A Vision of Peace in Pakistan

June 19,2009

Pakistan is in turmoil.  A well-protected luxury hotel in Peshawar is blown up. In Karachi, Sunnis ambush andkill Shia and visa versa. In the western mountains Osama bin Laden could beheadquartered and functioning as the spiritual inspiration of Al Qaeda. In Swat Valleythe Taliban is carrying on an insurrection that has led to 3 million peoplebeing displaced. The fighting has gotten close to the capital, Islamabad, where the authority to use nuclearweapons resides.  In the Kashmir region the killing continues.

Most of thechaos has a religious dimension.  So thepicture that the outside world might well envisage is one of Pakistan as anunrelenting multifaceted, Islamic nightmare. But I have seen another picture ofIslam in Pakistanwhich is peaceful, hospitable, tolerant and open. I have seen it in one mosqueand in one man, the Badshahi Mosque in Lahorewith its Grand Imam, Molana Syed Muhaamad Abd-ul-Khabir Azad. And it exists inhundreds of other mosques and imams of Pakistan.

Yesfanatics now set off bombs even on the streets of Lahore and inflamed reactions tempt all toseek revenge. Yet at the Badshahi Mosque, the fifth largest in the world and where100,000 people come to worship, the sermons are inclusive and the programs areinterfaith.  Catholics, Sikhs, Baha’is, Protestants,Parsis, Hindus and a range of others make their way to this official mosque of Pakistan whichserves as a national symbol of Islamic unity.

How didthis mosque and their Imam turn out to be so inviting?  Over its four hundred year history the mosquehad been harmed and desecrated by Sikhs and Christians.  Why shouldn’t it be belligerent?  The answer is in a vision.

Fiftyyears ago, the setting was this: hard feelings towards Sikhs, Christians, Hindus,Baha’is prevailed and was the accepted bad attitude in Pakistan until thefather, Molana Azad, who was also the Grand Imam of the Badshahi Mosque went tobed one night and experienced a vision. Perhaps in a dream, perhaps in a waking moment, perhaps in anapparition, somehow someone deeply revered in the Quran and the Bible appeared tothe Imam in his sleep.  And the next day andall days since, peace is practiced in this critically important mosque.

As Presidentof the United Religions Initiative Igot an email from our folks in the SwatValley.  They were pulled from their beds in themiddle of the night and ordered to convert to the religion of the Taliban ordie.  Some died.  On the other hand I recently was with the GrandImam of the Badshahi Mosque since he is a Trustee of URI’s Global Council and was here in the Bay Areaattending our Council meeting.  He showedme pictures of him and other Islamic leaders delivering tents and food in the Swat Valley.

What isthe accurate picture of Islam in Pakistan?  All of the media reports will tell a story ofmaniacal bloodshed in that religion’s name. In part it will be the truth.  Butthat is not the crucial, essential, abiding part.  There is also a vision of peace in Pakistan and Ihave been there and seen it with my own eyes. It is the solid substance of an open hearted Pakistanwhich, in the future, will be a cornerstone for building a Pakistan whichis at peace with itself and with this world.

The Rt.Rev. William E. Swing

President,United Religions Initiative