End the tradition of taking oaths. The meaning of oaths is to swear. According to the teachings of Islam, if an oath is taken with firm resolve, breaking it will be a sin and a penalty will be required for breaking it. In any good society, the purpose of taking an oath is to bind the person in a commitment so that they make a pledge for future actions, and such oaths are called ‘Yamin Munqadah’. Breaking such a commitment requires a penalty to be paid.
If a person holds a social responsibility and has taken an oath to work according to principles and rules, but then breaks that oath, the Quran repeatedly mentions people who choose to deny the truth, for example: ‘(67) And they will say: Had we been wont to listen or understand, we had not been among the dwellers in the flames.’ (Al-Mulk: 10:67)
The Quran repeatedly mentions human psychology and the concept of truth and righteousness. The Quran presents two choices before its audience: either submit to the authority of the Quran and choose the path of truth and righteousness, or instead of truth, choose denial, objection, opposition, defiance, hypocrisy, and arguments. In the context of Pakistan, a large number of people seem more inclined towards the latter choice, where rather than listening to facts, they close their ears and refuse to consider evidence, closing their eyes to the truth and becoming focused on showing their superiority.
When faced with adversity, such people immediately acknowledge their mistake and resolve to correct it, but as soon as circumstances improve, they revert to their old ways. The Quran describes such people as those who are given respite and until God’s grasp tightens on them.
The purpose of the above discussion is simply to highlight that our current system of government is a system that denies the oath. In a beloved country where bribery, illegal and unlimited use of government resources, looting of abandoned properties, and consistent disregard and disrespect for the law are prevalent.
If we look at the history of Pakistan, from 1947 to the present, we have not been able to establish a system that allows for clean and transparent elections. Financial corruption and nepotism have become so rampant in our society that even elections within a small housing society do not take place honestly. This is because we want leadership that suits our preferences, even if it means crushing the country under its heel.
A society that constantly flouts the law and the concept of punishment leads to the birth of corruption and nepotism like a sore. Whenever a new leadership comes to our country, be it federal and provincial ministers or officers from civilian and military institutions, they are required to take an oath that they will fulfill their duties with justice, honesty, and impartiality. Indeed, the society we have painstakingly built is embarrassed and troubled by those who uphold the oath. Therefore, either align the things written in the oaths with our needs, traditions, and environment, or end the tradition of taking oaths altogether.
Today, we must decide whether we want to build the Pakistan envisioned by Mohammad Ali Jinnah or whether we want a scattered, chaotic, confused, and fearful Pakistan!
We are repeatedly given the opportunity to correct ourselves and build a society that leads us on the path of law, education, and practical systems, while upholding the oath. Otherwise, nature will not give us the opportunity again. Indeed, Pakistan is a fortunate country that is repeatedly given the chance by the heavens. Until when?
Note: Express News and its policies do not necessarily align with the thoughts of this blogger.
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