Remembering a sufi intellectual: ‘Attack proof that nation has jettisoned pluralism’
Seminar organised to mark urs of Wasif Ali Wasif
Seminar organised to mark urs of Wasif Ali Wasif. PHOTO: REUTERS
LAHORE:
The attack on members of the Ismaili Muslim community in Karachi is proof that the nation has jettisoned pluralism, former federal minister for information Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Wednesday.
He was speaking at a seminar organised to mark the 23rd urs of sufi intellectual Wasif Ali Wasif. Kaira said the nation seemed to have forgotten respect for diversity which has been an integral part of social structures in the subcontinent. He said the Karachi killings had taken place as the nation did not respect its plural heritage. Kaira said sufi intellectuals of Wasif’s ilk had spread the message of peace and tolerance. He said such people had fostered the rise of a variety of Islam peculiar to the subcontinent that catered to the needs of a multi-religious and multicultural society. The former minister said it was impossible to impose a uniform culture or single religion on the region.
Kaira, who commenced his address by offering a prayer for those killed in the Karachi attack, said the incident was the result of an attempt to force a single religious perspective on the society. “Pakistan has gotten dismembered before and this can happen yet again if we do not learn to respect other perspectives,” he said. Kaira said people should think about conditions prevalent in other provinces and move beyond sectarian considerations.
The former minister said one should abandon the idea that only one sect or religion had a monopoly on the truth. He said this is precisely what sufi intellectuals of Wasif’s ilk had taught the world. He said despite the vast majorities of their populations subscribing to a religion that had taught the lesson of peace, no Muslim state had become an example for others to emulate.
“Look at Yemen, Saudi Arabia or Syria. Does anyone want to follow in their footsteps?” Kaira said. He said it was time that people stopped attributing their problems to the handiwork of foreign intelligence agencies and introspect instead. “We need to introspect and attempt to solve our problems. Our enemies will always try to pull us down. That is what they are there for,” Kaira said.
Lawyer Mansoorur Rehman Khan Afridi, a follower of Wasif, also spoke on the occasion. He said those who had enjoyed the privilege of his company were always imbued with hope. Afridi fondly reminisced about Wasif saying he was very generous when it came to giving love and affection to all. “Everyone who knew him thought Wasif loved them the most,” Afridi said.
Kashif Wasif, the intellectual’s son, was also present on the occasion. He said his father had always chosen to lead by example instead of giving instructions.
The event was organised by the Wasif Ali Wasif Foundation.
Wasif’s three-day urs will conclude on May 14.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2015.
The attack on members of the Ismaili Muslim community in Karachi is proof that the nation has jettisoned pluralism, former federal minister for information Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Wednesday.
He was speaking at a seminar organised to mark the 23rd urs of sufi intellectual Wasif Ali Wasif. Kaira said the nation seemed to have forgotten respect for diversity which has been an integral part of social structures in the subcontinent. He said the Karachi killings had taken place as the nation did not respect its plural heritage. Kaira said sufi intellectuals of Wasif’s ilk had spread the message of peace and tolerance. He said such people had fostered the rise of a variety of Islam peculiar to the subcontinent that catered to the needs of a multi-religious and multicultural society. The former minister said it was impossible to impose a uniform culture or single religion on the region.
Kaira, who commenced his address by offering a prayer for those killed in the Karachi attack, said the incident was the result of an attempt to force a single religious perspective on the society. “Pakistan has gotten dismembered before and this can happen yet again if we do not learn to respect other perspectives,” he said. Kaira said people should think about conditions prevalent in other provinces and move beyond sectarian considerations.
The former minister said one should abandon the idea that only one sect or religion had a monopoly on the truth. He said this is precisely what sufi intellectuals of Wasif’s ilk had taught the world. He said despite the vast majorities of their populations subscribing to a religion that had taught the lesson of peace, no Muslim state had become an example for others to emulate.
“Look at Yemen, Saudi Arabia or Syria. Does anyone want to follow in their footsteps?” Kaira said. He said it was time that people stopped attributing their problems to the handiwork of foreign intelligence agencies and introspect instead. “We need to introspect and attempt to solve our problems. Our enemies will always try to pull us down. That is what they are there for,” Kaira said.
Lawyer Mansoorur Rehman Khan Afridi, a follower of Wasif, also spoke on the occasion. He said those who had enjoyed the privilege of his company were always imbued with hope. Afridi fondly reminisced about Wasif saying he was very generous when it came to giving love and affection to all. “Everyone who knew him thought Wasif loved them the most,” Afridi said.
Kashif Wasif, the intellectual’s son, was also present on the occasion. He said his father had always chosen to lead by example instead of giving instructions.
The event was organised by the Wasif Ali Wasif Foundation.
Wasif’s three-day urs will conclude on May 14.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2015.