You happy now Ma’m!!!

I confess- proclaim my ignorance in this forum- that I had not heard the name Samar MinaLLAH before this Monday. My general knowledge is quite week especially about people. Anyway, the name was mentioned by Kashif bhai in a message citing a probable connection between this person and the Swat Flogging video. I googled the name expecting a “brother” of the lawyer MinaLLAH, but it turned out to be the sister. By the way, this preamble is just to show my ignorance and in no way meant to disrespect the lady.

In her recent rebuttal of news of the video being fake, Ms MinaLLAH doesn’t speak clearly how she got hold of the video. All I could gather was that she found it on the web or through a cell phone. She’s furious nonetheless, that despite the Taliban accepting the responsibility of the incident, people still believe the video was fake. I say, for the sake of argument, let’s suppose the video was indeed genuine. Let’s suppose this punishment was carried out under the aegis of the Taliban and that too after the peace deal was signed.

My simple question is… SO WHAT???

That was a very crucial time for the very fragile peace deal. Both sides were courting each other with extreme suspicion. The Taliban weren’t sure if the government was willing to implement the peace deal, the government was facing immense criticism from the west and the secular parties for signing the peace deal. It was such fragile time, such critical. Just as a day old baby in an incubator. And then this video got leaked.

What followed is useless to tell. Operation by the army, displacement of millions within their own country (originating the pathetically hypocritical euphemism: IDPs), death of hundreds on both side and thousands of civilians (another euphemism: Collateral damage)… I just wish if someone could say: look what you’ve done, silly girl!!!

Ms MinaLLAH vows she’ll continue to work for women’s rights in the country, which is a bad bad sign! I seek refuge with ALLAH (swt) for any calamity that brings.

At this point, let’s see what the Quran says in cases like this.

مومنو! اگر کوئی بدکردار تمہارے پاس کوئی خبر لے کر آئے تو خوب تحقیق کرلیا کرو (مبادا) کہ کسی قوم کو نادانی سے نقصان پہنچا دو۔ پھر تم کو اپنے کئے پر نادم ہونا پڑے

O ye who believe! If an evil-liver bring you tidings, verify it, lest ye smite some folk in ignorance and afterward repent of what ye did. (Alhujurat:6)

Here of course, the gauge for a person’s character is Islam and not some arbitrary measure set by any Tom, Dick or Harry. It categorically says, “verify”, and just doesn’t stop there, mentions what may happen if it’s not verified.

Then, what if a person has a big, or in commercial terms, breaking news!

اور جب ان کے پاس امن یا خوف کی کوئی خبر پہنچتی ہے تو اس کو مشہور کردیتے ہیں اور اگر اس کو پیغمبر اور اپنے سرداروں کے پاس پہنچاتے تو تحقیق کرنے والے اس کی تحقیق کر لیتے اور اگر تم پر خدا کا فضل اور اس کی مہربانی نہ ہوتی تو چند اشخاص کے سوا سب شیطان کے پیرو ہوجاتے

And if any tidings, whether of safety or fear, come unto them, they noise it abroad, whereas if they had referred it to the messenger and to such of them as are in authority, those among them who are able to think out the matter would have known it. If it had not been for the grace of Allah upon you and His mercy ye would have followed Satan, save a few (of you). (AnNisa: 83)

Such seemingly simple words, such profound implications! If only we look into The Book. If only we turn to The Guidance. We’d have no problems.

Part of a responsible person’s responsibilities is to know when to “not” act. When wait and watch is better than jumping the gun. I just can’t stop wondering how these western values have corrupted everything good in us. Western culture tells every person his or her rights thinking it’s good they’re aware, but it creates chaos. On the contrary, if every person is told his or her duty, society is generally at peace. We can only wonder what could have happened if only the CEO of Ethnomedia had stayed quite, or at best handed over the proof to the authorities. On the contrary it was on the wire even before it could reach the authorities, who could only react to immense pressure from the media, NGOs and the American masters. What could have happened if the peace deal was successful! Sanity may have prevailed, may be, just may be. It was one case when benefit of doubt should have gone to the Talibans. Must have! Look what’s happened now, we’re into war with ourselves, you happy now Ma’m?

They claim Swat is at peace now. May be it is, but to many, it’s as much at peace as a graveyard is!