Samiuddin's Blog

In Pakistan, severe gender segregation prevails in many areas and among many people, where women are often viewed not as individuals but as objects to be concealed from men. The popularized belief is that any close interaction between men and women could lead to indecency and immorality. While gender segregation, to some extent, is necessary to ensure privacy and comfort and guard against immorality, the enforcement of extreme segregation in Pakistan goes beyond what is essential. Islam provides guidelines for interactions between men and women, as mentioned in Surah An-Nur (verses 30-31) of the Holy Quran, to prevent indecency and uphold the sanctity of the family among Muslims. However, in Pakistan, the enforcement of gender segregation is so strict that even a respectful handshake or sitting together in a gathering between a man and a woman is considered taboo, unlike in Indonesia where such interactions are not prohibited, even though Indonesia, is also a Muslim society where the r...

In the circle of linguistic discussions and the political dispute of India and Pakistan, a common critique voiced by many Indian nationalists towards Pakistan is that Urdu essentially belongs to India, which Pakistan has adopted as its national language. But is this assertion accurate? Undoubtedly, it holds true that Urdu originated in northern India, specifically in and around Delhi, during the Delhi Sultanate. At that time, Muslims chose Persian as their official language in India, while the local Hindu populace in northern India spoke languages like Khariboli, Braj Bhasha, Awadhi, and others. As Persian loanwords and vocabulary seeped into these languages, a new language emerged, which we now refer to as Urdu. However, this is merely a historical perspective. When the British colonial rule took hold in India, a significant event occurred known as the Urdu-Hindi controversy (1867). This event played a crucial role in the establishment of Pakistan. At that time, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan al...