Wifaq-Ul-Madaris: Exposing The True Face Of Terrorism – OpEd
Extremist violence has long been a catastrophic event in Pakistan, and organisations like Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JUA) have long had to rationalize their terrible acts under the banner of Islam.
All these groups misuse the name of Islam to pursue selfish and violent interests, and they twist the original message of Islam, peace and justice. They use religion to attract young and impressionable minds into thinking that violence and insurgency are a divine way. However, as a matter of fact, these extremists are way off from the real teachings of Islam, and in a real sense, they are the enemies of the very faith they profess to be.
The fundamentalism that is being spread by these organizations has completely crippled Pakistan and caused the pointless loss of life, including more than 94,000 innocent civilians. These groups have raided schools, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure, leading to the spread of fear and misery throughout the nation. What they are doing is completely against the same moral teachings that Islam preaches. The violence perpetuated by these groups is not condoned by Islam, which is a religion of peace, compassion, and justice. They are driven by power-hunger, manipulation, and a distortion of religious values.
The terrorists, who committed these atrocities, are neither Islamic nor human; they represent the ideology of the Khawarij- an extremist group that was condemned by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Prophet (PBUH) cautioned against these sects that would pervert the religion to serve their destructive, selfish purposes, and these extremist elements have been the very warning. Their bloodlust activities that are directed towards the innocent civilians, women, and children have nothing to do with the peaceful religion of Islam. They have deprived themselves of any sense of morality, abandoning human life in favour of a perverted idea of religion.
It is a very timely moment that Wifaq-ul-Madaris, the biggest confederation of religious seminaries in Pakistan, has spoken out once more; about extremism and violence of all kinds, it categorically denies at this crucial moment. According to its recent declarations, Wifaq-ul-Madaris has clearly dissociated itself with these violent groups and also reiterated its dedication to peace and moral growth. The organization has come out categorically to say that the real aim of madrasas is to advance information, virtue, and peaceful reform and not to breed violence and insurgency.
The position by Wifaq-ul-Madaris is the outright denial of the orthodox myth propagated by the extremists. It is a wakeup call that the real message of Islam is one of peace, justice, and coexistence. The new declaration noted that the armed struggle, terrorism, and violence practiced and advocated by extremist groups like the Khawarij are not only incongruous with the Islamic religion but also an insult to the moral and ethical teachings of the religion. Conversely, the madrasas, which are falsely portrayed as the schools of radicalization, are schools of knowledge and moral education, schools of promoting peace and harmony.
This message is not new. In 2010, Wifaq-ul-Madaris issued a statement publicly saying that the cause of Sharia can only be served by peaceful means and that any kind of violence is a breach of Islamic principles. During a conference held at Jamia Ashrafia in Lahore, it was established by the organization that the use of arms and violence to advance any agenda is not only illegal but also not Islamic. The opposite has been the case in the Khawarij, who have used violence to propagate their misconstrued understanding of Islam. They have caused the deaths of more than 94,000 innocent people, including untold numbers of women and children, and caused havoc in the same communities in the very same communities that they are supposed to protect.
Mufti Taqi Usmani, a highly regarded Islamic scholar in the world, has not been left out in this issue. He has made it very clear that as an Islamic state with an Islamic constitution, Pakistan is the representation of Islamic government in its pure form. Any rebellion against such a state is not just illegal but also haram (forbidden) in the Islamic religion. He has pointed out that defiance against a legal Islamic state is unjustifiable and should be denounced in the most severe way possible.
The stand of Wifaq-ul-Madaris, which denies inclination and use of violence, is a necessary move in protecting the future of Pakistan. The message is quite clear that extremism should not feature in the Pakistani society, and it is the duty of all religious scholars, institutions, and citizens to oppose such forces of destruction. Pakistan needs to reconnect with the real message of Islam and denounce the ideologies of violence, hatred, and terror that have left such disastrous effects.
The idea conveyed by Wifaq-ul-Madaris is also not very complex but at the same time very deep: Islam is a religion of peace, and the people who use it as an excuse to commit violence and terror are misinterpreting its teachings. The extremist groups have nothing to do with the violence they commit in the name of Islam or the real Muslims. These are not just groups that are enemies of the people of Pakistan, but they are also enemies of the faith they profess to uphold. As a nation, Pakistan needs to rise against extremism and ensure that we restore Pakistan based on peace, justice, and the real spirit of Islam.
To sum up, the position that Wifaq-ul-Madaris has adopted provides the hope of Pakistan, a hope that one day the nation would be peaceful, prosperous, and united under the teachings of true Islam. The fight against extremism is not merely a political contest, but a moral and it is a fight that should be undertaken by all citizens of the country, religious institutions, as well as leaders. As long as we resist these hate groups, we will be able to keep Pakistan a beacon of peace and a nation that embodies the real values of Islam.
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