Identity in enigma
"Say what is true, although it may be bitter and displeasing to people." (Baihaqi)
When ever I went to pakistan during my summer vacations, I attended weddings, casual parties, family get-togethers, etc. Pakistan is known to the world as ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN. We have a culture, a tradition from our ancestors. But those cultures are now sinking deep below without an identity .We haven’t stopped following it we have just added a bit more to our culture to make it look “enlighted moderation” rather “history or paki tradition/culture”
Below is my frame of reference of how our revered culture is slightly transicted. In addition I am mentioning customs that have been prevailing in every corner on a large scale.
Innovation in worship 
(O Prophet) say (to the Polytheists): "Call on those - besides Him -whom ye fancy: they have neither the power to remove your troubles from you nor to change them." (Quran: Bani Israel, 6)
Those whom they call upon do desire (for themselves) means of access to their Lord, - even those who are nearest, they hope for His Mercy and fear His Wrath. (Quran: Bani Israel, 6)
In the same vein was the following prayer of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam): "O Allah; Do not let my grave be made into an idol to which worship may be offered." (Malik)
Fun or Nafs-satisfaction?
Basant is a derivation of hindus. You can read it here : http://www.alhudapk.com/audio-video/presen...sant/basant.pps
The Prophet MOhammad SAW said" He who imitates others (other nations ) will not be amongst us" ( Tirmidhi)
From another riwayah from Musnad Ahmed the hadith goes
The Prophet Mohammad SAW said" Whoever Imitates ( the practices) of another nation will not be amongst us"
From Mehndi (henna ceremony) to Rukhsati (farewell of bride to in-laws)
Celebration during marriages is not forbidden. But wearing specific yellow clothes in mehndi, dancing and singing without segregation values is not what is Sunnah neither is it appreciated in Islam. Keeping Qur’an on the head of the bride so that she receives blessing and protection doesn’t count. Then Kheer chataye ritual. Astaghfirullah. Where did this come from?
My nana tells me that when he got married, no women dared to step in men section. Where are these values?
I have attended weddings of my friends. They had mehndi. Believe me our eyes were relieved to see everyone in colored dresses than just one yellow. What is known as ‘mastee’ we did that too. But there were only females and no males to stare. In my life, uptil now, I never had so much fun in weddings than these 2. All of us who take hijab felt more comfortable and enjoyed as we could take off our hijabs. More than that the bride and groom were at peace that their first step towards their new life is not inviting Allah’s Wrath. Simple and a wedding which symbolize ISLAM is definitely more pleasing in the sight of Allah.
Few of the stupid customs of Pakistan are :
- Baby shower
- Rasam of shab-e-baraat
- Bride throwing rice on her family before her rukhsati
- Huge dowry in marriage and huge expenditures for grand marriages
“Carrying your Quran will never take the place of reading it”
“The best thing to do with the Quran is to know it in the head, stow it in the heart, sow it in the world, and show it in the life”
thankx to google for the images :D
8 comments:
AssalamuAlikuM!
MashAllah kewll blog yaar ;) !!!
I agree wid everyting..!! The basant pic sukdd!! I mean like the women doing dancing sukdd!! Seriously!! stupid ppl nd the gurl wearing the red suit is not ony d oing bad stuff but she is insulting the BEST color RED !!! :@
Seriously!!
JazakALLAH hu Khair
MassalaM
Well the Indian culture is OUR culture, it has been this way for hundred of years. I dont think there's anything wrong with that, but I do think there should be drawn a fine line between cultural events and religious events eg celebrating 'Diwali'. I dont think there's any harm in celebrating cultural events that doesnt inflict with our religion, meaning we dont celebrate/do something that is clearly not according to the Islamic teachings.
All the weddings I have attended in Pakistan, have all been organized in that way that women and men sit seperately. The ones you speak of is most definitely 'advanced and modern' families - those who have adapted 'western way of living'.
And far as mehndi is concerned, I dont think anything's wrong with that - unless it is goes against the restriction and rules of Islam.
subhana..we are muslims. our identity is ISLAM than pakistan.
Islam is living code not RULES AND RESTRICTIONS. Qur'an says that this book has been sent to MANKIND.What was disapproved by Qur'an and disliked by Prophet is obviously wrong. isnt it?
wen Prophet says that do not copy other nations..why do we wear yellow? This is AGAINST islam. Walima isnot against islam because Prophet himself did walima on his wedding.
Today we celebrate valentines, mothers day fathers day blah blah to show islam is flexible. tell me how many non-muslims wake up in the mornig and come to pray Salatul eid?
WE ARE COPYING them subhana. and we are wrong. Our life is not according to Qur'an & this should be accepted
no i havent attended modern families wedding. i have these type of weddings wear i have seen girls wearing nakaab outside and in thier amily wedding all hijab off and shaking hands and touching cousins.
This is the majority of pakistan.
Rules and restrictions shape our life hence it is a way of living also. And speaking about Mehndi, I wasnt specifically pointing out the yellow color. Mehndi is just a rasam, we can do the exact same, without calling it Mehndi, without publically announcing it, then I'd like people to say ke its wrong. Also, Mehndi isnt declared haraam, hence its not haraam. Also, if it was haraam, how come its so common in the Arab world? And how exactly are we copying other nations by doing Mehndi? This ceremony has existed for hundred of years.
The Prophet PBUH said himself that 'khushi ka izhaar zaroor karo'. And if that means doing it in terms of a rasam, I cant see why thats wrong :s.
Also, I didnt talk about Valentine's Day etc since they are newer set of traditions that just recently have been adapted. They dont reflect our CULTURE or RELIGION at all, and have just become a way of wasting money etc.
Yes religion is our identity, BUT culture is a part of our identity too. If nationality should set us apart from other Muslims, how come culture cant?
"Ye all people, We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so as you may get to know each other. The dearest to God amongst you are those who fear Him most." (49:13)
I dont want to argue but I dont see any harm in culture unless it goes against the teachings of Islam.
my dear friend first of this isnt an argument its a discussion. I dont argue much either.
Mehdi isnt rong. I mentioned in my post my frends weddings had mehndi. What is done in menhdi is rong. Larkey larkiyun key dances and singing together. Wearing specific yellow clothes.
Muhammed ibn Hatib al-Jumahi (ra) narrates:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The distinction between what is lwful and what is unlawful is the song and the tambourine at a wedding."
Tirmidhi 3153
also
“… And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad SA) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it),…” (V.59: 7)
First of all wonderfully beautiful post… amazingly written and everything…
Then I have to agree with Mr. Waqas that when Pakistan became independent it was very religious… infact it became independent b’coz we could not follow the Indian culuture, values and their way of treatment now everyone is talking about how similar the culture… before we could make out the difference between a Pakistani and an Indian now here n the streets of dubai u look at Pakistanis or Indians u c no difference both are dressed in a manner in which u would never want to c a muslim dressed… I am not saying that is true for everybody but to a large extent it is true… and don’t get me wrong I have nothing against Indians infact two of my best friends are Indian muslims and I think that their faith is so strong eventhough they do not belong to a muslim nation… because for them ofcourse islam comes first and only then does India come into the picture… and as for the mehndi and these other rasams on the wedding are concerned like comicsans said why wear yellow that’s an innovation… and like u said subhana ofcourse it is alright to have these rasams as long as it is not wastage of money and as long as it remains in the boundaries of islam… and as long as the rasams are not borrowed from other religions because that is a very big sin… also subhana these kinds of wedding where men and women mix are very common now… my family is one of the more religiously inclined families and eventhough the men and women are separated do u think that now no man would dare enter then woman’s area or no woman dare enter the men’s area without full hijab… no its not like that at all… of course I’m not saying that no family must be following that but it is also becoming a rarity
Post a Comment