Friday, 24 February 2017

Factors Behind Blasts at Imami and Sufi Shrines -An Analysis

Fig.2 An impressive building over Shabeeh and Zareeh of Imam Hussain at Khairpur, Sindh

Shrine of Imam Hussain at Khairpur(Sindh- Pakistan)
Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
The recent blast at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar should not only be perceived as an attack on Sufi ideology. Rather, the attack also needs to be analyzed against the backdrop of well-known affection of Sufis to Imam Ali and Ahlebait-e-Athar as well. Separatist forces in Pakistan have been bombing both Imami and Sufi shrines for the past several years. They consider the existence of these shrines and teachings of Imams and their Sufi followers as a barrier to their ongoing campaign to strike terror all over the world in the name of purifying Islam.

Such forces are now focusing on Sindh as the province has proved to be a safe zone for the admirers of Imam Ali who had taken shelter there following persecution from Umayyad and Abbasid rulers and the likes of them that followed later. As a result, Sindh has many Imami and Sufi shrines. Over centuries, these holy complexes have been used a center of learning and propagate the true tenets of Islam. Fanatics found the lectures and devotional practices delivered and observed at such shrines contrary to their beliefs based on the misinterpretation of the verses of Holy Quran and fabricated ‘Hadeeths’. Since their efforts have not at all reduced the popularity of Imami or Sufi shrines and they are frequented by hundreds of thousands of devotees on daily basis, followers of outfits like ISIS keep attacking them out of frustration.


Under such circumstances, it becomes incumbent upon those who believe in the teachings of Panjatan and Sufi orders who consider Maula Ali as the source of their origin to initiate campaign to preserve the composite culture. The survivors of terrorist attacks have repeatedly shown exemplary courage after each such tragic raids on their processions or complexes. The caretakers of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar Dargah deserve salute for restarting ‘Dhamaal’ within few hours after the blast. Their courage reminds the courage exhibited by processionists of a Muharram procession who continued to march ahead while blood-stained dead bodies of their counterparts lay on the street after the blasts in Peshawar. This courage comes to them being the flag-bearer of Karbala Revolution. They know that Imam Hussain had offered sublime sacrifice at Karbala to shook the conscience of man and make him aware of what is good or bad for humanity? Hence their spirit is not dampened by repeated attacks on the shrines they love and visit. Rather, each terrorist attack propel them to take a fresh vow to keep frustrating the anti-humanity approach of those who had raised the cry of Allah- Ho- Akbar after martyring Imam Hussain-the grandson of Holy Prophet. And their existing followers are now killing innocent people with Allah-Ho-Akbar on their lips. All true followers of Islam should feel obligatory on their part to protect shrines associated with Imams and their saintly followers in whatever way is possible for them and counter the ideology of fanatics vehemently.  (References available on request. Photo Courtesy Google Images)

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