Intolerance in Muslim societies is rising

The regime of shock and awe that prevails following the brutal assassinations of Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti on charges of blasphemy is a confirmation of the fact that democracy in Pakistan lies completely crushed at the feet of religious syndicalism. 

As this has been brought about in the name of a great Prophet of God, described by the Koran as Rahmat al lil aalameen (Mercy unto mankind), it would be interesting to analyse the Prophet’s own reaction to personal insults and check whether people were killed for blasphemy during his time.

The Koran records some of the abusive insinuations that were hurled at the Prophet (see 25:41 and 38:4-5) and defends and consoles him without suggesting any mundane punishment for the abusers. Such invectives would certainly have hurt the Prophet and therefore, he is assuaged with, “Have patience with what they say, and dissociate from them with noble dignity” (73:10) and,

“You possess the most exalted standard of character” (68:4).
The Koran then advises the Prophet, and through him his followers, to “forgive and overlook; for God loves those who are kind” (5:13) and points out that when evil is repelled with an act of goodness “then will he between whom and you was hatred become as if he were your intimate friend” (41:34). The Prophet followed this exhortation to the letter, a fact acknowledged by the several instances in his life which show that he “repelled evil with goodness” in the Koranic spirit.

Once a when a disgruntled Jew cursed the Prophet saying As-saamu-alalikum, (Death be upon you) and his wife Hazrat Aisha responded with As-saamu ‘alaikum wal-laa’na (Death and Allah’s curse be upon you too), the Prophet expressed his strong displeasure saying, “Be gentle and calm, Aisha.”  And when one of his companions sought permission to harm the Jew, the Prophet silenced him with an emphatic “No” (Bukhari).

But one of the best examples Prophetic tolerance was the pardoning of Ikrimah who along with his father Abu Jahal had fought several violent battles against the Prophet. Yet when Makkah was reconquered, Ikrimah was pardoned by the Prophet who told his companions: “Ikrimah shall come to you as a believer and a muhajir (a refugee). Do not insult his father. Insulting the dead causes grief to the living and does not reach the dead.” It may be noted here that the companions are being asked not to curse even Abu Jahal, a bitter enemy who had died fighting the Prophet.

Therefore, there is no scriptural basis for the histrionic emotionalism and the maddening perversity of thought that marks the defense of the blasphemy law in Pakistan, which has even led to a cleric announcing an award of $6000 to anyone who kills Aasia Bibi if the courts acquit her. It is precisely this kind of fiendish behaviour that fuels Islamophobia across the globe. In fact, Muslim extremism and Islamophobia enjoy a symbiotic relationship feeding on each other’s fanaticism.

One of the causes for intolerance to flourish in Muslim societies today is the growing clout of prejudiced preachers.  For instance, according to Zakir Naik,  a controversial televangelist banned in the UK, an apostate from Islam who converts to another religion should be killed if he propagates that religion in an Islamic state because it amounts to “causing corruption”, “spreading things which are unpeaceful” and hence, treason (watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzc_jhaWxw0, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMAZR8YIhxI).

The fact is, there is nothing in the Koran or the authentic teachings of the Prophet that supports Zakir Naik’s definition of treason which without doubt is an extreme interpretation of Islam.  Naik needs to be reminded of the Prophet’s warning: Eeyakum wal ghulu fiddeen, fa innahu ahlaka man kaana qablakum al ghulu fiddeen; that is, “Eschew extremism in religion, for extremism has destroyed its practitioners in the past” (ibn Maaja).

Sadly, progressive Muslim scholars have not been able to match the flurry of misinformation on Islam that is being unleashed through some private television channels. One reason for this could be the paucity of funds as the progressives do not have the benefit of petro-dollars.  But the real fear perhaps is that of being ostracised from society, and in the worst case, killed.

Therefore, the only way to remedy this situation is for the moderate majority of the Muslims to support progressive reformers and help them intellectually counter religious chauvinism through the rational teachings of the Koran as done by the Prophet himself.