Thanks Malala for exposing our double standards

Only a handful of people knew about 14 years old Malala Yousafzai, until she was shot in the head twice on her way back from school on Oct 9, 2012. Now, every one seems to talk about her. She has become a symbol of courage and a worldwide celebrity.

The media is abuzz with the tales of her defiance against adversity and prayers are being showered from all corners across all sections of humanity. This is because she was doing ‘Jihad’ against ignorance and darkness. But some people have found courage to see the things in a differing way. These people are complaining because they are never happy. Perhaps cynicism has no limits, and no cure.

I hope Allah answers our prayers and Malala survives. But she has done her part. Most of us come for nothing and die for no purpose. The world is a place to live because a handful are courageous enough to live a life for a cause and defy any odds which come their way. Malala is one of them. At a time when we, sitting hundred miles away from Swat valley, were frightened at the prospect of so-called Taliban knocking at our doors, she decided to speak up. She did not stop even when she was threatened. She expressed what she thought was right. And she paid the price.

As Muslims, we know that ‘ilm’ or knowledge is of paramount importance in Islam. Our beloved Prophet (PBUH) said: “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.” He also advises us to seek knowledge from cradle to grave. And this is not just restricted to Islamic education, which is off course a must for every Muslim, because in another Hadith the Prophet (PBUH) says: “Seek knowledge, even if it is in (faraway) China.”

Now in that backdrop, think of those who oppose girls’ education in the name of Islam. Their interpretation of Islam, which is not endorsed by any renowned school of Islamic fiqh, requires that women remain illiterate so that they could impose their will over the society, as illiterate women means illiterate society. It is easier to deride and drive ignorant masses.

We know that he who dies in the quest of knowledge is a martyr in Islam. So those who ridicule or devalue Malala’s role actually serve the purpose of her to-be killers. A ridiculous argument circulating on social media is that why so much importance is being given to Malala while hundreds of children have died in drone attacks and Taliban bombings. Malala was not killed as part of collateral damage during a suicide bombing or a drone attack; she was targeted specifically for a purpose. Every life is important and every death should be condemned but some people become iconic and it is natural that they get attention as they symbolize others. After all, not every one gets ‘Nishan-e-Haider’.

Similarly comparing her with Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who is in US’ detention, is uncalled for. This is a misplaced argument because those who condemn Malala’s incident also condemn Dr Aafia’s unjust sentence. Arguments like ‘why didn’t you make so much hue and cry when Aafia was sentenced’ may be true for those who have their vested interests but generally this only undermines the sacrifice that is given by the tiny girl from Swat.

The voices coming from some sympathizers of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are in fact exposing their own mindset. It was mainly these people who instead of standing up to oppression actually furthered the agenda of TTP by keeping silent and, at times, giving them excuses for their terrorism and disruption. An innocent schoolgirl has been shot, and the act and the motive behind it should be categorically condemned rather than confusing the matter with irrelevant stuff.

Daughters are a thing of beauty. A society in which daughters are shot at or killed is a sick society. Malala just wanted to get education for her and for other children. This is not a crime to warrant two bullets in your skull. Whether she met Richard Holbrooke or idealized Benazir Bhutto is immaterial because this does not provide justification to her killers at all.

Unfortunately, we have been nourishing a mindset in our country which considers any one who differs with it as outcast. These people thrived during martial law of Zia-ul-Haq and were nurtured by America to further its agenda. Temporarily, Pakistan seemed to have gained from this policy when USSR was thrown out, but in the long run we actually fostered a cancer which has disrupted basic fabric of our society. A society which was tolerant about three decades ago is now burning in extremism and militancy.

Although Malala incident has generally united us as the majority has condemned the brutality in strong words, but there are people with vested interests who are giving the incident the meaning of their choice. Those who sympathize with TTP are reminding us of drone attack victims, indirectly undermining Malala’s sacrifice. While those liberal fascists who keep quiet on American transgressions in Fata or ignore incidents like Aafia Siddiqui and Raymond Davis are making extraordinary furor on Malala issue. We should not listen to these charlatans.

Malala is fighting for her life in a hospital, but what her so-called brothers and sisters are doing? We can help her, not only by praying for her speedy recovery, but also by rallying round for her cause. If we want to defeat tyranny and darkness, we will have to give importance to education, because with knowledge comes enlightenment and prosperity. Islam means peace and these vagabonds create strife in the society. Quran started with ‘Iqra’ which means ‘read’, but the extremists hate learning. We have to choose between Islam which was taught by our Prophet (PBUH) or that which is propagated by these deviants.

Malala has sealed her name in history with shining words, but the hypocrites, those brothers and sisters of her not standing by her, get exposed. She has proved that “Swat ki larrkiyaN kisi se nahin darteeN” (Swat’s girls are not afraid of any one), but “Pakistan kay mard kab zulm kay khilaf kharray honge” (When will Pakistani men stand up to adversity) is the question which every one needs to answer.

"O Lord, increase my knowledge!"