FROM MAULANA’S DESK

through the dictates of one’s own nature or conscience. If the intention is pure and sincere, the decision would be acceptable to the Shariah. Madar-e-watan literally means motherland. But this is a metaphor. It does not mean that one is born out of the land as one is born out of one’s mother’s womb. ‘Motherland’ means what is generally called ‘homeland’. Homeland and motherland are interchangeable, different only in terms of words, not in terms of meaning. Love for one’s nation, or patriotism is a natural fact. A person naturally loves a place where he is born and brought up and where he develops relations with people. This love for one’s nation is in accordance with the spirit of religion. There is no difference between the stand of patriotism and the stand of religion in this regard. According to a tradition, the Prophet said: All of the land is tahur (pure). (Muslim) Therefore considering any particular part of the land superior to another is not right. Every part of the earth is worthy of being regarded as God’s gift for humanity. According to Islam, the whole of the planet earth is a divine gift to mankind and without doubt a blessing from God. The planet earth is a unique place in the universe. It has a life-support system for man. There is no other place known to have conditions where humans can settle. Given this, it is natural for a person to consider the planet earth as a divine gift. He must have gratitude and love for the planet earth where he resides. A person loves his nation just as he loves his mother. Hence calling the nation as one’s ‘motherland’ does not go against the spirit of religion. Referring to a piece of land as ‘motherland’ is an expression of one’s sentiments and has nothing to do with religion. In the present age, nationhood is based on one’s homeland. This is the right concept. The opinion that nationhood is based on religion is an extremist concept. It is not an issue of the Shariah but is being made to appear as such. o Maulana Wahiduddin Khan editor@thespiritofislam.org Referring to a piece of land as ‘motherland’ is an expression of one’s sentiments and has nothing to do with religion.