A Terrible Day for Pakistan and for Islam

[Muslimah]

For those of us who claim al-Islam as our way of life, and call ourselves Muslim, murder is unlawful, and an abomination in the eyes of our Creator.


By Ibrahim Abdil-Mu'id Ramey


MAS Freedom Civil and Human Rights Director


WASHINGTON, D.C. (MASNET) Dec. 27, 2007 - I am struggling to find words to express my grief and outrage after hearing the news of the murder of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto earlier today in Pakistan.


Regardless of one's political sentiments, or support for any of the factions struggling for political supremacy in that nation, the killing of Mrs. Bhutto is a tragic blow to democratic rule in Pakistan.


And, make no mistake about it, while the identities of the culprits are not known at this time, one thing is<b> a virtual certainty: they are Muslims.</b>



Sadly, the phenomenon of Muslims killing other Muslims is not shocking news for a world drenched in sensational, mass violence; and the people of Pakistan are certainly no strangers to political intrigue or fratricide. But with Pakistan - the world's second most populous majority-Muslim nation - at the crossroads of political change, and with the promise of that change being electoral, and nonviolent - the consequences of this killing are both profound and immense.


Benazir Bhutto, to be sure, had both staunch supporters and vehement enemies, among them being Muslims who categorically rejected the idea of a woman possibly, once again, becoming the leader of their nation.


There were also numerous Pakistanis, of all ideological persuasions, who viewed Bhutto's previous terms of leadership with deep disfavor.


But the idea of political assassination as a legitimate expression of dissent is un- categorically haram.


For those of us who claim al-Islam as our way of life and call ourselves Muslim, murder is unlawful, and an abomination in the eyes of our Creator.


Now is not the time to deconstruct and interrogate the legacy of Benazir Bhutto's past terms as a Prime Minister of Pakistan. Nor should we speculate on who is responsible for her murder, or for the deaths of scores of her supporters in the suicide bombing and shooting that claimed her life.


We must recognize that the violent authoritarian and repressive government of Pakistan has created a climate of hostility and hatred that made the murder of Mrs. Bhutto not only likely, but perhaps inevitable.


The unconditional U.S. political support for the Musharraf dictatorship, coupled with massive American economic and military support, added fuel to the fire of extremism that ultimately claimed her life.


And now, as we offer our condolences to the family of Benazir Bhutto and the people of Pakistan, we must pray for an end to the cancer of violence that has affected our Ummah, as we diligently work for the restoration of peace and democratic values that are vital to our collective survival.


Benazir Bhutto Killed in Attack


Pakistani former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated in a suicide attack.


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[Muslimah]

Truth Sayer is Allah:


"Say: "He has power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet, or to cover you with confusion in party strife, and <b>make you to taste the violence of one another</b>.
" See how variously We explain the Signs, so that they may understand." (Quran 6:65)


Narrated Abdullah Ibn Omar that the Messenger salla Allah a`alyhee wa sallam came to us saying O people of Muhajereen (immigrants) there are five issues if you will be inflicted with them and I seek refuge to Allah that you would not be available when they occur, never fornication would spread among people till they commit it publicly except that plague and other unprecedented diseases which was never experienced before among their predecessors would spread and prevail, never people would cheat while weighting and scaling except that they suffer tough times, food deficiency and the unjust of those who are in authority, never people refrain from paying Zakat for their money except that they would be denied rain from sky and if it was not for animals they would have never received rain, never people violate the covenant of Allah and His Messenger except that Allah Sends on them an enemy from outside to take part of what is in their hands, <b>and when their rulers don’t rule with the book of Allah and start selecting from what Allah revealed except that Allah instills their violence among each other</b>.”
(reported by Ibn Majeh)


This is our condition now, does this ring any bell brothers and sisters, does this entail that we hasten to change and be more objective, be realistic about the root of the problem rather than complaining about the symptoms. Wake up Muslims.

[Karbala]

Thanks for the Ayah and hadith Muslimah. Benazirs death is shocking and she didnt deserve to die. However she was no saint, she was known for corruption and subordination to the interests of the West. Her death is tragic yet her cause was not worthy enough to be immortalised as a martyr.


I am sort of a supporter of the ideology of Hizb ut Tahrir who believe that the solution to the islamic worlds problems contemporarily atleast lie in the establishment of a global caliphate in islamic nations ruled by islamic law. The word "democracy" gets thrown around alot. Its just a disguise for the introduction of liberal secularism which simply will not work amongst the muslim masses.

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


as salam alykom


I m aware of those issues Karbala, however, what i m talking about is the sign, a Muslimah killed by Muslims this is first, this where we should be alerted. What is more important is that those incidents though taken against muslims are a constant evidence to those who claim Quran is not Allah's words. More to derive from this incident, wa Allahu A`lam, yes she was involved in those corruptions, and she was striving to regain power, power which termpted her much and drove her to have her hands soiled with those issues, what happened Allah Didnt Will for her to so so, Allah Had Mercy on her and Told her stop. In general no one is entitled to judge who is a martyr, but the way one dies gives some signal. Who knows, may be Allah Destined her for this death in order to expiate her sins, save her from her ownself and desires, and prevent her from being drawn again with the current. This is how I think and Allah u a`lam.

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


O forgot something, if she or more to say her husband practiced this corruption, how come she had such large supporters, how come people are really grieving for her leave alone her funeral. I m just asking because I was discussing this with someone else, and i m taking a chance of you being a Pakistani. I mean arent people aware of those cases, but they still love her or what exactly??

[Karbala]

I am Pakistani and infact I lived in Pakistan while she was Primeminister.


She was very unpopular in Pakistan because of corruption and ineptness. Her Government was dismissed by the then President Farooq Leghari, I was about 10 years old. All I remember was that everyone hated her and I mean everyone. Everyone was glad that she was gone and noone wanted her back. I dont think she was very popular even during just before her death in Pakistan.


THe question about the crowds at her demonstration and funeral is a good question. I think she has some support but very little. With an absolutely massive population 6th largest in the world. Hence any rally for anyone with even a tiny amount of support wil seem huge (and the media will always sensationalise numbers) In order to understand why Benazir even had some support you have to understand a few things about pakistani politics.


1. The literacy rate of Pakistan is less than 50%. Imagine that over half of the people cannot read or write. How easy do you think it is to fool these people? It is very easy. Even amongst them Bhutto was extremely unpopular. But amongst a HUGE population of 160 million + finding 200,000 supporters for a rally in Karachi is not difficult.


2. She belongs to a party which has historical backgrounds. her father is a legend to many people in Pakistan and the party he formed PPP has historically always been popular alongside Muslim League. It has incredible funding for campaigning and due to a deficiency of other popular leaders in Pakistan Benazir wins many supporters just by default.


3. Pervez Musharraf is hated by almost the whole nation after what happened in Lal masjid, the Chief Justice, GEO TV and emergency state delaration. As the saying goes the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Benazir and PPP had many supporters at demos simply because they didn't like Musharraf.


4. Many people support Benazir due to vested interest. When there wa talk of her returning from exile and power sharing with Musharraf she looked very likely to become Primeminmister again. This makes many people who stand to gain support her.


5. Pakistani people love to demonstrate even if they dont agree 100% with what they are demonstrating for. As evidenced by numerous instances e.g. Rushdie Knighthood, Danish Cartoons, Chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhary sacking etc etc millions of people will take to the street, its a Pakistani thing. Pakistan no matter how bad has always been a relatively free country for expression.

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


as salam alykom


Jazakum Allah khairan for sharing this with me, I kind of understand that is why I stressed the funeral and wheeping in streets. Those are neither seeking power, interest or anything of the like that is what actually puzzled me, those are expressing genuine grief. But then her father's reputation which she tapped on is an answer plus the large population. Even I did like her father much, and I felt bad for his execution. But again I apply the same theory. Sobhan Allah, the whole family, her father, brothers and her were killed Sobhan Allah.