----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over time I have learned how the Islamist and the Islamic narrative differ from each other. The reason its very important for the Pakistani intellectual elite to not ignore the difference anymore is because the harder it gets to sift the real from the false the harder it will get for the Pakistani Muslims to claim any contributive space globally. Be it moral, economic or social.
Lets start from 'rights' as that still is and has always been a much debated and manipulated tool to validate international aid for Pakistan.
Tracing the roots of international human rights movement, it becomes quite apparent that this organised movement was a consequence of changing power structures riddled with conflict and power struggle.
Power changed its shape in the nineteenth century so did oppression. An apparent shift from absolutist forms of governance towards more sovereign democratic nation states brought in a new breed of inequalities. Multiple interpretations of sovereignty created recurring loopholes setting in motion only a less obvious form of absolutism with a facade of democracy globally.
Tariq Ramadan in his book Islam, the west and the challenges of Modernity lays bare the contradictions of the claims made by the main protagonists of Human Rights in the west and their selective morality as well as the intentional back drop of a face to face between Islam and the west whereby Islam is given a negative undemocratic face while the west a more humanistic and democratic one.
He says :
"To compare situations, one may ask what ought to be the reactions of the people of the south regarding the speeches of the powerful of this planet about "human right, democracy and freedom". What trust to put in them when they see them, for reasons of economic interest collaborate with the most ignoable, terrorist or corrupt regimes? Saying such beautiful things and then doing or allowing such dark ones................................................human rights are referred to in a selective fashion according to the objective alliances that one has with such or such a dictator..........democratic facades are supported which suffocate their people's and opposition.........humanitarian aid itself in all its forms is subject to the reality of 'strategic interest."
Never in history has ghettoisation/ marginalisation of minorities world over gained a legal status under the guise of a "terrorist threat".
Every day we read what's happening in France. After the ban on the face veil, now a ban on halal meat. The islamic are very rightly enraged at such injustice while the islamist apologists as always try to show a moderate face of Islam to the extremist west.
Irony eh?!
Coming back to the difference between the islamic and the islamist narrative. I am going to summarise the difference in a few easy points.
- The islamist narrative on human rights is just like patch work. You take a patch of what's applicable world over and enforce it on people living here, making changes in the media narratives to create need and acceptability.
- The islamic narrative. You have the guts to engage in real dialogue with different factions of the society and reach a local consensus on what's best for Pakistan not because the world is doing it but because you know Islam can do it better and benefit the world as well.
- The islamist narrative iin Pakistan is all about placating the ferocious and unreasonable ideologues of the country who have nothing else to contribute to the life of a common man but keep him worrying about the haram alcohol in the bubble gum at the local store.
-The Islamic narrative is all about holding these very ideologues along with the common man accountable for their deeds and the injustice they are responsible for. Putting it simply. Pull the pedestal from under their feet and stop revering them for what they are not.
- The islamist narrative facilitates and justifies oligarchs like our politicians and their families.
- The islamic narrative facilitates plurality and equity. It facilitates young blood and inclusivity at different structural levels.
- The islamist narrative justifies a self righteous culture of piety as being always right.
- The Islamic narrative on the other hand automatically provides space to the wrong willing to right themselves and the role of structural facilitation in providing such inclusive space.
- The islamist narrative is like a shout match. If you protest they will just shout louder.
- The islamic narrative just like in practice is always open to suggestions and innovation on principle.
I want to end with an excerpt from Tariq Ramdan's book "On super diversity" which sums up what I feel about the reality of the Islamic narrative:
"The sense of belonging cannot be decided in meeting rooms, it emerges in shared daily life, in the street, at school, in face of common challenges............ Common legislation protects us but common causes are what enable us to respect and love one another(by acting together 'for' a cause and not just 'against' a threat)"
If you feel threatened for Islam than the fear is not Islamic, its Islamist.
Saima Sher Fazal.
Comments