Pak Tea House » Opinion, Reviews » How TV sells religion

How TV sells religion

August 30th, 2011 | 8 Comments

By Salma B. Ahmad:

Ramadan Kareem

Ramazan is slowly coming to an end. What began as a sacred month and an extraordinary exhibition of piety and righteousness by Pakistani actors/scholars on different TV channels is gradually being replaced by Eid celebrations and programme teasers. This Eid special transmission ranges from dance and music to telefilms and Indian award shows. I was amazed to see on a TV channel the promo of a Eid special morning show in which the hosts were dancing to the beat of an Indian song, “Assalam o Alaikum, Eid Mubarak”. At the same time, the course of the show during Ramazan was very religious and once even invited “Dr” Amir Liaqat to address questions pertaining to Islam from their young audience. The inclusion of Amir Liaqat after his infamous video that had gone viral a few days back was in itself shocking. I kept wondering why would a liberal channel like HUM TV invite Amir after his eye-opening video.

One attempt at channel surfing of Pakistani channels shows that Pakistani society has acquired a split-personality. As soon as the month of Ramazan began, viewers were bombarded with religion-specific commercials about cell phones to cooking oil, game shows, cooking shows, qirat competitions and even talk shows. Now that Ramazan is coming to an end, one can see the transition from pseudo-spirituality to crass materialism. The point being, that religion has become a commodity for the Pakistani nation and all three factions of society – religious scholars, media personnel and the masses are responsible for this hypocrisy. Another fascinating element is the Arabization of programming to make it appear more Islamic. Terms like “Ramadan Kareem”, “Allah Hafiz” and advertisement infused with Arabic music are a proof of this. There is no harm in doing that and no Muslim should have an objection to it but I feel that there should be a certain limit to it. By doing this the channels are creating and selling an artificial image of piety and indirectly making fun of a sacred month which is known for simplicity and self-restraint.

Islam teaches moderation and not extremism as is being depicted by televangelists in Pakistan. ‘Patent-holders’ of Islam like Amir Liaqat and company say that Islamic Republic of Pakistan came into being on the basis of ‘La Ilaha Illalah’. At the same time they use the commercialization of religion for channel ratings and their own interests – without any shame.

Written by admin

Filed under: Opinion, Reviews · Tags: Ahmad, channel, Islam, Pakistani

8 Responses to "How TV sells religion"

How TV sells religion | Tea Break says:

August 30, 2011 at 7:06 pm

[...] How TV sells religion [...]
hiob says:

August 30, 2011 at 8:44 pm

Quote:

“Another fascinating element is the Arabization of programming to make it appear more Islamic. Terms like “Ramadan Kareem”, “Allah Hafiz” and advertisement infused with Arabic music are a proof of this. There is no harm in doing that and no Muslim should have an objection to it but I feel that there should be a certain limit to it.”

Why do you write:

“There is no harm in doing that and no Muslim should have an objection to it…”

Of the many harms that islam causes this arabization of non-arabs is among the worst. It reduces non-arabs to become zombies. It makes non-arabs incapable of accepting or considering many good ideas, analyses and directives created after the 7th century or by non-arabs.

The first objection to islam is that it is an instrument of arabization back to the 7th century. Imprisoning the muslim mind in arab glory, arabic script and language, arabic primitive ideas, arabic god-concept etc. is the major cause of muslims becoming a scourge or a nuisance today.
Prithvi says:

August 30, 2011 at 9:27 pm

hiob

Are’nt you a hostage to the racist ideas of Arya samajism?
Leader says:

August 30, 2011 at 11:03 pm

attempt to localize the message, rather than to be globalize yourself with the message… this is the latest from so called Liberals
hiob says:

August 30, 2011 at 11:11 pm

to prithvi

How do you define racism? Are the arabs, turks, chinese, pashtuns not practising racism? Was there an aryan race at all? “Aarya” only means noble-minded. Their women were refered to as “aaryaa”.

I have never read any arya samaj literature. I find many of their ideas (which I got to know only indirectly) absurd or silly and hence rather unattractive.

Has islamization not led to the destruction or devaluation or reduction of non-arab cultures, identities, self-respect etc.? Pakistan itself is an example of this.

Pakistan ideology and islam have an interest in depicting aryans as a supremacist race and to call them invaders so that the arab and turkish supremacist racisms and invasions are justified.

I get my knowledge of islam and its history by reading pakistani muslim newspapers produced by muslims for muslims. You get your knowledge of hindu religions and hindu history by reading pakistan ideology pamphlets and textbooks produced by muslims for muslims. Hence my knowledge of islam is more correct and authentic.

If race A attacks and suppresses/enslaves race B then the fight of the race B against race A cannot be called racism. It is actually anti-racism. So what I am doing is actually anti-racism.

I never said arab religion should be replaced by aryan religion. I am accused of wanting to do that although I have never said that. This is how muslims typically mislead a discussion – accuse a non-muslim of something which he is not trying.

The muslims certainly are held hostage to arab and turkish racisms and imperialisms. The socio-cultural development in muslim lands proves this clearly.
Dr Mohamed Boodhun says:

August 31, 2011 at 6:46 pm

As an African who married a Pakistani woman, I have already added “Inshallah, Mashallah, Alhamdollilah” to my English vocabulary. I started practicing Khuda Hafiz and now I hear the more pious version of Allah Hafiz. I used to greet “Eid Mubarak” the more pious version of which is now “Ramadan Kareem”.

The more publicly pious one gets the more the arabization of their language.

I can forsee that in the near future we will be offereing “Salat” instead of namaz. We will offer “Saum” instead of “Roza” and we may even start eating Falafel instaed of “Korma”.

I would like to give priority to my nationality and keep my faith private.

I would like to become a good human being and stay close to my culture of origin instaed of changing culture.

I am afraid that one day the most pious among us may give a fatwa that makes non-arabic language Haram !!!!!

Dr Mohamed Boodhun/ canada
Pakistani-American says:

September 1, 2011 at 5:23 am

INFORMATION ON ARYA SMMAJ/ DHARM (COPIED FROM LAHORE AHMDIYYA MOVEMENT BLOG: ahmadiyya.org)

Arya Dharm
Hindu Consciousness in 19th-Century Punjab
by Kenneth W. Jones
University of California Press
Published 1976

I have come across this book in a library. I have not read it yet, only browsed.

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (HMGA) sahib had extensive published debates with Hindus belonging to Arya Dharm sect of their religion. Stalwarts of Arya Dharm included Swami Dayanand, Pundit Lekh Ram, Lala Lal Chand etc. HMGA prophesized about death of Pundit Lekh Ram, and circumstances surrounding it. His prophecy was precisely fulfilled.

Kenneth Jones has given the background information, objectives, strategy, and planning of Arya Dharm. He has commented on their literature. He has also provided short biographies of major characters in the movement. And how movement leaders ended up locking horns with Muslims.

Page 149: “In 1887, Pundit Lekh Ram published his first tract specifically against the Mirza [HMGA], Takzib-I-Burahin-I-Ahmadiyah (Refutation of Ahmadiya Arguments), Volume I subtitled, “A Gunfire to break the flanks and tyranny of Mohammad’s Islam”. Thus opened a war of words between Lekh Ram and Ghulam Ahmad. Each tract incited a counter-blast of criticism and condemnation, culminating in Lekh Ram’s infamous pamphlet, Risala-I-jihad Ya’ni Din-I-Muhammadi Ki Bunyad (A treatise on holy war, or the basis of the Muhammadan Religion). In Jihad Lekh Ram drew on the sections of the Satyarth Parkash which charged Islam with violence, slaughter, and a love of loot. He also turned to history for his ammunition.”

Page 149 footnote: “Ghulam Ahmad responded to Lekh Ram’s attacks in 1887 with Surma-I-Chashma-I-Arya (Antimoney to open the Eyes of the Aryas). Lekh Ram replied in Nuskha-I-Khabt-I-Ahmadiya (A Prescription for the Madness of the Ahmadiyas) (Amritsar: Chashma-I-Nur Press, 1888). He followed this with Radd-I-Khilat-I-Islam (Rejection of the Islamic Robe of Honor) and Ibtal-I-Basharat Ahmadiyah (Refutation of Ahmadiya Statements)”.

Page 193: “Lekh Ram continued in his speeches to denounce Islam, while his writings drew constant criticism from the Muslim press. “Takzib-I-Burahin-I-Ahmadiya….. is calculated to cause great mischief. The book purports to be a refutation of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s ‘Burahin-I-Ahmadiya’, but the Pandit, in utter disregard of the cannons of strict criticism has used the most offensive and insulting language towards Islam, its leaders, its followers, including the Prophets, and things held sacred by the Muhammadans [Paisa Akhbar]”.”

Page 194: “Three days later, the Punjab Samachar stunned the province—Pundit Lekh Ram had been murdered, assassinated by “a Muhammadan who was living with Lekh Ram under [the] pretension of becoming a Hindu again”.

Page 196: “Mirza Ghulam Ahmad published a tract in which he thanked God for the fulfillment of his prophecy that Lekh Ram would die a violent death. Rumor had it that prayers of thanksgiving were said for the death of Islam’s arch enemy [Tribune].”

This book creates a vivid picture in words, of charged environment of 19th century Punjab and clash between two champions of their respective movements i.e. Pundit Lekh Ram and HMGA. I think it is a good book for those who have read HMGA books on Arya Dharm/ Hinduism and are interested to know the complete picture of the circumstances.
obsrv says:

September 1, 2011 at 12:14 pm

to pakistani-american

Muslims have enthusiasticaly confirmed that islam leads to more and more hate, anger, irrationality, arab racism and hegemony and fascistic violence wherever islam has planted its flag. This is so since 1400 years aand goes on today with more money, power and weapons at the muslims’ disposal.

Much more violence, madness and venom will result from islam and muslims in the coming days.