Imran breaks silence on ‘sajda’ at shrine

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan clarified his act of ‘Sajda’ (prostrating) by saying that he had only kissed the floor of the shrine out of the respect for the Sufi saint for his services to Islam.

Imran visited the shrine of Baba Fareeduddin Ganj Shakar (RA) with his wife on Wednesday night. The visit was recorded and later went viral on the social media.

Religious conservatives and liberals alike criticised Imran for what appeared to be a sajdah at the stairs of the shrine.

Imran later clarified in an interview to a local news channel saying;

“Sajda is only for Allah, I only kissed the floor of the shrine out of my respect for the great individual that he was, for his services to Islam. This makes you more humble and removes your ego,”

He further added saying;

“Sufism speaks about removing the “main” the ego in an individual, people see these things superficially and declare fatwas without knowing the religion, without even knowing the facts whether it was a kiss or sajda.”

While many people saw this act as a sign of Shirk most level-headed people urged the nation not to be sidetracked with such things and make it a debate over religious beliefs.

Shouldn’t be bothered how someone practices his/her faith (or doesn’t). As long as they are not preaching or committing violence, it’s their business. So kindly lay off IK’s ‘sajda.’ Millions of Pakistanis do it. Your puritanical condemnation of it doesn’t make you any better.

— Nadeem Farooq Paracha (@NadeemfParacha) June 28, 2018

Pan, Karachi accent, Sajda at shrine…I love it how our collective intellect keeps regressing. As a nation we need to up our game and pose serious questions to our leadership. Why do we all make issues out of non issues? We are in a serious situation economically & other things.

— Fakhr-e-Alam (@falamb3) June 28, 2018