Excerpted from "The Faithful Scribe: A Story of Islam, Pakistan, Family, and War" by Shahan Mufti....

7/27/2019 Excerpted from "The Faithful Scribe: A Story of Islam, Pakistan, Family, and War" by Shahan Mufti. Copyright 201

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If we meet t pty n N Yok yo mgt sk m

im om. Pop sy nd p skng m tt. its

not tt im vy xot ookng. i m vg gt, sm,

nd i v mgosy on skn. i tos dk-

md gsss tt pvsv n t gons o ts

nd jonsts o nd t y nto ts ty, nd i v

pnt tt ss nd ds dpndng on

t nm o ddns i m jggng. Non o ts mks

m stnd ot ty n N Yok. Ts s ty

t tns d t pop om onts o t

od, pson t s on spsng stoy. Tts

on o t tngs i ov most ot ng . wt mgt

mk yo ond ot m s my ngg, spy,

t y n i s nd ponon ods. at st my

amn-ntd engs sonds pty nt. Yo

ky ssm tt i m amn, nd yo gt.

i m amn, nd so yo mgt jdg t mptnnt to


2/21

S h a h a n M u f t i

2

xpo my tn kgond. bt n t fo o onv-

ston, i mgt s odspp nstd o dnnmytt pks yo s s ns. O i mgt jst

n, t psson, nto monoog ot t spot o

kt. Tn, spottng t n onvston, yo my

ny n n nd, ov t psng dn o otos on-

vston, sk, So, yo om?

Pkstn, i py. w, my pnts ot

on n Pkstn. i s on n t amn Mdst,t i v sttd k nd ot tn am nd

Pkstn o my nt . a y , o ys t,

v monts , to ks t; i st don to ont t

, i mgt dsov tt i v spt my tm qy n t

to onts don to t xt nm o monts. i t

yo, im 100 pnt amn nd 100 pnt Pk-

stn. its t. bot onts nd ts qy

om to m. Yo mgt sk m n Pkstn my m-

y s om. i od t yo lo, nd xpn tt t s

t t o t gon n Pkstn knon s t Pnj. i

spk ud nd Pnj jst s s i spk engs. Fo

ts son, okng s pot n Pkstn s n s-

o m tn t s o most ot amn jonsts.

and no, no on n Pkstn od tnk im om ny-

ot tn Pkstn.

i kno tt n yo mnd yo ng on tt od: Pk-

stn. No mtt yov n o t pst dd,

yov poy d o ts p, nd otn. Yo poy

ognz t od . its pop o gnsot n t oom.

Pkstn! Dng t pst ys yo v n om-

dd t nomton, mgs, ds ot ts onty,


3/21

T h e F a i T h F u l S c r i b e

3

m mo tn yo n ot t ts momnt. bt t

s mpssons: t s nxt to agnstn; t s nxtto ind; ts Msm; t s n oms, mny n

oms; ts t p mn nmd Osm n ldn

s ny ond. wtv sp dts yo n

poy mo o ss t. So i spk, yo

tnkng o tt Pkstn. bt i so m tnkng, s i spk

to yo, ot t p tt yo pt n yo mndnd

to m t ooks k t, dk pody.lt n t vnng, mgt nd osvs togt

gn, gop o ommon nds sttng ond o-

t odd t mpty gsss nd -tn os

dovs. Mo omot nd m, t onvs-

ton mgt fo mo y no nd mo onsty. wy s

Pkstn s mss? its qston, t nss yo v

dys to tk ot ts, i ty to pont to t kn

o t pom. Pkstn s nq onty, nd so t s

nq poms. in agst 1947, monts o t stt

o is s td s g o nton o Js po-

p, Pkstn m on t mp s om o t Msms

sttd ov Sot as. Ts Msms om doz-

ns o dnt s nd tnts nd ty spok dozns

o dnt nggs nd dts. T on ndd m-

on Msms vng n Sot as n 1947 md p mo

tn qt o t ods Msm popton. Mons

o Msms pkd p t st o t vs nd mgtd

to ts n stt tt ot smm, nd Pkstn m t

ods gst Msm onty t t tm.

it s mk n stt. Most ot Msm on-

ts tt d on ndpndn om eopn oon


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4

dng t tntt nty m to d y kngs

o mpos o ms. bt Pkstn, mtng ontsn eop nd am, spd to om onstt-

ton dmoy. Tky s not Msm-mjoty

onty tt s omd s onsttton p t

t Fst wod w, nd t s-onsosy modd ts

t eopn onts s stny s stt. bt

n Pkstns s t s n mpotnt nd t tst:

Pkstn stov to nopot ism nto ts onstttondmoy.

T st Pkstn onsttton dd t onty

dmot stt tt od gdd y pnps

o dmoy, dom, qty, ton nd so

jst s nntd y ism. w n on pssg t

sttd tt t Msms o Pkstn sod nd

ndvdy nd otvy to od t vs n o-

dn t t tngs nd qmnts o ism, n

t nxt t pomsd dqt povson o mnots

y to poss nd pt t gon nd dvop

t t. T st t o t onsttton gv

t onty nm: ism rp o Pkstn. it

s t ods st ism dmoy. Psdnt hy

Tmn o t untd Stts ot tt to Mm-

md a Jnn, Pkstns ondng t, to t m

tt t n onty mks on ts os t t m

ndsp nd good o t untd Stts o am-

. T d nv n onsttton qt k Pk-

stns o, nd t s nv y n stt k

t v sn. Ts nq t, i sggst to yo, s

y n Pkstns tos gn.


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5

it d to ts y. T onty s to om to

mons o pop o dd not s on ngg o t-nty nd somtms nggd n vsty dnt t

pts. T pop o Pkstn dd s ommon -

gos dntty; ty ny Msm. and so t s

opd tt dspt dns, ts ommon ism

dntty od s t nton. Fom t vy gnnng,

pop dotd tt s nton od v ok, nd t

s ys gong to tog ng o yong stt.Pkstns xpmnt n ism s n ftd om

t vy gnnng; t ontys mty s onsstnty

dsptd dmot voton, nd t pops osn

psnttvs v d, gn nd gn, to v p to

t pomss. bt t tt s tt ondtons otsd t

onty nv y pd, t. Pkstn sts gt t

t ossods o t Mdd est nd Sot, cnt, nd

est as. Jst onsd Pkstns ngos: cn s to

t notst; ind ns t stn od; agnstn

nd in to t st; t Psn G ns on t

sotn ostn. its tog nd vot ngoood.

and tn, o os, ts am. its vy

y, t o tt o o os, am s n t

t vy totos tst nd tn n Pkstns modn s-

toy. Ot onts n t od mgt to d

n mgny n n tm tn t nd o t cod w

nd t gnnng o t w on To, t o Pkstn,

ams st go d fdy nto t nxt. T

cod w nsd n agnstn nd t w on To

gn t, nd ot tms am os to gt ts

tog Pkstn. am nd Pkstn, my to onts,


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6

v n okd n tomntd m o my nt

nd v sn Pkstn m n ndpndnt stt. Tsny ppt stt o ntnton s tkn ts

to on Pkstn, t ts not ams t. To m

am od zy xpnton o t dp poms

o ompx onty.

i m jonst nd i v ovd ts tst go

om t ont ns n Pkstn, nd pop somtms sk

m ot t von i v tnssd. Mny tosnds opop v dd n Pkstn. Mny v dd y t oms

doppd om t oot pns, d dons,

t cia fs moty ov vgs nd tons n Pk-

stns notst. bt t gt mjoty o Pkstns v

vonty dd t t nds o ot Pkstns. wy

amns omng Pkstn vgs? wy Pkstns

mdng ot n xtodny nms? Ts

von s dt to xpn. a von, i nd, s d-

t to xpn. To onst, i do not y ndstnd

t sons y pop tk ots vs, t i v

sn pnty o von nd so i kno tt t nnot

sng, sy son to xpn vy ost.

i od ty to ds t von to yo. i od ty my

st to xpn o szzng ss o mn fs tnd to ng

to t s o ng mpy nd qty om t ns

t om s ppd tog stng mktp t

ddy s. i od ds t tjtoy ong s-

d oms ms tnd to stt nd t tt mgt t

s ot t knds o xposvs s sng. bt yo poy

dont nt to ts gt no, nd i dont k tkng

ot ts m t. So i sntz ts tk o von.


7/21


7

i mgt spk stty ot mty onsvs nd t-

t vg nd pot motvs nd nstty.St, onvston ot von ys oms too

mod nd too goomy to ontn. exstd y o

otv osty ot t od y, mgt jst

dt k os to om, k to t gt xpns

o ng. w mgt t ot t nss nd poonss

o n o sd ty, N Yok. My somon s

dsovd t st ood-tk sng s tos dp nQns. and s pop gn sfng ot t doo i

od t yo. cspng yo nd, i od d yo

ond . i od t yo tt i sny op mt

gn t on o ts tngs.

T tt s, i od good ot o nont.

i m gt n tn to ps i nt smt-

nosy. Pkstns qnty k amn sods n a-

gnstn. Pkstns v td to ttk nd k vns

n mny ts ond t od. T amn mty

nd t cia, mn, ky k mny mo Pk-

stns n ny gvn k. T mts o t to on-

ts, ndsks nd st sms o t ms, sm

to xtt sp stston om tozng ot.

T to onts ntngd n stv tt s

nk ny ot n t od. and tt s y i od

spy good ot o mtng, s md t

yng nd tng nd kng nd t ok-nd-dgg

dpomy, i od v n to t yo t st som

o my stoy. i v o ts momnts o stoytng.

bt i mst onst: i so kno tt i d on gn

to xpn t stoy ot onty tt yo y


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8

opng to n mo ot. Yo s, t gos k m

t tn sx dds o stoy. in som ys t on-tys stoy gos k mo tn otn ndd ys, to

t t o ism, o vn o tt to t ton o

ngg, o my vn to t s o montns nd t

vng o vs n t nd mons o ys go. wn i

tod yo tt i spk ud, t nton ngg o Pk-

stn, i od v so xpnd tt t od ud s

sd to ds mng o dnt tnts tt st-td n mty nmpmnts n t sdos o t hm-

ys nts go. Pkstn s ty n ud ps,

i mgt v ddd, md o to ods: pak mns

p, nd stan , k t engs od stnd, d-

ss stt o ng. T onty s ty d t

Sp o P. Sn yo dont spk Pnj, yo od

not v zd tt n i sd tt my my s om

t Pnj gon, i s ty syng tt ty om

nd o v vs. i nv got to t yo tt t

s svn-ndd-y-od gv on t nks o on o

tos vs tt, i m tod, ongs to on o my nstos.

i nv got to xpn tt t ty o lo s nmd t

Loh, t son o t myt hnd god rm. T

so mny vns od v tkn to tv to t t

o t mtt, t ty mosty nt nxpod.

its not yo t o mn. ho od yo vn gn

to ndstnd t stoy o o nton n on n-

ont? ho od vn xpt to ndstnd

ots stos n t pt ontos? it od

mposs vn vd don t stt om

ot. and stos o ntons onvotd nd dstnt,


9/21


9

jst k t stos o o on vs. Ntons, k pop,

s stos to onstt pt p o tmsvs nts od. Ntons v mmos too yo mgt

mm tt pp tk on tt ong dv om, t n-

ton s t sp y t gt d top t . Yo

v tt spy pn sooyd gt, nd t n-

ton s tt d on t od. Yo svvd t t-

dnt, nd t nton vd tog t gt v

. T s tt mov dng mdd soo to nty, ngd yo ov, nd t nton s t

gt mgton, ngd vytng.

Ntons, k pop, ot ts stos s ty go.

Ty n p ods nd ty mnt tm togt to d

sntns, nd ts sntns jon togt to om on-

t stos. Ts stos stkd on pon t ot

t pssng dy. and tn on dy, t sp p

n t od s t. Fom nsd ts p o stos,

ook ot t t spng sp ond s nd t t ot

ps o stos t y ot pop nd ntons, som

n nd ots n t dstn. Fom nsd ts sp,

n xpn to t od o xstn nd ns tos

qstons tt sm so tog n skd y n otsd,

k w yo om?

T ods tt mk p ntons stoy vvd nd

oo to tt nton, s ty oos tos ods

y. Yo stos m nd stng s ty

yo sp stos. and stoy ds pty on

t st on, s t s ntons, k pop, o dd

t tt o t xstn n ts od. wn yo

pk on stoy om ts d nd s t t stng,


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10

t dosnt ys tnst. a od tt yo mgt v

nd om yo gndt o om yo ondng -t, so y voks m ng n yo, mgt

sond k gd nos to pson o spks not

ngg. and sn ots dont kno o pt

stoy ts nto t g stt, ty n nv nd-

stnd ts v o ts mnng. at t nd o t , ony

yo ndstnd t gnd sm o yo p o stos.

>

Here I s one o my stos. wn t pns stk on

Sptm 11, 2001, i s n y og mps n

Vmont os dv not o t od om

knon s Gond Zo. T s sp. T ts d

not yt st nto t y yo, ong, nd d o-

g tt i d nd to ntpt gy. i s on my y

to my monng ss n ssmt stoppd m n my

pt, nd t od onn mng tog d-

opn ys, s tod m ot t ttk on am.

T tos on t ppy o my onsosnss. i

d sn tm pssng tog N Yok cty nd

o tms, t i d nv y stood st to dm t

spndo. On t monng o Sptm 11, ty

sd nto my mmoy ov.

i ngd os nd tnd tod t nst tv-

son st. T t ong s ovfong t po-

p tng t vnts v. i s t to tos ong

smok om gpng dk ts n t top foos. T


11/21


11

m dd not mov o ong tm, nd t smd k

notng s y ppnng. Tn, t most somfdty, on to gn to snk n on ts. i d gsps

nd g st nto ts, ng nd smng ody s

nds td to d y om t . a mn-

ts t t sond to md to t ottom o t

sn. i stood t tng. w, momnts -

, t d n to o t tst stts t y

mn, t s no ony dd k smok.T nxt monng, t dto n t New York Times

dsd t dy o s on o tos momnts n

stoy spts, nd dn t od s o

nd t. it s on o tos dys o m too. i ok p

tt monng to do ng o my pon: n o-mps

. T sos-sondng mn on t n ntodd

ms s n gnt om t b o aoo, Too,

nd Fms. i dont s nm. i dont mm

m o t onvston t, t i do mm to

tngs: md no n to t vnts o t dy -

o, nd skd m t i t s i s. i s

n Vmont, on o t most sn ps i d v vd,

so nty i sd ys, i dd pty s. and s s

od sn sttd n, i t mo dpy mpd tn i

d v t o.

bo ng p pty, t mn d sd tt

od m k, nd o mny ks my t jmpd

vy tm my pon od do-ng. bt nv

d k. and i s t t ony t nd

knodg tt somon d sogt m ot n my dom

oom n Vmont t dy t t ttk on am. as


12/21


12

tm pssd i gn to ond t t mn y s

d gnt. My t s pnk y som ony psono, n s o s on nss, d ddd to ot

tt monng? ws t somon i d on mt n pssng?

My vn somon n my on sm og ton? ws

tng? wy?

evyon tdgd t mps gonds qty n t

dys tt ood, s possng t d

ppnd n N Yok nd tng t stoy n omnds to t nto t tt o o on vs. i td

to mk sns o t nm: t tosnd dd. i on-

dd ot t g o d sttd to p n t t-

. i d t okd n on o tos tos. bt

tn my togts od ys tn to t pon ,

nd t md my ood vy tm. evnty i ddd

tt i od nv nd ot o d d m, nd so i d-

dd to v tt qston nd. bt i dd ndstnd

y d d. at mntng vy ot son, i

ognzd tt i d vd tt pon s o

my my nm: Mt.

My snm s on o tos ods tt i mst xpn

o yo to s o t ts nto t dstd tt o

my . T od mt s t sm oot s t a

od fatwa. a t s ny opnon sd on t oism gvn y ognzd toty, o mt. it dosnt

v to dt sntn; t od smpy n opnon

on t t nsn pn to oos. and ts non-

ndng opnon, so dnt mts mgt, o xmp,

oos dnt nsn pns. So my st nm ty

mns On o gvs g opnon. Som n my


13/21


13

nsty somon d on okd s jst n n ism

ot, nd t nm, i s tod, d stk. i d ysknon t my nm mnt to mys, t Gond

Zo s st mng, i onsddpps o t st

tmt t mnt to ots. it s ts nm tt ndd

m on t ong nd o od pon n.

Ts s s o vztons, stdnt spt ot n

ss on dy. h s pst n sd t, nd t ods

sondd dty to m. i gn to ots sng tsps to xpn tt md n my od, jst s t

gs o not go mn gnnng to tn

ov ngy. T s o vztons s ps st

sd y t bts-amn posso bnd ls,

o tgt stoy t Pnton unvsty. ls ot n

t n 1990, s t bn w s ng, o t At-

lantic n md tt t oots o Msm g

n t gon o ism, d nspd n som

o ts oos mood o td nd von. T g

d ts stngt om nnt s nd oyts, nd

t s ontnton o t stgg tn ts v

systms o ism on t on nd nd t wst, ootd

n cstndom, on t ot. it s vy tt ls

vd s no std o som otn nts.

T x o t onft tn ts to omptng

vztons, ls sd, s ts: wstn vz-

ton d vovd to spt nd stt, t ism

vzton d not. Sn wstn vzton s no

tmpnt nd domnnt n t od, ndmntst

ds o Msms ttnd y t d o gon

ng sptd om stt n Msm onts s .


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14

ls mntd tt Msms xpnd no s

nd nd vovd no s dotn to spt om stt. bt t s yn v. T d n no

spton o nd stt s, s ls d notd

s, t s no n ism. T vy noton o

somtng tt s spt o vn sp om gos

toty, xpssd n cstn nggs y s tms

s lay, temporal, o secular, s toty n to ism togt

nd pt. ls ot ts s n ndtmnt t t sjst ty, nd s m tt nd stt od

nv spt n ism s tny t, so s t

oppost: gos toty s ys n ds, on-

tstd, nd dntzd n ism. T s nv n n

ntty n ism omp to t cto c. ism

gos toty nv osd ond ny nt -

toty k t Pop. Sn no nt v xstd

n ism t s so nv n nsttton tt td to

xt po ov t stt n t sm y. So o do yo

vn spt to nts, n on o t nts dosnt

vn xst? Tt s t s most dpssng ot lss

odv: dntd t o ism tdton s

t mn s o spposd sto onft t t

wst, nd tn pontd ot tt t s n ntns t

o t ism tdton. h pontd to n mnt n t

tonsp nd so pssd tt t s no o t.

Von tn ism nd t wst, smd to sg-

gstng, s nt, nvt. T nt tss vd n

opssnss.

T s somtng ot ism tt os o n x-

posv mxt o g nd td, ls ot tod t


15/21


15

nd o s mgzn t. To stt ts, pontd

to to xmps o nd ng nd von gnst tuntd Stts n t Msm od, nd ot o tm

om Pkstn. T st vnt s t nng o

t amn mssy n t Pkstn pt, ismd,

n 1979, nd t ot s t psng, dd t,

gnst t pton oSatanic Verses, y Smn rsd,

o t o dt sntn s pssd gnst m.

Pontng to ts to nstns n Pkstn, ls gd,it sod y no tt ng mood nd

movmnt tnsndng t vs o sss nd pos

nd t govnmnts psng tm. Ts s no ss tn

s o vztons.

it s pn to d ls d nto t ps s

o vztons t to xmps om Pkstn. Ys, t

s t ods ony onty ondd o pop ond

togt y t sd ism dntty, t pon ts n-

dpndn om bts , Pkstn d so pposy

osn to xpss ts ism dntty tog onstt-

ton dmoy nspd y t wst. it s onty

ondd on t pnps o dmoy, dom, q-

ty, ton, nd so jst s nntd y ism.

Pkstn s podt o t mxng o to vztons.

bt od t ods ogn dmot ism

p stnd n lss s? ho od t stnd?

a ontmpoy o lss t hvd, Sm P. hn-

tngton, pkd p on lss d nd md t t nt

tss o s on t, psd n t pop monty

mgzn Foreign Affairs n 1993. hntngton pdtd tt

t t nd o t cod w, onft od mny


16/21


16

ot t sss nd tt s o vztons

domnt go pots. hntngton dnd vz-ton s t odst t ntty, nd ontd svn

o gt vztons n t od. it s t -

ty. T snd o Jpn got ts vy on vzton n s

tss, t s ony possy n an vz-

ton. Tn t s conn, cstn Otodox,

hnd, nd ltn amn vzton. and o os

t xstd wstn vzton nd n ism vz-ton, , s hntngton dsd n gt dt,

dy okd n n mgng go onft. T t

ns tn vztons t tt ns o t -

t, ot. T nts-od mty ntton

tn t wst nd ism s nky to dn. instd,

pdtd, it od om mo vnt.

Ts ds ot vzton s d spotd mong

t dnk o t dmosd bn w t tm n

vyon smd to mk sns o t postcod w

od. bt ty nd nd td ov dd nd t

dd o. Tn om t kg o t tn tos n N

Yok ty os on gn, gong ndnty s ty knot-

td tog t go mgnton t s. T ods o

ts possos d s t pops o sgs. hn-

tngton tvtd s mgzn t nto ook, nd TheClash of Civilizations m n ntnton st s t

t ttks. bnd ls, mn, st don to dvs

t dmnstton o Psdnt Gog w. bs on ts n

poy. and so t t s: s tn n ism

nd wstn vzton s md y st tost

ttk nd t s o o -tod stoy.


17/21


17

wks t t ttk, amn os nvdd a-

gnstn, Pkstns ngo ong ts ong stn o-d. it s jok o stoy tt t st tt n

ts n o ndd on t doostp o Pkstn,

t ony onty n t od os onds nd os

ttn onsttton d md ot to nms t

pot vs nd noms o t ism vzton t

t wstn vzton. am gn pyng ons o

dos n mty nd onom d to Pkstn n odto n ts oyts n ts nd to s ts spots nd

ntok o gys to sppy amn os tt ndd

n t tns o tosnds nto ndokd agnstn.

at st ony sty amn msss ndd on

Pkstn so, t ov t dd tt ood, t vo-

n om t amn n agnstn od d

dp nto Pkstn. a ys n, t Pkstn mty

gn mong don ts on pop ong t agn o-

d, nd soon g gts om tt gon sttd

mpgn o dng Pkstns n t otyng gons.

Tn sd oms sttd snkng nto Pkstn ts

nd sgtng pop y t dozns n mosqs nd s-

tnts nd pygonds. am gn to snd n o-

ot pns to om Pkstn vgs, vng ps

o dd ods. Soon am nd Pkstn m vs,

nggd n t on sdoy nd oody onft o on-

to ov t gon. T s msy n agnstn, nd

tosnds o Pkstns nd tosnds o amns od

d ov dd.

Pop k hntngton d togt tt t s o

vztons od nod on go nd ontnnt


18/21


18

s. bt tt nv ppnd. Som o t most mpo-

tnt Msm onts sdd t am nd t wst nts s. Go pots md on to ts stndd t.

instd, t s o vztons to opn nsd Pkstn.

as t von onsmd t onty mo vy dy, t

nton o Msms n t ism p gn s-

ng dspty o pt tt od dv tm om t

oodsd nd msy. Som sd t ony y t s to

s ts o wstn ds om t Pkstn stt ndto mov ny symos nd nstttons tt psntd

wstn vztons n t onty. Ots gd tt n-

ss ism s vd ot om t so o t nton, t od

onsm t k n. Ty sd n ism dmoy s

mg. Most Pkstns smpy ynd o jst, p,

nd pospos . Ty dd not t t m n

s o n ism gs. Tog t dd o von,

tos o ontnd to od st to t ondng d o t

onty g nd , nd qt. bt ty dd not

dspp. a p xstn, som ontnd to v,

s n n t ism s s wstn vs. T s

no nd o on to nntd y t ot. T poms

o Pkstn s omng ndngd.

ws t opss? O s t som y Pkstn

od svv nd dv to t od n xmp o

stt tt od dg vztons, p tt od

100 pnt ism nd 100 pnt wstn? T n-

ss mttd to m. i gn potng om Pkstn

s jonst. i vstd t stos o nton. i tv-

d tog sp nd tm ov tosnds o ms nd

tosnds o ys, xmnng t o t p o


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19

stos Pkstn d t, sntn y sntn, y y

y, sjtng t to od sto nyss. in NYok, london, N D, ismd, M, nd mny

ponts n tn, i vstd t t nd ps tt

md p Pkstns stoy. i tvd tog t on-

ty, mtng pop nd tong gvstons, nvgtng

ndsp mngd y von. i d mny voms

o stoy dng t ong tvs p nd don t inds

rv tt ns t ngt o Pkstn, om t hm-ys to t an S.

and t s somtng s yo mst kno: s i nv-

d t stoy o Pkstn nd ism, i ond my my

ts mddd tn t. i soon zd tt t s m

mo tn my st nm, Mt, tt td m os to n is-

m pst nd nton stoy. T omns n my

on p o stos tt stood n t stoy o t nton.

and so i gn stdyng my on mys pst too, nd t

gn to t togt smssy. i v n od yong

so tt ts my oodn to t t o Mmmd. in

my o t sp-ond notpds om t os o

ntvs t gos sos, potns, nd mty

ommnds nd my on t nd mot. among t

soy dtts n my oom s n od tttd dy t

dng pnk fod ov tt ongd to my mtn

gndmot n tng ys n s vd n a-

gnstn t wod w i. T ogpy o t Popt

Mmmd, ogny ttn mo tn tosnd ys

go, sts on my s. T tvog o cns tv

o pssd tog t Pnj s vn od tn tt. Ts

t-ond notook t okn stng t s t on


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tt i kpt y my ospt d n ind t i got nto

t dnt. a ond m s ppy p o sto-s. Ts tts t nny nd pty nk ddssd

to my gt-gndt; ts od bts mty do-

mnts td togt t t ndk ds t

os o gt-n. a ns ppng nnons

my t n o Oo nspp; my ptn gnd-

ts xpns dy ts s fttng otns. among

ts ps dnt ndtons o t oy ook oism, t Qn. its n stks nd os ond

m. i m sondd y tong omns o ods, my

on gnd p o stos.

i m ov td to ts stos. bt t ot yo?

w yo y to ogt ot Pkstn n ts

nds? Yo poy not. i kno tt t t n a-

gnstn nds, t von n Pkstn ontn, nd

yo not to ook y om t ods sxt g-

st onty, so s n pons. in s gt

t too, ngong Pkstn. and m t, n

t tngs n t Mdd est stgtnd, t od

tn ts ttnton to as, tng t os t

to sng pos, cn nd ind. and on gn, Pk-

stn t, odng ot o ts onts. Yo,

k m, not sp Pkstn nytm soon. Yo, k m,

td to t n gogpy nd stoy. and my tts

good tng. i yo v om ts , y not sty to s

o t ds to mx? i yo nytng k m, yo

mgt vn v tt ts nd .

i od not xtt mys om ts stoy vn i

ntd to. My on stoy s pt o Pkstn nd ism. it


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s tngd t ams nd t t st o t ods.

Fmy, gon, nton, nd mntd nto tstt. So t s psnt tst o t tt i spk yo

ngg. i m no ston, t i m jonst, nd

t i do st s t stos. and i v i v ky to

t doo tt ds nto ts p o stos. So t m

yo dgomn. ao m to nvt yo nto ts os nd

s o t ooks om t nsd. i nt yo to to

s od n ts pt nd i nt yo to s o stoy ts togt. i nt yo to p ot t ndos

nd s o t od ooks om . Yo mgt v

ts p o stos nd st not y ndstnd ts -

tt nd dsgn, t t st yo v sn

i om om. and tn, pps, yo vn p m s

gong.

No tt s t o m to do s to pk t momnt

t od v sttd nd tn, s pop v n

dong o gntons nd gntons v mns

v t oms nd vztons, gn tng t stoy.

Excerpted from "The Faithful Scribe: A Story of Islam, Pakistan, Family, and War" by Shahan Mufti....

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Transcript of Excerpted from "The Faithful Scribe: A Story of Islam, Pakistan, Family, and War" by Shahan Mufti....