M.S. Reza
Taslima Nasrin violated the civilized norm of a democratic society. In
democratic society there are some rules and regulations. People in the
society must live up with these rules and regulations. Violation of these
rules endanger the foundation of a society. Democratic society must have
freedom of speech. But every citizen in the society must remember that
freedom of speech should not become hate towards certain faith, religion or
culture. When freedom of speech turned into hate, bigotry or racism then
democratic institution of the society which is responsible for up holding
the democratic values must stop it. I firmly believe in freedom of speech.
But at the same time I also believe a person like Taslima, a hate monger
bigot has no place in the democratic society.
Recently, David Richards, staff writer of Washington Post published a
interview with Taslima Nasrin under the headline “Poet and Pariah.” When
the issue of Islam and Muslim came, Taslima answered:
“My mother thinks there are good Muslims and bad Muslims,” she says now.
“But I don?t think that. If you follow everything in the Koran properly,
you cannot be good. In the Koran, it is written that you should beat your
wife, you can marry four times and you should hate Christian or Jews or
Hindus – whoever is not Muslim. If anyone rejects Islam, you should kill
them. If people follow such beliefs, how can they be good? you cannot be
good with all that hatred. If Muslims are good, it is their conscience that
makes them good. Not the Koran.” *
About year and half ago when Taslima visited Canada, friend of mine who is
in news paper business asked Taslima about reading Quran. Taslima?s
answered was she never read Quran in her life. It is kind of strange that a
person never read Quran but she is telling all those things about Quran. I
think an educated mind always investigate the subject before he or she says
or writes something about it. Well, after all she is a world famous poet
and novelist ! She must have some different kind of attitude towards
investigation of her subject! I personally went through some her writings
and asked myself what made her famous. Was it her intellectual literary
capacity or anti-Islamic views? I must say regarding her writings, she has
no literary capacity to go even closer to many poets and novelists in
Bangladesh. Unfortunately, those poets and novelists are not famous but
Taslima known around the world. Her hatred towards Islam made her famous.
There is no doubt about that. At the same time Western minds who are
genetically (Crusader?s gene) anti-Islamic picked her up and made her
famous. This is not a new phenomenon. Since the beginning of Islam, West
always play this kind of ploy to defame Islam. From beginning of the
Christian Crusade to the contemporary time, Western attitude toward Islam
did not change a bit. After the old Soviet Empire collapsed many so called
Western intellectual minds specially the news media makes career out of
demonizing Islam and Muslims. Unfortunately, Taslima became a playing toy
of anti-Islamic bigots. Her unconscious mind just became another victim of
the West.
I must investigate Taslima?s complained about Quran. Lets take a look at
Quran and Hadith about Christian, Jew and Women:
“Let there be no compulsion in religion: truth stand out clear from error..”
(Quran 2:256)
“Lo! those who believe, and those who are Jews, and Christians, and
Sabaeans - whoever believe in Allah and the last day and do right-surely
their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them
neither shall they grieve.” (Quran 2:62)
“One who kills a non-Muslim whose protection is pledged, will never smell
the fragrance of Jannah(Heaven).” (Bukhari: Ibn Umar)
“The believers, men and women, are protectors, one of another: they enjoin
what is just and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers,
practice regular charity, and obey Allah and his messenger. On them will
Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise.” (Quran 9:71)
“If you fear a breach between a man and his wife, appoint an arbiter from
his people and another from hers. If they wish to be reconciled, Allah will
bring them together again. Allah is Knowing, Wise.” (Quran 4:35)
“If a women fears ill-treatment or desertion on the part of her husband, it
shall be no offense for them to seek a mutual agreement, for agreement is
best. Man is prone to avarice. But if you do what right and guard
yourselves against evil, know then that Allah is cognizant of all what you
do.” (Quran 4:128)
" If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans,
marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if you fear that you
shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one…" ( Quran
4:3)
“The most perfect in faith among the believers are those who posses the
best morals, and the best among you are those who are kindest to their
wives.” (Trimidhi: Abu Hurayrah)
“O people! to you a right belongs with respect to your women and to your
women a right with respect to you.”
“Do treat your women well and be kind to them, for they are your partners
and committed helpers.”
Farewell speech of Prophet Muhammad ( Peace be upon Him).
Demonizing Islam is an old Western attitude. Unfortunately, many so called
Muslims(?) also joined with those Western enlightened bigots. But does it
really works? In reality people who wants to know about Islam they go to
the sources of Islam - Quran and Hadith. Demonizing Islam by Western media
did not stop the spread of Islam. If some one visit a mosque in the United
States he or she will definitely finds many new converts to Islam. These
are American born people. Once they used to have different faith, now they
are Muslims. Western medias lies about Islam did not stop them to find the
light of Islam. “They seek to extinguish the light of Allah with their
mouths; but Allah will perfect His light, much as the unbelievers may
dislike it.” (Quran 61:8)
I hope and pray that one day Taslima will also find the light of Islam. God
is most merciful and most gracious.
- Washington Post - Internet Edition
Page C01, Tuesday, July 7, 1998