Aamir Liaquat ‘The Great Religious Scholar’

By Prof Dr. Sohail Ansari

Conceived and worded by Prof DR Sohail Ansari (originality of concepts and originality of words).

He believes that there can never be a zero scope for improvement and appreciates criticism if it is not for the sake of criticism.

Aamir Liaquat ‘The great religious scholar’

Way back to 90s I happened to have a chance to watch a Sylvester Stallion’s movie Rocky. I do not remember a movie as much as I remember one sentence of it. Two boxers had a press conference before fight. Press reporter said to one boxer (Sylvester Stallion)

 ‘Do you want to say something derogatory about your opponent? Sylvester Stallion replied “he is great’’

This is a video….. that contains the response of a scholar to Aamir Liaquat. I added something on my own to the points of scholar.

Extensions of points

Laws are not uniformly applied to every month of a year. Food-consumption during a day (for prescribed hours) is forbidden in the month of Ramadan. Consuming food in any month other than Ramdan is permissible. Men and women performing rituals together are permissible during Hajj.

Non permissibility of consuming food during Ramdan and permissibility of performing together in Hajj are by divine injunction. Only fool can condemn eating in months other than Ramdan because of thinking that what is forbidden in one month is forbidden in every month; and only fool can justify men and women together because of thinking that what is permissible during Hajj is permissible all the time.

There are laws/instructions in Quran for Purdah (Sheet to cover oneself). How to resolve the apparent contradiction between instructions to women regarding appearance in non-hajj period (women are to observe strict Purdah) and instructions to women regarding appearance in hajj (women do not observe Purdah)?

The only ways to resolve this contradiction is to understand that the instruction regarding the appearance of women in Hajj is specific to Hajj only. If one generalizes (assuming that instructions for hajj are not restricted to Hajj) so it will create contradiction between laws of Purdah and appearance of women in Hajj.

Fallacy of analogy: comparing program with Hajj.

One rule must be remembered that Islam forbids activities or context conducive to stimulating erotic feelings. Men and women performing Hajj are exclusively devoted to God; focused on Hajj rituals and immersed in worship. In the program of Aamir Liquat people are engaged in entirely different or to put correctly in activities opposite to those of Hajj. Activities of Hajj are calculated for inner purification; and the milieu of program breeds forbidden intimacy between men and women. People are motivated not by the will to please God but to please themselves. (Pursuit of entertainment not worship is the purpose).

Aamir says:  ‘We will celebrate Ramdan’

Defining feature of celebration is enjoyment. Celebration is without restriction.

People observe Ramdan as they are restricted from the things of enjoyments. One says or observes namaz because one is restricted to certain things in a namaz; or in other words one is forbidden to do certain things he is otherwise permitted to do such as talking and walking or eating.

 Aamir is right to say, therefore, that he celebrates Ramdan as he does all of things right in celebration; but  he is not right in doing so as Ramdan is observed (one is restricted to things) not celebrated.    

“If loves of God and of his prophet (P.B.U.H) envelopes a woman she needs no veil/sheet to cover herself”

Material culture (objects/things) is the outgrowth of immaterial culture (beliefs/ideas) and meaningless without it. One demonstrates through his practices, dress, and food what he believes. Loves of God and of his prophet (P.B.U.H) if exists, then it must reflect in every aspect of material culture. Logic is ludicrous as it is reverse: love must reflect in clothes; but the logic of Aamir goes that it must not if it exists. Proof of love is its presence (reflection) in material object; but by this logic the proof is in its absence.  

This is a video ….that contains the part not covered by scholar; I counter two points myself:

·       Tendency of capitalism is to milk everything. Nothing is sacrosanct, period. The program of Aamir Liaquat show is an excellent example of commercializing religion; and for this alone, the show is condemned. People buy tickets to go to Hajj or Umrah and people charge fees to teach Quran or recite Azan. This show exploits religion to earn money; people do not exploit Hajj or umrah or Quran or Azan to earn money; they pay to reach the place or charge for offering time and services. I wonder how he concluded that Hajj, umrah or Quran are sold.