The Need for Reassessment

THE NEED FOR REASSESSMENT Speaking about something which one does not intend to perform is an example of hypocrisy, which is indeed a great sin. R ecently, A person approached me to discuss about the controversy surrounding Salman Rushdie. In my monthly journal Al-Risala I had spoken strongly against those who had issued fatwas demanding Rushdie’s death. This gentleman who came to me contended that Rushdie deserved death and should be promptly assassinated. He complained that in not endorsing this opinion, I was advocating cowardice in my stance on the matter. I explained to him: “Had you been true to your words, you would have been present in London at this moment to accomplish the task you are championing with such fervour.” Innumerable Muslims zealously displayed slogans on the streets demanding that Rushdie be put to death, but did any one among them have the sincerity to travel all the way to London to put his words into effect? These people only tried to ‘kill’ Rushdie in their