Pakistan: From religious harmony to religious bigotry

By Babar Rana September 09, 2013

Prophets, saints and sages appeared in different parts of world from time to time to educate their followers how to live in harmony. Over and above this, almost all messengers and reformers introduced a plan to their own followers including customs, rites, rituals and integral way of living life and gave birth to a particular sort of civilization. This is how different types of religions and doctrines came into being. What is religion? George Bernard Shaw says religion is a great force. The only motive force in the world. There is a common misconception that religion means ritualistic religion and nothing else. The word religion actually means laws, both natural and moral. Religion stands for integral development of a person and comprehensive view of life. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) is the last messenger of Allah. He cannot be a Muslim if his neighbor is insecure at his hands, feet and tongue. (Hadith). To kill one human is the assassination of all humanity. (Hadith). Verily, Muslims are brothers. (Holy

Quran)

There was a time when Holy Prophet (PBUH) preached mercy for human beings and as well as animals. The great founder of Pakistan raised voice for the rights of minorities in the form of 14 points. Unfortunately, there is a time when everybody is trying to be an orthodox Muslim. Where a member of someones sector is being targeted by another sector just because of that he mourns for Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA). Ironically, both claim to be Muslims. Now the question is that who is martyr, assassinator or murdered? For years, blasts in processions, to destroy the worship places and shoot down people while attending funeral prayer are hardly less miserable than drone attacks. Brutal sectarian attacks took place in Bhakkar on August24, 2013. Eleven people were gunned down in Darya Khan and Kotla Jam just because they belonged to the Shia sect. We must distinguish between belief and respect. Someone who belongs to any sector or religion should have belief in his religious things but the golden thing is that he must promote respect for other religions and sectors as well. As far as the Muslims are concerned, they must have entire devotions to Allah and the matter is same for other religions

people. A society where many individuals have many religions, there should be inter-religion harmony amongst them. All of us can observe that we try to indulge in religious favoritism by saying that I belong to this or that doctrine rather than making efforts to control our agitated minds. Nevertheless, we must remember one thing a person who belongs to any sector is first a Pakistani and then anything else. To protect his wealth and life is our responsibility. Our religion and law also stress upon this issue. To lessen the tension of sectarian things, loudspeakers have been entirely banned, religious scholars are strictly warned not to execute fiery speeches in Jumma prayers and in processions. Inter-religions harmony committee Bhalwal is doing its best in this regard, said IjazMunirBhullar Assistant Commissioner Bhalwal. We must get our senses and think who is behind sectarian attacks? The government should take strict measurements against the perpetrators of Bhakkar incident. Insincere scholars should not fan sectarianism for their own loaves and fishes. We must look up to all religions and sectors, said Raja Amjad General Sectary, AnjumanAsnaaAshria Tehsil Bhalwal and member of District Sargodha Peace Committee. The best way to root out traces of communal attacks is to engage in dialogue, dialogue and dialogue.