Later, I learnt Timbuktu was a real place in West Africa, a city of learning and culture that became part of the empire of Mali in 1324. Mali itself was a place of such wealth that when its ruler Mansa Musa went for Hajj in the same year, he distributed such massive amounts of gold en route that he ended up depressing the price of gold in Egypt and the Hejaz for decades to come, leading to a period of hyperinflation. Even more interestingly, Musa came to the throne after his predecessor sailed off to find the limits of the Atlantic with a reported fleet of 3,000 ships, never to be seen again. However, the greatest wealth in Timbuktu was not in its gold but in its knowledge and it is related that books were the most valuable commodities available in this historic city. It is also home to the fabled University of Sankore and innumerable mud mosques and shrines, many of which are protected Unesco world heritage sites.
Despite its history, odds are you’ve never heard of either Mali or Timbuktu, simply because they’re in a distant part of the world that we really don’t care to learn much about. In fact, the world at large doesn’t interest us much, unless it ‘drones’ us or until a blasphemous video or cartoon is made. Then all hell breaks loose. Incidentally, hell is exactly what’s broken loose in Mali as well. Thanks to porous borders and tribal populations that don’t recognise those borders, the aftermath of Muammar Gaddafi’s fall helped plunge this once promising state into anarchy. Massive amounts of weapons left over from Gaddafi’s forces made their way to Tuareg rebels, who promptly declared an independent state in the north. Following this, a group of junior military officers decided their ‘bloody civilians’ weren’t man enough to deal with the threat and took over. The result is that Mali is now a no-man’s land where fanatics run wild. What’s different about this period of turmoil and previous ones is that Mali’s history may not survive it.
That’s because the groups that have benefited the most from the chaos are the kind of Islamists we have become all too familiar with right here in Pakistan. They are the ones that want to make you better Muslims through the use of instructive methods like public flogging and summary execution. They also feel that the centuries old shrines that dot Mali are a sign of apostasy and are, therefore, on a mission to destroy them all. The fact that most of these are also world heritage sites makes them even more appealing as targets. After all, if the infidel West wants them protected, then there really has to be something wrong about them.
Why is it important to know about this? Because for one thing, it shows us that we’re not alone in facing this kind of unthinking fanaticism. It also brings home the inevitable consequences of ceding space, whether by design or default, to such fanatics. Also because, at some point, Western-backed and African-led military intervention in Mali will become inevitable and when that happens there may well be the usual propaganda about a Muslim country being targeted. It’ll be half-right: Mali is being targeted, but not by the West. Rather it’s being targeted by Muslims who don’t consider anyone else to be worthy of being called a Muslim.
A similar murder of history is taking place a little closer to home as well, as ancient mosques and buildings are bulldozed in the name of modernity (with perhaps a dose of unthinking dogma thrown in) and the commonality between that and what’s happening in Mali is that we hear little, and care even less about it. At least, not as long as those lighting the dynamite and driving the bulldozers call themselves Muslims, that is. Had they been Christian, Hindu or Buddhist, we would have burned down every single damn cinema and KFC in Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2012.
COMMENTS (31)
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@sabi: "To disagree doesn’t mean to disrespect.Humanity comes first Madam."
Thank you for taking the time to respond. Your statement above is a true statement ofcourse. IT is just the fact that you characterized the other ideologies as 'dead' that I thought you meant they were not worthy of respect. You have indicated that this is not what you meant, which is good to know. Of course I do not fully understand your explanation but there the fault is mine. Have a great day.
@gp65: I am surprised by your statement. Were you being sarcstic? On reading your other posts I never felt that you do not have respect for people with other belief systems. If you mean ideology, projected by right wing muslim clerics, of Islam then certainly I'm not talking about that.I infact reffered to divine books.which,except quran have not escaped human intervention in original texts so much so that some of the books have lost the original idea.You may not agree with quran as divine book but you will agree with me that this book has retained its original text without a change of dot or coma.That is why it remain most prone to different iterpretations. Calling on that basis other idealogies as dead doesn't imply disrespect to followers of these ideaologies.To me it's the spirit that counts,Anyone folowing certain beliefs with purity of heart(I can't read others heart so I have to believe what I see) certainly need my respect.To disagree doesn't mean to disrespect.Humanity comes first Madam. .
@sabi:
Your comment makes no sense. It like one of those Akshay Kumar movies.
There is only one major ideology in this world which is open to such violent interpretations. There are a Billion Hindus, more than a Billion Christians, a Billion Buddhists. Only they don't pose any problem. They don't commit crime in the name of their Religion, do they..
@sabi: "Because this ideaology is the only living ideaology.Rest are all dead."
Sabiji, I am surprised by your statement. Were you being sarcstic? On reading your other posts I never felt that you do not have respect for people with other belief systems.
@wonderer: Like all ideologies it will also go dead and fade if what you say it true.
@sabi: " ... Because this ideaology is the only living ideaology.Rest are all dead.so only living thingy come under attack. ... "
If you did not notice - "living ideologies" have a very high dead body count ?
@BruteForce:
"Why is this particular ideology open to such violent interpretations and no other?"
If I may attempt a reply Sir......
Because it is the only ideology that prohibits free enquiry/thinking and free expression of views particularly in the matters that really matter, which I am not bold enough to specify.
@BruteForce: "Why is this particular ideology open to such violent interpretations and no other?2 Because this ideaology is the only living ideaology.Rest are all dead.so only living thingy come under attack.
How true!
All this should tell us something about what we are, but do we have the courage to accept what we can see in the mirror in front of us? I may be one of many who have that courage, but will I openly talk about it? I have the courage to say I will not. I am waiting for IK to be the first.
This burning of Libraries by muslims is all rubbish. There is a conspiracy going on against muslim world even before Islam actually took birth. No one wanted to burn those places. Its just that there were some shepherds sitting outside the library on one cold winter night and to save themselves from the cold they took out some books and burnt them for heating. Unfortunately one of them was an infidel who was conspiring against Muslims and he threw a burning book inside the library. Now the content in the books were so infalamtory that it took no time for the heap of books to catch fire. As there was shortage of water ( even to take daily bath) the fire could not be doused and hence those books got burnt. and now the enimies of islam are crying foul. Tell me how many of the books have you ever read which u actually bought yourself and are catching dust on the shelves??
Same goes about the other monuments..
@Ozymandias: Thanks.
Before I start, please don't ever use the oft used adage in the Muslim world, "This is not Islam".
This is truly a clash of civilisations. On one side is the Muslim world and its turmoils and its attempt to define the world and Islam; and on the other side is the non-Muslim world, attempting to appease the liberal parts of the Muslim world and trying to take out the fanatic parts.
Why does no other ideology lead to so much unrest as much as Islam does? Be it Somalia, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the list is truly endless..
Why is this particular ideology open to such violent interpretations and no other?
Sorry slightly off topic, but came across this article on the need to separate religion from politics; it provides some very cogent arguments on why Muslims should avoid mixing politics with religion, and hence avoid the kind of issue that are being faced, say, in Mali and Pakistan etc.
http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2012/11/03/malaysia-revisiting-the-secular-state-debate/
Waking up from deep sleep of 1400 years , Huh . Believer of book don't need any thing except the book.
@BlackJack: You don't have to do anyone a favor by agreeing with them. Historians are human beings as much as everyone else, and therefore there are multiple versions of history. First step to the truth requires at least a humble realization that there are multiple versions and sides to the story and therefore, jumping to the conclusion based on one person's facts is not the way to go. On a side note, two Indian historians M.N. Roy and D.P. Singhal have commented on the issue as well. Hopefully that will make this version of history 'authentic' enough:
http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/01122002/0112200252.htm
@BlackJack:
What?
@sabi: I have only respect for your views as well as those of @Falcon - although I may not agree with them. There are multiple versions of history out there, but only one truth. Those who insist that their version is that only truth do so because their history and religion teaches them to be dogmatic and uncompromising. The need to defend actions by Arabs 1400 years ago and to discredit Arab historians by quoting Western sources (as in this case), or indict the West by quoting Arab sources (Spain is an oft quoted subject) is an interesting past time in the Islamic world, although I suspect that Pakistanis are leading luminaries in this field.
People for Indian subcontinent wont it surprising as they know what happened to Nalanda and Taxila university libraries...
It has been reported,that the Nalanda library burnt for 3 whole months due to the amount of books it had...and the monks,they were burned along with their dearest books..
Even Saudi Arabia is prohibiting research and excavation of its Pre-islamic Pagan Arab history...For muslims,the history starts at 7th century in Medina,everything else is irrelevant...
Excellent. I suppose the way to look at it is that this process is cyclical, the Islamic world saw an up cycle years ago and now we are in the down cycle. These processes are driven mainly by internal dynamics, more than external.
@BlackJack: "I fail to understand the surprise that the writer portrays at this turn of events – the policies are consistent with the ideology from its earliest times." You will continue to fail to understand realities as long as you read distorted history based on Islam enemity or for that matter partition history.From your posts I assume you are an educated man,So I would expect from you to keep your prejudices aside and read history with analytic approach.You will definetly be surprised and perhapse shocked to to know new truths. Cheers
@BlackJack: This is incorrect. This ‘fact’ about burning of Library of Alexandria (one of the total 4 events of destruction that hit the library through out its life time) has been questioned by many historians and scientists (famously Bernard Lewis, DI Singhal, Bertrand Russel, and Colin Wilson), specially because the first recording of this historical event occurred 300 – 500 years afterwards.
Note: I recognize that the dates for John Grammaticus are not in sync with the conquest of Alexandria - but did not want to fudge the quote to prove my point. There are other articles out there where the date has been described as 641 AD as well.
You put it so well it doesn't need comment - just appreciation.
I fail to understand the surprise that the writer portrays at this turn of events - the policies are consistent with the ideology from its earliest times. Why not look back at the burning of the library of Alexandria - arguably one of the greatest temples to knowledge ever to exist in the Middle East. In this Historia Compendiosa Dynastiarum he (Abu'l Faraj) describes a certain "John Grammaticus" (490–570) asking Amr for the "books in the royal library." Amr writes to Omar for instructions, and Omar replies: "If those books are in agreement with the Quran, we have no need of them; and if these are opposed to the Quran, destroy them."
They are the ones that want to make you better Muslims through the use of instructive methods like public flogging and summary execution. They also feel that the centuries old shrines that dot Mali are a sign of apostasy and are, therefore, on a mission to destroy them all.
And they do all this without the help of Drones? In our part of the world Drones are supposed to be behind all this. Probably the Ansar Dine guys in Mali need a Khan of their own to explain such issues to them.
Its a sad sad story. The close-to-home demolishing of historical sites is even more sad. But there are way too many here who receive blessings of our muslim "brothers" doin these heinous crimes. Therefore, no one comes out on the streets to burn their own house so the "darkness" goes away.
Also do read: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/mecca-for-the-rich-islams-holiest-site-turning-into-vegas-2360114.html
Of course the country actively destroying history which the writer avoids naming is none other than Saudi Arabia 1400 year-old. Mosques steeped in Islamic history are soon to turned to rubble. Yet no Muslim country has had the courage to protest. http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100187644/the-saudis-are-bulldozing-islams-heritage-why-the-silence-from-the-muslim-world/
why why why this happened in Bamiyan and now mali
and every single historical building around mecca has been systematically demolished but no muslim caliph is ever going to speak not a single city in Pakistan showed any protest march Nothing shame on you all shame on you all