A recent fatwa from a ‘Saudi Council of Muftis’ has this advice for fellow Muslims: Do not say [or write] ‘mosque.’ Always say ‘masjid’ because mosque may mean mosquito. Another myopic case of Saudi malaria perhaps?
Certainly. But that’s not all. The grand fatwa goes on to suggest that Muslims should not write ‘Mecca’ but Makkah, because Mecca may mean ‘house of wines.’ I am serious. But then so are the Muftis. They certainly need to get a life.
But I’m not all that surprised by such fatwas that usually emanate from Saudi Arabia. While vicious reactionary literature originating in totalitarian puritanical Muslim states impact and mutate the political bearings of various religious parties and groups in Pakistan, ‘social fatwas’ like the one mentioned above also began appearing in the early 1980s to influence the more apolitical sections of Muslim societies.
Reactionary literature generated by the Saudi propaganda machine started being distributed in Pakistan from 1979 onwards, mostly in the shape of pamphlets and books.
Duly translated into Urdu, they glorify and propagate violent action (jihad) not only against non-Muslims (or infidels) but also against those Muslims who fail to follow the thorny dictates of a certain puritanical strain of the faith.
What’s more, there was nothing so clandestine about the whole process. Because along with mainstream religious parties and jihadi groups during the so-called ‘anti-Soviet Afghan jihad,’ the state of Pakistan also encouraged the unchecked proliferation of this arrogant, myopic and hate-spouting literature.
To the Pakistani state (during the ‘Afghan jihad’) such literature and propaganda were essential to introduce and expand a kind of ‘Islam’ that was historically alien to the religious ethos of Pakistan’s majority Muslim population.
It was alien because for centuries, the political and cultural dynamics of the subcontinent had been such that for survival and posterity’s sake, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and other religious groups of the region, had to adapt and tolerate each other’s religious convictions and rituals. Such a process eschewed religious Puritanism and repulsed any attempt (Hindu or Muslim) to impose a hegemonic social strain of their respective faiths.
The extreme strains in this respect remained on the fringe, both Hindu and Muslim.
Till the 1970s, extreme versions of Islam in Pakistan remained largely sidelined by the looming influence of ‘folk Islam’ – a hybrid of Sufism and indigenous Muslim rituals that had evolved during long periods of interaction between Muslims and the many faiths present in the region.
Thus, such a society – a majority of whose members were either drenched in ‘folk Islam’ while the rest were resonating with the quasi-secular and modernist version of the faith pioneered by the likes of Sir Syed Ahmed – were certainly not suitable (or willing) instruments for an all-out armed jihad against the so-called infidels.
This is where the role of Arab-funded and state-patronised puritanical madressahs and literature kicked in. As one strand of this process concentrated on indoctrinating young Pakistanis with the ways of extremist thought which glorified violence in the name of jihad, the other strand focused on proliferating certain rituals and social quarks designed to pull Pakistanis away from their historical and indigenous links to ‘folk Islam’ and the faith’s more modernist strains, deeming both to be detrimental to ‘real Islam’ (read ‘Saudi Islam’).
The ways of the first strand have continued (mainly among violent puritanical and sectarian organisations), and so has the crusade of the second strand with the help of fatwas by Saudi muftis and the vigorous evangelism of the tableeghi jamaat and of people like Zakir Naik, Farhat Hashmi and Amir Liaquat.
This strand does not propagate violent action, as such but by preaching convoluted trivia in the name of rituals and ‘correct moral behaviour,’ they have actually rendered a number of Pakistanis incapable of rationally questioning the wisdom of implementing certain archaic practices in the modern-day Pakistani setting.
What’s more, such apparently apolitical beliefs have also found many locals mentally and morally crippled when it comes to openly condemning acts of terrorism and see through the religious bias and apartheid exhibited by the majority Muslim sect in Pakistan against minority religions and opposing Islamic sects.
For example, some months ago an ‘ulema council’ in Pakistan released a fatwa saying that that suicide attacks by Muslims on Muslims are haraam.
Isn’t it only logical then to ask, why are they only haraam when the victims are Muslim? Why aren’t such attacks forbidden regarding all mankind? Are non-Muslims created by a different God?
Nadeem F. Paracha is a cultural critic and senior columnist for Dawn Newspaper and Dawn.com.
Illustration by Eefa Khalid.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
Wonderful insight:-)
Arabs constitute only 5% of the muslim population and very few can even say “Allah” or “Mohammed” the way the Arabs do. So does that make them lesser muslims ? The Arabs should stop doing this as this purification thing has simply no end.
Europe & Christianity faced bad patch around 1400 AD – called Dark Age. Islam is also facing similar difficulties around 1400 years from birth.
Europe & Christianity could overcome this phase with Renaissance, new thoughts & reducing control of Church on day to day life in general & politics in particular. Can the Muslim world overthrow the stronghold of Mullahs & progress?
Only the time will tell…
Excellent analysis put in a very simple narrative.
now this is what Islam has remained about….. we forgot all teachings of Islam and now the saudies/ mullahs will teach us to spell words… they will find a new meaning for Islam and ask us to spell it the othr way.. and so for zakat, Namaz, hajj….. why on earth they don’t use their time in thinking something good than wasting it in such fatwas??
Sir, Why do you have to blame the mullahs and the terrorists always.
What a strange question.
Whom else should one blame for violence and myopia in the name of religion? The Tellytubbies?
No, Bob the Builder.
here here =D
i wonder who Mr. KK blames for all that is happening around in PK
Am putting my penny on tellytubbies
(For all “Analytical Engines” out there)
The Spanish word for “mosquito” is mosquito and literally means “little fly”. This is a case where the English language borrowed the word directly from the Spanish.
The word for “fly” in Spanish is mosca, which is derived from the Latin musca. The diminutive suffix “-ito” is attached to it to form the word mosquito or “little fly”.
The Spanish term for “mosque” is mezquita, derived from the old Spanish mesquita. This word was most certainly derived from the Arabic word masjid, which many Arabs then and now pronounce as masgid.
In Spain during the era of Muslim rule – and this was before the time of King Ferdinand – Spanish speakers were using the word mosquito for the insect and the word mesquita for the Muslim place of worship. The two words are not related to one another in any way.
The word “mosque” was introduced into the English language in the late 14th or early 15th century from the French. It comes from the French word mosquée from the old French word mousquaie. The French, in turn, derived the word from the Italian word moschea from moscheta. The Italians got it either directly from the Arabic word masjid or from the old Spanish mesquita.
And what is your point, it still does not make the Fatawa right. why would a non-arab person care about what it is called in arabic AND who cares what a place of worship is called in NON-Arab countries. what kind of Fatawa is it, why would a person give up his/her own language and start naming thing in Arabic?
It is better to be on the safer side as far as religious things are concerned.In our zeal to translate/balance certain Islamic concepts,we may make mistakes.The Westerners will not throw you out if you stick to ‘proper’ Islamic terms.
To forbid calling a masjid, a mosque does not make sence. It means to understand the teachings of Quran , if we read in native language is haram. But reciting Quran without understanding is the only way. Saying a prayer without understang in the only legal. And Allah does not understand, if we ask for His forgiveness in our native language.
Well written and so true, I use your article to make counter arguments to the Farhat Hashmi converts in Canada, I take it as my duty not to sit quiet when they start their hate speech in all events. I hope this woman gets deported soon to Saudi Arabia , will voice my concern to our local MP. I am not willing to sit quiet anymore.
Why do we need fatwas from Sausi muftis? Pakistan’s home grown muftis are at our disposal, ready to give fatwas at moment’s notice. Lock two muftis in a room & give them a question to ponder. They will come out with three opinions. Take your pick.
NFP, you are doing a great job but I am really worried about your safety after I read a Taleban spokes-person issuing a deadly warning to those who would not be following norms set by them regarding Islam.
NFP, I must say you are doing a great job. Of course these ill minded Fatwa generating Mullahs from Saudi Arabia are dumb enough to believe that the Non-Muslims are made by another God.
A good article analyzing the mullah’s fatwa on mosque and Mecca or Makkah.
These mullahs of modern times are not fit for Islamic teachings and purpose. They are incomparable with the surroundings. They are lost in time and in fact have become redundant. Their thinking has become centuries old and rusted as they can not find appropriate words to relate the scientific inventions of the present days. They can’t interface the Islamic teaching with the modern world. The world is changing rapidly and they have become helpless and can’t guide people with spiritual guidance as they have no access to revelation.
The emerging scientific knowledge is becoming available in public which has created a barrier against mullah’s approaches. Mullah can’t compete with the development around him. He thinks that he has to do better to attract public attention and to reach out to people. He uses his speaking power which throws fires on soft targets (minorities). People with no or little knowledge like this kind of speeches and enjoy night out. He delivers speeches against other groups who do not side with him.
He announces funny fatwas to demonstrate his authority over sharia. He uses his mosque as a training institute. His followers, who have similar mental age as of mullah and knowledge, follow his instructions as a sacred task.
Unless the mullahs are educated and exposed to modern science and technology, they will behave to be grown up in a cabbage, thus destroying the peace of the country.
Mr. Paracha well done. Keep it up.
Woman are not allowed to drive vehicles and mingle with men at work in the name of Religion in Saudi. Even they require NOC from male companion to travel abroad alone. Except niqab woman can’t wear any thing. Cinema is prohibited in most of the Saudi cities and music is declared as haram. All these acts are done legally under the pretext of Religion. If these acts have been done in a place which is epicenter of the Religion and whose rulers are praised as custodians of the faith, just imagine how other people think and respect this faith?
Saudi
You touch on topics that are topical and relevant but I fear for your safety in the long run. You are unafraid to broach subjects that are considered taboo. You are the lotus in the swamp of fundamentalism.
Have you noticed that Khuda Hafiz, already has been replaced with Allah Hafiz ‘ mind boggling isn’t it ? There is a line in national anthem – sai-a – Khudai Zuljalal. Makes you wonder if we need to rewrite national anthem !!
Your comment reminds me that Iqbal wrote “Tarana e Hind” much before “Tarana-e-Milli”
Time changes many things – sad but true
Saudi Arabia is the country that has not ratified universal charter of human rights as being according to them, contrary to teaching of Islam. Rights for women and foreigners in Saudi Arabia are just ridiculous. Right to freedom of expression, assembly, vote , one can say are unknown in Saudia. Instead of fatwas on trivial matter of spellings of mosque or mecca they should have courage to question the validity of monarchy in Islam.
Mushroom growth of religious madrassahs and terrorists outfits had been funded by Saudi Arabia which made Pakistan what it is now. Saudi Arabia is not role model for other countries as far as human rights are concerned. We must strive and do every thing which may be instrumental to bring peace, tolerance and prosperity in Pakistan. No one including United States and Saudi Arabia should have right to interfere in our internal affairs. If culture of peace and tolerance returns our country has potential to compete in the race of progress and prosperity.
is it me or the Saudis have way too much time and money and too little work to do (courtesy south asian lab force)?
Btw I am just curious, is Saudi Arabia considered the primary arbitrator on all muslim matters and do non saudi muslims consider opinions of Saudi Maulvis as final?
Yes they are considered ‘more muslim’
No, wonder Osama hails from Saudi Arabia. It’s a country, by virtue of being the birth place of Prophet Mohammed, that tries to impose its culture on all over the world in the name of religion. Time for other Muslim countries to preserve the culture of pre-islamic era.
You can’t simply obliterate the history. There was history before Mohammad and beyond Saudi
Dear Pracha, (AOA)
Although I have some reservations on the articles that you have written in the past, I must say, I enjoyed this particular write up… However, here are my comments:
1- The response is enlightening more than the article.
2- There are some who raise questions which again raise questions and end up creating fitna.
3- Islam is solid and flexible at the same time. No one can claim that he/she understands Islam (it is there interpretation). The first and the last who understand and taught us about Islam and its practices is our Beloved Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).
4- I have lived in Saudi Arabia for almost 40+ years and I know that many of the practices done at home in Pakistan in the name of Islam are simply NOT Islamic. That is not to say that I have become WAHABI but living here, have always been given references to Quran and Hadiths as guidelines.
5- Even the great saints like Ali Hujwairi (Rehmat Ullah Alaih), in his great treatise “Kashful Mahjoub” is very strict on Oneness of Allah and against worshiping at MAQBARAHS as we do on his and others.
6- Most of us regard Sh. Abdul Qadir Jeelani (Rehmat Ullah Alaih) as head of the saints. But have any of us read his Friday sermons??? Believe me he was very tough on the same as Ali Hujwairi (ra).
Finally, Please educate the masses on Islam through Quran and Hadiths and Sunnah. Michael Hart and Bernard Shaw were not wrong when they said about our Prophet PBUH that, if he (PBUH) could be brought back, would have solved the whole world problem easily. I end it with our most beloved Prophet (PBUH) words that “The best of deed is the one which is performed with moderation”…
HOW MANY OF US, UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF MODERATION? How many of us understand the soul of this statement? or “Actions are only by intentions”… I leave it you and the readers to ponder upon the depth in these two short statements (ahadiths) by our Prophet PBUH. If only we could follow these two statements, our live would change FOREVER.
when you get time Rafi Sb. can you kindly explain your following point that defies my understanding:
3- Islam is solid and flexible at the same time. No one can claim that he/she understands Islam (it is there interpretation). The first and the last who understand and taught us about Islam and its practices is our Beloved Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Does it mean that we should follow Islam without understanding it. No doubt the Holy Prophet was and is the supreme teacher and has made things easy for us to understand through Ahadith and his own deeds (sunnat) but does it mean that we should not claim that we understand Islam? If we don’t claim that we understand it then who will claim it and how we will be able to pay on the message to those who are not Muslims? Thank you.
Well, that’s the whole idea in Saudi logic. Don’t understand it, just follow blindly.
Paracha please concentrate on students, reform them, unite them and arm them with modern education if you want to see progressive and prosperous Pakistan. You and like minded journalists can make difference.
Dear Nadeem,
Though I’ on vacation but still I find time to read you.
Bravo for this great great and well documented article. Once again those who love to critisize you don’t have any valid argument/reasoning and as usual, they end up in saying bla bla bla …
Your supporter for a secular Pakistan!
Goga Nalaik
Well, I did visit the link provided by NFP at the top of his blog and read the displayed page fully. The person Abdul Samad has said a very Islamic thing about Muslim’s needing to be careful while anglicizing certain Islamic concepts/names. To ever Muslim,after Allah. The name of the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) is most sacred. Yet some people anglicize it and give it an altogether different meaning. Same is the case with other things. If using ‘Mecca’ or ‘Mosque’ instead of Makkah or Masjid leads to confusion, the Saudi clerics/Ulema have every right to pass a fatwa in their capacity as guardians of knowledge. We must congratulate them on at least that. I don’t understand why we Muslims are so found of the West that we are forgetting our own principles. If some Muslims had not taken the initiative a few years ago, Muslims would still be called ‘Muhammedans’, a very derogatory and blasphemous term indeed. I feel that it has been said earlier by some earlier commentator in another blog of NFP’s that NFP regards all those who are practicing religionists as religious fanatics. Proof is his blind criticism of a person like Zakir Naik,who is quite a moderate, argues properly and respectfully, has condemned Islamic extremism, argues for greater minority/women’s rights and most importantly is well respected by Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Please realize the fact that a person who is proud of his religion and makes some public display of it doesn’t immediately turn him\her into some sort of a fanatic.
Key: I agree with NFP except for the fact that I disapprove of some of his views or the manner in which he may be presenting these. I disapprove of the clerics/Ulema except for the fact that I support some of their views and possibly the manner in which they express these.
In short I don’t believe in painting all people of a particular kind with the same brush,even if I strongly disagree with them, nor am I given to blind belief/support towards a particular faith, school of thought or a person. Therefore I have named myself Analytical Engine. May Allah show us the True Path. You are of course free to criticize me as you like, dear friends.
Analytical Engine Bhai, can I call you Al-Analytical-wal-Engine?
Sounds more Saudi.
The word ‘mosque’ never reminded me of mosquito’s. Now it will, unfortunately. Somewhat like in the story of a crazy disciple who insists that he gets a mantra for instant salvation, and the sage then gives it, with a rider that the former should not remember a monkey while chanting the mantra. You know what must have happened then. We live in unfortunate times.
The word mosque didnt remind me mosquito even after reading the article. After Rajeev’s comments it will atleast for a couple of days.. Sad!
Correct! I don’t recall that the word mosque reminded me of mosquitoes,but now it will.lets see whats next.
Ranjeev!!! this word mosque will now remind all of us of mosquitoes….never came to me before…this is how the mullahs spread hatred among people through their senseless fatwas…….
I do not understand what this argument is about?? If it is about the word Mezquita or Mosque then there is a story that the Spanish at the time of the Crusades used the the phrase.. “swatting Muslims like mosquitoes” hence the word Mosque/Mezquita was derived from Mosquito. This perhaps be investigated before having a go at the Saudi Mufti. There is also something about the neck tie’s association with the crusades as well. However the issue here is the form of Islam that we are practicing in Pakistan and the conflict that exists between the various sects. We must not forget that the basic message of Islam is to be a GOOD HUMAN BEING and whatever little path we may take we must not falter from this basic message.
Otherwise everything else we do is more or less futile. We must also not overlook the fact that local culture and customs has great deal of influence on the way we interpret religion. We can strive to be GOOD MUSLIMS all our lives and that is the best any human being can do and certainly kindness, tolerance and respect for fellow men and women comes at the top. Why are we even entering this discussion about Saudi Brand of Islam!!! let alone idolizing one or another form of Islam… THERE IS ONLY ONE FORM OF ISLAM and we all know what that is. If this is what is the root cause of what trouble in Pakistan then PLEASE pull yourselves together listen to what Quaid e Azam said FAITH DISCIPLINE UNITY… He helped us achieve this beautiful country called Pakistan…and we are not doing any justice to ourselves by all this violence,in the name of sectarianism… Be a good MUSLIM & a GOOD PAKISTANI. Look into your souls where you will find ALLAH and pray every nano second that HE should lead you to the path of peace within your self and with those around you. We cannot change history but we can make history and I believe that Pakistanis have it in them to rise above all these troubles and make this country the envy of the world.
And we woke up!!! hundreds of years later to fix an issue that no body had even heard of..Next time try fatwa against poverty and unemployment.
nadeem all i want to know is why do you restrict yourself to the english-literate population that can access the blogsphere in Pakistan. you need to write in Urdu too- or atleast translate your works in urdu so that a wider audience could benefit from your writings
Kumail,
Translation of ‘spiritual malaria’ in Urdu is
‘Rohani malaria’
Which look odd.
How would you translate it to give you same meaning as reflects in English?
Excellent write-up Nadeeem…Keep it up the good work.I think Pakistan desperately needs people like you, specially in today’s day and age.Kudos to NFP and the Dawn….Regards from an Indian.
Great article, keep up the good work. Pakistan is for Pakistanis not for Muftis of Saudis, thanks for article
Since birth of Pakistan 63 years back, our leaders had nothing to give to poor masses in terms of good education, good judiciary, good governance and liberate them from the bondage of Zamindars and sardars, slowly and steadily religous leadership filled the gap.If one does not get pleasent life in this world there is plenty in the life here after, quickly so through Jihad. If this land remains barren of real, good selfless and sacrificing leadership i am sure our problems will multiply. Army rule as well democracy has disappoited. No hope from civil socity who is responsible for electing corrupt and incompetent assemly members. last hope for any country is students community, which has been contaminated by religous idealogy and ethnic mind set.
I have read a lot of NFP articles and I tend to agree with a lot of what he has to say but what makes me lose it is the sheer monotony in his writings. If you guys want to save time here is a quick guide:
Event (politics, terrorism, social norms/ethics, personal experience or observation) —-> Roots (80′s Afghan War + Zia-ul-Haq regime + import of Saudi Wahabi ideology) —-> Results (religious dogma + intolerance + terrorism + undermining of ‘traditional’ or ‘sufi’ Islam) —-> Contention (rejection of dogma and this new strain of Islam will solve our problems).
I am quite sure that I have just summarized more that 80% of NFP blogs at Dawn.
i have no problems with that. it can be 180% and i’ll still continue to read him. kindly care more about the monotony of suicide attacks by fanatics in this country.
totally agree.Long Live NFP
Dear Mr Nadeem,
I can only say ” may god bless gen zia ul haq for his relentless
effort to destroy Pakistan from with in”.
I am sure that if Mr Bhutto was alive or in power this could not have happened and we would be a peaceful place where one can pray and where the international cricket teams could
come play with out the fear of getting blown up by the super Muslims. That’s why we should hate dictators.
I didnt expect NFP to write such an article.
Always most of his thoughts that he expresses in the articles are always having something in it. But this one wasn’t upto his standards. Saudis simply want the word Mosque to be replaced by Masjid because a the word MOSQUE has nothing to do with Islamic culture and its meaning can vary from the true meaning. Now, it is their duty just like everyone else to promote their own culture.
Kindly criticise more on the happenings of Pakistan!
arshad, the article is not only about mosquoes and mosquitos. nfp is just using this event to make a valid point. i.e. how saudi propaganda has played havoc with pakistans indegenous religious set-up.
Isn’t it biggest joke that” Sufi Islam” is a very tolerant version when this same version has been used to oppress people especially by feudal lord
Agree with you.