Mohd. Siddiqur Rahman :
Consequent upon the unbecoming remarks by ousted minister Abdul Latif Siddique series of punitive actions have been taken against him. He made derogatory speech at a gathering at Jackson Heights in New York on September 28, 2014. He said he was dead against Hajj and Tabligh Jamaat and so forth sparking countrywide protests and demonstrations demanding his removal from the cabinet and legal actions for hurting the religious sentiments of the Muslims. This is highly appreciative that the government has been sincerely stepping up with appropriate and timely actions over this sensitive issue.
At the time of addressing the assembly, he said, “I am dead against Hajj and Tablig Jamaat. I am more against the Hajj and Tabligh Jamaat than Jamaat-e-Islami. It is sheer waste of money and manpower. Some 20 lac people have gone to Saudi Arabia. They have no work to do. It is deduction of money rather than production. They are spending and consuming. They are taking the country’s money to Saudi Arabia. He further said Muhammad (SM) has introduced the Hajj as a means of livelihood for Arabs who were robbers.” This indiscreet piece of speech is indeed an act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for Allah (SWT), to religious or holy persons or things, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable and qualifies as blasphemy on our religion.
Some countries have laws to punish the religious blasphemy while others have laws that allow those who are offended by the blasphemy to punish the blasphemers. Blasphemy law in Bangladesh under section 295A of Bangladesh’s Penal Code (1860),any person who has a “deliberate” or “malicious” intention of “hurting religious sentiments” is liable to imprisonment.
Under clauses 99 (a),(b),(c),(d),(e), and (f) of The Code of Criminal Procedure,” the government may confiscate all copies of a newspaper if it publishes anything subversive of state or provoking an uprising or anything that creates enmity and hatred among the citizens or denigrates religious beliefs. The magistrate can send police with a warrant to place where these newspapers are found. The aggrieved person can take the matter to the notice of the high court. Under clause 108, “a magistrate can ask for an undertaking from a person who has made an attempt to express anything seditious or create class-conflict.” Clause 144 allows a magistrate to forbid a journalist from going to his place of work.
Nevertheless, in response to the Latif Siddique’s comments on Prophet Muhammad (SM), Hajj and Islam, I would like to come up to the loving readers with a few words on them as furnished hereunder: 1) Prophet Muhammad (SM) – Allah (SWT) chose Muhammad (SM) to be His last Prophet for the guidance of the whole mankind. The Holy Qur’an is Allah’s final message to this world which was revealed to Muhammad (SM) between the years 610 and 632 as complete code of life .He is the answer to the prayer of Prophets Abraham and Ishmael , peace be upon them .”Our Lord, appoint from among them (residents of Makkah) a messenger who shall recite to them your revelations and teach them the book and the wisdom, and purify them; surely you are the All Mighty, the wise.” Al-Qur’an 2:129.
2) Hajj-The fifth pillar of Islam is the Hajj, or pilgrimage. It is the journey to Makkah which every sane, adult must undertake at least once in their lives if they can afford it. Over two million people go to Makkah each year from almost all the countries of the world. In fact it is a peace conference at the world level.
The Hajj or Pilgrimage to Makkah makes us feel the magnitude of everything by stripping away all our status ,wealth and pride . In the Hajj, we are all truly equal.
3) Islam- Tabligh Jamaat is supporter of Islam believing in one God and all the prophets sent down to earth with His message for mankind. Islam is an Arabic word which means peace, submission and obedience. It also means acceptance and commitment to abide by the teachings and guidance of God. Islam also means to be at peace with God and His creatures. Being at peace with God implies complete submission to His will, who is the source of all purity and goodness.
Being at peace with His creatures implies living in peace within one’s self, with other people and with the environment. Thus Islam is a total system of living in peace. Islam is the same message and guidance which God revealed through all His Prophets to every people throughout the history of mankind. One who follows Islam is called a Muslim (an Arabic word which means, the one who submits to the will of God).
There are about 7.125 billion (2013) people around the globe who belong to different religions including about 1.57 billion (2011) Muslims, of them some worship fire, some the sun or the moon, some are idol worshippers and some have accepted Christianity , Judaism and Buddhism. From the time immemorial, history reveals diversity in the belief of God and His creations.
Islam teaches that diversity among human beings is sign of God’s mercy and no one has superiority based on one’s colour, language or nationality. Islam promotes the brotherhood of man, toleration of one another, sympathy for the unfortunate and cooperation for general human happines. May Allah grant us ability to follow His teachings and guidelines and live in peace, prosperity and happiness throughout our life.
(Mohd. Siddiqur Rahman, Ex Country Manager of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Frankfurt, Germany.)
