The Western world should digest this unpalatable truth that it’s dangerous to downplay the value of religious symbols and religious practices involving the Eastern world. However, the Muslim world needs to strike a healthy balance between the needs of modernity and display of religious belief in open. Long time back the Pakistan’s Cricket Board was in the line of fire of the hardliners when it came out with a very sensible advice in this regard. The PCB had then told the Pakistani team to be moderate in matters of faith in public places.
In my eyes such moderation could bring happy days for the Muslim fraternity placed in modern societies of the Western world. A slight change in perception could serve as an ideal gesture for the Muslim community. Or else, they will remain in constant conflict with people around. I wonder why it’s too hard for them to respect the sensibilities of people belonging to different culture? In sum, the Islamic scholars need to reshape their ideologies in the wake of changes which have hit the modern times. At the same time, the Western world don’t need to be cynical about the religious practices governing the Eastern religions.
Unfortunately, the Muslim community seem to have little respect for people involved in progressive talks. The Noble prize winner Shirin Ebadi demolishes myths powered by the Muslim hardliners without leaving anything to cocktail of chance. Her grudge that intellectuals of our times like to maintain a safe distance from the cause of people is a sad commentary on the state of affairs prevailing in the so-called “intellectual circles “. Yes, Muslim women need to be given a fair and dignified representation in the mainstream affairs to make Ebadi’s ideal world demanding ‘convergence’ of progressive and healthy elements reality, especially in the Muslim world. One wonders will Muslim community chasing illusionary and outdated dreams come to heed to her advice in a conscious way?
