I had to decide along with others, a principal prayer during meditation and worship on the Laylatul Qadr. The options include, the Prayer for wealth, health and longevity of my family especially of my parents, prayers of prosperity for my Country, Praying for national security and independence etc. and decided after facing a long dilemma, to pray for my Pak Army Due to which we are enjoying the blessing of independence today. The reason behind the decision was the prevailing situation and scenario of Gaza, where almost two million people out of approximately 2.3 million population is reported to have fled their homes and those who remain in northern Gaza are on the brink of famine, according to the United Nations. People are starving. Half the population is struggling with catastrophic hunger and famine is imminent in northern parts of Gaza, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the global body responsible for declaring famine. The World Food Programme says that addressing the simple food needs would require at least 300 trucks a day to enter Gaza and distribute food. But more or less 150 trucks only are permitted to enter into Gaza for the purpose. More than 100,000 thousands people have been either killed or wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health and according to Belén Fernández, an Al Jazeera columnist, Gaza today is a bunch of ‘kill zones’ within a larger kill zone after six months of apocalyptic war. Gaza was the part of Great Ottoman Empire but could not maintain its occupation due to its defeat in First World War and the League of Nations granted the United Kingdom authority over it. It was occupied by Egypt during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, but was occupied by Israel during 1967 Arab–Israeli War. Gaza was governed by the Palestinian Authority (PA) according to the mid-1990s Oslo Accords and at present again captured by the Israel since October, 2023.
Gaza must be an established and developed land as it remained the territory of great dynasties and kingdoms. It has a land, population, governments, a religion and mujahedeen as well. It also has her neighbouring Muslim states along with billions of Muslim voices in her favour around the world. Hamas is the popular party among the people of Gaza and won approximately 60% of the total seats and ruling on Gaza since 2006. Then why Gaza is presenting the picture of relentless death and destruction and bunch of ‘kill zones’? It is indeed a serious question to be answered by the people of Pakistan and especially the youth. What is lacking that keeps the Gaza people away from their freedom? Is land and leadership enough to save the country? Can only winning the election be a guarantee our independence and security? Maximum “Perhaps and may be” can be the answer from some emotional public but the true and perfect answer is big NO. We also need the courageous, the brave, the professional military like Pak Army for the national security and nation building as well. The scholars argues that traditional, modern, and late modern militaries were thought of only playing the role of defending the territorial integrity of the state. However, in the postmodern era, military personnel are thought of as having multifarious roles for their state. They not only cope with traditional military threats but also with non-traditional threats faced by their country. Pak Army has been playing a vital role in safeguarding the nation’s security and fostering economic and social development in the country since independence of Pakistan. It always comes to help its citizens in natural disasters and calamities. The nation will never forget the huge sacrifices made by soldiers and officers in the battlefield for the love of their motherland and that is why we are safe & sound having peaceful environment.
Laylatul Qadr is one of the most significant and sacred nights in the Islamic calendar. It is also referred to as the Night of Power or the Night of Decree. The night is not comparable to any others and cannot be equalled even by worshipping throughout an entire lifetime. On this blessed night, turn to God with sincerity, and make prayers from your heart for your loved ones, for our Muslim brothers and sisters across that world who are experiencing difficulty especially for the people of Gaza and Kashmir and that Allah (SWT) grants them ease, patience and fulfils their needs. But must remember our military during prayer to grant them power to fulfil their duties and obligations for a safe & sound Pakistan.
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The author is a professor of Islamic Studies at Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan.
