By
Sattar Rind
The meaning of life is one of the many unsolved problems in philosophy that seeks answers from the questions posed by the universe. It is the theologians however who are apparently deemed the most definite people of this world. Absolute truth and any questioning of doubt is forbidden in religion, especially in Islam where it is equal to the death sentence, it being a sinful act even to question any such punishment.
Although I am a Muslim, I believe Islam is a religion of peace, something I have learnt from my parents and fellow Muslims for some time now. Over the last thirty years however, I have been witnessing Islam as if it is being forcefully deviated from peace toward the worst cruelties.
Islamic States of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are beheading human beings mercilessly, torturing, killing, shooting fellow Muslims and raping the women folk, selling them to rich Muslims who can afford to purchase them, in turn buying the women for sex or forced labour and then selling them on for the same purpose.
Many perhaps are buying them for the sole purpose of being a sex worker. They are being marketed according to the rule of demand and supply. It is obvious, this way the rich Arab Muslims financially and morally support them.
The ISIS militants are also getting financial and silent moral support from their Muslim countries to continue the butchery and slaughtering of Shias, especially the non Muslims minorities.
The main source of the huge amounts of money poured into ISIS is from the supply of Oil, somebody definitely purchasing that oil and selling it on the black market. This is why they have announced a budget of two billion dollars for their running under the controlled area of Iraq and Syria.
The militancy culture started in the name of the Mujahideen, in Afghanistan against the USSR intervention with the support of the CIA, kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the then government of Pakistan. That particular troika also facilitated the association of Al-Qaeda with the Mujahideen to further enhance their capability in the fight against Russian forces in Afghanistan. The then US President Ronald Reagan met with the Mujahidin in his Oval Office on March 21st, 1983 and commented: ‘’to watch the courageous Afghan freedom fighters battle modern arsenals with simple hand-held weapons is an inspiration to those who love freedom.”
Continuing the same idea, ISIS had been created by ‘Forces’ for the purpose of threatening the Shias and non Wahabi Sunni Muslims. However, now they are getting out of their control and most recently have entered their own states, employing suicidal bombers.
In addition to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, it is also important to mention that ISIS has attacked an Egyptian province, Sinai city Sheikh Zuweid. A large number of ISIS militants took part in the attack and challenged the powerful Egyptian state. Besides this, they have attacked Tunisia and Libya as well, an alarming sign in many ways. It has been reported that the weapons used in the attacks cannot be bought on the black market. They could not therefore be obtaining these without state support.
ISIS has no ambiguity. They have a definite target, axiom and decree to kill. Nothing is vague and hazy in their minds.
Almost all Muslim scholars though agree that Islam needs reviving, ISIS militants being wrong in their actions. But again, at the same time, they believe that in reviving, some hardship would likely ensue, as is custom in any such movements.
It can not be doubted though that the image of Islam in the West and for all non-Muslims has been damaged by ISIS.
There is also hypocrisy from some Muslim scholars still who are silently and even vocally supporting ISIS. Those who are against such cruelties are leaving their countries for the safety of their own lives.
A Pakistani Muslim scholar Mr. Javed Ahmed Ghamdi left his country many years ago just for the reason that he was against new Islamism and its related terrorism. He was in favour of a democratic government in the Islamic world. Those notions were not acceptable to all countries where the Monarchy rules system was going on. The Taliban, in addition to numerous Muslim scholars, went against him because they were being funded by a Monarch ruler.
It is no secret that the people of the world are not now considering Islam a religion of peace and that only Muslims had played a role within. What does need to be addressed is that Muslim scholars should discourage ISIS with great intensity. Muslim countries must not provide funds to those who are running the madras, in turn producing the forces for militancy.
Pakistan is a multicultural and multinational country, people for many years observing a peaceful life within different Muslims sects, their manners always very humble toward minorities. Muslim Sufi poets of Pakistan and the region as a whole had a great impact on people. Such social harmony is now in grave danger however and should be saved by the people and the state.
Many writers are indicating that great numbers of Taliban troops are leaving that network and joining the South Asian chapter of the ISIS in Afghanistan. This would be a great threat to this region and our country’s relatively peaceful environment.
My complements Mr Rind. What you have stated is the truth, a truth that is glaring, but obsfucrated by people and/or groups with varying agenda(s)- exploitation being the primary one. Like it was in the case of the Al Qaida, the ISIS was created and nutured for economic, power and sectarian reasons. Having tasted blood, it has turned rogue and perhaps another global war on terror can expected. Having said that, my complements for calling a spade a spade.