Consensus for secularism
By Shahid Rizvi
A consensus is emerging among some sections of the population that religious intolerance coupled with political motives is the main cause of sectarian clashes and it could be cured only by breeding strong traditions of secularism in the country.
Religious intolerance is practiced by two main groups of people (1) those who staunchly uphold their belief and have blind faith and the other who takes advantage of the innocence of the first group and use it for their personal gains by misleading them in the name of religion. Both groups are really from only a section of the people.
The political motive in the game is power. Maulvi create mob followers for themselves in the name of their own version of Islam and then get respect and say with the authorities and administration. It is the first step towards the height of power and wealth. There is no exception in this phenomenon.
The maulvis take the three very conspicuous stands to mislead the mob. First, only their version of Islam is correct and God blessed. Second, they and their followers have been destined to correct the beliefs and convictions of other sects. And third, Jihad is mandatory and whoever takes part in jihad will be rewarded on the day of Judgment.
Why is this mob misled?
Because all the maulvis have jointly and collectively twisted their version of religion, presented it in such a complex manner that the common man cannot understand and therefore follow the path of truth.
Truth is always partial. There is no such thing as the whole truth. We have 72 sects. Each one has a part of the undeniable truth – while the other part is completely contradictory to others. Apart from the basic tenets, of Islam, every sect has its own version. Can the right to decide right or wrong be bestowed upon one sect? Certainly not.
The only alternative is that we do not judge each other’s beliefs. The unity of contradictory aspects of a phenomenon is a universal law. As Ghalib, the greatest Urdu poet of all time, said.
We lack a liberal education that teaches religious tolerance. Instead, we get orthodox teachings in our madrassahs. Some of them are famous for being arms and ammunition dumps.
Secularism is not anti-religion. Nor is it pro-religion. All religions are equal and all followers have equal rights. All religious places are sacred and no one should desecrate them. Everyone has the freedom to offer prayers as he may like, to enter the prayer houses, and to remain there.
But the main theme of secularism if that religious beliefs are personal matters. No one should interfere with the personal beliefs of anyone unless acting upon such beliefs is harming society. Even in that case, the act is booked under the law and the belief is not jeopardized.
Secularism provides freedom of belief and speech to everyone but does not allow forceful propagation or imposing one’s belief on other people. The law takes care of any such acts.
Secularism means the government will not interfere with people’s beliefs and places of worship. The people themselves will have to take care of the management and economic affairs of mosques, churches and temples except for archaeological purposes. No Auqaf.
All the money spent on religious affairs ought to be spent on providing education to children. The teaching of theology will be restricted to homes and mosques madrassahs. It will give a chance to the people to see the religion in its true spirit – not in contrast to other beliefs.
Secularism is an integral part of democracy. No democracy can run without keeping intact the institutions of secularism. When secularism is in danger the government loses its integrity and faces a credibility crisis.
Democracy protects secularism through law and order and secularism strengthens democracy through peace and harmony among the people.
