The People of J&K have proved once again that they are freedom loving people having a strong faith in democracy and sovereignty of our country by participating and exercising their franchise by casting 61.5 per cent votes in the recent assembly elections despite threats from a few separatist elements like Syed Ali Shah Geelani. It is actually a mandate by the Kashmiri people about J&K being an intergal part of India.
The Kashmiris understood the trouble makers who wanted to mislead and exploit them and are successful now in their determination to rule the state - an inseparable part of our country - by a well attended democratic process. The separatists have been shown the door.
The people of J&K and their leaders who took part in the elections and helped in conducting elections in a peaceful way deserve all praise and congratulations.
Monday, December 29, 2008
INDIA SHOULD CONDEMN THE GAZA ATTACK
It is shocking that the US backed Israel has attacked Gaza Strip killing more than 250 people and injuring 400 in one of the bloodiest air assaults and the world is helpless in putting an end to the 60-year old Israel-Palestinian conflict and such atrocities on human beings.
What is the use of the world body United Nations Organisation if it remains a silent spectator to the brutalities of this high magnitude without responding to it? The US and Israel are “terrorist” countries like Pakistan.
Our country should be very careful in dealing with these undependable countries and should condemn the mayhem perpetrated by Israel on the Palestinians.
What is the use of the world body United Nations Organisation if it remains a silent spectator to the brutalities of this high magnitude without responding to it? The US and Israel are “terrorist” countries like Pakistan.
Our country should be very careful in dealing with these undependable countries and should condemn the mayhem perpetrated by Israel on the Palestinians.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
A rejoinder to the article of Ms. Barkha Dutt
Ms. Barkha knows pretty well that the Muslim opinion in the country has taken on a hostile tone against the Mumbai terror attacks to the extent of denying burial in local Muslim graveyard to the dead Pakistani terrorists. It was their spontaneous decision in Mumbai.
Muslims are a part and parcel of the whole country which has rallied round to condemn the terrorists and their instigators from across the borders who aided and abetted them.
Muslims have suffered as much if not more as members of other religious communities in terror attacks. Muslims consider and must consider all as a single human community.
Muslims feel that Mr. A.R. Antulay should not have expressed the kind of views he did on the murder of Mr. Hemant Karkare which were criticised by almost all political leaders and the print and visual media.
It should be clear to all that Mr. Antulay is a long time Congress leader and definitely not a leader representing the Muslim community even though he was the union minister for minority affairs. It is for him and the Congress to decide on his controversial statement to which there is criticism from all including the Muslims.
Why should Ms. Barkha call him a Muslim politician? If he is a Muslim politician, Mr. Shanawaz Hussain and Mr. Naqvi of the BJP are also Muslim politicians. The Muslims of the country cannot and should not be blamed for the blunder of a Muslim who is in this or that party.
Ms. Barkha should also remember that in our secular and democratic country Muslims who are in different parties may be silent because of their inability to highlight their points but they are with the entire nation in echoing its stand and are ready to sacrifice for its protection. Their leaders are in different parties and they belong to all religions.
Indian Muslims want our country to teach a lesson by all possible ways to the terrorists and their supporters in Pakistan and elsewhere.
Let Ms. Barkha also not be under the impression that one or two Muslim leaders who raise emotional issues without trying to do anything for the economic and educational development of the Muslim community are their representatives. Even Mr. Antulay is a Muslim ofcourse and he is the minister for minority affairs also but not the leader endorsed by the Indian Muslim community. It is painful to see Ms. Barkha saying so many things on communal lines and thereby dividing the people.
I again repeat that Indian Muslims are in different parties like the people of other religious communities and therefore the views of one or two Muslim leaders living in the Hindi belt cannot be considered as their leaders. India is a big country with about 15 crores of Muslims. Can not the Congress or the BJP or any other party stand be their stand?
No national issue should be viewed or commented on communal lines.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antulay must go
Barkha Dutt
If there is anything more tragic than India's Muslims having to vouch for their nationalism in the aftermath of every terrorist strike, it is the insane utterances of some of their self-appointed saviours.By the time you read this, A R Antulay's resignation as Minority Affairs Minister would have most likely been accepted by the Prime Minister. (If it hasn't, it should be.) But the damage would have been done.Antulay's reckless suggestion that a wider conspiracy claimed the life of police officer
Hemant Karkare has played right into the hands of fellow loonies on the other side of the border who claim that 'Hindu Zionists' plotted the attacks in Bombay. His demands for an independent probe to examine whether the Malegaon investigations may have cost Karkare his life only embarrass India and give Islamabad the wriggle room it is seeking.And worst of all, his comments will only reinforce the nonsense spouted by the small radical fringe within the community. The young conspiracy theorists who come to television talk shows holding posters blaming the CIA/Mossad for the terror attacks will now feel emboldened to manufacture more imaginary enemies. This is not the first time that Antulay has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Whether it was his complicity in a major corruption scam involving cement licences or his grandstanding promises on bringing the Kohinoor back to India, the former Maharashtra chief minister has long had a reputation for being a bit of a loose cannon. But his statements this time go well beyond regular political fallibilities.The worry is not so much whether the world will now view the Bombay outrage in a different light. Independent American intelligence points to the same conclusion as the official Indian position on the role of groups like the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). The Russians have spoken about clear links between underworld gangster Dawood Ibrahim and the attacks. And Pakistan's own newspapers have run hard-hitting stories from inside Qasab's village with confessional accounts from his parents on their terrorist son.The embarrassment of a Union Minister speaking out of sync aside, India doesn't really need to worry about any serious diplomatic fall-out. The real damage of Antulay's remarks is within and on home turf. With one careless 30-second sound byte he has caricatured the response of the Indian Muslim. He has spawned a pool of other headline hunters who are falling over themselves to issue press releases in agreement. Former IFS officer Syed Shahabuddin is among those who congratulated him for "speaking the unspeakable".A section of the Urdu press is now arguing that demanding an investigation into the death of an officer probing Hindu radical groups is entirely legitimate. Online polls apparently show that their readers agree. Some Muslim intellectuals have argued that the minister's remarks have played into an already existing panic among ordinary Muslims and should not be confused with prejudice. They say that fearful minorities who view the police with suspicion saw Karkare as a hero and his abrupt end left them stunned and even more scared. But frankly all of these rationalisations are just self-destructive and perpetuate the worst sort of stereotypes about us as a people. At a time when India should have stood united, Antulay's remarks have pushed the debate along an unfortunate Hindu-Muslim faultline. His comments are designed to pull at our religious equilibrium. And as a Muslim politician he has committed that all-too-familiar crime yet again: he is hell bent on keeping his people locked into ghettos (some real, some imaginary) of victimhood. But why are we all so surprised? Before ten men with guns struck Bombay we saw the blatant politicisation of the terror debate in how both the Batla House encounter and the Malegaon blasts probe were debated by the Congress and the BJP. Both parties made faulty assumptions about votebanks as they constantly calibrated their public positions. Antulay's remarks are just an extension of the same brand of cynical politics. And those of his cabinet colleagues who are unwilling to take a clear position on his remarks are just as culpable. If there is one lesson we should have learnt in these past two weeks, it is that the process of law has to settle investigations - however contentious and sensitive they may be - and not politicians. Yes, there may be a genuine cause of mistrust between the people and India's police force. But the answer to that simply cannot be that political agendas are used to set the course for police action. For Antulay to suggest by innuendo that Karkare's own men may have led him to his death is outrageous and unacceptable. Scurrilous allegations cannot be confused with the need for genuine police reform. That a Union Minister would dare to do that is frightening. Antulay's real betrayal is that he has let down his own people. Yet again, the Indian Muslim has been pushed into a corner of clarifications. Mercifully, groups like Javed Akhtar's Muslims for Secular Democracy have broken the lazy assumptions of a Muslim monolith by demanding Antulay's resignation and dismissing his remarks as "ridiculous nonsense". But is it fair that at a time of national crisis a minister and Member of Parliament should push his own community on the defensive? Does he not owe them better than to stereotype them in the worst possible manner? AR Antulay owes an apology: to the Congress, to his community and to the country. He can no longer continue as minister. And if he does, it's a good reason to wear black bands in protest again. Because remember, it is controversies like this one that undo our secularism. Antulay must go.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Muslims are a part and parcel of the whole country which has rallied round to condemn the terrorists and their instigators from across the borders who aided and abetted them.
Muslims have suffered as much if not more as members of other religious communities in terror attacks. Muslims consider and must consider all as a single human community.
Muslims feel that Mr. A.R. Antulay should not have expressed the kind of views he did on the murder of Mr. Hemant Karkare which were criticised by almost all political leaders and the print and visual media.
It should be clear to all that Mr. Antulay is a long time Congress leader and definitely not a leader representing the Muslim community even though he was the union minister for minority affairs. It is for him and the Congress to decide on his controversial statement to which there is criticism from all including the Muslims.
Why should Ms. Barkha call him a Muslim politician? If he is a Muslim politician, Mr. Shanawaz Hussain and Mr. Naqvi of the BJP are also Muslim politicians. The Muslims of the country cannot and should not be blamed for the blunder of a Muslim who is in this or that party.
Ms. Barkha should also remember that in our secular and democratic country Muslims who are in different parties may be silent because of their inability to highlight their points but they are with the entire nation in echoing its stand and are ready to sacrifice for its protection. Their leaders are in different parties and they belong to all religions.
Indian Muslims want our country to teach a lesson by all possible ways to the terrorists and their supporters in Pakistan and elsewhere.
Let Ms. Barkha also not be under the impression that one or two Muslim leaders who raise emotional issues without trying to do anything for the economic and educational development of the Muslim community are their representatives. Even Mr. Antulay is a Muslim ofcourse and he is the minister for minority affairs also but not the leader endorsed by the Indian Muslim community. It is painful to see Ms. Barkha saying so many things on communal lines and thereby dividing the people.
I again repeat that Indian Muslims are in different parties like the people of other religious communities and therefore the views of one or two Muslim leaders living in the Hindi belt cannot be considered as their leaders. India is a big country with about 15 crores of Muslims. Can not the Congress or the BJP or any other party stand be their stand?
No national issue should be viewed or commented on communal lines.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antulay must go
Barkha Dutt
If there is anything more tragic than India's Muslims having to vouch for their nationalism in the aftermath of every terrorist strike, it is the insane utterances of some of their self-appointed saviours.By the time you read this, A R Antulay's resignation as Minority Affairs Minister would have most likely been accepted by the Prime Minister. (If it hasn't, it should be.) But the damage would have been done.Antulay's reckless suggestion that a wider conspiracy claimed the life of police officer
Hemant Karkare has played right into the hands of fellow loonies on the other side of the border who claim that 'Hindu Zionists' plotted the attacks in Bombay. His demands for an independent probe to examine whether the Malegaon investigations may have cost Karkare his life only embarrass India and give Islamabad the wriggle room it is seeking.And worst of all, his comments will only reinforce the nonsense spouted by the small radical fringe within the community. The young conspiracy theorists who come to television talk shows holding posters blaming the CIA/Mossad for the terror attacks will now feel emboldened to manufacture more imaginary enemies. This is not the first time that Antulay has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Whether it was his complicity in a major corruption scam involving cement licences or his grandstanding promises on bringing the Kohinoor back to India, the former Maharashtra chief minister has long had a reputation for being a bit of a loose cannon. But his statements this time go well beyond regular political fallibilities.The worry is not so much whether the world will now view the Bombay outrage in a different light. Independent American intelligence points to the same conclusion as the official Indian position on the role of groups like the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). The Russians have spoken about clear links between underworld gangster Dawood Ibrahim and the attacks. And Pakistan's own newspapers have run hard-hitting stories from inside Qasab's village with confessional accounts from his parents on their terrorist son.The embarrassment of a Union Minister speaking out of sync aside, India doesn't really need to worry about any serious diplomatic fall-out. The real damage of Antulay's remarks is within and on home turf. With one careless 30-second sound byte he has caricatured the response of the Indian Muslim. He has spawned a pool of other headline hunters who are falling over themselves to issue press releases in agreement. Former IFS officer Syed Shahabuddin is among those who congratulated him for "speaking the unspeakable".A section of the Urdu press is now arguing that demanding an investigation into the death of an officer probing Hindu radical groups is entirely legitimate. Online polls apparently show that their readers agree. Some Muslim intellectuals have argued that the minister's remarks have played into an already existing panic among ordinary Muslims and should not be confused with prejudice. They say that fearful minorities who view the police with suspicion saw Karkare as a hero and his abrupt end left them stunned and even more scared. But frankly all of these rationalisations are just self-destructive and perpetuate the worst sort of stereotypes about us as a people. At a time when India should have stood united, Antulay's remarks have pushed the debate along an unfortunate Hindu-Muslim faultline. His comments are designed to pull at our religious equilibrium. And as a Muslim politician he has committed that all-too-familiar crime yet again: he is hell bent on keeping his people locked into ghettos (some real, some imaginary) of victimhood. But why are we all so surprised? Before ten men with guns struck Bombay we saw the blatant politicisation of the terror debate in how both the Batla House encounter and the Malegaon blasts probe were debated by the Congress and the BJP. Both parties made faulty assumptions about votebanks as they constantly calibrated their public positions. Antulay's remarks are just an extension of the same brand of cynical politics. And those of his cabinet colleagues who are unwilling to take a clear position on his remarks are just as culpable. If there is one lesson we should have learnt in these past two weeks, it is that the process of law has to settle investigations - however contentious and sensitive they may be - and not politicians. Yes, there may be a genuine cause of mistrust between the people and India's police force. But the answer to that simply cannot be that political agendas are used to set the course for police action. For Antulay to suggest by innuendo that Karkare's own men may have led him to his death is outrageous and unacceptable. Scurrilous allegations cannot be confused with the need for genuine police reform. That a Union Minister would dare to do that is frightening. Antulay's real betrayal is that he has let down his own people. Yet again, the Indian Muslim has been pushed into a corner of clarifications. Mercifully, groups like Javed Akhtar's Muslims for Secular Democracy have broken the lazy assumptions of a Muslim monolith by demanding Antulay's resignation and dismissing his remarks as "ridiculous nonsense". But is it fair that at a time of national crisis a minister and Member of Parliament should push his own community on the defensive? Does he not owe them better than to stereotype them in the worst possible manner? AR Antulay owes an apology: to the Congress, to his community and to the country. He can no longer continue as minister. And if he does, it's a good reason to wear black bands in protest again. Because remember, it is controversies like this one that undo our secularism. Antulay must go.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, November 30, 2008
A joint Press Release condemning Mumbai terrorist attacks
PRESS STATEMENT
Talking with people who do not believe in the same things is not easy, but as concerned citizens, we must use all our combined skills to find a common language of harmony and unite our country with a new inclusive vision of peace and brotherhood.
We represent the moderate majority of our country who are convinced that no cause can be highlighted, much less served, through mindless violence. Terrorism is irrational and anti-life; it can only subvert progress, undermine security and sharpen mistrust.
We strongly condemn the barbaric attacks on our foreign guests and fellow citizens in Mumbai and denounce the sinister intentions underlying this cult of violence. As Indians we stand together united in our resolve to frustrate the sinister intentions of these merchants of cruelty to wound our collective psyche and our oneness as a nation. Terror may make our hearts bleed but it will not break our bonds asunder. The spirit of India is stronger than the arms of terror.
From this desperate and dastardly event, we hear an appeal that comes to us, and to all Indians, loud and clear. We can no longer afford to live the lie that religions are dividing walls. They are brides of brotherhood. The time has come for us that we shall allow none to divide us along the lines of caste or creed. Our Indianness is as dear to as any religion; citizenship is, in fact, the religion we share in common. The duties, loyalties and discipline implied in our citizenship should matter to us first and foremost, if our democratic culture and national unity are to survive. As Indians we are brothers and sisters and, as such, the keepers of each other's life and liberty. We are the proud progeny of Mother India and we shall stay so, no matter what.
We commiserate with those who have lost their loved ones in this carnage and salute those who have laid down their lives in combating the terrorists. We congratulate the security forces, especially the NSG, for a difficult job splendidly done. May peace and good sense prevail. Jai Hind.
Signatories
1. Valson Thampu - Member, National Integration Council
2. Dr. G.S. Jayasree - Editor, Samyukta, Trivandrum
3. Mini Krishnan - Editor / Publisher, Chennai
4. A. Faizur Rahman - executive committee member, Harmony India, Chennai
5. Usha Jesudasan - Writer, Chennai
6. Vasantha Surya - Poet & Translator
7. Fathima Muzaffer - Vice President, Islamic Information Centre
8. V.M. Khaleelur Rahman - freelance journalist
9. Moulana Abdul Khalique Nadwi - Khateeb, Masji-e-Hira, Chennai
10. Prof. T.M.Zackriah Badsha - Former, Joint Director, Collegiate Education, Chennai
Talking with people who do not believe in the same things is not easy, but as concerned citizens, we must use all our combined skills to find a common language of harmony and unite our country with a new inclusive vision of peace and brotherhood.
We represent the moderate majority of our country who are convinced that no cause can be highlighted, much less served, through mindless violence. Terrorism is irrational and anti-life; it can only subvert progress, undermine security and sharpen mistrust.
We strongly condemn the barbaric attacks on our foreign guests and fellow citizens in Mumbai and denounce the sinister intentions underlying this cult of violence. As Indians we stand together united in our resolve to frustrate the sinister intentions of these merchants of cruelty to wound our collective psyche and our oneness as a nation. Terror may make our hearts bleed but it will not break our bonds asunder. The spirit of India is stronger than the arms of terror.
From this desperate and dastardly event, we hear an appeal that comes to us, and to all Indians, loud and clear. We can no longer afford to live the lie that religions are dividing walls. They are brides of brotherhood. The time has come for us that we shall allow none to divide us along the lines of caste or creed. Our Indianness is as dear to as any religion; citizenship is, in fact, the religion we share in common. The duties, loyalties and discipline implied in our citizenship should matter to us first and foremost, if our democratic culture and national unity are to survive. As Indians we are brothers and sisters and, as such, the keepers of each other's life and liberty. We are the proud progeny of Mother India and we shall stay so, no matter what.
We commiserate with those who have lost their loved ones in this carnage and salute those who have laid down their lives in combating the terrorists. We congratulate the security forces, especially the NSG, for a difficult job splendidly done. May peace and good sense prevail. Jai Hind.
Signatories
1. Valson Thampu - Member, National Integration Council
2. Dr. G.S. Jayasree - Editor, Samyukta, Trivandrum
3. Mini Krishnan - Editor / Publisher, Chennai
4. A. Faizur Rahman - executive committee member, Harmony India, Chennai
5. Usha Jesudasan - Writer, Chennai
6. Vasantha Surya - Poet & Translator
7. Fathima Muzaffer - Vice President, Islamic Information Centre
8. V.M. Khaleelur Rahman - freelance journalist
9. Moulana Abdul Khalique Nadwi - Khateeb, Masji-e-Hira, Chennai
10. Prof. T.M.Zackriah Badsha - Former, Joint Director, Collegiate Education, Chennai
Saturday, November 29, 2008
A letter to Mr. T. Rafeeq Ahmed written on 27.11.2008
Dear Mr. T. Rafeeq Ahmed,
Assalamu Alaikum
I thank you for your invitation to the inauguration of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of T.Abdul Wahid Matriculation and Higher Secondary School and All India Mushaira on Friday, 28th November 2008.
On this happy occasion of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations we cannot but remember the great services of your father Janab T. Abdul Wahid sahib who was responsible not only for the tremendous development of the leather and leather products industry in Ambur but also in making the people, particulary educationally backward Muslims, realize the importance of modern education by establishing this high standard school in Ambur. He was also connected with different educational institutions and welfare associations in Ambur, Chennai and other places.
I know pretty well as my children had the opportunity to study in the school that it is an excellent institution which imparts good education with moral instructions by providing necessary facilities to the students. The Principals and teaching staff are very dedicated.
Many students, thanks to their education in your institution, were able to get admission in different prestigious colleges in Chennai and other places. Your school is instrumental in producing many high professionals like doctors, engineers, teachers, businessmen, etc.
We are sure that the soul of the late lamented visionary Janab T. Abdul Wahid sahib who had the interest of the community and country at heart will be happy to see his institution and foundation under your able guidance doing their best.
At this time also remember the soft spoken gentleman Janab Y. Mohammed Yousuf sahib who managed the institution so efficiently as its Correspondent.
We are also confident that you will take a pledge during this happy time to see your dream of establishing a women’s college at Ambur come true in the near future.
You are in the right position now enjoying trust and confidence of the people and there is no doubt at all that you will receive unexpected big support from all quarters in establishing the college in Ambur. This will be the best commemoration of the silver jubilee celebrations of the institution and a befitting tribute to its founder. The community has pinned high hopes in you.
Thanking you and wishing the silver jubilee celebrations all the best,
Yours sincerely,
V.M. Khaleelur Rahman
Assalamu Alaikum
I thank you for your invitation to the inauguration of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of T.Abdul Wahid Matriculation and Higher Secondary School and All India Mushaira on Friday, 28th November 2008.
On this happy occasion of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations we cannot but remember the great services of your father Janab T. Abdul Wahid sahib who was responsible not only for the tremendous development of the leather and leather products industry in Ambur but also in making the people, particulary educationally backward Muslims, realize the importance of modern education by establishing this high standard school in Ambur. He was also connected with different educational institutions and welfare associations in Ambur, Chennai and other places.
I know pretty well as my children had the opportunity to study in the school that it is an excellent institution which imparts good education with moral instructions by providing necessary facilities to the students. The Principals and teaching staff are very dedicated.
Many students, thanks to their education in your institution, were able to get admission in different prestigious colleges in Chennai and other places. Your school is instrumental in producing many high professionals like doctors, engineers, teachers, businessmen, etc.
We are sure that the soul of the late lamented visionary Janab T. Abdul Wahid sahib who had the interest of the community and country at heart will be happy to see his institution and foundation under your able guidance doing their best.
At this time also remember the soft spoken gentleman Janab Y. Mohammed Yousuf sahib who managed the institution so efficiently as its Correspondent.
We are also confident that you will take a pledge during this happy time to see your dream of establishing a women’s college at Ambur come true in the near future.
You are in the right position now enjoying trust and confidence of the people and there is no doubt at all that you will receive unexpected big support from all quarters in establishing the college in Ambur. This will be the best commemoration of the silver jubilee celebrations of the institution and a befitting tribute to its founder. The community has pinned high hopes in you.
Thanking you and wishing the silver jubilee celebrations all the best,
Yours sincerely,
V.M. Khaleelur Rahman
Who is our enemy?
Thank God the Mumbai terror incident has come to an end after about 60 hours of fierce gun battle by our valiant soldiers.
We pay our humble and heartfelt tributes to the ATS Chief Mr. Hemant Karkare, NSG commandos and the police officers who lost their lives fighting for the country. Their martyrdom will always remain in our memory. They are the real patriotic sons of our great country India. We are very proud of them and we salute them.
In this terror war about 195 innocent people have lost their lives and over 300 injured. It is impossible for us to forget this ghastly nightmare. The terror episode should not be considered as over till all the anti India forces who were responsible for it are found out and brought to justice with the help of investigating agencies.
Our country has no other go except to empower the concerned authorities to be alert and take strong measures to nip any mischief in the bud in order to avert any such incident in future.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We pay our humble and heartfelt tributes to the ATS Chief Mr. Hemant Karkare, NSG commandos and the police officers who lost their lives fighting for the country. Their martyrdom will always remain in our memory. They are the real patriotic sons of our great country India. We are very proud of them and we salute them.
In this terror war about 195 innocent people have lost their lives and over 300 injured. It is impossible for us to forget this ghastly nightmare. The terror episode should not be considered as over till all the anti India forces who were responsible for it are found out and brought to justice with the help of investigating agencies.
Our country has no other go except to empower the concerned authorities to be alert and take strong measures to nip any mischief in the bud in order to avert any such incident in future.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, November 13, 2008
HOW TO CONDUCT A SIMPLE AND DIGNIFILED MARRIAGE ?
I have all praise and respect for Ms. A. Ameerunnisa of Melvisharam for her excellent article in Urdu (titled "Hamaari shadiyon ka Mas-ala") published in the October 2008 issue of Omeiat Journal) about the importance of conducting simple and austere marriages as per Islamic norms. She has rightly pointed out that although Islam has made Nikah (marriage) easy, we have made it very difficult by our uncivilized and greedy way of conducting it in total violation of the principles enshrined in the holy Quran and the Ahadees (Sayings of Prophet Mohammed -sal-am) The editorial comments about the evils of posh and extravagant marriages are most apt.
I am sorry to say that we Muslims do not conduct marriages in a simple and dignified way. To us Islam means some routine rituals and nothing else. We discuss even small things with all seriousness in and outside the mosques but serious and important issues such as Importance of Islamic marriage without evil dowry are ignored. The Jamaath leaders and Imams do not seem to be interested in reforming the community by bringing in strict rules and regulations for conducting simple marriages and becoming role models for all. If they come together and act honestly, the entire community will have no option but to follow them and thus the evils connected with the marriage will be eradicated. Let them ponder over it and act for the sake of the community which is passing through a difficult period having no leaders worth the name.
There is another way of approaching it also. The have-nots should know their position well and not try to imitate the rich in conducting posh marriages. In the present highly materialistic world one should be very careful particularly the poor because they have no leaders, no ulema, no umara, to guide them. They should become bold enough to face the challenges before them by adopting Islamic codes. Conducting a marriage in a simple way is praise-worthy and dignified.The marriage of the Prophet (Sal-am) is a model to us and definitely not the marriage of any prince.
The ulema and umara hobnob with each other closely for their own purposes. There are a very few ulema who have the interest of the community at heart. Why should the have-nots worry about them and dig their own grave by doing things which they are not capable of ?
The general tendency of the people is to waste money in marriages even by selling properties if they own or getting loans from individuals and banks and landing themselves in trouble. Generally speaking a Muslim family is definitely in no way equal and better to a non Muslim family in financial standing. Only males are the earning members in most of Muslim families consisting of at least 4 or 5 persons whereas in most of the non-Muslim families both males and females are earning members. One can imagine their predicament in discharging their domestic responsibilities in this situation.
Ms. Ameerunnisa rightly says that dowry is demanded according to the status of the prospective bridegroom. Getting dowry is an insult to the bridegroom and our youngsters should make it a point to consider so and abhor it. We read a report in newspapers about a Muslim returning the dowry given to him sometime ago. There is a glimpse of hope now. There are some youngsters inspired by some Movements who do not want to demand or accept any dowry. There are also some instances of some youngsters solemnising their marriages by giving maher and not taking any dowry.
It is usually seen that the maher given by the husband is a pittance in comparison with the dowry and other things received by him. How can it be called maher in the real sense? It violates the Islamic principle. I request you and our ulema to comment on this important issue in a convincing manner.
There is also an urgent need for the Muslim community to empower their women by giving them higher education and making them stand on their own legs for the sake of its progress and prosperity.
The Waqf Board can play an important role in reforming the Muslim community in consultation with the mosque Jamaaths. It should announce every year for some important reform. The coming year 2009 can be made Dowry Eradication Year and every mosque can constitute a committee to make arrangements for enlightening the people by pamphlets and speeches during Juma prayers to consider dowry as an evil and accepting it as a sin. The mosques can also seek the services of different welfare associations for this purpose.
The reforms such as the above should come from within the community to safeguard our identity and Muslim personal law.
.
I have all praise and respect for Ms. A. Ameerunnisa of Melvisharam for her excellent article in Urdu (titled "Hamaari shadiyon ka Mas-ala") published in the October 2008 issue of Omeiat Journal) about the importance of conducting simple and austere marriages as per Islamic norms. She has rightly pointed out that although Islam has made Nikah (marriage) easy, we have made it very difficult by our uncivilized and greedy way of conducting it in total violation of the principles enshrined in the holy Quran and the Ahadees (Sayings of Prophet Mohammed -sal-am) The editorial comments about the evils of posh and extravagant marriages are most apt.
I am sorry to say that we Muslims do not conduct marriages in a simple and dignified way. To us Islam means some routine rituals and nothing else. We discuss even small things with all seriousness in and outside the mosques but serious and important issues such as Importance of Islamic marriage without evil dowry are ignored. The Jamaath leaders and Imams do not seem to be interested in reforming the community by bringing in strict rules and regulations for conducting simple marriages and becoming role models for all. If they come together and act honestly, the entire community will have no option but to follow them and thus the evils connected with the marriage will be eradicated. Let them ponder over it and act for the sake of the community which is passing through a difficult period having no leaders worth the name.
There is another way of approaching it also. The have-nots should know their position well and not try to imitate the rich in conducting posh marriages. In the present highly materialistic world one should be very careful particularly the poor because they have no leaders, no ulema, no umara, to guide them. They should become bold enough to face the challenges before them by adopting Islamic codes. Conducting a marriage in a simple way is praise-worthy and dignified.The marriage of the Prophet (Sal-am) is a model to us and definitely not the marriage of any prince.
The ulema and umara hobnob with each other closely for their own purposes. There are a very few ulema who have the interest of the community at heart. Why should the have-nots worry about them and dig their own grave by doing things which they are not capable of ?
The general tendency of the people is to waste money in marriages even by selling properties if they own or getting loans from individuals and banks and landing themselves in trouble. Generally speaking a Muslim family is definitely in no way equal and better to a non Muslim family in financial standing. Only males are the earning members in most of Muslim families consisting of at least 4 or 5 persons whereas in most of the non-Muslim families both males and females are earning members. One can imagine their predicament in discharging their domestic responsibilities in this situation.
Ms. Ameerunnisa rightly says that dowry is demanded according to the status of the prospective bridegroom. Getting dowry is an insult to the bridegroom and our youngsters should make it a point to consider so and abhor it. We read a report in newspapers about a Muslim returning the dowry given to him sometime ago. There is a glimpse of hope now. There are some youngsters inspired by some Movements who do not want to demand or accept any dowry. There are also some instances of some youngsters solemnising their marriages by giving maher and not taking any dowry.
It is usually seen that the maher given by the husband is a pittance in comparison with the dowry and other things received by him. How can it be called maher in the real sense? It violates the Islamic principle. I request you and our ulema to comment on this important issue in a convincing manner.
There is also an urgent need for the Muslim community to empower their women by giving them higher education and making them stand on their own legs for the sake of its progress and prosperity.
The Waqf Board can play an important role in reforming the Muslim community in consultation with the mosque Jamaaths. It should announce every year for some important reform. The coming year 2009 can be made Dowry Eradication Year and every mosque can constitute a committee to make arrangements for enlightening the people by pamphlets and speeches during Juma prayers to consider dowry as an evil and accepting it as a sin. The mosques can also seek the services of different welfare associations for this purpose.
The reforms such as the above should come from within the community to safeguard our identity and Muslim personal law.
.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
WHITHER THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY?
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
This has reference to the following three write-ups. No sensible person can deny the fact that there is an urgent need to regulate, control and supervise marriages and divorces for all communities, not just for Muslims alone as there are misusers of the present weak laws. Muslims cannot be an exception to it.. If we observe the Muslim community, we will find that polygyny is very rare among them. We rarely see Muslims having more than even one wife. I have never seen a Muslim living with four wives. My feeling is that generally every Muslim is faithful to his wife. The rich are more so. It is usually the perverted people who resort to second marriage and suffer. There are more sufferers among the people who live with two wives. I know a person whose first wife deserted him and went to her parents when he solemnised a second marriage without her permission and started living with her. A problem cropped up and remained unsolved for sometime. Finally she returned to her husband only when he divorced his second wife.
Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) lived with a single wife Hazrath Khathija (R.A.) for more than 25 years. Islam undoubtedly advocates monogamy and permits polygyny under certain "unavoidable circumstances". In other words there must be a sound reason for adopting a second wife. This is the case in most of the Muslim countries. In Saudi Arabia it is not so and that is why parents of girls are demanding high "dowry" ( or you may call it by whatever name you want) for giving their daughters in marriage to Saudi men who are considered unreliable. We must know that there are thousands of unmarried women there because of the ugly attitude of men regarding marriage and divorce. The Arab News brings out such things quite often. Generally polygamy is used in the polygyny sense. Nobody says that Islam permits a woman to have more than one husband. Anyhow Mr. Momin's explanation is correct. But it is not a reply to the court judgment.
The Supreme Court advocate? A. Rasheed Qureshi's arguments are simply ridiculous, highly objectionable and totally unacceptable because there is no sign of Islamic thought in his arguments. A good man - whatever may be his ideology -cannot indulge in "Zina" (adultery), leave alone Muslims. The Kerala High Court's stand is praise-worthy. The same marital laws cannot and should not be for all times. One should know that Islam gives laws for all times - yes totally different laws depending on the situation. The holy Quran dictates everything clearly and we do not want to listen to it. We should not forget the holy Quranic warning that if we do not do justice, God appoints others to do that. In our country India fortunately government, judiciary, Muslim intellectuals, etc. have enacted and are trying to enact wonderful laws which are in accordance with the letter and spirit of the holy Quran in many instances whereas a majority of our so called "Ulemas" are repeating the worn out things in the name of Islam for which there are no takers. There are a very few thinking Ulemas. My sympathies are with the advocate for his pathetic condition and un-Islamic bent of mind.
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Kerala High Court for a system to regulate Muslim marriages ‘Moral strength needed to eradicate polygamy’ In Pakistan, Muslim family law regulates polygamy KOCHI: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Wednesday observed that legislation for setting up bodies at Central and regional levels to regulate, control and supervise Muslim marriages and divorces was the need of the hour. The Bench of Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Harun-Ul-Rashid, while passing a verdict in a matrimonial case involving a Muslim couple, said an effective system should be introduced for protecting the Muslim society and women from “indiscreet marriage and divorce.” The court observed that though polygamy was allowed in the strict sense by Islam, there was no system in India to supervise or control such indiscreet marriage and divorce. Going by Koranic verses, permission to marry more than one woman, but not more than four, was given at a time when there were lots of orphans, widows and captives of war who were unable to maintain a dignified life. Polygamy was allowed then due to unavoidable circumstances. In fact, the practice was discouraged by imposing stringent conditions. The court observed that even after 15th century, some people of the community seemed to be very particular in following the practice, unmindful of whether such circumstances existed or not. They entered into more than one marriage, mostly for their personal pleasure. The court said polygamy was unlawful in the country. It called for moral strength, if not religious factor, to eradicate polygamy from among the Muslims. The court said there was no system in the country to ascertain and decide whether a person was eligible to contract more than one marriage during the subsistence of the first marriage. Men in the community enjoyed unrestricted freedom to marry women of their choice and pronounce talaq according to their whims and fancies. In fact, most of such marriages were illegal since they were against Koranic injunctions. The court pointed out that in Pakistan, Muslim family law regulated polygamy and provided for an arbitration council. The Bench appealed to all concerned within the community and the administrative authority and the government to study the problems faced by “helpless and destitute women and children” and bestow thoughts on the ways and means to alleviate their problems.
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To say Islam permits POLYGAMY is wrong.I have explained it below POLYGAMY The generel impression is that Islam permits Polygamy.It is wrong-totally wrong. I will explain below why it is wrong to say so. The word Polygamy covers two words POLYANDRY and POLYGYNY.I will explain below what these two words mean. POLYANDRY means one wife and she has more than one husband-a practice prevalent among some tribes.Polyandry is not permitted in Islam.Infact it is not permitted among followers of any Book. POLYGYNY is one husband and more than one wife-restricted to four in Islam under some circumstances and not a generel license. This can be checked with any English Dictionary Therefore to say Islam permits Polygamy is wrong because it means it permits both Polyandry and Polygyny Muslims must say Islam permits only restricted Polygyny limited to maximum four under special circumstance but if you fear you will not do justice between them, then Holy Quran recomends one only.Sura 4 NISSA verse 3. If any one says Islam permits Polygamy please correct him or her.It is our duty A.MOMIN Please make copies and circulate Please read belowFrom: Abdul Rasheed Qureshi <rasheed1357@yahoo.co.in> Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2008 07:17:38 +0530 (IST)As Salamo AlaykumIt would be worthwhile to take the fight to the doorstep of the accuser. Islam permits marriage with four women at a time. Meaning if one of the four dies or is divorced, it is open to marry another woman and again have four wives. Let us not fight shy of admiting that the masculine gender tends to be physically satisfied by sex with more than one female. How does one satisfy it? Either it must be legally permitted as in Islam or it could be illegal as in the non-Muslim society.The fact is that a very large majority of non-Muslim males and females have illegal sex - be it pre-marital or extra-marital. It is an epidemic having reached menacing levels in thier society. Of a surity, this is rare in Muslims. If it (illegal sex ) is prevelant in Muslims, it is because Nikah has become difficult. If Nikah with the permitted 4 women is made easy, Zinah will become difficult.If we shy away, it will be extremely difficult to explain why the Prophet had so many wives. You could nearly be blasphamous. Prophet Muhammad had married for several higher reasons other than for physical sex.I believe Islam does not say that marriage of Hindus or Christians is no marriage. It is a marriage, although it is a ritual by thier rules. They are not living in Zinah till they cohabit with their lawfully wedded woman. But outside and beyond that is all Zinah. We Muslims (Islam) consider 'sex by consent' as Zinah - a mojor sin, while most other societies do not even consider it bad - much less a major sin. So our rules of judging 'illegal sex' are stricter than all other societies.The losers in all relations of illegal sex are invariably the females. So Islam proposes a very respectable living for the women folk who may lose their husbands even during thier younger life. As 2nd, 3rd or 4th wife, they have a respectable living anyway. In other societies she becomes the property of all males and leads a debauched life.Can someone tell the judges of Kerala HC that Quranic injunctions are apt for all times and all places for they address human instincts and needs which are unchanging.May Allah Keep Us on Siratal Mustaqeem.Was SalamA Rasheed QureshiAdvocate - Supreme Court of India
Your commets are welcome
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
This has reference to the following three write-ups. No sensible person can deny the fact that there is an urgent need to regulate, control and supervise marriages and divorces for all communities, not just for Muslims alone as there are misusers of the present weak laws. Muslims cannot be an exception to it.. If we observe the Muslim community, we will find that polygyny is very rare among them. We rarely see Muslims having more than even one wife. I have never seen a Muslim living with four wives. My feeling is that generally every Muslim is faithful to his wife. The rich are more so. It is usually the perverted people who resort to second marriage and suffer. There are more sufferers among the people who live with two wives. I know a person whose first wife deserted him and went to her parents when he solemnised a second marriage without her permission and started living with her. A problem cropped up and remained unsolved for sometime. Finally she returned to her husband only when he divorced his second wife.
Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) lived with a single wife Hazrath Khathija (R.A.) for more than 25 years. Islam undoubtedly advocates monogamy and permits polygyny under certain "unavoidable circumstances". In other words there must be a sound reason for adopting a second wife. This is the case in most of the Muslim countries. In Saudi Arabia it is not so and that is why parents of girls are demanding high "dowry" ( or you may call it by whatever name you want) for giving their daughters in marriage to Saudi men who are considered unreliable. We must know that there are thousands of unmarried women there because of the ugly attitude of men regarding marriage and divorce. The Arab News brings out such things quite often. Generally polygamy is used in the polygyny sense. Nobody says that Islam permits a woman to have more than one husband. Anyhow Mr. Momin's explanation is correct. But it is not a reply to the court judgment.
The Supreme Court advocate? A. Rasheed Qureshi's arguments are simply ridiculous, highly objectionable and totally unacceptable because there is no sign of Islamic thought in his arguments. A good man - whatever may be his ideology -cannot indulge in "Zina" (adultery), leave alone Muslims. The Kerala High Court's stand is praise-worthy. The same marital laws cannot and should not be for all times. One should know that Islam gives laws for all times - yes totally different laws depending on the situation. The holy Quran dictates everything clearly and we do not want to listen to it. We should not forget the holy Quranic warning that if we do not do justice, God appoints others to do that. In our country India fortunately government, judiciary, Muslim intellectuals, etc. have enacted and are trying to enact wonderful laws which are in accordance with the letter and spirit of the holy Quran in many instances whereas a majority of our so called "Ulemas" are repeating the worn out things in the name of Islam for which there are no takers. There are a very few thinking Ulemas. My sympathies are with the advocate for his pathetic condition and un-Islamic bent of mind.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kerala High Court for a system to regulate Muslim marriages ‘Moral strength needed to eradicate polygamy’ In Pakistan, Muslim family law regulates polygamy KOCHI: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Wednesday observed that legislation for setting up bodies at Central and regional levels to regulate, control and supervise Muslim marriages and divorces was the need of the hour. The Bench of Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Harun-Ul-Rashid, while passing a verdict in a matrimonial case involving a Muslim couple, said an effective system should be introduced for protecting the Muslim society and women from “indiscreet marriage and divorce.” The court observed that though polygamy was allowed in the strict sense by Islam, there was no system in India to supervise or control such indiscreet marriage and divorce. Going by Koranic verses, permission to marry more than one woman, but not more than four, was given at a time when there were lots of orphans, widows and captives of war who were unable to maintain a dignified life. Polygamy was allowed then due to unavoidable circumstances. In fact, the practice was discouraged by imposing stringent conditions. The court observed that even after 15th century, some people of the community seemed to be very particular in following the practice, unmindful of whether such circumstances existed or not. They entered into more than one marriage, mostly for their personal pleasure. The court said polygamy was unlawful in the country. It called for moral strength, if not religious factor, to eradicate polygamy from among the Muslims. The court said there was no system in the country to ascertain and decide whether a person was eligible to contract more than one marriage during the subsistence of the first marriage. Men in the community enjoyed unrestricted freedom to marry women of their choice and pronounce talaq according to their whims and fancies. In fact, most of such marriages were illegal since they were against Koranic injunctions. The court pointed out that in Pakistan, Muslim family law regulated polygamy and provided for an arbitration council. The Bench appealed to all concerned within the community and the administrative authority and the government to study the problems faced by “helpless and destitute women and children” and bestow thoughts on the ways and means to alleviate their problems.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To say Islam permits POLYGAMY is wrong.I have explained it below POLYGAMY The generel impression is that Islam permits Polygamy.It is wrong-totally wrong. I will explain below why it is wrong to say so. The word Polygamy covers two words POLYANDRY and POLYGYNY.I will explain below what these two words mean. POLYANDRY means one wife and she has more than one husband-a practice prevalent among some tribes.Polyandry is not permitted in Islam.Infact it is not permitted among followers of any Book. POLYGYNY is one husband and more than one wife-restricted to four in Islam under some circumstances and not a generel license. This can be checked with any English Dictionary Therefore to say Islam permits Polygamy is wrong because it means it permits both Polyandry and Polygyny Muslims must say Islam permits only restricted Polygyny limited to maximum four under special circumstance but if you fear you will not do justice between them, then Holy Quran recomends one only.Sura 4 NISSA verse 3. If any one says Islam permits Polygamy please correct him or her.It is our duty A.MOMIN Please make copies and circulate Please read belowFrom: Abdul Rasheed Qureshi <rasheed1357@yahoo.co.in> Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2008 07:17:38 +0530 (IST)As Salamo AlaykumIt would be worthwhile to take the fight to the doorstep of the accuser. Islam permits marriage with four women at a time. Meaning if one of the four dies or is divorced, it is open to marry another woman and again have four wives. Let us not fight shy of admiting that the masculine gender tends to be physically satisfied by sex with more than one female. How does one satisfy it? Either it must be legally permitted as in Islam or it could be illegal as in the non-Muslim society.The fact is that a very large majority of non-Muslim males and females have illegal sex - be it pre-marital or extra-marital. It is an epidemic having reached menacing levels in thier society. Of a surity, this is rare in Muslims. If it (illegal sex ) is prevelant in Muslims, it is because Nikah has become difficult. If Nikah with the permitted 4 women is made easy, Zinah will become difficult.If we shy away, it will be extremely difficult to explain why the Prophet had so many wives. You could nearly be blasphamous. Prophet Muhammad had married for several higher reasons other than for physical sex.I believe Islam does not say that marriage of Hindus or Christians is no marriage. It is a marriage, although it is a ritual by thier rules. They are not living in Zinah till they cohabit with their lawfully wedded woman. But outside and beyond that is all Zinah. We Muslims (Islam) consider 'sex by consent' as Zinah - a mojor sin, while most other societies do not even consider it bad - much less a major sin. So our rules of judging 'illegal sex' are stricter than all other societies.The losers in all relations of illegal sex are invariably the females. So Islam proposes a very respectable living for the women folk who may lose their husbands even during thier younger life. As 2nd, 3rd or 4th wife, they have a respectable living anyway. In other societies she becomes the property of all males and leads a debauched life.Can someone tell the judges of Kerala HC that Quranic injunctions are apt for all times and all places for they address human instincts and needs which are unchanging.May Allah Keep Us on Siratal Mustaqeem.Was SalamA Rasheed QureshiAdvocate - Supreme Court of India
Your commets are welcome
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Whither the Muslim community?
I read with interest the three articles on Muslims published in Sunday Times dated 21 September 2008.
There is no doubt that the Muslim community is backward educationally and economically and there is an urgent need to work for their upliftment by the government and community welfare associations. Muslims face problems in certain pockets particularly in North India where due to certain hard-core communal parties the people are divided and discriminated on religious grounds. Of course such difficulties are faced by all other communities also somewhere or other in the country perhaps at lesser levels and not so frequently as Muslims do. It is certainly not that the Muslim community is on one side and the rest of the people on the other.
In southern states like Tamil Nadu we see students of different religious communities in educational institutions studying together well without any discrimination. There are government and private organisations where different religious people work together happily. One can see Muslim boys and girls coming out with flying colours in non-Muslim educational institutions and non-Muslim boys and girls in Muslim institutions. Our children studied in Muslim and Christian institutions without any grievances. I feel that every community should try to save itself from problems. It is an art. It should be cultivated.
As a Muslim I feel that unless I make friendship with non-Muslims, I cannot be a good Muslim as my faith teaches me that the entire humanity is one from the same God. I studied in Muslim schools and college mingling with non-Muslim friends closely. We had good Muslim, Christian and Hindu teachers. They taught us well and we respected them very much. Ofcourse in north Indian states the Hindu-Muslim divide is serious as reported in the articles under reference.
It is of course very unfortunate that the Muslim community does not have reformers like Sir Syed Ahmed Khan to show them the right direction in education which is a sine qua non for their betterment. Islamic scholars (ulema) and rich Muslims (umera) who are pillars of the Muslim community should ponder over it and plan an agenda for their reformation, better education, better economic condition, etc. shunning their stereotype demands for Urdu, increase in Haj quota, etc. voiced so far. The holy Quran says that God helps only those who help themselves.
I am of the strong view that my motherland India is the most beautiful country in the world - Saray jahaan say achcha Hindustan hamaara - despite its omissions and commissions. There is no match to it. I love it from the bottom of my heart.
There is no doubt that the Muslim community is backward educationally and economically and there is an urgent need to work for their upliftment by the government and community welfare associations. Muslims face problems in certain pockets particularly in North India where due to certain hard-core communal parties the people are divided and discriminated on religious grounds. Of course such difficulties are faced by all other communities also somewhere or other in the country perhaps at lesser levels and not so frequently as Muslims do. It is certainly not that the Muslim community is on one side and the rest of the people on the other.
In southern states like Tamil Nadu we see students of different religious communities in educational institutions studying together well without any discrimination. There are government and private organisations where different religious people work together happily. One can see Muslim boys and girls coming out with flying colours in non-Muslim educational institutions and non-Muslim boys and girls in Muslim institutions. Our children studied in Muslim and Christian institutions without any grievances. I feel that every community should try to save itself from problems. It is an art. It should be cultivated.
As a Muslim I feel that unless I make friendship with non-Muslims, I cannot be a good Muslim as my faith teaches me that the entire humanity is one from the same God. I studied in Muslim schools and college mingling with non-Muslim friends closely. We had good Muslim, Christian and Hindu teachers. They taught us well and we respected them very much. Ofcourse in north Indian states the Hindu-Muslim divide is serious as reported in the articles under reference.
It is of course very unfortunate that the Muslim community does not have reformers like Sir Syed Ahmed Khan to show them the right direction in education which is a sine qua non for their betterment. Islamic scholars (ulema) and rich Muslims (umera) who are pillars of the Muslim community should ponder over it and plan an agenda for their reformation, better education, better economic condition, etc. shunning their stereotype demands for Urdu, increase in Haj quota, etc. voiced so far. The holy Quran says that God helps only those who help themselves.
I am of the strong view that my motherland India is the most beautiful country in the world - Saray jahaan say achcha Hindustan hamaara - despite its omissions and commissions. There is no match to it. I love it from the bottom of my heart.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
WAQF BOARD IN KARNATAKA
Islam has given a high status for women. Their appointment as members of district level waqf committees in Karnataka cannot be opposed on religious grounds. If there are any other reasons for the opposition, it can be discussed.
It is note-worthy that Tamil Nadu has had a woman Mrs. Bader Sayeed as the Head of the Waqf Board here. Her period was highly successful. There was no opposition worth the name for it. Mrs. Bader Sayeed endeavoured her best to safeguard the interest of the Muslim community in the Waqf Board. It was really a historic one. All jamaats
co-operated with her.
In Karnataka too this can be possible but the women to be appointed should be highly qualified and have good experience in dealing with problems which are expected in this arena. If such women are not available and men are better qualified and experienced, of course they should be preferred.
On the other hand if the decision to appoint Muslim women as members to the waqf board is on the impression that the Muslim community does not like it, it can be considered only as a political stunt and undesirable one. There should be respect for the community to which the Waqf Board belongs. Any unilateral decision will not be in the national interest.
The Karnataka Government and the Muslim community can do well to discuss this issue and arrive at a conclusion. Let the fair name of Islam be not damaged in this tussle for power.
Islam has given a high status for women. Their appointment as members of district level waqf committees in Karnataka cannot be opposed on religious grounds. If there are any other reasons for the opposition, it can be discussed.
It is note-worthy that Tamil Nadu has had a woman Mrs. Bader Sayeed as the Head of the Waqf Board here. Her period was highly successful. There was no opposition worth the name for it. Mrs. Bader Sayeed endeavoured her best to safeguard the interest of the Muslim community in the Waqf Board. It was really a historic one. All jamaats
co-operated with her.
In Karnataka too this can be possible but the women to be appointed should be highly qualified and have good experience in dealing with problems which are expected in this arena. If such women are not available and men are better qualified and experienced, of course they should be preferred.
On the other hand if the decision to appoint Muslim women as members to the waqf board is on the impression that the Muslim community does not like it, it can be considered only as a political stunt and undesirable one. There should be respect for the community to which the Waqf Board belongs. Any unilateral decision will not be in the national interest.
The Karnataka Government and the Muslim community can do well to discuss this issue and arrive at a conclusion. Let the fair name of Islam be not damaged in this tussle for power.
Friday, September 19, 2008
ISLAM IS FOR PEACE
The article "The holy text and terror" by Mr. S. Gurumurthy in The New Indian Express dated 18 September 2008 is to say the least in bad taste. The author cannot be unaware of the fact that Islam is for peace, equality and brotherhood of the entire humanity.
At the outset I would like to say that Islam does not permit even hurting the feelings of anybody leave alone the question of killing any innocent person. The Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am)'s saying is that killing a person is like killing a society. No Muslim can and should take the law in his own hands.
Mr. Gurumurthy has started his article quoting the idiotic rhetoric of the so called "Indian Mujahideen". Who are these "Indian Mujahideen"? Where are they functioning from? Why is it that they have not been nabbed? Every Indian - whatever may be his or her religion - wants the culprits of the bomb blasts to be punished severely according to the laws of the land. He should know the worry and difficulties Indian Muslims are facing due to bomb blasts and threatening messages of the Mujahideen published in newspapers and telecast on TVs. In bomb blasts people belonging to all religions have lost their lives or got injured. These are all the handiworks of some miscreants bent upon tarnishing the fair name of Islam. They belong to no religion. Every Muslim as any other religionist hates perpetrators of bomb blasts and condemns them.
There is no doubt at all that the stand taken by the Mujahideen is absolutely wrong and mischievous. These people must be anti Muslim and anti Islam elements wanting to destroy the good image of the Islamic faith by quoting the sacred verses out of the context. Every Maulvi explains in his sermon that terrorism is against the concept of Islam. Yes the non-believers mentioned in the holy Quran do not mean non-Muslims. Moreover, these verses were revealed in war times during the time of Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) in some particular context and are nothing to do with the present time. There are no takers for the version of the Mujahideen who are only devils quoting the scripture for their own selfish purposes.
Even Mrs. Zubeda, the mother of the alleged terrorist Tauqeer has said in her first ever recent interview that if proved guilty, her son can be hanged in public.
The fact is that Islam is for peace, progress and prosperity of all the people. Mr. Gurumurthy's suggestion that “If the Jihadis are aggrieved then they can take the violence against the state" is surprising. We cannot approve it. Everyone has to be a law abiding citizen trying to settle his or her problems through legal channels in a democratic way.
Mr.Gurumurthy's article has no mention about the horrible Gujarat tragedy which brought bad name to our country the worldover for the reasons best known to him even though he has touched this issue. One feels that he is not impartial in this regard. As a writer, as an Indian and also as a Hindu he should write justly taking no sides and suppressing no facts.
A Muslim can never support any terror as it is against his religious concept. There are innumerable instances of Hindus and Muslims sacrificing their lives for each other. The undeniable fact is that all are the creation of the same God and there is no point in creating divisions among them. Let us all join together to make our country a peaceful nation by eradicating injustices and all forms of terrorism which have raised their ugly heads here...
------------------------------------------------------------------
At the outset I would like to say that Islam does not permit even hurting the feelings of anybody leave alone the question of killing any innocent person. The Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am)'s saying is that killing a person is like killing a society. No Muslim can and should take the law in his own hands.
Mr. Gurumurthy has started his article quoting the idiotic rhetoric of the so called "Indian Mujahideen". Who are these "Indian Mujahideen"? Where are they functioning from? Why is it that they have not been nabbed? Every Indian - whatever may be his or her religion - wants the culprits of the bomb blasts to be punished severely according to the laws of the land. He should know the worry and difficulties Indian Muslims are facing due to bomb blasts and threatening messages of the Mujahideen published in newspapers and telecast on TVs. In bomb blasts people belonging to all religions have lost their lives or got injured. These are all the handiworks of some miscreants bent upon tarnishing the fair name of Islam. They belong to no religion. Every Muslim as any other religionist hates perpetrators of bomb blasts and condemns them.
There is no doubt at all that the stand taken by the Mujahideen is absolutely wrong and mischievous. These people must be anti Muslim and anti Islam elements wanting to destroy the good image of the Islamic faith by quoting the sacred verses out of the context. Every Maulvi explains in his sermon that terrorism is against the concept of Islam. Yes the non-believers mentioned in the holy Quran do not mean non-Muslims. Moreover, these verses were revealed in war times during the time of Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) in some particular context and are nothing to do with the present time. There are no takers for the version of the Mujahideen who are only devils quoting the scripture for their own selfish purposes.
Even Mrs. Zubeda, the mother of the alleged terrorist Tauqeer has said in her first ever recent interview that if proved guilty, her son can be hanged in public.
The fact is that Islam is for peace, progress and prosperity of all the people. Mr. Gurumurthy's suggestion that “If the Jihadis are aggrieved then they can take the violence against the state" is surprising. We cannot approve it. Everyone has to be a law abiding citizen trying to settle his or her problems through legal channels in a democratic way.
Mr.Gurumurthy's article has no mention about the horrible Gujarat tragedy which brought bad name to our country the worldover for the reasons best known to him even though he has touched this issue. One feels that he is not impartial in this regard. As a writer, as an Indian and also as a Hindu he should write justly taking no sides and suppressing no facts.
A Muslim can never support any terror as it is against his religious concept. There are innumerable instances of Hindus and Muslims sacrificing their lives for each other. The undeniable fact is that all are the creation of the same God and there is no point in creating divisions among them. Let us all join together to make our country a peaceful nation by eradicating injustices and all forms of terrorism which have raised their ugly heads here...
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Saturday, September 13, 2008
Bomb blasts in Delhi
It is very unfortunate and shocking that five blasts have rocked the national capital Delhi in which according to reports at the time of writing this letter 20 people have lost their lives and 92 injured. It is not known how the enemies of the country are able to plant bombs in public places without being caught despite "all precautionary measures".
It seems that not only the police but also the public should be alert everywhere and try to nab the culprits while committing the offence. There is an urgent need for the police and other departments concerned to seriously endeavour to find out the extremists responsible for the blasts and see to it that they are punished severely according to the law of the land. No culprit should go scot-free.
One feels that the government should create a separate agency to deal with the bomb blasts and find solutions to keep the country free from the attacks of evil forces bent upon creating problems in our country possibly with the support and help of anti-India elements operating in neighbouring countries.
V.M. Khaleelur Rahman
It seems that not only the police but also the public should be alert everywhere and try to nab the culprits while committing the offence. There is an urgent need for the police and other departments concerned to seriously endeavour to find out the extremists responsible for the blasts and see to it that they are punished severely according to the law of the land. No culprit should go scot-free.
One feels that the government should create a separate agency to deal with the bomb blasts and find solutions to keep the country free from the attacks of evil forces bent upon creating problems in our country possibly with the support and help of anti-India elements operating in neighbouring countries.
V.M. Khaleelur Rahman
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Muslim organisations should encourage dowry-free and simple marriages
The report that a 36 year old Muslim man returned the dowry of Rs.51,000 and 20 sovereigns of gold to his in-laws in Tamil Nadu (India) should make people think about it and follow Islam which ordains men to give meher and not to take dowry at the time of marriage.
The Jamaat which was instrumental for this and Mr. Rahman who has done it in public deserve praise and congratulations. Other Muslim organisations particularly mosque jamaats should try to reform the Muslim community by encouraging dowry-free and simple marriages.
The poor should not try to imitate the rich in conducting lavish marriages and the rich should become models in solemnising simple marriages as per Islamic doctrines. According to Islam, the rich and scholars are the pillars of the society and it is their responsibility to show the right guidance to the community.
The Jamaat which was instrumental for this and Mr. Rahman who has done it in public deserve praise and congratulations. Other Muslim organisations particularly mosque jamaats should try to reform the Muslim community by encouraging dowry-free and simple marriages.
The poor should not try to imitate the rich in conducting lavish marriages and the rich should become models in solemnising simple marriages as per Islamic doctrines. According to Islam, the rich and scholars are the pillars of the society and it is their responsibility to show the right guidance to the community.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
SHOWKATH BHAI IS ALAS NO MORE
Karumbattur Showkath Ali bhai, yes the same person for whom interest of the community was dearer, is alas no more. He breathed his last on Wednesday, 27th August 2008 after a brief illness in a Chennai hospital. His body was taken to Ambur and buried there after Namaz-e-Janaza on the same day. Inna Lillahi Wa inna ilaihi rajioon...May God rest his soul in peace.
Showkath bhai was friendly with everyone. His mission was to go to the rescue of the poor and needy students by giving them scholarship from the oneman "association" he had founded. Every year at the time of admissions in educational institutions he used to approach some people and make them help the students. It can be said without any hesitation that he was instrumental in making more and more people realise the importance of higher education. The student strength of Mazharul Uloom College in Ambur increased by his efforts. He used to meet even helpless intelligent students who could not continue their education after Plus Two because of financial crunch and persuade them to seek higher education by extending financial support to them. He was in the educational service of the poor for about two decades.
He studied in Mazharul Uloom High School showing great interst in studies as well as sports. He was a good tennikoit and badminton player and had won on district levels. He looked and behaved like a common man without any inhibition, stiffneckedness, ego, arrogance, anger or any such vice. He was a big and successful raw skins dealer before entering social service. He could realise the sufferings of the people easily and help them. He was soft spoken and always behaved gently. Helpless and poor students used to go to him for scholarship and he obliged them willingly with a good advice and a beautiful smile on his face.
He was an active member of the Executive Committee of The Ambur Muslim Educational Society extending all support and assistance to it.
We will miss him for long and his qualities of head and heart can never be erased from our memory. Let us pray for his "maghfirath".
Karumbattur Showkath Ali bhai, yes the same person for whom interest of the community was dearer, is alas no more. He breathed his last on Wednesday, 27th August 2008 after a brief illness in a Chennai hospital. His body was taken to Ambur and buried there after Namaz-e-Janaza on the same day. Inna Lillahi Wa inna ilaihi rajioon...May God rest his soul in peace.
Showkath bhai was friendly with everyone. His mission was to go to the rescue of the poor and needy students by giving them scholarship from the oneman "association" he had founded. Every year at the time of admissions in educational institutions he used to approach some people and make them help the students. It can be said without any hesitation that he was instrumental in making more and more people realise the importance of higher education. The student strength of Mazharul Uloom College in Ambur increased by his efforts. He used to meet even helpless intelligent students who could not continue their education after Plus Two because of financial crunch and persuade them to seek higher education by extending financial support to them. He was in the educational service of the poor for about two decades.
He studied in Mazharul Uloom High School showing great interst in studies as well as sports. He was a good tennikoit and badminton player and had won on district levels. He looked and behaved like a common man without any inhibition, stiffneckedness, ego, arrogance, anger or any such vice. He was a big and successful raw skins dealer before entering social service. He could realise the sufferings of the people easily and help them. He was soft spoken and always behaved gently. Helpless and poor students used to go to him for scholarship and he obliged them willingly with a good advice and a beautiful smile on his face.
He was an active member of the Executive Committee of The Ambur Muslim Educational Society extending all support and assistance to it.
We will miss him for long and his qualities of head and heart can never be erased from our memory. Let us pray for his "maghfirath".
Sunday, August 3, 2008
"GEMS" OF PROPHET MOHAMMED (SAL-AM)
BY V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
1. HEART: Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) said, ‘Listen carefully, there is a lump of flesh in the body. If it is set right and made good, the entire body becomes good and healthy, but if it becomes diseased, the entire body becomes diseased. Remember well: it is the Heart.’ (Muslim, Bukhari: Nu’man ibn Bashir)
2. LIVING IN GOD’S PRESENCE: Someone asked: ‘How can one purify and develop himself, O Messenger of God, pbuh? He replied: ‘He should always remember that God is with him wherever he is.’ (Tirmidhi: Abdullah ibn Busr)
3. SEEKING GOD’S LOVE: Hazrat Mohammed (Sal-am) said: ‘ Anyone who possesses three qualities finds thereby the sweetness of faith: that he loves God and His Messenger, pbuh, more than everything else; that when he loves a human being he loves him for God’s sake alone; and that he abhors returning to unbelief from which God has rescued him, as he abhors being thrown into fire.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Anas)
4. FINDING GOD BY SERVING MANKIND: Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) said: God will say, ‘Son of Adam, I fell ill but you did not visit Me.’ He will say, ‘O Lord, and how could I have visited You! You are the Lord of the worlds!’ He will say, ‘Did you not know that My so and so servant had fallen ill and you did not visit him? Did you not know that had you visited him you would have found Me with him?’
‘Son of Adam, I asked you for food but you did not feed Me’. He will say, ‘O Lord, how could I have fed You! You are the Lord of the worlds!’ He will say, ‘My so and so servant asked you for food and you did not feed him? Did you not know that had you fed him you would surely have found that with Me?’
‘Son of Adam, I asked you to give Me to drink but you did not give Me.’ He will say, ‘O Lord, how could I have given you to drink! You are the Lord of the worlds!’ He will say, ‘My so and so servant asked you to give him to drink and you did not give him. Had you given him to drink you would surely have found that with Me’. (Muslim: Abu Hurayrah)
5. OUTWARD RELIGIOSITY AND OSTENTATION: The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: Many a one fast, but gain nothing from their fasting except hunger and thirst, and many a one pray all night, but gain nothing from their night prayers except sleeplessness.’ (Darimi: Abu Hurayrah)
6. HYPOCRISY: The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: ‘Three characteristics are the signs of a hypocrite, even if he fast, performs the Prayer and claims that he is a Muslim: when he speaks, he lies, when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he betrays his trust.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Abu Hurayrah)
7. MERCY TO GOD’S FAMILY : The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: ‘All
creatures are God’s family; and God loves them most who treat His family well and kindly.’(Baihaqi: Anas)
8. The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: ‘Only those who are merciful will be shown
Mercy by the Most Merciful. Show mercy to those who are on earth, He who is in heaven will show mercy to you.’ (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi; Abdullah ibn ‘Amr)
9. THIS TOO IS CHARITY : The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: If a Muslim
plants a tree or sows a crop, then whatever bird eats of it, or a human being, or an animal, it counts as charity for him. He also said: ‘Whatever is stolen from it, that too counts as charity.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Anas, Jabir)
10. GOLDEN RULES FOR HUMAN RELATIONS: The Prophet (Sal-am) said: ‘No one among you attains true faith, until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Anas)
11. CARING FOR THE FAMILY: The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: Anyone who desires his earnings to grow and his life to be prolonged should treat his relatives well.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Anas)
12. Hazrat Mohammed (Sal-am) said: ‘One who breaks the ties of relations with his relatives shall not enter Paradise.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Jubayr)
13. The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: ‘A person who merely reciprocates when doing good, is not really the one who maintains ties with his relatives, but the one who does good and maintains relations even if others do not do good, is a good relative.’ (Bukhari: Abdullah ibn ‘Amr)
14. CARING FOR CHILDREN: The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: ‘No father can give a better gift to his children than providing them with a good education.’ (Baihaqi: Ayub ibn Musa)
15. CARING FOR WOMEN: Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) said: ‘The most perfect in faith among the believers are those who possess the best morals, and the best among you are those who are kindest to their wives.’ (Tirmidhi: Abu Hurayrah)
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BY V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
1. HEART: Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) said, ‘Listen carefully, there is a lump of flesh in the body. If it is set right and made good, the entire body becomes good and healthy, but if it becomes diseased, the entire body becomes diseased. Remember well: it is the Heart.’ (Muslim, Bukhari: Nu’man ibn Bashir)
2. LIVING IN GOD’S PRESENCE: Someone asked: ‘How can one purify and develop himself, O Messenger of God, pbuh? He replied: ‘He should always remember that God is with him wherever he is.’ (Tirmidhi: Abdullah ibn Busr)
3. SEEKING GOD’S LOVE: Hazrat Mohammed (Sal-am) said: ‘ Anyone who possesses three qualities finds thereby the sweetness of faith: that he loves God and His Messenger, pbuh, more than everything else; that when he loves a human being he loves him for God’s sake alone; and that he abhors returning to unbelief from which God has rescued him, as he abhors being thrown into fire.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Anas)
4. FINDING GOD BY SERVING MANKIND: Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) said: God will say, ‘Son of Adam, I fell ill but you did not visit Me.’ He will say, ‘O Lord, and how could I have visited You! You are the Lord of the worlds!’ He will say, ‘Did you not know that My so and so servant had fallen ill and you did not visit him? Did you not know that had you visited him you would have found Me with him?’
‘Son of Adam, I asked you for food but you did not feed Me’. He will say, ‘O Lord, how could I have fed You! You are the Lord of the worlds!’ He will say, ‘My so and so servant asked you for food and you did not feed him? Did you not know that had you fed him you would surely have found that with Me?’
‘Son of Adam, I asked you to give Me to drink but you did not give Me.’ He will say, ‘O Lord, how could I have given you to drink! You are the Lord of the worlds!’ He will say, ‘My so and so servant asked you to give him to drink and you did not give him. Had you given him to drink you would surely have found that with Me’. (Muslim: Abu Hurayrah)
5. OUTWARD RELIGIOSITY AND OSTENTATION: The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: Many a one fast, but gain nothing from their fasting except hunger and thirst, and many a one pray all night, but gain nothing from their night prayers except sleeplessness.’ (Darimi: Abu Hurayrah)
6. HYPOCRISY: The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: ‘Three characteristics are the signs of a hypocrite, even if he fast, performs the Prayer and claims that he is a Muslim: when he speaks, he lies, when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he betrays his trust.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Abu Hurayrah)
7. MERCY TO GOD’S FAMILY : The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: ‘All
creatures are God’s family; and God loves them most who treat His family well and kindly.’(Baihaqi: Anas)
8. The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: ‘Only those who are merciful will be shown
Mercy by the Most Merciful. Show mercy to those who are on earth, He who is in heaven will show mercy to you.’ (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi; Abdullah ibn ‘Amr)
9. THIS TOO IS CHARITY : The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: If a Muslim
plants a tree or sows a crop, then whatever bird eats of it, or a human being, or an animal, it counts as charity for him. He also said: ‘Whatever is stolen from it, that too counts as charity.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Anas, Jabir)
10. GOLDEN RULES FOR HUMAN RELATIONS: The Prophet (Sal-am) said: ‘No one among you attains true faith, until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Anas)
11. CARING FOR THE FAMILY: The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: Anyone who desires his earnings to grow and his life to be prolonged should treat his relatives well.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Anas)
12. Hazrat Mohammed (Sal-am) said: ‘One who breaks the ties of relations with his relatives shall not enter Paradise.’ (Bukhari, Muslim: Jubayr)
13. The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: ‘A person who merely reciprocates when doing good, is not really the one who maintains ties with his relatives, but the one who does good and maintains relations even if others do not do good, is a good relative.’ (Bukhari: Abdullah ibn ‘Amr)
14. CARING FOR CHILDREN: The Messenger of God, pbuh, said: ‘No father can give a better gift to his children than providing them with a good education.’ (Baihaqi: Ayub ibn Musa)
15. CARING FOR WOMEN: Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) said: ‘The most perfect in faith among the believers are those who possess the best morals, and the best among you are those who are kindest to their wives.’ (Tirmidhi: Abu Hurayrah)
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MAULANA ABDUL KARIM PAREKH SAHIB
"MAUTUL AALIMI MAUTUL AALAMI" : MAULANA PAREKH SAHIB ALAS IS NO MORE
By V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
Maulana Abdul Karim Parekh sahib, aged 79 years is alas no more. He breathed his last in the morning, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 at his residence in Nagpur. Inna Lillahi wa inna Ilayhi rajioon.....May his soul rest in peace.
Maulana Parekh sahib was a well-known and respected Muslim leader in the country. He has authored more than 20 books including his most popular 'Tarjuman-e-Quran' (translation of the holy Quran in Urdu, Hindi and Marathi) and 'Lughatul Quran' (dictionary of the holy Quran). He was closely associated with different educational institutions including the Aligarh Muslim University. He was a Padma Bhushan Award winner.The Indian government conferred Padma Bhushan on him in recognition of his catholic writings and lifelong endeavours for communal harmony in 2001.He has given hundreds of discourses on many important subjects concering the community and country.
In a recent interview he had said "India is great in many ways but its greatest uniqueness lies in the fact that is is a confluence of almost all the world's religions and for that reason a potential model for universal brotherhood". He was a great religious and national leader who advised people to make India stronger by unity and wanted young Ulema to understand the nuances of the present age for better presentation of Islamic thoughts. He also wanted unity among all schools of Islamic thoughts. He was rightly called a pacifist. He was a well-travelled person.
Although he had lost his eye-sight and was living on a pacemaker since one or two years, he was following the happenings of the community and country with interest. He was active till his last.
Maulana Parekh sahib's passing away is a great loss to the community and country. May Allah be pleased with him. Let us pray for his "maghfirat"
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By V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
Maulana Abdul Karim Parekh sahib, aged 79 years is alas no more. He breathed his last in the morning, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 at his residence in Nagpur. Inna Lillahi wa inna Ilayhi rajioon.....May his soul rest in peace.
Maulana Parekh sahib was a well-known and respected Muslim leader in the country. He has authored more than 20 books including his most popular 'Tarjuman-e-Quran' (translation of the holy Quran in Urdu, Hindi and Marathi) and 'Lughatul Quran' (dictionary of the holy Quran). He was closely associated with different educational institutions including the Aligarh Muslim University. He was a Padma Bhushan Award winner.The Indian government conferred Padma Bhushan on him in recognition of his catholic writings and lifelong endeavours for communal harmony in 2001.He has given hundreds of discourses on many important subjects concering the community and country.
In a recent interview he had said "India is great in many ways but its greatest uniqueness lies in the fact that is is a confluence of almost all the world's religions and for that reason a potential model for universal brotherhood". He was a great religious and national leader who advised people to make India stronger by unity and wanted young Ulema to understand the nuances of the present age for better presentation of Islamic thoughts. He also wanted unity among all schools of Islamic thoughts. He was rightly called a pacifist. He was a well-travelled person.
Although he had lost his eye-sight and was living on a pacemaker since one or two years, he was following the happenings of the community and country with interest. He was active till his last.
Maulana Parekh sahib's passing away is a great loss to the community and country. May Allah be pleased with him. Let us pray for his "maghfirat"
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Saturday, August 2, 2008
AL-AMEEN
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE BENEFICENT, THE MERCIFUL
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AL-AMEEN : A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 2006
A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR PRIVATE
CIRCULATION
DECEMBER 2006 E-MAIL : vmk_2007@sify.com
EDITOR : V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
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IN THIS ISSUE :
1) A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF IQBAL AND HIS POETRY
2) IFT DISTRIBUTES 100 HOMES TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS
3) KUDOS TO SADIA FOR HER EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE IN B. SC. PHYSICS
4) THE COMMUNITY MUST LEARN …..BY MAULANA KALBE SADIQ, VICE
PRESIDENT, ALL INDIA MUSLIM PERSONAL LAW BOARD
5) ZACKERIA HAZRATH – A TEACHER WITH A DIFFERENCE
6) READERS COMMENT
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A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF IQBAL AND HIS POETRY
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
Dr. Allama Mohammed Iqbal was a famous Urdu and Persian poet and philosopher, yes the same poet who wrote the famous national song “Saray jahan say achcha Hindustan hamaara, Ham bubulayn hain uski yah gulsitan hamaara” ( Our India is the best country in the world. We are its nightingales and it is our orchard) He was born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877. He was the most intellectual thinker and poet the Muslim world has produced in India. His poems like “Shikwa” (Conplaint) and “Jawab-e-shikwa” (Reply to the complaint) continue to inspire not only Urdu speaking people but intellectuals belonging to all communities and nations. His poems have been translated into most of the world languages.
He was younger of the two sons of his father Shaikh Nur Mohammed and mother Iman Bibi. They were very pious, God-fearing and honest couple.
Iqbal had his primary education in the madrasa of Maulvi Syed Mir Hasan. After sometime on the advice of the Maulvi sahib he was admitted to Scottish Mission School at Sialkot. Even before he passed his final examination, he was married to Karim Bibi, daughter of a physician, Khan Bahadur Dr. Ata Mohammed Khan.They had two daughters and a son. One of the girls passed away soon after birth and the other at the age of nineteen after prolonged illness. The son was Aftab Iqbal who became a corporate lawyer later. He started writing poetry in his Intermediate days in the upgraded Scottish Mission College.
At the age of 19 years Iqbal joined Government College, Lahore in 1895 and studied Arabic, English literature and philosophy under the guidance of Sir Thomas Arnold who had shifted there from M.A.O. College, Aligarh after completing his book “The preaching of Islam” in which he has discussed in detail about Islam’s peaceful spread. Iqbal was very much impressed by his warmth and understanding of Islamic culture and civilization. He passed B.A. with distinction and got scholarship and gold medals for his excellent performance and getting highest marks in Arabic and English.
Iqbal, according to many writers, was a simple and happy person with an alert mind. It is said that during his school days once he came late to his class. Asked by the teacher he replied simply “Sir, Iqbal (meaning glory) comes late.”
Iqbal started his poetry in the tradition of Dagh Dehlvi, the language purist. Then he was attracted to the social perspective of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Hali. Actually he wanted to reform the society through his poetry. He was also a patriotic poet. He was a great exponent of modernism and social revolution in the Islamic world. His passion for modernisation and development was very strong. He was also a humanist. He moved his audience to tears while reciting his poems in the big gatherings of Anjuman-e-Himayat-e- Islam. He had a soft corner for the suffering lot.
Iqbal had married Mukhtar Begum and Sardar begum also who had given him a son (Javid) and a daughter (Munira).
In 1927 Iqbal delivered six lectures on “The Reconstruction of Islamic thought” in Madras, Hyderabad and Aligarh which are thought provoking even today. He was a genius in every sense of the word.
Iqbal was exceptionally a natural and rational Islamic poet the like of whom is yet to be seen. He started writing Urdu poetry during his college days in Lahore as said earlier. He attended a “Mushaira” (poetical symposium) in Lahore’s Hakiman Bazar for the first time at the age of 22 years and recited his poetry. When he recited the couplet
Moti samajh kay shaanay kareemi nay chun liyay
Qathray jo thay meray arq-e- infiaal kay
Divine forgiveness gathered them as pearls,
The drops of my repentance and remorse,
he was very much appreciated and a noted poet Mirza Arshad Gorgani who was present there applauded him whole-heartedly and wished him all the best.
He was also an excellent philosopher and profound thinker. The community was dearer to him. He gave equal importance to the Islamic concepts of both “Huqooqullah” and “Huqooqul Ibad”The following poem is a shining example.
Qaum goya jism hai afraad hain aezayay qaum,
Manzil-e sunath kay rah pa hain thasto payay qaum
Mahfil nazm-e hukoomath chahra zaybayay qaum
Shair rangeen nawa hai theetha-e beena-e qaum
Mubtala-e-dard koi azu ho rothi hai aankh
Kis qadar hamdard saaray jism ki hothi hai ankh
Community is an organism and individuals are parts of its body
Those engaged in industry are its hands and legs
Those engaged in administration are it s face
Poet of myriad sweet melodies is the eye of the nation
The eye weeps for the suffering of any and every part of the body,
How sympathetic it is to the entire organism
The community should act as the eye and consider the suffering of any section of the people as its own and find remedies for it is the message Iqbal wants to stress to the people. It reflects the divine ordain that the humanity should be valued, respected and helped in the best possible manner and one should not be self-centred.
It is very unfortunate that in the present highly materialistic world there is very little room for camaraderie and nobody seems to care for anybody. There is an urgent need for us to grasp the Islamic lesson Iqbal expresses in his poetry. We have seen Ulema (religious scholars) quoting him extensively. His poems are power packed and full of meanings.
Somebody has rightly said that a unique contribution of Iqbal to the contemporary Islamic thought is his bracketing modern science with 'God-consciousness' which he considers more precious than mere belief in God. He equates the scientist's observation of nature with seeking a kind of intimacy with God.
Rajmohan Gandhi says that Iqbal had started becoming popular by 1905 when he left for Europe because of his poems like “Nala-e-Yatim” (The orphan’s cry), Abr-e-Gauhar Bar (Blessed Showers) dedicated to Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am), Parinde ki fariyad (The bird’s lament) in which he has portrayed a caged bird’s longing for freedom –about India’s survitude. He strengthened the Hindu-Muslim unity by his Tarana and other poems.
Iqbal studied philosophy at Cambridge and law at London’s Lincoln Inn. He also received a doctorate for his research thesis on Persian metaphysics from Munich University. It reveals that sufism was an alien and unhealthy growth and it had no place in original Islam. He loved Persian language and wrote poetry in it with preference but disliked Persians like Sufi poet Hafiz of Iran. He adopted rationalism to reform the humanity in general and Muslim in particular) which was engrossed in many superstitious beliefs.
Authors like Rajmohan Gandhi and Mujeeb have said that the West’s strength was admirable to Iqbal but not its merciless competition between man and man and nation and nation as is the case even now. He wanted a solution for all ills of the society and finally found Islam as the best remedy for all our problems.
Dr. Mohammed Hasan says that “Iqbal’s poetry has a world perspective. He was primarily concerned with nothing less than human predicament. Searching for the hidden laws of human development, Iqbal propounded his philosophy of Ego ( Khudi ) with certain social checks and balances ( Bekhudi ). It is in this context that his contribution to world poetic thought remains invaluable.” He was a poet of the East and a manifestation of self-reconstruction and reformation and a poet of the East
As a philosopher Iqbal reveals the mystery of life as follows:
Gul is shakh say toot-thay bhi rehay, isi shakh say phoot-thay bhi rehay,
Samajthay hain naadaan isay baysibath, ubharta hai mit mit kay naqshay hayaat
Flowers fall off from this very branch
and yet from the same they sprout again,
Unwise take it as transient
But the image of life emerges again after falling off
Iqbal was proud that he was an Indian and rightly considered that it was a torch-bearer to world civilisation. He believed in the uniting force of Islam. Actually he wanted everyone particularly Muslims to understand the Indian plural society through his many poems. He did not participate in the Khilafat Movement.
He passed away at Lahore on 21 April 1938 and buried adjacent to the “Badshahi Masjid” built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
ISLAMIC FOUNDATION TRUST DISTRIBUTES 100 HOMES TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS
T. AZEEZ LUTHFULLAH,
ISLAMIC FOUNDATION TRUST
The dawn of a new colony in the shores of Bay of BengalLet us make Samarasam Nagar a model village!Nagore : 09 November 2006.
It is celebration time for the hapless tsunami victims of the chilladi village near Nagore. For those who lost everything when Killer Tsunami struck them two years back, it is dream come true. Yes. Today they have become happy owners of brand new homes.By the grace of God and with the active co-operation of the Tamil Nadu Government and its agencies along with the help of Muslim Aid a UK based charity organization Islamic Foundation Trust (IFT), Chennai has achieved the gigantic feat of conceiving, constructing and distributing 100 homes to the tsunami victims.
The Event :
The keys of the newly constructed houses were distributed to the victims in a simple function arranged here at the auditorium of the G.S. Pillay college of Engineering at Thethi village. Mr. Ebrahimsa Muhammad, Advisor to Muslim Aid gave away the keys to the beneficiaries. First came Akber Ali and then Tajuddin followed by Kaliappan and others.The Chief Guest : Dr. Abdul Huq Ansari, President of the Human Welfare Trust, New Delhi inaugurated the function organized to commemorate the distribution of 100 homes to the tsunami victims. In his inaugural address he highlighted the stress and importance given to the social service in Islamic teachings. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) has clearly stated the "the best among you is the one who is kind to every human being". We should strive to serve the entire humanity, he opined.Dr. Abdul Huq Ansari represents several organizations of India. He is an erudite scholar and professor from Rabindranath Tagore's Vishwa Bharathi University. He has done his Masters from Havard University of USA.
Guest of honour :
Mr Ibrahimsa Muhammad Advisor Muslim Aid was the guest of honour at the function arranged to commemorate the distribution of houses to the tsunami victims. He handed over the keys of the houses to Mr Gopal DRO and representative of the district collector and a high ranking official as a symbolic gesture. In his address Mr Ibrahimsa Muhammad appreciated the work done by IFT and expressed hope that IFT would continue building homes and hopes to the destitutes and neglected segments of the society. Mr Ibrahimsa introduced the mission and activities of Muslim Aid briefly.
The Houses :
Mr. H. Abdur Raqeeb Chairman, Islamic Foundation Trust in his presidential address appealed to the people to make the new colony a model village. He also highlighted
the significant features of the houses. The cluster of 100 houses spread over six acres of land has been constructed at the cost of Rs. Two and half crores. The land has been provided by the Government of Tamil Nadu and major chunk of funding has been done by Muslim Aid, UK., Mr. Abdur Raqeeb said.Each and every house has been constructed in 400 sq. feet area in a 1300 sq. feet plot. It comprises of a drawing room, a hall, a bed room, kitchen and bathroom with stair case to the terrace. A spacious veranda and sit out is an added attraction, elaborated, Mr. Abdur Raqeeb.The cluster of houses presents a glorious spectacle with the line up of similar looking, beautifully crafted and neatly painted glittering houses dotting the lines. The newly formed colony has been named aptly Samarasam Nagar. Samarasam means peace and harmony, he said.The message :
We could easily build houses with bricks, sand and stone. But homes could be built only through love alone. So I appeal the people to make the new colony a model village in which there will be harmony, peace, love and brotherhood to the core. We dream and aspire that the inhabitants of this new colony would give paramount importance to education and attain and maintain 100% literacy. We dream and aspire that the inhabitants of this new colony in the shores of Bay of Bengal would observe and practice all the good things, noble virtues and gentle qualities. We dream and aspire that the inhabitants of this new colony would abhor and detest all the evil things like drinking alcohol and drugs etc. We pray Almighty that they become self-sufficient and lead a noble life, Mr. Abdur Raqeeb stressed.The role models The highlight of the presidential speech is the passionate introduction ot two selfless souls as true role models to those in the field of social service to the august gathering. They were Mr Ibrahimsa Muhammad of Muslim Aid and Mr Younus Bhai of Parangipettai. Both were present at the dais. Mr Raqeeb extolled the virtues of Ibrahimsa and Younus Bhai. Mr Ibrahimsa symbolises simplicity and social service, he said.The other guests :
Mr. Gopal RDO who participated in the function as a representative of Mr. Tenkasi S. Jawahar, the district Collector, felicitated the beneficiaries and assured the inhabitants of the new colony that the road-laying work would be carried in war footing. Mr. V. Marimuthu. M.L.A graced the occasion with his flowery speech. Mr. Muhammad Younus, Chairman, Parangipettai Panchayat, Mr. Karunanidhi, Principal, G.S. Pillay Engineering College, Mr. M. Muhammad Khalifa Sahib Kadiri, Managing Trustee, Nagore Dargah, Mr. M.G.K. Nizamudeen , President, Nagore Muslim Jamaat, Ms. Annie George, CEO NCRC, Mr. Sundramurthy, Panchayat President, Thethi village, Mr. Amjad Saleem, Director, Muslim Aid, Sri Lanka and Dr K.V.S. Habeeb Muhammad, vice chairman spoke at the occasion. Mr. Shabbeer Ahmed, General Secretary, Islamic Foundation Trust proposed a vote of thanks.
The Organisations :
Muslim Aid a UK based charity organization has been rendering social service in more than 60 countries spread over the four continents. Muslim Aid has been recognized as an exemplary service organization and has been assigned a mamoothe world Bank project of constructing hundreds and hundreds of home to the victims of tsunami in Indonesia.ISLAMIC FOUNDATION TRUST (IFT),Chennai swung into action on that fateful day of Dec 26th 2004 when Tsunami struck the coastal line of Tamilnadu and immediately started its Relief activities forming four hubs at Chennai, Cuddalore, Nagore and Kanyakumari.. IFT's volunteers spread out to different places and worked day and night to provide immediate relief to the affected. They distributed Relief Kits containing essential items including stoves, tarpaulins, bedsheets, provision items etc. The women volunteers joined their male colleagues in counselling the affected at the relief camps.ISLAMIC FOUNDATION TRUST (IFT) also constructed One Hundred (100) Temporary Shelters with necessary facilities for the victims at a land offered by the government near the collectorate in Nagore besides providing books, school bags etc to the affected students.It also provided 16 boats to the people affected at Jameelabad in Pazhaverkadu near Ponneri, a place nearly 30 kms away from Chennai.
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MAKING HISTORY
KUDOS TO H. SADIYA KAUSER FOR HER EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE IN B.SC. PHYSICS
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN, AMBUR
We are extremely happy that H. Sadiya Kauser, daughter of Mr. H. Abdul Rasheed, Noorullahpet, Ambur has passed her B.Sc. (Physics) examination of the University of Madras held in April 2006 by obtaining FIRST RANK and securing FIRST CLASS WITH DISTINCTION.
In the 149th Annual Convocation 2006 held at the University Centenary Auditorium on 14th November 2006, presided over by His Excellency the Governor of Tamil Nadu Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala, Chancellor, University of Madras and Convocation Address delivered by Mr. P. Chidambaram, the Honourable Minister for Finance, Government of India, New Delhi, H. SADIYA KAUSER has been awarded 3 (three) Gold Medals in recognition of her extra-ordinarily excellent performance in the B. Sc. degree examination held by the Madras University in the Faculty of Science during April 2006 as a candidate from Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed Women’s College, Chennai – 600 018.
It is reliably learnt that during the past 150 years of the University of Madras she is the first Muslim girl to receive FIRST RANK and 3 GOLD MEDALS with distinction in the state of Tamil Nadu in B.Sc. Physics.
We take this opportunity to congratulate SADIA KAUSER for her record-breaking performance in the B.Sc. Physics examination and wish her all the best in life. She has brought laurels not only to herself but to her parents, community and the school and college where she studied. She is now doing her postgraduate M. Sc. Physics degree course in Women’s Christian College, Chennai. We are proud of her and her parents who are educating her well.
We also congratulate her parents for giving a right guidance to her, T. Abdul Wahid Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ambur (where she studied and passed her Plus Two examination with flying colours) for providing good education and learning atmosphere and Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed Women’s College, Chennai (where she did her B.Sc. Physics degree course and brought name and fame) for its excellent coaching and encouragement.
The services rendered by Mr. T. Abdul Wahid sahib, founder of T. Abdul Wahid Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ambur and Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed sahib, founder of the SIET Women’s College (now called Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College) are immortal and ever green. The community must be thankful to them.
The people of Ambur know that another brilliant girl student of TAW Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ambur P. FAYIZA TASKEEN, daughter of Mr. P. Oosman Basha got GOLD MEDAL from Raja Rajeswari College of Engineering, Chennai for securing FIRST RANK in her B.E. examination in 2005. She was honoured in a function in the TAW school. The Ambur Muslim Educational Society also honoured her for her meritorious performance during its historic Centenary Celebrations in September 2006 which was inaugurated by His Excellency The President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
The undeniable fact is that within a short span of 21 years T. Abdul Wahid Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ambur studied boys and girls have done well in medical, engineering, science and other degree courses. It is a big achievement for it. We are thankful to its Management, Principals and teaching staff for their educational service. We are sure that it will go on expanding its educational activity and serve the community in its educational and economical advancement.
THE COMMUNITY MUST LEARN TO TAKE CARE OF ITS PROBLEMS
Maulana Kalbe Sadiq , a well-known Shia scholar, has never shied away from courting controversy. His open advocacy of gender equality, literacy/property rights and family planning have won him much admiration among Muslim masses, especially the youth. The Maulana, who is also vice-president of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), spoke to Manjari Mishra
Your approach to Eid led to much confusion this year. Let me make it very clear, the Qur'an nowhere makes moon-sighting mandatory for fixing the Eid day. Deciding the issue by spotting the moon in the sky is a man-made tradition based on total misconception of the maulvis. I speak this with full responsibility. Muslims, as a community, lag behind others in human development indices. What do you think are the reasons? The failure to develop an academic culture and scientific temperament, I think, has been the bane of the Muslim community. Somehow these two issues have been consistently overlooked. We will remain where we are till the time people learn to give importance to these two issues. Who do you blame for the Muslims' socio-economic backwardness? I totally blame the community and its leaders. It is neither rational nor just to point an accusing finger at the government every time. The government is not expected to do everything. The community must learn to take care of its problems. Unfortunately there is a paucity of true leaders among Muslims. What are your views on dowry and the practice of triple talaq? Do you know that banks in Iran don't give loans to the bride's family? Only the groom's father or the groom himself can apply for a marriage loan. Islam has no place for dowry as the groom is expected to bear all marriage expenses from meher to maintenance. However, the real changes in marriage laws or celebrations will become effective the day the ulema set an example by following right traditions during family weddings. Fortunately, Shia community does not recognise triple talaq. It needs to be discouraged. Women have always been denied their rightful place in the name of Islam by orthodox maulvis. Is there a way out? No other religion is as gender friendly as Islam. It is the first religion that accorded equal pro-perty rights to women. According to Qur'an, if you offer namaz in a house where a female claimant has been denied her share, your prayers will not be answered. Similarly, Qur'an nowhere asks women to wear a veil. The stress is on modesty, not form. The law banning domestic violence, I would say, could bring about a major change to the plight of women. Though personally I think the punishment should have been more stringent. I have repeatedly maintained that until a woman gets due respect, a society can't improve or prosper.
(The Times of India, 7th November 2006)
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ZACKERIA HAZRATH : A TEACHER WITH A DIFFERENCE
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
We were fortunate to have many good and dedicated teachers in the Mazharul Uloom High School, Ambur where we studied more than four decades ago. That period is still green in our memory. We cannot forget our teachers who taught us with all care and attention. Every teacher had his own special characteristics, which impressed and inspired us and even now we cannot but remember and respect them very much.
Prophet Mohammed (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) gave importance to education and teachers. Once he came across two circles of people. The first circle was supplicating to Allah and the other was listening to a discourse by a teacher. The Prophet said “ The first circle is begging God who may or may not give them what they want but the second circle is getting education from a teacher. I have been sent as teacher.” He joined the second circle. This shows that the Prophet gave preference to teachers and education. There are many examples of him giving priority to teachers.
In this write-up I would like to share my impressions about the late Janab V. Mohammed Zackeria sahib, a dedicated and well-known teacher who served in the Mazharul Uloom High School for more than 40 years and left his indelible shining marks. He was affectionately called “Zackeria Hazrath”. He was actually a teacher with a difference. To him teaching was a mission. He taught his pupils with all seriousness, care and attention. He was very scientific in his words and deeds. He endeavoured his best to make every boy a “gem” in discipline and education. He never tolerated laziness and wanted his pupils to be alert and hard working.
Zackeria Hazrath was not only a teacher, but also a reformer par excellence. He was well versed in Urdu, English, Tamil and Hindi languages. He was good in Arabic and Persian also. Interest of the community was dearer to him. He was a serious person, an authoritative one. He “ruled” us and wanted every one of us to study well and benefit from the school without wasting any time.
He had modern thinking and always opposed superstitious beliefs and revealed in his own inimitable Urdu language how soothsayers, sorcerers, astrologers etc. hoodwinked innocent people for the sake of money. He advised us not to believe them and understand things properly using our intellect and wisdom. He was dead opposed to blind following in any matter.
Zackeria Hazrath’s literary taste was immense. He never failed to correct even the spoken language of his pupils whether it was Urdu, English or Tamil. His pupils as well as their parents were careful while talking to him. He disliked the colloquial and wanted everyone to speak chaste Urdu in its sweet and beautiful form. He used to say “Urdu ka khoon mat karo.Miyan” ( Don’t kill the Urdu language.)
The following “rubayee” penned by him shows his noble thoughts. We have to understand it in the proper perspective and respect the plural society in which we live.
“Ya rub hai teri her jagah hasthi,
Paatha hai thujko daaraa-e-beenaayi,
Masjid mayn Muslim Mandir mayn Hindu,
Karthay kalesa mayn wird hain Easaayee”
O God, your existence is everywhere,
Knowledgeable persons are able to find you,
Muslims in the mosque, Hindus in the temple
And Christians in the church pray to you.
One day Hazrath wrote this “rubayee” on the Black Board in the class room and said that “after all everyone is worshipping the same God”. People like me still remember it because of the beautiful thought expressed therein. It is a powerful thought and this thought is necessary for all Indians where different religious people live happily. We cannot forget this great teacher under any situation. He is no more now. But everything he taught us so happily and so seriously, sometimes even with anger, is in our memory in tact. It is impossible for us to forget him and his wonderful and revolutionary teachings. May Allah rest his soul in peace.
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READERS COMMENT
Dear VMK,
Jazakallahu khairan for the mail.
I read the article “Why are the Jews so powerful and Muslims so powerless?” It contains some good points and also motivates towards educational uplift. However, the conclusion is over-simplistic. Education certainly helps to attain power but is not the only or even the major component for power. The example of Zionist Jews is also misleading.
They are powerful not because they are most educated but because 'means' doesn't matter for them for gaining power. They have attained power and influence in the US and other western countries not because of education but using their cunning mind and every unfair means as has been amply demonstrated by the Harvard-Chicago study.
George Bush is the most powerful man of the world today. Is he the most educated of all world leaders? Few will agree as most know how he gained this power. Muslim's decline today is not simply because of their poor education but because of the loss of their identifying values.
H. ABDUR RAQEEB, CHENNAI
Dear Khaleel bhai, I have received 'Al - Ameen' - regular issue and Special Issues relating to November 2006. Kudos for the excellent articles allowing the luxury of interesting reading and honing our knowledge. Your editorial on the importance of education especially for the Muslim community is simply superb and inimitable.
The article on the Jewish supremacy all over the world is an eye opener. Indeed it has cleared all the grudges we have been harbouring against the Jewish community. In the holy Quran, Almighty Allah avers that the community which does not raise itself shall not be bolstered by Him.
It is ignorance and perversion that the Muslim community simply expects some miracle to happen without actually putting forth any efforts to ameliorate its own position through education, knowledge building and technological advancements.
I sincerely pray to Allah to bestow on you courage, conviction and determination to continue your noble mission of waking up our community from its deep slumber and in different complacency. Aameen....
Regards, FAROOQ AHMED H.E, AMBUR
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Dear Khaleelur Rahman Bhai.
Please find forwarding few detail about Islam which I hope will be useful to you.
Islam is the fastest growing religion and the second largest religion in the world
Muslims in Asia (1996)
1,022,692,000 (30%)
Muslims in Africa (1996)
426,282,000 (59%)
Total Number of Muslims on the Earth (1996)
1,482,596,925
Total Number of People on the Earth (1996)
5,771,939,007
Percentage of Muslims (1996)
26%
Islam annual growth rate (1994-1995) from U.N.
6.40%
Christianity growth rate (1994-1995) from U.N.
1.46%
Total Number of Muslims on the Earth (1998)
1,678,442,000
Expected Number of Muslims on the Earth (2000)
1,902,095,000
This table below shows the growth of Islam:
North America (1989-1998)
25%
Africa
2.15%
Asia
12.57%
Europe
142.35%
Latin America
-4.73%
Australia
257.01%
Among every four humans in the world, one of them is Muslim. Muslims have increased by over 235 percent in the last fifty years up to nearly 1.6 billion. By comparison, Christians have increased by only 47 percent, Hinduism, 117 percent, and Buddhism by 63 percent. Islam is the second largest religious group in France, Great Britain and USA (Muslims in USA are 10 millions and Jews are 6 millions).
The number of the total population has been taken from The CIA World's Facts Book.
K. MOHAMED NASARULLAH, CHENNAI
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Janab V.M.K - Assalamu Alaikum.
I read the newsletter “Al-Ameen” . It is very thought-provoking. I wish that every Muslim should read it. I agree with your editorial on the importance of simple marriages and high thinking. I wish that you continue to spread the useful messages through “Al-Ameen”. I am forwarding your newsletter as far as I can.
Regards,
NAGAL IMTIAZ AHMED, CHENNAI
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Dear Khaleelur Rahman,
Assalamu Alaikum
I thank you for your e-mailed “Al-Ameen” newsletter. Please keep posting it to me.
DR. AHMED ALI, CHENNAI
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GOVERNMENT SHOULD FORMULATE A POLICY FOR MUSLIMS
The only protection for the poor among Muslims is a national guarantee in the form of reservation. The misfortune of Muslims is they do not get the right support at the right time from the right people. There is no leader to guide or help them to get better education and improve their literacy rate. Even today, the only reformer who comes to our mind is Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, founder of the Aligarh Muslim University. There is an urgent need for the government to formulate a policy that provides equal opportunity to Muslims in every field of activity.
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN in The Hindu dated November 9, 2006.
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AL-AMEEN : A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 2006
A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR PRIVATE
CIRCULATION
DECEMBER 2006 E-MAIL : vmk_2007@sify.com
EDITOR : V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
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IN THIS ISSUE :
1) A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF IQBAL AND HIS POETRY
2) IFT DISTRIBUTES 100 HOMES TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS
3) KUDOS TO SADIA FOR HER EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE IN B. SC. PHYSICS
4) THE COMMUNITY MUST LEARN …..BY MAULANA KALBE SADIQ, VICE
PRESIDENT, ALL INDIA MUSLIM PERSONAL LAW BOARD
5) ZACKERIA HAZRATH – A TEACHER WITH A DIFFERENCE
6) READERS COMMENT
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A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF IQBAL AND HIS POETRY
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
Dr. Allama Mohammed Iqbal was a famous Urdu and Persian poet and philosopher, yes the same poet who wrote the famous national song “Saray jahan say achcha Hindustan hamaara, Ham bubulayn hain uski yah gulsitan hamaara” ( Our India is the best country in the world. We are its nightingales and it is our orchard) He was born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877. He was the most intellectual thinker and poet the Muslim world has produced in India. His poems like “Shikwa” (Conplaint) and “Jawab-e-shikwa” (Reply to the complaint) continue to inspire not only Urdu speaking people but intellectuals belonging to all communities and nations. His poems have been translated into most of the world languages.
He was younger of the two sons of his father Shaikh Nur Mohammed and mother Iman Bibi. They were very pious, God-fearing and honest couple.
Iqbal had his primary education in the madrasa of Maulvi Syed Mir Hasan. After sometime on the advice of the Maulvi sahib he was admitted to Scottish Mission School at Sialkot. Even before he passed his final examination, he was married to Karim Bibi, daughter of a physician, Khan Bahadur Dr. Ata Mohammed Khan.They had two daughters and a son. One of the girls passed away soon after birth and the other at the age of nineteen after prolonged illness. The son was Aftab Iqbal who became a corporate lawyer later. He started writing poetry in his Intermediate days in the upgraded Scottish Mission College.
At the age of 19 years Iqbal joined Government College, Lahore in 1895 and studied Arabic, English literature and philosophy under the guidance of Sir Thomas Arnold who had shifted there from M.A.O. College, Aligarh after completing his book “The preaching of Islam” in which he has discussed in detail about Islam’s peaceful spread. Iqbal was very much impressed by his warmth and understanding of Islamic culture and civilization. He passed B.A. with distinction and got scholarship and gold medals for his excellent performance and getting highest marks in Arabic and English.
Iqbal, according to many writers, was a simple and happy person with an alert mind. It is said that during his school days once he came late to his class. Asked by the teacher he replied simply “Sir, Iqbal (meaning glory) comes late.”
Iqbal started his poetry in the tradition of Dagh Dehlvi, the language purist. Then he was attracted to the social perspective of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Hali. Actually he wanted to reform the society through his poetry. He was also a patriotic poet. He was a great exponent of modernism and social revolution in the Islamic world. His passion for modernisation and development was very strong. He was also a humanist. He moved his audience to tears while reciting his poems in the big gatherings of Anjuman-e-Himayat-e- Islam. He had a soft corner for the suffering lot.
Iqbal had married Mukhtar Begum and Sardar begum also who had given him a son (Javid) and a daughter (Munira).
In 1927 Iqbal delivered six lectures on “The Reconstruction of Islamic thought” in Madras, Hyderabad and Aligarh which are thought provoking even today. He was a genius in every sense of the word.
Iqbal was exceptionally a natural and rational Islamic poet the like of whom is yet to be seen. He started writing Urdu poetry during his college days in Lahore as said earlier. He attended a “Mushaira” (poetical symposium) in Lahore’s Hakiman Bazar for the first time at the age of 22 years and recited his poetry. When he recited the couplet
Moti samajh kay shaanay kareemi nay chun liyay
Qathray jo thay meray arq-e- infiaal kay
Divine forgiveness gathered them as pearls,
The drops of my repentance and remorse,
he was very much appreciated and a noted poet Mirza Arshad Gorgani who was present there applauded him whole-heartedly and wished him all the best.
He was also an excellent philosopher and profound thinker. The community was dearer to him. He gave equal importance to the Islamic concepts of both “Huqooqullah” and “Huqooqul Ibad”The following poem is a shining example.
Qaum goya jism hai afraad hain aezayay qaum,
Manzil-e sunath kay rah pa hain thasto payay qaum
Mahfil nazm-e hukoomath chahra zaybayay qaum
Shair rangeen nawa hai theetha-e beena-e qaum
Mubtala-e-dard koi azu ho rothi hai aankh
Kis qadar hamdard saaray jism ki hothi hai ankh
Community is an organism and individuals are parts of its body
Those engaged in industry are its hands and legs
Those engaged in administration are it s face
Poet of myriad sweet melodies is the eye of the nation
The eye weeps for the suffering of any and every part of the body,
How sympathetic it is to the entire organism
The community should act as the eye and consider the suffering of any section of the people as its own and find remedies for it is the message Iqbal wants to stress to the people. It reflects the divine ordain that the humanity should be valued, respected and helped in the best possible manner and one should not be self-centred.
It is very unfortunate that in the present highly materialistic world there is very little room for camaraderie and nobody seems to care for anybody. There is an urgent need for us to grasp the Islamic lesson Iqbal expresses in his poetry. We have seen Ulema (religious scholars) quoting him extensively. His poems are power packed and full of meanings.
Somebody has rightly said that a unique contribution of Iqbal to the contemporary Islamic thought is his bracketing modern science with 'God-consciousness' which he considers more precious than mere belief in God. He equates the scientist's observation of nature with seeking a kind of intimacy with God.
Rajmohan Gandhi says that Iqbal had started becoming popular by 1905 when he left for Europe because of his poems like “Nala-e-Yatim” (The orphan’s cry), Abr-e-Gauhar Bar (Blessed Showers) dedicated to Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am), Parinde ki fariyad (The bird’s lament) in which he has portrayed a caged bird’s longing for freedom –about India’s survitude. He strengthened the Hindu-Muslim unity by his Tarana and other poems.
Iqbal studied philosophy at Cambridge and law at London’s Lincoln Inn. He also received a doctorate for his research thesis on Persian metaphysics from Munich University. It reveals that sufism was an alien and unhealthy growth and it had no place in original Islam. He loved Persian language and wrote poetry in it with preference but disliked Persians like Sufi poet Hafiz of Iran. He adopted rationalism to reform the humanity in general and Muslim in particular) which was engrossed in many superstitious beliefs.
Authors like Rajmohan Gandhi and Mujeeb have said that the West’s strength was admirable to Iqbal but not its merciless competition between man and man and nation and nation as is the case even now. He wanted a solution for all ills of the society and finally found Islam as the best remedy for all our problems.
Dr. Mohammed Hasan says that “Iqbal’s poetry has a world perspective. He was primarily concerned with nothing less than human predicament. Searching for the hidden laws of human development, Iqbal propounded his philosophy of Ego ( Khudi ) with certain social checks and balances ( Bekhudi ). It is in this context that his contribution to world poetic thought remains invaluable.” He was a poet of the East and a manifestation of self-reconstruction and reformation and a poet of the East
As a philosopher Iqbal reveals the mystery of life as follows:
Gul is shakh say toot-thay bhi rehay, isi shakh say phoot-thay bhi rehay,
Samajthay hain naadaan isay baysibath, ubharta hai mit mit kay naqshay hayaat
Flowers fall off from this very branch
and yet from the same they sprout again,
Unwise take it as transient
But the image of life emerges again after falling off
Iqbal was proud that he was an Indian and rightly considered that it was a torch-bearer to world civilisation. He believed in the uniting force of Islam. Actually he wanted everyone particularly Muslims to understand the Indian plural society through his many poems. He did not participate in the Khilafat Movement.
He passed away at Lahore on 21 April 1938 and buried adjacent to the “Badshahi Masjid” built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
ISLAMIC FOUNDATION TRUST DISTRIBUTES 100 HOMES TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS
T. AZEEZ LUTHFULLAH,
ISLAMIC FOUNDATION TRUST
The dawn of a new colony in the shores of Bay of BengalLet us make Samarasam Nagar a model village!Nagore : 09 November 2006.
It is celebration time for the hapless tsunami victims of the chilladi village near Nagore. For those who lost everything when Killer Tsunami struck them two years back, it is dream come true. Yes. Today they have become happy owners of brand new homes.By the grace of God and with the active co-operation of the Tamil Nadu Government and its agencies along with the help of Muslim Aid a UK based charity organization Islamic Foundation Trust (IFT), Chennai has achieved the gigantic feat of conceiving, constructing and distributing 100 homes to the tsunami victims.
The Event :
The keys of the newly constructed houses were distributed to the victims in a simple function arranged here at the auditorium of the G.S. Pillay college of Engineering at Thethi village. Mr. Ebrahimsa Muhammad, Advisor to Muslim Aid gave away the keys to the beneficiaries. First came Akber Ali and then Tajuddin followed by Kaliappan and others.The Chief Guest : Dr. Abdul Huq Ansari, President of the Human Welfare Trust, New Delhi inaugurated the function organized to commemorate the distribution of 100 homes to the tsunami victims. In his inaugural address he highlighted the stress and importance given to the social service in Islamic teachings. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) has clearly stated the "the best among you is the one who is kind to every human being". We should strive to serve the entire humanity, he opined.Dr. Abdul Huq Ansari represents several organizations of India. He is an erudite scholar and professor from Rabindranath Tagore's Vishwa Bharathi University. He has done his Masters from Havard University of USA.
Guest of honour :
Mr Ibrahimsa Muhammad Advisor Muslim Aid was the guest of honour at the function arranged to commemorate the distribution of houses to the tsunami victims. He handed over the keys of the houses to Mr Gopal DRO and representative of the district collector and a high ranking official as a symbolic gesture. In his address Mr Ibrahimsa Muhammad appreciated the work done by IFT and expressed hope that IFT would continue building homes and hopes to the destitutes and neglected segments of the society. Mr Ibrahimsa introduced the mission and activities of Muslim Aid briefly.
The Houses :
Mr. H. Abdur Raqeeb Chairman, Islamic Foundation Trust in his presidential address appealed to the people to make the new colony a model village. He also highlighted
the significant features of the houses. The cluster of 100 houses spread over six acres of land has been constructed at the cost of Rs. Two and half crores. The land has been provided by the Government of Tamil Nadu and major chunk of funding has been done by Muslim Aid, UK., Mr. Abdur Raqeeb said.Each and every house has been constructed in 400 sq. feet area in a 1300 sq. feet plot. It comprises of a drawing room, a hall, a bed room, kitchen and bathroom with stair case to the terrace. A spacious veranda and sit out is an added attraction, elaborated, Mr. Abdur Raqeeb.The cluster of houses presents a glorious spectacle with the line up of similar looking, beautifully crafted and neatly painted glittering houses dotting the lines. The newly formed colony has been named aptly Samarasam Nagar. Samarasam means peace and harmony, he said.The message :
We could easily build houses with bricks, sand and stone. But homes could be built only through love alone. So I appeal the people to make the new colony a model village in which there will be harmony, peace, love and brotherhood to the core. We dream and aspire that the inhabitants of this new colony would give paramount importance to education and attain and maintain 100% literacy. We dream and aspire that the inhabitants of this new colony in the shores of Bay of Bengal would observe and practice all the good things, noble virtues and gentle qualities. We dream and aspire that the inhabitants of this new colony would abhor and detest all the evil things like drinking alcohol and drugs etc. We pray Almighty that they become self-sufficient and lead a noble life, Mr. Abdur Raqeeb stressed.The role models The highlight of the presidential speech is the passionate introduction ot two selfless souls as true role models to those in the field of social service to the august gathering. They were Mr Ibrahimsa Muhammad of Muslim Aid and Mr Younus Bhai of Parangipettai. Both were present at the dais. Mr Raqeeb extolled the virtues of Ibrahimsa and Younus Bhai. Mr Ibrahimsa symbolises simplicity and social service, he said.The other guests :
Mr. Gopal RDO who participated in the function as a representative of Mr. Tenkasi S. Jawahar, the district Collector, felicitated the beneficiaries and assured the inhabitants of the new colony that the road-laying work would be carried in war footing. Mr. V. Marimuthu. M.L.A graced the occasion with his flowery speech. Mr. Muhammad Younus, Chairman, Parangipettai Panchayat, Mr. Karunanidhi, Principal, G.S. Pillay Engineering College, Mr. M. Muhammad Khalifa Sahib Kadiri, Managing Trustee, Nagore Dargah, Mr. M.G.K. Nizamudeen , President, Nagore Muslim Jamaat, Ms. Annie George, CEO NCRC, Mr. Sundramurthy, Panchayat President, Thethi village, Mr. Amjad Saleem, Director, Muslim Aid, Sri Lanka and Dr K.V.S. Habeeb Muhammad, vice chairman spoke at the occasion. Mr. Shabbeer Ahmed, General Secretary, Islamic Foundation Trust proposed a vote of thanks.
The Organisations :
Muslim Aid a UK based charity organization has been rendering social service in more than 60 countries spread over the four continents. Muslim Aid has been recognized as an exemplary service organization and has been assigned a mamoothe world Bank project of constructing hundreds and hundreds of home to the victims of tsunami in Indonesia.ISLAMIC FOUNDATION TRUST (IFT),Chennai swung into action on that fateful day of Dec 26th 2004 when Tsunami struck the coastal line of Tamilnadu and immediately started its Relief activities forming four hubs at Chennai, Cuddalore, Nagore and Kanyakumari.. IFT's volunteers spread out to different places and worked day and night to provide immediate relief to the affected. They distributed Relief Kits containing essential items including stoves, tarpaulins, bedsheets, provision items etc. The women volunteers joined their male colleagues in counselling the affected at the relief camps.ISLAMIC FOUNDATION TRUST (IFT) also constructed One Hundred (100) Temporary Shelters with necessary facilities for the victims at a land offered by the government near the collectorate in Nagore besides providing books, school bags etc to the affected students.It also provided 16 boats to the people affected at Jameelabad in Pazhaverkadu near Ponneri, a place nearly 30 kms away from Chennai.
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MAKING HISTORY
KUDOS TO H. SADIYA KAUSER FOR HER EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE IN B.SC. PHYSICS
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN, AMBUR
We are extremely happy that H. Sadiya Kauser, daughter of Mr. H. Abdul Rasheed, Noorullahpet, Ambur has passed her B.Sc. (Physics) examination of the University of Madras held in April 2006 by obtaining FIRST RANK and securing FIRST CLASS WITH DISTINCTION.
In the 149th Annual Convocation 2006 held at the University Centenary Auditorium on 14th November 2006, presided over by His Excellency the Governor of Tamil Nadu Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala, Chancellor, University of Madras and Convocation Address delivered by Mr. P. Chidambaram, the Honourable Minister for Finance, Government of India, New Delhi, H. SADIYA KAUSER has been awarded 3 (three) Gold Medals in recognition of her extra-ordinarily excellent performance in the B. Sc. degree examination held by the Madras University in the Faculty of Science during April 2006 as a candidate from Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed Women’s College, Chennai – 600 018.
It is reliably learnt that during the past 150 years of the University of Madras she is the first Muslim girl to receive FIRST RANK and 3 GOLD MEDALS with distinction in the state of Tamil Nadu in B.Sc. Physics.
We take this opportunity to congratulate SADIA KAUSER for her record-breaking performance in the B.Sc. Physics examination and wish her all the best in life. She has brought laurels not only to herself but to her parents, community and the school and college where she studied. She is now doing her postgraduate M. Sc. Physics degree course in Women’s Christian College, Chennai. We are proud of her and her parents who are educating her well.
We also congratulate her parents for giving a right guidance to her, T. Abdul Wahid Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ambur (where she studied and passed her Plus Two examination with flying colours) for providing good education and learning atmosphere and Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed Women’s College, Chennai (where she did her B.Sc. Physics degree course and brought name and fame) for its excellent coaching and encouragement.
The services rendered by Mr. T. Abdul Wahid sahib, founder of T. Abdul Wahid Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ambur and Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed sahib, founder of the SIET Women’s College (now called Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College) are immortal and ever green. The community must be thankful to them.
The people of Ambur know that another brilliant girl student of TAW Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ambur P. FAYIZA TASKEEN, daughter of Mr. P. Oosman Basha got GOLD MEDAL from Raja Rajeswari College of Engineering, Chennai for securing FIRST RANK in her B.E. examination in 2005. She was honoured in a function in the TAW school. The Ambur Muslim Educational Society also honoured her for her meritorious performance during its historic Centenary Celebrations in September 2006 which was inaugurated by His Excellency The President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
The undeniable fact is that within a short span of 21 years T. Abdul Wahid Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ambur studied boys and girls have done well in medical, engineering, science and other degree courses. It is a big achievement for it. We are thankful to its Management, Principals and teaching staff for their educational service. We are sure that it will go on expanding its educational activity and serve the community in its educational and economical advancement.
THE COMMUNITY MUST LEARN TO TAKE CARE OF ITS PROBLEMS
Maulana Kalbe Sadiq , a well-known Shia scholar, has never shied away from courting controversy. His open advocacy of gender equality, literacy/property rights and family planning have won him much admiration among Muslim masses, especially the youth. The Maulana, who is also vice-president of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), spoke to Manjari Mishra
Your approach to Eid led to much confusion this year. Let me make it very clear, the Qur'an nowhere makes moon-sighting mandatory for fixing the Eid day. Deciding the issue by spotting the moon in the sky is a man-made tradition based on total misconception of the maulvis. I speak this with full responsibility. Muslims, as a community, lag behind others in human development indices. What do you think are the reasons? The failure to develop an academic culture and scientific temperament, I think, has been the bane of the Muslim community. Somehow these two issues have been consistently overlooked. We will remain where we are till the time people learn to give importance to these two issues. Who do you blame for the Muslims' socio-economic backwardness? I totally blame the community and its leaders. It is neither rational nor just to point an accusing finger at the government every time. The government is not expected to do everything. The community must learn to take care of its problems. Unfortunately there is a paucity of true leaders among Muslims. What are your views on dowry and the practice of triple talaq? Do you know that banks in Iran don't give loans to the bride's family? Only the groom's father or the groom himself can apply for a marriage loan. Islam has no place for dowry as the groom is expected to bear all marriage expenses from meher to maintenance. However, the real changes in marriage laws or celebrations will become effective the day the ulema set an example by following right traditions during family weddings. Fortunately, Shia community does not recognise triple talaq. It needs to be discouraged. Women have always been denied their rightful place in the name of Islam by orthodox maulvis. Is there a way out? No other religion is as gender friendly as Islam. It is the first religion that accorded equal pro-perty rights to women. According to Qur'an, if you offer namaz in a house where a female claimant has been denied her share, your prayers will not be answered. Similarly, Qur'an nowhere asks women to wear a veil. The stress is on modesty, not form. The law banning domestic violence, I would say, could bring about a major change to the plight of women. Though personally I think the punishment should have been more stringent. I have repeatedly maintained that until a woman gets due respect, a society can't improve or prosper.
(The Times of India, 7th November 2006)
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ZACKERIA HAZRATH : A TEACHER WITH A DIFFERENCE
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
We were fortunate to have many good and dedicated teachers in the Mazharul Uloom High School, Ambur where we studied more than four decades ago. That period is still green in our memory. We cannot forget our teachers who taught us with all care and attention. Every teacher had his own special characteristics, which impressed and inspired us and even now we cannot but remember and respect them very much.
Prophet Mohammed (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) gave importance to education and teachers. Once he came across two circles of people. The first circle was supplicating to Allah and the other was listening to a discourse by a teacher. The Prophet said “ The first circle is begging God who may or may not give them what they want but the second circle is getting education from a teacher. I have been sent as teacher.” He joined the second circle. This shows that the Prophet gave preference to teachers and education. There are many examples of him giving priority to teachers.
In this write-up I would like to share my impressions about the late Janab V. Mohammed Zackeria sahib, a dedicated and well-known teacher who served in the Mazharul Uloom High School for more than 40 years and left his indelible shining marks. He was affectionately called “Zackeria Hazrath”. He was actually a teacher with a difference. To him teaching was a mission. He taught his pupils with all seriousness, care and attention. He was very scientific in his words and deeds. He endeavoured his best to make every boy a “gem” in discipline and education. He never tolerated laziness and wanted his pupils to be alert and hard working.
Zackeria Hazrath was not only a teacher, but also a reformer par excellence. He was well versed in Urdu, English, Tamil and Hindi languages. He was good in Arabic and Persian also. Interest of the community was dearer to him. He was a serious person, an authoritative one. He “ruled” us and wanted every one of us to study well and benefit from the school without wasting any time.
He had modern thinking and always opposed superstitious beliefs and revealed in his own inimitable Urdu language how soothsayers, sorcerers, astrologers etc. hoodwinked innocent people for the sake of money. He advised us not to believe them and understand things properly using our intellect and wisdom. He was dead opposed to blind following in any matter.
Zackeria Hazrath’s literary taste was immense. He never failed to correct even the spoken language of his pupils whether it was Urdu, English or Tamil. His pupils as well as their parents were careful while talking to him. He disliked the colloquial and wanted everyone to speak chaste Urdu in its sweet and beautiful form. He used to say “Urdu ka khoon mat karo.Miyan” ( Don’t kill the Urdu language.)
The following “rubayee” penned by him shows his noble thoughts. We have to understand it in the proper perspective and respect the plural society in which we live.
“Ya rub hai teri her jagah hasthi,
Paatha hai thujko daaraa-e-beenaayi,
Masjid mayn Muslim Mandir mayn Hindu,
Karthay kalesa mayn wird hain Easaayee”
O God, your existence is everywhere,
Knowledgeable persons are able to find you,
Muslims in the mosque, Hindus in the temple
And Christians in the church pray to you.
One day Hazrath wrote this “rubayee” on the Black Board in the class room and said that “after all everyone is worshipping the same God”. People like me still remember it because of the beautiful thought expressed therein. It is a powerful thought and this thought is necessary for all Indians where different religious people live happily. We cannot forget this great teacher under any situation. He is no more now. But everything he taught us so happily and so seriously, sometimes even with anger, is in our memory in tact. It is impossible for us to forget him and his wonderful and revolutionary teachings. May Allah rest his soul in peace.
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READERS COMMENT
Dear VMK,
Jazakallahu khairan for the mail.
I read the article “Why are the Jews so powerful and Muslims so powerless?” It contains some good points and also motivates towards educational uplift. However, the conclusion is over-simplistic. Education certainly helps to attain power but is not the only or even the major component for power. The example of Zionist Jews is also misleading.
They are powerful not because they are most educated but because 'means' doesn't matter for them for gaining power. They have attained power and influence in the US and other western countries not because of education but using their cunning mind and every unfair means as has been amply demonstrated by the Harvard-Chicago study.
George Bush is the most powerful man of the world today. Is he the most educated of all world leaders? Few will agree as most know how he gained this power. Muslim's decline today is not simply because of their poor education but because of the loss of their identifying values.
H. ABDUR RAQEEB, CHENNAI
Dear Khaleel bhai, I have received 'Al - Ameen' - regular issue and Special Issues relating to November 2006. Kudos for the excellent articles allowing the luxury of interesting reading and honing our knowledge. Your editorial on the importance of education especially for the Muslim community is simply superb and inimitable.
The article on the Jewish supremacy all over the world is an eye opener. Indeed it has cleared all the grudges we have been harbouring against the Jewish community. In the holy Quran, Almighty Allah avers that the community which does not raise itself shall not be bolstered by Him.
It is ignorance and perversion that the Muslim community simply expects some miracle to happen without actually putting forth any efforts to ameliorate its own position through education, knowledge building and technological advancements.
I sincerely pray to Allah to bestow on you courage, conviction and determination to continue your noble mission of waking up our community from its deep slumber and in different complacency. Aameen....
Regards, FAROOQ AHMED H.E, AMBUR
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Dear Khaleelur Rahman Bhai.
Please find forwarding few detail about Islam which I hope will be useful to you.
Islam is the fastest growing religion and the second largest religion in the world
Muslims in Asia (1996)
1,022,692,000 (30%)
Muslims in Africa (1996)
426,282,000 (59%)
Total Number of Muslims on the Earth (1996)
1,482,596,925
Total Number of People on the Earth (1996)
5,771,939,007
Percentage of Muslims (1996)
26%
Islam annual growth rate (1994-1995) from U.N.
6.40%
Christianity growth rate (1994-1995) from U.N.
1.46%
Total Number of Muslims on the Earth (1998)
1,678,442,000
Expected Number of Muslims on the Earth (2000)
1,902,095,000
This table below shows the growth of Islam:
North America (1989-1998)
25%
Africa
2.15%
Asia
12.57%
Europe
142.35%
Latin America
-4.73%
Australia
257.01%
Among every four humans in the world, one of them is Muslim. Muslims have increased by over 235 percent in the last fifty years up to nearly 1.6 billion. By comparison, Christians have increased by only 47 percent, Hinduism, 117 percent, and Buddhism by 63 percent. Islam is the second largest religious group in France, Great Britain and USA (Muslims in USA are 10 millions and Jews are 6 millions).
The number of the total population has been taken from The CIA World's Facts Book.
K. MOHAMED NASARULLAH, CHENNAI
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Janab V.M.K - Assalamu Alaikum.
I read the newsletter “Al-Ameen” . It is very thought-provoking. I wish that every Muslim should read it. I agree with your editorial on the importance of simple marriages and high thinking. I wish that you continue to spread the useful messages through “Al-Ameen”. I am forwarding your newsletter as far as I can.
Regards,
NAGAL IMTIAZ AHMED, CHENNAI
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Dear Khaleelur Rahman,
Assalamu Alaikum
I thank you for your e-mailed “Al-Ameen” newsletter. Please keep posting it to me.
DR. AHMED ALI, CHENNAI
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GOVERNMENT SHOULD FORMULATE A POLICY FOR MUSLIMS
The only protection for the poor among Muslims is a national guarantee in the form of reservation. The misfortune of Muslims is they do not get the right support at the right time from the right people. There is no leader to guide or help them to get better education and improve their literacy rate. Even today, the only reformer who comes to our mind is Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, founder of the Aligarh Muslim University. There is an urgent need for the government to formulate a policy that provides equal opportunity to Muslims in every field of activity.
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN in The Hindu dated November 9, 2006.
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IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE BENEFICENT, THE MERCIFUL
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AL-AMEEN : A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 2006 E-MAIL: vmk1234@yahoo.com
EDITOR : V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
IN THIS ISSUE :
1) A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF IQBAL AND HIS POETRY
2) IFT DISTRIBUTES 100 HOMES TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS
3) KUDOS TO SADIA FOR HER EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE IN B. SC. PHYSICS
4) THE COMMUNITY MUST LEARN …..BY MAULANA KALBE SADIQ, VICE
PRESIDENT, ALL INDIA MUSLIM PERSONAL LAW BOARD
5) ZACKERIA HAZRATH – A TEACHER WITH A DIFFERENCE
6) READERS COMMENT
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A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF IQBAL AND HIS POETRY
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
Dr. Allama Mohammed Iqbal was a famous Urdu and Persian poet and philosopher, yes the same poet who wrote the famous national song “Saray jahan say achcha Hindustan hamaara, Ham bubulayn hain uski yah gulsitan hamaara” ( Our India is the best country in the world. We are its nightingales and it is our orchard) He was born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877. He was the most intellectual thinker and poet the Muslim world has produced in India. His poems like “Shikwa” (Conplaint) and “Jawab-e-shikwa” (Reply to the complaint) continue to inspire not only Urdu speaking people but intellectuals belonging to all communities and nations. His poems have been translated into most of the world languages.
He was younger of the two sons of his father Shaikh Nur Mohammed and mother Iman Bibi. They were very pious, God-fearing and honest couple.
Iqbal had his primary education in the madrasa of Maulvi Syed Mir Hasan. After sometime on the advice of the Maulvi sahib he was admitted to Scottish Mission School at Sialkot. Even before he passed his final examination, he was married to Karim Bibi, daughter of a physician, Khan Bahadur Dr. Ata Mohammed Khan.They had two daughters and a son. One of the girls passed away soon after birth and the other at the age of nineteen after prolonged illness. The son was Aftab Iqbal who became a corporate lawyer later. He started writing poetry in his Intermediate days in the upgraded Scottish Mission College.
At the age of 19 years Iqbal joined Government College, Lahore in 1895 and studied Arabic, English literature and philosophy under the guidance of Sir Thomas Arnold who had shifted there from M.A.O. College, Aligarh after completing his book “The preaching of Islam” in which he has discussed in detail about Islam’s peaceful spread. Iqbal was very much impressed by his warmth and understanding of Islamic culture and civilization. He passed B.A. with distinction and got scholarship and gold medals for his excellent performance and getting highest marks in Arabic and English.
Iqbal, according to many writers, was a simple and happy person with an alert mind. It is said that during his school days once he came late to his class. Asked by the teacher he replied simply “Sir, Iqbal (meaning glory) comes late.”
Iqbal started his poetry in the tradition of Dagh Dehlvi, the language purist. Then he was attracted to the social perspective of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Hali. Actually he wanted to reform the society through his poetry. He was also a patriotic poet. He was a great exponent of modernism and social revolution in the Islamic world. His passion for modernisation and development was very strong. He was also a humanist. He moved his audience to tears while reciting his poems in the big gatherings of Anjuman-e-Himayat-e- Islam. He had a soft corner for the suffering lot.
Iqbal had married Mukhtar Begum and Sardar begum also who had given him a son (Javid) and a daughter (Munira).
In 1927 Iqbal delivered six lectures on “The Reconstruction of Islamic thought” in Madras, Hyderabad and Aligarh which are thought provoking even today. He was a genius in every sense of the word.
Iqbal was exceptionally a natural and rational Islamic poet the like of whom is yet to be seen. He started writing Urdu poetry during his college days in Lahore as said earlier. He attended a “Mushaira” (poetical symposium) in Lahore’s Hakiman Bazar for the first time at the age of 22 years and recited his poetry. When he recited the couplet
Moti samajh kay shaanay kareemi nay chun liyay
Qathray jo thay meray arq-e- infiaal kay
Divine forgiveness gathered them as pearls,
The drops of my repentance and remorse,
he was very much appreciated and a noted poet Mirza Arshad Gorgani who was present there applauded him whole-heartedly and wished him all the best.
He was also an excellent philosopher and profound thinker. The community was dearer to him. He gave equal importance to the Islamic concepts of both “Huqooqullah” and “Huqooqul Ibad”The following poem is a shining example.
Qaum goya jism hai afraad hain aezayay qaum,
Manzil-e sunath kay rah pa hain thasto payay qaum
Mahfil nazm-e hukoomath chahra zaybayay qaum
Shair rangeen nawa hai theetha-e beena-e qaum
Mubtala-e-dard koi azu ho rothi hai aankh
Kis qadar hamdard saaray jism ki hothi hai ankh
Community is an organism and individuals are parts of its body
Those engaged in industry are its hands and legs
Those engaged in administration are it s face
Poet of myriad sweet melodies is the eye of the nation
The eye weeps for the suffering of any and every part of the body,
How sympathetic it is to the entire organism
The community should act as the eye and consider the suffering of any section of the people as its own and find remedies for it is the message Iqbal wants to stress to the people. It reflects the divine ordain that the humanity should be valued, respected and helped in the best possible manner and one should not be self-centred.
It is very unfortunate that in the present highly materialistic world there is very little room for camaraderie and nobody seems to care for anybody. There is an urgent need for us to grasp the Islamic lesson Iqbal expresses in his poetry. We have seen Ulema (religious scholars) quoting him extensively. His poems are power packed and full of meanings.
Somebody has rightly said that a unique contribution of Iqbal to the contemporary Islamic thought is his bracketing modern science with 'God-consciousness' which he considers more precious than mere belief in God. He equates the scientist's observation of nature with seeking a kind of intimacy with God.
Rajmohan Gandhi says that Iqbal had started becoming popular by 1905 when he left for Europe because of his poems like “Nala-e-Yatim” (The orphan’s cry), Abr-e-Gauhar Bar (Blessed Showers) dedicated to Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am), Parinde ki fariyad (The bird’s lament) in which he has portrayed a caged bird’s longing for freedom –about India’s survitude. He strengthened the Hindu-Muslim unity by his Tarana and other poems.
Iqbal studied philosophy at Cambridge and law at London’s Lincoln Inn. He also received a doctorate for his research thesis on Persian metaphysics from Munich University. It reveals that sufism was an alien and unhealthy growth and it had no place in original Islam. He loved Persian language and wrote poetry in it with preference but disliked Persians like Sufi poet Hafiz of Iran. He adopted rationalism to reform the humanity in general and Muslim in particular) which was engrossed in many superstitious beliefs.
Authors like Rajmohan Gandhi and Mujeeb have said that the West’s strength was admirable to Iqbal but not its merciless competition between man and man and nation and nation as is the case even now. He wanted a solution for all ills of the society and finally found Islam as the best remedy for all our problems.
Dr. Mohammed Hasan says that “Iqbal’s poetry has a world perspective. He was primarily concerned with nothing less than human predicament. Searching for the hidden laws of human development, Iqbal propounded his philosophy of Ego ( Khudi ) with certain social checks and balances ( Bekhudi ). It is in this context that his contribution to world poetic thought remains invaluable.” He was a poet of the East and a manifestation of self-reconstruction and reformation and a poet of the East
As a philosopher Iqbal reveals the mystery of life as follows:
Gul is shakh say toot-thay bhi rehay, isi shakh say phoot-thay bhi rehay,
Samajthay hain naadaan isay baysibath, ubharta hai mit mit kay naqshay hayaat
Flowers fall off from this very branch
and yet from the same they sprout again,
Unwise take it as transient
But the image of life emerges again after falling off
Iqbal was proud that he was an Indian and rightly considered that it was a torch-bearer to world civilisation. He believed in the uniting force of Islam. Actually he wanted everyone particularly Muslims to understand the Indian plural society through his many poems. He did not participate in the Khilafat Movement.
He passed away at Lahore on 21 April 1938 and buried adjacent to the “Badshahi Masjid” built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
ISLAMIC FOUNDATION TRUST DISTRIBUTES 100 HOMES TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS
T. AZEEZ LUTHFULLAH,
ISLAMIC FOUNDATION TRUST
The dawn of a new colony in the shores of Bay of BengalLet us make Samarasam Nagar a model village!Nagore : 09 November 2006.
It is celebration time for the hapless tsunami victims of the chilladi village near Nagore. For those who lost everything when Killer Tsunami struck them two years back, it is dream come true. Yes. Today they have become happy owners of brand new homes.By the grace of God and with the active co-operation of the Tamil Nadu Government and its agencies along with the help of Muslim Aid a UK based charity organization Islamic Foundation Trust (IFT), Chennai has achieved the gigantic feat of conceiving, constructing and distributing 100 homes to the tsunami victims.
The Event :
The keys of the newly constructed houses were distributed to the victims in a simple function arranged here at the auditorium of the G.S. Pillay college of Engineering at Thethi village. Mr. Ebrahimsa Muhammad, Advisor to Muslim Aid gave away the keys to the beneficiaries. First came Akber Ali and then Tajuddin followed by Kaliappan and others.The Chief Guest : Dr. Abdul Huq Ansari, President of the Human Welfare Trust, New Delhi inaugurated the function organized to commemorate the distribution of 100 homes to the tsunami victims. In his inaugural address he highlighted the stress and importance given to the social service in Islamic teachings. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) has clearly stated the "the best among you is the one who is kind to every human being". We should strive to serve the entire humanity, he opined.Dr. Abdul Huq Ansari represents several organizations of India. He is an erudite scholar and professor from Rabindranath Tagore's Vishwa Bharathi University. He has done his Masters from Havard University of USA.
Guest of honour :
Mr Ibrahimsa Muhammad Advisor Muslim Aid was the guest of honour at the function arranged to commemorate the distribution of houses to the tsunami victims. He handed over the keys of the houses to Mr Gopal DRO and representative of the district collector and a high ranking official as a symbolic gesture. In his address Mr Ibrahimsa Muhammad appreciated the work done by IFT and expressed hope that IFT would continue building homes and hopes to the destitutes and neglected segments of the society. Mr Ibrahimsa introduced the mission and activities of Muslim Aid briefly.
The Houses :
Mr. H. Abdur Raqeeb Chairman, Islamic Foundation Trust in his presidential address appealed to the people to make the new colony a model village. He also highlighted
the significant features of the houses. The cluster of 100 houses spread over six acres of land has been constructed at the cost of Rs. Two and half crores. The land has been provided by the Government of Tamil Nadu and major chunk of funding has been done by Muslim Aid, UK., Mr. Abdur Raqeeb said.Each and every house has been constructed in 400 sq. feet area in a 1300 sq. feet plot. It comprises of a drawing room, a hall, a bed room, kitchen and bathroom with stair case to the terrace. A spacious veranda and sit out is an added attraction, elaborated, Mr. Abdur Raqeeb.The cluster of houses presents a glorious spectacle with the line up of similar looking, beautifully crafted and neatly painted glittering houses dotting the lines. The newly formed colony has been named aptly Samarasam Nagar. Samarasam means peace and harmony, he said.The message :
We could easily build houses with bricks, sand and stone. But homes could be built only through love alone. So I appeal the people to make the new colony a model village in which there will be harmony, peace, love and brotherhood to the core. We dream and aspire that the inhabitants of this new colony would give paramount importance to education and attain and maintain 100% literacy. We dream and aspire that the inhabitants of this new colony in the shores of Bay of Bengal would observe and practice all the good things, noble virtues and gentle qualities. We dream and aspire that the inhabitants of this new colony would abhor and detest all the evil things like drinking alcohol and drugs etc. We pray Almighty that they become self-sufficient and lead a noble life, Mr. Abdur Raqeeb stressed.The role models The highlight of the presidential speech is the passionate introduction ot two selfless souls as true role models to those in the field of social service to the august gathering. They were Mr Ibrahimsa Muhammad of Muslim Aid and Mr Younus Bhai of Parangipettai. Both were present at the dais. Mr Raqeeb extolled the virtues of Ibrahimsa and Younus Bhai. Mr Ibrahimsa symbolises simplicity and social service, he said.The other guests :
Mr. Gopal RDO who participated in the function as a representative of Mr. Tenkasi S. Jawahar, the district Collector, felicitated the beneficiaries and assured the inhabitants of the new colony that the road-laying work would be carried in war footing. Mr. V. Marimuthu. M.L.A graced the occasion with his flowery speech. Mr. Muhammad Younus, Chairman, Parangipettai Panchayat, Mr. Karunanidhi, Principal, G.S. Pillay Engineering College, Mr. M. Muhammad Khalifa Sahib Kadiri, Managing Trustee, Nagore Dargah, Mr. M.G.K. Nizamudeen , President, Nagore Muslim Jamaat, Ms. Annie George, CEO NCRC, Mr. Sundramurthy, Panchayat President, Thethi village, Mr. Amjad Saleem, Director, Muslim Aid, Sri Lanka and Dr K.V.S. Habeeb Muhammad, vice chairman spoke at the occasion. Mr. Shabbeer Ahmed, General Secretary, Islamic Foundation Trust proposed a vote of thanks.
The Organisations :
Muslim Aid a UK based charity organization has been rendering social service in more than 60 countries spread over the four continents. Muslim Aid has been recognized as an exemplary service organization and has been assigned a mamoothe world Bank project of constructing hundreds and hundreds of home to the victims of tsunami in Indonesia.ISLAMIC FOUNDATION TRUST (IFT),Chennai swung into action on that fateful day of Dec 26th 2004 when Tsunami struck the coastal line of Tamilnadu and immediately started its Relief activities forming four hubs at Chennai, Cuddalore, Nagore and Kanyakumari.. IFT's volunteers spread out to different places and worked day and night to provide immediate relief to the affected. They distributed Relief Kits containing essential items including stoves, tarpaulins, bedsheets, provision items etc. The women volunteers joined their male colleagues in counselling the affected at the relief camps.ISLAMIC FOUNDATION TRUST (IFT) also constructed One Hundred (100) Temporary Shelters with necessary facilities for the victims at a land offered by the government near the collectorate in Nagore besides providing books, school bags etc to the affected students.It also provided 16 boats to the people affected at Jameelabad in Pazhaverkadu near Ponneri, a place nearly 30 kms away from Chennai.
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MAKING HISTORY
KUDOS TO H. SADIYA KAUSER FOR HER EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE IN B.SC. PHYSICS
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN, AMBUR
We are extremely happy that H. Sadiya Kauser, daughter of Mr. H. Abdul Rasheed, Noorullahpet, Ambur has passed her B.Sc. (Physics) examination of the University of Madras held in April 2006 by obtaining FIRST RANK and securing FIRST CLASS WITH DISTINCTION.
In the 149th Annual Convocation 2006 held at the University Centenary Auditorium on 14th November 2006, presided over by His Excellency the Governor of Tamil Nadu Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala, Chancellor, University of Madras and Convocation Address delivered by Mr. P. Chidambaram, the Honourable Minister for Finance, Government of India, New Delhi, H. SADIYA KAUSER has been awarded 3 (three) Gold Medals in recognition of her extra-ordinarily excellent performance in the B. Sc. degree examination held by the Madras University in the Faculty of Science during April 2006 as a candidate from Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed Women’s College, Chennai – 600 018.
It is reliably learnt that during the past 150 years of the University of Madras she is the first Muslim girl to receive FIRST RANK and 3 GOLD MEDALS with distinction in the state of Tamil Nadu in B.Sc. Physics.
We take this opportunity to congratulate SADIA KAUSER for her record-breaking performance in the B.Sc. Physics examination and wish her all the best in life. She has brought laurels not only to herself but to her parents, community and the school and college where she studied. She is now doing her postgraduate M. Sc. Physics degree course in Women’s Christian College, Chennai. We are proud of her and her parents who are educating her well.
We also congratulate her parents for giving a right guidance to her, T. Abdul Wahid Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ambur (where she studied and passed her Plus Two examination with flying colours) for providing good education and learning atmosphere and Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed Women’s College, Chennai (where she did her B.Sc. Physics degree course and brought name and fame) for its excellent coaching and encouragement.
The services rendered by Mr. T. Abdul Wahid sahib, founder of T. Abdul Wahid Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ambur and Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed sahib, founder of the SIET Women’s College (now called Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College) are immortal and ever green. The community must be thankful to them.
The people of Ambur know that another brilliant girl student of TAW Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ambur P. FAYIZA TASKEEN, daughter of Mr. P. Oosman Basha got GOLD MEDAL from Raja Rajeswari College of Engineering, Chennai for securing FIRST RANK in her B.E. examination in 2005. She was honoured in a function in the TAW school. The Ambur Muslim Educational Society also honoured her for her meritorious performance during its historic Centenary Celebrations in September 2006 which was inaugurated by His Excellency The President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
The undeniable fact is that within a short span of 21 years T. Abdul Wahid Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ambur studied boys and girls have done well in medical, engineering, science and other degree courses. It is a big achievement for it. We are thankful to its Management, Principals and teaching staff for their educational service. We are sure that it will go on expanding its educational activity and serve the community in its educational and economical advancement.
THE COMMUNITY MUST LEARN TO TAKE CARE OF ITS PROBLEMS
Maulana Kalbe Sadiq , a well-known Shia scholar, has never shied away from courting controversy. His open advocacy of gender equality, literacy/property rights and family planning have won him much admiration among Muslim masses, especially the youth. The Maulana, who is also vice-president of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), spoke to Manjari Mishra
Your approach to Eid led to much confusion this year. Let me make it very clear, the Qur'an nowhere makes moon-sighting mandatory for fixing the Eid day. Deciding the issue by spotting the moon in the sky is a man-made tradition based on total misconception of the maulvis. I speak this with full responsibility. Muslims, as a community, lag behind others in human development indices. What do you think are the reasons? The failure to develop an academic culture and scientific temperament, I think, has been the bane of the Muslim community. Somehow these two issues have been consistently overlooked. We will remain where we are till the time people learn to give importance to these two issues. Who do you blame for the Muslims' socio-economic backwardness? I totally blame the community and its leaders. It is neither rational nor just to point an accusing finger at the government every time. The government is not expected to do everything. The community must learn to take care of its problems. Unfortunately there is a paucity of true leaders among Muslims. What are your views on dowry and the practice of triple talaq? Do you know that banks in Iran don't give loans to the bride's family? Only the groom's father or the groom himself can apply for a marriage loan. Islam has no place for dowry as the groom is expected to bear all marriage expenses from meher to maintenance. However, the real changes in marriage laws or celebrations will become effective the day the ulema set an example by following right traditions during family weddings. Fortunately, Shia community does not recognise triple talaq. It needs to be discouraged. Women have always been denied their rightful place in the name of Islam by orthodox maulvis. Is there a way out? No other religion is as gender friendly as Islam. It is the first religion that accorded equal pro-perty rights to women. According to Qur'an, if you offer namaz in a house where a female claimant has been denied her share, your prayers will not be answered. Similarly, Qur'an nowhere asks women to wear a veil. The stress is on modesty, not form. The law banning domestic violence, I would say, could bring about a major change to the plight of women. Though personally I think the punishment should have been more stringent. I have repeatedly maintained that until a woman gets due respect, a society can't improve or prosper.
(The Times of India, 7th November 2006)
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ZACKERIA HAZRATH : A TEACHER WITH A DIFFERENCE
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
We were fortunate to have many good and dedicated teachers in the Mazharul Uloom High School, Ambur where we studied more than four decades ago. That period is still green in our memory. We cannot forget our teachers who taught us with all care and attention. Every teacher had his own special characteristics, which impressed and inspired us and even now we cannot but remember and respect them very much.
Prophet Mohammed (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) gave importance to education and teachers. Once he came across two circles of people. The first circle was supplicating to Allah and the other was listening to a discourse by a teacher. The Prophet said “ The first circle is begging God who may or may not give them what they want but the second circle is getting education from a teacher. I have been sent as teacher.” He joined the second circle. This shows that the Prophet gave preference to teachers and education. There are many examples of him giving priority to teachers.
In this write-up I would like to share my impressions about the late Janab V. Mohammed Zackeria sahib, a dedicated and well-known teacher who served in the Mazharul Uloom High School for more than 40 years and left his indelible shining marks. He was affectionately called “Zackeria Hazrath”. He was actually a teacher with a difference. To him teaching was a mission. He taught his pupils with all seriousness, care and attention. He was very scientific in his words and deeds. He endeavoured his best to make every boy a “gem” in discipline and education. He never tolerated laziness and wanted his pupils to be alert and hard working.
Zackeria Hazrath was not only a teacher, but also a reformer par excellence. He was well versed in Urdu, English, Tamil and Hindi languages. He was good in Arabic and Persian also. Interest of the community was dearer to him. He was a serious person, an authoritative one. He “ruled” us and wanted every one of us to study well and benefit from the school without wasting any time.
He had modern thinking and always opposed superstitious beliefs and revealed in his own inimitable Urdu language how soothsayers, sorcerers, astrologers etc. hoodwinked innocent people for the sake of money. He advised us not to believe them and understand things properly using our intellect and wisdom. He was dead opposed to blind following in any matter.
Zackeria Hazrath’s literary taste was immense. He never failed to correct even the spoken language of his pupils whether it was Urdu, English or Tamil. His pupils as well as their parents were careful while talking to him. He disliked the colloquial and wanted everyone to speak chaste Urdu in its sweet and beautiful form. He used to say “Urdu ka khoon mat karo.Miyan” ( Don’t kill the Urdu language.)
The following “rubayee” penned by him shows his noble thoughts. We have to understand it in the proper perspective and respect the plural society in which we live.
“Ya rub hai teri her jagah hasthi,
Paatha hai thujko daaraa-e-beenaayi,
Masjid mayn Muslim Mandir mayn Hindu,
Karthay kalesa mayn wird hain Easaayee”
O God, your existence is everywhere,
Knowledgeable persons are able to find you,
Muslims in the mosque, Hindus in the temple
And Christians in the church pray to you.
One day Hazrath wrote this “rubayee” on the Black Board in the class room and said that “after all everyone is worshipping the same God”. People like me still remember it because of the beautiful thought expressed therein. It is a powerful thought and this thought is necessary for all Indians where different religious people live happily. We cannot forget this great teacher under any situation. He is no more now. But everything he taught us so happily and so seriously, sometimes even with anger, is in our memory in tact. It is impossible for us to forget him and his wonderful and revolutionary teachings. May Allah rest his soul in peace.
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READERS COMMENT
Dear VMK,
Jazakallahu khairan for the mail.
I read the article “Why are the Jews so powerful and Muslims so powerless?” It contains some good points and also motivates towards educational uplift. However, the conclusion is over-simplistic. Education certainly helps to attain power but is not the only or even the major component for power. The example of Zionist Jews is also misleading.
They are powerful not because they are most educated but because 'means' doesn't matter for them for gaining power. They have attained power and influence in the US and other western countries not because of education but using their cunning mind and every unfair means as has been amply demonstrated by the Harvard-Chicago study.
George Bush is the most powerful man of the world today. Is he the most educated of all world leaders? Few will agree as most know how he gained this power. Muslim's decline today is not simply because of their poor education but because of the loss of their identifying values.
H. ABDUR RAQEEB, CHENNAI
Dear Khaleel bhai, I have received 'Al - Ameen' - regular issue and Special Issues relating to November 2006. Kudos for the excellent articles allowing the luxury of interesting reading and honing our knowledge. Your editorial on the importance of education especially for the Muslim community is simply superb and inimitable.
The article on the Jewish supremacy all over the world is an eye opener. Indeed it has cleared all the grudges we have been harbouring against the Jewish community. In the holy Quran, Almighty Allah avers that the community which does not raise itself shall not be bolstered by Him.
It is ignorance and perversion that the Muslim community simply expects some miracle to happen without actually putting forth any efforts to ameliorate its own position through education, knowledge building and technological advancements.
I sincerely pray to Allah to bestow on you courage, conviction and determination to continue your noble mission of waking up our community from its deep slumber and in different complacency. Aameen....
Regards, FAROOQ AHMED H.E, AMBUR
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Dear Khaleelur Rahman Bhai.
Please find forwarding few detail about Islam which I hope will be useful to you.
Islam is the fastest growing religion and the second largest religion in the world
Muslims in Asia (1996)
1,022,692,000 (30%)
Muslims in Africa (1996)
426,282,000 (59%)
Total Number of Muslims on the Earth (1996)
1,482,596,925
Total Number of People on the Earth (1996)
5,771,939,007
Percentage of Muslims (1996)
26%
Islam annual growth rate (1994-1995) from U.N.
6.40%
Christianity growth rate (1994-1995) from U.N.
1.46%
Total Number of Muslims on the Earth (1998)
1,678,442,000
Expected Number of Muslims on the Earth (2000)
1,902,095,000
This table below shows the growth of Islam:
North America (1989-1998)
25%
Africa
2.15%
Asia
12.57%
Europe
142.35%
Latin America
-4.73%
Australia
257.01%
Among every four humans in the world, one of them is Muslim. Muslims have increased by over 235 percent in the last fifty years up to nearly 1.6 billion. By comparison, Christians have increased by only 47 percent, Hinduism, 117 percent, and Buddhism by 63 percent. Islam is the second largest religious group in France, Great Britain and USA (Muslims in USA are 10 millions and Jews are 6 millions).
The number of the total population has been taken from The CIA World's Facts Book.
K. MOHAMED NASARULLAH, CHENNAI
Janab V.M.K - Assalamu Alaikum.
I read the newsletter “Al-Ameen” . It is very thought-provoking. I wish that every Muslim should read it. I agree with your editorial on the importance of simple marriages and high thinking. I wish that you continue to spread the useful messages through “Al-Ameen”. I am forwarding your newsletter as far as I can.
Regards,
NAGAL IMTIAZ AHMED, CHENNAI
Dear Khaleelur Rahman,
Assalamu Alaikum
I thank you for your e-mailed “Al-Ameen” newsletter. Please keep posting it to me.
DR. AHMED ALI, CHENNAI
GOVERNMENT SHOULD FORMULATE A POLICY FOR MUSLIMS
The only protection for the poor among Muslims is a national guarantee in the form of reservation. The misfortune of Muslims is they do not get the right support at the right time from the right people. There is no leader to guide or help them to get better education and improve their literacy rate. Even today, the only reformer who comes to our mind is Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, founder of the Aligarh Muslim University. There is an urgent need for the government to formulate a policy that provides equal opportunity to Muslims in every field of activity.
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN in The Hindu dated November 9, 2006.
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AL-AMEEN : A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 2006 E-MAIL: vmk1234@yahoo.com
EDITOR : V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
IN THIS ISSUE :
1) A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF IQBAL AND HIS POETRY
2) IFT DISTRIBUTES 100 HOMES TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS
3) KUDOS TO SADIA FOR HER EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE IN B. SC. PHYSICS
4) THE COMMUNITY MUST LEARN …..BY MAULANA KALBE SADIQ, VICE
PRESIDENT, ALL INDIA MUSLIM PERSONAL LAW BOARD
5) ZACKERIA HAZRATH – A TEACHER WITH A DIFFERENCE
6) READERS COMMENT
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A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF IQBAL AND HIS POETRY
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
Dr. Allama Mohammed Iqbal was a famous Urdu and Persian poet and philosopher, yes the same poet who wrote the famous national song “Saray jahan say achcha Hindustan hamaara, Ham bubulayn hain uski yah gulsitan hamaara” ( Our India is the best country in the world. We are its nightingales and it is our orchard) He was born in Sialkot on November 9, 1877. He was the most intellectual thinker and poet the Muslim world has produced in India. His poems like “Shikwa” (Conplaint) and “Jawab-e-shikwa” (Reply to the complaint) continue to inspire not only Urdu speaking people but intellectuals belonging to all communities and nations. His poems have been translated into most of the world languages.
He was younger of the two sons of his father Shaikh Nur Mohammed and mother Iman Bibi. They were very pious, God-fearing and honest couple.
Iqbal had his primary education in the madrasa of Maulvi Syed Mir Hasan. After sometime on the advice of the Maulvi sahib he was admitted to Scottish Mission School at Sialkot. Even before he passed his final examination, he was married to Karim Bibi, daughter of a physician, Khan Bahadur Dr. Ata Mohammed Khan.They had two daughters and a son. One of the girls passed away soon after birth and the other at the age of nineteen after prolonged illness. The son was Aftab Iqbal who became a corporate lawyer later. He started writing poetry in his Intermediate days in the upgraded Scottish Mission College.
At the age of 19 years Iqbal joined Government College, Lahore in 1895 and studied Arabic, English literature and philosophy under the guidance of Sir Thomas Arnold who had shifted there from M.A.O. College, Aligarh after completing his book “The preaching of Islam” in which he has discussed in detail about Islam’s peaceful spread. Iqbal was very much impressed by his warmth and understanding of Islamic culture and civilization. He passed B.A. with distinction and got scholarship and gold medals for his excellent performance and getting highest marks in Arabic and English.
Iqbal, according to many writers, was a simple and happy person with an alert mind. It is said that during his school days once he came late to his class. Asked by the teacher he replied simply “Sir, Iqbal (meaning glory) comes late.”
Iqbal started his poetry in the tradition of Dagh Dehlvi, the language purist. Then he was attracted to the social perspective of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Hali. Actually he wanted to reform the society through his poetry. He was also a patriotic poet. He was a great exponent of modernism and social revolution in the Islamic world. His passion for modernisation and development was very strong. He was also a humanist. He moved his audience to tears while reciting his poems in the big gatherings of Anjuman-e-Himayat-e- Islam. He had a soft corner for the suffering lot.
Iqbal had married Mukhtar Begum and Sardar begum also who had given him a son (Javid) and a daughter (Munira).
In 1927 Iqbal delivered six lectures on “The Reconstruction of Islamic thought” in Madras, Hyderabad and Aligarh which are thought provoking even today. He was a genius in every sense of the word.
Iqbal was exceptionally a natural and rational Islamic poet the like of whom is yet to be seen. He started writing Urdu poetry during his college days in Lahore as said earlier. He attended a “Mushaira” (poetical symposium) in Lahore’s Hakiman Bazar for the first time at the age of 22 years and recited his poetry. When he recited the couplet
Moti samajh kay shaanay kareemi nay chun liyay
Qathray jo thay meray arq-e- infiaal kay
Divine forgiveness gathered them as pearls,
The drops of my repentance and remorse,
he was very much appreciated and a noted poet Mirza Arshad Gorgani who was present there applauded him whole-heartedly and wished him all the best.
He was also an excellent philosopher and profound thinker. The community was dearer to him. He gave equal importance to the Islamic concepts of both “Huqooqullah” and “Huqooqul Ibad”The following poem is a shining example.
Qaum goya jism hai afraad hain aezayay qaum,
Manzil-e sunath kay rah pa hain thasto payay qaum
Mahfil nazm-e hukoomath chahra zaybayay qaum
Shair rangeen nawa hai theetha-e beena-e qaum
Mubtala-e-dard koi azu ho rothi hai aankh
Kis qadar hamdard saaray jism ki hothi hai ankh
Community is an organism and individuals are parts of its body
Those engaged in industry are its hands and legs
Those engaged in administration are it s face
Poet of myriad sweet melodies is the eye of the nation
The eye weeps for the suffering of any and every part of the body,
How sympathetic it is to the entire organism
The community should act as the eye and consider the suffering of any section of the people as its own and find remedies for it is the message Iqbal wants to stress to the people. It reflects the divine ordain that the humanity should be valued, respected and helped in the best possible manner and one should not be self-centred.
It is very unfortunate that in the present highly materialistic world there is very little room for camaraderie and nobody seems to care for anybody. There is an urgent need for us to grasp the Islamic lesson Iqbal expresses in his poetry. We have seen Ulema (religious scholars) quoting him extensively. His poems are power packed and full of meanings.
Somebody has rightly said that a unique contribution of Iqbal to the contemporary Islamic thought is his bracketing modern science with 'God-consciousness' which he considers more precious than mere belief in God. He equates the scientist's observation of nature with seeking a kind of intimacy with God.
Rajmohan Gandhi says that Iqbal had started becoming popular by 1905 when he left for Europe because of his poems like “Nala-e-Yatim” (The orphan’s cry), Abr-e-Gauhar Bar (Blessed Showers) dedicated to Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am), Parinde ki fariyad (The bird’s lament) in which he has portrayed a caged bird’s longing for freedom –about India’s survitude. He strengthened the Hindu-Muslim unity by his Tarana and other poems.
Iqbal studied philosophy at Cambridge and law at London’s Lincoln Inn. He also received a doctorate for his research thesis on Persian metaphysics from Munich University. It reveals that sufism was an alien and unhealthy growth and it had no place in original Islam. He loved Persian language and wrote poetry in it with preference but disliked Persians like Sufi poet Hafiz of Iran. He adopted rationalism to reform the humanity in general and Muslim in particular) which was engrossed in many superstitious beliefs.
Authors like Rajmohan Gandhi and Mujeeb have said that the West’s strength was admirable to Iqbal but not its merciless competition between man and man and nation and nation as is the case even now. He wanted a solution for all ills of the society and finally found Islam as the best remedy for all our problems.
Dr. Mohammed Hasan says that “Iqbal’s poetry has a world perspective. He was primarily concerned with nothing less than human predicament. Searching for the hidden laws of human development, Iqbal propounded his philosophy of Ego ( Khudi ) with certain social checks and balances ( Bekhudi ). It is in this context that his contribution to world poetic thought remains invaluable.” He was a poet of the East and a manifestation of self-reconstruction and reformation and a poet of the East
As a philosopher Iqbal reveals the mystery of life as follows:
Gul is shakh say toot-thay bhi rehay, isi shakh say phoot-thay bhi rehay,
Samajthay hain naadaan isay baysibath, ubharta hai mit mit kay naqshay hayaat
Flowers fall off from this very branch
and yet from the same they sprout again,
Unwise take it as transient
But the image of life emerges again after falling off
Iqbal was proud that he was an Indian and rightly considered that it was a torch-bearer to world civilisation. He believed in the uniting force of Islam. Actually he wanted everyone particularly Muslims to understand the Indian plural society through his many poems. He did not participate in the Khilafat Movement.
He passed away at Lahore on 21 April 1938 and buried adjacent to the “Badshahi Masjid” built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
ISLAMIC FOUNDATION TRUST DISTRIBUTES 100 HOMES TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS
T. AZEEZ LUTHFULLAH,
ISLAMIC FOUNDATION TRUST
The dawn of a new colony in the shores of Bay of BengalLet us make Samarasam Nagar a model village!Nagore : 09 November 2006.
It is celebration time for the hapless tsunami victims of the chilladi village near Nagore. For those who lost everything when Killer Tsunami struck them two years back, it is dream come true. Yes. Today they have become happy owners of brand new homes.By the grace of God and with the active co-operation of the Tamil Nadu Government and its agencies along with the help of Muslim Aid a UK based charity organization Islamic Foundation Trust (IFT), Chennai has achieved the gigantic feat of conceiving, constructing and distributing 100 homes to the tsunami victims.
The Event :
The keys of the newly constructed houses were distributed to the victims in a simple function arranged here at the auditorium of the G.S. Pillay college of Engineering at Thethi village. Mr. Ebrahimsa Muhammad, Advisor to Muslim Aid gave away the keys to the beneficiaries. First came Akber Ali and then Tajuddin followed by Kaliappan and others.The Chief Guest : Dr. Abdul Huq Ansari, President of the Human Welfare Trust, New Delhi inaugurated the function organized to commemorate the distribution of 100 homes to the tsunami victims. In his inaugural address he highlighted the stress and importance given to the social service in Islamic teachings. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) has clearly stated the "the best among you is the one who is kind to every human being". We should strive to serve the entire humanity, he opined.Dr. Abdul Huq Ansari represents several organizations of India. He is an erudite scholar and professor from Rabindranath Tagore's Vishwa Bharathi University. He has done his Masters from Havard University of USA.
Guest of honour :
Mr Ibrahimsa Muhammad Advisor Muslim Aid was the guest of honour at the function arranged to commemorate the distribution of houses to the tsunami victims. He handed over the keys of the houses to Mr Gopal DRO and representative of the district collector and a high ranking official as a symbolic gesture. In his address Mr Ibrahimsa Muhammad appreciated the work done by IFT and expressed hope that IFT would continue building homes and hopes to the destitutes and neglected segments of the society. Mr Ibrahimsa introduced the mission and activities of Muslim Aid briefly.
The Houses :
Mr. H. Abdur Raqeeb Chairman, Islamic Foundation Trust in his presidential address appealed to the people to make the new colony a model village. He also highlighted
the significant features of the houses. The cluster of 100 houses spread over six acres of land has been constructed at the cost of Rs. Two and half crores. The land has been provided by the Government of Tamil Nadu and major chunk of funding has been done by Muslim Aid, UK., Mr. Abdur Raqeeb said.Each and every house has been constructed in 400 sq. feet area in a 1300 sq. feet plot. It comprises of a drawing room, a hall, a bed room, kitchen and bathroom with stair case to the terrace. A spacious veranda and sit out is an added attraction, elaborated, Mr. Abdur Raqeeb.The cluster of houses presents a glorious spectacle with the line up of similar looking, beautifully crafted and neatly painted glittering houses dotting the lines. The newly formed colony has been named aptly Samarasam Nagar. Samarasam means peace and harmony, he said.The message :
We could easily build houses with bricks, sand and stone. But homes could be built only through love alone. So I appeal the people to make the new colony a model village in which there will be harmony, peace, love and brotherhood to the core. We dream and aspire that the inhabitants of this new colony would give paramount importance to education and attain and maintain 100% literacy. We dream and aspire that the inhabitants of this new colony in the shores of Bay of Bengal would observe and practice all the good things, noble virtues and gentle qualities. We dream and aspire that the inhabitants of this new colony would abhor and detest all the evil things like drinking alcohol and drugs etc. We pray Almighty that they become self-sufficient and lead a noble life, Mr. Abdur Raqeeb stressed.The role models The highlight of the presidential speech is the passionate introduction ot two selfless souls as true role models to those in the field of social service to the august gathering. They were Mr Ibrahimsa Muhammad of Muslim Aid and Mr Younus Bhai of Parangipettai. Both were present at the dais. Mr Raqeeb extolled the virtues of Ibrahimsa and Younus Bhai. Mr Ibrahimsa symbolises simplicity and social service, he said.The other guests :
Mr. Gopal RDO who participated in the function as a representative of Mr. Tenkasi S. Jawahar, the district Collector, felicitated the beneficiaries and assured the inhabitants of the new colony that the road-laying work would be carried in war footing. Mr. V. Marimuthu. M.L.A graced the occasion with his flowery speech. Mr. Muhammad Younus, Chairman, Parangipettai Panchayat, Mr. Karunanidhi, Principal, G.S. Pillay Engineering College, Mr. M. Muhammad Khalifa Sahib Kadiri, Managing Trustee, Nagore Dargah, Mr. M.G.K. Nizamudeen , President, Nagore Muslim Jamaat, Ms. Annie George, CEO NCRC, Mr. Sundramurthy, Panchayat President, Thethi village, Mr. Amjad Saleem, Director, Muslim Aid, Sri Lanka and Dr K.V.S. Habeeb Muhammad, vice chairman spoke at the occasion. Mr. Shabbeer Ahmed, General Secretary, Islamic Foundation Trust proposed a vote of thanks.
The Organisations :
Muslim Aid a UK based charity organization has been rendering social service in more than 60 countries spread over the four continents. Muslim Aid has been recognized as an exemplary service organization and has been assigned a mamoothe world Bank project of constructing hundreds and hundreds of home to the victims of tsunami in Indonesia.ISLAMIC FOUNDATION TRUST (IFT),Chennai swung into action on that fateful day of Dec 26th 2004 when Tsunami struck the coastal line of Tamilnadu and immediately started its Relief activities forming four hubs at Chennai, Cuddalore, Nagore and Kanyakumari.. IFT's volunteers spread out to different places and worked day and night to provide immediate relief to the affected. They distributed Relief Kits containing essential items including stoves, tarpaulins, bedsheets, provision items etc. The women volunteers joined their male colleagues in counselling the affected at the relief camps.ISLAMIC FOUNDATION TRUST (IFT) also constructed One Hundred (100) Temporary Shelters with necessary facilities for the victims at a land offered by the government near the collectorate in Nagore besides providing books, school bags etc to the affected students.It also provided 16 boats to the people affected at Jameelabad in Pazhaverkadu near Ponneri, a place nearly 30 kms away from Chennai.
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MAKING HISTORY
KUDOS TO H. SADIYA KAUSER FOR HER EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE IN B.SC. PHYSICS
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN, AMBUR
We are extremely happy that H. Sadiya Kauser, daughter of Mr. H. Abdul Rasheed, Noorullahpet, Ambur has passed her B.Sc. (Physics) examination of the University of Madras held in April 2006 by obtaining FIRST RANK and securing FIRST CLASS WITH DISTINCTION.
In the 149th Annual Convocation 2006 held at the University Centenary Auditorium on 14th November 2006, presided over by His Excellency the Governor of Tamil Nadu Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala, Chancellor, University of Madras and Convocation Address delivered by Mr. P. Chidambaram, the Honourable Minister for Finance, Government of India, New Delhi, H. SADIYA KAUSER has been awarded 3 (three) Gold Medals in recognition of her extra-ordinarily excellent performance in the B. Sc. degree examination held by the Madras University in the Faculty of Science during April 2006 as a candidate from Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed Women’s College, Chennai – 600 018.
It is reliably learnt that during the past 150 years of the University of Madras she is the first Muslim girl to receive FIRST RANK and 3 GOLD MEDALS with distinction in the state of Tamil Nadu in B.Sc. Physics.
We take this opportunity to congratulate SADIA KAUSER for her record-breaking performance in the B.Sc. Physics examination and wish her all the best in life. She has brought laurels not only to herself but to her parents, community and the school and college where she studied. She is now doing her postgraduate M. Sc. Physics degree course in Women’s Christian College, Chennai. We are proud of her and her parents who are educating her well.
We also congratulate her parents for giving a right guidance to her, T. Abdul Wahid Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ambur (where she studied and passed her Plus Two examination with flying colours) for providing good education and learning atmosphere and Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed Women’s College, Chennai (where she did her B.Sc. Physics degree course and brought name and fame) for its excellent coaching and encouragement.
The services rendered by Mr. T. Abdul Wahid sahib, founder of T. Abdul Wahid Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ambur and Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed sahib, founder of the SIET Women’s College (now called Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College) are immortal and ever green. The community must be thankful to them.
The people of Ambur know that another brilliant girl student of TAW Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ambur P. FAYIZA TASKEEN, daughter of Mr. P. Oosman Basha got GOLD MEDAL from Raja Rajeswari College of Engineering, Chennai for securing FIRST RANK in her B.E. examination in 2005. She was honoured in a function in the TAW school. The Ambur Muslim Educational Society also honoured her for her meritorious performance during its historic Centenary Celebrations in September 2006 which was inaugurated by His Excellency The President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
The undeniable fact is that within a short span of 21 years T. Abdul Wahid Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ambur studied boys and girls have done well in medical, engineering, science and other degree courses. It is a big achievement for it. We are thankful to its Management, Principals and teaching staff for their educational service. We are sure that it will go on expanding its educational activity and serve the community in its educational and economical advancement.
THE COMMUNITY MUST LEARN TO TAKE CARE OF ITS PROBLEMS
Maulana Kalbe Sadiq , a well-known Shia scholar, has never shied away from courting controversy. His open advocacy of gender equality, literacy/property rights and family planning have won him much admiration among Muslim masses, especially the youth. The Maulana, who is also vice-president of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), spoke to Manjari Mishra
Your approach to Eid led to much confusion this year. Let me make it very clear, the Qur'an nowhere makes moon-sighting mandatory for fixing the Eid day. Deciding the issue by spotting the moon in the sky is a man-made tradition based on total misconception of the maulvis. I speak this with full responsibility. Muslims, as a community, lag behind others in human development indices. What do you think are the reasons? The failure to develop an academic culture and scientific temperament, I think, has been the bane of the Muslim community. Somehow these two issues have been consistently overlooked. We will remain where we are till the time people learn to give importance to these two issues. Who do you blame for the Muslims' socio-economic backwardness? I totally blame the community and its leaders. It is neither rational nor just to point an accusing finger at the government every time. The government is not expected to do everything. The community must learn to take care of its problems. Unfortunately there is a paucity of true leaders among Muslims. What are your views on dowry and the practice of triple talaq? Do you know that banks in Iran don't give loans to the bride's family? Only the groom's father or the groom himself can apply for a marriage loan. Islam has no place for dowry as the groom is expected to bear all marriage expenses from meher to maintenance. However, the real changes in marriage laws or celebrations will become effective the day the ulema set an example by following right traditions during family weddings. Fortunately, Shia community does not recognise triple talaq. It needs to be discouraged. Women have always been denied their rightful place in the name of Islam by orthodox maulvis. Is there a way out? No other religion is as gender friendly as Islam. It is the first religion that accorded equal pro-perty rights to women. According to Qur'an, if you offer namaz in a house where a female claimant has been denied her share, your prayers will not be answered. Similarly, Qur'an nowhere asks women to wear a veil. The stress is on modesty, not form. The law banning domestic violence, I would say, could bring about a major change to the plight of women. Though personally I think the punishment should have been more stringent. I have repeatedly maintained that until a woman gets due respect, a society can't improve or prosper.
(The Times of India, 7th November 2006)
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ZACKERIA HAZRATH : A TEACHER WITH A DIFFERENCE
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN
We were fortunate to have many good and dedicated teachers in the Mazharul Uloom High School, Ambur where we studied more than four decades ago. That period is still green in our memory. We cannot forget our teachers who taught us with all care and attention. Every teacher had his own special characteristics, which impressed and inspired us and even now we cannot but remember and respect them very much.
Prophet Mohammed (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) gave importance to education and teachers. Once he came across two circles of people. The first circle was supplicating to Allah and the other was listening to a discourse by a teacher. The Prophet said “ The first circle is begging God who may or may not give them what they want but the second circle is getting education from a teacher. I have been sent as teacher.” He joined the second circle. This shows that the Prophet gave preference to teachers and education. There are many examples of him giving priority to teachers.
In this write-up I would like to share my impressions about the late Janab V. Mohammed Zackeria sahib, a dedicated and well-known teacher who served in the Mazharul Uloom High School for more than 40 years and left his indelible shining marks. He was affectionately called “Zackeria Hazrath”. He was actually a teacher with a difference. To him teaching was a mission. He taught his pupils with all seriousness, care and attention. He was very scientific in his words and deeds. He endeavoured his best to make every boy a “gem” in discipline and education. He never tolerated laziness and wanted his pupils to be alert and hard working.
Zackeria Hazrath was not only a teacher, but also a reformer par excellence. He was well versed in Urdu, English, Tamil and Hindi languages. He was good in Arabic and Persian also. Interest of the community was dearer to him. He was a serious person, an authoritative one. He “ruled” us and wanted every one of us to study well and benefit from the school without wasting any time.
He had modern thinking and always opposed superstitious beliefs and revealed in his own inimitable Urdu language how soothsayers, sorcerers, astrologers etc. hoodwinked innocent people for the sake of money. He advised us not to believe them and understand things properly using our intellect and wisdom. He was dead opposed to blind following in any matter.
Zackeria Hazrath’s literary taste was immense. He never failed to correct even the spoken language of his pupils whether it was Urdu, English or Tamil. His pupils as well as their parents were careful while talking to him. He disliked the colloquial and wanted everyone to speak chaste Urdu in its sweet and beautiful form. He used to say “Urdu ka khoon mat karo.Miyan” ( Don’t kill the Urdu language.)
The following “rubayee” penned by him shows his noble thoughts. We have to understand it in the proper perspective and respect the plural society in which we live.
“Ya rub hai teri her jagah hasthi,
Paatha hai thujko daaraa-e-beenaayi,
Masjid mayn Muslim Mandir mayn Hindu,
Karthay kalesa mayn wird hain Easaayee”
O God, your existence is everywhere,
Knowledgeable persons are able to find you,
Muslims in the mosque, Hindus in the temple
And Christians in the church pray to you.
One day Hazrath wrote this “rubayee” on the Black Board in the class room and said that “after all everyone is worshipping the same God”. People like me still remember it because of the beautiful thought expressed therein. It is a powerful thought and this thought is necessary for all Indians where different religious people live happily. We cannot forget this great teacher under any situation. He is no more now. But everything he taught us so happily and so seriously, sometimes even with anger, is in our memory in tact. It is impossible for us to forget him and his wonderful and revolutionary teachings. May Allah rest his soul in peace.
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READERS COMMENT
Dear VMK,
Jazakallahu khairan for the mail.
I read the article “Why are the Jews so powerful and Muslims so powerless?” It contains some good points and also motivates towards educational uplift. However, the conclusion is over-simplistic. Education certainly helps to attain power but is not the only or even the major component for power. The example of Zionist Jews is also misleading.
They are powerful not because they are most educated but because 'means' doesn't matter for them for gaining power. They have attained power and influence in the US and other western countries not because of education but using their cunning mind and every unfair means as has been amply demonstrated by the Harvard-Chicago study.
George Bush is the most powerful man of the world today. Is he the most educated of all world leaders? Few will agree as most know how he gained this power. Muslim's decline today is not simply because of their poor education but because of the loss of their identifying values.
H. ABDUR RAQEEB, CHENNAI
Dear Khaleel bhai, I have received 'Al - Ameen' - regular issue and Special Issues relating to November 2006. Kudos for the excellent articles allowing the luxury of interesting reading and honing our knowledge. Your editorial on the importance of education especially for the Muslim community is simply superb and inimitable.
The article on the Jewish supremacy all over the world is an eye opener. Indeed it has cleared all the grudges we have been harbouring against the Jewish community. In the holy Quran, Almighty Allah avers that the community which does not raise itself shall not be bolstered by Him.
It is ignorance and perversion that the Muslim community simply expects some miracle to happen without actually putting forth any efforts to ameliorate its own position through education, knowledge building and technological advancements.
I sincerely pray to Allah to bestow on you courage, conviction and determination to continue your noble mission of waking up our community from its deep slumber and in different complacency. Aameen....
Regards, FAROOQ AHMED H.E, AMBUR
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Dear Khaleelur Rahman Bhai.
Please find forwarding few detail about Islam which I hope will be useful to you.
Islam is the fastest growing religion and the second largest religion in the world
Muslims in Asia (1996)
1,022,692,000 (30%)
Muslims in Africa (1996)
426,282,000 (59%)
Total Number of Muslims on the Earth (1996)
1,482,596,925
Total Number of People on the Earth (1996)
5,771,939,007
Percentage of Muslims (1996)
26%
Islam annual growth rate (1994-1995) from U.N.
6.40%
Christianity growth rate (1994-1995) from U.N.
1.46%
Total Number of Muslims on the Earth (1998)
1,678,442,000
Expected Number of Muslims on the Earth (2000)
1,902,095,000
This table below shows the growth of Islam:
North America (1989-1998)
25%
Africa
2.15%
Asia
12.57%
Europe
142.35%
Latin America
-4.73%
Australia
257.01%
Among every four humans in the world, one of them is Muslim. Muslims have increased by over 235 percent in the last fifty years up to nearly 1.6 billion. By comparison, Christians have increased by only 47 percent, Hinduism, 117 percent, and Buddhism by 63 percent. Islam is the second largest religious group in France, Great Britain and USA (Muslims in USA are 10 millions and Jews are 6 millions).
The number of the total population has been taken from The CIA World's Facts Book.
K. MOHAMED NASARULLAH, CHENNAI
Janab V.M.K - Assalamu Alaikum.
I read the newsletter “Al-Ameen” . It is very thought-provoking. I wish that every Muslim should read it. I agree with your editorial on the importance of simple marriages and high thinking. I wish that you continue to spread the useful messages through “Al-Ameen”. I am forwarding your newsletter as far as I can.
Regards,
NAGAL IMTIAZ AHMED, CHENNAI
Dear Khaleelur Rahman,
Assalamu Alaikum
I thank you for your e-mailed “Al-Ameen” newsletter. Please keep posting it to me.
DR. AHMED ALI, CHENNAI
GOVERNMENT SHOULD FORMULATE A POLICY FOR MUSLIMS
The only protection for the poor among Muslims is a national guarantee in the form of reservation. The misfortune of Muslims is they do not get the right support at the right time from the right people. There is no leader to guide or help them to get better education and improve their literacy rate. Even today, the only reformer who comes to our mind is Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, founder of the Aligarh Muslim University. There is an urgent need for the government to formulate a policy that provides equal opportunity to Muslims in every field of activity.
V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN in The Hindu dated November 9, 2006.
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