As my research fellowship in Islamabad is coming to an end, I wanted to share some of the best experiences I’ve had across Pakistan over the past 6 months 🇵🇰
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I attended a friend’s wedding in Karachi last year, particularly enjoying the live qawwali music. This also gave me the chance to do some sightseeing in the city and try different meals on the incredible Burns Road. The beauty of Karachi is in its diversity.
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Most of my preferred activities are sports-related, and one of the best was rock climbing in the Margalla Hills near Saidpur. Highly recommend doing through on Insta for a safe and supportive instructor!
My favourite hikes were Mushkpori Top and the Pipeline Track near Ayubia, both being within a reasonable distance of Islamabad. Incredible views, with sites of historic interest.
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ThinkFest in Lahore is held each year and it’s a really great opportunity to hear about some of the newest, important books coming out and from scholars on pertinent issues today. So glad I got to chair @akkhan81’s book launch!
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As a keen runner, I took part in the Islamabad half marathon. ‘Islamabad Run With Us’ organise this every year (full and half marathon, 10km and 5km distances) and they also hold weekly events for people of all abilities. A welcoming and pioneering group!
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Living in Pakistan does have its challenges, no doubt. But I was able to move around independently and safely without any issues, whether by taxi in the major cities or by bus and train between cities.
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The second para of the Qur’an (2:142-252) contains a great deal of detailed commandments about what is and what is not within the ‘limits’ prescribed by God. These relate to general conduct, prayer, pilgrimage, Ramadan, warfare, inheritance, marriage and divorce.
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But first, more details about Allah and the Prophet (PBUH).
The oneness (tawhid) of Allah, a key principle of Islamic theology, is stated in 2:163: ‘Your God is only One God. There is no god worthy of worship except him.’
This is a statement of monotheism central
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to the Islamic declaration of faith (shahada), which emphasises the importance of it to Islam.
Allah is presented as forgiving of wrongdoers who repent (2:159-60) and as not counting as sin those transgressions motivated by necessity rather than intention (2:173, 2:225).
I’ve read two fascinating books by Pakistanis written in the 1960s.
1. Khalid B. Sayeed’s 2nd ed. of ‘Pakistan: The Formative Phase, 1857-1948’
I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in how Pakistan came about, esp re the fluctuating relationships between the
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British, Congress and the Muslim League, as well as much detail about their negotiations about the constitution of an independent India.
The role of Jinnah and the wider League in bringing about Pakistan is widely noted, but Sayeed also accounts for criticisms of both
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and the continuation of the British Viceregal system after the creation of Pakistan.
His book is also relatively nuanced in terms of levelling criticism against all parties, regardless of religion, in creating Hindu-Muslim animosity.
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Pakistani Muslims ko Eid Mubarak ho 🌙
To finish up my Ramadan daily threads on the Qur'an, I'd like to share the main things I learned and took away from reading the whole Qur'an throughout the sacred month as a non-Muslim.
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1. Charity, kindness and empathy
These are celebrated as some of the greatest virtues and those who practice them are praised throughout. The religion is in itself empathetic, making exceptions to its expectations of prayer and charity based on personal circumstance.
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2. Stories of the Prophets
In many of the Surahs, the stories of the Prophets are repeated, primarily showing how they were ignored by their contemporaries which brought about the downfall of their nations.
Turning back to history to reflect on the present.
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Thoughts on final Para 30 (78:01-114:06):
I have to admit that it wasn't always easy, given work, life and travel, to commit to reading the Qur'an everyday this Ramadan, but I'm glad I did. I've learned a lot from it and from others who have done the same, so shukriah 🙏 1/9
By my reckoning, the names of most of the Surahs of this Para relate to at least one of the following themes: 1. Day of Judgement 2. Unbelief 3. God's attributes and interventions 4. Comforting Muhammad (PBUH).
I'll highlight one significant example of each.
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1. Day of Judgement:
In Surah 'Al-Ma'un (Alms) - 'Have you thought of him that denies the Last Judgement?' Woe to those 'who make a show of piety and forbid almsgiving' (107:01-7).
To me, this is a reminder of the importance of charity in Islam as a key tenet of faith.
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Just watched the compelling Pakistani film, 'Khuda Kay Liye.'
Coincidentally, a court scene in this film depicts a Maulana defending the place of music, among other things, in Islam, quoting from an ayat I discussed in today's Para for Ramadan. 1/6 m.imdb.com/title/tt106895…
The Maulana refers to 38:18-9 of the Qur'an and even cross-references it with the Bible, to show how the prophet David was given the gift of a melodious voice and music. This is part of a wider scene that challenges the misuse of Islam in relation to marriage and lifestyle.
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Released in 2007, the film captures the demonisation of Pakistanis and Muslims after 9/11, and those mistaken to be Muslims (e.g. Sikhs), as well as their arrests based on hearsay.
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Thoughts on Para 23 (36:22-39:31):
Some earlier themes reappear in this Para, and I'd like to draw your attention to two in particular: 1. Muhammad (PBUH) and his association with poets 2. The concept of sound before the Day of Judgement. 1/8
In terms of Muhammad (PBUH) and poets, you will recall the earlier Surah 26 named 'Ash-Shu'ara' (The Poets). The criticism of poets makes sense in the context of this Para, as the unbelievers question giving up their current faith for God's:
'Are we to renounce our gods
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for the sake of a mad poet?' (37:36)
The Qur'an separates Muhammad (PBUH) from poets:
'We have taught him no poetry, nor does it become him to be a poet' (36:69).
Therefore, Qur'anic criticism of poets is to separate Muhammad (PBUH) from the profession to undermine those
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