(Author's note: I've never been to Karachi, so apologies to any who take issue with any of the (brief) descriptions used)
George Taylor (Karachi (AP))
Over the past few weeks, there has been a growing unease in certain parts of Karachi, but there has also been a steadily relaxed air, too. Much to the chagrin of certain folk, women have begun to venture out more. The statistics are skewed, but there are reports that the number of murders per day has dropped significantly and, more so, there has been an increase in the number of reported attempted rapes.
It's an odd one, I'm sure the readers will agree, that it is attempts that are being reported but the reason for this, according to police sources, is because the would-be rapists have been found pinned to the ground or against a wall, a couple of metal poles rammed around them and preventing them from fleeing the scene. As expected, though, almost all are pleading innocence or claiming there has been some misunderstanding.
None, however, have said how they ended up in such a state, and no one in the force has released any information, either.
Last night saw an interesting incident – an imam was found pinned to the gates of the Jamia Darul 'Uloom, and hanging from his neck was a note:
This is a man who incites others to do bad and justifies it in the Name of Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala. Please attend to this.
Although generally hushed up by the authorities, those who were at the scene are wondering what 'bad' the imam had encouraged. At the time of writing, there has been no information forthcoming.
'…and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, the poor, the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and your servants…'
'This verse is very straightforward and appeals to your base humanity, no? Yet these very basic things are being subverted more and more often. For example, we are naturally inclined to care for our parents, but the frustrations and expectations of certain parts of society can lead some of us to shun our parents.
'There are countless stories of those who have even killed their parents, let alone 'merely' abandoning them. It's not just a physical slaughter, though. There are many who are killed spiritually by their children, living in this world as mere wraiths. Shadows of what they once were.'
'What do you know about the hardships of life?' interrupted one of the small crowd gathered around Ishmail near a street corner. 'You're just a child who speaks with a sweet tongue. Look at you: straight and clean teeth, and no dirt on your skin. You think wearing older clothes will enable you to fit in among us?'
'I know that 'for every burden He gives relief'. Often one just has to be patient.'
'Patient? Patient?! I've lived on these streets for ten years and you're telling me to be 'patient'?'
'Brother, I mean no dis-'
As the rotten food slid down Ishmail's face, the small crowd began to disperse. From across the busy road, Kamran quietly watched.
Ishmail quietly wiped his face clean and then smiled at those who had stayed.
'Shall I continue?'
They nodded.
'There are those who have rights over us…'
'Ishmail Beta?' asked a soft melodious voice. Mufti Mahmood was an old man in his 80s, but still strong and energetic. He was renowned and regarded for his humility and knowledge, and scholars from all over the world would seek him out in order to learn from him. Decades ago, just before Pakistan was 'established' he founded the school Kamran and Ishmail had been attending for the past few months. It is a simple institution with simple classrooms and boarding facilities. It holds classes in reading and memorising the Qur'an several times a day which are open to the general public, and it also has weekly tafsir sessions as well. The school itself covers a wide range of Islamic disciplines but, although Mufti Mahmood is widely recognised and honoured among the Ulema, the small school is generally below anyone's radar.
Ishmail closed the book he had been speed reading and quickly got up to attend to his teacher. Mufti Mahmood quietly walked to his room, which also functioned as his study. He had lived in this room for more than 60 years, and it contained all his worldly possessions: his books and notes. He gestured for Ishmail to sit down, but Ishmail waited until the Mufti was comfortable, helping him with his cushion and pouring a glass of water. Ishmail had never been in this room before, and was resisting the urge to glance at the hundreds of books that surrounded him.
Extracts from George Taylor's notes
When I was growing up in Cleveland there were the old stories about super babies in the Midwest. Fanciful stuff about babies being found in cornfields (readily explained away as cases of abandonment) and toddlers lifting up tractors. When I left and began working in different parts of the world, however, I heard of similar stories in various countries, with many ascribing them to 'phenomena' such as possession.
In the Indian Subcontinent, I've heard of stories like this across cultures and faiths…and I've seen the ramifications, too. People believing a child or woman to be possessed…and then killing them…or worse…
The reports coming in over the past couple of months, though, have been different. Rather than having to rely on hearsay, there has been tangible 'proof'. Metal twisted which should not, or could not, have been; people found pinned to walls or the sidewalk with notes for the police; a couple of frames from a CCTV camera showing a boy in a tattered sherwani.
It's those few blurry frames of footage that clinched it for me, that convinced me that this was definitely worth looking in to.
They had been seated there, silent, for more than half an hour. Despite the short time Ishmail had spent at the institute, he knew better than to speak before the Mufti had spoken – it was respect and patience. However, as silent as the Mufti was, Ishmail could hear his whispered Dhikr.
Suddenly, much to Ishmail's astonishment, the silent room was filled with the sound of a name: Allah. Eyes wide and mouth agape, Ishmail stared at the Mufti and felt a wave of panic as the Mufti clutched his chest in pain. In less than a blink of an eye, Ishmail was beside the Mufti, scanning him with his x-ray vision. The Mufti coughed and indicated that Ishmail should return to his seat. Quietly, Ishmail held out the glass of water for him. After taking three small gulps of water, the Mufti coughed again and smiled.
'I apologise for startling you like that, Beta. I have no control over it, but it happens less now than it did when I was younger.'
Ishmail smiled a little. He had heard stories of those whose remembrance of God was such that His Name was said by their very hearts, but hearing those stories and hearing the Mufti's heart are quite different things.
'Beta, these past few months I have seen you grow and change and learn and discover, Masha'Allah. Your thirst for knowledge is immense, and your aptitude seems to be even greater. Your basic knowledge surpasses almost every student we have and soon we will be reaching a crossroads.
'Before you came here, you were a Hafiz, Masha'Allah. You knew one Qirat and quickly learned another and then another. You now know seven, but your teachers are reluctant to give you Ijaza. It is not because they do not believe you to be able, but because of the burden that comes with being granted Ijaza, coupled with your young age.
'Before you came here, you knew many Ahadith, Masha'Allah. You've covered in months what usually takes others years to study. Here, with regards to Ahadith, your teachers are almost falling over each other in their eagerness to take you on as a direct student, and your aptitude may well cut down the years of intense study, but the commitment needed from you will still be there.
'I, too, have been considering taking you on as a direct student. You have the potential to be a great scholar, Insha'Allah.
'While the title has not yet been bestowed on you, I can assure you that you are an Aalim. Watching you, hearing your discussions, your use of proofs and so forth, I consider you to be an Imam, and it is here that we can see the crossroads you will soon be reaching: do you continue with your studies and specialise in your young age, or do you step back and focus on studies more directly related to the duniya, or do you use what you have right now and go out and give da'wah to the world?'
Ishmail frowned as he considered what the Mufti had said.
'Sheikh, you feel I need some worldly experience before I decide on the path I want to take?'
The Mufti nodded, and smiled.
'The commitments you would be making if you choose to take on the path of the scholar are many and many are lifelong. I know you've heard and read about past scholars, and I know you've heard about your teachers…'
The Mufti paused as he watched Ishmail glance at the books.
'Sheikh, you and others like you never married, yet marriage is a Sunnah and completes half our deen…'
'You know why, Ishmail Beta.'
'Sheikh…I am more grateful than you will ever know for what you and the teachers have given me, but there are things about me that you do not know. Things which may make you change your mind about me…'
Nervously, Ishmail raised his head and looked at the quiet Mufti. His heart beat a little faster as he felt a little fear, a fear of being rejected.
'You are not yet baligh, are you?' asked the Mufti.
'N-no. But-'
'You are of sound mind, and anything you did as a child can be…' the Mufti let his words drift as he saw the look of sadness on Ishmail's face. 'Beta, what's wrong?'
'…I think you need to speak to my parents…'
Glossary
Jamia Darul 'Uloom – an Islamic seminary located in Karachi
Mufti – an (Sunni) Islamic scholar who is an interpreter and expounder of Islamic law
Tafsir – Quranic exegesis (interpretation)
Ulema – group of scholars
Dhikr – a devotional act that usually involves the (often silent) recitation of the Names of God and various supplications
Hafiz – one who knows the Qur'an by heart
Ijaza – permission to teach
Insha'Allah – God Willing
Duniya – this world
Da'wah – sharing/inviting to Islam
Sheikh – an honorific title for an 'elder', also used in reference to an Islamic scholar
Sunnah – a practice of the Prophet (saw)
Deen – religion
Baligh – a person who has reached maturity or puberty, and so has full responsibility under Islamic law
