In a society where speaking truth falls in the category of infidelity or blasphemy, every truth there is labeled as “hatred”. Thus no one hears and understands truth. However, by spreading false hatred, one easily downplays the truth. Societies which are economically backward, Religion are often given a political color there to make it easier for the powerful to oppress the weak.
Freedom of speech is simply the trustee of free-thinking people. For which speaking the truth, understanding and listening is of most importance. In a society like ours, when influential individuals make their lies so common that every answer to questioning them comes from “malice”, Then, in that society, a thinking mind would only be labeled as a traitor or infidel. The society will call him a fool and strangle him, or a group based on the philosophy of hatred will eventually kill him.
The definition of hate speech is contested and controversial, especially in relation to trampling on free speech. What is important is to consider the context of each society’s dynamics, and observe the dangers different types of speech can pose to be able to draw lines between hate speech and free speech. However, in our context, the difficulty that arises is the litmus test of how effective the rule of law is, and how much impunity those indulging in hate speech are able to be protected by.
It angers me that a religion best understood through study of scripture is used as collateral by people who do not reference any ayat or hadith when preaching and imposing their version of Islam. Instead, they leave the bewildered, terrified awaam more confused, passing fatwas, spreading hatred left and right without verifying where Islam and their personal opinions diverge.
Mostly believers, find it hard to distinguish between Islamic laws and statements made by people that may have no religious base. We live in a society where women do not understand that they have the right to inherit property or ask for divorce in an unhappy marriage, because our religious leaders may say otherwise. They back it up by calling their opinion the will of Islam.
Worst of all, we read through our Arabic holy scripture without learning the language or referencing the translations. We complete our Quran, often without comprehending what any of the words we pronounced faithfully actually meant, not only breeding but encouraging further ignorance.
We do not consider ourselves qualified enough to investigate what Islam has to say on an individual basis. And as we surrender to ‘leaders’ who do not reference written Islamic teachings in their religious judgments or live by the rules they endorse, we are in danger of never knowing what our faith really stands for. Is it any wonder that people around us use Islam as their crutch to edge us farther away from becoming an equitable, fair, democratic society?
There is a severe lack of symmetry between living as a Muslim in an Islamic republic and not knowing what Islam actually says because we follow leaders, not teachings. It is this imbalance that has spiraled out of control. We are so busy worrying about securing a spot in heaven just by listening to Maulanas and then defending them as if they are the holy cows. Generally in Pakistan clergy has the liberty to toss their ill-founded, unverified views into, abusing the fact that their words may be taken as the Divine rule.
This use of religion to gain ulterior motives must stop if we are ever going to feel safe again. It is human instinct to guard the faith we come from and live according to its tenets. But before doing what our ‘religious leaders’ ask us to do, we need to stop and question the teachings that are shoved down our throats by ignorant mullas.
Also Read: Manto’s Letter to Tariq Jamil
