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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