Syeda Mazhar
Religion is frequently a factor in international conflict. It is rarely the principal cause of conflict, even when the opposing groups are differentiated by religious identities. But it is a contributing factor to conflict in places as diverse as the South Asia and especially where intolerance buds on the basis of religion.
At the same time, religion can be invaluable in promoting understanding and reconciliation, and it can provide a basis for peace-building efforts. The potential for leveraging religion as a positive force in conflict prevention, management, and resolution has never been greater than in today’s world, where religion plays an increasingly powerful role in shaping local and international politics, as well as public opinion.
Religion is often considered a taboo subject by polite visitors to conflict zones. It’s too sensitive and it conjures too many strong feelings. It’s too easy to say the wrong thing and offend someone. The advent of Pakistan was on the basis of promoting interfaith harmony amongst the people of the subcontinent.
Islam being a religion of peace encourages tolerance towards the people of different faith. The founder of Pakistan promoted peace, forgiveness, tolerance and love through their teachings and deeds. Analyzing the present state of interfaith frictions in Pakistan, he emphasized that if leaders and scholars of all religions do not strive for religious and sociocultural harmony in the country the next generations will not forgive us. He said multiple misperceptions exist among followers of different religions about one another which should be removed by enhancing interaction and dialogue among religious communities.
The followers of different religions had been living together in subcontinent in peace and harmony for thousands years and never faced the kind of problems we have today. Christians and other minorities also worked for establishment of Pakistan. It is argued that religion is used as a tool to discriminate and commit violence against minorities in Pakistan whereas the real factors are largely political and sociocultural. It is important to address discriminatory aspects of education curricula and media.
Pakistan belongs to all those who are living in it including minorities, who are ensured to live a liberated life in Pakistan. They are given proper rights and the luxury to follow and practice their own religion without any sort of interference from the government. However the view that interfaith harmony cannot be achieved in Pakistan without addressing some structural problems like interpretation of religion, relationship between religion and politics, legitimacy/illegitimacy of violence, provision of security by the state and overstretched role of clergy, is of immense importance.
Even if the minorities of Pakistan are enjoying the benefits of a first class citizen as promised, it has become mandatory to acknowledge the smallest and slightest of the discomfort experienced by them in our country. The promotion of harmony and tolerance is vital as Islam provides a comprehensive and unprecedented arrangement for protection of rights of minorities that should be implemented in Pakistan in its true letter and spirit.
The lack of education and understanding of other religions is a basic hurdle in establishing harmony among the followers of different faiths. Changing attitudes on tolerance in the short term is difficult, so policy interventions should focus less on changing particular beliefs about other groups and more on changing the norms that govern behaviors. Islamic clerics could be among elites especially well-suited to shaping such norms in general and norms concerning interfaith interactions in particular.
Sectarian violence in Pakistan cannot be divorced from an evolving political context that has witnessed the passing of laws that discriminate on the basis of religion and that have gradually redefined the notion of national identity along an increasingly sectarian basis. Efforts must be devoted to initiating a broader national dialogue to sensitise Pakistanis, including clerics, on the contributions that members of minority communities have made to Pakistan.
In Pakistan, Christmas season is an opportunity of Christians to share the peace of Christ with their Muslim neighbors. Christians share cakes and sweets and exchange gifts as well with their Muslim friends. Churches and Christian organizations arrange special Christmas dinners and invite government officials. Almost all mainstream Muslim political parties try to send delegates with cakes to offer Christmas greetings before or during Christmas services. The midnight Christmas Eve service thus has become an opportunity for efforts toward building peace and harmony between Muslims and Christians.
The joyful spirit of this day is more delightful than any other holiday. The celebrations of the day are increased two folds when it is shared with the birth of the founder of Pakistan. On the streets, the youth and the elders, the muslims and the minorities alike ignite fireworks to enjoy the auspicious day with their fellow countrymen and the others the holidays it brings along with it.
