Muhammad Aftab Afzal

The recent blasts in Karachi should have been an eye-opener for those who consider the ongoing Taliban movement as jihad, and also a wake up call for the clerics to do away with their swollen pride and prejudice for the cause of humanity and safety of the nation

Terrorism has reared its ugly head as the biggest challenge faced by Pakistan in recent years and a major area of concern for the current democratic government, especially since the issue is suffused with religious inferences.

The strings of terrorism are wound around religious seminaries, not all but some, and that is the common consensus of the international community. The government has a choice to make: prefer silence as expediency or invent thousands of reasons for its defence. If foreign hands are really working behind the scenes they should be exposed without taking into account any political considerations.

Terrorism has ripped the country’s social fabric apart and rendered the economic situation unpredictable. There are no two opinions on developing a consensus among all stakeholders in this country, and — most importantly — the clerics of various schools of thought, to play their role in the emerging situation.

The recent blasts in Karachi should have been an eye-opener for those who justify and consider the ongoing Taliban movement as jihad, and also a wake up call for the clerics to do away with their swollen pride and prejudice for the cause of humanity and safety of the nation. They should no longer be silent spectators with this shameless turn in violence and terrorism knocking at our door, sparing no one, not even women and children.

Suicide bombings have killed hundreds of people and destroyed thousands of businesses, leaving behind a trail of bleeding wounds and a sense of insecurity among the people in almost every part of the country.

It is hard to explain whether the blast in the mourning procession was a sectarian attempt or a routine act of terrorism to disturb the peace in Karachi. In the Sindh home minister’s view it was terrorism, while the federal interior minister branded it as sectarianism. Only the helplessness of the people and restraint practiced by them has allowed the perpetrators to get away with this.

The war on terror is being fought on this land and we have to find a solution. Everything cannot be left on the shoulders of the government and the military. No fleet or saviour will come from a distant land to our rescue. All eyes are on the clerics not to shirk their responsibility, but to use their energies, attention and influence, as they are an integral part of society, to rein in the non-state actors.

There is no question of the excuse of any limitation on their part, as the clerics have always asserted their powerful presence in regard to certain issues in the past.

Islam is a religion of peace and harmony, and it is the only solution to economic and social woes facing humanity; these are just some of the announcements we make round-the-clock. Islam is a complete code of life dominating every sphere of life from birth until death with instructions on how to live in peace and war, but looking at the current state of affairs the world over, one must point a finger at Muslims as a community instead of Islam. Extremism has caused more harm to the religion than its enemies.

Muslims have been demonised in every part of the world and a non-violent majority of the believers have to face challenges and hostility from Palestine to Kashmir and from the US to Lithuania. The New Age philosophy is there to condemn Muslims for terrorism.

Now all hopes are pinned on the clerics to end their silence and educate the followers of their great religion to behave like civilised people.

Jihad has become the most misinterpreted term in recent years. Every school of thought has its own definition of jihad or holy war. As a matter of fact, the philosophy of jihad is to save human lives and not to kill them.

According to Muslim scholars of every age, the best jihad one has to wage is against oneself. Killing innocent women and children and people who have nothing to do with politics is not jihad. If we claim that Muslims are the followers of a peaceful religion, we have to prove it with actions and avoid attacking unarmed people.

Islam requires a person to submit before the will of God and not to cross certain limits. Islam is a simple religion that wants worship and admiration for God, and love and affection for human beings regardless of caste, creed, race, ethnicity or cultural background. But we are more sincere to our sects than the will of God.

Western society is integrating people from every race and religion into its fold, but we keep on dividing ourselves on economic, political, social and sectarian lines. In the prevailing situation, if we continue to stand divided, united we will fall ultimately.

The writer is a staff member and can be reached at aftabzain@gmail.com