“Your Contributions To Our Society(?)”

In response to the write-up “Talking About Muslims Is A Fashion” a gentleman observes: “When you know what the problem is, then do suggest your solutions. Also we would like to be inspired by your real life contributions. It’s very easy to highlight problems but equally difficult to cite your personal contributions. We all are aware of the practice amongst us that you have mentioned in your post, but it has more credibility coming from someone who is an example for others. I would love to know your contributions to our society.”

Unfortunately, I have no answer to this question. And the respectable gentleman has to bear this disappointment. I am not able to contribute because I am an INCOMPLETE PRODUCT due to a faulty education system and two divergent streams of knowledge. My worldview is severely affected by the misconceptions prevalent in our society. I am constantly contradicting myself. When I cite a Qur’anic verse or quote a Hadeeth I forget the rest of the texts. And I quote only to prove myself right. I am habitual of supporting and opposing the same thing over and over again. I am so used to this practice that I do not even realize it.

I am not qualified because I consider a huge part of the world as the ‘enemies of Allah’. I am passionately waiting for a walk-over. Please do not expect any contributions because I haven’t learnt the art of turning problems into opportunities and negatives into positives. I am not qualified because I am intensely focused on numbers and this is what I would like to add more and more as much as possible. I am not the one to contribute anything as I am more comfortable among the like-minded people. And they are already like-minded. The outside circles are not my concern and I need not worry about them.

I am not quite aware of the problems of our society either. I am not able to diagnose what is wrong with it. Hence, I am disqualified even before applying for the job. If this is the case, how can anyone ask me to contribute anything? I should rather refrain from contributing because I may end up doing something wrong rather than helpful. Efforts should, therefore, be made to stop me from doing anything. Otherwise, it might endanger the future generations and the current generation may suffer some irreparable damages. Who will be responsible for this state of affairs if I am allowed to contribute?

Being brought up in an environment of a specific ideological leaning in the formative years of my life I am not able to come out of it. With the current presuppositions in my mind if ever I happen to step out of the boundary of that particular ideology the damages of it to the society will be incalculable. Hence, it is advisable that I toe the same line which is already expected from me. I am, therefore, happier and contented in my current assignment of allowing and maintaining the things as they are. Any efforts at altering them will obviously be counterproductive.

It is very difficult for me to contribute as I am not clear about what is the field of action and if there is a need for contribution. If I am not clear about what needs to be contributed, it is extremely dangerous to take up any such tasks. As a precautionary measure we should just stick to the status quo. This is the safest route and this is what I should most sincerely take to. We should just speed along that route and should shun any thoughts of slowing down a bit and asking any questions. This will hinder our journey and we will not be able to reach to our well known destinations before yesterday.

Instead of asking me about my contributions I should actually not be allowed to contribute as, being ill-equipped, I may further spoil the things. If still I am forced to contribute, I may write about the contribution of Muslims to the world civilization in the past and then stop there. I may write a book on the khidmaat of some previous luminaries without suggesting what needs to be done now for the flowering of human resources and excellence in our society. If obliged to contribute I may establish a VISION-less educational institution to produce INCOMPLETE PRODUCTS like myself. If forced to contribute even more, I may form a forum, a party or an organization to avail the natural opportunity of being its President or join an already existing outfit to become the Joint-Secretary. It might lead to other opportunities as well.

Apparently, the best option and course of action for our society is to continue with the existing discourse. It will allow many more qualified persons to continue working overtime in order to earn a lot of rewards in the Hereafter. It will gradually make the world Paradise-like. The world will become more and more Paradise-like in direct proportion to our indifference towards it. This seems to be almost absolutely certain. Let us not take any risks. It will be foolhardy, otherwise.

On the other hand, there is no need to contribute. Because we are already bereft of a clear VISION. Our Right Hands or the Left Hands are already empty. We don’t need anyone’s contribution because knowledge is already happily divided into ‘secular’ and ‘religious’ categories. No contributions are needed from anybody as Dunyaa is irrevocably divorced from Deen. All these tasks have been accomplished in style. Hence, all that we need to do is to sit and relax and enjoy the greatest luxury on earth – as opposed to performing the most difficult job on earth.

There is no need for any further contributions because we have already educated everybody well that knowledge is merely ‘knowing the known’. And it is already quite unknown that knowledge is ‘developing a coherent body of ideas and creatively reaching out to the unknown’. There is no need for any further efforts to incorporate Arabic in the curriculum for ALL Muslim kids as Urdu is already making “more sense”!