CSS Solved Islamiat Past Papers | What are the Motives of Extremism in Pakistan? How Can a Society Get Rid of Extremism by Following the Teachings of Islam?
The following question of Islamiat is solved by Miss Rimsha Mureed, the highest scorer in CSS Islamiat. Moreover, the question is attempted on the same pattern taught by Sir Syed Kazim Ali to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory subjects for years. This solved past paper question is uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Question Breakdown
In this question, the examiner has asked two things..
- Motives behind extremism in Pakistan
- Way forward by Islamic teachings to get rid of extremism
Before hitting the demand, we will first elaborate on the literal and verbal meaning of extremism, and its prohibition in the religion Islam according to the Quran and Sunnah of PBUH. After that the motives behind the rising extremism in Pakistan will be discussed and then pertinent pragmatic approaches by Islam to get rid of that menace.
OUTLINE
1- Introduction
2- Literal and verbal meaning of extremism
3- Extremism prohibition in Qur’an and Sunnah
4- Motives behind extremism in Pakistan
- ✓ Sectarianism
- ✓ Ethnocentrism
- ✓ Intolerance and lack of generosity
- ✓ Incomprehension toward teachings of the Quran and Sunnah
- ✓ Provocative sermons and orations
- ✓ Trending mob culture in Pakistan
- ✓ Socio-economic issues in Pakistan
5- Recipe under Islamic teaching to get rid of extremism
- ✓ Proper education of the Quran and Sunnah
- ✓ End of sectarianism
- ✓ Moderation: An important Islamic teaching
- ✓ Promotion of tolerance and generosity
- ✓ Rule of law and accountability
- ✓ Muslim unity: The dire need of the hour
- ✓ Negation of provocative and extremist remarks in curriculum and on social media
6- Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction:
The World is facing many problems and one of these problems is extremism. Pakistan is no exception to this. Extremism is the quality of going to extremes. However, Religion Islam has strictly prohibited extremism and given a lesson of moderation in all aspects of life. Unfortunately, extremism in Pakistan has been rising with every passing day. There are many motives behind rising extremism in Pakistan and these include sectarianism, ethnocentrism, prejudices, intolerance, lack of generosity, incomplete knowledge of Islam and its teachings, and socio-economic issues to only mention a few. Moreover, various incidents in Pakistan have made it clear that extremism is injecting slow poison into the veins of societal peace and it is mostly of religious extremism. As a result, this rising menace is posing grave repercussions in Pakistan and posing its bad image across the globe. So, in Pakistan, efforts should be made at individual, societal, and national levels to tackle this curse as soon as possible according to the teachings of Islam.
Verbal and Literal Meaning of “Extremism”:
- ✓ Verbal meaning:
In the Arabic language, the word “Galu” is used for extremism. Galu means excess and it is related to an extreme level of attitude toward anything.
As stated in Qur’an:
لَا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ
(AL-QURAN)
“Do not commit excess in your religion”
- ✓ Literal meaning:
The literal meaning of extremism is elaborated by different scholars as:
According to Imam Al-Farabi:
“To cross limits in any matter falls in the category of extremism”
According to Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary:
“The quality or state of being extreme; especially advocacy of extreme measure”
Longman modern English dictionary defines it as:
“The quality, state or habit of going to extremes in views and actions”
According to Imam Al- Razi:
“Extremism is something in opposition to paucity; Galu in Islam is to cross the limits; and the religion of Islam lies in between the scarcity and extremism, it is something related to moderation”
(AL-RAZI)
Extremism in the Light of Qur’an and Sunnat:
Qur’an has strictly prohibited extremism. The verse of the Holy Qur’an in this regard is:
قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ
(AL-QURAN)
“Say, “O People of the Scripture do not exceed limits in your religion beyond the truth”
Any matter that will be dealt with beyond the boundaries of Islamic Sharia will fall under the umbrella of extremism. Its prohibition is also elaborated by the sayings of the Holy Prophet S.A.W:
“Extremists will destroy”
(AL-HADEES)
“Try to be away from strictness in religion, people before you were destroyed just because of religious extremism”
AL-HADEES)
Motives behind Extremism in Pakistan:
There are many reasons behind extremism in Pakistan, some of them are the following:
- Sectarianism:
The major cause behind the extremism menace in Pakistan is sectarianism. Every sect wants to be superior to other sects and consider itself on the right path. All other sects are wrong in front of him and spread Xenophobic content about other sects. Clashes between Shia-Sunni sects in Pakistan, the Quetta bomb blast in Shia mosque during Juma prayer in 2022 show examples of sectarian-based attacks in Pakistan.
- Ethnocentrism:
Ethnocentrism refers to an individual or a group considering itself superior to others, and it will ultimately lead to extremism in Pakistan. In another sense, a religion considers itself better than others, and it ultimately flames the extremist sentiments in Pakistan.
- Intolerance and lack of generosity:
Intolerance is one of the major motives behind extremism. This lack of generosity is expressed in Pakistan among Muslims and Muslims towards minorities. This has created chaos and anarchy in Pakistani societies. The studies show that Over 2,000 people have been killed and 3,500 injured in sectarian attacks in the past five years. (ISSI JOURNAL)
- Incomprehension of teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah:
Qur’an and sunnah are the major sources that can tell us accurately about right and wrong, vice and virtue. Unfortunately, people in Pakistan are not well aware of the teachings of Islam. They have bound Islam to prayers. Mashaal Khan’s murder episode in Pakistan is an example in this regard.
- Provocative sermons and oration:
Another cause behind rising extremism in Pakistan is provocative sermons and ideas by pseudo-scholars. They preach their insufficient knowledge in the wrong way to the generation and it ultimately leads to extremism.
“When the generation read the curriculum of hatred, then they can’t write a book on love”
(Dr. Hamid-u-din)
- Trending mob culture in Pakistan:
Mob culture has become very prominent in Pakistan. People consider them superior to the law and try to solve issues brutally without involving the law. This has given rise to extremism in Pakistan—a Sri Lankan Priyantha Kumara murder episode in Sialkot in 2021, as reported by Al-Jazeera.
- Socio-economic issues in Pakistan.
Social issues like poverty, unemployment, health, illiteracy, and corruption are also some of the motives behind this rising dilemma of extremism in Pakistan. Due to these social problems, people have become intolerant, and they try to go to extreme levels and try to get justice on their own without involving the law. There has been a 20% rise in Suicidal attempts in Pakistan (IPRI)
Way Forward under Islamic Teachings to Get Rid of Extremism:
- Proper education of Qur’an and Sunnah:
The solution to every problem lies in the teachings of Islam. So, proper education of the Qur’an and sunnah are the crunch needs of the hour to get rid of extremism. By getting a deep knowledge of Islamic teachings, we can end extremism in our society. As it is stated in Qur’an:
لَا تَغْلُو
(AL-QURAN)
“Do not be extreme”
- End of sectarianism:
Sectarianism is the root cause of extremism in Pakistan which has given rise to sentiments of hatred in Pakistan. Extremism can be eradicated in Pakistan by ending sectarianism according to the teachings of Islam. As stated in Qur’an by Allah Almighty:
وَٱعۡتَصِمُواْ بِحَبۡلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعٗا
(AL-QURAN)
“Let’s tightly hold the rope of Allah Almighty”
وَلَا تَفَرَّقُو
(AL-QURAN)
“And do not be divided”
- Moderation: an excellent solution to extremism:
Islam has always negated extremism by giving lessons of moderation in all aspects of life. The life of Holy Prophet (PBUH) led a moderate life and always give a lesson on the right path and moderation in his teachings and actions. He said:
“The best work is of moderation”
(AL-HADEES)
“Oh Muslims, don’t be Leftists”
(Mawlana Shiekh Nazim Adil Al-Haqqani)
- Promotion of toleration and generosity:
There is a core lesson of tolerance and generosity in Islam for its followers. Muslims should be tolerant towards all other Muslims and non-Muslims in Pakistan to eliminate extremism in Pakistan. As mentioned in the Quran as
لَاۤ اِكۡرَاهَ فِى الدِّيۡنِ
(AL-QURAN)
“Let there be no compulsion in religion”
Another verse of Holy Quran is:
لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِىَ دِينِ
(AL-QURAN)
“You have your way, and I have my Way”
Similarly, the teaching of Islam is:
فَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن
(AL-QURAN)
“Let him who will believe”
وَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ
(AL-QURAN)
“And let him who will reject”
- Muslim unity: A dire need of the hour.
Islam has emphasized deeply on unity and brotherhood among Muslims. A simple example of it is a brotherhood among Muslims at the time of migration in Holy Prophet (SAWW) times. The order of Allah Almighty in this regard is:
اِنَّمَا الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ اِخۡوَةٌ
(AL-QURAN)
“Surely the believers are none but brothers unto one another”
فَاَصۡلِحُوۡا بَيۡنَ اَخَوَيۡكُمۡ
(AL-QURAN)
“So, set things right between your brothers“
- Negation of extremist content in curriculum and on social media:
It is high time to take steps at the local and national levels to end up extremism by erasing provocative content from curriculum and social media and banning debaters to make such types of speeches. As also described by Hafeez Taib:
“Hum ko jadal ki raah dikhaty hn q khateeb
Deen-e-Nabi to kehty hain deen Ashti ka hai”
[Why debaters show us the path of war and fighting, the religion of prophet (PBUH) is the religion of peace]
- Equality of all and justice:
The basic teachings of Islam include justice and equality of all irrespective of color, caste, creed, wealth, and any relation. This sense of equality will help to root out extremist sentiments and frustration in the people of Pakistan. The idea about it in Islam is:
يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا كُوۡنُوۡا قَوَّامِيۡنَ بِالۡقِسۡطِ
“Believers, Be upholders of justice”
شُهَدَآءَ لِلّٰه
“And bearers of witness to truth for the sake of Allah”
وَلَوۡ عَلٰٓى اَنۡفُسِكُمۡ اَوِ الۡوَالِدَيۡنِ وَالۡاَقۡرَبِيۡنَ
“Even though it may either be against yourselves or against your parents and kinsmen”
ؕ اِنۡ يَّكُنۡ غَنِيًّا اَو فَقِيۡرً
(AL-QURAN)
“Or the rich or the poor”
- Rule of law and accountability.
Rule of law and accountability are the major tools to operate out inequality and injustice in Pakistan, which will control the rising extremism in our state. Allah Almighty has warned about the rule of law and maintenance in Islamic society:
وَلَا تُفۡسِدُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ إِصۡلَٰحِهَا
(AL-QURAN)
“And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation”
Conclusion:
So, extremism has become an important issue in Pakistan which is haunting the society. Extremism is not only religious, but it can also be social-economic, racial, and linguistic. When a group of individuals think that they are superior to others, then they will become extremists with fascist sentiments. The major reason is that we, as a state, are losing the sense of moderation and tolerance. There are multiple motives behind this rising menace and the panacea of it is teachings of Islam. It is high time to take some multifaceted measures according to the teachings of Islam to eradicate extremism in Pakistan and to make Pakistan a peaceful place to live with a balanced individualistic and collective life.
“Even The darkest night will end and the sun will rise to spread the light”
(ORBAN VICTOR)
CSS Solved Past Papers’ Essays
Looking for the last ten years of CSS and PMS Solved Essays and want to know how Sir Kazim’s students write and score the highest marks in the essays’ papers? Then, click on the CSS Solved Essays to start reading them.
CSS Solved Essays
CSS 2023 Solved Islamiat
| 2- | What is the Quranic argument on life Hereafter? What are its impacts on the individual and collective life of a human being? |
| 3- | Discuss the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) role as a Model for Military Strategy. |
| 4- | Elaborate on the rights of daughters granted by Islam and how these are denied by Muslims in the contemporary world. |
| 5- | Defind Ijma (consensus) and explain its different kinds. Can legislation by a parliament of an Islamic state be regarded as a valid consensus? |
| 6- | Analyze the Charter of Madina as a social contract. |
| 7- | What are the motives of extremism in Pakistan? How can society get rid of extremism by following the teachings of Islam? |
| 8- | Write Notes on the following: a. Human rights in the light of the Sermon of Farewell Pilgrimage. b. Social Justice in an Islamic Society. |
Articles Might Interest You!
The following are some of the most important articles for CSS and PMS aspirants. Click on any to start reading.
