Any ideology that invokes a romantic and utopian system of governance is a perfect prescription for totalitarianism. Communism and the National Socialism of Hitler proved beyond doubt that utopias are ideology-driven dictatorships where dissent will be treated as a psychic disorder or as a crime. The dissenting individual in these utopias is either sent to the mental asylum or jail or handed over to the death squad.
I recently read Jihad in Islam, English translation of Sayyid Abul Ala Mawdudi's Jihad fi Sabilillah. Late Islamic scholar who founded Jamat-e-Islami (JeI) says in the book that "Islam wishes to do away with all states and governments which are opposed to the ideology and programe of Islam...Islam requires the earth - not just a portion, but the entire planet...because the whole of mankind should benefit from Islam, and its ideology and welfare programmes." In another part of the book, Mawdudi chalks out a way of establishing his idea of an ideal Islamic state in the world: "...if the Muslim Party commands enough resources, it will eliminate un-Islamic governments and establish the power of the Islamic government in their place.'' Before I finished the book, I checked the definition of `imperialism' in the Online Ecycopaedia Britannica. It is defined thus: "The policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas.''
Mawdudi is not only envisioning a glorious utopian Islamic rule, he is also prescribing an imperialist Islam. What will be the fate of Jews, Christians, Hindus, Baha'is, atheists and others in such a state? I have to ask a JeI leader if I can manage to ask the question.
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As I read through your piece about totalitarian utopia, I frequently glanced back. I was frightened. Neither as a child, nor as an adult did I fear the unknown. My eldest brother used us lesser mortals to fight against darkness, hell and all other matter that are beyond our understanding, thro simple games to test our endurance while removing the fear factor.
I remember, he told me conclusively that there was nothing to fear in the dark, as there were no ghosts. And those days only ghosts needed to be feared. So me and my younger brother were made to go and write our names with a chalk on the towering stairs that worked up to our house, which lay in pitch darkness. I would always volunteer to go first. I returned quite casually so that my younger brother too could follow in my footsteps.
Our eldest brother, who is no more, would ask us to jump from unimaginable heights from the brim of a freshly excavated stone quarry, would push our swing from behind to such high levels, even beyond the 180degree level so that I could hear my little heart taking a somersault inside my chest. He would tickle my feet till I would not get tickled. Till today I can hold up against tickling for as long as anyone could.
Do not be afraid of the unknown. And anyway, the notion of pan islamism will not take root in all countries.
It is only those who are not confident of themselves that fall prey to irrational preaching. And beleive you me, there are more rational people in the world than you imagine. Do not paint life in such dark colors.
"If time be the measure
On which we measure mortality
Let the hourglass
Break into innumerable pieces
So we may walk past a dusk
With the dark shimmer
Of gliding sand around us."
That is a poem which just came out. I shall not read it. I shall not look back either.
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