KalPoint.com (KPDC): Do you think TV channels like QTV are successful in propagating the message of Islam? A true Muslim will never be away from Islam and Quran, InshAllah. The question is how to bring forward the people who have written books on religion. The kind of channels we have, most of them, not all, are full of ill stuff, which is presented. We need to finish vulgarity from our culture and bring more channels like QTV so that out youth knows what exactly our religion is. Also we need to know that it is very very important to understand the hadith in order to understand the Quran properly. What role do you think are these channels providing in propagating the message of Islam?
Dr Israr Ahmed (DIA): The world is moving at a very strong pace. The Christians call it Armageddon which if you see in the dictionary; it will show this means a very major war which will be fought between the good and evil forces before the end of this world. In the hadith also it says something similar. A major role will be played by the Jews, and the Christians have been trapped by the Jews in this. A hundred years back Iqbal said the English are the leaders of all this ill that is happening. In today’s world I would say it is America that is responsible. So everything that is happening is according to a well-set plan. There is a supreme power which is behind this, and even behind them are the Jews. Whenever such supreme forces have come into being some Muslim scholars have tried to join forces with them and be with them. It is like a square peg in a round hole, which is something almost impossible. Ghulam Ahmed Pervez is from the third generation of such people. Sir Syed was the first person to have started this. In order to move with the English, he tried to adjust with them, take up their education and lifestyle. This all started from there. If you want to be with the rest of the world, adopt their mannerisms, sciences, etc, do it, there’s no harm in it, but do not adopt those things which do not reflect your religion and culture and take you away from it. What the Quran says is reflected by the hadith. It clearly says what is ‘halal’ and ‘haram’, right and wrong.
There are four kinds of Muslims: one who thinks of Islam as a complete way of life. Some people would think of him as a fundamentalist and one who should be finished immediately. The other type is traditionalist, says namaz, goes to the masjid but that’s it, he doesn’t go beyond that. He is not that much of a threat to the so-called modern people. Third type is those who try to amend their lifestyle according to the western world. They think if you support them, you will progress in life otherwise not. These are the people who need to be exposed to TV channels which reflect the Islamic media. The fourth are called secularists, the least bit of threat to the western world. These are two people who must be shown these kinds of TV channels.
The West can now see that we Muslims have that fire within us, which will make us go to any extent to fight for the right. We are not scared of death. What is right, is right. This poses a major major threat to them. There is no doubt in the fact that the Muslims will also have to face a bad time and a lot of hardships, and to an extent I would say we even deserve it because of some misdoings on our part. But in the end, **the victory will be of the righteous. The religion of Islam will overshadow all the others and come out as the winner. **
**KPDC: Sometime back I saw a program on TV according to which there was a discussion, a controversial one, on the law prohibiting alcoholic drinks in Islam. What are your points of view on this matter? Also according to you, should only the Quran be followed, or the Sunnah as well, or both? **
DIA: The Quran has clearly forbidden alcoholic drinks for the followers of Islam. The other thing is a major concern of us, what is the scope of “Ijtehad”. In our ummat at the moment there are 4 or 5 schools of thought. One is that only and only the Quran is the source of teaching and that too not in totality, it will just give you the basic principles, the specifics are not necessarily there, for example to amputate the hands of a thief is not specifically there. This is one viewpoint. The other is that the Quran has general as well as specific principles, but we need to make our own understanding of it. The understanding or “tabeer” of Sunnah is not necessary. They think it was only for that time for the prophet since he was the “Ameer” of that time. The third is that the Quran and Sunnah are both compulsory to follow. The fourth is that the Quran, Sunnah and Ijmah-e-Khilafat-eRashida is also compulsory.
This thing has not been said for the first time, it has been said before as well and it is a matter of great concern, it is wrong. It means this breaks the concept of “khatam-e-Nabuwat”. According to Allama Iqbal, who has put it in a very beautiful way, what has come to us till the time of the prophet is the final teaching for us. Through the Quran and Sunnah you can do Ijmah and Qiyas and solve all your problems.
KPDC: The current waves of suicide bombings which have been taking place what are your views on them? Are they justified because people are being tortured so much that they are helpless and this seems to be the only way to get revenge, or on the other hand, do you condemn it since this too is a form of suicide which is Haram and also along with it a lot of innocent people are killed?
DIA: Whatever is happening in the world of today is not for the purpose and welfare of Islam. The Muslim countries are striving for their freedom and existence. They are not fighting for the religion of Allah. For example in the mid fifties, there was a war between France and Al-Jazayer. They used to raise slogans of “Jihad Fe SabilIllah” like they did at the time of war with Afghanistan. At that time 2 people had come to collect funds, one was a colonel and the other was a great scholar of Islam. The later gave a beautiful speech on Jihad, which is still remembered till today. When that Jihad was successful, a socialist government was formed. If it was “Jihad Fe SabilIllah” then an Islamic Republic should have been formed. Therefore I would differentiate it in this manner, there are two types pf Jihads, one is “Jihad Fe SabilIllah” and the other is “Jihad-e-Hurriyat.” The later is also allowed, since you are fighting for your right of existence and freedom. It is not Haram, but the other type is totally different. For that you need to give the right of Tableegh, and then you need to appoint those people who are true Muslims and follow the religion in the truest of essence. Then you need to take ‘Bayth’ from one person that we will follow all your orders. Then the Jihad will happen and this is true Jihad. According to Hadith, a person who dies while trying to protect his belonging is also a martyr. So, even a person fighting for freedom is a martyr.
Even the war that was fought against the Afghans was “Jihad-e-Hurriyat.” It was fought for the freedom of their country and to maintain their identity. **But when the Taliban stood up and tried to make peace and establish an Islamic form of government, we agreed that it was an Islamic government. Those people who are against this government, Jihad Fe SabilIllah should be fought against them. **
Now when we talk about suicide bombings, it is a reaction by an angered group. There is a pointer for it in the Holy Quran as well. It says Allah does not approve of it that something bad is said aloud, which will disturb the others. A person who is being tortured, he should be condoled. If a country sees that they don’t have anything else to do, no other option, they are helpless, what can they do.
KPDC: Please elaborate the concept of Jihad and also why is such a negative picture of this noble concept being painted by the western media?
DIA: Whenever I discuss on this topic, I always start from this same place from where you have started. Jihad word which now seems like a curse is due to our own negligence and wrongdoings. The enemies of Islam would always obviously want to defame Islam, but even we Muslims have played a role in doing so to an extent. Jihad does not mean just war, there’s more to it than just that. “Jehd” means trying or in Urdu “koshish” and that’s where the word Jihad has been derived from. Then further on, the basic form of Jihad is against oneself, against ones conscious, fighting against wrong and doing what is right. Jihad is also done by pen, by writing against the wrong. Then if you must go to war to protect right from wrong, that too is a form of Jihad. Now if a Muslim Ruler fights wars just to expand his kingdom, riches, etc for his own benefit and calls it Jihad, obviously the word Jihad and its concept will be misused and misunderstood in the world. In the Quran, there are 14 Ayahs which explain the concept. I have even published a booklet on the concept of Jihad.
**KPDC: Please clarify the concept of “Nasikh” and “Mansookh” as mentioned in Ayah # 106 in Surah Al Baqara. **
DIA: The concepts of “Nasikh” and “Mansookh” are very complicated ones. “Nasikh” and “Mansookh” are not taken here in context with the Ayahs of Quran, rather in context with those orders which were implemented at the time of Prophet Moses. Some of the commandments which were given in the Torah were made obsolete and the ones brought in by the Prophet were accepted. The Jews objected that if we accept the Torah as the Divine Book then why this change in it. Although even in the Quran there is “Nasikh” and “Mansookh”. The Shariat of Islam has come forward through “Tabligh”.
Lets take an example. In the Quran it says, if any one of you is on the deathbed, make a will for your parents, children and other relatives to distribute your wealth. After this commandment, the Law of Inheritance was revealed. Your mother, father, children, etc., everyone had a fixed, predetermined percentage of your wealth. So after this revelation, the Ayah revealed prior to it was made “Mansookh” which means now you do not need to make “Wasiyat” since the Law of Inheritance has been revealed. But the Prophet maintained the law by allowing 1/3rd of the wealth to be kept for “wasiyat” if one wishes to. Means that if somebody wanted 1/3rd of his wealth to be distributed amongst their relatives, a charitable organization, etc. he could do so, but even that was not compulsory. But for a “Waris” he cannot make a Wasiyat.
Similarly the issue of alcoholic drinks was also there. The Quran says that although the use of alcohol has its advantages, it has disadvantages as well, but the disadvantages are more than the advantages. But it was not clearly mentioned whether it was Halal or Haram, but a lot of people understood it and gave up drinking totally. Then again it was mentioned in the Quran that when you are drunk, do not go near prayers, till the time you are back to normal and in a state of understanding. After this commandment it was clear that the use of alcohol was clearly prohibited and people condemned drinking.
KPDC: Hazrat Essa was given the ability to perform miracles, like he could raise the dead and make them alive. In fact his very birth was a miracle. What, according to the Quran is the reason why he was given this ability?
DIA: First of all let us bear in mind that to understand each and every “Hikmat” or wisdom in the Quran is neither compulsory nor possible. Now since 1,400 years there had been a group of people, which was causing a lot of mischief in the world. They called themselves Muslims but found flaws with the Religions, followed a part of Shariat, rejected another part, etc. To bring those people back on track, Hazrat Essa was given the ability to perform miracles. Now even after his teachings, his miracles, etc still if these people had doubts and caused mischief, it meant there was no way they would become true Muslims. May be that was the reason behind giving Prophet Jesus the miracles, may be there was some other reason. No person can claim for sure what exactly the reason was; Allah alone knows what no one else knows.
KPDC: Pakistan came in to being as an ideological state at around the same time when a Jew state also came in to being, an ideological state. We said Pakistan ka matlab kia, La Ilaha IllAllah. If we still had been a part of India and not been made independent, don’t you think we would have been a larger, stronger and more prominent force as Muslims of both India and current Pakistan together?
DIA: A very difficult question which needs to be given a lot of thinking. My analysis is that the Muslim league was formed as a protection of Muslims against the Hindus of that time. The Quaid was there at that time but was not the member of the Muslim League. Iqbal was there too but he was in London, so there was no way he could be a part and parcel of this party. Our leaders tried their level best to gain Hindu Muslim Unity, but it seemed almost impossible and when they could see no other way out, they decided that the only solution to this was the separation of Muslims and the formation of an ideological state for them.
The Hindus and English were of the opinion that let them be independent; it will be impossible for them to survive for more than a few days. After independence too, they tried to make a lot of hurdles in the way of Muslims. But by the Grace Of Almighty, we faced all hardships and existed as a nation. The Quaid even said at one point that if God forbid, Pakistan is not able to survive on its own, the name of Muslims will be removed from the history of India.
After so many years, things have changed. I went to India recently and realized that the Hindu mentality has by and large become more secular. In all conclusions, I would say if I would have been present at that time, I would still be in favour of the formation of Pakistan.
KPDC: A lot of people do not prefer keeping television sets at home. They think it is a hindrance in the education of their children; hence the child gets limited exposure to the world, knowledge of the world as well as religion. So what do you think, should people keep television or not?
DIA: I think in the world of today, television shows vulgarity rather than informative and educative stuff, so I don’t think not being able to watch TV would deprive the child of knowledge or exposure to the world, since there are other forms of knowledge too. They can read books. Also, the female child should be given such type of education as well which will help her in being able to teach her children better knowledge when she grows up.
KPDC: The next question is a little different from the ones been asked before. Our government had to help the American Government in the war against Afghanistan, had we not done so, we might have been attacked ourselves. What do you think; the steps that we had to take were right or were they wrong and should not have been taken.
DIA: My points of view are the same as they were on the 16th of September 2001. When the attacks were launched on the WTC, just five days after that, our President had promised the Americans that he would totally assist them in whatever way he could to fight the war against terror. On the 16th, he addressed the journalists, poets, scholars, etc. After that, individually the scholar expressed their thoughts. Some of them said that when there’s no proof against Bin Laden, how can we call him the culprit. Till this day there has been no proof against him. When my turn came, I clearly told the President that since there is no evidence against Bin Laden, it would be wrong to take any measures at the moment. I also said it would be wrong in the sense that we would be helping a non-Muslim country against a Muslim country! The benefits that we would be getting are right. But these will be temporary. May be you could be the next one after Afghanistan. The masterminds behind these attacks are not the Americans, but the Jews and their enemies are Muslims, like we all know. So I am basically of the opinion that whatever happened was wrong and is wrong.
KPDC: Next question is about divorce.
DIA: I refuse to answer any question on divorce, I think the Muftis are the ones to whom this question should be put up. I am not a Mufti.
KPDC: Being an industrialist, we have to export and import goods from Europe, USA, etc. We always talk about having good trade and investment terms with them Do you think to live up with these good terms, we should be allowed to go to Israel, and be issued visas? Why are we prohibited from being going there?
DIA: There are rules and regulations which need to be followed. Like the Quaid once said Israel is the “illegitimate child of the west”. Once even when Liaquat Ali Khan was visiting the West, he was given a lavish reception by the Jews. They then offered him a lot of benefits if he was willing to accept the existence if Israel, but he in turn refused. What is wrong and according to us doesn’t exist legally, why should we think of going there, have any kind of terms with them.
KPDC: Do you think, in accordance with the teachings of the Quran, we should go against our government, try to topple it, raise our voices against petty matters rather than solving major ones, or on the other hand support the government and be with them. What does the Quran want from us?
DIA: I think the reason why Islamic Laws and Islamic system of life has not been implemented in our country is because of the religious political parties. They seem to be more involved in politics rather than the betterment of the state and the implementation of a true Islamic state. This is the major mistake being made. As Maulana Maududi said, if Pakistan was made on an Islamic ideology, there should be Shariat laws implemented. Till that time the Jamat-e-Islami had not taken Part in any election. Now if you vote for these parties, it is not a vote to Islam, it is just a vote to one of these religious parties. They just talk about things without actually taking concrete steps. They speak against the government instead of being with them and helping them. Even if the “uniform issue” is solved, they will come up with some other issue. I am truly depressed with this behavior and attitude of the political parties with their country.
KPDC: Quran was sent as guidance to Muslims so that they would read it and understand it and take guidance from it. Although you said sometime back that the Quran is written in a difficult language and it is not possible for all people to understand it. Why?
DIA: I have been misquoted. I said that this book is very easy to understand. Anyone can understand it. From a certain aspect, yes it is difficult, you need to spend your entire life in order to understand it then you do justice to it. I have even published a book on this, in English as well as Urdu.
KPDC: Do you think that it is our responsibility to propagate the message of Islam to others if we have the knowledge? How should we go about it?
DIA: First of all, what is the responsibility of the person who wants to propagate the message of Islam? He should have complete knowledge of Arabic so that he may understand the Quran well. Translation is second hand knowledge. You are reading through the eyes of the translator. Then you should read the “tafseer” or the detailed explanation as well. When you have thorough knowledge, you may go ahead with it.
KPDC: If a person is not able to learn Arabic in his prime time, in reading the Tafseer, what would you recommend?
DIA: First and foremost, do not restrict yourself to just one Tafseer. Every person has a different point of view, and it must be read to be more knowledgeable. At least there are 3 tafseers which I think are the best. The first is the one written by Maulana Maududi. The other one is by Maulana Abul Kalam. The third is the one written by Maulana Shabbir Ahmed Usmani.
KPDC: Why will Jesus come again and will he come as a prophet this time as well?
DIA: He will not come as a Prophet this time; the last prophet to come on earth was Prophet Muhammad. He will come to give his people a punishment. When he came the first time he had come to correct his people, the people of Israel. God had given him miracles to prove himself, but his people turned their backs on him and started saying he was a magician. God put an end to that drama. He did not make Jesus PBUH suffer, he rather called his prophet back to him. Now his prophet will go back to the world and fight against the wrong and help those in distress. Each and every one of the Jews will be finished form this world. This is the reason why he will come.
He will not bring any new rules, laws or ‘Shari at’. He will put an end to the bad that is happening. He will also be accompanied by Imam Mehdi and it is said that Imam Mehdi will lead a congregation prayer and Jesus PBUH will pray behind him.
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