Saima Sher Fazal

THE COAL MINE OR THE STAR STUDDED SKY:                                                                                                                        Every deen has an innate character. The character of islam is modesty.” Al Muwatta 47.9 The mania of emancipating the Pakistan woman from the “alleged restraints “of religion and custom seems to increase with every passing day. The solution it seems, for our liberalists is quite easy. Complete denial of everything the least bit religious, be it the most logical and correct mode of behavior but since that is what religion demands, it has to be done away with! Everything which was good and simple is now orthodox and impractical. Modesty is no more considered a virtue with most of the Pakistani gentility. Modest men and women are becoming an endangered species. This fashionable disease of abhorring all that is good, simple and virtuous is spreading at such an alarming rate that even the middle and lower classes are catching i

I am not really sure that i am patriotic. I cannot love Pakistan if it ceases to exist for what i have beleived it has stood for since my childhood. Yes, the same "Pakistan ka Matlab kya?, La illaha Il Lal Lallah". The reason is obvious i am a muslim and muslims everywhere regardless of geographical boundries are one nation. We might not declare ourselves to be or we might prefer our geographical boundaries but the reality is that when a muslim is killed in Afghanistan or Palistine we all feel pain. We are like a single entity like our prophet said. Being a muslim gives us a national identity unique and boundless. Islam does not discourage patriotism as long as its healthy and does not thrive on hatred or narcissim. A recent example "sab say pehlay Pakistan" slogan made popular by the Musharraf regime has remained with us even after the General was thrown out of the country. It started with Afghanistan and now recently i read it in an answer by a learned editor o