Namoos-e-Risalat strikes at Lahore

All praise and thanks to Ar-Rahmaan. And blessings and peace upon the one sent not but as a mercy to the worlds.

Firstly forgive me that I have not strictly been able to get this post into the last week. It has been a bit busy with some pressure now on to complete my thesis corrections at the soonest. As a result this post will not be too long, insha'Allah.

Namoos-e-Risalat

This is the headline under which all discussion about the blasphemous cartoons has been taking place in Pakistan. Everyone in the government has been saying "free speech does not mean you can insult a religion". Thus in Lahore, Wednesday was supposed to be the day when no body would open shop in protest to the cartoons. However, some violent elements here began attacking (as you do) with the MacDonald's on the Mall Road, then the banks near buy and even the Provincial Assembly was scarred. The most sad bit, which I'm sure many of you may have seen on your Paki satellite channels is that the victims of this violence were ultimately the poor people who can only afford to come to work on motorbikes and the cheapest cars. All subject to arson. Thus, Lahori's are inflamed at the moment at these elements as to what this had to do with protesting against the Europeans... an editorial in one of the local Sunday papers reads: "Raped...". The guys at the centre of this are alleged to be some University students and GEO actually showed one of these guys with firing a live pistol. But something tells me that either this guy is a rich kid who will not be caught due to the contacts he has, else the police are going to provide him with a dispropotionate treatment only reserved for one's worst nightmares - to show their effeciency in dealing with the culprits. Either, nobody expects any justice to follow. Thus is the case of those who seem enraged by the aspersions cast upon "their beloved".

What puzzles me is how we lack consistency. Jeremy Hardy, and the writer of Old Nicks Tale (on one of the UK radio channels) and yes, Jeremy Springer - the musical, have taken numerous pot shots in broad daylight upon the One Who is even more beloved to us than that beautiful man, the Messenger (salllallahu alaihi wasallam). There are others who utter a word to which the Qur'an has testified the view of Allah as:

"Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing; Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins, That they ascribe a son (or offspring or children) to the Most Beneficent (Allâh)." [19:89-91].

Surely the insults that they hurl at Allah should not be tolerated as well? Any answers/comment?

And what many a disbeliever/misguided leader is doing by putting the believers to trial should have seen much more ardent protests from our governments. Why do the Muslim governments only feel now empowered to speak up against the treatment of Islam? Mind you it was Dec. time when some people from Denmark took this issue to the Middle East... why only now the lip service that is being paid to "the abuse of free speech"?

Allah knows best.

Other news

Have tried to get a study circle of the ground. Haven't been active in recruiting so much though. Found 1-2 people and thought that should be enough to at least get the ball rolling. Still early days and its not a circle that should "pull in crowds". Just attempting to go through An-Nawawi 40 Hadith.

Is it the time of the day (mid-afternoon) or is it yet again my ability to put people to sleep? May Allah have mercy on me and guide me. At the moment if I can maintain people's interest so that their eyes don't start drooping in front of me, I feel I've done something. Any tips?