Trying to be as objective as possible, I found two pronounced and excellent characteristics amongst Pakistanis – generosity and patience.
Remember folks, we’re being positive.
As for their generosity then I’ve honestly been hugely impressed masha’Allah. Pakistan is a poor country with millions living in poverty and millions of others just poor –
miskeen as we say in
Fiqh - i.e. one who doesn’t beg for money but is struggling to make ends meet. But despite this, I’ve witnessed people giving charity at every end of the scale.
For example, I’ve seen hundreds of poor people giving
sadaqah to those who are poorer than them in the streets. A truly humbling experience.
Then you see those who are generally ok, such as shop keepers or workers etc, who are constantly giving money to the poor whenever a beggar comes by the shop asking for food or money. This amounts to several times a day.
And then we have the upper class - those native to the country and those overseas Pakistanis. Not to be outdone, many of these people are supporting entire projects, schools, orphans, families etc. With a country such as this, full of oppression and corruption, governed by criminals who have usurped its wealth and resources for their own benefit, one can’t help but feel that our nation has been forced to take on the role of the government in their own private capacities.
Some of these people are literally local dole centres. It reminds me of the Sahabah and others from our Salaf who would be secretly supporting entire communities. The
Ahlul Bayt (Hasan and Husayn et al
radhy Allahu ‘anhum) were well known for this; as they passed away, it would often bring hundreds of families into poverty as it became clear that the deceased were feeding the mouths of all their neighbours who were living in poverty. Who would provide for such poor dependents in our times now?
In those days, when men were men and the
Khilafah was more than just an empty slogan, someone would step in and deal with it.
Nowadays, forget about the
Khilafah or the government – we need the descendents and others to step in and fill their fathers’ roles and responsibilities. I emphasise this for I know many elder ‘uncles’ in the UK, who are ‘practising’ and ‘not practising’ Islam, who currently carry out this honourable work of supporting their relatives, local village businesses, paying the debts of their local tribe members, paying their fines (which are often oppressively imposed upon them by the ‘authorities’), providing an education etc etc.
But what worries me is who will take over from these benefactors once they move on to bigger and better places? Their children?
You’re more optimistic than I am if you actually believe that. These sons and daughters are
my generation, born and bred in the UK, often Islamically ‘active’ but having quite a disregard for issues ‘back home’ in Pakistan. Many can’t be bothered, not feeling a need as such whereas others would really like to but maybe don’t have the time or the ability to do so. In any case, this must change. We all have to recognise the
Shar’i emphasis on maintaining good strong ties with our family members; the
Shar’i emphasis on charity ‘starting at home’ i.e. on ones relatives first; recognising that alongside the importance of being active in ones local area, we must keep in mind those abroad in our villages who are far more desperately in need, of financial help in particular.
As for the second trait – patience. Or call it being ‘chilled’. Totally chilled.
Have you seen these Paks when they’re driving? Honestly, every minute is a potential road-rage murder incident – except that these are Paks. They don’t even batter an eye-lid at the other offender, probably because they do the very same and expect the same indifferent response. And they get it to!
This kind of blasé attitude to driving seems to extend to life in general. People seem generally chilled in most things; but be careful not to take the Michael cos’ they can explode if you really freak them out.
I know these traits can be found universally and Paks have much more to offer, but it was these two that caught my eye this time round.
By the way, I’ve heard about the conspiracy that some of you have been hatching to try and take a photo of me in
shalwar kameez. Know that such attempts are doomed and will only result in abject failure and humiliation – a
baistee for anyone who tries it, and very much a
baistee for me if you actually get the picture,
La Qaddarallah…
;-)
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