I just read that Jemima Khan (w/o Imran Khan) is pursuing a Masters Degree in Islamic Studies, and plans to do a PhD too in the same. Here's a WESTERN woman and she wants to do PhD in Islam, whereas we traditional Muslims would do PhD's in anything but.
We Pakistanis are often found bashing our Mullahs for their ignorance and narrow mindedness, and at the same time none of us are ready to acquire formal education in Islam to counter their ignorance. Obviously, when none of the well-off and cultured people of our country are ready to send their kids into pursuing degrees in Islam (since they won't make much money that way and it doesn't sound that prestigious a career), then our religion is dictated by people coming from poor and backward households, for whom being an imam or a religious scholar are still prestigious and respected professions (compared to being a low-paid laborer or a servant at somebody's house, or working at a nan shop (I don't mean to diss any of these occupations, all lawful professions are good) ).
I can imagine how shocked some of our parents may be if we told them we wanted to become a religious sholar or an imam, and not a doctor or chartered accountant or a computer scientist. The result is that Islam in Muslim countries is now dictated by such Mullahs whose products are Taliban and OBLs (I mean no offence to Taliban supporters, I just don't think they were the most enlightened Muslims, they must have had quite a few other good qualities though).
We need more Iqbals and Sir Syeds and ummmm.... I can't think of many other good Pakistani scholars, u see what the problem is?
(BTW I am aware there ARE a few other good Muslim scholars in Pak but they seem VASTLY outnumbered by ignorant emotional Mullahs)
We Pakistanis are often found bashing our Mullahs for their ignorance and narrow mindedness, and at the same time none of us are ready to acquire formal education in Islam to counter their ignorance. Obviously, when none of the well-off and cultured people of our country are ready to send their kids into pursuing degrees in Islam (since they won't make much money that way and it doesn't sound that prestigious a career), then our religion is dictated by people coming from poor and backward households, for whom being an imam or a religious scholar are still prestigious and respected professions (compared to being a low-paid laborer or a servant at somebody's house, or working at a nan shop (I don't mean to diss any of these occupations, all lawful professions are good) ).
I can imagine how shocked some of our parents may be if we told them we wanted to become a religious sholar or an imam, and not a doctor or chartered accountant or a computer scientist. The result is that Islam in Muslim countries is now dictated by such Mullahs whose products are Taliban and OBLs (I mean no offence to Taliban supporters, I just don't think they were the most enlightened Muslims, they must have had quite a few other good qualities though).
We need more Iqbals and Sir Syeds and ummmm.... I can't think of many other good Pakistani scholars, u see what the problem is?
(BTW I am aware there ARE a few other good Muslim scholars in Pak but they seem VASTLY outnumbered by ignorant emotional Mullahs)
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