What would have been the response of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), if he was informed that some unknown person in a far away land has said or done something disrespectful to the person of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)? Would he have ordered killing of his own people and destruction of his own city? Would he have announced a reward of 100,000 Dinars for anyone who killed the irreverent individual? Or as someone who brought ‘mercy for all’, he would have simply smiled, ignored and forgiven the event?
Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Railways feels that the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH), response would have been the announcement of head money for killing the offender. He has therefore tried to follow the footsteps (as all good Muslims must do) in his own humble manner by announcing an award of $100,000 for anyone who kills the maker of the film “Innocence of Muslims”.
One would like to know if the federal minister would be sending a cheque from his personal account or from the tax payers’ money. Being the federal minister, this announcement can only be considered as the official policy of the government of Pakistan and not merely a personal opinion. If it is the official policy, is the government not advocating violence and murder at the state level? Such governments are normally referred to as rogue governments. In case the government denies this and labels it as an individual aberration, would our state machinery not come into action and apprehend this gentleman for incitement for murder? By not doing so, our government would de facto be admitting its abetment of violence.
NAEEM SADIQ
Karachi
