Pervez Musharraf: 'Islam is taught by an obscurantist and illiterate
segment'
>From an address to the nation by the President of Pakistan, broadcast
live on national television
Published: 25 July 2005
There is no issue over religion in Pakistan. In Pakistan, there are
98 per cent Muslims. Pakistan is an ideological Islamic state. It has
been created for the Muslims of this region. Islam is in our blood,
it is our spirit, our life, it is our existence and no one should
have any doubt about it. The question is not of being a good or bad
Muslim, only Allah Almighty knows this. The question is which and
what Islam Pakistan should have.
Is it Islam of ignorance, or that of the Taliban, which pushes us
towards darkness, or Islam of old rituals? Or is it Islam of lofty
ideals, strong character and the one that guides us in our duties to
society and the country?
Islam is more than a religion, it is a way of life and is a religion
which makes us realise our duties towards people more than our duties
towards Allah Almighty. Islam preaches peace, progress, prosperity,
enlightenment and moderation. Our extremists and ritual-minded
religious elements fully ignore these lofty ideals of Islam. They
instead want to portray Islam as a religion which allows extremism
and, by doing this, they are creating a distorted image of Islam.
What has happened during the past 25 years has divided Pakistani
society into three parts. One part of society has an illiterate and
obsolete approach towards Islam, while the other is enlightened and
educated and has an enlightened and progressive approach towards
Islam. And the third part comprises people who are less educated, and
are confused about the religion as to what Islam is.
Is it a religion that teaches terrorism and extremism or the one
which is of lofty ideals and advocates noble character?
Unfortunately, the enlightened people whohad a progressive approach
to Islam left the task of teaching Islam to the obscurantist and
illiterate segment. The people, therefore, were unable to get proper
guidance about Islam.
It is our duty to free Islam from the shackles of these ignorant
people and take it to its real essence. And it is also necessary
because the illiterate and obscurantist elements always fail to catch
up with the time.
There is no issue over religion in Pakistan. In Pakistan, there are
98 per cent Muslims. Pakistan is an ideological Islamic state. It has
been created for the Muslims of this region. Islam is in our blood,
it is our spirit, our life, it is our existence and no one should
have any doubt about it. The question is not of being a good or bad
Muslim, only Allah Almighty knows this. The question is which and
what Islam Pakistan should have.
Is it Islam of ignorance, or that of the Taliban, which pushes us
towards darkness, or Islam of old rituals? Or is it Islam of lofty
ideals, strong character and the one that guides us in our duties to
society and the country?
Islam is more than a religion, it is a way of life and is a religion
which makes us realise our duties towards people more than our duties
towards Allah Almighty. Islam preaches peace, progress, prosperity,
enlightenment and moderation. Our extremists and ritual-minded
religious elements fully ignore these lofty ideals of Islam. They
instead want to portray Islam as a religion which allows extremism
and, by doing this, they are creating a distorted image of Islam.
What has happened during the past 25 years has divided Pakistani
society into three parts. One part of society has an illiterate and
obsolete approach towards Islam, while the other is enlightened and
educated and has an enlightened and progressive approach towards
Islam. And the third part comprises people who are less educated, and
are confused about the religion as to what Islam is.
Is it a religion that teaches terrorism and extremism or the one
which is of lofty ideals and advocates noble character?
Unfortunately, the enlightened people whohad a progressive approach
to Islam left the task of teaching Islam to the obscurantist and
illiterate segment. The people, therefore, were unable to get proper
guidance about Islam.
It is our duty to free Islam from the shackles of these ignorant
people and take it to its real essence. And it is also necessary
because the illiterate and obscurantist elements always fail to catch
up with the time.
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