In her article “Fasting doesn’t mean losing your temper” (Aug. 2), Sabria has depicted true picture of some people’s frame of mind. The writer is right when she says that fasting does not mean losing your temper. Islam is a glorious religion and Ramadan holds significant place in it due to its unique pattern of worship. If a Muslim cannot control his mind, language and actions, then fasting will not have positive impact on him or her as Islam stresses the importance of showing good manners while interacting with others. A Muslim is one who does not hurt another Muslim through his or her language. In every transaction, manners of a person plays a pivotal role. You will mar or make your business through your manners and language. That is why many organizations stress the importance of wearing a smile while talking to customers as it promotes business.
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and his companions always showed good manners and because of this they conquered the world. Nowadays, Muslims do not give due consideration to this noble trait and so they are not successful. On the contrary, the West has adopted this quality and they have conquered the world and they are very successful in their business. (Anees Lokhande, Alkhobar)
Campaign for a real cause
Pakistani cricket team’s ex-captain and now a prominent politician, Imran Khan, has announced he will hold a protest march in September against drone strikes in Pakistan’ tribal areas. Khan plans to mobilize around 100,000 people including workers and volunteers from Reprieve, a UK-based NGO, working against capital punishment and drone attacks. The protest rally route includes Bannu, Tank, Miran Shah etc., — areas where Al-Qaeda and Taleban groups hold sway.
Movement in those areas is restricted except for army troops and militants who generally avoid each other and traveling could be quite dangerous as it could lead to aerial strikes and bloody ambushes. One could have difference of opinion with Khan on the usefulness of drone strikes (as compared to aerial bombardment which may result in extensive collateral damages), however, Khan could be effective in another area of conflict which needs politicians and NGOs’ urgent attention — persistent failure of anti-polio campaigns in areas where displaced Pashtuns from tribal belt have been living for the past several years, especially in Karachi.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that polio virus has been found in sewage water samples collected from Gadap town and other rural outskirts of Karachi such as Sohrab Goth and Baldia town. WHO and its subsidiaries are unable to reach all the children in Pashtun localities of Karachi because of poor security situation and repeated attacks on polio vaccination teams in July.
We are not talking about more than 200,000 children in North and South Waziristan and Khyber agency, which have been declared by the Taleban as no-go areas for anti-polio campaigners. Unfortunately, we are facing the same situation in Karachi. However, here government’s efforts can help the anti-polio campaign to proceed without any security risks to medial staff and volunteers. Around 22,000 children are at risk only in Karachi.
We request Imran Khan, who happens to be a Pashtun by himself, to divert his 100,000-strong march to Karachi to convince the tribal and religious leaders not to hinder the vaccination campaign. If Khan succeeds in helping the eradication of polio virus in Karachi, it may have far-reaching consequences for Khan’ political future in the city. (Masood Khan, Jubail)
The month of blessings
This refers to the column, "Don't forget the less fortunate during Ramadan" by Aijaz Z. Syed. The writer has beautifully penned down the sparkle of Ramadan by keeping track of every happening going on during this holy month. He has pictured the scenes in such a way that I, being a reader, found myself in the world created by his writing. The column highlighted how the defenseless victims of Syria and other countries are unable to enjoy the benefits of this spiritual month. This blessed month teaches us to maintain unity, equality and oneness, but the question is do people really understand the meaning of brotherhood and patience. In this blessed month, when Allah's mercy and peace descend from heavens what has happened to those places where blood is being shed. May Allah's blessings and mercy be on us all. (Dr. Areej Rana, Jeddah)
Letters — Don’t lose temper in Ramadan
