Bakhtawar Bhutto
Source: The Express Tribune
Perturbed by legislation making eating in public during Ramazan a jailable offence, Bakhtawar Bhutto took to Twitter to condemn the rule. The daughter of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto said the rule is not consistent with Islam as scores of people will die of dehydration, fearing punishment from the authorities.“People are going to die from heat stroke and dehydration with this ridiculous law. Not everyone is able. This is not Islam,” she wrote.
The Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs on Wednesday unanimously approved the Ehtram-e-Ramazan (Amendment) Bill, 2017 under which fine for the hotel owners – violating the Ehtram-e-Ramazan Ordinance, 1981 – has been increased from Rs500 to Rs25,000.
People who smoke, eat openly during Ramazan face 3-month imprisonment
People who smoke or eat in public during Ramazan can be fined Rs500 and imprisoned for up to three months. TV channels or cinema houses that violate the law will be fined Rs500,000 or more.
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Look who is talking about Islam whose grandpa himself became Mufti when was in power to declare Ahmadiyya as non Muslim.
Where in the Holy Qur’an does it say that when able bodied Muslims fast during Ramadhan the rest of the non-fasting humanity should also refrain from eating and drinking?
There are so many reasons for not fasting and not being able to fast during this holy month and it is totally unreasonable to have such an absurd law which has no backing either in the Qur’an or Sunnah of the holy prophet (pbuh).
Are the fasting Pakistani, Saudi, etc., public so weak in character and faith that it will bother them to see others eating or drinking and want to break their own fasts…?! Shame on them!!!
She has a point. But why do people have to eat/drink in public? Do it discreetly if necessary. On the other hand, my thoughts on this subject are, that only the rich and healthy should fast. Why subject the poor to additional torture when their whole life is about fasting. Not for them the end-of-day indulgence of so many, which makes the day-time fasting almost meaningless. A period of giving up luxuries and a prescribed simple diet for all, such as the Jews and Christians practice, seems far more logical.
There are countless reasons for eating and/or drinking in public. It might be that the person or people who are travelling, or somebody who for health reasons need to do so even when out, etc.
Anyway, when I fast, it does not bother me if I see somebody eating or drinking in my presence because my reasons for fasting – and I hope and pray the same applies to ALL Muslims who do so are more spiritual than anything else. And should somebody feel like eating and drinking when seeing another doing so….., well, I personally would be of the opinion their reasons for fasting are wanting..
Which brings me to your point about not insisting that the poor fast, too. Please, read the Qur’an regarding this point. Fasting is for everybody, the rich and the poor and the reasons for it are not just to make people aware of the plight of the poor, but spiritual as well. Also, when it’s Allah’s ordinance, He more than anybody else knows the REAL benefits (other than the ones mentioned), of fasting. Who are we to put limits on it?
While there are injunctions in the Qur’an regarding the people exempt from fasting it does not mention an exemption for the poor.