The Tragedy of Junaid Jamshed
By Syed Kamran Hashmi
Westfield, IN
Through a short Facebook video, former pop star Junaid Jamshed who had joined the Tableeghi Jamaat few years ago after relinquishing his singing career at its peak, has publicly apologized for his (alleged) blasphemous remarks about Hazrat Ayesha (RA), the mother of all Muslims and the youngest and the most intelligent wife of the Prophet Muhammad(PBUH). Just before this message, in another short clip that has been circulating in the social media for the last few days, the television evangelist, while discussing the nature of women and the role of Hazrat Ayesha (RA), had shared his opinions with a group of people about the opposite gender a little more casually than his usual patronizing style, to say the least.
In his apology, Junaid Jamshed looks frightened and sounds nervous, his eyes welling up with tears, his voice getting hoarse, his clasped hand appealing for forgiveness as if he had an epiphany about the future. The plea for pardon may have worked in any other crime including murder but blasphemy, nowadays, is not something that can be tackled in Pakistan without consequences. These consequences, depending on one’s social status, can range from lynching by a mob to a self-imposed exile for an indefinite period of time. The former verdict is applied to the poor and the minorities immediately with no financial, political or religious backup regardless of the evidence while the latter choice is reserved for the affluent and eminent members of the society.
Not too long ago, Dr Shaista Lodhi, the morning show host of Geo News, also had to take the latter option once she was accused of the same offense and had to leave Pakistani in urgency to avoid arrest and jail. She apologized as well, I remember, almost in the same way through a short video. Nevertheless, it does not work, not in the Islamic Republic. Similarly, after the FIR had been launched against him, it is reported that the lead singer of “ Dil Dil Pakistan” had indeed fled from Pakistan, an action that can mean an end of his career as a television program host like it ended Dr Lodhi’s career.
Once a heart throb with a Western outlook and uncommon colored eyes, he has grown a long Shenandoah beard (without a mustache) after getting impressed by the teachings of Deobandi school of thought (a Sunni sub-sect) promoted by the Tableeghi Jamaat. As he got more involved in the organization over time, he transformed into a different person; quit wearing the Western clothes altogether and preferring shalwar kameez as his attire instead; and covered his head with a Taqqiya cap or a turban permanently, all in accordance with the interpretation of Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi’s understanding of Islam and Tableeghi Jamaat.
Tableeghi Jamaat, one of the largest and most active religious organizations in the country, does not carry any political inspiration, nor does it, in any way, associate itself with terrorism which is why it has succeeded to stay away from controversies for more than six decades. Its focus had always been on following the daily rituals of Islam, offering prayers five times a day, staying in the mosques for short lectures after prayers and joining in door-to-door proselytizing campaign in the neighborhood. They would, though prefer that you travel with them outside the city for few days dedicating your life to Islam and encouraging Muslims to adhere to the basic principles of their religion.
Despite its non-political and non-violent teachings, Tableeghi Jamaat, should be considered as one of the most conservative organizations in Pakistan. Moreover, without having a single person on the leadership spot, and without having an official spokesman, the organization is extremely elusive, making it impossible to pen down its stated position on various political, judicial or social issues, a strategy that has worked well for it to avoid limelight and thus controversies. What we know about it from different sources and personal experiences - and we know very little - is that as people get more and more involved in its campaigns, their stance becomes more and more rigid towards social issues and they become more and more detached from the family. Women of their household lose their independence, the rules of their engagement with men outside their immediate families get tougher to follow, and they are forced to cover themselves from head to toe at all times. To continue to serve in their profession, although is permissible in certain situations, but they are encouraged to stay home and focus more on their culinary skills.
Joining the tableegh has lately become a fashionable trend in Pakistan too. An increasing number of the former cricketers and movie stars after retirement have taken up the responsibility to encourage other Muslims to follow the ‘right path.’ What they preach, most of the times is non-controversial that applies to every Muslim regardless of the sect, however its details always remain Deobandi whether it is their pattern to offer prayers, the books to read, the size or shape of the beard, the length of the pajamas (pants), the size of the scarf, the attire of women or their independence as an individual. And the singer of “Sanwali Saloni si mehbooba” till last week, was doing just that.
I do not want him to be tried under the blasphemy law, not because I encourage it as a rule, no way, but because I want people to get a fair chance to express their intent, apologize for their mistakes and stay with their families safe. Nevertheless, I believe Junaid Jamshed’s real crime is about his approach towards women in general, a mindset that we need to stand up against and fight and that is what we need to be discussing more as a nation.
