving its purpose and, as discussed, is making some men think of women only in sexual terms.
“When Muslim daughters practice immodesty and the youth indulges in vulgarity, then Allah punishes such nations the way He punished the people of Lut ,” he said, further adding,
“Who is making my country’s daughters dance?”
To label these statements as being problematic is an understatement. Maulana Tariq Jamil directly blamed Pakistani women and their attire as one of the major reasons as to why a pandemic is affecting millions across the globe, including those countries where religious attire like the hijab is compulsory. Even if one assumes that this virus is indeed a result of the ills which plague society, the culprit according to Maulana Tariq Jamil are not those men who rape and sexually harass women and molest children, but instead are those women who in his eyes dress in an “immodest” manner.
We have to understand that in a society where misogyny is already deep-rooted and victim blaming extremely common, such statements, when couched in religious lingo by a figure of Maulana Tariq Jamil’s influence, assume extraordinary potency. In fact, more than the content of his words – after all, this kind of thinking is unfortunately common in our society – the fact that he said them is what makes his comments even more worrisome.
Maulana Tariq Jamil, after all, is not just another mullah but an individual who has, over the past few decades, attained a great deal of influence across every strata of Pakistani society. His influence is particularly strong amongst Pakistan’s urban middle-class, including its relatively ‘moderate’ sections. He also hobnobs with the powerful and the influential and the fact that Prime Minister Imran Khan requested him to offer a prayer in that telethon is a testimony to his influence in the upper echelons of power. And, above all, his social media following is second to no other religious figure in the country; and is composed of impressionable young men and women, many of who are fanatically devoted to him. This makes the situation extremely complicated because such followers, instead of questioning such utterances, either hurl abuses at Maulana Tariq Jamil’s critics or justify his statements through an apologetic defence.
To be fair, Maulana Tariq Jamil has steered cleared of inciting sectarian hatred and has also tried to promote interfaith harmony. While these are laudable qualities, his views with regards to women are undeniably problematic. He may not have blamed women for natural disasters before, but he has often linked societal problems to women’s clothing. For instance, in one video he partially attributed the “bepardagi” of women as one of the reasons behind the Kasur incident. Yes, it is true that he also advises men to lower their gaze when interacting with women but, after watching his videos, one gets the sense that he still places the onus disproportionately upon women and their clothing.
His defenders argue that the real purpose behind such sermons is to control mens’ desires by showing them a glimpse of the “rewards” they can attain in the afterlife. Frankly, I doubt this method is serving its purpose and, as discussed, is making some men think of women only in sexual terms.