Logic or emotion

One fulfills the purpose, the other defeats the purpose

Muslims are raging with emotions being hurt over the insane and unwanted for act of someone unknown filmmaker in the USA. True, we the followers of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are united in love and esteem for the ever greatest benefactor of humanity, but the way this esteem and love has spilled over the roads and streets across the country has put more onus on us to prove ourselves rational and logical as to how to propagate the teachings of the Holy Prophet. We, the Muslim of more than 50 independent states, have always been a source of amusement and weirdness for the rest of the world. Whenever we took to streets and gave vent to our anger, the reasons behind such behavior are normally beyond the comprehension of most of the people on the roads.

Being emotional rather than reasonable had always been an easy way for all who have little longing for progress and pragmatism, and are prone to whatever is taught to them, that too without any logic. History holds testimony to this fact that in subcontinent the Mughal kings spent their time in building palaces and forts when the West was racing towards progress and modernity. It could have been an era of logic, knowledge and reasoning had there not been constructed palaces and forts out of emotions and lasciviousness and instead the focus was put on education, medicine and research. Inept and naïve approach driven by emotions has always been our mark. The more we are carried by emotions towards the business of life, the more the nation becomes blind of itself and the leaders representing them at the world forums.

Religious symbols, objects, places, and prophets must be sacred and respectable for all. One thing that cannot be denied, whether the right of freedom to expression is vested in the constitution or the international law or not, is that no one is allowed to make fun of these religiously sacrosanct symbols, objects, places and personalities. Take this example: an ordinary old man, whatever the demeanor he wears, would be no one to us. But the moment a friend says that that old man is his father, it would change all and we would stand up in respect and greet the old man. One would hardly afford to be disrespectful in the changed scenario.

Now imagine what would be, and what must be, our feelings if we suddenly come to know that a person who we are defiling through words or visual representation is that other person’s prophet – who he holds dearer and more sacred than his life and blood relations.

Will we exercise the same right of freedom of expression if we know the religious and emotional attachment of the person with whom we are having a cup of tea? Obviously not. Though we may not see him in the eye, we cannot abuse and show disrespect to the person who is his father or elder of any of us, no matter how different opinions we have about him.

Morality and decency, if ever existed or continue to exist somewhere, must come into practice to cope with or to accommodate certain differences with people having different viewpoints. The fundamental right to freedom of expression can never be denied but abusing someone’s character without any logical reasoning seems in itself an absurd idea.

However, no inference must be drawn that others’ prophets or saints are less respectful in any manner whatsoever. Being Muslim alone must not be the criteria to be proud of and to demand respect for their holy objects or prophets. Injuring, defiling, outraging someone’s religious feelings and insulting someone’s religion must be as big a crime as we think of that of others against ours.

But the question is what will happen if all such considerations are totally ignored and the right to freedom of expression is exploited to test peoples’ nerves and mettle?

Being Muslims, we hold our religious associations and beliefs in high esteem and reverence. What if a person is not a Muslim and does not believe and think the way we do? Well, for starters, he must not be killed. He must not be persecuted. He must not be considered as something less than a human being. He must not be considered of a low origin or race. Doing this with other people, who worship their own gods, would thereby become an argument to in our favour when we are meted out the same treatment in other countries.

Condemning blasphemy by vandalising and taking to streets alone won’t bring anything good to the Muslims across the globe. Instead, logic, rationalism and pragmatic approach can help in more than one way, provided we come out of the mindset we have fallen into since a long time.

The writer is a staff member of Pakistan Today and he can be reached at [email protected]