Faith betrayed

July 17, 2005

By Amar Jaleel

Our society is neither conservative nor liberal. It’s a confused one



FAITH is a multi-meaning word. It is not restricted to a person’s faith in religion alone. It is a diverse word employing more than one definition. It indicates a person’s faith in dispensation of justice in his own country. Clean judicial system assures him that he shall neither be wronged nor robbed of his legal rights. Financial institutions will not swindle him. He will not be deprived of his hard-earned property. His right to employment, food and shelter will not be denied to him. His right to cast his vote freely will be assured to him. He will not be hindered in the expression of his opinion on the functioning of the state. His right to differ will be honoured. All these beliefs and expectations of a person derive credibility from neat and clean judicial system, and fortify his faith in the country.

Without answering whether people conserve faith in judiciary and executive of the country, look at the quality of life people are obliged to live in Pakistan. When burglars barge in, ruffians rob people at gunpoint, someone is abducted for ransom, someone is murdered in cold blood, someone is cheated and swindled, do they approach the police for help and assistance? People avoid going to police stations for the registration of complaints. The avoidance testifies their betrayed faith in the executive. Civil suits require of the aggrieved person patience and perseverance of saints and Sufis, a far-fetched criterion for a mortal. The distressed person dies leaving behind in heritage perpetually pending cases for his kith and kin to endure for the rest of their lives. There is no sense in asking people if they have faith in the judiciary. In certain situations attitudes, not words, give vent to the feelings. They have found out ways and means for settling their accounts. But, there can’t be an alibi for faith betrayed.

In its ordinary sense too word faith has multifarious meanings. Haven’t you heard people say, “I have faith in such and such doctor.” Or “I have faith in homeopathy.” The selectors had tremendous faith in Hanif Mohammed’s ability to open the innings at the age of 17 against the lethal pace attack of the West Indies. A faithless friend often turns an avowed foe. A faithful friend stands firmly by your side through trials and tribulations.

When related to religion faith betrayed becomes a sensitive subject. It turns out to be touchy. It irritates and infuriates some. Even educated and well-read persons do not reconcile to the subject. They react violently. Putting academic approach at bay they issue verdicts against a person who expresses his personal opinion on a prohibited issue. They ask for his head. In a conservative society a person’s right to differ or his expression of dissent is thrown to the winds. You just can’t hold your own opinion. If you do, then you are excommunicated. You are stoned to death.

I am not prepared to believe that ours is a conservative society. By any definition it is a totally liberal, rather wayward society. We do not have bars, but people in posh localities drink like fish in personal and private bars within their residences. Our have-nots are drug addicts. Call girls and prostitutes are easily available commodities. Bribery, kickbacks, and illegal gratifications have become accepted norms. Faith clearly forbids them from indulging in sinister activities. But, they do. It is an unambiguous example of faith betrayed.

Our society is neither liberal nor conservative. It is a confused society. How deep, how unwavering is the faith of the people is hard to assess. An investigation into the firmness of faith among the people who indulge in financial and moral corruption, and all sorts of vices, will leave you bewildered. They turn out to be diehard adherents of religious rituals. They repeatedly perform Haj and Umra. They may not observe fast during the month of Ramazan, but regularly throw lavish Iftar parties followed by Taraweeh prayers on the lush green lawns of their palatial villas. They donate generously to the orphanages, charitable hospitals, free clinics, and schools. They regularly visit the shrines of the departed saints and Sufis. They always remain in constant communion with living dervishes they believe possess supernatural powers, and an eye that accurately penetrates into the coming events. They in a way compensate their omissions with commissions.

Bara Markets in Pakistan are heaven for selling and buying smuggled and stolen goods. The vendors usually happen to be bearded persons who keep rotating a rosary in the hand. Some of them display mehrab (black patch) on the forehead indicating how devotedly they bow down before Allah. They shutdown business briefly for four times daily for offering prayers. How could you assess the depth of the faith of such people?

It is not within the purview of this study to sit in judgment upon other people’s faiths and beliefs. We have tried to understand fickle-mindedness of man, and his indecision to follow faith in its spirit, or leave it. Fear of unknown tosses him between vice and virtue, a torturous phenomenon that wrecks from within.