Beyond Ritualism By Amer Rizwan

THE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT
THE POST ISLAMABAD
Saturday, December 6, 2008

Far away from the vicious murk of Pakistani politics, when the country was reeling under the emergency rule and the legal fraternity was bent upon redeeming the country from the total abyss, I was busy observing a more dynamic, versatile and enriching experience of life. My spiritual pursuits at the religious capital of the Muslim Ummah were profound, far reaching, rewarding and incredibly soothing though my attempts at reaching the spiritual status were flawed and far from prefect almost reveled in the emollient power of the zamzam whose holy aroma bespoke a spiritual magnetism exercising a spontaneous and concomitant pull and drawing you closer to the divine path traversed thousands years ago by the prophets of God and their followers.Hajj or pilgrimage to Makkah is one of the five pillars of Islam. Hajj was made obligatory in the 9th year of Hijra. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) sent off 300 Muslims under the leadership of Hazrat Abubakr Siddique (may Allah be pleased with him) to Makkah so that they could perform Hajj. The great extravaganza, actually one of the five obligations for a true Muslim to observe, is inter alia meant to commemorate the sacrifice offered to Allah Almighty by Ibrahim, His Prophet. On this day Muslims sacrifice a goat to commemorate the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim, who willingly agreed to kill his son at the behest of God. However, Allah Almighty replaced his son with a lamb, which was slaughtered instead. The ancestry of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH is traced to the son of Prophet Ibrahim i.e. Prophet Ismail. The Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) imparted the event his own universal and eternal message of love, sagacity, tolerance and fraternity. The last sermon of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) made on the eve of Hujjut-ul-Wida or the Last Pilgrimage dwelled upon these core universal principles, which together make up the first Universal Charter of Human Rights. It is primarily this aspect of Hajj that has intrigued me to write something on. As a matter of fact, coming across at Makkah, as well as at Medina, millions of people of different races and colours, preoccupied with a common holy purpose, offers a unique mosaic, nay it provides a rare and unique picture of unity in diversity. Tolerance, sympathy, and love far above the petty issues of mundane life is rarely observed elsewhere. Therefore, I condescend to state that Hajj model with slight modifications can be applied at the global level for a peaceful international system. Labeling it an Islamic World Order would draw swarm of critics from all quarters, but what is name, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.It is here that my spiritual sojourn, a great and the most cherished pilgrimage, has also turned into a yet another rich experience – an experience that enabled me to develop a greater understanding of different peoples and different races and colours. The Muslims coming here belong to different nooks and corners of the world; they are white, black, brown and colored; they are both Arabs and Ajams; they are young and old, male and female, but primarily they are human beings, and I tried to gather from their demeanors and modes of prayers their sensibilities, sensitivities, their likes and likes. It is a rare cosmopolitan experience, not observable even in the US and UK with distinctive idiosyncratic national traits melting mysteriously into an ocean of compassion, love and tolerance. It is only after wading through this stream of purity that a totally different human being with a better grasp of men and matter would emerge.By showing love and respect to each and every human being irrespective of his race, colour, language, sect, difference in details of rituals, there may emerge a greater flexibility in the outlook of the pilgrim. This would also imply love and tolerance to humanity principle. Instead of clash of civilisation and peoples, this would create a better understanding and accommodation among peoples of the world. The pleasantly smiling Turks, the devoted and genial Malaysians, the ascetic Indonesians, the numinous Persians, the devout South Asians; all are frantically bent upon pleasing their Creator and his creatures.A very interesting aspect was the Indian and Pakistani Muslims greeting each other as if geographical barriers have not been able to rob them of their commonalities. Kashmiris of the other side of the Line of Control (LoC) would embrace Pakistanis as there is no other place under the sun where they could do so openly. Turks would consider Pakistanis as their brothers and show open admiration for Pakistanis. Most of the pilgrims are acquainted with only the literary archaic Arabic written in the Holy Quran, but here they come across the more crude, spoken form being used in a variety of dialects. At times, this crudeness seems unpleasant and jarring to the non-native listeners, but continuous interaction with the locals for a few days mitigates this impression.There are more lessons in store for us in the Hajj than the bare eye can unfold. Here in Pakistan, we declare, every digression in terms of details of your prayers something as heresy. During Hajj, on the contrary, each and every devotee, irrespective of his school of thought, sect or mode of prayer work ecstatically and assiduously to try to please Allah Almighty whether or not by offering ‘Rafa’a Yadain’ or either by whispering ‘Amen’ or by saying it loudly. An interesting but very important lesson comes home i.e. attempts may be faulty, procedures may be shabby; the weak mortal body may also not be able to move in tandem with the spiritual onus, yet as long as there is singular concentration and devotion to purpose, one has every hope of being blessed and redeemed. Again, this ecstatic devotion is so absorbing and intoxicating that it does not allow one to observe and ponder over one’s own worshipping details what to speak of trying to correct those of others. Owing to the tremendous rush of devotees, at times, there is no option except to pass before a praying pilgrim, but neither of them would indulge in the blame-game. Hajj has also lesson in store for us in discipline, punctuality and civic sense – the hallmarks of the Islamic society of yore. As long as they wielded these time-honoured universal values, they continued to shine on the galaxy of science, technology, medicine and arts, but no sooner had they shunned the door to further quest and research, than they lagged behind in almost every walk of life. Let me reiterate that the unity in diversity is the true lesson given by Hajj. Allah could have filled the earth and heavens with malaik praising Him round-the-clock restlessly. But he created a versatile and multi-coloured world. This versatility is reflected in the flora and fauna, and in different physiognomies and colours of human beings. The human civilisation would prosper, as long as we respect the natural diversity, dynamism and versatility. We cannot subject “others” to total extinction, nor even vice versa, so why not to live side by side peacefully while developing greater understanding for the fellow beings. There is no denying the fact that Hajj is the best forum for doing so.It is high time, we move beyond the mere ritualistic aspects of Hajj to its real intent and purpose. And more than anything else, the overhauling process must bring about positive changes in the life of the individual with a better understanding of others. The harmonious social life should have far-reaching implications. This model can/should be magnified and applied internationally. By laying emphasis on the practical experiences of Hajj, I by no means underestimate the ritualistic dimensions of Hajj, nay their observance in accordance with religious principles and guidelines can bring about the much desired result. The writer is a Ph-D Candidate in the Department of International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad

A Nightmare (An incomplete poem written in the context of the wave of terrorism)

A NIGHTMARE

How to find the missing beam
How to trace the subtle gleam
When things are not what they seem

Tears n blood flowing in a stream
In shady dark dales with no seam
Rubbing my eyes if it be a dream
But things are not what they seem

Taking a bath in this bloody brook
Is what they mean dear what they book
Doth you know what does it mean?
Trooth, prophesy or a bad dream
Ah! But things are not what they seem

An infernal lake at a stone’s throw
Sucking all the blood, I trow
Trickling tears tearing the tryst
The pool getting bigger with no rest
Laying its ebby arms on gray n green
But things are not what they seem

Amer Rizwan

Eternety (Poem)

Eternety

Listen to whispering decay
The phantom is not far away
Tis bent on spoiling poses
Trampling lilacs and roses
Is there a permanent sway
To a thing made up of clay?
Crying things will vanish
All but manners'll parish

Amer Rizwan

HYMN (Hamd) In the Praise of Almighty

HYMN (Hamd) In the Praise of Almighty

Thou ar't Cosmic Spirit, I trow
Yet thy Grace no bounds know
To thy Entity we ever bow
With knelt knee n burning brow

Pour thy showers on desert drought
N cleanse me from all the doubt
Shake shoulders of my lulled lot
Make thy Voice melody of my heart

Redeem from the dirty debris
Or shackle me to be ever free

Amer Rizwan

Hope in Despair (Poem)

Hope in Despair

Burthen of woe free fears
In the ocean of my tears
All but my agony will sink
If not had a life giving drink

Fearing that all the name and fame
And vision of the flickering flame
That gloom may prevail upon my sight
Breaking life threads in fright

Reborn from the bubble of breath
On the eternal ocean of death
Wait we must till it gives way
To a life where love will sway

Foresee we strolling hand in hand
In the balmy breeze on lustrous land
Where freedom n felicity are in spree
Where everything save vice is free

LEST WE FORGET

Life is what we make of it

Strategic Flaws (Book Review) "Imperial Hubris" Author: Michael Scheuer

Strategic Flaws (Book Review)
Reviewer: Amer Rizwan Khattak·

Book: Imperial Hubris
Why the West is Losing the War on Terror

Author: Michael Scheuer
Brassey’s, Inc., Washington D.C. 2004. Pages 307

It is not always easy to criticize the policies of the state when one is part and parcel of the machinery of same. Michael Scheuer (Anonymous) performs this job with utmost adroitness and devotion. He tries to kill two birds with a single stone by not only warding off the potential danger but also shaking the policy makers of their adolescence.

In starting the book, he takes to task the US intelligence agencies, which he believes, did little to avert the impending catastrophe before 9/11 though it has a number of reports suggesting that an attack may occur any time.

Those officers knew a run away train was coming at the United States, documented that fact, and then watched helplessly – or were banished from speaking out – as their senior delayed action, downplayed intelligence, ignored repeated warnings, and generally behaved as what they so manifestly are, America’s greatest generations – of moral cowards.

Again, when the attacks did occur, the US administration did not take action against the perpetrators briskly. This procrastination on the part of the US administration in attacking the Al Qaeda and Taliban gave their key leaders and the bulk of its force to take refuge in different places including in the tribal forces of Pakistan where they are already considered heroes for having helped the Afghans oust the much bigger Soviet bear and for braving the world’s sole super power i.e. The US. Once Taliban were routed with the help of the minority and futuristically less promising Northern Alliance, the US committed yet another mistake. i.e. it supported the non-representative people in Afghanistan who have not been the part and part of the forces that used to be dominant either before the US invasion of Afghanistan or before the collapse of the Communist regime in 1992. But the sordid drama does not end here. The US did not depute proper specialists for the Afghanistan. It has a number of specialists on Afghanistan who had worked closely with the Mujahidin forces during their struggle with the communist forces of Afghanistan and Soviet Union. However, working on ad hoc basis, they were cornered and non-specialists were consulted and made in charge of the Afghan affairs with the result that now the Afghan policy is in tatters.

The author argues that FBI is least equipped to cope with overseas operations. It should primarily focus on the internal law and order problems. Involving it in external operations would not only cause confusion and overlapping and leaks that prove to detrimental to American interests in the longer run. He attributes leaks in American intelligence either to the naiveté of the American intelligence officers or to their gaudiness for being more knowledgeable or even to avarice. However, all these types of leaks have adversely affected the US’ effort to root out the Al Qaeda factor.



A recurrent and very significant theme of this book is the writer’s candid analysis proving that the Americans are not hated and disliked for what they are or for their way of life but for their policies. He rebuts many a tall claims in this regard.


He goes deep into Quran and Hadith to prove that its teachings are replete with the precepts whereby every Muslims is enjoined upon to wage defensive Jihad when they are facing any injustice and when the non-Muslims are not letting them to lead their lives in accordance with Quran and Sunnah. Although there are several ways of waging Jihad but the Jihad of sword is the preferred mode. Osama bin Laden has successfully utilized these teachings plus the US’ free license to Israel at the expense of the beleaguered Palestinians. To add insult to injury, the US winking or acquiescence of the Indian, Russian, Philippian and Chinese governments’ ruthlessness vis-à-vis their Muslim minorities has provided OBL a befitting issue to exploit and to prove to the hapless Muslims that the US is spearheading a global concert that is hell bent upon exterminating the Muslims just to avenge the Christians’ defeat at the hands of Muslims in the crusades. Saladin is thereby worshiped as a great Muslim warrior hero who made the non Muslims to lick dust. So, the United States, and its policies and actions, are its only indispensable allies.

US, British and, other coalition forces are trying to govern apparently ungovernable postwar states in Afghanistan and Iraq while simultaneously fighting Islamic insurgencies in each – a state of affairs our leaders call victory. In conducting these activities, and the conventional military campaigns preceding them, US forces and policies are completing the radicalization of the Islamic world, something Same bin Ladin has been trying to do with substantial but limited success since the early 1990s.

He discusses both the viewpoints about the personal character of OBL. One the one extreme are the US and Western writers who portray him to be a callous, blood-thirsty and maniac whereas on the other are his friends and relatives who have personally interacted with him, and have thereby have first-hand knowledge about him. The author reconciles both the positions i.e. West’s mad man and Islam’s hero by acknowledging that OBL has much love for the defence for faith, the life he lives, the heroic example he sets and the similarity of that example to other heroes in the pantheon of Islamic history. Nay the author also does not disagree with the western scholars who variously describe OBL as a soldier, a CEO, a pious scholar, a warrior, one with common people, and a product of globalization.


ü The author argues that the US is playing OBL’s game.

Whether in area of defence spending, travel, foreign policy, fiscal responsibility, domestic security, or citizen safety, we have supinely allowed “our designs to be crossed” to avoid the sacrifices to fight the war bin Laden has launched.

ü Democracy cannot be introduced over night. In the West, it developed as an evolutionary process.

· The Reviewer is pursuing his Ph-D Degree in the Department of International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad.