The path of violence and destruction that the protests have taken speak volumes for the level of insecurity that Muslim societies feel all over the Muslim world. We feel threatened and intimidated by the West for its belligerent take on our fundamentals, be it human or metaphysical. It can be argued that these feelings of insecurity are mostly in part because of our own discrepancies. the Muslim world is going though radical change and this in the absence of Ijtehad. The doors of Ijtehad that were closed by Ghazali are going to break open with the overwhelming pressure soon.
But there is an equal argument that these feelings of insecurity stem from mischief and sudden over powerment of West that has come about through media. Needless to say of the joy and merriment that every common Pakistani felt over the destruction of WTC stemmed from this feeling of vulnerability. Otherwise someone who doesn't even realize the importance of WTC has no reason to be distributing sweets over the streets.
Nevertheless all violence should be shunned. Not because this will serve to pacify the return intimidation that West is feeling towards is as a by product of our violent actions but because simply this will not serve our purpose.
All in all the talk of clash of civilizations is a far cry and doesn't seem imminent in near future. Simply because the Muslim lot lacks credible leaders of any kind.
At present the protests of mankind going on in the Muslim world feel like high tides lashing onto the shores of West with great force but with eventual outcome of returning to sea after they have wasted their energy against the rocks.
The time is however right when the Muslim world should produce leaders in its ranks. We need Iqbal to revive our philosophy. We need a Sufi like Rumi to revive our metaphysics. We need a Ghazali to revive our shariah. We need a Salah-ud-din Ayyubi to galvanize the art of warfare. But most of all we need a Jinnah of Muslim world who can negotiate and who commands respect from his opponents. Someone who knows he can steer the waves to a fruitful end.
But who are these leaders? Where are these leaders? These leaders are us. These leaders are you and me. These leaders are in making.
We need to understand that change is not brought in a day or two but is a byproduct of decades of labour. Martin Luther King didn't win black emancipation in his lifetime alone but only helped the wave reach above the threshold. Nelson Mandela didn't win for his country in a lifetime but that of many who laboured before him. Khomeini or Lincoln didn't change the fate of their nations in a day but based their efforts over those of past men.
Similarly those who carried struggles for humanity, before these leaders brought definite change, did not do any lesser deed. They were as important as any of them.
We need to realize that proper channeling of our energies will serve to generate more energy; will serve to take us farther in the right direction. But to turn all that into reality we have to lead from the front.
But there is an equal argument that these feelings of insecurity stem from mischief and sudden over powerment of West that has come about through media. Needless to say of the joy and merriment that every common Pakistani felt over the destruction of WTC stemmed from this feeling of vulnerability. Otherwise someone who doesn't even realize the importance of WTC has no reason to be distributing sweets over the streets.
Nevertheless all violence should be shunned. Not because this will serve to pacify the return intimidation that West is feeling towards is as a by product of our violent actions but because simply this will not serve our purpose.
All in all the talk of clash of civilizations is a far cry and doesn't seem imminent in near future. Simply because the Muslim lot lacks credible leaders of any kind.
At present the protests of mankind going on in the Muslim world feel like high tides lashing onto the shores of West with great force but with eventual outcome of returning to sea after they have wasted their energy against the rocks.
The time is however right when the Muslim world should produce leaders in its ranks. We need Iqbal to revive our philosophy. We need a Sufi like Rumi to revive our metaphysics. We need a Ghazali to revive our shariah. We need a Salah-ud-din Ayyubi to galvanize the art of warfare. But most of all we need a Jinnah of Muslim world who can negotiate and who commands respect from his opponents. Someone who knows he can steer the waves to a fruitful end.
But who are these leaders? Where are these leaders? These leaders are us. These leaders are you and me. These leaders are in making.
We need to understand that change is not brought in a day or two but is a byproduct of decades of labour. Martin Luther King didn't win black emancipation in his lifetime alone but only helped the wave reach above the threshold. Nelson Mandela didn't win for his country in a lifetime but that of many who laboured before him. Khomeini or Lincoln didn't change the fate of their nations in a day but based their efforts over those of past men.
Similarly those who carried struggles for humanity, before these leaders brought definite change, did not do any lesser deed. They were as important as any of them.
We need to realize that proper channeling of our energies will serve to generate more energy; will serve to take us farther in the right direction. But to turn all that into reality we have to lead from the front.
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