The Muslims in Pakistan has calibrated Eid ul Fitar on a single day with the entire world for the first time since 1974. Due to the recent corona pandemic people in Pakistan were not able to calibrate it with conventional and traditional style,but it was a good and rare sign of national and religious integration that unity were shown in this regard. In these positive occasions, Fawad Chaudhary, minister of science and technology and Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman, chairman of Ruet-e-Hilal committee blamed and criticized one another for a number of reasons. One can notice from the tense situation between the two entities, that such integration seams in danger in future and effective measurements should be taken to resolve the issue on permanent basis.
The recent episodes of high tensions occurred because both sides adopt extreme approach towards one another. Fawad Chaudhary and some of our liberal Friends argue that, in 21th century the matter should be looked through the lenses of science and technology, and religion has nothing to do with it. According to them scientists should deal it. On the contrary, Mufti Muneeb ur Rehman thinks that sighting the moon for Ramadan and Eid is a matter related to religion, therefore the duty should be performed by religious scholars.
These narratives give rise to another question about religion and science, that either both contradict or complement one another. Basically the concept of contemporary modern science and technology traced from Europe. The Europe was dominated by church and Christianity at that time when science was exploring there. At that time the science contradicted Christianity in a number of matters, that are, evolutionary concepts and thoughts about universal aspects. The scholars of science and technology presented anti thesis about the assumptions of Christianity. At that time people assumed Christianity as a religion and science as agnosticism. Thus both were considered as opposed phenomena .
But things are quite different in case of Islam. Islam is not only a religion, but it calls itself a” Deen”. It means that it is the complete code of life and a pathway to a successive life in both worlds. Islam has a very balanced relations with science and technology. The former neither contradict nor complement the later. Islam doesn’t want to bound human to only science and technology, so that he or she becomes slave of it. It tends that human should use science in such a way that it compensate human and bring ease and comport to human life. In Holy Qur’an, Allah says a number of time to think and investigate about universe and discover new things for the easiness of mankind. Thus it is clear that Qur’an, the holy Islamic book stresses upon exploratory, investigative and research oriented minds which are the basic features of science too. To a larger extend the difference of thoughts between Islam and science can be eliminated through these assumptions. Besides this almost 1450 years ago Islam was revealed in Mecca, a small city of Saudi Arabia, but it dispersed very quickly due to its logical and rational approach unlike other religions. Thus Islam goes side by side with the modern day technological advancement.
In case of Pakistan there is miss perception, between clergy and ministry of science and technology. Majority of religious scholars think that science and technology is irrelevant in sighting the moon. They think that the said duty is religious obligation so it should be performed by Ruet-i- Hilal committee led by Mufti Muneeb. On the other hand Fawad Chaudhary and his supporters criticize them for conservative approach towards matter. They think that in modern day one can achieve the required goals if he or she adopts the modern day techniques.
The matter can be fixed and permanent religious and national integration can be achieved if both sides quit there extreme approach towards one another. Everyone is agree on the point that Ramadan and Eid are religious practices Fawad and Company should not ignore the Islamic perspective of clergy in this regard. Being head of minister of science and technology he should take all the stakeholders in confidence regarding this. On the other hand, as discussed the religion in case of Islam, doesn’t prevent one from utilizing science and technology for ease and comport of human life. Therefore Mufti Muneeb and his committee should keep their personal grievances aside. They need to make a consensus with the respective ministry and should work for unity in this regard. The proactive approach from both sides will not only bring religious harmony in he country, but it will also help in pursuing good image of the country on different level in the respective matter.