In a survey some time back, the British Muslims were asked:
Do you consider yourselves British first and Muslims then, or Muslims first and British then?
93% replied “Muslims first”.
This sort of response in such overwhelming numbers shocked most of Britishers who were quick to raise doubts about the loyalties of British Muslims.
Then a leading analyst came out with an interesting finding.
“If the people of Pakistan are asked a similar question,” he said, “90% are going not to think twice before making known their answer. Muslims first.”
“Meaning thereby,” the analyst continued, “that whatever be their nationality, location or citizenship, the followers of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) are bound together in brotherhood, and prefer to be recognized more as Muslims than as any other identity.”
Some ‘learned’ critics of this point of view may come up with arguments to the effect that “if there is any unquestionable truth in the universal brotherhood of Islam, why have they so frequently engaged in feuds, combats and sustained acrimony?”
The answer to this line of argument is quite simple. Don’t sons of the same father quite often confront each other in matters of ego and self-interest?
These matters apart —I mean the matters of ‘ego’ and ‘self-interest’, the recognized measure of determining ‘identity’ cannot be challenged. Among those who bow before one God, follow one Prophet, and obey one command (Al Quran), there is a universal bond that has stood the test of time till today.
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