On Sunday, Pakistani police forced an Ahmadi family to exhume the body of a relative [identified as Shehzad Warriach] because it was buried in a Muslim graveyard. According to the BBC, “Officials in the Sargodha district of Punjab province say they took the unusual move after anti-Ahmadi Muslim groups threatened peace in the area.” Ghulam Murtaza, a senior police official, told the AFP, “Warraich’s family agreed to exhume the body on October 31 after local people approached us amid protests and demanded that the body be removed from the Muslim graveyard.” The “local people” noted BBC News, were reportedly members of Khatm-e-Nabuwat, “an anti-Ahmadi religious organization that acts as a watchdog on their activities.”
The police, he added, “had to intervene to prevent any untoward situation though we have no law barring burial of a non-Muslim in a shared graveyard.”
So, instead of protecting the interests of a grieving family who had not broken any law, the police catered to the whims of intolerant protesters? I have no words.
However, Aatekah Mir-Khan over at the Express Tribune Blog, does:
Religion is supposed to be something between you and God, even when you are alive. Thus, people who do not give the living that freedom are wrong, but to continue hounding a person based on their religion even when he is dead is detestable. But have we heard a single condemnation from any of the politicians or the religious leaders on the outrage? No. Why? Because commenting on anything that has to do with religion (if it is against what ‘they’ believe) is shunned like playing with fire. There is no way you can leave unscathed if you dare speak up.
Back in May, more than 70 people were killed and 108 were injured when gunmen launched simultaneous attacks on two Ahmadi mosques in Lahore. Although political leaders condemned the attacks, they stopped short of tackling the glaring inconsistencies and laws that led to such incidents in the first place. In fact, when Nawaz Sharif expressed solidarity with the Ahmadiyya community after the May attacks, calling them “brothers” of Muslims, he was immediately criticized by leaders of Deobandi madrassas, who advised him not to “defy religion for petty political gains.” According to the Express Tribune, leaders of the Muttahida Tehrik-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwat even claimed the Lahore attacks “were a conspiracy to repeal laws against Ahmadis” at a meeting that included 13 political and religious organizations like JUI-F and Jamat-ud-Dawa.
It is not surprising that conservative religious clerics and figures spew intolerance and prejudice, peddling the idea that Islam is under attack to further their own power agenda. But it is frankly despicable that we continue to cower to those voices. It happened in 1973, when the Ahmadis were declared “non-Muslims” by the state, and it happened again in 1984, when they were legally barred from proselytizing or identifying themselves as Muslims. It continues to occur every time members of this community [and other minorities] are persecuted without any consequences, without so much as a word from our leaders or fellow citizens. And it happened this past Sunday, when the police ultimately gave credence to intolerance and prejudice over reason and sensitivity, forcing an Ahmadi family to exhume a relative’s body from a graveyard.
We talk constantly about how Islam has been hijacked by radicals and extremists. But cases like these show how much we also allow ourselves to be hijacked. By virtue of doing nothing, we legitimize those voices. We are therefore also to blame.
I came across your blog after the May attacks and have been keeping up with CHUP since then. I just wanted to thank you for your posts on the persecution of the Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan – after coming across a lot of slander and horrible comments on our community, it is refreshing and uplifting to read supportive words such as yours.
Thank you for continuing to visit here, ssk. I’m sorry that things are so messed up that I even have to write about it though. It’s so terrible!
Miss Kalsoom, congratulations to you on yet another great post. I ESPECIALLY LOVE your last paragraph. Amen sistah.
The sad part about this is that Pakistanis feel Muslim’s are being persecuted and treated as second class citzens in the world. This was one of the reason why Pakistan was created (so that Muslims were not treated as second class citizens, YET our country STILL treat people of other religions or other sects of Islam as second class citizens. I recently renewed my Pakistan Origin Card where I had to declare, that I am a Muslim and NOT an Ahmadi. I had a SERIOUS issue signing that paper (I did it because I want to visit my family without having to get a visa).
Thanks Shamiela!
Yeah, I was infuriated when I had to sign a similar paper to get a new passport. (I put a screen shot of the sheet here: https://changinguppakistan.wordpress.com/2010/05/28/targeting-the-ahmadis/)
So much of this persecution and prejudice is so embedded in Pakistani society and it has been for years, to the point where we often sign papers for our NIC’s and passports without really thinking through what we’re saying and how we’re contributing to the cycle of intolerance and prejudice. It’s a really sad state of affairs.
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Two more Ahmadis shot down today;
http://jang.com.pk/jang/nov2010-daily/04-11-2010/u51750.htm
The guy was coming for his wedding from Germnay.
It is unfortunate that Ahmedi’s in Pakistan are treated with more disdain than even non-Muslims. I have a handful of Hindu and Christian friends in Pakistan who make no effort to hide their identity and are openly known (and accepted) as being non-Muslims. However, my Ahmedi friends have to hide theirs for fear of persecution.
As for the declaration Shamiela mentioned…I feel its a very idiotic and pointless thing to have to sign. I mean what’s next…having Ahmedi’s wear an armband with an identifying symbol like the Star of David that the Jews were made to wear in Nazi Germany?
I admit I have some reservations about certain Ahmedi beliefs, but then I also don’t believe certain things preached by other religions. Heck, I don’t agree with my own parents most of the time. We have to stop striking out against everything that is “different” and stop this vendetta against the Ahmediyya community. Pakistan’s are fast losing the right to call themselves “Pak” — there is not much “pure” left in what we have become.
Another thing-
When Asma Jehangir (first woman SCBA president! Girl power) was elected to the SCBA, I was horrified by the slander that occurred when she was campaigning – calling her names. They even called her an Ahmadi in order to reduce her credibility and make people not vote for her: http://tribune.com.pk/story/68099/asma-targeted-in-ahmedi-hate-campaign/
Sad, really sad.
But, who will come forward and change the laws, which is the starting point for any meaningful change?
For a leader it would make political sense to just ignore the issue and not do anything about the law.
Allama Iqbal was acutely aware of the political opportunism of Ghulam Ahmadis since the inception.
I am an apolitical Khatme Nubuwwat activist and empathize with all Ghulam Ahmadis about their Qabr and Aakhirat.You may succeed in changing the laws judging from the great international support you have,including US,UK,India and Israel, but the moment we die, our glibness would not help us in our Qabr and Aakhirat. I hope you study the following keeping in mind your Qabr and Aakhirat.
http://xeniagreekmuslimah.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/missing-a-person-that-has-died/
“By virtue of doing nothing, we legitimize those voices. We are therefore also to blame.”
That sums it all. A historian once said “The road to Auschwitz was laid with apathy”. Liberals have to just keep quiet in order for the fringe to take over. One thing that common people could do in order to break this stranglehold is to accept that Ahmadis are Muslims. I mean, if a person declares oneself Muslim, how can another human being challenge that? I am yet to see a single post mentioning such a thing. May be you could set a trend on this.
BTW, I am from India and am ashamed of the violence meted out to the poor and Dalits. I am guilty of the the same kind of apathy though. In my country I want casteism to be declared as racism and thus drive my people to understand the true nature of their prejudices.
Today is a sad day for Pakistan and for peace loving people in the world. In the name of their interpretation of religion, some criminal elements in Pakistan have violently attacked and killed ordinary religious people at the darga of Baba Farid, who was one the greatest saints of Punjab and world and the first poet in Punjabi language. In doing so, they have dishonored themselves and the nation. The people who have done this have no religion. Now, even the chief minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has openly declared that he is hand in glove with these criminal terrorists.
When will Pakistani people say enough is enough and stand up to these people? Where is the outpouring of public condemnation in Pakistani blogs, media and politics against these heinous acts?
I completely agree with activists of Khatam-e-Nabuwat, I mean if there is law, they should follow, the family of the deceased broke the law by burying him in Muslim graveyard.
I fail to understand why the Qadyanis masqurade as the Muslims if the are Qadyani they should accept and tell people about this andfollow the countries law.
The reason Qayani are treated badly is because they dont tell openly that they are Qayani, Secondly, other people have their own religon but Qayani is corrupting the Islam and basic BELIEFS OF ISLAM and yet call them MUSLIMS which is wrong.
Many many scholars of Islam who believe that Prophet Muhammad is last and final messanger of Allah challeged Qadyani for open discussions and either they never turned up or if they did once never returned with the proper answers.
And you are breaking the law as Qayani are not allowed to use Muslim names like Mosque for their worship place so u shd correct it first.
Just to point out there is no law. They are not breaking any law. you are imagining a law exists where none does.
According to a 1993 Supreme Court of Pakistan Decision, every Ghulam Ahmadi is equivalent in blasphemy(Shatm) to Shaatim Salman Rushdie Mal’oon(May Allaah’s Anger be upon him){owing to his or her written beliefs about which he or she is mostly unaware due to an apalling religious ignorance of both Arabic and Sunnah as well as the writings of their founder}.And blasphemy is something unintelligible to a non-Muslim.It is only in the court of Allaah in Aakhirah(The Hereafter) that all deviations from the Way of Early Muslims(As-haab radiyAllaahu ‘anhum of Rasool sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) will be justly punished even if someone evades so before death.
So you agree that there is no law against anyone – blasphemer, athist, Christain, idiot etc – being buried in a graveyard? The law you refer to makes no mention of what happens to you in regards to burial. Indeed the punishment in a heavenly court still wouldn’t have any bearing to where your corpse is placed.
If you mean to say well it should be a law, that would be different.
“If you mean to say well it should be a law, that would be different.”
In Islam it is only God and His Apostle(May Allaah bless Him and grant Him Peace) are Lawmakers(Allaah and His Rasool sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wasallam are Shaari’ who legislate Sharee’ah).So,I or any Muslim cannot propose to make a law contrary to Law of God and His Apostle(May Allaah bless Him and grant Him Peace).This Transcendental Law is spiritual as well as temporal, and as far as I vaguely remember(I am not absolutely certain and I am open to discuss with all Muslims the relevant religious textual proofs(Nusoos which is the plural of Nass) availible to and believed in by all Muslims) from my religious studies there are provisions in that Transcendental Law which prohibit the burial of a non-Muslim in a Muslim cemetry.So, all Muslim-majority states have a moral obligation to ensure the primacy of that Transcendental Law . It is strange that if Jewish Halakha, for example, prohibits the burial of Goyim(Non-Jew) in a Jewish graveyard, that a Muslim insists to be buried in that graveyard.If I want to, I should convert to Halakhic Judaism(I don’t know if that’s possible) in toto and should uphold the primacy of Halakha.If anyone wants to be buried in Muslim graveyard he or she should convert to Islam and uphold the primacy of Transcendental Law in toto.
You know, although I fully agree with your opinion. Yet, I believe the matter is much more complex and stratified then what we believe. It has taken years to formulate this kind of religious extremism. Education system and informal social institutions have been exploited to prepare a generation of
irreconcilable and close minded people. We do need to change things on emergency basis but have we ever planned it out?
To outreach those who really need our messages!
Let me first clarify that I was born a Hindu and can now be described as an agnostic at best. However even I can say that if there is a god and he is indeed Allah, only he can judge who is a Muslim and who isn’t. No human can judge the religion of another human. It is like someone claiming that he is happy but his neighbor challenging this saying that he cannot be happy since he is poor. Happiness is a state of mind and so is spirituality and religion.
In any case do not bother to reply to this comment. I do not wish to start a religious flame war.
“However even I can say that if there is a god and he is indeed Allah, only he can judge who is a Muslim and who isn’t. No human can judge the religion of another human. ”
Islam, unlike Paulian Christianity, is not a private religion but has has a notion of God’s Law for all which has an official definition for a Muslim.
This is how Allaah defines a Muslim in Qur’aan-ul-Hakeem.
And who believe in the REVELATION sent to THEE(Muhammad sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and sent BEFORE THY TIME, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of (Aakhirah)THE HEREAFTER.
They are on (true) guidance, FROM THEIR LORD, and it is these who will prosper.
These are the Aayaat 4,5 of Soorah al-Baqarah which is the second Soorah of Qur’aan-ul-Hakeem.
http://honorablequran.com/2.htm
Caution:Aakhirah is sometimes distorted to mislead the ignorant masses who can’t speak Arabic(most of Ghulam Ahmadis can’t).
These Aayaat leave no room in Islam for a NEW REVELATION AFTER MUHAMMAD(sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
Also, Ghulam Ahmadis pray according to Fiqh Hanafiyyah of Imam Abu Haneefah rahimahu(A)llaah.Hint:They place hands below the navel.
In his age,a man claimed Prophethood.He asked to be allowed to show signs.Imam Abu Haneefah rahimahu(A)llaah said:If a Muslim even enquires him to show a sign,he would become a Kafir.(Man Talaba minhul ‘Alaamata faqad Kafar)(Rooh-ul-Bayaan.All Muslims should learn Arabic to read and understand the statement directly)
For details study the link I have given above.
‘And who believe in the REVELATION sent to THEE’
Prove it.
You say you do. I could say you don’t.
As we cannot study your thoughts we don’t know if you are lying, pretending, suffering a crisis of faith etc.
I could say you are a Hindu who doesn’t practise anything and keeps it secret. Again this is impossible to prove one way or the other. Which is the point of the person you are responding to. At the end of the day it is your word which may or may not be backed up by your actions to try and convince others. But no person will ever know if you are lying.
“But no person will ever know if you are lying.”
This is the beauty of spiritual and temporal dualism of the religious system of Islam; and Rule of God’s Law.Inspite of the fact that Allaah warns Hypocrites(Munaafiqoon) of Loss in Aakhirah, everyone is to be treated equally and can even become Khaleefah(Single Spiritual and Temporal Leader of all Muslims) if he abides by God’s Law.No Muslim can object to that notwithstanding the moral provision in Islam that no Muslim should seek leadership by heart but should only accept leadership if you are given the responsibility.It shows the Primacy of God’s Law. Islam is literally Obedience and stands for Obedience to God and His Apostle(May Allaah bless Him and grant Him Peace).
Allaah will judge you in Aakhirah(The Hereafter) Himself based on Eemaan(Faith) in your heart.Your Iqraar by Lisaan(Proclamation by Tongue) is valid in Dunyaa(This world).Your Tasdeeq by Qalb(Affirmation by Heart) would be judged in Aakhirah(The Next world).
One of the dominant themes of Qur’aan-ul-Hakeem is the superiority of Aakhirah over Dunyaa preached by all Anbiyaa(Prophets) like Moosaa ‘alaihis salaam (Moses, Peace be upon Him) and ‘Eesaa ‘alaihis salaam(Jesus,Peace be upon Him). Qur’aan-ul-Hakeem narrates the words of a Mu’min(Believer) in Moosaa ‘alaihis salaam preaching to a Kafir(Disbeliever in Moosaa ‘alaihis salaam ):
And he who believed said:O my people! Follow me, I shall guide you onto the path of rectitude!
O my people! This worldly life(Life of Dunyaa) is but a (brief) enjoyment(Mataa’), whereas, behold, the life to come(Aakhirah) is the home abiding(Daar-ul-Qaraar).
Aayaat(means Signs of God and refers to “verses” in Holy Qur’aan) 38-39 of Soorah Ghaafir which is the 40th Soorah of Qur’aan-ul-Hakeem.
http://honorablequran.com/40.htm
We must prefer Daar-ul-Qaraar over Mataa’ to be successful after death and even in Dunyaa.This is the secret of true happiness or to quote Imaam al-Ghazaali rahimahullaah(May Allaah bestow Mercy upon Him):The Alchemy of Happiness.
“This is how Allaah defines a Muslim in Qur’aan-ul-Hakeem”
Obviously if there is an omnipotent god, then his thoughts cannot be contained in a few thousand pages of a book. So how do you know for sure that the Ahmadis don’t know something extra that makes them the right Muslims and not you ( i.e a partial Muslim)? Again, in its simplest form, a religion is the faith in a particular god. Once the person professes faith to that god, then no one else except that aforementioned god can judge him.
“They place hands below the navel”
These are just semantics and I do not know what you signify by them. If it is a differentiator that sets Ahmadis apart then it is as senseless as the various superstitions in Hinduism.
PS: Please avoid using Arabic terms as well as verse form taken directly from the Koran. I would prefer a discussion in simple English for better understanding.
“They place hands below the navel”
“If it is a differentiator that sets Ahmadis apart then it is as senseless as the various superstitions in Hinduism.”
Fiqh Hanafiyyah and Imaam Abu Haneefah rahimahu(A)llaah is not a differentiator but the greatest common denominator between Muslims and Ghulam Ahmadis.I intend by mentioning this to inspire Ghulam Ahmadis to discover the fallacy of their beliefs by comapring it with their true Islamic roots.
Dear Readers,
Very Sad about all the news when we heard that these radicals,extremist and illiterate people killed hundred of people,in the mosque in the busy markets.First they target one Sect. Ahmadis,then another sect shia and now to their own sect who are neutral sunis. From the last 23 years I observed the same anarchy in Pakistan.Its never improved.Someone says right that Real Islam is hijacked by the terrorists.Those who think to kill or even hurt a one single person is not a Muslim or even not a human being.Here in west everyone is practising their own faith without interferring others belief.But the dilema is that those extremist also exported in the west society to destroy the peace and harmony,that they destroyed in Pakistan from last several years. Here is not the question of Muslim or Non Muslim.No one is safe from these terrorists.Even Christians, Hindus and Sikhs. We as a society lost all our human,ethical and moral values.Being a true Muslim first we have to respect all the religions and faiths and most important human being.In this all anarchy major role is played by our rulers.Army rulers specially Ziaul Haq and politcal rulers.The dark side of this terrorist act is that now our institutes at every level growing these radical elements.At the end I only say that MAy Allah show to all of us the right path.Its really surprising for me that even five times a day in our Namaz(prayers) in First Surah Fateah we say that May Allah the Almighty show us the right path.But we as nation are going towards the wrong path.So its mean we as a nation our prayers are not pure.
Regards
“Its really surprising for me that even five times a day in our Namaz(prayers) in First Surah Fateah we say that May Allah the Almighty show us the right path.”
In Namaz,we say that May Allah give us Hidaayat.
In the Aayaat 4,5 of Soorah al-Baqarah, Allah Himself tells Who is On Hidaayat, and Who will Succeed(In Dunyaa and Aakhirat).
http://honorablequran.com/2.htm
May Allah give Hidaayat(Guidance) to all humanity towards Qur’aan-ul-Hakeem.
And it seems their is growing persecution int he UK.
http://www.channel4.com/news/hate-crime-investigation-into-threats-against-ahmadi-muslims