th a red cotton cloth looks like the back of a dead fish.”
The image shows false holiness built on emptiness. Thus, religion becomes a market of belief.
Blind Faith of the Villagers: The villagers of Mahabbatpur are poor, uneducated, and deeply superstitious. They believe that the mazar can solve every problem. They never question the truth of Majeed’s claim. One quotation describes this blind faith:
“The coming of the pir had filled Amena with new hope.”
This illustrates how easily the poor rely on false hope. They see the pir as God’s messenger and trust his every word. Waliullah here criticizes the social condition where religion becomes the only answer for misery.
Fear and Control under Religion: Majeed spreads fear among the villagers to keep them under control. He warns them about sin and divine punishment. He says,
“It is well that a man should know it when he sins… ignorance is the greatest sin of all.”
These words may sound religious, but they are often used to control others. The villagers begin to fear God through Majeed’s words, not through real faith. They see him as the only one who can save them from God’s anger.
Abuse of Religious Power: Majeed uses religion for personal gain. He becomes rich, builds a home, and marries twice. He also interferes in others’ lives in the name of faith. When Khaleque loves his wife, Amena deeply, Majeed creates a false fatwa to separate them. He says Amena has “evil coils” in her body. This cruel act illustrates how false leaders exploit people’s happiness for their own power. He even comforts a grieving mother by saying,
“Allah takes away those whom he loves best.”
Majeed knows these are lies, but he uses them to keep people’s trust.
Symbol of Rural Ignorance and Poverty: The world of Mahabbatpur represents a society where ignorance and poverty are inextricably linked. The villagers have no schools, no awareness, and no scientific knowledge. So they believe in myths and miracles. When poor people suffer, they look for help in unseen powers. Majeed takes advantage of this weakness. Waliullah writes,
“There are more tupees than heads of cattle, more tupees than sheaves of grass.”
This line shows how religious symbols have replaced reason and work.
In summary, “Tree Without Roots” presents a clear and tragic picture of religious fanaticism. Majeed’s lies, the villagers’ blind faith, and their fear of divine punishment expose the weakness of human nature. Waliullah shows that when poverty and ignorance dominate, religion becomes an easy tool of exploitation.
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