Islam and the futility of violence

For those who would kill for the hounour of the Prophet (PBUH), behold the stones being pelted on his blessed person, yet he stops the angel from destroying the town of Taif, whose people severely injured him. Are we wiser than the prophet, more on the right, or understand better the will of God? There is a reason why our religion is called islam, the religion of peace.We are supposed to emulate the actions of the Prophet (PBUH). if he could not take a human life unless during armed combat, where both people have an equal chance, how can we justify killing another human being, even if he had sinned? throughout our history, muslims have justified taking law into their own hands and the killing of other human beings just for hurting our emotion. but why dont we control our emotions and take the civilized road to condemn, criticize and protest against the atrocious cartoons published in Charlie Hebdo? was the low life magazine worthy of so much attention? Can a little cartoonist make a dent in the majesty of the Prophet? if the muslims in France and across the western world had rallied together and gathered in Paris against this act, the world would have taken serious notice . we could have had a serious dialogue, even gone to court against it. world public opinion would have been more amenable to our stance rather than the polarization between the western and islamic world being seen today. the only silver lining is the statement by the Pope. He has given a statement without incitement to violence. why cant the Islamic clerics adopt peace as their main message? when are Muslims going to give up prehistoric reprisal mode and learn to take a principled stance to defend our religion? It is the same emotions who drive honour killings. it is the belief that we are free to take another human beings life. Violence breeds violence and more violence. it isnt for nothing that law, courts, conviction, investigation have been developed in this world over the ages. it is the only way we can keep peace among humans. it is only through reason, discussion and propagating our point of view that we can convince others and convince them to act the way we want and to respect our opinions. this has been the way of the religious scholars, where have we lost this tradition of peace..somewhere along the line, colonial rule and the violence prevalent in muslim society, we have learnt to glorify violence as a justified course of action. Unless we learn to fight our causes in civilized ways and according to world norms, firmly, tenaciously but peacefully, we cannot prevail .

Can we find a new tomorrow?

My feelings of listlessness continue as I, like the rest of Pakistanis, watch events unfold and brace myself for a bloody struggle with the enemy within. Two viewpoints in Pakistani society were previously dividing the nation..whether the militants are justified in reprisals because their own have been killed. But now the nation is clear in punishing those responsible for killing the most innocent part of our society, our children. But, like Hamlet, I ponder if violence can put an end to violence or just feed the circle of violence.As students of literature we would try to figure out why Hamlet delays the vengeance of his father. But now after more than a decade I realize that the whole play is the authors attempt to show us the futility of vengeance and how it never leads to re birth and new beginnings. It is unimaginable to forgive the animals who did this terrible deed. If we cannot punish them, they will be emboldened even further and "do more".. We must keep this clear and impersonal and punish those responsible. An act against humanity is a crime in all religions and laws. However, will there be some in the environs of those punished, in their families,areas district, who will think that the State has wreacked an unjust death on the ones who were doing jehad against injustice, against a remote and unresponsive State? We can say that their perceptions do not matter but that is the problem. The privileged class has always held the man on the street does not matter. They are Pakistanis too, even if we don't care, and what they think does matter. How can we make them think the ones being punished have done wrong? It is very important that they condemn it too and believe it to be wrong. Otherwise the circle of violence will never end. The only way we can convince them is bring them at par with the rest of Pakistan. If we give them their rights and are just to them. If we treat them right and the government is responsive and not remote, only then can we end this vicious Circle. Let s see how speedily the government works on those issues of sharing power, not perpetuating it. Without inclusion, without acceptance by the privileged class of the under privileged, a new page cannot be turned in Pakistani society.