Problems in the Path of Islamists

Problems in the Path of Islamists

1987 4 April 25-26 Problems in the Path of Islamists (689) Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, had a movement launched against him by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maudoodi and other Islamists. They called it “Nizam-e-Mustafa.” There is nothing easier, in fact, than to instigate a popular uprising against the authorities, and the fiery speeches of these leaders were enough to set the public of Pakistan ablaze, eventually putting an end to Bhutto’s government. In their writings and speeches, Maulana Maudoodi and other leaders of the Islamic alliance had given the impression that the departure of Bhutto would mean the arrival of Islam, but, after the departure of Bhutto, what we had in Pakistan was not the arrival of Islam in any positive sense, but open dissension among Islamists.

An event similar to this in many ways has taken place time and time again, in one form or another, in a number of countries in recent times, the reason being that before the “revolution,” everyone’s attention is focused on one common enemy. But when the time comes for construction after the removal of this common enemy, it transpires that each one has a separate plan in mind for its implementation. Is one plan to take precedence over another? Are some or all to be welded together? It is at this point that the controversy begins. Those who have been united on a negative platform, fail to unite on a positive platform.

On what kind of issues do these disagreements occur? Perhaps an example will clarify this for us. A weekly magazine, Deed Shoneed, published in Pakistan, held an interview with Dr. Israr Ahmed, head of Pakistan’s Tanzeem-e-Islami, during which he was asked: “Well, if Your government became established in the country, and you then had complete power, what would your attitude be towards the participation of women in the life of the nation? To what extent would you give Your permission?

The Amir of Tanzeem-e-Islami made a number of statements in answer to this question, one of which went as follows: “We will put Primary education entirely in the hands of women. We will lay down that no male should be a primary school teacher, because it is a woman Who can properly look after children. Only a woman can provide motherly compassion.”

(Monthly Meesaq, Lahore, September, 1986, p. 66)

Now let us examine the thoughts of another Islamist on this subject. Ahmad Mohammad Jamal, a famous Islamic thinker of Saudi Arabia and considered to be an Ikhwani in his thinking, authored an impassioned article in the Arabic weekly, Al-dawah, published in Riyadh, the title of which was: “The fitna (evil) is sleeping ... may God curse one who awakens it.” Its title notwithstanding, this article was written on the very same subject as that mentioned above.

At the present time, the entire system of education in Saudi Arabia – primary education as well as advanced education – is in the hands of males. Recently, certain Saudi Arabian intellectuals have launched a movement to have the first three years of primary education handed over to women. The reason they give for this is exactly that mentioned in the above-quoted excerpt – the necessity for motherly compassion. They say that children need a feeling of security, love and compassion, and that this can be best provided by female teachers because of their natural, motherly instincts.

In his article, Ahmad Mohammad Jamal reacted strongly to this point of view. The severity of his opposition can be gauged from the title he gave it, calling the appointment of female teachers for children a ‘fitna’ (evil). So great is the corruption brought about by this practice, he contends, that one who introduces it is deserving of the curse of God. Not only does he reject the notion of women in charge of primary education from the Islamic viewpoint, but also says that he considers “males better than females for teaching at this level.”

From this example, we can see how different Islamists are able to join hands when faced by a common enemy. But the moment the enemy retreats, they become the enemies of each other and start to fight amongst themselves.