Peer-e-Kamil (S.A.W) By Umera Ahmad In English Page 26

A few days later, Imama took some books with her to school. When they were

together during recess, she brought the books along.

=I have something for you.‘

=Really? Let‘s see what it is.‘

Imama held out two sets of books from the bag, one towards Javeria and the

other towards Tehreem. They quietly glanced at the books. Javeria said

nothing, but Tehreem reacted.

=What‘s this?‘ she said coldly.

=I brought these books for you,‘ Imama replied.

=Why?‘

=So that some of your wrong impressions about us can be corrected.‘

=What sort of wrong impressions?‘

=The wrong impressions you have about our sect,‘ Imama explained.

=Who told you that there are any wrong impressions about your .religion. or

your prophet?‘ Tehreem asked very seriously.

=I can judge that myself: that is why you do not come to my house. You think

perhaps that we do not read the Quran or that we do not consider Hazrat

Muhammad, peace be upon him, a prophet although that‘s not the case—we

believe in all of these things. It‘s only that we say that after the Prophet

Muhammad (PBUH), we have another prophet of our community who is as

revered as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).‘ Imama expl    ained with great

seriousness.

Tehreem handed back the books she was holding. =We have no

misunderstanding about you or your religion. We know more than enough

about your religion, and there‘s no need for you to give explanations,‘ she said

brusquely. =And as far as these books are concerned, neither I nor Javeria

have spare time to waste on this pile of foolish claims, fanciful ideas, and

misguided beliefs that you call your books.‘

Tehreem snatched the books from Javeria and handed them back to Imama,

whose face was crimson with embarrassment. She had not expected Tehreem

to react so violently or else she would never have made the mistake of

bringing the books or showing them to these girls.

=As for this reverences that you have, you should know that there‘s a vast

difference between a prophet ordained by God and a self-appointed prophet.

If you truly believed in the Quran then you would believe in every word of

it—it‘s one thing to be a prophet and another to become one.‘

=Tehreem, you are insulting me and my faith!‘ Tears welled up in Imama‘s

eyes.

=I am not insulting anyone—I am merely speaking the truth and if you find it

insulting, it‘s too bad. I can‘t do anything about it.‘ Tehreem spoke in an

abrupt and sharp manner.

=But we do believe in the prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH),‘

Imama stressed.

=We also believe in the prophethood of Jesus and that the Bible is a divine

book, so does that make us Christians? And we believe in the prophets Moses

and David too…are we Jews?‘ Tehreem queried in a mocking tone. =Our faith

is Islam and we are the followers of the Holy Prophet, and though we respect

other prophets and their teachings, we remain followers of Islam. we are not

followers of their faiths. Similarly, you follow your prophet thereby denying

the finality of the prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) but yet you

insist that your faith is also a sect of Islam. Your prophet and the leaders of

your community claim that whoever denies Mirza as a prophet is not a true

Muslim—in effect, we‘ve all been thrown out of Islam.‘

Throughout Tehreem‘s harangue Javeria remained quiet.

Tehreem continued firmly, stressing each word. =It would be better for you

not to discuss your religion or mine. We have been friends for many years. Let

the friendship continue as it is.‘

=As regards us not visiting you at home, you‘re right…my parents don‘t

approve of it. Being friends with you in school is another matter—one can be

friends with many people and religion is not an issue, but visiting each other‘s

homes is different. I don‘t think my parents would object to my going to the

homes of my Christian or Hindu friends because they follow their own beliefs

and do not call themselves Muslims. But in your case they would disapprove

because the reality is that your people have changed to a new faith —yet you

pretend to be part of us.‘

Tehreem finally rose to go.

Watching her go, Imama turned to Javeria who was sitting beside her. =Do

you think the same way about me?‘

=Tehreem said all this in a fit of rage—don‘t get upset by her words,‘ Javeria

tried to pacify her. =Just ignore it. Let‘s go back to class…the break‘s about to

end.‘

Imama got up and went with Javeria.

 

 When Imama got home that day, she locked herself in her room and cried her

heart out. Tehreem‘s words had really hurt her.

Hashim Mubeen got back from work earlier than usual that day and his wife

Salma told him that Imama was unwell. He went to her room to see her. He

was taken aback to see that her eyes were swollen.

=What is it, Imama?‘ he asked, coming closer. She sat up in bed and without

saying anything, she burst into tears again. He sat with her on the bed. =What

happened, Imama?‘

=Tehreem was very rude to me in school today,‘ she said between sobs.

Hashim was a little relieved. =So did you have a fight again?‘

=Baba, you don‘t know what she said to me,‘ Imama said. =Baba she…‘

Imama told her father all that had passed between her and Tehreem.

Hashim‘s face began to change color.

=Who told you to take those books to school to educate them?‘ he scolded her.

=I wanted to correct their impressions about us,‘ she responded weakly.

=What is the need for you to go around correcting people‘s impressions? They

may not visit our home; they may think we are bad—so what? Let them be:

what difference does it make to us?‘ Hashim tried to explain. =But I wonder

what she‘ll think of you after this…what you were trying to do by giving her

those books. Her family will also be very angry. Imama, you should know that

you do not have to tell others all about yourself or your community. Even if

someone pulls you into an argument, just agree politely with them, otherwise

they will make unnecessary and unwelcome comments and will become

needlessly suspicious about us,‘ he counseled.

=But, Baba, you yourself preach to so many people. Why are you stopping me

from doing it?‘ Imama was puzzled.

=It‘s a different thing with me—I talk about religion only with those people

with whom I am close and friendly…when I feel they are ready to accept what

I have to say. I don‘t go about distributing books to mere acquaintances,‘ he

clarified.

=Baba, they are not just acquaintances—we have been friends for years,‘

objected Imama.

=Yes, but they are Syeds and their families are very orthodox . You ought to

have remembered that.‘

=I only wanted to tell them about our sect so that they do not think we are

non-Muslims,‘ said Imama.

=Even if they think of us as non-Muslims, what difference does it make? They

themselves are non-Muslims,‘ said Hashim very piously. =They are the

misguided ones, on the wrong path.‘ =Baba, she said that you receive funds from foreign missions, that they pay

you to convert people to our faith.‘

Hashim Mubeen shook his head with disdain. =I get money only from my

community—money that our community collects at home and abroad. We

have enough finances of our own…haven‘t we got our own factories? Besides,

if foreign missions were to finance me I would accept it happily—what‘s

wrong with it? If Christianity can be preached in this country, then why not

our faith? After all, we are another sect of Islam trying to bring people on the

path of real guidance,‘ he elaborated.

=Don‘t talk to others about this issue,‘ he continued. =There‘s no point in

argument or discussion. We are a minority now, but when we become the

majority then such people will not dare to speak up like this—they will be

afraid to insult us to our face. However, you should not get involved with such

people now.‘

=Baba, why have we been declared non-Muslims and a minority in the

constitution when we are a sect of Islam?‘

=All this is the handiwork of the mullahs—for their vested interests, they

ganged up against us. When our numbers increase, we too will bring in laws

that favor us, and all such amendments to the constitution will be abrogated,‘

declared Hashim forcefully. =And you need not lock yourself up like this and

cry,‘ he said as he got up. Imama watched him walk away.

That was the last day of her friendship with Tehreem . Imama was so heart-

broken by Tehreem‘s diatribe that she could not bring herself to continue

their relationship. Tehreem too did not try to bridge the silence between them.

Hashim Mubeen was one of the influential leaders of the Ahmadi community.

His older brother Azam was also an important Ahmadi leader. Barring one or

two people, his entire family had converted to the Qadiani creed many years

ago when Azam had begun this mission; those who had not done so had

severed ties with the others. Following in his brother‘s footsteps, Hashim had

also converted, and like his brother, he too worked towards its propagation.

In about ten or fifteen years, both brothers had made a name for themselves

in their community. They were amongst the elite of Islamabad but despite

their affluence, their homes were very traditional. Their womenfolk observed

purdah but there were no undue restrictions placed on them.

Imama had also grown up in this environment. Indeed, she was one of those

born with a silver spoon in her mouth , and though she knew that her father

was actively propagating the Ahmadi faith, she accepted it as a matter of

course. She had grown up seeing her father and her uncle preaching their

faith and to her it was something being done in the service of Islam.

Imama regularly attended religious gatherings with her family and also

listened to the lectures by their leaders transmitted via satellite from London.

Before the showdown with Tehreem, she had never really pondered over her

religion—for her, her sect was just another one of the different sects in Islam.

She had been brought up to believe that her community was the only one on

the true path of Islam and would be the only one to enter paradise.

Very early Imama and her siblings had been instructed not to divulge

anything about their faith in school. In school Imama had learnt that in 1974

the Constitution had been amended by Parliament to declare them to be non-

Muslims and their community as a minority community. She believed it was a

political decision taken under pressure from other religious leaders. However,

the argument with Tehreem compelled Imama to think more deeply about her

community and her faith.

This brought about a change in her: she began to read literature and the holy

writings on her faith as well as other books. Initially, there was much

confusion in her mind, but as she studied this in greater depth, it cleared her

mind. Soon after her matriculation exam she was engaged to Asjad, her uncle

Azam‘s son. Although this was not a love match, Asjad and Imama were

happy with this relationship and after the engagement Imama developed a

soft spot for Asjad.

=You seem to be quite worried for the last few days—is there a problem?‘

Waseem asked her that night. Imama had been upset and quiet lately.

=No, it‘s nothing. It‘s your imagination.‘ Imama tried to smile.

=It‘s not my imagination: there is something wrong. But if you don‘t want to

share it, then it‘s a different matter,‘ said Waseem, shaking his head. He was

lying on one side of Imama‘s double bed while she sat away from him leafing

through her notes in a file. Waseem waited for her reply and then said, =I was

right, wasn‘t I? You don‘t want to talk about it.‘

=Yes. I don‘t want to talk about it at present,‘ she admitted with a sigh.

=Tell me—perhaps I can help you.‘ Waseem tried to goad her.

=Waseem, I‘ll tell you myself but not now. And if I need your help, I‘ll ask

you,‘ she said, closing the file.

=Fine, as you wish. I just wanted to help you.‘ He got up.

Waseem had figured it out correctly: Imama had been withdrawn and quiet

since the day she had an argument with Javeria. Even though Javeria had

apologized to her the next day it had not helped Imama‘s distress and hurt—

Javeria‘s words had confused her. They brought back memories of the

showdown with Tehreem a year and a half ago, and the doubts and questions

about her faith that arose in her mind when she began to study it in detail as a

result of the argument. Javeria had declared that her life‘s dearest wish was

for Imama to become a real Muslim.

She was in state of strange uncertainty. =Am I not a Muslim? Does my closest

friend too not accept me as a Muslim? Is all this simply the result of the

propaganda about our faith? Why is it that only we are being targeted this

way—are we really on the wrong track? Have we adopted the wrong creed?

But how can that be—after all, why would my family and our entire

community do such a thing?‘

And perhaps to find the answers to these questions, the next week she bought

a copy of the Quran with translation and notes by a well-known Islamic

scholar. She wanted to know what the stand of other sects was concerning her

sect and their faith. She had read the translation of the Holy Quran earlier

too, but it was one recommended by her community. She did not believe,

before studying the translation and notes by the famous scholar, that the

version she had been reading had changes in certain places, that the

translation of the Quran read by her sect was not the same as the original.

One after another, she read the translations of the Quran published by

scholars of various other sects—none of them had the changes that she found

in the version read by her faith, although they did differ in their

interpretations. As she continued the comparative study of the various

interpretations, her concern and confusion multiplied. Every translation and

interpretation confirmed that Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) was the last

messenger of Allah; nowhere did they mention or even hint at another

successor or prophet to follow him. Even the truth about the promised

messiah was all too clear to her. The contradictions between the prophecies of

her religious leader and the real events that had taken place became all too

evident to Imama. Before staking his claim to prophethood, their leader had

used the most objectionable language to malign the Prophet Jesus yet went on

to state that the spirit of Jesus had descended into him. Even if this claim were

to be accepted, then according to tradition, Jesus would have lived for another

forty years after his reappearance by which time Islam would have been

ascendant in the world. However, when the Ahmadi prophet died, then far

from Islam being spread across the world, even the Muslims of India did not

have the freedom they yearned for. Imama was further surprised by the tone

and language used by the Ahmadi leader against his opponents and other

revered prophets—could a true prophet ever employ such vocabulary about

anyone as this claimant to prophethood had done? In a very subtle way, her faith and interest in the literature and holy books of

her religion declined. Let alone her faith and belief, she even began to doubt

their veracity. She did not mention to Javeria that she had moved away from

the literature of her sect and had started reading other books. At home too no

one had a clue about the kind of books she was bringing home to read; she

had hidden them very securely in her room. Only once it so happened that

Waseem came to her room, looking for some book and the first one he laid his

hands on was the interpretation of the Quran she had been reading—he was

stunned.

=What‘s this, Imama?‘ He turned to her in surprise. Her heart stopped as she

looked at him.

=It…it‘s…it‘s the interpretation of the Holy Quran,‘ she replied, trying to

control the trembling in her voice.

=I know, but what‘s it doing here? Did you buy it?‘ he enquired seriously.

=Yes, I bought it, but why are you so concerned?‘

=Do you realize how furious Baba will be if he comes to know?‘

=Yes, I know, but I don‘t find it to be such an objectionable issue.‘

=Why on earth did you need to get it?‘ Waseem replaced it on the table.

=Because I want to know how others interpret the Quran and what their point

of view is about us in the light of the Quran,‘ Imama replied thoughtfully.

Waseem looked at her steadily. =Are you in your right mind?‘

=I‘m very much in my right mind.‘ She was quite composed. =What is the

harm in my getting to know about other sects and reading their interpretation

of the Quran?‘

=We have no need of such things,‘ Waseem reacted with annoyance.

=You may not need to, but I do,‘ said Imama sharply. =I am not in favor of

accepting any beliefs blindly,‘ she made herself clear.

=So reading these interpretations has removed your suspicions?‘ Waseem

inquired sarcastically.

Imama looked at him. =Initially, I had no doubts about my faith—now I do.‘

Waseem exploded. =See—this is the result of reading these kind of books! This

is why I am telling you that there‘s no need to read these books; our books are

quite enough for us.‘

=I have gone through so many translations and interpretations of the Quran,

Waseem. It is amazing that there‘s no mention of our sect in any one of them!

In every one of them =Ahmed‘ is used in context of Hazrat Muhammad

(PBUH) and nowhere in terms of our prophet. Even if our sect or our prophet

is mentioned, it is as a false claim to prophethood.‘ Imama‘s perplexity was

reflected in her tone.

=Who else other than these people would say such things about us? If they

were to accept our prophet then the problem would be solved, but they‘ll

never write the truth about us in their books,‘ Waseem explained bitterly.

=And what about our translation and interpretation—have we written the

truth in them?‘

=What do you mean?‘ He was taken aback.

=Why does our prophet use wrong terms and poor language for the other

prophets?‘

=He talks of them in his own context—they did not believe him to be a

prophet,‘ Waseem replied.

=So should they be abused for not believing?‘ Imama asked.

=Yes,‘ he shrugged. =Anger does find expression one way or another.‘

=Anger or helplessness?‘ she asked him. He looked at her, shocked.

=When people did not accept Jesus as a prophet, he did not abuse them. When

Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) was not believed in, he did not abuse the

disbelievers—in fact, he prayed for those who stoned him. The Divine message

revealed to Hazrat Muhammad does not contain abusive language, whereas

that collection of verses which our prophet claims was revealed to him by God

is full of vituperation.‘

=Imama, every individual has a different personality and reacts differently,‘

Waseem replied sharply. Imama shook her head—she was not convinced.

=I‘m not talking of everyone—I‘m talking about the prophet. How can one

who has no control over his anger lay claim to being a prophet of God? How

do you expect someone who is so abusive to say words of truth and

righteousness? Waseem, I am confused about our religion and its principles!‘

She paused, then continued. =Reading all these interpretations and

translations, I found that the only prophet of his community was Hazrat Isa.

And I do not believe that our prophet is either Hazrat Isa or the promised

Messiah. No…he is not the one who has been prophesied in the Quran,‘ she

reiterated.

=You‘d better stop your nonsense now—you‘ve said enough.‘ Waseem

snapped at her.

=Nonsense? You think I‘ve been talking nonsense?‘ Imama looked at him with

surprise. =If there‘s a Masjid-e-Aqsa in our city, then what about the other

Masjid-e-Aqsa in Palestine? Would God want to confuse Muslims by having

the same sacred mosque in two separate places? And never mind the Muslims,

what about the Christians and the Jews—they too believe that this mosque

was the very first qibla. Isn‘t it odd that we should not believe this?‘

=Imama, I can‘t argue with you on these matters. It‘s better that you discussed

them with Baba.‘ Waseem was tired. =You know, you‘re not doing the right

thing by getting into this pointless argument. I am going to tell Baba all that

you‘ve been saying and also what you‘ve been reading,‘ he threatened as he

left the room.

Imama was perplexed—she walked about her room, biting her lip. She was

afraid of her father and feared his reaction when Waseem would tell him

bout her—and she knew he would.