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Mohammad Omar Farooq, PhD
February 2001
[Note to NFB readers: As a matter of personal policy, I do not respond to "anonymous" messages.]
Sometimes people’s expectation is so complete and extreme that it simply can’t be met. But that goes with the territory of extremism. When Fatwa was issued against the celebrated authors such as Salman Rushdie and Taslima Nasrin, and in case of the former, a bounty was announced for his head that produced "Satanic Verses", an important level of polarization took place.
For Muslims, who almost universally, were deeply offended and hurt by these "Satanic" or "SHAMEful" works, their fury and sense of injury found a powerful, but misguided and untenable expression in Fatwa of "Murtad", "death sentence," bounty, etc. There were many Muslims who shared the hurt, injury and fury, but conscientiously and Islamically were unable to defend or support such Fatwa.
As the Fatwa prevailed, the campaign against it intensified and the Islam and Muslims as a whole were indicted as barbaric, medieval, uncivilized and so on. The level of hurt, injury and provocation the "Satanic" and "SHAMEful" type works involve was hardly recognized by those who were up in arms to make the best out of criticizing, vilifying and demonizing Islam and Muslims. The one and only thing that mattered to them was the freedom of speech.
It used to be said that you can swing your arm as hard or strong as you like as long it does not touch my nose. But no more. As if freedom of speech is an absolute right, lot of people claimed to stand up for the right to free speech. The unfortunate part is that, swayed by their hurt and sense of injury, Muslims were not able to disentangle from this debacle because of their failure to mount a long-term campaign that such Fatwas are not appropriate or effective; rather, these are counter-productive. Thus, the Fatwa-giving segment of Islamic establishment is not learning the lesson, and we continue to see it happening. Declaring "Murtad" and hurling "death sentences" continues.
The reason I began this write-up with the statement that some expectations, especially of extremists, are nearly impossible to meet is because either they can’t make up their mind as to what would satisfy them or they simply can’t be satisfied. The "INSECTification" of the authors of "Satanic verses" and "Shame" in one of my recent write-up seems to have caused some enlightened, big-hearted, liberated souls quite a bit discomfort.
Apparently, my suggestion that we should be throwing flowers or bouquet, instead of "murtad" Fatwa or death sentence, was of no value. That I called upon Muslims to turn to flowers rather than sticks, guns, spears, swords or Fatwas was summarily challenged or rejected. So, can we make up our mind? Do we like this kind of Fatwa or bouquet? I have a feeling they would rather like to have Fatwa, instead of bouquet, because they need to have objects of bashing as part of their life. Wouldn’t bouquet, instead of Fatwa/death-sentence, be a fundamental cultural change?
Let others think as they like. But if we want to move beyond our current debacles, I would like to invite fellow Bangladeshis, of which 85%+ are Muslims, to understand and appreciate the importance of rising to the level where we can throw bouquet at those who revile Islam, rather than throw Fatwa/death-sentence at them.
I have to admit that I did not get myself the idea of throwing bouquet at those who hate, revile and bash Islam. It comes from the same "Rebel" who spoke against abuse or petty use of Fatwa long before those who have become concerned about Fatwa. I am also glad that I did not go too far by using expressions such as: vultures that seek out "decomposed corpses" (golito shob); bhut-pret (ghosts); hutom paycha (owl); rakhkhosh (monster); makrosha (spider); machhi (fly); pipilika (ant); those who seek kada (mud/dirt).
Actually, I do not deserve any of those accolades from those who have felt discomfort at the INSECTification of those who, driven by bigotry, hatred, intolerance and prejudice, cross all the limits of decency and empathy for others. Reviling and bashing Islam have become strongly fashionable and even incredibly profitable. Many of us do not have either the words or the ability to articulate well. I think the credits and accolades should be directed to the court of Kazi. I am referring to the Kazi who wanted to go "Khodar ashon arosh chhediya", who despised all abuses in the name of religion (including Islam) or petty use of Fatwa. He was one of the loudest voices of conscience against all abuses, whether in the name of religion or secularism, Hinduism or Islam. Just as he has seen and protested abuse in the name of religion (including Islam), he was also deeply offended by those who cross the limits of decency and fairness and revile Islam.
Is the problem Islam, or like in any other religion or ideology, abuse in the name of Islam? What did Kazi have to say? Well, he did not really address his feelings to those who revile Islam. He addressed the Muslims, especially Muslims of Bengal, of which we, the Bangladeshis, are a part. For all those, who were discomforted by my choice of the words (or INSECTification), now can properly direct their accolades where it is due. With due respect and humility, I must say that I am unworthy of those accolades, and therefore, I must return these to those who liberally offered it to me. Once again, I invite the Muslims, especially of Bangladesh and Bengal, to take seriously the message of Kazi about throwing bouquet, rather than anything else, to those who revile, and are prejudiced against, Islam and Muslims.
It would be inappropriate for me to put words in Kazi’s mouth. Here is what the Kazi told his fellow Muslims of Bengal. Muslims, please heed!
In Salutation of One God
Read the original: Ek
Allah Jindabad by Kazi Nazrul Islam
Translation: Mohammad Omar Farooq
[8/12/99]
[Note: It might be a good idea to read the Bangla original first. Also, my background in literary English is very limited and translating in rhymed structure makes it even more difficult. Any suggestion from more capable persons to improve this translation is more than welcome.]
Let them spread jealousy, prejudice and
defamation,
We will offer justice, peace and one God's proclamation.
Let them seek narrowness, pigeon-hole and mud
from pond,
We will seek open space, shining light and love's bond.
Let them seek slave's life, we seek martyr's honor,
They fear death; while we search - it's hiding in which corner?
They won't die; if battle starts, they will hide behind a bush,
Nail-less, toothless - still boisterous, busy in giving each other a push.
They are lifeless, yet move by vile selfishness and greed,
They are jinns, ghosts,
or mummies, from base desires can't be freed.
We are the new youth of Bengal; to wrestle with death we enjoy,
Due to grace we spare them, thinking them as fly,
ant or toy.
They are ever-skeptical about everything, also about human
progress in future,
These disbelievers are disciples of
Satan; pessimism and wrong vision they nurture.
They say, people will all be atheist, and anarchy is what they will bring,
We say, they will be believers, so that the song of heavenly bond they will
sing.
Let them seek unhappiness, we will seek His forgiveness and
love,
Let the ghosts seek graveyards, we will cherish the Garden from above.
People can see the west's experience, as punishment inflicted from Him,
And then turn away from more selfishness, singing peace and justice's hymn.
Let the owls
stay in their hole, expecting no more sunrise,
Crows won't attack them again, let it be their claw-and-beak's demise.
Believers never say such things, they seek ray of hope and light,
Standing up against oppression and suffering, the believers delight.
The believers say, if we all turned toward Him in unison,
Shower of His mercy will bring on this earth like daily Eid celebration.
From seven heavens these believers want to bring colorful rainbow,
God never withholds His bounties; When does He ever say "No?"
Those who seek mischief and unhappiness, exactly that they
will get,
Let them choose as they wish; on the path of our choice our foot will set.
They seek the kingdom of monsters, we want God's kingdom,
This world then would experience peace, joy and freedom.
Our Lord's treasure is ever full, we won't lack anything
anymore,
They want to fight over corpses like
vultures or wild boar.
May Allah save us all, so that we don't tread that path of doom,
One Allah is our Lord, His everlasting beauty you always see abloom.
All the vices in this world, let it disappear, let it go
away,
This world's darkness and hatred, may the ray of His love keep at bay.
From all the narrowness and prejudice may mankind's heart be free,
Let His light shine from every home under every blooming tree.
Those who foster riot to loot, they are greedy monsters or gangsters,
Path of goodness and virtue they won't see, they will bring only disasters.
They are ever after vice, they are ever after conflict,
Their life is devoid of rhythm, they are spoiled
corpse-addict.
By Allah's soldiers, they will surely be overcome, in future
that is near
These pirates - plunderer of crops and harvests - are ever so familiar.
They are spiders,
creatures of darkness; stay away from their home and den,
In abandoned corners lie their web, they haven't seen life's vibrant garden.
Believe in Allah, in one and only God, in day as well as night
Heavenly ride will be with you, with Allah's sword in hand to fight.
Those who want to pass their life in sleep and laziness' fashion,
They don't want moon or sun, they are living dead, bound for humiliation.
Whose dream is everlasting youth, come, come that new
generation,
Your sacrifice and work brought progress that are worthy of celebration.
Let them enjoy mud-slinging, their weapons are
malice and vilification,
We will throw bouquet
at them, and trumpet to one Allah our salutation.
[Source: Nazrul Rochonaboli, Vol. 3, pp. 344-345]