Identity Crisis - Part 1: Religion

If you are not facing identity crisis, you are so lucky because I’m not. Religion, nationality and profession made sense to me. So, in a well throughout sequence, I proudly liked to be called Muslim Pakistani soldier. Over the years, questions marks began to surface like “which Muslim” (since I don’t subscribe to any sectoral franchise), “which Pakistani” (since I don’t subscribe to both political and apolitical narratives of patriotism) and “which soldier” (since I don’t subscribe to wrong communiques). No wonder, getting older is synonymous to loneliness and as the adage goes ‘no country for old men’. 

Firstly, let’s talk about Islam. Which Islam? I don’t know but I do find some real nice bits and pieces from all of these franchises and adopt them. At the same time, everyone is so deeply entrenched in their sectoral identity that small crossover tantamount to betrayal leading to expulsion. Truth of the matter is that every single one of them have deviated and traditions/ rituals became defining characteristics. 

Growing up as Hanafi Sunni always intrigued me. Why am I not just a Muslim? I don’t even know Imam Abu Hanifa, nor those around me. But I guess, my elders, who donated land for the mosque in my native town had to give it a title and rest of us had to subscribe. But The Book encourages every step of the way to ponder and not to blindly follow the forefathers or prevailing trends. So I started tracing my religious thread backwards.

Story of Islam in Subcontinent didn’t help at all.It further complicated the issue. Almost 13 centuries ago, Shiites fled Ummayad persecution, took asylum in coastal India and along came Shia Islam. By that time, Shia Islam had not branched into Ismaili, Uthna Ashari or Zaidi Shia Islam. In 711 CE Ummayad Islam entered this land which got briefly replaced by Ismaili Islam - branch of Shia Islam. How Shia Islam got branched is still a mystery for me because no one has ever produced the divine decree which anointed a particular son of an imam as successor. After a brief stint, Yemeni Ismaili Shia Islam got replaced by Abbasid Islam. Shafi Islam also entered this land from Kerala because Mukkuvas women conveniently entered concubinage with Arab maritime traders. By 10th Century, from Ghazna, entered Hanafi Islam which got meshed up with Sufi Islam originating from Baghdad. Hanafi Islam was still the mainstay of Delhi Sultenant of Turk Salves which got influenced by Sufi Islam of Ibn Arabi. Mongols after thorough massacre of Muslims across the continents reverted and became Mughals. Unlettered Akbar introduced a wholesome package of Deen e Elahi and Aurangzeb sealed the deal by compiling Fatawa Alamgiri- probably the reason my elders and I subscribe to Hanafi Islam. Bohra with 21 Imams subscribe evenly to both Shia and Sunni traditions survived Aurangzeb’s persecution and live to this day. Then Shah Wali Ullah felt the need to connect with Hadith, thus Ahle Hadith Islam came into being. Wahabi Islam was trending in Arabian Peninsula where Muwahid ideologue Muhamad Ibn Wahab’s dogma was highjacked by Al Saud for their political ambitions. Being subsidiary of Deobandi Islam, Wahabi Islam sneaked in to subcontinent via UP madrasahs. Running out of ideas for new franchise, Ghulam Ahmed Mirza introduced brand new variant altogether. 19th Century was booming business for new franchises. Salafi Islam from the lineage of Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal, Ibn Tammiyah and Qayyim finally made its way into subcontinent by mid 19th Century. By the end of 19th Century, Ahmed Raza Khan successfully launched his Brelvi Islam franchise. Start of 20th Century saw the advent of Deobandi Islam. Iqbal’s Islam had a unique flavour to it. He didn’t subscribe to any franchise nor was he owned by any. Though his thought and poetry has been quite useful in writing and delivering speeches. British also cultivated apologetic colonial Islam which spiritually incapacitated the slave nation. Post independence, the legacy continued by Post colonial Islam i.e. state owned maulvis. Azadi brought more freedom to introduce new franchises like Tableghi, Jamaati, Labaiki, secular, liberal, extremist and YouTube Islam. 

Like YouTube channels, Islamic franchises survive and thrive on subscriptions. It has always been about power, hegemony, recognition and money. 

Wonder what will happen to non subscribers like the scribe? Will they not get entry in heaven without sectoral coupons? Which Islam should be forced upon tech savvy Gen Z (1995-2010) by the confused Gen X (1965-1980)? What will become of Gen A (2010-2024)? Will any of it make sense to them at all?

Please do give your valuable feedback with advance apologies if this piece in any way offended you because it was not meant for it.

Only Allah knows the whole Truth.

  

Jamat-e-Islami Dharna

 In my diverse CV, during Higher Secondary years (1990-92), being City Nazim of Islami Jamiat Talaba is yet another chapter of my burning bridges and disappointments with organisations, institutions and individuals in our country. 

Why I joined them? They had the best mission statement that I ever came across. And I still maintain it is, except if they have true leadership and dedicated workforce like Tableeghi Jamat. The works of Maulana Modudi whether Tafseer or else (to the best of my understanding) are right on the money. Made few good friends. Learnt to be disciplined in religious obligations. My emotion and intent was genuine and guiding principle was manifestation of political Islam through The Book and Sunnah. Why I left then? Having a perfect mission statement is one thing and its execution is another. Since my exposure was restricted to IJT, so I’ll share my experience of association with it. They were pretty much gangsters less drugs; money and guns were part of their culture. Those youngsters mostly hailed from lower middle class who by default were angry with the system, emotionally charged which when combined with mob mentality and moral policing furthered the problem. Besides, calls for Jihad in Kashmir and Afghanistan were romantic and infatuating. Note that in 1971, Jamiat boys died in numbers in Bangladesh fighting alongside Pak Army. 

And this is the catch. Jamat-e-Islami’s eternal association cum subservience to the establishment except Syed Munawar Hassan and some of its founding members like Dr Israr Ahmed who eventually parted ways with JI. 

With this background in view, let’s throw some light on recent Dharna of JI because I served both JI & establishment in my younger years and am in a unique position to comment on their relationship.

One of the objectives of newly elected Amir JI, Hafiz Naeem through this Dharna was to announce himself at the national scene. 

Why he was allowed to carry out such a stir in the capital? Well, it seems that establishment is bracing for change in US. Since Pakistan (Establishment is Pakistan because nothing else matters whether people or institutions) has run out of options. Aid is not coming from any quarter. Change in US i.e. Trump assuming office with his idiosyncrasies and personal leaning towards IK, establishment would like to prepare grounds for it. They may let him go free before US elections since the result is quite predictable unless US establishment/ Zionist take Trump out.

So, this is how ‘we’ prepare in Pakistan before change in US. Firstly, Chabi Wala Khilona of TLP was launched in favour of Gaza. In a country, where carrying flag of Palestine was unofficially prohibited, its police welcomed TLP pro Palestine Dharna. It was obvious that now establishment was signalling to US/ west, give us money, otherwise these right wing Islamist parties can create trouble by mobilising people and may force us not to accept Israel. However, Senator Mushtaq of JI was not given any value because his was a genuine effort. But when it came to Hafiz Naeem, he escaped the iron heel of mis-adventurous (I coined this name for honourable CM Punjab a decade ago and can’t help using it) and parachute interior minster Mr Naqvi.

However, skeptical it may sound, Hafiz Naeem is the new ‘project’ for many reasons. 

He is loud because he is allowed to be loud. He is mobilising his troops because there is a tacit approval for it.

JI has always been a reliable political party of the establishment. 

JI/ HN shall act as counterweight to ruling coalition to keep them in check. 

JI/ HN may fill the political vacuum created by propelling unpopular ruling alliance into power and marginalising popular party with the (false) hope to bring back disenfranchised public into the fold. 

For this JI/HN is well suited to highlight petty ‘awami masail’ without touching upon  the only problem i.e. concentration of entire power into one office. 

Raising red flag by threat of right wing Islamist party like JI coming to power, may help raise ‘funds’ from the west. Resultantly, dumping of JI which is otherwise an Eastern wife material to establishment being submissive and compliant. 

May also give fair excuse for willy-nilly takeover under unavoidable circumstances in the greater national interest if approved by US. This one may be a long shot but we’re just unfolding things on battle board with all possible scenarios including the worst ones.  

Dharna ended with ten points agreement between Govt & JI including tariff cuts in electricity prices. And the next day, govt increased electricity price. So much for JI Dharna and Hafiz Naeem’s gung-ho launching at national political stage.

This piece is just a POV which (when I read back myself), I felt getting cynical. I’m certain, few good friends in JI & Estb may not appreciate. But that’s how things are. If we have to change, we’ve got to be brutally honest. Right diagnosis will help getting the prescription and medication right.

Only Allah knows the whole Truth. 

De-colonised Era - Part 4

Colonialism was synonymous to pillage by land grabbing. De-colonised era is continuation of western Imperialism. USA is the flag bearer of colonial legacy through neoliberalism and exceptionalism. However, the methodology has changed. Viceroys are replaced with American whip-dogs. Economic ecosystem is controlled through WB, IMF, Military Industrial Complex and The Eliteof physical occupation they appoint 

Tawaf of White House is more important Tawaf of Black House.

De-Colonised Era - Part 3

 De-colonial era in Muslim world is a hoax. From Arab Revolution of Sharif Hussain to Arab Spring, all began with an ostensibly noble cause and ended up serving post colonial imperial interests.

De-colonised Muslim world in its breadth from Morocco to Indonesia and from Caucuses in North to Tanzania in South is dealing with corrupt despotic regimes most of them are in the pocket of US and very few in Russian or Chinese camp.   

In order to keep control over their people and resources, Muslim rulers in de-colonial era have been ruthless and obnoxious. Just to get a measure of it, since 1950s, Israel and Morocco enjoyed strong ties. Late King Hassan of Morocco when confronted with political upheaval in his country took Mossad’s help to neutralise opposition including targeted assassinations in Europe. As quid pro quo, besides allowing Mossad to bug and surveil Arab League Summit in Morocco, facilitating migration of one million Moroccan Jew to Israel under King’s protection. 

Would be more appropriate to replace the term De-colonial with Post Colonial era. The very basis of a society’s outlook is weighed in terms of its education system’s ethos. In Muslim world, education is colonial which verifies and promotes Eurocentricity. Muslims apologetically continue to justify democracy aligned with Islamic  system of governance because western form of democracy has become an acceptable standard. Economy is colonial because all major trade partners of de-colonised Muslim world are their colonisers of the past. Political social order is thoroughly colonial. Same paradigm agreed upon extracting British, French, Belgian troops has been replaced by local troops trained by ex-colonisers. Religious discourse is colonial to the hilt. Past three centuries, Muslims have been trying to look modern by admission that they are in decline because orientalists thought so or labelled them as such. 

So much more on the biggest fraud of decolonisation in last hundred years or so in next parts.

De-colonised Era - Part 2

Please note these de-colonial pieces are woven around current situation in Palestine because it is the iconoclast moment in the history. So if any state, organisation or people who do not stand by Palestinians are on the wrong side of the history and shall remain so forever.  This movement is reaching a tipping point. A point where cause becomes larger than the cause itself and begins to challenge the elements of mainstream political, social, economic and cultural norms. Take for example social media imprints since October last year; on pro Israeli side the SMN imprint share was around 500 million whereas on pro-Palestinian side it was close to 25 Billion. These were not all Palestinians or Muslims alone but people of the world in general who believed that there was something fundamentally wrong. In the context of SMNs and their impact, just a quick comment on Pakistan, “We are well protected by the firewall”. There is no better pun to describe this, ‘Denial (The Nile) is not a river in Egypt’. 

Back to Palestine in de-colonised era, Muslims have not been the gatekeepers of this movement. The system of imperial colonial control tightened the noose so hard through their ruling representatives in Muslim world that post 9/11 Muslims could talk about any thing like Wuddu, Taharah, Sufism, Divine love and so on. Or play their favourite sport of sectoral divide. For Palestine, Muslim discourse was limited to emotional rhetorical appeal and nothing substantial, structured or organised due to serious want of centrality of efforts. Post October 7, 2023, the situation got even worse. Let alone, Zionist sock puppet rulers, there aren't any significant protests for the fear of incarceration by despotic regimes in Muslim World whether monarchies, democracies, dictatorships, dictatorial democracies or theocracies. In their respective countries, these rulers are loyal jail superintendents of Imperial Colonial Jail the world has become. 

Where does Pakistan stand in all this? Right in the middle of the queue of obedient superintendents. No encampments. No sizeable protests. Just a customary product boycott of Israeli sponsor corporations. This too is insignificant in the face of massive trade and logistics support system provided by significant Muslim countries to Israel. See for example, most of the supplies to Israel are coming through UAE and passing through KSA & Jordan. Turkey’s unabated trade with Israel continues which is approximately 7 Billion USD. The oil & gas supplies of Israel continue from Azerbaijan. Palestinians are not only facing the brutalities of Zionists, they are up against power of west and Muslim countries e.g. Egyptian closure of Rafah border & not to mention the spat between Israel & Iran which was no more than a lovers’ tiff. 

So much more unveiling of de-colonial fraud in subsequent parts.

De-colonised Era - Part 1

 I couldn’t write. What was there to write. You get to hear everything on Vlogs, podcasts and analyses of your choice and liking. For me, the flight of this country has taken a nose dive and we are all waiting for the plane to hit the ground while these Vloggers, podcasters and analysts get more likes, views and dollars. What a horror show!!!

So let’s unearth what actually is happening? Let’s take a look at the world with a different prism. A clearer worldview may help us better understand the quandary we are in neck deep. The whole world has become an imperial colonial jail and Pakistan is no exception.

In de-colonised era of post colonial and post World War Two system of control, the Imperial Colonialism has taken a new shape and much horrible form. Take for example iconic western universities like Oxford, Yale, Harvard etc, where we yearn to go and get our customised leadership from, are not bastions of knowledge. They may claim to have academic freedom and discourse of liberal understanding. In reality, these institutions operate under controlled environments espousing dominant aspects of political landscape. The end product i.e. graduates are programmed to fit into politics, military industrial complex and mainstream media discourse. They indoctrinate generation next with the narrative of colonial discourse and prepare them to carry the baton of colonial legacy.  The faculty consists of embedded intellectuals who are thinkers, writers, motivators, explainers and justifiers of colonial imperial legacy. De-colonial studies and institutional de-colonial studies are two different streams. Institutional de-colonial scholars remaining within the ‘framework’ are completely silent over what is happening in Gaza. This should give you a measure of how system works. These universities have big buckets of grants worth billions of dollars out of which academia get their fair share through book publishing, pays, perks, pensions and promotions. Whereas, de-colonial academia working outside the ‘framework’ are marginalised and cancelled due to power and influence of Zionist lobbies. Student encampments against Israeli atrocities in Palestine was not part of the playbook. To the horror of Zionist, marginalised de-colonial academias got to speak to students at university encampments. Student encampments are a watershed moment of our times. This event was like those out of syllabus conceptual questions which were a nightmare for rote learners. The whole facade of western liberal values came crumbling down. The ugly face of neo-literalism slowly got unmasked. The very kids that system of control was brooding as next generation imperial clones, refused to be brainwashed. They carried out police action and tried to gag them. This shook the edifice of the control system and shall have far reaching consequences. 

The credit must go the lion-hearts of Hamas who woke the world from its opioid slumber of de-colonial fraud. If nobody else, at least, for me personally it was a rude awakening. 

Lot to say on this in next parts.

Al Kahf and present times

 Assalam o Alaikum wrwb. Shab-e-Juma Mubarak. A polite reminder to recite and understand whole or part of Al Kahf. This Surah is our protection against evil that rules the world right now and it’s only going to get worse. 

Strange times to be alive. Lately, it became suffocating in Pakistan. It was shocking when I played the video of Fiona Lali demolishing Suella and my ten years old said,’ Have they not picked her yet’. اسے ابھی تک آٹھایا نہیں۔. So well done those who have the tenacity to mock the sacred text ‘by striking the terror’ in the hearts of entire generation. I don’t know how long will it take to remove this impression from an innocent observant mind. Allah willing, I will. 

In bigger picture, the world is no different. Capitalism (Zionist tool) is like mistletoe (آکاس بیل) and funny enough that in the west it is seen as a sign of fertility and love notwithstanding the fact that it’s Anglo Saxon meaning is poop-twig. In reality, it is a parasitic plant that grows on other trees and keeps eating up on them until they die and even then it remains green. How ironic!!!

Greatest loser in this matrix is Christianity because Zionist have been able to creep through their ranks giving birth to an oxymoronic Christian-Zionist ideology. Morality and values are molested by Zionist. Personal freedom is allowed in the Zionist controlled world as long as people bow to capitalist principles at the cost of morality. Kids can negate their genders, babies could be killed in the wombs, degeneracy is new normal and family values are plummeting. Atheism is only a byproduct which predominantly includes Christian and very few Muslims. The only ideology that robustly defends against this insane onslaught against humanity is Islam. For this, Zionist devised an elaborate scheme to demonise Islam. They keep fuelling sectoral divide and encouraged rather gave patronage to extremism. Convinced confused western Christian for crusades against Islam through malicious propaganda and manipulative media. Zionist ‘Replacement’ strategy is in full motion where larger Christian and Muslim populace diminishes by nullification of each other. 

The world is enslaved by Zionist. The ‘establishment’ in every part of the world is under their control with the exception of China and Russia. The world should be grateful to Hamas that they helped unmask evil face of international establishment. Sacrifice of Gazans must not go waste. It has sparked a worldwide anti-establishment drive. Every state in the world is overtly, tacitly or covertly supporting re-enactment of holocaust in Gaza. Thanks to social media and growing awareness, people have been able to cut through the smokescreens of media outlets and sycophant journalists.

Let’s relate this with what Al Kahf has to offer. First story of Kahf Boys is about Tauheed. Important preparatory phase to Dajjal’s arrival is complete, religion/ Tauheed is under attack. Capitalism - relate it with the second story. Third phase, too much information and minimal knowledge as depicted by the story of Musa & Khizer AS. We are right in the middle of this phase. Last phase is about to begin. Relate it with last story of Zulqarnain. Appearances of antagonists -Mehdi & Isa AS along with Dajjal culminating in Armageddon. Last phase is no ordinary phase, it’s the ending of a story written by none other than the King of Heavens and Earth. 

No matter how you interpret Quran and Hadith; who you choose to trust in eschatology- Dr Israr, Sahil or Imran Hussein- end of times is around the corner. Prepare yourself and your generations for things to come because every Prophet has warned about tumultuous times ahead. Al Kahf has the answers.

May Allah be our guide and guardian. Ameen