Monday 27 May 2019

Sighting mischief in moon

Allah SWT said:

يَسْئَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَهِلَّةِ ۖ قُلْ هِىَ مَوٰقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ ۗ 
"They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the new moons. Say, They are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj.
(QS. Al-Baqara 2: Verse 189)
This is an executive order. So there is no doubt left that our measurement of time has to be aligned with the moon. But if there is little space of doubt in tradition,  void in scientific reason or an opportunity to create hegemony, we the land of pure make a meal of it.
Was there not enough confusion on Eid Moon courtesy Mr barely seeing Muneeb & Mr ever disagreeing Popalzai that now Mr totally non serious Fawad Chaudhary is introducing a new tradition of predetermined Lunar Calendar. It would be a relief that this issue is settled once and for all but unqualified Minister of Science & Technology both on religion & technology, as a matter of habit, may only be trying to stay relevant in news. With his tongue-in-cheek approach, he can barely be trusted with sincerity of purpose to resolve the issue. Its more likely, he is just enjoying the discord he has been able to create with his idea of fixing Eid dates beforehand.
On the other hand, let's see if Mr Muneeb keeps the tradition of moon sighting alive and after years & years of government funding for his moon fest, this time he pays from his own pocket. Let's see if he compromises on five star accommodation & puts up in a lesser hotel. In which case, like every other mullah, he may show the propensity of finding sponsors to create more 'fasad' & confusion, in grieving moments of lost TA/DA. Let's see if government saves proclaimed expense of Rs four million without much fuss.
And Popalzai, he is just another hegemonic mullah. It is weakness of state that mullahs have been calling the shots. Can he announce to step back from his activity because it divides nation rather than uniting it. But he won't give an inch of a space he created for himself over the years among the common folks of KPK. His legacy of different moon tradition has become his identity over the years & this mullah would not let go of the popularity he 'earned' through the divide he successfully managed overtime. 'Fasad' is favorite sport of mullah.
Addition of new moon tradition by Minister of everything but Science & Technology is as insincere & hegemonic as Mufti Muneeb's telescope and as mischievous & divisive as Popalzai's network of moon sighting.
Only sincere leadership can stop mischief. Government should have had opened up a debate on national media, followed by debate in Parliament & could have made a consensual law on the issue. But hang on, if they debated issues & promulgated laws in Parliament then what will be roles of Murad Saeed, Khawaja Asif & Murtaza Wahab type speakers who create such diversions with their eloquence that real issues never surface at relevant forums.
Only Allah knows the whole Truth.

1 comment: