Political Fundamentalism - Article Example

Political Fundamentalism (Article Attached) The religion of Islam is linked with peace all round. The followers of this religion are known as Muslimsand they are spread all over the world. They believe that God exists and is invisible to the naked eye. He has brought into action each and everything on this earth and the believers are of the view that it is God that can indeed change and alter anything anywhere. Thus the religion of Islam puts a lot of emphasis on maintaining that there is one God alone and none other. Muslims detest from talking sinfully about their God and the prophets as they hold them in the highest of esteem. Their beliefs are of the utmost significance when they weigh the same in accordance with the teachings of Islam. This article has been taken from Eagle World News and it is titled Monster of Islamic Militancy is Engulfing Pakistan, penned by Sheraz Khurram Khan. He works as a Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service in Pakistan and this article is dated 19th November 2007. In this article Sheraz has pointed out the fact that within Pakistan, Islamic militancy is a problem from all angles. It just does not come to an end all said and done. It seems to be the ‘in thing within Pakistan these days. Everywhere a Pakistani goes, there is this notion that suicide bombings would happen and destruction would reign supreme at the end of the day, which is pretty true if seen in the present contexts of Pakistan. However what Sheraz feels is that this must come to an end and the thinking of the people has to change to start from the very beginning. This indeed will bring about a positive change, one that is not only for Pakistan’s betterment but also for the entire globe. Islamic militancy has done much harm to the whole world than could be estimated and it is about time these militants are taken to task and their harmful ways are brought to an end. As discussed before, the religion of Islam does not preach hatred and in-fighting within Muslims. In all essence the word ‘Islam’ means peace and tranquility. It is by no stretch of imagination an opening for fighting, wars and killings. Within this article by Sheraz, he has taken a hard line on the cleric who preaches about his own Islamic religion. He is known by the name of ‘Maulana Fazlullah’. This Maulana wants the Sharia to be enforced upon in a strict manner by the whole nation and for this he is even ready to conduct massive wars on innocent people of Pakistan. He makes them fearful that he can destroy them if the Muslims of Pakistan do not obey to his sayings and do not follow Islam as he deems fit for them. This is a classic case of a non-educated hard line cleric blowing about his own trumpet, taking a stance which is opposed by the liberal leaders of the world, one such being his own President – General (Retd.) Pervez Musharraf. This Maulana is in complete disobedience to the law of the land and goes about closing shops which sell CDs and audio cassettes. It is a fact that he has opened up his own radio station where he preaches Islam as he finds and understands it. The Pakistan Army has done everything possible to hunt down Maulana Fazlullah but to this day he remains hidden in the Northern parts of Pakistan. His close aides would never allow for revealing his secret hide-outs and this, at the end of the day is a problem that Islamic militancy is bringing with it to Pakistan, leave aside the whole world as a matter of fact. Pakistan Army has conducted several unsuccessful operations to get hold of him but to this day he remains a problem for the Army. This Maulana is of the view that men should grow beards while the minority women of this land must wear veil. Such is his illiterate ways that he does not believe in giving any sort of freedom to the minority members of the land and goes about making his own law. In essence, he is not following a religion, rather he is making one for others to follow. This is the job of a Prophet, not a man who goes about creating hatred amongst men and women the world over through his teachings, actions and behaviors. Within this article, Sheraz has touched deeply on the issues related with suicide bombing and as to how the same has destroyed the social fabric of Pakistan. He suggests that the leaders need to do a bit more than is being done at the present. The suicide bombers are ready to blow themselves up as they have been taught at Madressahs, most of which teach fundamentalism right from the very beginning of a child’s education. This does not mean that all Madressahs preach this kind of illogical education but some of them are literally playing with the future of the kids studying there as well as with the lives of the innocent souls who could fall within the traps of these suicide bombers. The writer is of the view that suicide bombing was quite an unheard thing within the past as far as Pakistan is concerned but with the changing times it has been happening more and more and playing havoc with the lives, property and peace of people. Sheraz is of the view that Islamic militancy has its related attachments are a kind of monster which are engulfing Pakistan slowly but surely. There is a need to devise certain mechanisms in place which could thwart the religious fundamentalism and boost peace and harmony amongst different religions which are present within Pakistan. In-fighting is not only the biggest issue within Pakistan but the aspect of tolerance and its missing link seems to have turned a leaf but for the negative within the lengths and breadths of Pakistan. Sheraz opines that the minorities within Pakistan would very soon move outwards of the country if the same militancy exists and this would indeed destroy the basis of Pakistan in entirety. The fundamentalists do not believe in accepting anything other than their self-conceived notions. They just want to follow what they have been told. They do not believe in using their head on the right path and believe in committing suicide attacks on the innocent people of the land. This indeed is the biggest and most heinous of crimes which could be committed in the name of humanity all said and done. The linkage of United States with Pakistan’s internal problems has also been identified in this article and Sheraz has written this within the perspective of Pakistan’s relations with the United States as a close ally in the War against Terrorism. It brings to light the notion of terrorism playing a very pivotal role within the global contexts and for the domains of this article, within the realms of Pakistan. Thus political fundamentalism seems to be no different from what Islamic militancy has brought to Pakistan which has its aftereffects on the whole Islamic Ummah, the world in general and the Muslims in particular, no matter whichever area or region of the world they reside in. The Pakistanis living in United States and United Kingdom are racially discriminated against every now and so often and this issue is brought to the surface almost on a regular basis within their very lives. Bibliography ARTICLE: Khan, Sheraz Khurram. Monster of Islamic Militancy is Engulfing Pakistan. Eagle World News, Retrieved from http://www.eagleworldnews.com/2007/11/19/monster-of-islamic-militancy-is-engulfing-pakistan/ on 16 January 2008 OTHER SOURCES: Euben, Roxanne. Enemy in the Mirror: Islamic Fundamentalism and the Limits of Modern Rationalism. Princeton University Press, 1999 Davidson, Lawrence. Islamic Fundamentalism. Greenwood Press, 1998 Marin-Guzman, Roberto. Fanaticism: A Major Obstacle in the Muslim Christian Dialogue. the Case of Twentieth Century Islamic Fundamentalism. Arab Studies Quarterly (ASQ), Vol. 25, 2003 Author Unknown. Staying Cool in Pakistan. The Wilson Quarterly, Vol. 28, Winter 2004 Word Count: 1,252 Read More