In the program “Live With Ghamidi” on Aaj TV
Every sensitive individual is troubled by our current national circumstances. The reality is that not only our country, but the entire Muslim community is facing a very dangerous situation. Sometimes I feel as if this community is like a large Lal Masjid, and all Muslims on a national level are doing exactly what transpired recently at Lal Masjid in Islamabad. If you observe its leaders, examine their methods and reasoning, and study the emotions and perceptions of its individuals, we see an almost identical situation unfolding.
In other words, how can this ongoing conflict—between religious groups and those labeled as secular, between governments and political factions, and among different segments of society—be brought to an end?
After years of contemplation on this issue, I have concluded that there are five things whose neglect has led to signs of conflict everywhere. Whether it is Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, or any other Muslim country, the absence of these five things has become the cause of conflict and internal discord. If these things are achieved, we can then emerge from our problems and proceed on the path of development.
The first thing is democracy. It is also a requirement of our religion, and as a result of its experiences, the world has also reached this conclusion that a democratic society is essential for human welfare. This means that the government should come into existence with the consent of the people, remain established with the consent of the people, and lose its legitimacy once deprived of that consent. No individual should be granted the right to break the constitution or take any actions beyond it. Any constitution, any code, any rule established on a national level should be regarded as a national covenant. All people should honor and respect it. It should be considered a sacred document, and setting it aside should not be tolerated under any circumstances.
True democracy is not just an ideal; it is our necessity. It is the only path through which conflicts can be resolved. By eliminating the element of violence from society, we can guide people toward a course where they seek change through persuasion rather than force—where they influence minds and shape opinions, creating the possibility of transformation through peaceful means. Change and social reform are fundamental human rights. Every individual aspires for the governance of their state to reflect their hopes and ambitions. The crucial question, then, is: What is the right way to achieve this? The answer lies in granting the nation its rightful authority—where every institution of the state submits to the will of the people. Parliament must hold true supremacy, and a democratic system should be established that fosters negotiation, encourages dialogue, and embraces differences with tolerance. Only then can religious groups, too, be persuaded that if they believe in a cause, they must engage with the people, win their hearts and minds, and bring about change through reason and discourse. When democracy is stifled, the door to violence inevitably opens. Deprived of peaceful avenues for expression, people resort to misguided methods to achieve their objectives.
The second crucial aspect is the education system, for it serves as the foundation upon which a nation is built. It is the educated class that shapes the intellectual and ideological direction of society, ultimately influencing the entire nation. Unfortunately, Pakistan lacks a unified education system. Instead, multiple parallel systems exist, and their number continues to grow. There is one system for religious education, another for secular education, a separate system for Urdu-medium instruction, and yet another for English-medium education. These fragmented educational structures have given rise to distinct social classes, each molded by its own curriculum, worldview, and priorities. It is precisely this division within the education system that has fractured the nation into isolated, often disconnected groups—hindering the development of a truly cohesive and unified society.
I believe that education up to the twelfth grade should be uniform under all circumstances. No one should be allowed to try to establish a parallel educational system in opposition to this. Children are the trust of the entire nation. They should all be provided with the same curriculum and environment. After this, when the opportunity to specialize arises, training should be given in specific fields. At that point, an appropriate division can be made, but the beginning of education should be from one place and according to one methodology. After the twelfth grade, children reach the age of awareness and can decide whether they want to become scholars, teachers, engineers, or doctors. Following this, as many private educational institutions as desired can be established to arrange education and training in specific sectors, but before this, there should be only one system of education. Until you decide on a unified educational system at the national level, the conflict in society cannot be resolved.
The third element is the institution of the mosque. This is a very large institution. In our religion, the Friday prayer is specifically related to the state. According to Islamic law, the pulpit of Friday payers is exclusive to Muslim rulers. It is their duty to deliver the sermon and organize the prayer. The purpose of this is to establish their connection with both society and God. We have entrusted this pulpit to the scholars. As a result, sectarianism has emerged. Consequently, fortresses of religious individuals have come into existence which has laid the foundation for the division of mosques. The institution of the mosque and the pulpit of Friday prayers, has now started becoming a source of violence and also a source of turmoil and chaos. The place that was very sacred to us as a house of worship, we are now determined to make it an arena of politics. Therefore, it is necessary to take it back from the scholars and entrust it to the state. Those in power should be reminded that the pulpit of Friday prayers was entrusted to them by the Prophet of God. Just as they perform other duties, similarly manage this pulpit so that it becomes a source of national unity and enables the state to fulfill its responsibilities.
The fourth aspect is the system of promoting good and preventing evil (Amr bil Ma‘ruf wa Nahi an al-Munkar). By this, I mean that institutions should be established under the government’s supervision, which awaken social awareness in people and arrange for their moral training. This is a task that can be entrusted to the scholars under the government’s guidance. As a result, it provides a channel for the scholars to become part of the state’s system and offer their services. If this is not done, the conflict between the religious and ruling classes will persist.
Every government desires to eradicate social evils. It aims to eliminate bribery, dishonesty, betrayal, deception, oppression, and other vices. In this regard, if the task of reform and education is entrusted to the scholars, then as a result, the scholars will also turn their attention to their religious duties, and there will be no conflict between them and the rulers. As for the action in cases of crimes, this responsibility should in all circumstances be entrusted to the police and judiciary. However, before and after that, scholars should be tasked with various functions of reform and education.
The fifth element is justice. If justice is absent in a country, there can be no trust established among individuals, among institutions, or between the government and the public. The decline of our judicial system is evident to everyone. Firstly, justice is scarcely available here, and if someone does receive it, it takes a lifetime. With the multitude of grievances people hold against this system, if it is not reformed, people’s unrest will continue to increase. If a proper system of justice is established in a country, gradually disputes begin to diminish.
These are the five things that, in my opinion, should become the subject of civil society. Intellectuals should establish a consensus on these, and every group should strive for them. If we succeed in attaining these, the path can be paved for the end of national and local conflicts.