Modern living has set high standards of lifestyle with quality of life improving and reaching new highs, but the quality of people and society is declining at an alarming rate, where modern-day society depicts the days of jahiliyya, or ignorance, from which we were supposed to step out over 1400 years ago, and we were told that we did, or really did we?
The Reign of the Strong: Where Power Defines Right
The rule of the strong is recognized and respected. Might define the right even if it is against basic human laws, not just Sharia; the characteristic is strongly present in modern-day Pakistani society and was the trait of Arabic tribal chiefs in Jahiliyya. One may object that how can one compare modern democracy with ignorant Arabia? Well, roles may change, but the basics remain utterly the same. Pakistan is a safe haven for powerful criminals or well-connected people. The state favors the strong and powerful, and state machinery is at the disposal of the powerful person, but the ordinary citizen is treated differently. Every power sector, be it military, bureaucracy, or politicians, exerts its influence in different manners and enjoys the perks, while an ordinary citizen is a helpless creature just like a slave or a person from low-ranking tribes in jahiliyya. Law will punish you when it can and when you are helpless with no affiliation to a strong sector, and sometimes you are above the law as per the command of the powerful stakeholders. There are countless examples, but just to draw an idea, let’s use the popular one. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became P.M. with merely 80 seats, and Mujib Ur Rehman was told to step down with mighty 150 seats, 80>150, and we believe our voice matters. The same person was suddenly hanged for murder, which he committed when he was prime minister, but the trial was done as per need. The disparity exists at the lowest level, but the idea here gives clarity. The hierarchy continues till the very end; this was an example at the highest level, and we have a habit of criticizing leaders, but they are amongst us. In Pakistani society, everyone with the slightest bit of power will use it on the weaker group, and the chain continues to the extreme depths of the society.
Shades of Superiority: The Scars of Colorism and Lineage
The people in the age of jahiliyya were very considerate about color and racial superiority, and guess what? So are the people in Pakistan. The groupings of Pathans, Muhajirs, Gujjars, Butts, and Jutts surpass the sense of religion and nationalism. People take pride in hollow castes and families and prefer them over country and religion any day. Karachi is the perfect example: everyone wants to be part of a greater bloodline and creed. The discrepancy in terms of colorism shall not be forgotten as the country is a perfect market for whitening creams and treatments with millions under the pressure of being a Kaala/Kaali. The pressure exerted by the society and sometimes a black color is also termed unfortunate until he has money, in which case he becomes chocolaty. Everyone would love the tales of Hazrat Bilal R.A., and the same people won’t hesitate for a second to call a black man a negro. The degrading terms are common and have become a norm in this terrible society, so no matter what impact they have on the person, they absorb these common terms with a smile, or they reply with something terrible to others. The wide range of derogatory terms is available in Pakistani society for every caste, physical appearance, and color, and everyone uses them proudly to degrade one another.
Justice Denied: When the Scales are Tilted
Manto described it perfectly around 70 years ago: “Our justice system is like a judge wearing a dhoti: when a strong person approaches, the judge lifts the dhoti from behind, and when the weak approaches, the judge lifts the dhoti from the front.” 70 years have gone by, and Manto is still relatable. In the era of Jahiliyya, the strong and influential tribal leaders were keen for justice when something related to them occurred; for others, the justice was non-existent; slaves were killed by their masters without question, just like the Maddaras in rural areas of Pakistan. Honor killing was done with pride then and now. The major difference is the availability of separate judges and lawyers was not there, along with the paper called the constitution that Pakistanis use conveniently as per the need. The real irony is that the powerful tricks and tips used to mend and play with laws are an exceptional talent that Pakistanis possess, but they won’t solve a simple rape or murder case involving an influential person. They will oppress the victim and threaten him to sign a deal for money or the guarantee of life for other family members, so the case ends in settlement, and this here is defined as the victory of law. In some ways, the conditions are far worse than the age of jahiliyya.
The Price of Respect: Where Wealth and Influence Reign Supreme
Wealth is glorified like none other; the difference is that in this age wealth buys you the name, bloodline, caste, and creed of your liking, while in jahiliyya, they were still cautious about tribe and bloodline. Here the age of jahilliya has a little edge over the Pakistani society. Wealth, its type, source, and nature don’t matter in our society as long as it is coming. Back then, gambling was a common inadequate source and was available to specific sects, while in our society gambling is just one aspect available to all genders and all ages, not to mention Pakistan ranks amongst the top countries of porn consumers and has stepped into the world of production as well, with Instagram and social apps used as tools for such content. Here, there is no such thing as bad money. One can steal and pay zakat from stolen money and can also go for HAJJ as most of the HAJI sahebs of our society. The greed for wealth had limits in the age of jahilliya, but our society knows no limits. Wealth brings power, respect, and influence, and any kind of wealth, as there is no differentiation. Wealth covers all the faults of character and legal challenges; parents happily give the daughters in marriages to wealthy people regardless of character or source of wealth because that is simply not the priority. So society works perfectly for all the persons affiliated with illegal occupations, and perhaps the culture encourages this.
Women, Wine, and Words: A Complex Tapestry of Tradition and Modernity
Women were a test in all ages for men; the glorification of women is not something new, except for the progression of LGBTQ, something the Kafirs of Arabia in Jahilliya also wouldn’t approve of. The culture of glorification of women and the introduction of added genders have made a mess out of society. Liquor was always common amongst other added intoxications of the new age. There are no age or gender barriers left; love is misunderstood at the highest level. Women are objectified; pedophilia is a common norm, even portrayed on social platforms with confidence and no shame. The question arises: would the people of jahilliya have behaved the same with the modern tools and distractions, or are we worse? I believe they still would have some dignity. The destruction of society and culture is at its peak; rather, there is no culture left. Comparing the society with the age of jahilliya suggests that they might still be better, and that is the sad truth of Pakistani society, the most toxic society that exists. No wonder why the country with the 4th largest population, that too with mostly young adults and 4 seasons with all kinds of geography, achieves anything. The answers surround us.