If you are an adherent of Islam (God have mercy on your eternal soul), you aware that Ramadan is
upon you:
Ramadan (/ˌræməˈdɑːn/; Arabic: رمضان Ramaḍān, IPA: [rɑmɑˈdˤɑːn];[note 1] also transliterated Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan,
or Ramathan) is the ninth
month of the Islamic calendar,[2] and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the
Quran to Muhammad according to Islamic belief.[3][4] This annual
observance is regarded as one of the Five
Pillars of Islam.[5] The month lasts
29–30 days based on the visual sightings of the crescent
moon, according to numerous biographical accounts compiled in the hadiths.[6][7]
The word Ramadan comes from the
Arabic root ramiḍa or ar-ramaḍ,which
means scorching heat or dryness.[8] … ([Some Wikipedia
links removed] Ramadan; Wikipedia;
page was last modified on 6 June 2016, at 08:12.)
If you live in Pakistan and happen to be a Christian,
Pakistani law forces you to observe these ungodly Ramadan rules even though
your faith says Jesus Christ the Son of God is the only path to God. The
fasting portion of Ramadan in Pakistan often results in massive heatwaves
affecting Muslims, Christians and other Non-Muslim minorities that forbid
water! Last year in 2015 this resulted in deaths numbering in the thousands.
Christians in Pakistan are stuck doing the grubby jobs that Muslims find either
abhorrent or beneath their privilege. You can imagine the devastation faced
during Ramadan restrictions placed on poverty stricken Christians.
JRH 6/6/16
******************
Scorching Heat,
Ramadan and Pakistani Minorities
By Shamim Mahmood
Sent: 6/6/2016 3:00
PM
ISLAMABAD:
Islamic Republic of Pakistan, a Muslim dominated country, where, it is imposed
to respect Islam and if any one talk about its forced imposition, it can be considered
as blasphemy. Minorities of the country are already living under the 24/7
threats and being dealt as second class citizen. Many people are being indulged
in blasphemy laws and thousands have been facing such an insulting environment
that made their life hell. Discrimination and hate are a daily routine matters,
at work places, public places, eating places and other areas. Though protection
is given in the constitutions the ground realities are different.
This evening, when every Muslim was greeting each other for
the blessings of Ramadan, I was thinking about the minorities of Pakistan
because willing or unwillingly, minorities’ living in Pakistan have to fast
with their fellow Muslims. By means of the law the country forces everyone to
go hungry during the month of Ramadan. In Pakistan, it is unlawful to drink,
eat or smoke in public places during Ramadan. You can be sent to jail, heavily
fined or may even be beaten by vigilantes. It’s a peak heat wave in Pakistan
during June, with temperatures rises in the different regions routinely around
40 and above degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) and the days are at their longest
of the year. The government is trying to alleviate the hardships of the month
long sunrise-to-sunset fast.
Last year, a brutal heatwave killed dozens of people in Pakistan.
Many of them died of dehydration while fasting in sweltering temperatures. Even
then the respect of Ramadan is mandatory for all citizens of Pakistan.
During the military dictator Zia ul Haq the Ehtiram-e-Ramadan (Respect
of Ramadan) bill was imposed that prescribes punishments of up to three months
in jail and a fine for people who drink or eat publicly. According to the
tenets of Islam, [non-Muslims] are under an obligation to fast, they shall not
eat, drink or smoke in a public place during fasting hours in the month of
Ramadan, [as defined by] Pakistan law.
Nearly every restaurant is closed from dawn to dusk, and a shopkeeper
can only sell take away food items. And if you are hungry or thirsty the
only place for you is home. At offices, public and private places, [non-Muslims
also] are not allowed to eat.
Basharat Khokher, social activist, said that the law is
inhumane and violates fundamental human rights. Those who want to fast have the
right to do so, but those who don’t want to fast have equal rights also. I am
religious and respect Ramadan, but it also is not intended to make you sick or
put you in danger. Sometimes it’s so hot, that we can’t touch the metal poles
on the scaffolding without gloves. A laborer cannot work in these conditions
without water, he added.
“We cannot allow the liberal people to secularize our
country, our society,” said Omar Bhatti, a student of Islamic research. “The
respect of Ramadan is mandatory for all citizens of Pakistan. There can’t be
any compromise on it.” As for religious minorities; they live in an Islamic country
and must have to obey its rules.”
Those who do not fast should behave as if they are fasting,
Qari Abdul Qadir, a cleric said. “Non-Muslims and elderly or sick Muslims can
eat but they should show respect for fasting Muslims and avoid eating or drinking
openly” he said.
With the growth of Islamic outfits such as the Taliban and
its representation in the region, situation have become worse in the past
years. Religious extremism and intolerance are on the rise in this region. Now
even hospital cafeterias and bus stands don’t serve food during Ramadan. And if
someone found around eating or drinking might accuse of blasphemy.
Maryam Khushi, a beautician, said forget about Ramadan, I
have to be careful about what I do in public throughout the year. What I say,
what I wear. People become more pious during Ramadan and I have to be more
careful, she added.
Ramzan Qadir, a liberal Muslim in Islamabad, said respect
needs to be two-way street. “If the religious people can’t respect my rights, I
am not ready to respect theirs. It is simple as that he told. “And when these
people go to Europe and the US, they insist on their rights. They protest
against veil ban in France, but they don’t allow Christians in Pakistan to live
freely. I found it hypocritical.
The tiny liberal community in the country is not powerful
enough to challenge the Islamic laws. Occasionally observed, it is not just
involving Ramadan, fanatic Muslims have taken the law into their own hands and
have punished Christians and Hindus for a perceived lack of respect of Islam.
In either case, minorities of Pakistan [are forced] to respect Ramadan.
Be Blessed,
Shamim Mahmood
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_______________________
Edited by John R. Houk
All links or text enclosed by brackets are by the Editor.
© Shamim Mahmood (Masih)
