Education forms a way of thinking of a person and shapes particular mindset. Therefore, it is mandatory that education must be constructive that can help in formation of balanced approach of a person. An education system that erodes human values and fleeces moderation by instilling extremism is tremendously disastrous for human society. Such knowledge by depriving the learners of accepted wisdom through breeding immoderate approach is suicidal and calamitous. Therefore, the sort of education is very imperative to make it beneficial for humankind. There are two mainstream education systems working in our country. One kind is west-inspired learning process that teaches us means of earning money without indoctrinating morality and moderation. Secular fanatics are the byproducts of these institutions. The other type is religious education that is being granted in the religious seminaries. Religious extremists emerge from these institutions. Both kinds of extremists may gain transient success by using violent means but that is doom to perish. Kwame Nkrumah (1909–1972), Ghanaian politician fittingly attributed in 1955, “I Speak of Freedom” (1961), “The gains of violence are transient, the fruits of patience are imperishable.”1
There are two aspects of human life. The first is physical facet while the other is spiritual phase of individual life. Both these aspects are interlinked. All Divine religions believe in Accountability after Resurrection. Therefore, in religious context spiritual aspect has an edge over physical aspect. Religion came for spiritual grooming and character building of human beings so that everyone can distinguish between right and wrong. Islam is a complete code of life because it covers all aspects of human beings. It is the final command of the Supreme Creator of the Universe for the welfare and climax civilization of human beings. Those well-read people who seek flaws in true Islamic teachings have without any shadow of doubt imperfections in their own personalities and are submerged in the ocean darkness and hardhearted ignorance.
It is ironic that Pakistan was created in the name of Islam but for most of the period it has been ruled by secular elements. Even Islamisation program introduced by General Ziaul Haq was just eyewash. It was set up by the authoritarian ruler with clandestine intention of strengthening his steely grip on the bridles of political power instead of making Pakistan a true castle of Islam that was promised by the father of the nation and pledged in each constitution of the country. USSR invasion of Afghanistan was a blessing in disguise for General Zia because specter of Z.A.Bhutto was haunting him even after his execution. He accepted American offer of military and economic aid in return for fighting its proxy war in Afghanistan. Several new religious seminaries were opened with funds of USA during this period. The alliance between Pakistan and Uncle Sam resulted in defeat and dismemberment of Soviet Union by the Holy Warriors that were hailed from all over the Muslim world and were brainwashed and trained in religious institutions of the country.
Soviet Union torn apart and America get out of the region due to ending of its interests but the fighters that were recruited by America were not accepted by their own countries. They settled in Afghanistan and the hilly terrain of Pakistan. The religious seminaries were not reformed subsequent to Afghan Jihad. Some of the vested interests ignited sectarian divisions in the society that resulted in unprecedented sectarian bloodbath. The slogan of ideology gained momentum that further divided the society into leftists and rightists. The elements of patience and tolerance eroded from the society. The religious institution gave power to the off-scorings of humanity and some of them misused it.
In the name of reformation of religious seminaries the west-inspired NGOs and western-minded people want to deprive Madrassas of the Islamic teachings related to Jihad that is the core of Islamic teachings. Struggling for right and against wrongs of society gyrates from this key pillar. The religious scholars have perceived this threat. Jihad is jewelry of Islam and strength of the Muslim community. The western media working under the aegis of their prejudiced gurus project Islam in unsavory light so that by propagating that Islam is a religion of extremism and terrorism, they can generate hate against it in the hearts of international community. But the numbers of people embracing Islam is swiftly mounting even in the western societies. Despite western propaganda Islam is the most rapidly spreading religion of the world.
It is an open secret that certain vested interests use Islamic teachings for their personal agendas. These greedy people generate hate among the people against other religions and flare the flame of sectarianism to fish in troubled waters. Certain seminaries indoctrinate extremism in its students that provides opportunity to the non-Muslims to label Islam a religion of extremism and fascism. Brainwashing is a procedure to form a particular opinion of the exposed subjects. The bigoted instructors use loudspeakers, audio-video cassettes and CDs and various religious books as means to form specific point of view of the learners. But ironically education in almost all religious seminaries in Pakistan is sectarian that has resulted in development of sectarian differences and eruption of clashes resulting in massive casualties. The government should strictly and regularly monitor the print and electronic sources that can be used for generating religious and sectarian hate in the society.
The number of affluent students who enter in the religious institutions is just tip of the iceberg. Majority of them belong to the lower and lower middle classes whose parents cannot afford lavish charges of private and public secular educational institutions. The religious institutions have adequate funds at their disposal that they receive as charity from diverse resources. There is no check and balance on sources and utilization of the accumulated funds. As majority of these seminaries belong to various sects therefore, the well off people of these sects ladles out money as donations. Certain countries also provide funds to certain religious institutions. For example Saudi Arabia, UAE and certain other Arab countries provide funds to the Madrassas governed by different Sunni factions. Similarly Iran provides funds to the seminaries governed by Shia sect. The government of Pakistan has no formal control on activities on these institutions. Therefore, some of these institutions transgress limits of moderation and emerge as pressure groups. The monitoring of funds religious seminaries is very important. Therefore, the government of should bring all religious institutions under the jurisdiction of the state. The state officials should ensure that the funds are not misused for terrorist activities.
Foreign students involved in violent activities should be expatriated to their native countries because no country can afford to provide its land for untoward activities that can create volatile law and order situation. The students should be thoroughly investigated before admission into any educational institutions in the country because certain extremist groups have their tentacles prevalent in various countries of the world. The involvement of religious seminaries in suicide bombings in Pakistan cannot be ruled out because Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi openly threatened for launching of suicide bombing campaign in case of operation launched against Lal Masjid. The escalation of suicide attacks subsequent to the ‘Operation Silence’ speaks volume for involvement of the people having sympathy with Red Mosque clerics.
All subjects should be taught in these institutions in addition to the religious subjects that can help in broadening knowledge base of the learners. Teaching of all subjects not only broaden vision of the learners about global affairs but also help them in relating and implementing religious subjects in the contemporary world affairs. These institutions should teach how religious knowledge can be imparted in the society to improve human values because religion came for the betterment of humanity. Teaching of diverse subjects will be very fruitful in conducting Ijtehad that is the need of time in resolving several controversial religious issues that deserve dire attention.
Intelligence agencies should induct their people in all religious institutions in order to keep an eye on their activities so that these institutions cannot be used by anti-state elements. Funding of religious seminaries should be monitored through regular audit. Syllabus of the religious institutions should be strictly scrutinized and religious and sectarian hate generating material should be confiscated. Diverse subjects relevant to contemporary world should be taught to broaden vision of the learners. A new body should be established comprising of religious scholars, senior judges and educationists having non-sectarian approach to supervise activities of the seminaries. Activities of the foreign students should be checked so that they may not be involved in violent activities in our country. The government should not permit any foreign government to flare the flames of sectarianism in our nation state. The government should not permit misuse of loudspeakers in mosques and on occasions of religious congregations. Links between heads of seminaries and foreign agencies should be traced through authenticated and efficient espionage so that the extremist elements that become tool in the hands of enemies of Pakistan can be brought to book.
_____________________________
1.Kwame Nkrumah ,I Speak of Freedom (1961),given at msn Encarta,cited at http://www.encarta.ca/quote_1861517903/V iolence_The_gains_of_violence_are_.html
About the writer:
Dr. Tanvir Hussain Bhatti is Freelance International Columnist, Poet and Author of the Books "What Plagues Pakistan?" and "Live Balls of Fire"
There are two aspects of human life. The first is physical facet while the other is spiritual phase of individual life. Both these aspects are interlinked. All Divine religions believe in Accountability after Resurrection. Therefore, in religious context spiritual aspect has an edge over physical aspect. Religion came for spiritual grooming and character building of human beings so that everyone can distinguish between right and wrong. Islam is a complete code of life because it covers all aspects of human beings. It is the final command of the Supreme Creator of the Universe for the welfare and climax civilization of human beings. Those well-read people who seek flaws in true Islamic teachings have without any shadow of doubt imperfections in their own personalities and are submerged in the ocean darkness and hardhearted ignorance.
It is ironic that Pakistan was created in the name of Islam but for most of the period it has been ruled by secular elements. Even Islamisation program introduced by General Ziaul Haq was just eyewash. It was set up by the authoritarian ruler with clandestine intention of strengthening his steely grip on the bridles of political power instead of making Pakistan a true castle of Islam that was promised by the father of the nation and pledged in each constitution of the country. USSR invasion of Afghanistan was a blessing in disguise for General Zia because specter of Z.A.Bhutto was haunting him even after his execution. He accepted American offer of military and economic aid in return for fighting its proxy war in Afghanistan. Several new religious seminaries were opened with funds of USA during this period. The alliance between Pakistan and Uncle Sam resulted in defeat and dismemberment of Soviet Union by the Holy Warriors that were hailed from all over the Muslim world and were brainwashed and trained in religious institutions of the country.
Soviet Union torn apart and America get out of the region due to ending of its interests but the fighters that were recruited by America were not accepted by their own countries. They settled in Afghanistan and the hilly terrain of Pakistan. The religious seminaries were not reformed subsequent to Afghan Jihad. Some of the vested interests ignited sectarian divisions in the society that resulted in unprecedented sectarian bloodbath. The slogan of ideology gained momentum that further divided the society into leftists and rightists. The elements of patience and tolerance eroded from the society. The religious institution gave power to the off-scorings of humanity and some of them misused it.
In the name of reformation of religious seminaries the west-inspired NGOs and western-minded people want to deprive Madrassas of the Islamic teachings related to Jihad that is the core of Islamic teachings. Struggling for right and against wrongs of society gyrates from this key pillar. The religious scholars have perceived this threat. Jihad is jewelry of Islam and strength of the Muslim community. The western media working under the aegis of their prejudiced gurus project Islam in unsavory light so that by propagating that Islam is a religion of extremism and terrorism, they can generate hate against it in the hearts of international community. But the numbers of people embracing Islam is swiftly mounting even in the western societies. Despite western propaganda Islam is the most rapidly spreading religion of the world.
It is an open secret that certain vested interests use Islamic teachings for their personal agendas. These greedy people generate hate among the people against other religions and flare the flame of sectarianism to fish in troubled waters. Certain seminaries indoctrinate extremism in its students that provides opportunity to the non-Muslims to label Islam a religion of extremism and fascism. Brainwashing is a procedure to form a particular opinion of the exposed subjects. The bigoted instructors use loudspeakers, audio-video cassettes and CDs and various religious books as means to form specific point of view of the learners. But ironically education in almost all religious seminaries in Pakistan is sectarian that has resulted in development of sectarian differences and eruption of clashes resulting in massive casualties. The government should strictly and regularly monitor the print and electronic sources that can be used for generating religious and sectarian hate in the society.
The number of affluent students who enter in the religious institutions is just tip of the iceberg. Majority of them belong to the lower and lower middle classes whose parents cannot afford lavish charges of private and public secular educational institutions. The religious institutions have adequate funds at their disposal that they receive as charity from diverse resources. There is no check and balance on sources and utilization of the accumulated funds. As majority of these seminaries belong to various sects therefore, the well off people of these sects ladles out money as donations. Certain countries also provide funds to certain religious institutions. For example Saudi Arabia, UAE and certain other Arab countries provide funds to the Madrassas governed by different Sunni factions. Similarly Iran provides funds to the seminaries governed by Shia sect. The government of Pakistan has no formal control on activities on these institutions. Therefore, some of these institutions transgress limits of moderation and emerge as pressure groups. The monitoring of funds religious seminaries is very important. Therefore, the government of should bring all religious institutions under the jurisdiction of the state. The state officials should ensure that the funds are not misused for terrorist activities.
Foreign students involved in violent activities should be expatriated to their native countries because no country can afford to provide its land for untoward activities that can create volatile law and order situation. The students should be thoroughly investigated before admission into any educational institutions in the country because certain extremist groups have their tentacles prevalent in various countries of the world. The involvement of religious seminaries in suicide bombings in Pakistan cannot be ruled out because Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi openly threatened for launching of suicide bombing campaign in case of operation launched against Lal Masjid. The escalation of suicide attacks subsequent to the ‘Operation Silence’ speaks volume for involvement of the people having sympathy with Red Mosque clerics.
All subjects should be taught in these institutions in addition to the religious subjects that can help in broadening knowledge base of the learners. Teaching of all subjects not only broaden vision of the learners about global affairs but also help them in relating and implementing religious subjects in the contemporary world affairs. These institutions should teach how religious knowledge can be imparted in the society to improve human values because religion came for the betterment of humanity. Teaching of diverse subjects will be very fruitful in conducting Ijtehad that is the need of time in resolving several controversial religious issues that deserve dire attention.
Intelligence agencies should induct their people in all religious institutions in order to keep an eye on their activities so that these institutions cannot be used by anti-state elements. Funding of religious seminaries should be monitored through regular audit. Syllabus of the religious institutions should be strictly scrutinized and religious and sectarian hate generating material should be confiscated. Diverse subjects relevant to contemporary world should be taught to broaden vision of the learners. A new body should be established comprising of religious scholars, senior judges and educationists having non-sectarian approach to supervise activities of the seminaries. Activities of the foreign students should be checked so that they may not be involved in violent activities in our country. The government should not permit any foreign government to flare the flames of sectarianism in our nation state. The government should not permit misuse of loudspeakers in mosques and on occasions of religious congregations. Links between heads of seminaries and foreign agencies should be traced through authenticated and efficient espionage so that the extremist elements that become tool in the hands of enemies of Pakistan can be brought to book.
_____________________________
1.Kwame Nkrumah ,I Speak of Freedom (1961),given at msn Encarta,cited at http://www.encarta.ca/quote_1861517903/V iolence_The_gains_of_violence_are_.html
About the writer:
Dr. Tanvir Hussain Bhatti is Freelance International Columnist, Poet and Author of the Books "What Plagues Pakistan?" and "Live Balls of Fire"
