THE AUTHOR’S ADVICE
On a broader scale, the Muslim community experienced a similar shift. Initially, after Ayatollah Khomeini’s fatwa against Salman Rushdie, the Muslim press worldwide stood in support. However, today, all these writers and speakers remain entirely silent.
If the previous stance of Muslim leaders that Salman Rushdie should be killed for writing his book was indeed correct, then according to Shariah, it is not permissible for them to allow Salman Rushdie to remain alive while they remain silent on the matter. They are obligated to write, speak, and even put their lives at risk to enforce the fatwa.
However, if they have come to realize their mistake, it is incumbent upon them to openly acknowledge their error and wrongdoing, just as they had emphatically declared that Rushdie should be beheaded. They should convey their current stance to the people with the same enthusiasm and fervour they exhibited.
Instead of choosing either of the options mentioned above, Muslim leaders have chosen a third path: to remain silent without openly acknowledging their mistakes. In the current situation, this silence can be seen as a transgression. They should be aware that God may hold them accountable for their actions.
Modern Muslim leaders have repeatedly demonstrated a tendency to hastily take revolutionary steps without conducting thorough research. Subsequently, they realized the wrongness of their actions. However, they have only maintained silence in response without openly acknowledging their mistake.
I do not believe that such a position is justified for any leader. By remaining silent and avoiding responsibility, the leaders may think they have escaped blame but leave people trapped in a cycle of destruction. Ordinary individuals, lacking a deep understanding of matters, continue to follow the guidance of their leaders. Therefore, it is the duty of the leaders who led the masses astray in the first place to acknowledge their mistakes openly. This will enable their followers to comprehend the true nature of the matter and prevent the recurrence of such blunders in the future. Everyone is susceptible to making mistakes in this world of trials and tests. Making a mistake is not a crime. The actual wrongdoing lies in not openly admitting one’s mistakes after realizing them. Only when Muslim leaders openly acknowledge their mistakes will Muslims be able to grasp the underlying issues and avoid repeating them in the future.
