In Pakistan, Ramazan is a month of iftar parties and special sehri and iftar TV transmission. This means there is a competition for TV ratings among the local channels that air absolutely similar shows to each other daily. There is the game show format popularised back in the day by none other than a religious affairs minister slash dubious religious scholar slash notorious TV personality. This format somehow interprets the gift that Ramazan is said to be for Muslims, by holding hours-long live shows and giving out lots of prizes to the audience who participate in “innovative” games.
There is the sehri transmission with a panel of religious scholars shedding light on the Holy Quran and Hadith. Sometimes viewers call in and ask moral questions that they are unable to tackle and the scholars elucidate in the light of religious law. There is the morning show format where celebrity guests are invited to come donned in their holiest of apparel. And when celebrities are clad in embellished and respectful shalwar kameez and have yards of dupatta covering their heads, they too can guide viewers to be proper Muslims. It is allowed for this month.
It was during one such show that TV actor Danish Taimoor uttered the profundity of life on earth that has resounded throughout the holy month.
He and co-host Rabia Anum were interviewing his actor/model wife Ayeza Khan as a guest on the Ramazan transmission Mehfil-e-Ramzan. Anam, probably innocently, asked him his views on the religious allowance to have more than one wife. So well did he drive home the permission of polygamy to men in Islam that it doesn't need to be repeated. Taimoor expounded that not taking a wife other than Ayeza is his choice for now. He stated that he certainly has the prerogative to marry someone else as Islam prescribes. But that he is not for now is his choice. It's not just the actor who is so clear about this right given to, en in Islam. This particular law regarding marriage is popular among the masses and generally holds as much significance as the tradition of congregating for namaz. That's what Taimoor exemplified as an average Pakistani Muslim. The simultaneous entitlement and the magnanimity of men in the traditional role of a husband. He was just rephrasing a religious norm the way he understood it. However, social media users took notice of how embarrassing that must've been to his wife to be dismissed by her spouse the way she was on national television. Taimoor issued then deleted an apology later. Ayeza started posting happy family photos to show everything is going well behind the scenes. Yet, the echo that remained from what was not so well said was the word ‘filhaal’ meaning ‘for now’.
In a later episode, a little girl participating in the show roasted Taimoor by throwing the word ‘filhaal’ in her reply to a question. The word Taimoor attributed to the impermanence of life has instead become a cheap joke.
Something that should be reconsidered is how during Ramazan everyone is given a soapbox to hold forth about being a good Muslim. Yes there are a multitude of certified religious scholars but there is something they lack (possibly drawing less eyeballs to the screen). What they lack, celebrities have in spades. So stars in the garb of scholars commemorate the holy month of blessings on TV and exude as much piety as they can. Ramazan is when their fans see the other side of their glamorous on-screen personas. Mostly it’s women actors who all of a sudden assume the role of the righteous as they host talk shows. They also show their vulnerable or emotional side because during this month their spiritual awakening breaks down all other barriers. They may be wearing brightly coloured designer clothes and studio perfect makeup but they are draped with a dupatta and feeling humbled as never before. This month hosting her trademark show, Sadia Imam, has shed tears at least twice on live TV because she was moved. While reminiscing about her own mother, missing her, Imam in between also missed the days she was a style icon and fashion designers would approach her for tips. The tears just dropped. Then once when she was moved to tears upon hearing the recitation of a naat by her own daughter on her own show. In another naat singing instance, Hira Mani broke down while singing her father’s favourite naat and the tears just wouldn’t stop. Neither would her singing.
Coming back to celebrities on soapboxes, as the month was drawing to a close this week, Fizza Ali found a delayed opportunity to spout gender-based controversy. Women who work, she said, lose respect for their husbands and that in her eyes is wrong. You’d like to reply ‘who asked her’, but whether someone did or not, the camera was on her, she was on live TV and she just had the space and time to air her opinion. Ramazan teaches us to think before we speak.
Sometimes the public who call in to these shows are either unaware of how live TV works. After Taimoor’s gaffe, a caller put a question to a maulana on a panel show that he had four wives but he wanted a fifth one. Another caller asked if his fast is still acceptable if during the day he and his wife had accidentally done ‘something’. Such calls are not screened or vetted before they go on air to the embarrassment of the guests and hosts of the show and the viewers who may be watching TV with their young children.
An amusing antidote this month was delivered by a maulana on Javeria Saud’s show when a caller asked for protection against the biggest hazard of our lives. How to reduce my electricity bill? The maulana promptly replied that you must point your index finger at your electric meter and in the air write with your finger ‘zam zam’ meaning stop. The man was asked a question and he wasn’t going to fail or flail on live TV by saying he had no clue. He was just helping out. Doesn’t matter that he didn't even apply the origin story or analogy aptly. Fast flowing water or electricity, it’s all the same in a crisis situation. Ramazan teaches us to be charitable.
Actor Omair Rana also shared a wazifa for the same predicament. In his post, he said, pokerfaced, point your index finger towards your electric switches and turn them off one by one. This will also help reduce your hefty electric bill.
Ramazan transmissions add to the sense of festivity to the month of fasting. However, the content aired is not as well thought out as the sets and wardrobe for the various shows. The number of controversies and inane moments that take place on these largely unscripted shows should give pause to producers and channels to amend their presentation and format of infotainment, which revolves on ethical values.