Source: Huffington Post
By Fiyaz Mughal, Director of Faith Matters and the Tell MAMA project
The recent murders of Shia community members in Pakistan has not drawn out the shock and horror that other recent atrocities such as Charlie Hebdodeveloped. Granted that the attack on satirists was within the bounds of Europe, though the sheer brutality and scale of killings in Pakistan has not even created half an hour of outpouring of sorrow and pain on social media. For the Shia that have been killed, there are no #JeSuisCharlie hashtags nor has there been any significant outcry by politicians in Europe.
So let us review the targeting of Shia that has taken place by the Pakistan Taleban and extremist groups in the country. Take for example the targeting in Balochistan of Shia Hazara Muslims with several thousand killed since 2008, including two bombings in Quetta in January and February 2013 that killed over 180 people. Or take the blast at the Shia mosque in Shikarpur earlier this year that killed over 40 Shia worshippers who were praying at the mosque. The Sindh province has been targeted by the extremist Jundallah group that has pledged allegiance to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and to the Islamic State.
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, over 700 Shia were killed in 2013 alone. More than 1,000 were injured in over 200 sectarian terrorist attacks in Pakistan. The scale of the targeting of this minority community is just breath-taking with attacks taking place in Quetta, Karachi, Parachinar, Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Which begs the question as to who is resourcing these attacks which are meant to create fear within Shia communities and to displace them away from their villages, towns and cities. In effect, a murderous displacement strategy is being played out in Pakistan with little or no hue and cry from Western nations.
The latest massacre against the Shia in Pakistan took place on 13 February. The Pakistani Taleban targeted a Shia mosque in Peshawar leading to the death of 20 people. The attackers used guns and grenades and a gunfight broke out outside the mosque. One of the attackers set off his explosive vest when cornered demonstrating that the killers were on a suicide mission.
The global silence on the targeting of the Shia in Pakistan is sickening. No hashtags have been circulated, no graphics calling for peace, nor have any faith leaders come together and carried out an interfaith walk which seems to be the ‘thing to do’ when a major atrocity occurs. Young people have not railed against the injustice and all that has happened is that more innocent worshippers have been murdered on the spot where they sat contemplating God.
Furthermore, not a single mosque or church has spoken out about the targeting of the Shia and only a handful of courageous civil society groups in Pakistan and Sufi groups have done so. The impression that this will give to the Shia communities in Pakistan and globally is that their lives do not matter, that they are just forgotten as numbers on the pages of newspapers. Yet, the Shia of Pakistan are one of the most vulnerable groups in the country and given their numbers and given the ideology of the Pakistan Taleban who regard them as heretics, and thereby ‘fair game’ for deadly attacks, you would think that the human rights of the Shia would be one conversation leaders of countries who pride themselves on human rights may want to raise. Sadly, no such thing apart from a long and deafening silence.
So next time you hear a political leader speak about human rights, why don’t you ask him where his voice was when Shia were being murdered in Pakistan? The Shia of Pakistan are an asset to Pakistan which should be protected at all costs. As politicians have rightly mentioned, if Jews left Europe, Europe would not be Europe any more. Well, if the Shia of Pakistan left Pakistan, Pakistan would not be Pakistan any more.
Categories: Asia, Discrimination, Extremism, Pakistan
One would hope that Saudi Arabia’s royal family is not promoting this violence. Unless they come out to deny it, they may be a suspect, won’t you think.
After writing this comment, I guess, I will not be going for Hajj any time soon.
Just try! (to go for Haj). I have survived 3 Haj journeys and 2 Umra journeys. (May Allah accept them…)
Muharram in Karbala and Durood Sharif
Advice by Hadhrat Ameerul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih V(aba) on reciting more Durood Sharif in the month of Muharram.
https://www.alislam.org/v/2469.html
An Urdu discussion program about Muharram and love of Ahl-e-Bait. Panel include Maulana Hadi Ali Chaudhary and Maulana Mirza Naseer Ahmad, hosted by Ijaz Ahmad Tahir.
https://www.alislam.org/v/2497.html
Syed-u-Shuhada Hazrat Imam Hussain (Seerat-o-Swaneh)
A presentation on the life and character of Hazrat Imam Hussain (ra) in Urdu by Muslim Television Ahmadiyya Pakistan
https://www.alislam.org/v/2616.html
کلام طاہر ( حضرت خلیفۃ المسیح الرابع ) تیری راہوں میں کیا کیا ابتلا
کلام: حضرت مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفۃ المسیح الرابع رحمہ اللہ تعالیٰ
Composed By: Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IV
http://www.alislam.org/urdu/nazm/viewnazm.php?id=86
https://www.alislam.org/multimedia/kalam-e-tahir/KT-41-Mullah.mp3
Imam Hussainhttp://www.reviewofreligions.org/2765/imam-hussainra-and-the-tragedy-of-karbala/(ra) and the Tragedy of Karbala
Karbala
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karbala
Battle of Karbala
The Battle of Karbala took place on Muharram 10, in the year 61 AH of the Islamic calendar (October 10, 680 AD) in Karbala, situated in present day Iraq.[1] The battle was between a small group of supporters and relatives of Muhammad’s grandson Hussein ibn Ali, and a much larger military detachment from the forces of Yazid I, the Umayyad caliph, to whom Hussein had refused to give an oath of allegiance. Hussein and all his supporters were killed, including Hussein’s six-month-old infant son, Ali al-Asghar ibn Husayn, with the women and children taken as prisoners. The dead are regarded as martyrs by both Sunni[8][9] and Shia Muslims, and the battle has a central place in Shia history and tradition, and has frequently been recounted in Shia Islamic literature.[10]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Karbala
Shia Islam;
Adherents of Shia Islam are called Shias or the Shi’a as a collective or Shi’i individually.[1] Shi’a is the short form of the historic phrase Shīʻatu ʻAlī (شيعة علي) meaning “followers”, “faction” or “party” of Muhammad’s son-in-law and cousin Ali, whom the Shia believe to be Muhammad’s successor in the Caliphate. Twelver Shia (Ithnā’ashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shia Islam, and the term Shia Muslim is often taken to refer to Twelvers by default. As of 2009 Shia Muslims constituted 10-13% of the world’s Muslim population[2] and 39% of the Middle East’s entire population.
Shi’i Islam is based on the Quran and the message of the Islamic prophet Muhammad attested in hadith recorded by the Shia, and certain books deemed sacred to the Shia (Nahj al-Balagha).[3][4] Shia consider Ali to have been divinely appointed as the successor to Muhammad, and as the first Imam. In the centuries after the death of Muhammad, the Shia extended this “Imami” doctrine to Muhammad’s family, the Ahl al-Bayt (“the People of the House”), and certain individuals among his descendants, known as Imams, who they believe possess special spiritual and political authority over the community, infallibility, and other divinely-ordained traits.[5] Although there are myriad Shi’i subsects, modern Shi’i Islam has been divided into three main groupings: Twelvers, Ismailis and Zaidis.[6][7][8][9]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shia_Islam
List of Shia Muslims
Scientists, mathematicians and philosophers[edit]
Mahmod Hesabi Iranian professor in physics.
Ghiyath al-Din Jamshid Kashani – world renowned mathematician and astronomer who lived during the 15th century.
Abu al-Aswad al-Du’ali – close companion of Imam Ali and grammarian. he was the first to place dots on the Arabic words and the first to write on Arabic linguistics.
Abu Zayd al-Balkhi – Persian Muslim polymath: a geographer, mathematician, physician, psychologist and scientist.
Al-Kindi – Iraqi and Arab polymath
Abu Ali Sina – Persian polymath; also known as Avicenna to the West
Al-Farabi – Muslim polymath and one of the greatest scientists and philosophers of Persia and the Islamic world in his time. He was also a cosmologist, logician, musician, psychologist and sociologist.
Abu Nasr Mansur – known for his work with the spherical sine law
Muhammad al-Idrisi – Islamic geographer, cartographer, Egyptologist – descendant of the Idrisid dynasty.
al-Biruni – polymath; regarded as the father of geodesy, the founder of Indology, the “first anthropologist” and “one of the greatest scientists of all times”.
Alhazen – Iraqi polymath; regarded as father of optics for his Book of Optics, as well as the founder of experimental psychology and experimental physics.
Khalil ibn Ahmad – Iraqi Arab philologist and linguist.
Sibawayh – linguist.
Ahmed ibn Yusuf – Iraqi Arab mathematician.
Abū Sahl al-Qūhī – Persian mathematician, physicist and astronomer.
Ibn Miskawayh – philosopher and scientist; described the process of evolution in the 10th century.
Ferdowsi – poet, author of Shahnameh the national epic of Iran
Abu Mikhnaf – Iraqi Arab Muslim historian.
Hisham Ibn Al-Kalbi – Iraqi Arab Muslim historian.
Ya’qubi – Iraqi Muslim historian and geographer.
Ahmad ibn A’zham – Iraqi Muslim historian.
Al-Masudi – Iraqi Arab historian and geographer known as the “Herodotus of the Arabs.
Ibn al-Nadim – Iraqi historian.
Abū Muhammad al-Hasan al-Hamdānī – Arab Muslim geographer, poet, grammarian, historian, and astronomer.
Ibn Wahshiyya – Nabataean Arab writer, alchemist, agriculturalist, Egyptologist and historian
Abolfadl Harawi – Iranian Muslim astronomer.
Abu-Mahmud al-Khujandi -Iranian Muslim astronomer, mathematician.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Shia_Muslims
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
I have read with keen interest the comments posted by our dear sister Shumaila Khan, its a very good introduction to the Muslim Sect Shiaism, it is based on excellent knowledge base, and lead to links for further reading in this regard, but no where in the article she has any mention of the most said situation in which this vulnerable community for attack is passing through, and what is the solution or what steps to be taken for their safety.
As I have mentioned in my earlier posts that the human life is sacred, it may be of an Ahmadi Muslim, Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, a Christen, a Sikh or even a Hindu or a Jew, no matter who, the life must be Secured at all cost. That is why in the Holy Quran, it is mentioned, who protected a single life, it amount to he has protected all the mankind and who killed a single innocent person, it amount to he has killed to all mankind, and there has mentioned of the life of the Muslim or non Muslim for that matter, what is being done to this vulnerable community is alarming and some immediate steps must be taken to save them.
On BBC a thought provoking statement was mentioned, “Some one attack my neighbor, I said I don’t care, the other day, same attack another my neighbor, I said it is not my lost and I don’t care for that, the next day same attacked on my home and there was then no one to help me” The Ahmadiyya Muslim community was targeted, no one care, other minorities were targeted, no one care, now the Shiah Muslims are targeted, we can not keep silent otherwise the next target will be some other community and it will go on and on…
We do have differences with our Shiah Muslim brothers, it does not mean to take away the right of living, their lives and property is sacred and it is upon the government to take whatever steps to safeguard their lives and property at all cost.
For to deal with the curse of terrorist, the syllabus of Madrissahs must be reviewed and wrong concept of Jihad be rectified, The Media and the Education system should play their Roll about not to take law in ones own hand, to use the authority of Allah is Shirk and the most great sin, which Allah will never forgive. All hateful literature be confiscated and hate speech must be a crime that should not be tolerated on any cost, as the Terrorist do not understand the language of reasoning, they must be dealt with heave hands, the organizations which has soft corner for the Terrorist their activities must be watched carefully and supply line and finances of the terrorist must be cut off, and whole the nation must support our Military to curb the menace of Terrorist.
Zarif Ahmad
Published on Mar 27, 2012
http://alislam.org Urdu Nazm “Tairee Rahoon Main Kiya Kiya Ibtala” written by Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh). Recited by Mansoor Rafiq Ahmed Sahib
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjdakv4JAcg
https://www.google.ca/search?q=meeran+shah+pakistan&espv=2&biw=1600&bih=799&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=TPvmVKS8IIqdygSU6YDQCg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&dpr=1
Political Map of Pakistan http://www.mapsofworld.com/pakistan/pakistan-political-map.html
Kalaam-e-Tahir
http://store.alislam.http://www.alislam.org/images/heading_Tahir.giforg/kalametahir.html
http://www.alislam.org/library/tahir.html
The Tahir Foundation
http://www.tahirfoundation.org/books/
Mirza Tahir Ahmad (Urdu: مرزا طاہراحمد) (December 18, 1928 – April 19, 2003) was Khalifatul Masih IV (i.e the fourth successor to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad) and the head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He was elected as Caliph on June 10, 1982, the day after the death of his predecessor, Mirza Nasir Ahmad.
In 1974 he was nominated as a member of the Ahmadiyya delegation which appeared before the Parliament of Pakistan to defend the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Following the Ordinance XX that was promulgated by the government of Pakistan in 1984, which rendered the Khalifatul Masih unable to perform his duties and put the very institution in jeopardy, Mirza Tahir Ahmad left Pakistan and migrated to London, England, provisionally moving the headquarters of the community to the Fazl Mosque in London.[1] As Khalifatul Masih IV, Tahir Ahmad attended the 100th Annual Jalsa Salana (annual gathering) being held in Qadian, India in 1991. It was the first time an Ahmadiyya Caliph had returned to Qadian since the partition of India in 1947, when the community relocated from India to Pakistan.
Mirza Tahir Ahmad is noted for his numerous speeches, sermons, books and “Question & Answers” sessions which he held regularly with people from around the world. During his Caliphate, the community experienced structural and financial growth on an international level, including the launch of the first Muslim satellite television network, Muslim Television Ahmadiyya, in 1994.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirza_Tahir_Ahmad
Kalam-e Tahir
http://lajnausa.net/web/node/321
This is in response to one of the above comments.If I will write it may not pass through the tight scrutiny of the moderators for whatever the reason.I really appreciate that you took pain and read all the detailed links.If you read the one of my favourite book Kalam Tahir the new edition(big size Golden Version)you will get the inspiration,and thoughtful wisdom to solve the current day,daily Karbala of Shekarpur,Imamia Mosque Peshawer,and Imam barghah Islamabad (quasarania).The new book version has the famous mulla poem in English. This book has poems that aptly and exactly describe the stale ,war stricken situation our beloved state Pakistan is going through.
Hadhrat Khallifatul Massiah V aba has already said in his
friday sermons to pray for all People in Pakistan as you do for your own blood relatives.This pain keeps a number of Ahmedis awake at night for prayers even though they have left the Pakistan long time ago.
We had so many friends from shia community.My best friend Farzana would say ,ahmedis and shia are alike,both are discriminated,beautiful and genious,generous with golden writing skill and dwell on pain,prosperity and migrate.My this faithful friend had melodious voice and was a poet ,She would sing and read the poems from “waves and thought” written by Naseem Saifee Sahib to our Professor Dr,Mukkaram Shah .Dr Mukkaram Shah was surgeon of endocrinology(Thyroid Gland Surgeon).We both got A+++ stars in our clinical rotation in the Fourth year.I gave all the 3 books of Naseef Saifee Sahib as present.She loved those books.A+++ was the top grade to get!!!!!though we were not expecting it at all.
The shia patients from Meeran Shah wold wear Surma in their eyes .It is called Ranjah in Pushtu.
In my clinical residency in, Lady Reading Hospital ,in Pesahawer in Paedatiric Infectious Diseases ward ,we had Dr .Imran.Dr,Imran was the head of Department.One DCH student Dr ,Asad(shia) was also doing the clinical rounds
with all the staff.One day earlier I had attended the wedding of Dr,Shabana(another angel friend).I could not wipeout the eyeliner from my eyes.Our old respected Professor looked at me and surprisingly said you look different today?I was just embarrassed,but Dr,Asad said “Sir the nun ranjah acholay they.”She is wearing eye liner today”Dr.Imran smiled and said”The ma la na mukh kay poay
shaway the”He even had realised before me”Dr.Asad was engaged with Dr,Tabassum another DCH(diploma in child health)student.Dr.Asad was a son of colonel and Dr.Tabassum was from Merdaan(A very literate town)about half our drive from Lady Reading Hospital.
how can a declaired not muslim go for hujj ?
If someone recites KALMA and claims that he is MUSLIM, no one has any right to declare him ‘NOT MUSLIM’…..!
What Shias are faced with in Pakistan and in the Muslim World did not come about suddenly.
Way back in 1974 when Ahmadis were declared as non-Muslims, I was in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan. One of my colleagues in the ministry, who is a Shia remarked: “This declaring Ahmadis as non-Muslim is a trailer. The real film will start with the Shias”.
Again in 1982, in Gothenburg, Sweden, the elder brother of Khalifa-tul-Masih IV, mentioned to me that declaring Ahmadis as non-Muslims in 1974 was to test the reaction, the next target are the Shia Muslims.
It indicates that the powers behind the events of what is happening in the Muslim World, had been working on this Agenda ever since the turn of 14th century Hijra, which coincided with the Islamic Revolution in Iran and which had threatened the monarchies, specially Saudi Arabia. Later events – the military Islam in Pakistan (1977-1988) the Afghan War branded as “Jihad” which sucked a generation of the Muslim World, the collapse of the USSR, the 9/11 incident, the “war on terrorism” and what has culminated in the ISIS of today, is a part of the same plan.What is noticable is the fact that it is the “Sunni” and Wahabi sect which was promoted all along in the international media. Every other sect was branded as heretic.
Now that the architects of that Plan are faced with the challenge of ISIS, they have increased their attacks on Shias, in Pakistan, in Iraq, and elsewhere in the region. “Sectarian divide” is being used as an instrument by the powers, whether it is USA, EU, Russia or China, to promote their Grand Strategies. The Muslim powers – Saudi Arabia and Iran are providing them the wedge by backing Sunnis and Shias in the proxy wars to the detriment of the Muslim World.
What can be done under these circumstances is the question?
When mankind pushes itself to a brink, the God fearing, calls on God for help. Ahmadis have been doing that since 1974, and it works. Shia Muslims would have to follow the Ahmadiyya strategy of coming under God’s protection. How that would be done will depend on the religious leadership of Shias and will not depend upon the political leadership, whether in Iran or anywhere else.
Munir Varraich
Sweden
1.The global silence on the targeting of the Shia in Pakistan is sickening.
2.In effect, a murderous displacement strategy is being played out in Pakistan with little or no hue and cry from Western nations.
On the soil of Pakistan HINDus are subjected to genocide and the whole community is almost destroyed.At that time nobody took care of Hindus. Even now Hindus in Bangaladesh are suffering the genocide tactics of Arabian Rubians, with no global condemnation. The people of Pak are reaping what is sown. They planted “hatred of Hindus” and Hatred of Ahamathis Hatred of shia ….. List would not end.
Well its about time someone told Pakistani Mullahs that No one has the right to call anyone a Non Muslim and that is the Teaching of Islam and of Prophet of Islam (PBUP).
And no where in the Holy Qur’an it says to kill a non believer or anyone who has turned away from Islam.