Pakistan

Islam and state: Scholars discuss modern dilemmas, challenges

Local and foreign scholars share views on issues demanding immediate attention in the Muslim world.

Express January 26, 2011

ISLAMABAD: With themes such as the origins of religious extremism in Pakistani society, Islam’s view of democracy, and rights of minorities, an international conference opened here on Tuesday.

The two-day conference on “Islam and State: Practice and Perceptions in Pakistan and the Contemporary Muslim World” opened at the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) and was attended by local and foreign scholars.

In his inaugural speech, the chief guest, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Education Sardar Aseff Ahmad Ali, dwelt on the controversial blasphemy laws which seems to have polarised Pakistani society. He said a new Islam was being preached in Pakistan these days which justified suicide attacks and the killing of innocents. He considered it tragic that “religious parties were justifying murder and glorifying the murderer.” He emphasised the need to resolve the debate about literal or contextual interpretations of Quran in order to revive the institutions of Ijma and Ijtihad, as advocated by Allama Iqbal.

Prof Fateh Muhammad Malik, Rector of IIUI, was of the opinion that the main task that lay before the state in Pakistan was to liberate the nation from subservience to the US. He advocated Iqbal’s and Jinnah’s interpretation of a “liberal and progressive Islam” that upheld the ideals of human equality, social justice and democracy.

IIUI President Dr Mumtaz Ahmad said that it was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and not General Zia who gave the initial impetus to politicise religion. The only difference between the two, according to him, was that Bhutto failed in using Islam to his benefit whereas Zia succeeded. He said religion, which was supposed to integrate the nation, had been unable to achieve that purpose. However, he was optimistic about the revival that currently seems to be underway.

Sharing his views on Islam and democracy, Dr Khalid Masud, former chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology, discussed the concept of sovereignty in light of the views of Iqbal and Maulana Maududi.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (7)

John | 13 years ago | Reply Happy to see the seminar started and it is a good thing. Would like to hear the Mullahs thought on this, since it is what the Killed Punjab governor did and he was labeled as Blasphemer. I expressed my thought in the " scholars discuss blasphemy law" comment section also. Religion and State politics are incompatible, and Islam is no exception. While it is a lofty thought that all religion speaks of peace, equality, and justice, and perhaps so, but when religion is state sponsored the very idea of equality and justice is lost. When a religion is sponsored by a state as supreme, the state as well as the religious body automatically assumes that all other religions including atheism and the people of non-sponsored religions and atheists living in their state is non-supreme-dhimmi. While preaching tolerance towards other religious beliefs including atheists may be considered compassionate and right thing to do by the state, it is exactly opposite to the very idea of Supremacy and one and only religion idea sponsored by the state. From mullahs perspective this is an issue and if there is an objective look one could go as far as saying that Mullahs of Pakistan are fighting to defend the constitution of Pakistan. Are they not correct? The very preamble to the Pakistan constitution firmly establishes this concept of supremacy and it is a fact that non Muslim cannot be the head of the state in Pakistan because the oath of office assures him/her to be Muslim. And the state enforces the law of the land and in this case it establishes the supremacy of the state religion by enacting and enforcing blasphemy as the state sees it as enshired in the constitution and this is what the mullahs are also saying, and they go as far as enforcing it by Fatwa and even by the bullet. The very idea of equality, justice, and tolerance are universal and it is the responsibility of the State / King to enforce these ideals. These ideals have nothing to do with any religion and in fact if any the religious schools of thoughts point it out to the King/State whenever the State fails in enforcing the very ideals. Unfortunately when the State sponsors one religious view, then there is a conflict. It is a conflict with the universal ideals of equality, justice, and peace in one side and the idea of supremacy of one religion enforced in the constitution. In Mullahs view they are only enforcing the constitutional idea which the state is failing to enforce. The very idea of blasphemy is nothing but enforcing the supremacy of state sponsored religion which in mullahs point of view is nothing more than the revolt against State sovereignity. Sadly, they are right because that is what the constitution and the law of the land says. Is blasphemy a defamation? In secular point of view, yes, It is a defamation. In secular point of view defamation is a civil law but in religious point of view the defamation becomes blasphemy and it falls under criminal law. In religious point of view it is heretic and the blasphemy is not equal to defamation and it derives it strength from constitution.

M M Malik | 13 years ago | Reply Islam as implemented in Pakistan starts with punishments, hudood and death, whereas a just welfare Islamic state should come first.We have the cart before the horse. Even today without an Islamic society which is tolerant, just and welfare oriented our mullas are preaching death.

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I See Dumb People | 13 years ago | Reply During the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah SAW, the Jews and Christians used to bring their matters to the Messenger of Allah SAW for judgment (to test his knowledge); and the Messenger SAW always used to judge the cases according to their respective scriptures — to the letter. And many Qur'anic verses refute the Jews and Christians for not acting according to the scriptures, while they claimed to believe in these Books as The Word of God / YHWH. Interestingly, the "modern" Muslims also claim to believe in the Qur'an as the Word of Allah, but insist on "interpreting" it to suit their desires? What is more ironic is that these folks would echo every anti-Muslim line that comes from the West, but somehow they find it inconvenient to take The Word of Allah at face value.

Canuckistani | 13 years ago | Reply @Sharjeel Jawaid: Agreed. What we need to do is look at the failings of the western financial system which is based on fiat money, fractional reserve banking and interest, and see this as an opportunity to demonstrate how the Islamic economy would function in comparison, i.e. without the fiat money, fractional reserve banking and interest, but rather through risk sharing, honest money and increases in productivity through innovation and capacity building. One of the greatest injustices on earth today is economic; poor people can no longer afford to eat while the rich get fabulously richer. The world is completely dependent on unsustainable sources of energy, food and water...there are serious problems with the western paradigm which the Islamic one can correct, if we only get our act together and put our country on the right track....but alas...this is not something that is likely to happen in our lifetimes..but we can certainly keep trying and praying.

sandy | 13 years ago | Reply Please unveil Islam from the dust of mullahs to the world

someone@london | 13 years ago | Reply the issue is in dire need of being resolved and confusion removed with clear cut rules for those who go against it or the repurcussions could be more devatating than the terror fear we are facing presently every day.

Sharjeel Jawaid | 13 years ago | Reply The Clergy and the Politician have to understand that the objective of religion [Islam or any other] is not to enforce punishments prima facie; but to establish a Just Social Order. We all collectively failed in initiating the process! Sincerely / Sharjeel Jawaid

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