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Editorial

Islam Has a Road Map Too: Sirat-e-Mustaqeem

All around us there is “bad” news for Muslims. Taliban are gone, Saddam is gone, Arafat is on his way out, and soon Asad may follow Saddam. The Saudi, Irani and Pakistani regimes may not be far behind unless they peacefully acquiesce to the “master plan of the new world order.” Various aspects of this plan have been released previously. The “road map” is the most recent installment.

Eventually all “Muslim” governments may have to accept the “road map” without any change and without any reservations, if they wish to spare themselves the fate of Afghanistan or Iraq. A working draft of the first page of this atlas of “road maps” is public.

“Palestinians” will have a “state” of their own, i.e. if the Zionists are convinced that they will sooner than later get what they want in the Middle East. For them, the first wish is that this map will culminate in a cessation of intifadah and a “secure, powerful, overwhelming and everlasting” state of Israel. To the neo-ultraconservative Christians, it is a mechanism to prepare for the second coming of Christ (Isa, upon whom may Allâh shower peace). The “road map” does not require total annihilation of Palestinian Muslims or any other Muslim, only total denial of the rights of the three million Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland. At least for now, it also does not demand outlawing of Islâm.

Obviously there can be no road unless there is gravel. Muslims along with other “enslaved nations” will provide that gravel. First of all, there are plenty of them and growing very fast. So the supply is not a problem. Secondly, they have, on their own, albeit through addictive television watching, accepted the role being assigned to them in the “road map.” One function for example, that this “gravel” may be assigned and happily perform could be to do all the menial jobs in the globally-controlled super economy at hypo-poverty-level wages. Obviously it would be a tremendous improvement over their present wretched condition, where after a postgraduate degree they cannot even find a street-sweeping job.

Rewards would be mapped out gradually and awarded piecemeal commensurate with the “good” behavior of the Muslims. One good behavior is to accept forever that “theocracy” should be confined to the masjid. Outside the masjid it is law of democracy; Allâh (aautho billahi min zalik) would have no place in our functional life. If Muslims ever remotely accepted this doctrine, their fate would be no different than the “people of the book”.

Look at how the “commandments” that the Taurat and Injeel (Torah and Gospel) even today include to guide the “people of the book” are flouted with impunity by the “government of the people, for the people, by the people.” If the “people” had a choice they would surely not abandon these golden rules prescribed for their worldly and eventual eternal success by their Lord. Presently they have liberty to freely violate these commandments and often are rewarded for this blasphemy. If, however, they choose to follow them they have to pay a heavy social, psychological and financial penalty.

They may be classified as unpatriotic if they do not worship the icons of democracy (flags, statues, constitutions, presidents, senators, etc). They dare not speak out against creating images, even (graven) ones. They may be labeled timorous if they abstain from verbal vulgarity. Protest against the murder of the innocent may get them arrested. To shun intoxicants is to choose to be an outcast. They dare not speak out against open and massive sexual vulgarity, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, covetousness and incest. Stealing is pervasive. False witnessing, even against oneself under the Alfred doctrine, is routine. Usury is the blood in the veins of secularism.

These commandments are only ten of the many major sins that Muslims must not commit. If Muslims agree to travel this road map willingly we may end up committing each one of the major sins, some with our own “choice” and some without.

Is there a way out? There is. It may seem hard but once we sincerely and resolutely convince ourselves to follow it the effect of the “road map” on our well-being may be only a meager inconvenience at best. Allâh’s help would be our guarantee. The lines, national boundaries, that the “road map” and many other such maps before it have drawn will become just that, fictitious lines. For surely a Muslim must believe the everything, including this earth, belongs to Allâh and to no one else. As Muslims we have a duty and a right to spread all over it to celebrate the remembrance of Allâh. The hoarding of wealth is not the purpose of our existence.

To be sure, this road does not travel through hatred or animosity towards Allâh’s creations, least of all towards human beings, no matter what faith they profess or how many calamities they may have caused to befall Muslims. After all, even the assassin of Hamza lived at peace among the Muslims once he saw the light. What is there to stop the planners of the present “road map” from following the sirat-e-mustaqeem, once they reach the cul-de-sac of their own creation? Alas if only we could blaze a trail for them.

This road is summarized in the following ayats by Allâh Himself.

“Seek they other than the religion of Allah, when unto Him submitteth whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly, or unwillingly, and unto Him they will be returned.” (3:83)

“And hold fast all together by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you) and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah’s favor on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love so that by His grace ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of fire and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make his signs clear to you: that ye may be guided.” (3:103)

“Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain felicity.” (3:104)

“And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression and there prevails justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression.” (2:193)

“O ye who believe! shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty? Ye should believe in Allah and His messenger, and should strive for the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is better for you, if ye did but know. He will forgive you your sins and bring you into Gardens underneath which rivers flow, and pleasant dwellings in Gardens of Eden. That is indeed the supreme triumph.” (61:10-12)

Let us follow Allâh’s “road map”, to ensure that we make no wrong turns and do attain promised felicity.

Published: May 2003