LAHORE – The top contender for Pakistan’s top office of Prime Minister, Imran Khan has clarified his position over his ‘controversial’ action at a Sufi shrine in Punjab, following a religio-political storm that has gripped the social media since last night.
“Sufism speaks about removing the “mein” the ego in an individual, people see these things superficially and declare fatwas without knowing the religion, without even knowing the facts whether it was a kiss or sajda,” the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) told the host of a show on Dunya TV.
“Sajda is only for Allah, I only kissed the floor of the mazar (shrine) out of my respect for the great individual that he was, for his services to Islam. This makes you more humble and removes your ego.
“Anyone who believes in the kalma, in the oneness of God, can never share anyone with Allah,” he added.
The images and videos of Imran and his wife Bushra Maneka showing them allegedly ‘performing sajda’ at the point of entry to the tomb of Baba Farid Ganjshakar, in Pakpattan, were well noted by social media, with political commentator, Gul Bukhari equating the move with a Sajda (prostration only done before Allah Almighty by the Muslims).
https://twitter.com/GulBukhari/status/1012191452699463680
Completely upset by Imran’s action, some including his former wife Reham Khan even accused him of ‘Shirk.’
This is the Islamic Republic of Pakistan where following a rewording of an oath the law minister had to step down & we saw a sit in turn violent. That was on the finality of the Prophet PBUH.
Can we allow the biggest sin of all Shirk? https://t.co/343iOEpcDR— Reham Khan (@RehamKhan1) June 28, 2018
Another account regarding Imran’s ‘bow-down’ is that there is a difference between Sajda and paying respect to the sacred shrine by kissing the floor.
An Islamic school of thought is arguing on social media that Imran Khan merely expressed his respect for the place by bowing down, a continuation of what he did in Saudi Arabia by landing barefoot on the Holy land.
Analyst Mosharraf Zaidi also dished in on the matter and took a jibe at the commentators who otherwise avoid indulging in religious affairs, but expressed their views on Imran’s shrine visit.
https://twitter.com/Xadeejournalist/status/1012202832823508992
https://twitter.com/nadeemmalik/status/1012343261925662720
The cricketer-turned-politician was welcomed by Dewan Azmat Said Mohammad Chishti, the custodian of the shrine and the PTI’s candidate for the PP-192 constituency. The couple also offered Fateh.
Khan and Maneka also reverently performed the ritualistic act of placing a cloth on the shrine of Baba Fariduddin.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/imran-khan-bushra-maneka-pay-visit-to-baba-fariduddins-shrine-in-pakpattan-ahead-of-polls/
The third wife of Khan, who is also believed to be a spiritual mentor of the PTI chief, spread flowers in front of the Bahishti Darwaza (the door of paradise) at the shrine. Khan also distributed ritualistic sweets and edibles.
Imran Khan was also flanked by his close friend and business tycoon Zulfikar Bukhari during the visit, which apparently aims at seeking blessings ahead of the upcoming polls.
