CHITRAL: We Muslims take great pride in our faith, believing that the Quran and Hadith provide a complete code of life. Yet in practice, most of us fail to adhere to either. We selectively follow commandments that suit our convenience while disregarding those that do not.

For instance, the Quran clearly invokes Allah’s curse on liars and declares both bribe-givers and bribe-takers destined for Hell. However, lying and bribery have become widespread, socially accepted norms in our society. This glaring disconnect reveals hypocrisy of the deepest order.

A recent incident in Drosh town, Chitral, starkly illustrates the point. A few days ago, on Ashura, a shopkeeper set up a water and refreshment dispensing facility for thirsty passersby in line with a widely practiced tradition of  many Muslims around the world. A group of zealous individuals from a particular sect stormed the shop, overturned the tumblers, and vandalized the setup, labeling the act a bid’ah (innovation).

The irony is that such zealots do not  show any concern for whether the shopkeeper’s refreshments and other merchandise were genuine and authentic or what is going on by way of fakery and cheating in the bazar every day— they were outraged at a person serving water to thirsty passerby’s in severe heat, on that particular day, in a manner their sect disapproved of.

Hypocrisy that elevates ritual conformity above honesty, fairness, and compassion is spreading far too much. If religious commitment means anything, it must be measured by conduct — speaking truthfully, refusing corruption, and showing kindness — not by how loudly one condemns others. .. CN report, 30 June 2026