DYING BY THE INCHES

In last week we have seen two usual things, which are rather very disappointing.

First the pulling down of the Sculptures of Bauls (www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=58970) and the other is the cutting down of trees in Rokeya Sarani. (www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=59362).This two incident is interlinked with one another.

The Islamist party who protested for the removing of the Sculptures seems to be very strict or have very rigid understanding for Quran and Sunnah. I understand from this particular action of their, is that they think pulling down Sculptures (or Idols/Murti in their terminology) is one of the path to heaven.

What about the cutting down of the trees. If they are very cautious of going to heaven or to show us that they are very Islamic in their way then why haven’t they protested when the trees were being cut down. Prophet Muhammad (sm) has said :

“If any Muslim plants any plant and a human being or an animal eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he had given that much in charity.” (Bukhari)

"There is none amongst the Muslims who plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, but is regarded as a charitable gift for him." (Bukhari)

“If the last hour strikes and finds you carrying a sapling to the grove for planting, go ahead and plant it.”

How much importance have Prophet Muhammad(sm) have given in planting trees and how much our Islamist Party brothers is aware of the Quran and Sunnah’s teachings.

The Sculptures are not being made for worshipping it is for promoting and keeping our culture alive. Referring to Hana Shams Ahmed article on October 21 2008 in Daily Star (http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=59549) it seems that government is allowing this to happen and past governments have also allowed this type of parties to grow. Now since the tooth paste cannot go back to the tube after all; the government have to do something that which is good for both, the culture and Islamist party.

Despite seeing and hearing all these we merely want to tinker around the edges, carry on “normally” and feel good about the normality. We seem to want a bit of prayer or meditation, a lifestyle only slightly flavored with the presence of Allah, its like “adding some mint leaves for an attractive presentation”.

Have we really started shaping our relationship with Allah?