Abdul Sattar Edhi- a Larger- than- life figure

(This piece of writing is written in response to a question from a brilliant student saif. Views do not necessarily lie outside the mainstream but are not necessarily in consonance to orthodox perception of Abdul Sattar Edhi.)

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.

Men and animals are similar with respect to biological cravings. Men like animals procreate by copulation. Men feel thirst and hunger and so do animals.

Man is different from animal as latter is minus morality. God does not teach through revelations the craft of living. Revealed books do not contain any guidance for cooking, knitting, sowing, building roads and bridges. Humans learnt such things through experience or observation (of animals engaged in different activities).

Revelations deal with two things: they address those questions intellect cannot answer; for example life after death; angles; hell and heaven and teach man humanity. Man cannot learn morality by observing animals as animals do not have it.

Quote: “No religion is higher than humanity” is attributed to Abdul Sattar Edhi.

It means humanity is greater than all religions. Comparison itself is wrong as it assumes that religion and humanity are two different things; but as a matter of fact, humanity emanates from religion. River Indus flows from mountain Himalaya; therefore it is ridiculous to say that Himalaya is greater than river Indus or river Indus is greater than Himalaya. Comparison is possible when things are different; for example, to say no flower is more beautiful than rose because rose is a kind of flower and can be different from other kinds of flower.

The comparison (between religion and humanity) is not only faulty and illogical; but also it has disparaging connotations as it implies humanity is greater than religion. (Religion is less important). The assertion: humanity is the greatest religion implies as well that religion teaches discrimination; and humanity dictates serving people irrespective of color, blood and religion. Almost every religion and Islam particularly underscores serving all human being not particularly its followers.

Establishing hospitals and network of ambulance to ministering the needs of destitute; and center for deprived and needy are the noble work indeed; but crusade against oppressors and corrupt rulers is nobler work. Jihad is the greatest service to humanity (Jihad against creator of social and cultural inequalities, and it entails dangers to life as well) and is much greater than the Jihad of Abdul Sattar Edhi (Abdul Sattar Edhi did jihad against poverty by providing  shelter and food). Country would not be plagued by poverty, hunger, and disease of such a great scale, if it were not ruled by oppressors and corrupt rulers. The gap between have and have not would not be so great if funds were not siphoned off, and plundering of coffin were not so institutionalized. We might not need even the services of Abdul Sattar Edhi if country were ruled by just and God-fearing rulers, because then resources of state would have been channeled for the betterment of people. if oppressor were leashed and restrained from grinding people;  people would be empowered and as empowerment, in essence, is about having more control over all facets of life; people would more likely learn to fish then to see a certain Abdul Sattar Edhi to give them a fish, 

Edhi did not die with his achievements unsung he was a more than sung hero.

Problem is that having excelled in one area, one feels qualified enough to speak about every things under the sun and especially of religion. Religion was not the domain of Abdul Sattar Edhi; but his trespassing of it is as condemnable as his good works are appreciable. Secular forces harness noble figures to undermine religion. If Abdul Sattar Edhi were pro-religious, he would have been buried in the same way the great religious scholar Dr Israr ahmed was buried.

Unnoticed and snubbed by media.