Sufism being victimized – by Amjad Rashid
It is an established fact that Islam’s spread all over happened the world through Sufism and its teachings of love and peace. But in present times, the name of Islam is being used by the extremists, terrorists and ignorant miscreants. By doing so, they are actually destroying historical reconciliation and brotherhood between Hindus, Muslims and people of other faith of the South Asian subcontinent and also within Sunni and Shia Muslims.
These terrorists don’t even know the basic teachings of Islam but they claim to be defending Islam. In reality they are killing innocent people who are Muslims not the enemies of Islam. Our religion forbids us to kill innocent persons, and actually tells us that killing a single man is equal to killing whole humanity. Terrorists and extremist clerics within Deobandi sect have made our religion hostage. They even killed great Deobandi scholar Maulana Hassan Jan in Peshawar. Maulana sahib was one of the first muslim scholars to condemn suicide bombing and spreading of extremist view point.
It’s a high time that all Pakistan stands up against these extremists with one voice; if we claim that Pakistan is a fort of Islam then we have to realize who is busy in destroying this beautiful Islamic fort?
Sufi saints traveled all over the world to spread the message of love, peace, kindness, honesty, brotherhood. They conveyed the true message of Islam. Millions of people in the subcontinent converted to Islam due to pious character and politeness of Sufi saints. History tells us that even Hindu,Sikh and Buddhist were among the disciples of great Muslim saints. It shows that their message was not restricted to any faith and religion.
Madhu Lal Hussain was one of those non-Muslim disciples of great sufi saint Shah Hussain; it’s now a historical fact that scores of people converted to Islam due to teachings of Madhu Lal who was a Hindu by religious belief. Madhu was indeed a true follower of his master.
Baba Guru Nanak was also a spiritual pupil of Baba Fareed Ganj Shakar of Pakpatan; he included the poetry of Baba Farid Ganj Shakar in his religious book of Sikh religion “Ashlok”. It is believed that a significant portion of Ashlok consists of poetry and teachings of Baba Farid Ganj Shakar.
From last couple of years Islam which was spread by sufi saints is constantly under attack from extremist forces. Firstly, they attack and destroy tomb of “Rehman Baba” who is famous Sufi saint of Swat (Pakhtunkhuwa). And now they attacked the grandest sufi darbar of Lahore, i.e. Data Darbar. Pakistani democratic government defeated extremist with public support in Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa and now same public support is needed to defeat extremists in Punjab.
It is so unfortunate that extremists have attacked the Data sahib’s tomb. From centuries, Lahoris believe that Lahore is a grand city because Data Sahib is buried here. Not only Muslims, but non-Muslims of sub-continent also respect him very much. His famous book “Kashaf-ul-Majoob” is believed to be an authentic work on Sufism and spirituality.
Khawaja Moin-ud-din Chishti and Baba Farid Ganj Shakar visited this holy shrine of Data Sahib and got spiritual knowledge from this shrine but how sad it is that now same shrine is victim of terrorism. On Thursday, 43 devotees of Data sahib were killed and hundreds are injured in three bomb blasts in his shrine. Lets us all pray that the blood of victims does not go in vain.