“What really hurt Muslims about this issue is how this newspaper has presented Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is a stereotyping of Muslims as well as the religion of Islam, that Islam is a religion of terrorism, a religion of violence and so forth,” – says Imam Mohamed Magid, an American Muslim leader.
Sometimes, a picture is worth more than a thousand words:
February 03 protests in London.
February 24, 2006 at 6:13 am |
After looking at these signs I can understand why you want to be a closet atheist in Pakistan. I guess most Muslims will never meet anyone who admits to be an atheist, so Muslims are very unlikely to give up their religion. I live in the usa where Christians complain about the teaching of evolution in science classes. Is only creationism taught in Pakistan? Have Muslims in Pakistan ever heard of evolution? If you have time to reply you can use my email address. I’m glad you don’t publish email addresses, I wouldn’t want junk email. I like your website. Good luck in Pakistan.
February 24, 2006 at 2:07 pm |
Just wanted to say “hi”. I read your story about how hard it is living with your beliefs “in the closet”. here in the UK it is much easier to voice your opinion. However, things have become a little trickier of late, but it is still relatively “free”.
By blog started as a rambling journal then gradually became an atheist – theist discussion.
I’ve noticed you get different “levels” of believer. Some seem to follow quite blindly. Some seem to have a more rational, intellectual approach. It took me a while before I got any reasonable answers to my questions regarding a rational belief ie: is it possible.
I’m yet to find any arguments which sustain the idea that belief is rational.
Once you establish belief is irrational, believers go quiet. They run out of argument. But they still maintain their belief.
In your situation, I guess you can’t even have the debate. That must be very frustrating for you. The good thing about the internet is no one need be alone with his ideas anymore.
Good luck!
March 11, 2006 at 8:49 am |
There are some things that, no matter how statistically true they may be, are not acceptable to suggest for social reasons.
We can’t condemn the majority of muslims as violent people because of the minority of peaceful muslims we would be forsaking.
March 27, 2006 at 7:18 pm |
Hey!
Great work. Im so glad to see an atheist blog from a Pakistani perspective. Please keep up the great blogging. Your voice needs to be heard!
April 10, 2006 at 8:52 am |
Hey,
Read your Blog! and wow!! how much do we differ on everything.
But i guess everyone has the right to their own opinion.
I do have one comment though… it’s something in the Quran ( i don’t know if you have ever read that or not). It’s said that man is born twice and dies twice. Once he’s raised in the heavens and is given a bond with God. That soul existence is then deadened (for lack of a better word). That same soul is then transferred to the womb after 4 months and man is born again. He lives the path and then goes onto die and again is reborn in the heavens (the path).
Now science & genetics has proven this to be true. For 4 months, there is no activity in the womb, but after 4 months, the baby becomes alive. So what is the ‘Rooh’ and where it comes from that Science has never explained.
This comment is in regard to the one that you put up that all babies are born Faithless. The true story for Muslims is that all Babies of the world are born Muslim. They’re corrupted by their nurturance.
.. Muslim meaning one who follows the covenant and not necessarily Islam only. 
Anyways… thought i’d drop by… wíll keep coming back to check this site out…
.. CIAO…
April 10, 2006 at 8:55 am |
oh!!! btw, which philosopher do you tend towards… i’ve always been more happier with Kant rather than existentialism. That’s too… Arghh!! Depressing is the world.. same with Neitzhe… Yes.. i can’t spell that guy’s name either and i’m too lazy to check the spelling…
February 2, 2009 at 9:54 am |
I’m a life-long fan of Bertrand Russell.
May 30, 2006 at 2:35 am |
Put yourself in their shoes.
June 26, 2006 at 11:16 am |
I guess these are not muslims
these are fundamentlists and u can find them in any religion or region
July 17, 2006 at 4:06 pm |
Having come upon your website, I found myself both saddened and uplifted by your predicament. Saddened because, like you, I feel myself constrained and enraged by the dogma of belligerent, fascist Islamists in my community in the U.K., and uplifted because you have left behind the irrational system of religious belief in favour of a true enlightenment that is necessarily atheist.
Good wishes, my friend, and well done for placing this website.
August 12, 2006 at 12:02 pm |
I am a 31 year old female from Sialkot( Pakistan)I am a strong atheist.Like you I’m also belong to a religious family.My relatives, friends and my parents all are strong believers.I haven’t revealed to the people around me
that I’m an atheist and being a female nonbeliever I would suffer more than a male if I disclose it openly.So whilst wandering the net, I came upon this site and found it a way of catharsis.Uptill now I was content with myself being an atheist I was least bothered about other people’s religions and beliefs but now I am feeling a certain transformation in me that now it seems difficult for me to tolerate other people’s insensible and nonsense thinking.Sometimes I get irritated when I see stupidity all around me and no one be willing to listen to my view point.There is no forum where we could speak freely.It has make me very depressed and pessimist.
September 22, 2006 at 8:51 pm |
i am happy to hear another diffrent voices from pakistan(your weblog). i think like you about this picture. i think they are realest muslims and we can see the nature of islam in this pic.you ‘ll make me happy by visit my new blog
December 19, 2006 at 1:07 pm |
I see that all your posts were made in Feb-06
No activity after that….
Are you still there???
June 16, 2007 at 9:17 am |
Great job buddy. The subcontinent needs more people like u.
August 4, 2007 at 8:31 am |
Concerning freedom:
2:256 There is no compulsion in religion, for the right way is clearly from the wrong way. Whoever therefore rejects the forces of evil and believes in God, he has taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way, for God is All Hearing and Knowing.
16:82 But if they turn away from you, (O Prophet remember that) your only duty is a clear delivery of the Message (entrusted to you).
6:107 Yet if God had so willed, they would not have ascribed Divinity to aught besides him; hence, We have not made you their keeper, nor are you (of your own choice) a guardian over them.
4:79 80 (Say to everyone of them,) ‘Whatever good betides you is from God and whatever evil betides you is from your own self and that We have (O Prophet) sent you to mankind only as a messenger and all sufficing is God as witness. Whoso obeys the Messenger, he indeed obeys God. And for those who turn away, We have not sent you as a keeper.”
11:28 (Noah to his people) He (Noah) said “O my people! think over it! If 1 act upon a clear direction from my Lord who has bestowed on me from Himself the Merciful talent of seeing the right way, a way which you cannot see for yourself, does it follow that we can force you to take the right path when you definitely decline to take it?°
17:53, 54 And tell my servants that they should speak in a most kindly manner (unto those who do not share their beliefs). Verily, Satan is always ready to stir up discord between men; for verily; Satan is mans foe …. Hence, We have not sent you (Unto men O Prophet) with power to determine their Faith.
21:107 to 109 (O Prophet?) ‘We have not sent you except to be a mercy to all mankind:” Declare, “Verily, what is revealed to me is this, your God is the only One God, so is it not up to you to bow down to Him?’ But if they turn away then say, “I have delivered the Truth in a manner clear to one and all, and I know not whether the promised hour (of Judgment) is near or far.”
22:67 To every people have We appointed ceremonial rites (of prayer) which they observe; therefore, let them not wrangle over this matter with you, but bid them to turn to your Lord (since that is the main objective of religion). You indeed are rightly guided. But if they still dispute you in this matter, (then say,) `God best knows (the value of) what you do.”
88:21 22; also see 24:54 And so, (O Prophet!) exhort them your task is only to exhort; you cannot compel them to believe.
48:28 He it is Who has sent forth His Messenger with the (task of spreading) Guidance and the Religion of Truth, to the end that tie make it prevail over every (false) religion, and none can bear witness to the Truth as God does.
36:16 17 (Three Messengers to their people)Said (the Messengers), “Our Sustainer knows that we have indeed been sent unto you, but we are not bound to more than clearly deliver the Message entrusted to us.’
39:41 Assuredly, We have sent down the Book to you in right form for the good of man. Whoso guided himself by it does so to his own advantage, and whoso turns away from it does so at his own loss. You certainly are not their keeper.
42:6 48 And whoso takes for patrons others besides God, over them does God keep a watch. Mark, you are not a keeper over them. But if they turn aside from you (do not get disheartened), for We have not sent you to be a keeper over them; your task is but to preach ….
64:12 Obey God then and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away (no blame shall attach to our Messenger), for the duty of Our Messenger is just to deliver the message.
67:25 26 And they ask, “When shall the promise be fulfilled if you speak the Truth?” Say, “The knowledge of it is verily with God alone, and verily I am but a plain warner.”
Concerning other monotheist religions:
Not all of them are alike; a party of the people of the Scripture stand for the right, they recite the Verses of God during the hours of the night, prostrating themselves in prayer. They believe in God and the Last Day; they enjoin Al-Ma’rûf and forbid Al-Munkar ; and they hasten in (all) good works; and they are among the righteous. And whatever good they do, nothing will be rejected of them; for God knows well those who are Al-Muttaqûn .(3:113-115)
And there are, certainly, among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), those who believe in God and in that which has been revealed to you, and in that which has been revealed to them, humbling themselves before God. They do not sell the Verses of God for a little price, for them is a reward with their Lord. Surely, God is Swift in account. ‘(3:199)’
Verily! Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believes in God and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve . 2:62
Say (O Muhammad ): “O people of the Scripture : Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but God, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides God. 3:64
Concerning who we fight or don’t:
[As for such (non-Muslims) who do not fight you on account of (your) faith, or drive you forth from your homelands, God does not forbid you to show them kindness (also love and respect) and to deal with them with equity, for God loves those who act equitably. God only forbids you to turn in friendship towards such as fight against you because of (your) faith and drive you forth from your homelands or aid (others) in driving you forth. As for those from among you who turn towards them for alliance, it is they who are wrongdoers.] (Al-Mumtahanah 60:8-9)
[Permission (to fight) is given to those against whom war is being wrongfully waged, and verily, God has indeed the power to aid them. Those who have been driven from their homelands in defiance of right for no other reason than their saying, ‘Our Lord is Allah.’] (Al-Hajj 22:39-40)
Islam is peace
October 3, 2007 at 7:51 am |
Islam is a religion. Anger is a human emotion.
The genuine-ness or otherwise of any religion should not be judged on its’ followers control [or lack of] on their emotions.
Many agnostics, atheists, free-thinkers, etc have shown equal anger & intolerance, no?
October 3, 2007 at 8:01 am |
What I’m asking you is this: is not morality & virtue, something we have to work for?
Aligning ourselves with a sect, or not, does not guarantee that we shall be moral does it?
I agree with you that many Muslims seem to think that they are in the right & everyone is wrong, and thy are extremely intolerant.
But everyone has their own sacred cows. For some, it’s freedom of speech, for others it’s something or someone else.
Thank you, I hope this was not offensive to you.
GreenSufi.
May 12, 2008 at 1:48 pm |
I was very excited when I googled “Atheist pakistan” and saw your blog, cant say the same anymore, pls post more, im sure there is an intelectually stimulating debate relevant to the pakistani context waiting to happen here…
June 4, 2008 at 6:01 am |
Hmm… beautful..