On Friday 20 Jun 2008 2:28:30 pm Rishab Aiyer Ghosh wrote: > the writer spends two pages elaborating on this conclusion, and doesn't > himself get distracted by his own evidence, that he does admit at the > end, ""It doesn't matter whether you're a Christian or a Muslim," he > said. "I'm going to take you to your house, arriving there in a decent > amount of time is already a miracle. Of course I say inshallah!"
The only part going for the author's theory is the claim that he asked a man his name and the man answered, "Mohammad. Inshallah" - which could only mean "Last time I checked, my name was Mohammad. God willing it still is" Or maybe:"God willing I still have a name - Mohammad" Of course I am tempted to psychoanalyse the use of the word "Inshallah" after a name such as Mohammad. I just wonder if a bearer of that name would have to be extra careful with that name - even if it is his own. In an increasingly Islamized society one cannot mention the name of prophet Mohammad without adding "Peace be upon him" or its Arabic equivalent for fear of being punished by someone. But I doubt if a man called Mohammad can say "peace be upon me". He can only hope for the best - god willing. In Pakistan such fears had reached such an extent that no Pakistani cricket captain would ever begin a TV interview (even outside Pakistan) without saying the mandatory "Bismillah ur Rahman ur Rahim" first. Some of pre-1973 islamization writers of Pakistan - such as Ayaz Amir have commented on the phenomenon, including the "Big Brother" like spying on Muslims to make sure that they actually do fast during Ramzan. An Indian friend of mine who works near Glasgow (Scotland, GB) was approached in his hospital common room in 2006 by a bearded, kurta-pyjama clad man and asked why he was not at "namaz" at prayer time. Another story dates from the earthquake that struck Pakistan and Northern India a few years ago. The rescue efforts coincided with Ramzan and among the rescuers in Pakistan were men of the terrorist organization Lashkar e Taiba (L-e-T) . One devout Mullah apparently came up and demanded that the rescuers stop cooking food for the victims during the daytime in keeping with the rules for Ramzan. This man is said to have been convinced by a L-e-T cadre with a Kalashnikov that such a degree of devoutness (should I say devotion?) was not essential. shiv
