Visits: 119
Many nights and days, I have thought about this exceedingly difficult subject where religion creates an image and people create their own perception which may or may not be true. We must be open minded and think more for the human beings and the atrocities created by the same human beings based on religion on others. Since the Afghan war against the old Soviet Union, US pushed for a religious war and created Taliban in Pakistan and using the peaceful religion “ISLAM” which literally stands for PEACE to combat Soviets. No matter how good the intention was Afghanistan became the breeding ground for War against Soviets based on goals that were alien to ISLAM.
It is ignorance that is hurting Islam today. 62% of Americans have no idea about Islam or Muslims. They have not met a Muslim in their lives. I was shocked to hear these statistics from reputable magazines. Yes, these stats were collected few years back but this is an opportunity for us Muslims to clearly define what Islam is and who we are as Muslims? Certainly, a GREAT opportunity. Khalifa Omar RAA, in his Jumma Khutba so beautifully said, that non believers are so proud of their falsehood while Muslims are shy of their faith.
We are the masses of hope, and we should be gendering hope in the masses. Prophet Mohammad SAW was sent on this earth to show kindness for all human beings as Allah says in the Quran, “
وما أرسلناك إلى رحمتلل الأمين
Wa ma Arsalnaka Illa Rahmatallil AaLamin: Surah Anbia 107 (QS 21: 107)
And we did not send you except (as) mercy to the creation of all together (universes).
No matter how difficult the tests and tribulations for the Prophet SAW were, he was always looking forward for PEACE and tranquility. The treaty of Hudaibia was exceedingly difficult when the Prophet’s SAW and his companion could not perform the Pilgrimage and sign the contract with difficult terms. One of the terms was to return a Makkan from Medina while a Medinan could not be returned from Makkah. This is a lesson for us even in present time that we must not react to resolving issues, but we must be proactive and always plan and never expect instant results. Muslims plant their seeds hoping for the best in future no matter how long it may take. We must think about our next generation and visualize the benefits for them. A program to plant a Billion trees in Pakistan is really going to help the next generation to achieve the benefit of better climate and see the water in their lives.
We must respect all religions. ISLAM was never propagated based on sword. Indonesia, Malaysia are the best examples who accepted Islam from the Muslim traders who presented their best character as Muslims. Not a single war during Prophet’s SAW time was started by him. It was always in response to the aggression created by the other side. All three religions who believe in God’s Books, Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all Abrahamic religions based on the same principles and ethical values that represent a good human society.
War against Soviets, and creation of Taliban, who were taught extremism in so called Schools (Madrassas) achieved the short-term goal of removing Soviets from Afghanistan. Their teachings of fighting the war were not even close to Islamic teachings of kindness and love for other human beings. US right after the retreat of Soviets from Afghanistan left Pakistan without a long-term vision to clean up the mess. This created a breeding ground for extremism and terrorism.
9/11 created another incident and Pakistan was forced into accepting US terms to fight against the same group of Taliban who were once created to assist US against Soviets. “Either you are with us, or you are against us” and “Do More” became the voice of the US Pentagon and CIA. 20 years bloody war continued destroying Pakistan’s Economy. 150B US Dollars lost in Pakistan economy as well as 70,000 Lives were sacrificed for non-winnable war.
A civil war between Afghan government and Taliban again brewing and the impacts will be seen deep inside Pakistan as I am completing this book. Taliban was able to capture 95% of Afghanistan with no issues and Afghan Army ran away. Panjshir was the last province that gave tough time to Taliban. For the first time in the history of Afghanistan, almost in 200 years this area was also taken over as part of the Emarate Islamia Afghanistan (EIA).
At the same time US lost 3T dollars in non-winnable war against Taliban of Afghanistan, who once fought for US Goals. The same monies could have been spent on local citizens to better their lives or pushed for a PEACE in Kashmir and Palestine. Palestine, once a beautiful prosperous country now is forcibly taken by the Right-wing Jews who are slowly and gradually committing genocide of Palestinians and grabbing their land. These double standards of US must be stopped, and we must assist in creating a 2 State peaceful solution acceptable to majority of Palestinians. Discourage extremism on both sides that is creating a negative Islamophobia as well as Zionism to create a Greater Israel.
Majority of Jews and majority of Muslims are peace loving and they are the ones who must educate the minority involved in extremist ideas and discourage their undertakings. The same thing must happen in India where RSS and BJP extremism has created HINDUTVA that is committing genocide against non-Hindus all over India, mostly in Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
UN Charter must be updated to accommodate and discourage the extremism as well as UN Human Rights and other Human Rights organizations must pay attention to this violence in the world and make a 100% effort to STOP through legal actions.
Kashmir (IIOJK) was recently asked about UNSC Resolution 47 and that it called on Pakistan to withdraw first. Something Indians like to propagate. Let me set the record straight. UNSC Resolution 80 adopted in March 1950 reversed this by calling for simultaneous withdrawal of troops by both India and Pakistan. Interestingly, India at that time was a non-permanent member of the UNSC and DID NOT vote against the resolution thereby accepting the Pakistani position that a simultaneous withdrawal of troops should take place. The resolution also de facto accepted AJK by equating AJK troops with J&K (IIOJK) troops. Now this is something that sadly, not enough Pakistanis or Kashmiris are aware of. The point is unless we do our research, we cannot argue a case convincingly. For example, how many Pakistanis know that India took Kashmir to UN under Article 6, which deals with resolution of international disputes & not under Article 7, which deals with occupation? India accepted 1) Kashmir as an international dispute 2) that it was not occupation. Similarly, how many know that the Maharajah had signed a standstill agreement with Pakistan which essentially meant that the ‘administrative arrangements’ between British and J&K would now be taken over by Pakistan and J&K until agreement on instrument of accession was reached. Point being please read up on the nuances of the issue if you want to understand why Kashmir remains such a critical issue. For Pakistan at least, it isn’t about territory but about the people who have been granted the right to choose for themselves – a right India has denied.