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By Sabir Mirza (UK)
When I moved to the United Kingdom at the age of twelve, I carried a pure and beautiful image of my homeland, my Kashmiri and Pakistani soil, and the warmth of my people close to my heart. As time passed and life unfolded, I finally returned to Pakistan two weeks ago after a very long time. However, the environment, the streets and the everyday social behaviour I encountered plunged me into deep intellectual and emotional turmoil.
Coming from a structured, calm and law-abiding life in the UK, the very first thing that struck my heart upon stepping onto the streets of my homeland was the chaotic hustle and unending restlessness of society.
Restlessness and Agitation on the Streets
My heart ached to witness that patience and tolerance seem to have vanished from our roads:
• Motorcycles zip through from the left and right as if engaged in a life-or-death race.
• If you are driving calmly, the continuous flashing of headlights and honking from behind make it feel as though there is a raging fire ahead.
• There is little to no regard for pedestrians, nor is there respect for basic human dignity.
• A culture of gossip and carrying tales back and forth is eroding mutual trust in our society.
This brings forth a crucial question: Almighty Allah has blessed us with everything—a magnificent faith, brilliant minds and abundant potential. Why, then, is there no peace in our nation? Why is everyone in such a frantic rush?
What I Lost and What I Found on This Journey
Reflecting upon my two-week visit and seeking to balance what I lost against what I found, the reality unfolds as follows:
What I Lost
1. Mental and Emotional Peace: Leaving behind the calm and legally structured environment of the UK, the noise and impatience I encountered here instantly robbed me of my inner tranquillity.
2. Discipline and Respect for Humanity: The lack of law enforcement on the streets and the blind race to overtake one another highlighted how much we have lost our sense of civic discipline and respect for the rights of others (Huqooq-ul-Ibad).
What I Found
1. Undying Love for the Soil: Despite all the shortcomings, the moment I stepped onto this earth, the scent of my roots and the warmth of my people reminded me that nothing in the world can replace one’s homeland. The truth remains: despite everything, we hold immense, unconditional love for this soil.
2. Intellectual Awakening and National Concern: This journey granted me an empathetic heart and an awakened mind—one that does not merely mourn our flaws but dreams of a national revival.
Our Educational and Religious Crisis: A Moment for Reflection
What touched my heart most deeply during this visit was observing that we are establishing religious seminaries (Madaris) in every corner of Pakistan, producing countless Huffaz (memorizers of the Quran) and reciters—which is undoubtedly a noble virtue. Yet, I must ask: what kind of mindset are we instilling in our children?
Are we raising our youth to rely on charity and ask for help, or do we want to guide them onto a path where they create, innovate and stand tall before the world?
We must realise:
• Bridging Faith and Science: The very first word revealed in the Quran is “Iqra” (Read), and the Holy Book repeatedly commands us to ponder, reflect and explore the universe. We have confined faith to mere rote recitation while severing our connection with scientific inquiry and innovation.
• The Legacy of Polymaths: Great Muslim scholars like Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Al-Khwarizmi and Ibn al-Haytham were deeply grounded in Quranic knowledge while simultaneously leading the world in mathematics, medicine and optics. Instead of seeking aid from the world, they gifted knowledge and technology to humanity.
A Roadmap for National Reform: Which Path Should We Take?
If we genuinely wish for our nation to break the begging bowl, build self-reliance and foster a peaceful society, we must act on the following four-point agenda on an emergency basis:
1. Modernising Seminaries with “Hifz + STEM”: Alongside Quranic memorisation, religious schools must mandate education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), computer coding and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Our Huffaz possess extraordinary memory and discipline—they can become world-class scientists, engineers and medical pioneers.
2. Ending the Culture of Dependency: Instead of handing youth superficial degrees or teaching them to rely on donations, we must equip them with practical, technical and industrial skills so they can earn an honourable living with their own hands.
3. Universal Service to Humanity: We must train our children so that their inventions, medical discoveries and ethical conduct benefit all of humanity—without discrimination based on colour, race or creed—serving white, Black and every human being alike.
4. An Ethical Revolution in Daily Life: Teaching people to drive calmly, yield the right of way, respect pedestrians and practise patience is not just a civic duty; it is a core moral and religious obligation.
Conclusion
My message is not one of mere criticism; it is the passionate plea of an awakened heart for his motherland. We must transform this restless spirit into a peaceful, dignified and creative force. Instead of handing our children a bowl to beg, we must hand them the tools of knowledge, science, technology and genuine morality.
When our youth become innovators who serve all of humanity without prejudice, only then will this sacred land truly become a haven of peace, prosperity and dignity.
— Sabir Mirza
(Mirpur / UK)
Special Feature / Op-Ed. Returning to Pakistan: Reflections on Loss, Love and Renewa
