Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Reports of Somalia trying to implement an Islamic system. The usual fear and loathing has begun on parts of the political pundits, some of it duly justified. I’ve only read MSNBC’s version of the events so it’s hard to gauge the true nature of the beast.
Either way, I wouldn’t be surprised if some kind of militia led police force with AK-47s and absolute power to beat, punch, and harass anyone and everyone starts roaming the streets. Yes, the scholars must have missed those hadeeths where the companions formed ‘gangs of enforcers whose job was to wander the alleyways of Medina looking for any breach in moral conduct. And upon finding an instance, providing an express service of judge, jury, and the executioner.’
I read an article sometime back, which now seemingly has disappeared into the cyberspace. It talked about the ‘plight’ of a young Somalian boy unable to imitate his American idol, Al Pacino, and not able to walk the sandy beaches hand in hand with his girlfriend since the advent of the new so called Islamic government. Ah yes, some people are truly oppressed!
(Anyone up for sponsoring this poor soul? A few beach trunks and a copy of Scar Face should suffice.)
As much as I don’t approve of teenage lovers prancing on the beach, the ‘moral police’ is even more abhorring. Does anyone have an idea of where the heck did we get this?
Whatever happened to the idea of educating people so they wouldn’t do such things out of free will rather than at gunpoint? It would certainly take more time and effort but at least you can be assured that the compliance is self-imposed and not the kind that switches when the backs are turned (case in point: Iran).
And another thing, much too often when we hear the word 'Islamic' attached to something, we’re quick to assume that it’s true without going through the proper channels of finding out if it actually does come from the Quran and the Prophetic teachings. So if we’ve heard of something being Islamic, then it *must* be so because well, after all the word Islamic is attached to it and God forbid we actually question its basis.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying go out there questioning anything and everything you’ve ever heard. But be wary of what you believe to be Islamic because tis’ are turbulent times and mis-information runs more rampant than the moral police on the lookout for teenage Al Pacinos.
Either way, I wouldn’t be surprised if some kind of militia led police force with AK-47s and absolute power to beat, punch, and harass anyone and everyone starts roaming the streets. Yes, the scholars must have missed those hadeeths where the companions formed ‘gangs of enforcers whose job was to wander the alleyways of Medina looking for any breach in moral conduct. And upon finding an instance, providing an express service of judge, jury, and the executioner.’
I read an article sometime back, which now seemingly has disappeared into the cyberspace. It talked about the ‘plight’ of a young Somalian boy unable to imitate his American idol, Al Pacino, and not able to walk the sandy beaches hand in hand with his girlfriend since the advent of the new so called Islamic government. Ah yes, some people are truly oppressed!
(Anyone up for sponsoring this poor soul? A few beach trunks and a copy of Scar Face should suffice.)
As much as I don’t approve of teenage lovers prancing on the beach, the ‘moral police’ is even more abhorring. Does anyone have an idea of where the heck did we get this?
Whatever happened to the idea of educating people so they wouldn’t do such things out of free will rather than at gunpoint? It would certainly take more time and effort but at least you can be assured that the compliance is self-imposed and not the kind that switches when the backs are turned (case in point: Iran).
And another thing, much too often when we hear the word 'Islamic' attached to something, we’re quick to assume that it’s true without going through the proper channels of finding out if it actually does come from the Quran and the Prophetic teachings. So if we’ve heard of something being Islamic, then it *must* be so because well, after all the word Islamic is attached to it and God forbid we actually question its basis.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying go out there questioning anything and everything you’ve ever heard. But be wary of what you believe to be Islamic because tis’ are turbulent times and mis-information runs more rampant than the moral police on the lookout for teenage Al Pacinos.
Faraz Ahmed 11:32 a.m.