Pakistani Shi’a Scholar:

US couldn't have influence it wanted in Pakistan

Rasa – A Pakistani Shi’a scholar said after the Iranian Islamic Revolution, the Pakistani people accepted this significant revolution and it led to increased piety, insight and awakening among the people of Pakistan. “For this reason, the US could not have the influence that it wanted in this Muslim country,” he said.

News ID: 3582

Date: 17 November 2015 - 22:10

RNA – In an interview with Rasa News Agency, Hujjat al-Islam Sayyed Zishan-Haydar Husayni, the president of the Quran Association of Pakistan, said that there are two movements which are in conflict with each other – the people of faith and the people of disbelief. Muslims must face the infidels and arrogant powers with courage and wisdom. "That this is their religious duty," he added.

The Pakistani Shi’a scholar noted that meaning of the infidel is those individuals who have launched war against Muslims, if a non-Muslim is not hostile toward Muslim, he or she is considered as a “dhimmi” and Islam commands that they be treated with tolerance.

He said the biggest example of arrogance in the current era is the United States, which the late Imam Ruhollah Khomeini rightly called the “Great Satan.”

This Great Satan has influence in all countries of the world, particularly in Islamic countries such as Pakistan, and unfortunately, due to some negligent politicians and rulers, the US’ influence has been largely successful.

Hujjat al-Islam Husayni said after the Iranian Islamic Revolution, which was based on pure Muhammadan Islam, the Pakistani people accepted this significant revolution and it led to increased piety, insight and awakening among the people of Pakistan. “For this reason, the US could not have the influence that it wanted in this Muslim country,” he said.

He added that another reason that the US tried to influence Pakistan was that after the fall of the Ottoman Empire at the hands of the colonial powers, Pakistan was the first Islamic country to gain power and establish itself in the political world. The US saw that this as a great threat to itself, especially when Pakistan joined the exclusive club of the world’s nuclear powers. Also, Pakistan has countless natural resources which have attracted the US’ attention.

The teacher in the Islamic Seminary of Qom said that the US’ primary strategy to gain influence is through the concept “divide and rule.” They attempt to spread religious dissension among the country’s Muslims, political parties and various ethnic groups to turn their attention toward external enemies instead of directing their focus to their friends. As a result, Muslim groups have lost their power and the US has been able to place Muslim countries under their control by manipulating their dependent rulers.

Hujjat al-Islam Husayni said the US has gained influence in Pakistan through intelligence and espionage activities inside various institutions, especially cultural and civil institutions, and has also infiltrated non-governmental institutions such as NGO’s and has used its influence to spread dissension between Sunnis and Shi’ites in the country.

The alumnus of al-Mustafa International University said that the US seeks to weaken Islam among Pakistani Muslims. It does this through a myriad of methods, including through the establishment of satellite channels, promoting illicit interactions between men and women, influencing the peoples’ religious and cultural traditions and through establishing and strengthening Salafist terrorist groups by providing military and financial assistance to them.

111/112