Pakistan in Crisis

If you are like me, you are spending your days and nights fretting silently and pulling your hair. The fairytale "war on terror" has cost Pakistan over 35 000 innocent civilian lives and over $68 billion dollars of debt. Just when we thought that the "terror" was over with Bin Laden's death, it actually has just began. BBC's John Ware reports that CIA wants to attack Pakistan for supposedly hiding Bin Laden for all these years. Presuming that Bin Laden was alive in Pakistan last week and not dead in 2001 as specified by Fox News, CNN, New York Times and Guardian UK that Bin Laden died in 2001 of old age and poor health conditions; also presuming that in six years of having a free hand in all of Pakistan and bombing a quarter of it half to hell, the CIA and NATO, that has the reputation for being the world's best intelligence agency and military par excellence, had no clue about Bin Laden being right under their nose. So why am I worried? US has always smoked up one ostensible reason or another for war. An the naive imbeciles that people are, they believe the US. Why? Well because of US "freedoms" of course. Where else can you find people wearing torn denim jeans, eating super-sized donuts for 7 meals a day, drinking and driving daewoo on credit and living despicable life styles? Only in the US! So the entire world hoots for them and hundreds and thousands of Muslims die as a result. So don't tell me I should take it easy. If the US decides to go to war with Pakistan, the dimwitted world will just change the channel and watch simpsons.

The US has a network of military bases throughout the world and it's strongest hold by far is over the Middle East; 1,114,000 in Kuwait, 250,000 in Iraq, 24,000 in Bahrain, 9,000 in Qatar, 8,500 in Saudi Arabia, 6,700 in Turkey, 3000 in Oman, 1,200 in UAE and a 1000 in Djibouti. Each battle group is armed to the teeth with KC-10 and KC-135 refueling aircraft, B-52 bombers, EA-6 electronic warfare aircraft and E-8C Joint Stars reconnaissance planes, drones and much more. The US is pounding over a dozen Muslim countries with its forces, Afghan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Yemen and Bahrain, possibly even Syria, Sudan and Somalia and still Muslims are happily facebooking, filerting, feasting and falling a sleep. The fate of Islam and Muslim lands deserves at least a little bit of our sympathies. 

Take Pakistan for instances, it was meant to be, shade of Allah's mercy, the aggrandizing of Allah's Oneness and Unity. Pakistan was suppose to be THE trademark of religious freedom and tolerance, a picture of brotherhood, benevolence and benefitting others. Pakistan was the duaa of millions of mothers, a the sacrifice of thousands of martyrs,  aard work and toil of hundreds of trained professionals. All this endeavour for nothing?

Have you ever moved out of your home and into a new place? The home you lived in since you were born, your bed which was your oasis, your walls on which you hung your finger paintings, the stairs you raced down with your brothers, the living room where you did your homework, the kitchen from where you stole cookies. How is leaving this place sound? Pretty depressing, I'll say. Now imagine you are forced out of your home. Someone bombed your house, blew away half of your ceiling. The floor is trembling beneath you. You rush for the stairs by they are on fire. You make it into the living room only to be blinded by the smoke and choke on the carbon monoxide. Your eyes are burning. With a thud, armed break down your door and open fire. You hear screams behind you. Someone is hit.

This may seem like a long-shot but Pakistan is in a similar crisis. US is mongering the worlds nations to crush Pakistan for some demented reason and it is possible that this battle may draw other countries from around the world and explode into another international, if not world war. Are we ready for this? Do we want our sanctuary violated? Will we let some two-faced, liar, nut bomb Pakistan and trample it's tanks over our people?

Alas, what can a girl like I to do? The US bombed Afghanistan when I was 12. I can't forget the day I came home from school and my mom was on the phone with my aunt, telling her how Afghani people do not have bread to drink or clothes to wear, how will they confront US's stupendous army? I cried a lot that day, bawled from Maghrib to Isha. With each sob and each tear, I beseeched Allah for His help and mercy. I didn't want the Muslims to die. I didn't want anyone's house gunned down or children starved and orphaned. That day I promised myself that I will keep the Muslims safe. For as long as I live, I will shield and protect the Muslims. How? I didn't know exactly, my plan wasn't so smart, I was only 12. Then the Iraq war happened when I was in grade 9 or 10. Then Israel devasted Lebanon and Gaza in grade 11. By the time I was in grade 12, I had given up on education. Sign me up to the next regiment and I am gone!

Regrettably, I am still here and many more ferocious wars have plummeted the Middle East. Muslims are locked up in cages at almost every corner of the world. The Niqab is banned, the Qur'an is burned, the Masajid are under tight surveillance. I feel I have failed my people. I was suppose to defend them and protect them but year after year I watch them obliterate and their cries muffled into oblivion. What do I do? Nothing! How do I feel? Like garbage. Many of us have not seen a family member die. Can you imagine how it will be to know that someone you love is painfully spilling away from you every moment. They are in so much agony and constant torture. What would you do to relieve them? Save them and bring them back? Take this seriously, this is very real!

This is why I was pulling my hair (figuratively) all day. Pakistan is dangerously close to a war. But because so much is at stake with this war, it will be death, destruction and chaos on a universal scale. Let's not forget that both US and Pakistan are nuclear states, which could mean, Hiroshima and Nagasaki part 2. I don't mean to scare anyone but it is true.  I mopped a lot all day yesterday. Couldn't mark, eat or sleep. How do I deal with this? Then I read the Qur'an. Sometimes we think well Qur'an is just ... Qur'an, a Book. What does the Book have to do with our real life problems? It actually does. Every verse in the Qur'an is a radiant light and a treasure house to illumine all of life's pathways and enrich every turn in our journey back to Allah.

After over 24 horus of melancholy and dawdling, when I finally opened the Qur'an, Allah the Supreme, the Sublime the Wise and Wonderful, guided me to the following verses,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَىٰ أَوْلِيَاءَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allāh guides not the wrongdoing people. [Qur'an, 5:51]

Look at the mercy and the love with which Allah is speaking to the Muslims. Allah says, 

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا He calls us with our best quality, the quality of ايمان One thing that sticks out about Muslims and makes us shine is our belief in Allah. Why is belief in Allah so incredible and important? Because Allah is One without any partners. There is nothing like Him, He is the Only God. He is Eternal without beginning. Everlasting without an end. He is Living and will never die. He created and originated everything without being in need to do so, and He provides for and sustains  His creation without any trouble. He causes death without fear and He resurrects the death with no effort. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, the All-Wise. He is the Best of Planners and He has power over all things. He is the All-Mighty, the Great Subduer, the Invincible. Nothing is hidden from Him. His authority and command prevails over everything. Things occur only with His permission. He guides whoever He wills. He is a Friend and Protector of those who believe. 

People are on the religion of their friends. Whatever interests our friends, interests us. We pursue their beliefs and actions because we trust them, we are inspired by them, we love them and we want them to accept us. So if Muslims are intimately close with the Jews and Christians, it is certain we will espouse their religion and culture at the cost of leaving our own. Muslims who leave Islam to obtain privilege or benefits from other people are grievously mistaken and misguided. They suffer the loss of Allah's support. Without remembering and obeying Allah, life becomes difficult and depressing [Qur'an, 20:124]. Without being close to Allah and connected with Qur'an, the devils succumb you to disgusting and debauched lifestyle [Qur'an, 43:36-37]. What is the logic in lewd dressing, drugs, and STDs? How does incurring debt after debt for things you don't need, until total bankruptcy and suicide make sense? Is it cool to be a selfish, stuck-up brat? I mean, how dense can you be if you only think about yourself or your next party or the next fashion trend. What is the purpose of life if all you are suppose to do is "eat, drink and be merry?" Is this how you want to be remembered in the world? Someone who was abusive, dishonest, greedy an jealous?
How many Muslims, especially Pakistanis have abandoned Allah and all His rights and commands for a few cheap dollars, tight clothes, music, alcohol, a house or a car. Tell me, what is your life worth? What have you achieved except slavery to material things and hypocrisy in the heart. Everywhere you go, you are dying to fit in, to make others happy but where does that get you? You will never have enough money, someone may show up at your school or work and they are prettier than you, more athletic than you, can sing better than you - then what happens? The crowd that you so desperately wanted to impress, dumps you and moves on to another clown starving for attention. Result? You lose your friendship with Allah and the people. You are lonely, unhappy, ill, humiliated and destitute. 


There is no benefit in leaving a close relationship with Allah. Love Him, fear Him, rely on Him and trust in Him. Thank Him, praise Him, pray to Him, make du'aa to Him and follow His orders and you'll be in peace, on the straight path and content, protected and guided. Belief in Allah trains Muslims to be truthful, patient, humble, charitable, self-controlling and modest [Qur'an, 35:35] Because of beleif in Allah, Muslims are able to free themselves from worship of material things. The entire world falls to their feet but they hold aloft to their ideals. They strive with their wealth and lives for a better world and reward in the Hereafter, the world of gardens beneath which rivers flow and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence [Qur'an, 61:12] Imagine springs, adorned couches and beds of silk brocade, pure drinks sealed with perfumes, fruits of every kind and tender meat. Imagine being more beautiful than rubies and pearls ... forever! Strive earnestly with your entire being to please Allah and inshaAllah you will get the best in both worlds; forsake Allah and you will lose both worlds with a heavy penalty. 


Look at the Pakistan situation, Allah explicitly warns in the Qur'an, not to associate with the Jews and Christians. But in 2001, Pakistan made the fatal mistake of siding with the US in the war dubbed against terror but in fact it was the sole perpetrator of the most gruesome and horrifying acts of terror. Pakistan, a partner in US led invasion of Afghanistan and later NWF led to the detainment, torture and death of millions of Muslims. Of course US Gen. Tommy Franks said that "they don't do body counts" so we'll never know the exact loss of lives. 
The US over 47 different fighters, helicopters and bombers in Afghanistan. Of these bombs are GBU-28 Bunker-busters with 5,000lb laser with  with 4,400lb penetrating warheads. It contains a mixture of ammonium nitrate and aluminum which ignites upon  causing a huge explosion that incinerates everything within up to 600 yards. US also dropped hundreds of cluster bombs on Afghanistan. Cluster bombs are 1,000-pound munitions that break into 202 bomblets. Each bomblet breaks into 300 fragments of steel that can blow up areas the size of several football fields. They also use something call Hellfire Missiles, which I don't think needs any explanation. If your city was pancaked day and night with these weapons of mass destruction, how many deaths would you expect? The population of Afghanistan in the 2009 was 33,609,937, in 2011, the population is down to 29,835,392, another source says it is now a little over 11 million. In 3 years, the US butchered up to 4 - 22 million Afghanis? 42% of the Afghani population is under 14 years of age so don't even tell me the US killed 4 million Taliban. The US committed a genocide against 4 million children!
Then there is Iraq, according to the Toronto Star, a non-profit organization in UK did a survey of Iraqi casualties in 2007 and it came up with 1.22 million deaths in the US led invasion and occupation since 2003. Can you imagine? Iraq has a population of 4 million from which the US annihilated 1.22 million in less than 4 years! 

Tell me Pakistan, is this not ظلم? How can you justify befriending and helping an enemy that decimated so many of your Muslim neighbours? You think Allah will guide you and protect you now after you betrayed your brothers and sisters in Islam? 

فَتَرَى الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ يُسَارِعُونَ فِيهِمْ يَقُولُونَ نَخْشَىٰ أَن تُصِيبَنَا دَائِرَةٌ فَعَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَ بِالْفَتْحِ أَوْ أَمْرٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِ فَيُصْبِحُوا عَلَىٰ مَا أَسَرُّوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ نَادِمِينَ

So you see those in whose hearts is disease hastening into [association with] them, saying, "We are afraid a misfortune may strike us." But perhaps Allāh will bring conquest or a decision from Him, and they will become, over what they have been concealing within themselves, regretful. [Qur'an, 5:52]

But the world situation is such that Muslims are at their all time low and everyone else is hugging the sky of success. To escape the misfortune and 'bad luck', Muslims leave Allah, as if belief in and obedience to Allah earns them loss. So they quickly associate with the Jews and Christians in hope that their imitation of them will make them successful. But the opposite is true. We are suffering as a nation not because of Allah but because of our lack of commitment with Allah. In the beginning, the trade off seems really cool, you get fresh new look, everyone likes you, you seem to be going places but it's only a mirage. People accept you because they want to you use and now that their work is done, they want nothing to do with you.  Lonely, you become tired of yourself, extremely drained and bored with putting up with the stress of being what you are not. The things you thought you would give anything to have, suddenly lose their charm and you start to wonder, how you got into this mess in the first place? 
This is the upshot of hypocrisy. Allah says, أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ We can never be really happy without Allah. All the world's friends and blessings are bleak without the pleasure of knowing Allah and being close to Him. Love of Allah is life itself, and to be deprived of it entails a terrible death; it is the light without which one would sail in a sea of darkness; it is the cure without which one's heart will be overwhelmed by a multitude of diseases; it is the joy without which one will remain in permanent grief; it is the essence of faith and deeds, without which they become like a soulless body. Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyaa said, “truly in the heart there is a void that cannot be removed except with the company of Allah. And in it there is a sadness that cannot be removed except with the happiness of knowing Allah and being true to Him. And in it there is an emptiness that can not be filled except with love for Him and by turning to Him and always remembering Him. And if a person were given the entire world and what is in it, it would not fill this emptiness." Allah created the world and everything therein, subservient to human beings but He created us for His worship. Hence it is expected that we recognize the true purpose and function. Or in the words of Allama Iqbal, “tu raz-e-kun fakaan hain, apni ankhoon mein ayaan ho ja. Khud hi ka razdaan ho ja, Khuda ka tarjuma ho ja”.


Again, look at the Pakistan situation. In 2001 Pervez Musharraf and the majority of the Pakistani population at home and abroad sided with the US in its invasion and holocaust of Afghanistan under the self-help pretext. President Bush at the time had made it clear, "either you are with us or against us" which meant that unless Pakistan pledge it's unconditional assistance to the US against Afghanistan, Pakistan will be considered an enemy and "bombed back into prehistoric, caveman period." So to save itself from liquidation, it seemed that Pakistan had no choice but to collaborate with the US. And collaborate we did, Pakistan help kill at least 4 million Afghanis who were in no way responsible for the 9/11 attacks. As Gen. Hamid Gul said, "had the US captured Bin Laden alive, he would have spilled the beans and told the world he is not responsible for 9/11". 

Tell me Pakistan, what does Allah says about murdering a single innocent person? It is cataclysmic, a holocaust against all humanity [Qur'an, 5:32]. Do you have any idea how much blood is on your hands? I am surprised that we can sleep at night, sit and laugh with our family, eat and watch TV. SubhanAllah! Do you know what happens when a Muslim kills another Muslim intentionally and without a just cause? His recompense is Hell for an eternity, the anger and curse of Allah and a harrowing punishment [Qur'an, 4:93]. Are we in the least bit scared of Allah? In the last 10 years, alongside US, we committed the worst of homicides and executions - unafraid but now when the US no longer needs us and wants to attack and finish us once and for all, we are alarmed? Well this is the fruit of hypocrisy. If you live by the gun, you will die by the gun. The pits you dig for others, will serve as your own grave!
There is an ancient Arab parable of 3 bulls, red, black and white who lived in a dangerous area surrounded by a wolf. Their unity was their only defense against the wolves. Together, they were strong and the wolf dared not to attack them lest it got crushed by their might weight or cut by their sharp horns. Cunning as it was, the wolf made a pact with 2 bulls, it promised them amnesty if they let it eat the white bull. The bulls thought it to be a fair deal, the white bull didn't camouflage so well and it was always giving away their position. But the bulls didn't foresee that without the white bull, they they were defenseless. By giving up the white bull, they made it easy for the wolf to hunt and devour each one of them individually and this is exactly what happened. Regrettable as it may be, but this parable mirrors the situation of Muslims in the world today. We are like the bulls hunted by wolves. Look around you Pakistan, what do you see? The Muslim world is either militarily or politically occupied by the US. Do you think that by helping the US tighten it's grip over the Muslim world, you will be spared to continue a peaceful and sovereign existence? Wrong! The US will come after you the moment it is done ravaging other targets.  

In the light of Allah's command in the Qur'an, Quaid-e-Azam warned Pakistan against the poison of nationalism and provincialism. He told us to forget the differences and unite under one belief and obedience only to Allah. Today I think it is only this one man who is drumming for unity. Forget that we speak different languages in Pakistan or we are from different regions of the country, we are at the end a single nation, with a united belief in Allah and the Qur'an so we should be brothers.

وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَهَـٰؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ أَقْسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَانِهِمْ إِنَّهُمْ لَمَعَكُمْ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا خَاسِرِينَ

 And those who believe will say, "Are these the ones who swore by Allāh their strongest oaths that indeed they were with you?" Their deeds have become worthless, and they have become losers.[Qur'an, 5:53]

Ask any kid, Pakistan ka matlab kiya? لا اله الا الله What is the meaning of this kalimah tayyaba? It is to be sincere to Allah, His Messenger (s.a.w) and the Muslims. When the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said لا اله الا الله they "made a covenant to observe Salah, pay Zakat and give counsel to Muslims" [Bukhari and Muslim]. النصح or counsel is goodwill towards all Muslims, like the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, "No one of you becomes a true believer until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself" [Bukhari and Muslim]. When the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said they, لا اله الا الله   "swore allegiance to hear and obey [the commands of Allah]; in time of difficulty and in prosperity, in hardship and in ease, to endure being discriminated against and not dispute...except in case of evident disobedience to Allah regarding which there is proof....swore allegiance to say right wherever they ewere, and not to fear from anyone's reproach" [Bukhari and Muslim].

Tell me Pakistan, how many of us observe Salah and give Zakah? How many of us obey the commands of Allah in their entirety, wholeheartedly without any reservations and wish well for other Muslims? Very few right? You can count the religious people on your fingers, that's how few the practicing Muslims are in Pakistan. We made Pakistan for Islam, without Islam, what are we but squandering losers! And I say this first about myself and no one else.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَن يَرْتَدَّ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِي اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ أَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ يُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يَخَافُونَ لَوْمَةَ لَائِمٍ  ذَ‌ٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

O you who have believed, whoever of you should revert from his religion – Allāh will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him [who are] humble toward the believers, powerful against the disbelievers; they strive in the cause of Allāh and do not fear the blame of a critic. That is the favor of Allāh; He bestows it upon whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing. [Qur'an, 5:54]

I love this verse because it holds a warning and a good news. Warning that if we do not mend our heart and devout ourselves to the obedience of Allah and wanting good for other Muslims, Allah will replace us with better people who will make the world better. Good news that some Muslims will ineed face and beat the odds. They will respect and relieve the Muslims, battle and break the power of non-Muslims. They will be the party of Allah, fearless, hard working and victorious! O Allah make me from them aameen. 

MashaAllah Pakistan already has some lion-hearts like this but inshaAllah we need more.  

 

إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ

Your ally is none but Allāh and [therefore] His Messenger and those who have believed – those who establish prayer and give zakāh, and they bow [in worship]. [Qur'an, 5:55]

More good news inshaAllah. The the party of Allah, which Allah will bring as a replacement, will distance themselves from all non-Islamic thinking and mannerisms. They will team up and join with Allah and His Messenger (s.a.w). Most importantly, they will pray Salah in congregation and give Zakah. Salah is the greatest act of worship, it combines the heart, mind and body. Muslims are connected and closest to Allah in Salah. It gives the joy and consolation of being in the presence of a trustworthy Friend. We get to review Qur'an and mediate over it's lessons, make duaa and ask for forgiveness. Salah reminds us of the Day of Judgment, and purpose in life. Congregational Salah gives a sense of coming together, knowing other Muslims and reinforces bonds of brotherhood. Additionally, Zakah is a wonderful thing, it reduces poverty and proliferates productivity. It replaces feudal and papal economy with equal distribution of wealth, by taxing the rich to provide necessities of life and services for the needy. So alhamulillah there is tremendous benefit in praying Salah and giving Zakah. Peace and change begins with this and it is impossible without it.

وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَإِنَّ حِزْبَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ

And whoever is an ally of Allāh and His Messenger and those who have believed – indeed, the party of Allāh – they will be the predominant. [Qur'an, 5:56]

Pretty straight forward isn't it? Who wins and who loses is fairly straight forward. Just think of Badr and Khairbar and remember that Allah will give you a decisive and glorious victory, so long as you are upon the Deen.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا دِينَكُمْ هُزُوًا وَلَعِبًا مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَالْكُفَّارَ أَوْلِيَاءَ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

O you who have believed, take not those who have taken your religion in ridicule and amusement among the ones who were given the Scripture before you nor the disbelievers as allies. And fear Allāh, if you should [truly] be believers. [Qur'an, 5:57]

In conclusion, O Pakistan and the Muslims of the world, take the religion of Allah seriously. Don't wither your life in fun and games, you aren't a toy. Allah created us to call others to belief and obedience. We are raised from amongst humanity with the mission of enjoining good and forbidding evil [Qur'an, 3:110]. So learn and live the Qur'an fervently and be conscious of Allah. Dissociate yourself from the enemy as this is important. Imagine taking a shower in a garbage dump, changing into fresh clean clothes and wearing perfume - while still neck deep in garbage. No matter how much you clean yourself, you'll still stink because of the garbage around you. Likewise, no matter how much you try to come close to the Deen and be a good Muslim, you'll be under the influence of anti-Islamic practices and principles as long as you socialize with anti-Islamic people. So pick your side and stick to it. If you are going to choose Allah then be sincere to Allah and do not betray Him by following those who disbelieve in Him and are the enemies of His believers.