Dailytimes: Syed Kamran Hashmi: These politically motivated religious columns yield benefits to the author socially and reward the politician in the polls
He starts his essay with a Quranic verse or an authentic Sahi Hadees. The subject matter is carefully chosen; it is non-controversial and targets a general audience. The column therefore, strikes the religious sentiments of the people and that helps to set up its ‘divine’ agenda. After the quotation, the author generally pays tribute to a relatively well known and diligently selected religious personality. He expounds on the achievements of the legend, unfolds his distinguishing characteristics and identifies his services for the propagation of Islam. Sometimes the writer describes an incident from Islamic history, provides the background of the story, emphasises its religious significance and then draws the moral conclusion from it. This combination of the Quranic verse, the Sahi Hadees, the legendary figure and the historic incident is very powerful. It stirs up our emotions; revitalises our dedication to Islam and rejuvenates our devotion to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Once our emotions have been aligned with the agenda and our unconscious mind is focused on Islam, the essay abruptly takes a U-turn; it leaves the topic of history and enters the present situation in Pakistan. The author then comments on the plight of ordinary Pakistanis and criticises the current political leadership for their incompetence, dishonesty and corruption. In the end, he endorses one of the political parties, describes the spirituality of its leadership and discusses his past successful endeavours. He finishes the article with the same verse as he used in the beginning of the essay.
These politically motivated religious columns yield benefits to the author socially and reward the politician in the polls. On the one hand, it is the author’s subtle self-proclamation as a religious authority; it is a reflection of self-righteousness and an announcement of personal rectitude. On the other, these articles glamourise the politician, anoint him with divine approval, establish his connection with our glorious past and entail him with a possible role in the renaissance of Islam. Obviously, it is carried out in the name of God, considered conscientious by the author and regarded as angelic by the reader. But in reality, this practice is very dangerous because the author tactfully links our passion for Islam to one of the current political leaderships in the country.
Categories: Asia, Human Rights, Human values, Pakistan, Separation of Church and State