Sentimentalization of illegal use of "bismillah" in the Constitution is blasphemous
Sentimentalization of "bismillah"s illegal placement in the Constitution has begun just as I apprehended.
This is a familiar trick reminiscent of Hitler's campaign rhetoric stoking popular racial and ethnic sentiments
in 1930s Germany. Later the Catholic Church of Austria used religious sentiments to persecute the Jews and
oust them from Vienna, urging the congregation to do so as a national as well as a religious duty.
When I raised the issue of illegality of "bismillah" above the Preamble of the Constitution of Bangladesh
in the internet forums, I got angry responses. Accused of being anti-Islam and a paid servant of Zionist
masters, I was asked sarcastically: "Why "Bismillah" is a problem for you?"
It is not a problem for me. 'Bismillah' is my constant companion. Besides using it in prayers, I love saying it
at the commencement of any good work, and I love writing it. Give me a minute or two, and any old pen,
and even without practice, I will write 'bismillah' in Arabic in passable Nashtaliq calligraphic style.
I do have a problem though with a thing called Martial Law. There is no such thing called 'Martial Law' in the
Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. 'Bismillah' should not be put above the Preamble of
the nation's Constitution, a nation that fought a bloody battle for its birth on the principle of secularism,
by an unlawful usurper of civilian power who called himself Chief Martial Law Administrator.
The use of 'bismillah' for such crass political purpose behind the clout of illegal Martial Law by
a Proclamation Order in 1977, thereby betraying the trust of 150 million people should surely count
as the most shocking and egregious blasphemy! It is kufri of the most heinous kind!
See the Holy Qur'an for a strong interdiction very specifically against an act like this in Sura Hud: 18 --
wa man adhlamu mimman iftara 'ala Allahi kadhiban
"Who is a worse transgressor than him who constructs lies upon Allah's name fraudulently"?
Farida Majid
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