Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Ablution (wuzoo),
the best SOP
What is SOP? It is a repeated cleansing of hands, nose, eyes, mouth, social distancing and wearing of face masks. What is Ablution (Wuzoo)? It is complete washing and cleansing of face, mouth, nose, eyes, ears, forearms, head and feet (up to ankles) thrice, 5 times a day before prayers, being observed 25 times (may be more with Tahajjad and Nawafils as additional submission to Allah (SWT) by Muslims seeking His Guidance and Blessings).
Reference: (Surah Almaida: Verse 6). Moreover, it is our faith in Islam that cleanliness is Nisf Eeman (half faith). There is an additional injunction, to remove all the extra hair from the body which keeps us neat and clean from the body secretions and bad smell.
In fact, this practice of ablution is in vogue, ever since the advent of Islam. The basic concept is to keep ourselves free from the onslaught of dirt, infection, viruses and bacteria being encountered during work. Hence it is mandatory for Muslims to practise ablution before any prayer and reciting or touching Quran.
It will certainly curtail the pandemic due to COVID-19, and improve quality of health and life. Hence the role of SOP in general and the Islamic way of cleanliness in particular certainly helps in curtailing the spread of viruses and bacteria. I request your readers to throw more light on the subject, which will help us in curtailing the diseases.
Dr Yasin Durrani
Islamabad
Modi’s secularism!
So-called secular India, under Modi’s ultra-fascist vision, has re-stamped its regional hegemonic designs. Only a fool/nonsense/blind could not cast idea that India is a secular-democracy. India has proved herself a fascist Hindu majoritarian state being ruled by an extremely terrorist, hateful, violent cult of Hindutva ideology.
There is no space for universally acknowledged values like: democracy, tolerance and co-existence in Modi & Co’s India. Since partition, Hindutva brigade started her deadly march on the path of destruction by igniting sentiments of Hindu majority against minorities especially Muslims; Sikhs; Christian and (even) low caste Hindus!
Either internal/external front this hateful populist rhetoric took a toll on Indian Muslims, Sikhs, Christian… in addition to neighbours. Occupied Kashmir “worst-than-slaughter-house since partition” is that unfortunate land where BJP has found enough space to accelerate on her fascist ideology – due to illegal occupation.
More than “nine lack troops” have already martyred countless Kashmiris on both sides of LoC. Though, Kashmiri Muslims were promised freedom by the UN through a plebiscite, yet not fulfilled (!) Is the UN existing/dead (?) Why do not operate like East Timor and South Sudan (?) Because! There was/is no representation in the UN for 1.8 billion Muslims (even being) second-largest-religious-population.
So “Muslim representation” in the UN is must (!?). Modi & Co., is confirmed terrorist – murderer of 11 Hindus on 9 August 2020; 40+ soldiers blasted in Pulwama; 36+ Sikh murdered in occupied Kashmir; Parliament attack 2001; Mumbai attack 2008; Samjhauta Express; killing of 155+ farmers (mostly Sikhs) in recent agitation and what not going on…?
Due to Pakistan-China joint strategy and extra vigilant watch to deal with all provocative moves of ‘Modi’s secularism’ is controlled. Now, UN (must) awake-up (!). Because, time is passing fast towards destruction as planned by Modi & Co – It is no use to cry over split milk!!
M AZAM MINHAS
Tatrinote, AK
Road accidents
I want to draw your attention toward the main social issue that is road accidents. Road accidents are increasing day by day in our city. The main cause of road accidents is the violation of traffic rules, lack of traffic education, absence of safety procedures and poor road lighting.
Over-speeding and one wheeling is the main cause of road accidents. We all know that “Prevention is better than cure”. Government should regulate schools and other educational institutions to give education to the students about traffic rules. Roads should be repaired and widened so that the threat of road accidents decreases. Government should restrict traffic police to do their duties with responsibility and also with honesty. Government should fine those people who break traffic rules like not wearing seat belts and not wearing helmets and drive a car and motorcycle without a licence.
Driving licence should not be provided to the people without a proper driving test. Government should punish the corrupt officers who take bribe from the people and do not punish them after breaking traffic rules. These and many steps are urgently taken to decrease road accidents.
HADIA SHAKEEL
Lahore
Justice for Bushra Rajpar
Another day, another rape. When is it going to stop? Why have women and girls always been viewed as an object in this country? Now, the women of Pakistan need the answer aguishly. A first-year college student, 16 years old, the innocent, pretty and polite, Bushra Rajpar, was just another kid really with dreams and hopes for the future. She is just another human being with aspirations and common wants from the life but what she got was horrible.
Bushra was abducted and later gang-raped by five people in Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Karachi. To rape somebody is not killing the person; it is rather like killing the whole humanity. It is apparent that sexual assault cases in our country are aggravating day by day. It depicts there is a fragile system of justice in Pakistan. Not only the victims but also their families have to confront social and psychological trauma after such incidents happen to them.
The demand for justice and the social media trends end up just highlighting the issue but there is a lack at the side of the government’s actions. Authorities need to speed up the process of justice for rape cases or else there is no hope at all. To make justice accessible, it is pivotal to eliminate some atrocious tests, e.g. two finger tests; furthermore, the government must ensure a society which is safe to live for women of Pakistan.
RIMSHA HABIB
Okara
