Peaceful Karachi

Allah (SWT) says in Surah Al-Anfaal (Spoils of War/Booty)… “Let not the unbelievers think that they can get the better (of the godly): they will never frustrate (them).  Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.”

It was few years ago, when on a channel I heard Anwar Maqsood, the famous comedy writer saying, “hum nay atom bomb bana liya, kaash kay hum phelay logon tak roti poncha detay…” (meaning it was better if we had thought of providing bread to everyone before making atom bomb).

For his information, Prophet Suleman (A.S) who had the vast kingdom in all prophets, tried to feed the humanity and failed in doing so and couldn’t fill the stomach of even one person.  Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), even in the hardest times, didn’t establish any charities but the system where orphans, poor, single/widow/divorced women, prisoners, strangers…everyone was facilitated with basic needs.  Providing people with luxuries has never been the task of any government.

In our society, no one minds these kind of thinking because this has become our most common mentality.  We should not expect anything better than this coming from the people who have been raised with a vision of Roti, Kapra and Makan?  Food, covering and shelter – even animals care about these basic needs and spend their life in sustaining them.  Some human beings are also born with this limited vision.  Filling someone’s stomach with few pieces of bread is the main purpose of their life.  Fine, nothing wrong with this.  For a normal human being, this is a perfect vision to dedicate their life to.

How has this vision effected our society?  A part of our society only cares about feasts and fashion.  Others die of hunger and rely upon the donations to get the minimum of what they need to survive.  A complete disproportion and instability.

Muslims are born with a Divine system in their hands – the system of justice, peace and basic human rights for everyone.  Providing others with basic necessities is a Muslim’s first priority in normal life but their life doesn’t end there.  Implementation of that system is the main purpose of their life and the time has witnessed them sacrificing their basic necessities to guard this system.  Even in the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) when common Muslims had to starve for days and they faced poverty for months, they never forgot to protect their people from external invasion.

To all those who are limited to this vision, “roti, kapra aur makan Musalmanon ki zaroorat aur ghulamon ka vision hoa kerti hay – Musalamanon ka vision justice and peace hoa kerta hay”. (food, Clothing, Shelter could be the vision of slaves or oppressed but for Muslims, these are the necessities to survive”.

To all those who are limited to the vision of authority of people on their lives, “authority sirf Allah (SWT) ki hay, logon ke liye choices and limitations hain aur jub wo limitations cross karain gay, inhi halaat se guzrain gay jo aaj Pakistan aur khas ker Karachi main hain” (authority belongs to Allah (SWT)…people have no authority on their lives but few choices along with certain restrictions and limitations”.

Now why people are silent even at this time is only the result of the wrong philosophy of humanity and the above mentioned visions that our thinkers, writers, poets and well-known wise individuals have been preaching for years.  Their preachings have diverted people from the teachings of Islam, from the vision of Iqbal which enabled us to establish Pakistan, from the message of Quaid-e-Azam which we have totally ignored like his great efforts.

People who are leaving Karachi or Pakistan are not in search of a system but in search of food, clothing and shelter.  They don’t care if wine, adultery, prostitution, ribah, gambling, vulgarity are the roots of foreign system and might affect their generations.  Here in Pakistan, they torture and kill for love marriages in different Muslim communities.  There in foreign lands, they don’t even investigate if their daughter-in-law was a legitimate child.  Here they would never accept their sons driving taxi or rickshaw after receiving bachelor’s degree.  Their they don’t mind if he earns from a bar or a casino.

For provisions, Allah (SWT) says at so many places in Quran, He provides them to you all as He wills or equal to the efforts you make.  We create our own opportunities to earn provisions.  What He orders in Qur’an should be our vision and mission.

“O ye who believe! bow down, prostrate yourselves, and adore your Lord; and do good; that ye may prosper.  And strive in His cause as ye ought to strive, (with sincerity and under discipline). He has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; it is the cult of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslims, both before and in this (Revelation); that the Messenger may be a witness for you, and ye be witnesses for mankind! So establish regular Prayer, give regular Charity, and hold fast to Allah. He is your Protector – the Best to protect and the Best to help!”  Surah Al-Hajj 77/78

“O ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well- acquainted with all that ye do”… Surah An-Nisa/Women 135

May Allah (SWT) guide us all to the right path, the path of those who were successful and not of those who indulged in the worldly desires and lost the Akhirah.  Ameen!