Page 11 - Pakistan Link - November 19, 2021

OPINION NOVEMBER 19, 2021 – PAKISTAN LINK – P11

n Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy No, It Wasn’t a Surrender! of khooni liberals at 300; other Pakistanis are
Islamabad good Muslims, he said. But, judging from
the present public outrage, the number of
he hottest news in town: the PTI gov- bad Muslims could actually be several thou-
ernment says it wanted force used sand times greater.
Tagainst violent Tehreek-i-Labbaik Defining liberal is hard enough, iden-
Pakistan (TLP) protesters but the Pakistan tifying khooni liberals is still harder. But,
Army did not agree. Well, broadly speaking, liberals endorse personal
perhaps that’s true — or per- freedoms and fairness to all, men and wom-
haps not. What we do know en. This large, fractious, and quarrelsome
is that much property was family respects diversity, pluralism and
destroyed and much blood belief in a democracy where the Constitu-
spilled — that of at least eight tion holds sway. Some liberals are faithfully
dead policemen. Some 8,000 religious, others are indifferent. Just as hypo-
TLP members were arrested crites and crooks among the ultra-religious
for rioting, arson and murder but the deal are plentiful, many liberals are also bad
requires dropping charges against all. Pun- people.
jab’s police force stands demoralized and in Why Imran Khan angrily blames lib-
disarray. erals for all that’s gone wrong in Pakistan
Many call it surrender. But could this is puzzling. This hopelessly fragmented
be in sly anticipation of TLP joining main- bunch of individuals has zero political rep-
stream politics and becoming PTI’s part- resentation. Its ‘candle-light mafias’ carry
ner in the next elections? PM Khan’s close no dandas, firebombs, or submachine guns
ideological affinity with TLP as a Barelvi like the ones with which TLP defended the
organization makes this an open possibility. honor of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). In fact,
In April he stressed that “TLP and the gov- liberals can barely muster a few dozens to
ernment have the same objective, but our mourn those slain by terrorists or to show
methods are different”. To underscore his solidarity with rape victims.
fondness for TLP, weeks ago Khan launched Pakistan. critics as disgruntled “bloody liberals”. This Khan despises liberals, but why? He has
the blasphemy-busting Rehmatulil Alameen A grateful TTP responded by authoriz- phrase, a 20-year-old trademark of Khan, told his story multiple times: his colorful
Authority (RAA). That TLP protests began ing Imran Khan, along with Maulana Abdul has morphed slightly under chief negotiator past in the West (he gives no details) owes
from the Rehmatulil Alameen mosque in Aziz and Maulana Samiul Haq, to negotiate of the TLP deal, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, to him having been seduced by what he calls
Lahore is coincidental? Well maybe, maybe on its behalf. Then, just weeks later, TTP who prefers “bloodthirsty liberals”. ‘liberalism’ — until faith finally came to his
not. militants played football with the severed It can’t be clearer: much as Narendra rescue. Actually, his case is typical: many
Separately: the Afghan Taliban — who heads of 23 captured Frontier Corps sol- Modi would like India cleansed of Muslims young, virile Pakistani men eventually re-
flatly refuse to disown TTP — have just bro- diers in a macabre, video-recorded football and Christians, Imran Khan wants to do turn from Western countries consumed by
kered a TTP-government ceasefire. Main- match. The APS massacre followed in De- away with Pakistan’s liberal scum, as he calls guilt and, as atonement, turn ultra-conser-
streaming could follow. For this PM Khan cember 2014. When newly-wed Imran Khan it. But who are these creatures, how many vative.
could try blaming the army again. He might, and his wife Reham Khan visited the school are there, what do they want, why does our Khan’s messianic anti-liberal zeal also
however, have a credibility problem because one month later, parents of the murdered prime minister hate them, and what does owes to his schooling at ultra-elite Aitchison
he has never condemned any Taliban atroc- children greeted them with ‘go Imran go’ victory over liberalism mean for the future College which, he says, never taught him
ity. In September 2013 — at the height of slogans. of Pakistan? Iqbal’s poetry. Indeed, he cannot quote Urdu
TTP’s suicide attacks against Pakistan’s peo- The present: all bluster of banning ter- Count me in as a fleck of liberal scum — verses of the poet who he declares to be his
ple, police, and army — Khan as PTI leader ror groups has evaporated. So have the usual anyone upset at terrorist organizations being inspiration. Quite bizarrely, he believes lib-
insisted the Nawaz government declare a accusations of TLP and TTP being Indian pampered is one. Our total strength? Some- erals cannot read or appreciate Iqbal. In fact,
ceasefire and allow TTP to open offices in proxies. PM Khan and his coterie dismiss time ago a popular preacher put the number SURRENDER, P28

DEATH FROM P11 panse, light, or greenery. They would Jahannam’s hot stones because they ments. Afterward, our journey con- the Most Gracious has promised!
but rather something that happens not find an open door through which did not purify their property by pay- tinues, and the believer is relieved And His message-bearers spoke the
between the two worlds. they could see the Garden. They do ing Zakat. of its pressure while the unbeliever truth!” (36:51–52)
In death, the body disintegrates not see bliss or torment. It is only the Some have to eat foul, pu- remains in the sentence. Everyone will rise with the
while the soul is in the interspace or soul of the dead person who is aware trid meat because they fornicated. The next part of our journey in- same identification features down
Barzakh between the two worlds. of these things and sees them. Allah, Some have bellies as big as houses, cludes the rebirth from our bodies. to our very fingerprints. “Does man
However, the two are still connect- through His wisdom, has the power and whenever one of them gets up, This method of the revival of human think that We cannot assemble his
ed, so the bliss or punishment hap- to veil this from the living. There are they are knocked down and say, “O beings is like the rebirth of a plant bones? Nay, we can put together in
pens to them. When Allah desires other creatures like the Jinn who live Allah, do not let the Hour come!” from its seeds. Plants carry seeds perfect order the very tips of his fin-
reward or punishment for the soul, with us on the earth, but we do not They are in the path of the people that have their genetic traits embed- gers.” (75:3–4)
He joins it to the body. It is depen- see or hear them. Angels were fight- of Pharaoh who come and trample ded on chromosomes. The genes on After our rebirth, our journey
dent on the will of Allah and depen- ing with the believers (at Badr), but them while they can do nothing the chromosomes carry everything continues as each of us will reach a
dent on a person’s actions. The soul the Muslims did not see or listen but scream. These are people who needed to bring the plant back to place of Assembly.
exists in more than one place at the to them. Jibril came to the Prophet devoured usury. Some of them are its shape, height, variety, chemical AND ON that Day, “We shall
same time. The Prophet (saw) saw (saw) amid the people, and they did screaming with their mouths gap- composition, and other characteris- [call forth all humankind and] leave
Musa (as) on the night of the Night not see or hear him. ing open while eating hot coals that tics. In the same way, the embryos them to surge like waves [that dash]
Journey standing in prayer in his If the soul was disobedient, a come out of their anuses. These are of human beings germinate, and the against one another, and the trum-
grave, and he also saw him in the door to the Garden opens for a short people who consumed the property new Life will start on the Day of Ris- pet [of judgment] will blow, and
sixth and seventh heavens. while for it to view the Garden of of orphans. ing. We shall gather them all together.
The souls either receive re- bliss. Then another door opens, and Some of them cut pieces from The Hadith books narrate that (18:99)
wards or punishment with the body the blast of hot air from it contin- their sides and eat their flesh. They Allah instructs Angel Israfeel to All will be waiting for the Court
in the grave. The liberated souls visit ues to reach them until the Day of are the slanderers and those about blow the horn twice. The first is to of Allah, the Court of Justice to de-
each other and discuss the affairs Rising. The earth presses in on him whom the Prophet (saw) said, “We ready every seed for germination. cide for them. The Day of Assembly
and people of the world they have and crushes to the point that the ribs saw people cutting flesh from their The water of life falls upon these is a day of fear, agony, and anxiety.
left. Allah says, “Whoever obeys Al- split apart. sides and eating it. They were told seeds in their graves. The soul comes It is a day when each of us will be
lah and the Messenger, they are with This part of our journey in that “As you used to consume the back from the barzakh to join its bi- worried about what will happen to
those whom Allah has blessed, the our graves is still a mystery and an flesh of your brother!” I asked, ological entity at this time. The sec- us personally.
prophets, the sincere, the martyrs unknown territory. Outwardly the “Who are they?” and I was told, ond blow of the trumpet helps those “At length, when there comes
and the righteous. Very excellent burial place is still and quiet while “Those of your community who seeds to germinate and produce the Deafening Noise — that Day
companions they are!” (4:69) inwardly, it contains secrets, which slandered.” Some of them have brass every person back to normal. They shall a man flee from his brother,
As the hadiths narrate, if the an ordinary person cannot perceive. nails with which they scratch their come out of their graves in a state of and his mother and his father, and
soul was a believing one, a door The Prophet said that animals could faces and chests. They are those who shock, naked. his wife and his children. Each
onto the fire opens for it to see the hear the punishment in the grave were backbiters and maligned peo- And [on that Day,] the trum- one of them, that Day, will have
disbelieving people’s status. Then while human beings cannot. “They ple’s honor. pet [of judgment] will blow, and all enough concern (of his own) to
the door closes, and another door face punishment, and the animals Part of the Night Journey’s Ha- [creatures] that are in the heavens make him indifferent to the others.”
onto the Garden opens for it to view hear it.” dith is as follows: “Some people were on the earth will fall senseless unless (80:33–37)
the comfortable resting place. This Various forms of punishment cracking open their heads with a they are such as God wills [to ex- With the heat of the sun,
door remains open until the Day of rain down on a person in the grave stone. Every time they did this, their empt]. And then it will sound again sweating, and overcrowded place,
Judgment. Some of the sweetness according to the type of wrong ac- heads rejoined to what they were – and lo! Standing [before the Seat the situation will be horrifying and
and fragrance of the Garden reaches tions they commit. There are hadiths like in the first place. It went on and of Judgment], they will begin to see chaotic.
them, and their grave becomes spa- of the Prophet (saw) about the Night on without stopping. I said, “Jibril, [the truth]! (39:68) “O humankind! Fear your
cious. The believer sleeps in peace, Journey, which contain descriptions who are they?” Jibril replied, “They And [then] the trumpet [of res- Lord! For the convulsion of the
just as if they were in one of the Gar- of the many types of punishment turned away from the prayer.” urrection] will blow – and lo! Out of Hour (of Judgement) will be a thing
den’s meadows. Their narrow grave he saw in the interspace between The grave is an embrace from their graves towards their Sustainer, terrible! The Day you shall see it, ev-
expands and stretches for the soul as the two worlds. Some are driven which neither believer nor unbe- will they all rush forth! They will say: ery mother giving suck shall forget
far as the eye can see. like cattle and forced to eat herbage liever can escape. Our souls stay in “Oh, woe unto us! Who has roused her suckling babe, and every preg-
If a living person were to open more bitter than aloes and the bit- the Barzakh and visit the cemetery us from our sleep [of death]?” [after nant female shall drop her load (un
a grave, they would not find any ex- ter fruit of Zaqqum and driven on to regularly for rewards or punish- that, they will be told:] “This is what DEATH, P23
www.PakistanLink.com