Pakistani Trumps - An Encounter with a Desi Racist

"I have boycotted all the Pathans. I don't buy anything from them."

I thought he was joking. I politely inquired, "Why Amjad saab?"

Mr. Amjad, a government employee, is a resident of Islamabad. He is a moderately educated man in his late fifties. I met him in Lahore when I was assigned to do stock-take of a government institution.

"They are everywhere. In Islamabad and Rawalpindi they own every other shop. A shop which should have been owned by a Punjabi is now owned by a Pathan." He replied.

It hit me. He was not joking.

He continued, "They come to our cities. They take our jobs. They buy our shops. They are taking over our resources. They are hooligans. They create trouble everywhere."

His tone was full of arrogance. His choice of words clearly illustrated his haughtiness and diseased mentality.

I was shocked. The words sounded so familiar but I had never heard such words from a Pakistani for another Pakistani. As the words seeped in, a mix of anger and extreme disgust swept over me. I wanted to scream:

"YOU DON'T OWN THESE RESOURCES!"

Before this encounter I had never met such a person in real life. A person who was an epitome of racist. I read racist comments on internet everywhere. I have seen mild racism (If there is such a thing) at work place. But this was something else. This was real, glaring, unashamed racism.

I chose not to argue. I had no experience of dealing with such a human. I am quite sure even If I had argued it would have been fruitless. You can not undo a racist mindset like that. There is no point in arguing with people in their fifties and sixties who are hard-wired about their beliefs and preferences. They have spent most of their lives. But what scares me is that these people have brought up a new generation. They must have poisoned the innocent minds of their progeny too. The thought that there are and will be (God Forbid) countless more Mr. Amjads walking the streets of this country is unnerving.

A Nation of Shortcuts

Mark Zuckerberg, world's youngest billionaire, once said in a speech in front of 8th graders "There are no shortcuts in life". He is not the only superstar who has warned this. I have heard similar words a ton of times. Yet when I look around I find this admonition hardly associable. Here, in Pakistan, going for shortcuts is our auto-genetic feature. Bypassing the logical, legitimate and necessary paths and adopting the less demanding and less daunting ones is a standard practice.

This petty attitude is not confined to a specific group of individuals. Rather it is pervasive and entrenched in every segment of our society. Be it the Army Generals who pack up elected governments and take matters in their own hands or the suicide attackers who kill people to get their quick ticket to Jannah, our nation has this natural tendency to go for the shortcuts. Such is our fondness with taking the shortest passages that even as little kids we fancy cramming on the nights of the exams instead of studying bit by bit, day-in and day-out. Friedrich Nietzsche once said, "He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying." No points for guessing what happens when one tries to fly straight away. Our country's current state affairs is an epitome of chaos that ensues from such behavior. 

The proposition I am trying to make is not "Do not take shortcuts ever." My intention is to get across this bitter reality that shortcuts, when taken to avoid the crucial processes, always turn out to be harmful in the long term. Although they seem to save time but we miss out on learning important details and lessons along the way which are necessary for us to flourish at the other end. Imagine had Santiago of "The Alchemist" found the treasure without having to travel all through the desert and meeting all sorts of people. Do you think he would have been the same man? No. It was that process that made him wise and knowledgeable. 

Reflect: Where are you going?

If you saw a man walking on the highway and asked him, "Where are you going?" and He replied, "I don't know. I am just walking." You'd probably call him insane. 

Don't go about your whole life like that person. 
Allah (S.W.T) asks us the same question in Quran: "So where are you going?" [Quran 81:26]

Qur'an, A Literary Miracle. Subjective or Objective?

Shakespeare's works, Plato's Republic, Odyssey are the landmarks of world literature. The ultimate products of human mind. However If you are a literature student you would know that literature is not objective. It is subjective. You say it's beautiful. I say it's ugly. You like that poem. I don't like that poem. You like that song. I don't like that song. Subjective.

We believe that Qur'an is the ultimate literature. Be it any language it is the ultimate literature. Qur'an is a communication and the purpose of a communication is to influence the audience. So we will judge what is better literature by what influence does it have? What impact does it have on the world? What change does it cause? How does it change people? How does it modify people's behaviour? How does it command over people? That will be the judge. That's a practical judge of the power of any speech or literature. You could say it's wonderful but I think it's just fiction or you could say it's wonderful and it has changed my life. If you study this fact historically, No society went through a transformation based on a single text the way in which the Muslims went through with the Qur'an. And in how many years did that society get transformed? 23 years. This is agreed by all even the orientalists. If you ask from the point of view of disbeliever In 23 years this man (pbuh) starts single handedly and by the end of these 23 years what change have these words and this speaker, and style of speech caused? What have they influenced?
The way people eat. Did that change?
The way people sleep. Did that change?
Did the way people deal with the family change?
Did the way people schedule their day change?
Did they way people speak to each other change?
Did the way they do business change?
Did the way they go to bathroom change?
Did they way they dress change?
Did the way they fought wars change?

The question isn't what changed. The question is what didn't change. Everything changed. Whenever there is a "revolution" in society It's either economic or it's political or millitary but the way people live on day-to-day basis does not change. They don't change the way they deal with their family depending on the Government changing or new system coming into power. That's still the same. But this change that the Qur'an brought is unparalled in the human history. What changed was not just societal. It wasn't just on macro level. It even changed the way people think. Changed everything from induvidual level to collective level and every spectrum in between. This in itself is the evidence of  unparalled power of Qur'an.


*This is modified transcript of Nouman Ali Khan's Lecture "Divine Speech Prologue Part 1"
The lecture can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaS5NsvZ4yM

Quranic Gems - Some of My Favorite Ayahs of Holy Quran.

"It may happen that you hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that you love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows, you know not." [Quran 2:216]

"[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving" [Quran 67:2]

"Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned." [Quran 21:35]

"And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to Him we will return." [Quran 2:156-157]

"O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah , even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted." [Quran 4:135]

‎"Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion." [Quran 57:20]

"Say, [O Muhammad], "If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, commerce wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and jihad in His cause, then wait until Allah executes His command. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people." [Quran 9:24]

"‎Nay, here are Signs self-evident in the hearts of those endowed with knowledge: and none but the unjust reject Our Signs." [Quran 29:49]

‎"And the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) will say: "O my Lord! Verily, my people deserted this Quran (neither listened to it, nor acted on its laws and orders)." [Quran 25:30]

‎"It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error." [Quran 33:36]

‎"Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?" [Quran 21:30]

‎"And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers." Quran [3: 85]

‎"You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Book before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah - indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination." [Quran 3:186]

‎''If Allah helps you, none can overcome you. If He forsakes you, who is there after Him that can help you? And in Allah (alone) let believers put their trust.'' [Quran 3:160]

"‘The Jews say, ‘The Christians have no valid grounds’; the Christians say, ‘The Jews have no valid grounds’; and both quote the Book [of God]. So do those who have no knowledge [of the Book] speak like them. But it is God who will decide between them on the Day of Ressurection about all on which they differ." [Quran 2: 113]

‎"But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners." [Quran 8: 30]

‎"And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him." [Quran 65: 2-3]

‎"......and despair not of relief from Allah . Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people." [Quran 12:87]

"O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent - then it is those who are the wrongdoers." [Quran 49:11]

"They ask you [O Muhammad (saws] concerning the Ruh (Soul). Say: 'It is one of the things, the knowledge of which is only with my Lord. And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given very little." [Quran 17: 85]

"So verily, with the hardship, there is relief," [Quran 94:5]

"Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said," When is the help of Allah?" Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near." [Quran 2:214]

"And of the people is he who worships Allah on an edge. If he is touched by good, he is reassured by it; but if he is struck by trial, he turns on his face [to the other direction]. He has lost [this] world and the Hereafter. That is what is the manifest loss." [Quran 22:11]

"For every (revealed) tiding there is a term set for its fulfillment and in time you will come to know (its secret)." [Quran 6: 67]

"Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. Allah only forbids you from those who fight you because of religion and expel you from your homes and aid in your expulsion - [forbids] that you make allies of them. And whoever makes allies of them, then it is those who are the wrongdoers" [Quran 60:8-9]

"And they will approach one another, inquiring of each other. A speaker among them will say, "Indeed, I had a companion [on earth] Who would say, 'Are you indeed of those who believe that when we have died and become dust and bones, we will indeed be recompensed?'" He will say, "Would you [care to] look?" And he will look and see him in the midst of the Hellfire. He will say, "By Allah , you almost ruined me. If not for the favor of my Lord, I would have been of those brought in [to Hell]." [Quran 37:50-57]

Say, "He is the Most Merciful; we have believed in Him, and upon Him we have relied. And you will [come to] know who it is that is in clear error."  [Quran 67:29]

"Surely We created man of the best stature. Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low, Except for those who believe and do righteous deeds, for they will have a reward uninterrupted." [Quran 95:4-6]

"And when adversity touches you at sea, lost are [all] those you invoke except for Him. But when He delivers you to the land, you turn away [from Him]. And ever is man ungrateful." [Quran 17:67]

"And if We had made it a non-Arabic Qur'an, they would have said, "Why are its verses not explained in detail [in our language]? Is it a foreign [recitation] and an Arab [messenger]?" Say, "It is, for those who believe, a guidance and cure." And those who do not believe - in their ears is deafness, and it is upon them blindness. Those are being called from a distant place." [Quran 41:44]

"If you could but see when the criminals are hanging their heads before their Lord, [saying], "Our Lord, we have seen and heard, so return us [to the world]; we will work righteousness. Indeed, we are [now] certain."[Quran 32:12]

"Indeed, those who disbelieve will be addressed, "The hatred of Allah for you was [even] greater than your hatred of yourselves [this Day in Hell] when you were invited to faith, but you refused." [Quran 40:10]

"Had there been within the heavens and earth gods besides Allah , they both would have been ruined. So exalted is Allah , Lord of the Throne, above what they describe." [Quran 21:22]

"...Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends for a people ill, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron." [Quran 13:11]

"And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah . They follow not except assumption, and they are not but falsifying." [Quran 6:116]

"....They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls desire - Even though there has already come to them Guidance from their Lord." [Quran 53:23]

"The disbelievers are not but in delusion." [Quran 67:20]

"And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty." [Quran 59:7]

"And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm." [Quran 68:45]

"And thus We have revealed it as an Arabic legislation. And if you should follow their inclinations after what has come to you of knowledge, you would not have against Allah any ally or any protector." [Quran 13:37]

"Whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger." [Quran 17:15]

"Say, "Indeed, the death from which you flee - indeed, it will meet you. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you about what you used to do."" [Quran 62:8]

"And they say, "There is not but our worldly life; we die and live, and nothing destroys us except time." And they have of that no knowledge; they are only assuming." [Quran 45:24]

"Those who disbelieve will be addressed, "The hatred of Allah for you was [even] greater than your hatred of yourselves [this Day in Hell] when you were invited to faith, but you refused. They will say, "Our Lord, You made us lifeless twice and gave us life twice, and we have confessed our sins. So is there to an exit any way?" [Quran 40:10-11]

"Those who dispute concerning the signs of Allah without an authority having come to them - great is hatred [of them] in the sight of Allah and in the sight of those who have believed. Thus does Allah seal over every heart [belonging to] an arrogant tyrant." [Quran 40:35]

"Indeed, those who dispute concerning the signs of Allah without [any] authority having come to them - there is not within their breasts except pride, [the extent of] which they cannot reach. So seek refuge in Allah . Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Seeing." [Quran 40:56]

"‎O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result." [Quran 4: 59]

‎"And when it is said to them, "Believe as the people have believed," they say, "Should we believe as the foolish have believed?" Unquestionably, it is they who are the foolish, but they know [it] not." [Quran 2:13]

"Or were they created by nothing, or were they the creators [of themselves]? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain." [Quran 52:35-36]

Islam and Terrorism

If an amateur chemist blows himself up due to lack of knowledge of chemistry then he will be blamed for his ignorance. But when a person who claims to be a Muslim and lacks knowledge of his religion blows himself up then blame is put on Islam. I ask If this is not HYPOCRISY then what is?  

True Imaan (Conviction in faith) - Story mentioned by Ibn-e-Kathir.

Imaan brings about the ultimate conduct and good character.

There’s a beautiful story mentioned by Ibn Kathir. True order in society can only come about as a result of imaan. Even if all the laws and best police force has been established, there will not be morality.

There was one man from Banu Isra’il who needed to borrow money. He went to another man and asked for a loan. This person then asked who can vouch for him. He said, “Allaah is enough as a wakil.” The man did not argue.

He said, let us at least get a witness. The man said, “Allaah is enough as a witness.” The man did not argue.

There was a river that separated their homes. The borrower promised to meet the man at a certain day and time at this place to return the money to the lender.

The time passed. When the man arrives at the river, the river is over-flowing. The people who normally run the ferries to cross the river are not there. The borrower is sitting there with the money, frustrated that he had given his word and now was in this predicament. He stands and waits, but gets more frustrated. He takes a log, carves a hole in it and puts the money in it. He writes a note to the man that this is the money he owed him and if it reaches him, then it is done.

He throws the log into the river and makes du’aa to Allaah that it reaches the lender. This was out of his frustration from the idea of cheating the man.

On the other side of the river, the man was waiting. He sees the condition and realizes the man cannot come. The time passes so he decides to go home. Before going home though, he wants to pick up some wood. He sees a log floating into the water. He takes it home. When he begins to chop it, he sees the money and the note. His loan is completed.

The borrower, however, is not comfortable in his position. He thinks he should have returned the money as it had been given to him. So he waits some days, the water subsides. He gets some more money and crosses the river to the lender’s home. He tells the man that he has returned to pay him back and how he could not make it previously. The lender could be thinking that he has already received the money, but he could be getting more from him. He told him that he received the log. Their imaan was firm. One man’s imaan wouldn’t let him rest and the other’s wouldn’t let him cheat.