Pak Tea House » Uncategorized » My Legal Journey From Muslim to Non-Muslim and Back
My Legal Journey From Muslim to Non-Muslim and Back
Maudood A. Bhatti
I was born a Muslim. Until the second amendment was passed in Pakistan’s constitution in 1974, I remained a legal Muslim. I was very young when this happened, too young to remember it well. Hence, I did not have the opportunity to carry out and observe Islam’s practices before I was declared non-Muslim by State and before these practices were banned on me.
I practiced my faith later on in my teenage years just as any other Pakistani Muslim; observing the five daily prayers, reciting the Holy Quran etc. I also played cricket with all kinds of friends – Shia, Sunni, Christian etc. Even though I was declared a non-Muslim under Law by this time, no one made a big fuss about it except for an occasional use of “Mirzai” or “Qadiani.”
Then came Ordinance XX, promulgated on 26th April, 1984 by the infamous dictator, Zia ul Haq, and all of a sudden, my Muslim activities became illegal for me and for others from my community. I could not call myself a Muslim anymore or call my mosque a mosque or call the Azan before prayer. Weird, right? In a span of a few years, I had traveled the whole spectrum from being a recognized Muslim to a state-labelled non-Muslim.
Then came my visa application for the US. From a legal perspective, I think I briefly became Muslim when I stepped into the US Consulate for my visa interview because, technically speaking, the US Consulate is not part of Pakistan and Pakistani law therefore does not apply there. By the Grace of God, I was granted US visa together with my family and we left Pakistan in less than a year following the Ordinance.
I became a Muslim as soon as my plane left Pakistan’s air space. Actually, I probably might have been a legal Muslim since 1980 when my passport was issued. It stated my faith as “Islam.” When I landed in the United Kingdom for a brief stopover, I could not believe that I was now a legal Muslim.
I continued my journey on to the United States, a country which I had always admired for its values of freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and liberty for all. In the US, I was sure a legal Muslim as Pakistani law no longer applied to me. I was sure I was never going to be declared a non-Muslim again by Law. My dream was shattered when I had to renew my Pakistani passport and was presented with the Muslim declaration in the Pakistani passport application. This declaration forced me to write my religion as “Ahmadi.” I decided it was time to rid me of my Pakistani nationality. As soon as I became eligible, I filed the petition for US citizenship and soon became a proud American citizen. The US passport application does not ask for a declaration of faith. In fact, the American passport does not have a religion column whatsoever. Free at last of the stupid mix of religion and politics!
Having lived in the United States for more than half of my life and definitely more than what I spent in Pakistan, I can safely state that the I have been a legal Muslim for the most part.
It would, however, be very interesting to imagine the debate on the Day of Judgment if the Pakistani government tried to enforce its laws on God just as they try to do on dead people here e.g. the famous Pakistani Muslim Nobel Laureate, Dr Abdus Salaam. I hope and pray that God guide the people of Pakistan and give them courage to rid themselves of the discriminatory second amendment and the criminal Ordinance XX so my fellow Ahmadi Muslim brethren can also enjoy the same rights and privileges as other Pakistanis and I do on God’s earth.
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72 Responses to "My Legal Journey From Muslim to Non-Muslim and Back"
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- tajender
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Assalamo-Alaikom
I can say salam ,I can write salam here from Danmark like you can from USA.Dear Maudood, You have indeed pointed out about a very deep and o
painfull matter,in a pleasent, diffrent way,very nice.we Ahamadies can feel the pain for all our beloved sisters and brothers in Pakistan,who are suffering the same pain as you did,but they are keeping calm,and crying in thier night prayers for Allah,s help,and off course brain washed pakistsni mullah born generation can not understand the pain they are causing to Ahmadies.l
Like every night meets with sun shine morning, Allah will inshalah change all this at last,progression of Ahmadies is a solid prove that Allah is with Ahmadies,alhamdolilah.
Allah the almighty doed not tolerate “Takabur”and “zulam”
I want to warn Pakistan that if they have a least of “khuda ka khouf” they should learn from Afghanistan.
After Afghanistanies killed two ahmadies ,thier blood is still punishing them.like prommised Mirza Ghulam Ahmad,that there will never be peace in this country.
In pakistan you are kiling Ahmadies every day, think what will happen to this country.
May Allah forgive you and them,amen.
Wassalam.
Iffat Butt
bhatti u are born as muslim,u will die as muslim .no law no brutality can take ur faith from u.revelation of islam is the biggest gift given to humanity by allah.
TAJENDER,
.
and why is Islam the biggest gift to humanity (by Allah). What is great about being given a list of “dos and donts” and asked to shut out one’s mind? What is great about mental idolatry towards Muhammad, showering him with praise for no rhyme or reason?
.
Islam has zero philosophic depth!
and why is Islam the biggest gift to humanity (by Allah
tajtoo in hinduism man is born unequl.islam is only religion which says that man is born equal irrespective colour or creed.and equality before law.even head of state has no immunity.zardar after stealing billions is hiding himself under this provision.even christianity is not very clear on this point.they show jsus(pbuh)with blonde hair in europe and america while he was palestanian with black hair.
we are not mohammamdans.we are muslims.message of islam has no prrellel.even magna carta is copied from holy quran.
@ Inam Majid (April 19, 2012, 2:01 am)
“~Now if you refute all this do you think you are worthy of being called a Muslim?~”
I trust you are intellectually capable enough to comprehend the difference between “refuting” and “interpreting differently”. Coming to “being called a Muslim”, when the first census of Madina was being conducted, the Holy Prophet was asked about whose name to be included as a “Muslim”. The Holy Prophet said “Write down for me the names of those who call themselves Muslims” [Bukhari]. Now if you refute all this do you think “you” are worthy of being called a Muslim?
TAJENDER,
.
Lets presume for the moment that in Hinduism man is born unequal. What about Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Jainism, etc. In all those man is still considered equal in the eyes of God. So there is nothing special about Islam.
.
In Christianity, various ethnic groups portray Jesus differently simply so that different people can identify with Jesus more easily.
.
In fact Islam promotes the most hideous form of inequality. It promotes slavery, oppression of women, giving Muhammad’s lineage special respect, and the Ashraf vs. Ajlaf distinction and discrimination. In the Gulf, non-Arabs like Pakis have no respect at all. They are treated like Ajlaf Islamic Shoodras, which they are. Moreover it is especially vicious towards non-Muslims requiring Muslims to humiliate non-Muslims. There is zero equality in Islam. Even in Pakistan, you have all sorts of discrimination against many minority sects like Ahmadiyyas and even Shias. Equality in Islam is a big joke.
.
So as you can see, the devil is in the details. Just saying Islam promotes equality is just a whole lot of drivel. Both Islamic scripture and reality show something completely different.
Rat too,
I think they are confusing uniformity with unity or equality.The life expressed itself in variety. How many human faces are similar ? not many . Dead grass, leaves, many animal species, inanimate, lifeless things look and act similar. Life itself and life giving qualities decay naturally among people of uniformity of thought and action leading to the dead end for all creative forces in this universe.
Daer Inam Majid: When you are in a discussion in a public space, you should be prepared to answer counter observations and arguments. I have all the respect for Ahmadias and other sects within Islamic world whenever they are devoted to prayers and practice of their faith.
My question is what is the point of this post? Is it you wish to engage in a catharsis or seek sympathies?
Don’t you think Ahmadias would have behaved differently if they had been a significant majority of Islamic world? Sometimes it is ncessary to go back to the theological aspects and historical events of our past. -religious or cultural. That refers to all- Ahnmadis, Sunnis, Shia or say Buddhists or Hindus etc. etc.
Anyway just remember what George Washington told to his audience in his farewell speech. He exorted all the immigrants leave behind quarrels, animosities, biases and political mindset of the old world behind so that they may become citizens of a New World.
Anyway just some ideas to think about!!! Salaam
Ahh.. once again something too sensitive. Here is my two cents on this issue. Screw all that crap. You are right about so many things and in all honest you are simply right. Pakistan is a country of closed minded, illiterate, uneducated masses. Even somewhat educated are just emotional and mindless people. Thats Pakistan at its best. How else can you explain stupid baseless laws, corrupt politicians and damaged nation. But can we get beyond all that nonsense?
As little as I know about Ahmedis, I don’t agree with them. You have to understand that you touch a very sensitive nerve here which directly conflicts with the faith of the sunnis etc. What you do to other muslims is what muslims did to hindus by sacrificing the cow that Hindus thought was goddess.
Who is really right? God knows.. and only God really knows. Whether you are muslim or not. Only God knows. I wish you guys could just call yourself something else and keep things simple but .. its like for 1400 years, my family was Mohammad and now you want to be called mohammad for last 40 years. It is bound to spark some animosity. But the solution lies only in unbiased, secular type Courts, educated and accepting masses and forgiving people. This article is about the oppression on Ahmedis in Pakistan and its true. Pakistanis don’t know how to behave.. but what do you from an overly emotional and blindly religious people when you start to attack their very basic beliefs?
What you do to other muslims is what muslims did to hindus by sacrificing the cow that Hindus thought was goddess
aryan brought the cow with them.cow is not indian animal.brhmns were cow eaters. even now on important occasions cow meat is served.ban on cow slaughter was ordered by budhdhists when she reached to the point of extinction.brhmns became vegetarian to fool budhhdists,to bring them back in hindu fold.they also bury alive most of the calf at birth.drink the milk which god has given for her baby.kick the cow out when stop giving milk.hindus also inject them with dangerous chemicals to increase her milk giving capacity.90%of vultures in india died after eating the meat of dead cows.
hindus use their gods to bully others cow is no exception.i love cows but cannot see their pathetic condition in india.
@syed: Alhamdulillah Allah has blessed me with certain amount of logic and reason. In your comment to me you mean that Ahmadi’s interpret Qur’an and ahadith in a different manner, they are answerable to Allah if they do it wrong, as for what interpretations I look to they are from the Suhaba, tabaieen and taba tabaiene, you stick to them too and you will see your flaws.
Was salaam.
listen tonight with jasmeen 19/4/2012 on ary
@ Inam Majid (April 20, 2012 at 3:27 am)
//…Ahmadi’s interpret Qur’an and ahadith in a different manner, they are answerable to Allah if they do it wrong…//
Yes, I agree. The same rule applies to the other sects of Muslims as well. Right or wrong, we are all answerable to Allah. So let’s leave Allah’s business to Allah. He alone is the Maalik-i-yaum-id-deen. To the extent of this life, none among us can define a “Muslim” in better terms than the Prophet (saw) himself did – “He who calls himself a Muslim is a Muslim”.
I think this understanding of mine is in line with Quran, Sunnah and tareek-i-sahaba.
Syed yaar:
Don’t you think there are better things to do in everyday life than think, pray, praise about Al Quran and Allah! This addiction to religion 24/7 days leaves very little time for other things. Agree?
Kamath :
I lead a very normal life. I have time for my family, my friends, my profession, my hobbies, my games, my reading and my shopping. My prayers and my religious activities do not in any way prevent me from leading a normal life.
Best wishes
all my comments have been deleted.. nice job
@ Writer…If your name had an extra “I” in the end this article would have been more interesting. By the way I was born in 1984 Jan so officially I had few days to announce myself as a Muslim Alas I could not speak than.
I kind of face the same dilemma whenever I had to visit to and fro Pakistan. Being a consultant I have had the experience of working in Afghanistan, Egypt, Dubai, Bahrain, Netherlands and this Muslim Non-Muslim attribute added to me is quite dynamic.
I am still keeping my passport and nationality though as I love it too much to give up plus I have my faith in my heart so I don’t care much about people who stand between me and my Allah SubhanatAllah. My prayers are for my nation and Motherland i.e. Pakistan. I wish we all turn to righteousness as every Human being has a space for being better/improved/correct/just/righteous.
May Peace, Love, Humanity, Care and Respect for values prevail…Amen
since in Arabic the text says salawatun, yusallee, yusalloona which
mean praying in Arabic not blessing, while blessing in Arabic is
called baraka. so who does allah pray to???
who does allah pray to?
Verily, God and His angels pray (yusalloona) for the prophet.
O ye who believe! pray? for him (salloo) and salute him with a
salutation! S. 33:56 Palmer
“O ‘Aisha! I still feel the pain caused by the food I ate at Khaibar, and at this time, I feel as if my aorta is being cut from that poison.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 59, Number 713)
Muhammad died and said that he died by poison that cut his aorta,
but in the Quran it says that if Muhammad was lying Allah would kill him by cutting his aorta.
Translations of the Qur’an,
QUR’AN CHAPTER 69:
AL-HAAQQA (THE REALITY)
Verse 46
069.044 And if the messenger were to invent any sayings in Our name,
069.046 And We should certainly then cut off the artery of his heart:
Motherland is an unislamic word.
@Jose, interesting observation in regards to Holy Qur’an 69:44-46 and Sahih al-Bukhari 5:59.713, however; Aisha stated that Mohammad FELT as though his aorta was being cut, not that he or anyone knew (but God, Knower). Reading on in the Holy Qur’an:
69:48 And, verily, this [Qur'an] is a reminder to all the God-conscious!
Mohammad feeling as though his aorta was being cut is confirmation that he was God-concious, or fearing, as anyone whom Prophesies in the name of God should be. I know I’m afraid of speaking lies in the name of God, but the consequences of not Prophesying in the name of God reach from this life to the Hereafter where a far worse retribution awaits for those whom disobey His commands and not Submit to His Will.
On the Holy Qur’an 33:56; prayer is an act of Faith and Righteousness so in accordance to the Holy Qur’an God is in effect praying through the angels and anyone whose prayer is sincer. Don’t you understand that none are good but God alone?
74:56 But none will keep it in remembrance except as God wills: He is the Lord of Righteousness, and the Lord of Forgiveness.
to Jason
You confirm that the islamic god concept is fascistic-despotic. No wonder all muslim states/societies fall into this system sooner or later.
You muslims have no idea as yet of how fascism and despotism function, and why muslim societies fall into it and why muslims cannot escape this fate on their own.
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