The killing of 14 innocent Americans in California should be condemned by all Muslims. Islam is a religion which emphasises sanctity of pledging oaths because voluntary verbal recitation of kalima itself is a declaration of acceptance of faith and beliefs in its basic principles. This act of a misled couple can only harm six million Muslim community living in USA.
Taking an oath makes it obligatory upon individual to abide by what he has sworn to uphold. Once a Muslim has taken an oath of citizenship of another country such as America, Canada or UK, his faith makes it binding upon him to be loyal to its constitution, its laws and also to do all that is required of a national of that country. Having taken oath of citizenship of USA, the individual pledges to “renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom, or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the constitution and laws of the United states of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same”.
The crisis is created when any state such as Pakistan allows an individual who has taken such an oath to continue to hold Pakistani nationality although this person has renounced all previous loyalties that he may have held. The American constitution clearly states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”, ensuring freedom to all citizens to practice their beliefs within confines of law.
Pakistani origin Americans can have emotional and sentimental attachment to our country but the fact remains that all their assets and family are located there and therefore they cannot be expected to put them at stake, if it comes to choosing. This creates split loyalty for individuals who are caught in this farce and they are neither here nor there. In my opinion, if any individual such as this couple had any doubts about their commitment of loyalty to the US, they should have revoked their citizenship, left the country and then taken recourse to what their conscience and free will would allow them to do.
MALIK T ALI
Lahore
