Dear Prudence

Sparked by Dino's interest in the matter, and his question as to whether Freedom of Expression was indeed a part of Islam, I decided to write the following:

The incident in Gojra last week finally brought about a much needed review of our Criminal Code. A layman's understanding of the law is that if someone talks ill of the Prophet or of Islam (which is usually demonstrated by "desecration" of the Qur'an), living in the Islamic Republic, they could be sentenced to death. I don't know what Articles 19 and 20 of the Constitution signify, but then again, its the Constitution, its not set in stone!

Generally, Muslims throughout the world have had little tolerance for anything said against our Prophet. My favorite Hadith [traditions or sayings of the Prophet] goes something like this:

The Prophet and his friend Abu Bakr were walking by this village when this man came up to the Prophet and started yelling, cursing and slandering him. He yelled and cursed and slandered. The Prophet just stood silently listening to everything the man said, saying nothing because he knew that his claims were unsubstantiated, as did the man making them. Some minutes later, Abu Bakr got furious and started talking back to this man. That very instant the Prophet walked away. Abu Bakr questioned this, saying that the Prophet stood around to hear the other man bad mouth him but the moment Abu Bakr responded, he walked off. The Prophet said that as long as he was silent, Angels were answering the man for me, and when Abu Bakr started speaking, the Angels left, and so did the Prophet.

I don't know what everyone else gets from that, but it teaches me that you don't have to have the last word. Its tough, but its the truth. Remember; "if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all"?

Pakistani jurisprudence, lacking all prudence, has never been the benchmark for the Shariah [Islamic Law]. Much like the ordeal with the Hadood Ordinance covering the Zina laws the blasphemy laws were included in Pakistan's Criminal Code by General Zia in the 1970's. As is the situation today, religion was used as a tool to herd the masses into agreement with the government. As is the situation today, Islam is considered esoteric.

Today, the blasphemy laws are used to take over land of Non-Muslims. A Muslim screams "desecration" and the Non-Muslim (read: Christian) will be put behind bars for a year to life, conveniently leaving his land up for grabs.

Section 295 of the Pakistan Criminal Code forbids damaging or defiling a place of worship or a sacred object. 295-A forbids outraging religious feelings; 295-B forbids defiling the Quran and 295-C forbids defaming the Prophet. Except for Section 295-C (defaming the Prophet), the provisions of 295 require that an offence be committed with intent (which my lawyer friends appreciate, is tough). Defiling the Quran merits imprisonment for life. Defaming Prophet Muhammad merits death with or without a fine, with or without intent.

We all remember protests lead throughout the Muslim world with the advent of the infamous Danish Cartoons. Contrary to Islams' call to peace and tolerance, we as Muslims took to the streets and demonstrated just what the cartoons were portraying; that we are violent people. The world knows Islam for the way it sees Muslims today behave. If all they see is violent "protests" and harming your neighbors to take their land, then they'll think that it is a part and parcel of our religion and the teachings of the Prophet. Examples of our Good Samaritan are few and far between, well, at least in the media which is quick to uncover our "extremists."

I have yet to find the passage in the Qur'an that calls me to "punish thine neighbor for views contrary to yours, oh and take his sheep while you're at it." Time and again God asks Muslims to be patient, to respect your neighbor, protect him and if you find yourself in company that is talking ill of your religion, your beliefs, leave their company and only return when they speak of other matters [See Qur'an 2:104 and 6:68]. Oh, and leave his sheep be.