Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

one of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Brother Burhan,

In your last reply you wrote that you are a Muslim first and then an Indian. Well I have no right to interfere with what is inscribed on your heart. You are honest with your feelings and not a hypocrite. You have every right to open your Umbrella when it rains in Pakistan or any other Islamic Country. There is no doubt a "right to self determination" under the UN CHARTER but you must not over-look India's reservation on it. India has agreed to it with a reservation that the article on self-determination applies only to oust Colonial Regime and not otherwise. Again, as far as the UN RESOLUTIONS are concerned, let Pakistan unseat itself from POK and then things can be re-considered. Finally I wish that Religion were separated from Politics and Politics from Religion.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Religion and Politics

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: You have every right to open your Umbrella when it rains in Pakistan or any other Islamic Country.

Although we ‘smell’ sarcasm in your above statement, we will try to disregard the prejudice and ignorance with which it was written! We want people to understand that the community of muslims is One Community. The parable of this unity is aptly and beautifully portrayed by Prophet Mohamed (saws) who said: “The parable of the Community of Islam is that of the human body. If one part is hurt, the whole body feels its pain.”

Your Statement: There is no doubt a "right to self determination" under the UN CHARTER but you must not over-look India's reservation on it. India has agreed to it with a reservation that the article on self-determination applies only to oust Colonial Regime and not otherwise. Again, as far as the UN RESOLUTIONS are concerned, let Pakistan unseat itself from POK and then things can be re-considered.

There we go with the reservations and pre-condition again! It is the right of every people who are in the majority in the land to determine for themselves how they want to be ruled! This is a basic human right and is not open to any reservations and pre-conditions! Only the ones who want to usurp others rights by force and aggression, are the ones who come with these reservations; one after another! Let the people who are in the majority in a land, decide! That is only right, fair and just!

Your Statement: Finally I wish that Religion were separated from Politics and Politics from Religion.

Fair enough! This is your ‘wish’, and every person has a right to ‘wish’! Separate religion from politics if you wish, but don’t try to justify the separation of Rights and Justice from Politics!

Do the Right thing, and there will be no conflict! Do injustice, and force people to follow a way they do not approve of; and there will always be conflict! Does not matter which country you or I belong to; does not matter what religion we follow; does not matter what is the color of our skin; does not matter what language we speak…. Be fair, be honest, be right, be Just; and if any religion or any form of politics does not follow these basic principles of righteousness, then they obviously are in the wrong!

And in a world run by politicians today, these principles of being fair, honest, right and just, are only too evident!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 135: O you have believed! You be the standard-bearers of justice and witnesses for the sake of Allah; even though your justice and your evidence might be harmful to yourselves, or to your parents, or to your relatives. It does not matter whether the party concerned is rich or poor: Allah is their greater well-wisher than you. Therefore, do not follow your own desire lest you should deviate from doing justice. If you distort your evidence or refrain from the Truth, know it well that Allah is fully aware of what you do.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan