I did not want to write this post. It is a controversial topic and in real life I abhor confrontation, but I cannot stop thinking about it. I decided to make istikhara and so here we are, InshAllah after I get all my thoughts out I can have a little peace of mind.
The murder of Salman Taseer disgusts me, and the praise showered on his killer makes me ashamed for our Ummah. Malik Mumtaz Qadri is a murderer, and yet he was showered with rose petals.
I was reading a couple of hadith this morning-
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet(SAWS) said, "The signs of a hypocrite are three:
1. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.
2. Whenever he promises, he always breaks it (his promise ).
3. If you trust him, he proves to be dishonest. (If you keep something as a trust with him, he will not return it.)"
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr:
The Prophet(SAWS) said, "Whoever has the following four (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and whoever has one of the following four characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless and until he gives it up.
1. Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays.
2. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.
3. Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous.
4. Whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner."
(reference here)
Malik Qadri was given a trust, he was responsible for protecting Salman Taseer and instead of following his responsibility he betrayed the trust. He murdered a man that had not broken any laws, had not blasphemed in anyway. Salman Taseer criticized the laws of Pakistan, he did not insult the Prophet(saws), does he not have the right to speak up against what he sees as wrong?
There is a hadith that says-
It is narrated on the authority of Tariq b. Shihab: It was Marwan who initiated (the practice) of delivering khutbah (address) before the prayer on the 'Id day. A man stood up and said: Prayer should precede khutbah. He (Marwan) remarked, This (practice) has been done away with. Upon this Abu Sa'id remarked: This man has performed (his duty) laid on him. I heard the Messenger of Allah as saying: He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of faith.(bolding mine)
reference here
Was this not what Salman Taseer was doing? He saw an injustice and was trying to stop it.
The more I read of Asia Bibi the more I think that the charges against her are indeed false, or at the very most she was provoked to the point where she would utter a blasphemy. If she was provoked shouldn't the women who were tormenting her and ridiculing her for being Christian also be punished? They refused to drink water after she had drunk from the communal bucket, saying it was "unclean".
Part of Pakistan's Criminal Code states-
"§ 298 states: Whoever, with the deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person, utters any word or makes any sound in the hearing of that person or makes any gesture in the sight of that person or places any object in the sight of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both. "
(reference here)
This does not seem to apply to just Islam, but to any religion. Anyone who deliberately insults/defames another persons religion can be punished. So where is the punishment of those who provoked Asia Bibi?
Usama b. Zaid reported: While we were with the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him), one of his daughters sent to him (the Messenger) to call him and inform him that her child or her son was dying. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) told the messenger to go back and tell her that what Allah had taken belonged to Him, and to him belonged what He granted; and He has an appointed time for everything. So you (the messenger) order her to show endurance and seek reward from Allah. The messenger came back and said: She adjures him to come to her. He got up to go accompanied by Sa'd b. 'Ubada, Mu'adh b. Jabal, and I also went along with them. The child was lifted to him and his soul was feeling as restless as if it was in an old (waterskin). His (Prophet's) eyes welled up with tears. Sa'd said: What is this, Messenger of Allah? He replied: This is compassion which Allah has placed in the hearts of His servants, and Allah shows compassion only to those of His servants who are compassionate.(bolding mine)
(reference)
Where is our compassion? How can we expect mercy from Allah(swt) when we show no mercy to others?
