The ongoing debate on optimism vs extremism has generated a number of thought-provoking articles by the English press in Pakistan.
Optimism requires reason and wisdom as extremism requires no justification and argument. It negates the very essence of Islam, i.e., to ponder over, weigh, judge, decide and then act. The extremist ideology starts from having blind faith, while most of the verses of Holy Quran end with the logic of reasoning, concrete outcome and solid wisdom. Last verses of Surah Furqan, (Chapter 18-19), enumerate 13 characteristics of a Momin (Muslim), one of which is remarkably astounding: Momineen are they who do not fall blind and deaf on (even) the verses (of Holy Quran) when they are read before them, which means that they check the veracity of the sayings of God by reason and wisdom. Another verse questions the believers Or are their hearts locked?
If one asks only one question from Osama bin Ladens to Mumtaz Qadris that if there were times of Muhammad (PBUH), more than 1400 year ago, what could have been the answer of Rasool Allah about perpetrating terrorism or against the blasphemers? Were the followers of Muhammad (PBUH) not as diehard as those of Al-Qaeda or Takfiris? Wasnt there anyone who could have formed a death squad or suicide mission to kill in the dark of night Abu-Jehl or those who unleashed barbarity on Hazrat Bilal, or those who kept in solitary confinement the entire Muslim community in Shaib e Abi Talib for three years, or against the people of Taef who shed the blood of the Messenger of God (PBUH) down to his ankles? Arent we today practically passing through the pre-Shaib-e-Abi Talib times? The message we carry along has the strength of reason and wisdom, tolerance and optimism. But the question is, are we really the torch-bearer of that message?
F Z KHAN
Rawalpdini
