Abrahamic religions prior to Islam also required women to wear the veil. Early Judaic references laud the veil as a symbol of esteem for Jewish women, its very purpose to prevent recognition of her features. During the Tannaitic period, a Jewish woman’s failure to cover her head was considered an offense to her modesty. The most prominent incident is that of Rebekkah who covered herself when she caught sight of Isaac before their marriage (Genesis: 24:64-65). The Virgin Mary, the most revered woman in Christianity, is customarily depicted wearing a headscarf and, incidentally, loose flowing clothing similar to a burqa. Mary’s dress was not without reason. The New Testament commands women to cover their heads out of modesty, while those who refuse face the consequence of a shaven head (1 Corinthians: 11: 5-6). With this understanding, the Vatican implemented the Code of Canon Law of 1917, mandating universal veil observance during church service, only to repeal it in 1983. Yet, to this day, even French nuns observe this clear biblical injunction. Likewise, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, a French female icon of modern era, earnestly adopted the veil after she was highly impressed with the veil of Veronica — the biblical woman who wiped Jesus’ forehead with her veil. Ironically, while other societies and religions are guilty of repudiating this noble practice, Islam is being stigmatized for maintaining tradition. As the youngest of the Abrahamic religions, Islam makes the head covering a self-imposed mandate for Muslim women as a means of protection and dignity. Like the Torah, the Quran advises Muslim women to cover themselves so they are not recognized and are not molested (33:60). However, Islam does not prescribe any punishment (e.g., shaving of head) for women who choose otherwise. Contrary to the assertion that the veil is oppressive, Muslim women from Islam’s inception proudly wore the veil and maintained a high level of authority in their respective societies. For example, Prophet Muhammad’s first wife, Khadija, was the CEO of a large and thriving trade business. Unhindered, Muhammad’s wife Ayesha taught Muhammad’s male companions after his demise, while exerting immense political influence throughout her life. According to The Worldwide Guide of Women in Leadership, most of the 250 Muslim women leaders proudly ruled from behind the veil and did so with great success. Women like the Regent Dowager Princess Syun Beka (1549-51) of Russia, De-facto Ruler Empress Nur Jahan of India (1611-28), and the Grand Khanum Regnant Toragana of the Qagans of China (1241-48) are but a few examples. The diversity these women portray additionally demonstrates that the veil is not exclusive to “Arab” culture. If the veil was truly oppressive, it is impossible that these women would have been the honored leaders of their respective societies. Indeed, Muslim women are not the only world leaders who ruled while wearing a veil. A closer look at European women rulers illustrates that up until the 16th century, many preferred lose clothing with a modest head cover, with French women as no exception. French women rulers such as Regent Dowager Queen Nanthildis (639-642), Regent Queen Dowager Clothilde, Joint Ruler Queen Alais d’Aquitaine (987-996), and Regent Queen Isabeau Baverie (1392-1419) are depicted with the allegedly oppressive Islamic style head covering. Other European empresses such as “Holder of the Royal Authority” Dowager Queen Dorothea zu Brandenburg of Denmark are proudly depicted with their face covered in the Islamic style veil. Contrary to what President Nicolas Sarkozy and the French parliament assert, the veil and burqa are not exclusively Islamic, nor oppressive, but are deeply entrenched in Christan and French tradition as symbols of pride and dignity. With their irrational veil ban, Sarkozy and French leadership, not Muslim women, are the true offenders to French cultural identity, tradition, and a woman’s dignity. Ayesha N. Rashid is a staff writer for The Muslim Sunrise, the oldest and longest-running Muslim-American periodical. Contact her at ayesha.noor@gmail.com. First appeared at: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/oped/2010/sep/28/ed-rashid28-ar-528169/

آج آپ کا کالم نوائے وقت اخبار میں پڑھنے کا اتفاق ہوا۔
 یوں تو وقت کے ساتھ ساتھ ملک میں موجود آپ جیسے دانشوروں دوستوں کی وجہ سے ملک کو کسی بیرونی دشمن کی ضرورت نہیں ہے اور آپ جیسے لوگوں کی وجہ سے اب ملکی حالات ایسے ہو گئے ہیں کہ ہم تیزی سی انارکی کی طرف بڑھ رہے ہیں اور بظاہر ایک فرقہ واریت کے ایک ایسے آتش فشاں پر بیٹھے ہیں کہ جس کا دوھواں تو بہت دن سے نکل رہا ہے اب صرف لاوا نکلنے کو ہے۔
آپ کے اس کالم میں شروع سے لے کر آخر تک جھوٹ ہی جھوٹ ہے اور وہ جھوٹ جس کو آپ  شیر مادر سمجھ کر پیتے ہیں اس کا بھر پور اظہار آپ نے اس کالم میں کیا ہے۔ جزاک اللہ

Misquoted text by Israr Bukhari

صاحب میں جواب تو ہر بات کا دینا چاہ رہا ہوں مگر شاید آپ میں اتنا حوصلہ نہ ہو فقط الفضل 31 اگست 1938 کے الفضل کا جو اقتباس آپ نے پیش کیا ہے صاحب  اس کی حقیقت صرف یہ ہے کہ حضرت مصلح موعود رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ فرما رہے ہیں کہ ایک منافق کا گمنام خط آیا ہے جو کہ  یہ ہے۔۔۔۔۔۔ اس وقت میرے سامنے الفضل کا شمارہ موجود ہے۔ اگر چاہیں تو کاپی بھیج دوں۔بلکہ اس بلاگ کا مطالعہ کریں
کیا یہ فقرہ حضرت مصلح موعود رضی اللہ تعالیٰ کا ہے۔ نہیں نہیں حضور نے صرف اور صرف ایک منافق کے خط کا اقتباس پیش کیا ہے۔ بھیا لا تقربوا الصلاۃ پر عمل مت کر الا و انتم سکاریٰ بھی پڑھو۔

Alfazl 31 August 1938

مخالفت کریں ضرور کریں
مگر جھوٹ بول کر اپنے لئے عذاب قبر اور عذاب آخرت کنفرم مت کریں-
کیا آپ سمجھتے ہیں کہ جھوٹ بول کر آپ جماعت احمدیہ کو کوئی نقصان پہنچا لیں گے۔ بھئی گذشتہ سو سوا سوسال سے آپ اور آپ کےآباؤ اجداد یہ کام کرتے چلے جارہے ہیں مگر جماعت احمدیہ نے تو تمام دنیا میں اسلام ہی پھیلایا ہے اور پھیلاتی چلی جارہی ہے۔ آپ کی یہ مذموم  کوششیں کبھی کامیاب نہ ہوں گی۔ اللہ تعالیٰ آپ کو اور آپ کے ساتھیوں کو ہدایت عطا فرمائے اور جھوٹ اور دروغ گوئی کو چھوڑ کر کسی اچھے کام کی طرف توجہ فرمائیں۔
قرآن مجید نے جھوٹے کے لئے لعنت اللہ علی الکاذبین کی وعید سنائی ہے۔

۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔یہ دجل اور فریب کے ذریعے مسلمانوں کے ایمانوں پر ڈاکہ ڈال رہے ہیں۔

JI and Maudoodi

His call came as he knelt in Prayer

Just an hour ago he had looked and smiled
at his young bride, at his newborn child
taking leave from his aging mother, one last time
he had wished them all goodbye before heading outside

His call came as he knelt in Prayer

Grenades exploded, bullets sprayed,
all this as our brothers prayed
blood, gore, carnage everywhere
yet not a single word of despair

His call came as he knelt in Prayer

The attack so sudden, devastating terror
the calm, the bravery fuelled with prayers
the resilience, the fortitude, the courage
these tales I’m sure will be told for years

His call came as he knelt in Prayer

He called his father, his mother, his wife
I’m hurt he said, I may not survive.
The phone is ringing no one answers…
Oh Allah, oh Lord please, please keep him alive!

His call came as he knelt in Prayer

Brethren seven seas away
pray as they watch in utter dismay
Their fervent midnight cries and woes
for God Almighty to punish the foes

His call came as he knelt in Prayer

Shoes all around, lying unclaimed
The house of Allah is blood stained
The shattered walls tell amazing stories
of unblemished wills and future glories

His call came as he knelt in Prayer

This is my son, I know his hand
said the mother, barely able to stand
From mine to Allah’s lap he goes
Have you ever heard of courage so grand?

His call came as he knelt in Prayer

The only brother of sisters three
the father who fought to keep the nation free
the judge, the general, the doctor was he
taken in a wicked killing spree

His call came as he knelt in Prayer

The wrinkled face smiled
as the well wishers filed
The young widow so composed
as she caressed her unborn child

His call came as he knelt in prayer

The mother weeps, the baby sleeps
the sister sighs, the wife wipes the corners of her eyes
the supplication, the tears, the heart-wrenching prayers
reserved only for the Lord of the earth and the skies

His call came as he knelt in Prayer

Farewell, farewell, our martyrs farewell!
You knelt before Him and in His name you fell
In the Gardens of Heaven you shall dwell
Paradise awaits, for you have served Him well

His call came as he knelt in Prayer

Armed with grenades, machine guns and suicide vests, Pakistani terrorists killed 86 Ahmadi worshipers in a well organized affray in Lahore on May 28th. Although terrorism has become a routine activity in Pakistan, the Lahore attacks are anomalous in nature. While other attacks are state censured, the attacks on Ahmadi Muslims are state sanctioned. Decades ago, the Government of Pakistan passed laws against Ahmadis, clerics gave verdicts on their religious status and the public completely ostracized them as Pakistanis and as human beings. The police played their part by charging Ahmadis with false cases, subjecting them to torture and demolishing their mosques. The media then contributed through inciting hate speech against them. Thus, it was about time to “eradicate all infidels from Pakistan” as an assailant involved in Lahore attacks declared.

So on May 28th, the terrorists only had to tame a few unarmed young men providing security at the mosques. An unwilling police force arrived after an hour, and with limited ammunition. The terrorists, who were confirmed a direct flight to heaven and 72 virgins, religiously fulfilled their duty. They did not betray their masters nor their government, for they are only the religious hit men furthering state sanctioned terrorism.

Despite being the recipients of state sanctioned terrorism for nearly three decades, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community comes out as one of the most productive and peaceful communities in Pakistan and the world. This community has a track record of consistently establishing peace, regardless of second class treatment. In 1974, when the Pakistani Government violated their basic human rights and declared them non-Muslims, they did not violate the laws of the country.  Rather, they accepted the decision to avoid bloodshed. In 1984, when they were denied the right to practice their religion, yet again they responded with steadfastness for the establishment of peace in Pakistan. In 1989, when the community arrived upon its golden jubilee, the Government of Pakistan denied them even this day, forbidding any form of celebration. In 2003, when the community was stricken with grief on the death of the head of their community, the clerics demanded to abjure his burial in Pakistan. Pakistani Ahmadis deprived of seeing their beloved for 19 long years were deprived once again of their chance to bid him farewell. Still, they did not protest, nor did they commit violence of any sort. They sufficed on seeing his funeral ceremony on television as he was buried in England with dignity.

While the enemies of this community carry out these atrocities under governmental acquiescence, Ahmadis always respond with dignity and honour. They struggle towards a better future for themselves and for Pakistan. The community boasts a 99% literacy rate both in men and women as compared to a 54% literacy rate in Pakistan. Of the 4 million Pakistani Ahmadis, not a single one is a burden on the Pakistani economy. Begging is unheard of in the community. Those living in Pakistan are contributing in the society through their services and those living abroad contribute in the foreign reserves of Pakistan. The community is serving as the ambassador of Pakistan all over the world. It also is the procurer of the only Nobel Laureate and the only judge of International court of Justice of Pakistani citizenship. The Ahmadiyya Community has given Pakistan a number of world renowned doctors, scientists, bankers, computer professionals, agriculturists, lawyers, military men and economists. Above all the community has a promising younger generation to serve the country. However all this has only earned them social boycott, the destruction of their mosques, imprisonment and death.

Had the Pakistani Government not resigned to the will of the religious clergy, things would have been different. The 1974 decision to mingle state with religion developed the country into an intolerant society which paved way for the 1984 legislation. Next in line was an army of religious hit men who considered it their God given duty to kill. The only way out of this purgatory is to reestablish Pakistan as a secular state per Jinnah’s vision. Or else the country will turn into a slaughtering house for there is no dearth of either religious  hit men or “infidels” in Pakistan.

http://pakteahouse.wordpress.com/2010/06/29/9096/

Here is an English translation of the 10 Urdu quotations of Maulana Maududi, founder of the Jamaat Islami, quoted above:

THE WORDS OF MAULANA MAUDUDI:

1. “The establishment and birth of Pakistan is equivalent to the birth of a beast.”

2. “Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s place is not on the throne of leadership. He deserves to face trial as a traitor.”

3. ” There were three actors in the partition of India. Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s performance proved to be most unsuccessful”.

4. “It is haraam to vote for the Muslim League.”

5. “Muhammad Ali Jinnah is the founder of fool’s paradise.” 6. “Pakistan is a fool’s paradise and an infidel state of Muslims.”

7. “Pakistan is filled with millions of robbers, thieves, murderers, adulterers and uncouth wrongdoers.”

8. “An election campaign is a race of hounds.”

9. “The Muslim League is an unrighteous and immoral party that has made our collective environment filthier than the lavatory.”

10. “The Mohajirs are deserters and cowards, who fought a national battle, but when the time came to pay the price, they took the path of escape.”(Bin Ismail, a PTH visitor)

Courtesy: Yasser Latif Hamdani, Pak Tea House

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