Is too much attention to Islam hindering development in Pak?

[fat_spartan]

@khoji

I would again like to say that it is not Islam that is the problem. It is our religious leaders, and their wrong priorities which is at the heart of the problem. It is the ignorance of these leaders which drags people towards backwardness.
So Pakistan needs to take time-out from these leaders, and develop and educate itself. In other words, we need to raise education of our religious leaders beyond religious studies. Only then they can become competent and be able to make enlightened decisions.

Otherwise Talibanic fanatics will continue to own Islam.

I don’t think religion has anything at all to do with it. It’s not practicing of deen that prevents one from education. It’s not practicing deen that prevents one from being at the top in your profession. I’ve seen people who pray, fast and are particular about all their deeni duties and yet are still at the top even in terms of duniya. Maybe somewhere there isn’t enough emphasis on excelling in education or your profession, but practicing/being concerned about deen isn’t a significant factor in it. For people who don’t practice deen, there are all kinds of idle passtimes that people are into.

@khoji

I heard a story one time about a Japanese who visited Pakistan. At the time of his departure he was asked by a reporter what he thinks about prospects of Pakistan’s economic development. The Japanese shook his head and said that he doesn’t think Pakistan has any chance of development. Because people in Pakistan are so much concerned about their after-life that they don’t care at all about their dilapidated life in this present life.

I don’t think this is true at all. When I went to Pakistan, I saw that the majority of the people don’t even make salaat. Even when their shop is just in front of the masjid and they hear azan and all. On the other hand, in Canada where I live, people will travel 1-2 km or even more to make their salaat in the masjid. Even for Fajr, we have people coming regularly who need to drive 4-5km to get here. That doesn’t stop anyone from doing well in their profession.

@khoji

How come?
I never said that Islam is the problem. It is our attitude of looking everything from religious eyes of madressah-teachers that is the problem.

Marx wanted to abolish religion. He called religion “opium of the masses”. I wouldn’t want to abolish religion, of course. But I sort of agree with him that religion CAN be used to opiate the masses. Like in Pakistan.

It is unfortunate that our people have confined religion to some rituals and segregation of sexes alone. Islam is a lot more than just that. Islam’s purpose was to liberate and develop people. Thus things like good governance, education, democracy, human rights, discipline, honesty; are as much Islamic as namaz and roza.
But how many times have we heard these words in sermons in mosques?

There is one tablighi jama’at whose only purpose is to make people perform namaz on time. That’s what they talk all the time. I have not heard any tablighi talking about education or doing our daily jobs with full honesty. Never.

The TJs are making an effort to bring deen back their own lives and to encourage others to do the same. So obviously their main focus isn’t going to be about education, economy or any of those things during their main programs. Just like you wouldn’t expect a professor in a university to tell you to make your 5 times salaat, especially during their lecture.

Although from what I’ve seen here, TJ’s do encourage everyone to do well in school, and they do talk about being honest in your work. In my masjid, they even take out their own time to tutor the youngsters who spend time with them. Most of them here are university educated or a on their way to being.