I am sure that the much awaited monthly "Omeiat Journal" published by the Organisation of Muslim Educational Institutions and Associations of Tamil Nadu from August 1976 should have been welcomed particularly by the Muslim community of this State because of its thought-provoking articles on educational matters and timely important suggestions for action to various Muslim institutions for safe-guarding their interests. Our hearty congratulations and thanks are to all those responsible for bringing out this time-warranted monthly.
The very first issue of the journal that came out in August last carried many interesting features and I was particularly impressed by two articles - one was from the pen of Dr. N.A. Noor Mohammed under a catchy heading "Education Equipment for life" and another from Mr. P.K. Shabbir Ahmed "On the need for an educational policy". Both of them had been well-written, emphasising the inevitable nature and necessity of education, the most important weapon in the world and without which one can hardly live without tension and confusion. An ignorant and illiterate person is like a deaf and dumb one who is always nervous, suspicious of others, unless trained properly. It is, therefore, a must that the community take troubles with happiness in giving proper education to their children.
The September issue was also good with articles on "Vaniyambadi Muslim Educational Society" and "Education under Mughal Monarchs". In his article under the later heading the writer Prof. Mirza Abdul Majid has pointed out the importance that Islam and Muslim rulers of India have given to education. But the unfortunate and undeniable fact is that the Muslims are educationally and economically backward in India and hence the responsibility to alleviate their sufferings because of poverty and illiteracy with the leaders of the community and government. How long can we sing the song of the past glories? The present scientific and materialistic world is full of challenges and competitions. Through education the community has to learn not only the technical, medical or any other professional know-how but also the art of diplomacy to have things done and face the various problems that crop up every now and then in every field of activity due to one reason or other.
The editorial "Unrecognised Schools" was a timely one in which the editor has rightly given the necessary instructions to Muslim institutions to protect their interests.
The percentage of educated Muslim women is regrettably very low and therefore all Muslim associations should give special attention towards their education. I would request the editor of the "Omeiat Journal" to endeavour his best to stress the need for sending Muslim girls in every family to schools and colleges and see that they are made equal to Muslim boys. If Muslim girls are allowed to remain uneducated, boys will find it difficult, if not impossible, to have equal educated life-partners. The marriages between the educated and the uneducated can hardly be successful.
(VMK in "Omeiat Journal" of October 1976)
Sunday, February 8, 2009
MUSLIM ULEMA TELL THE POINT - A REJOINDER TO MR. KULDIP NAYAR
I read with interest the article "Muslim ulema miss the point" by Mr. Kuldip Nayar in the 22-28 December 1991 issue of Radiance. He is a noted and reputed writer and author. He has also known the Muslim community from close quarters. He can easily understand the wishes and aspirations of the Indian Muslims in the proper perspective. His article under reference actually surprised me and I was in wonder if all non-Muslims think of Muslims in the same manner. In this write-up I try to explain something and remind him that Muslim ulema did not miss the point.
Muslim ulema have always been patriotic citizens of this country. They have played a vital role in the freedom struggle of our country. The history is replete with sacrifices and sufferings. It was not Maulana Abul Kalam Azad who wanted partition. The creation of Pakistan was the result of hypocritic, unprincipled and dictatorial attitudes of some leaders in the Congress and RSS who were not for accepting the reasonable demands of the Muslims.
Indian Muslims want to safeguard their identity in the same manner as every religious and linguistic community wants to do here. Our country's beauty lies in its different identities and cultural heritages. It is like a garden of different flowers. A Muslim or a Christian is in no way less Indian or less patriotic than a Hindu. We can all be together proud of our rich and unique composite cultural and religious heritage which is our country's thrilling and glittering beauty and speciality.
A uniform civil code for all is opposed because not only it will give a feeling of slavery to the minorities here but will also alienate them from the national mainstream. People of every religion have a feeling rightly that their religion is respected to the extent of giving importance in the laws of our country. In case a uniform civil code is brought in this feeling will be missing and I feel that this situation will be dangerous to our country's integration. We want protection of the Muslim personal law in India for national strength and togetherness of the people. We must continue to approve and cherish the formula and slogan of unity in diversity. The Russian case is also before us. Today it stands shattered.
People of India are by and large peace loving. It is a segment of politicians who create ill will and tension among them. It is also these people who do not give importance to the Constitution of the country in the matter of the Rights and Guarantees to the minorities. A Muslim does not agree that the Muslim Personal Law comes in the way of nationalism or homogeneity. A Hindu does not lose his respectability in his society if he has a woman as his wife without a marriage apart from his actual wife. In some states like Tamil Nadu many leading political leaders and other dignitaries of the majority community have lived or live with more than one wife, with or without marriages. How is it possible for these Hindus to do so? Why unnecessarily blame the Muslim community in which polygamy is less prevalent.
Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi has rightly said that the Muslims remained united in opposing the Supreme Court judgement in the Shah Bano case. It is not so much for granting maintenance to a Muslim divorcee, but more for ridiculing Islam and giving unwanted sermon to the government for a uniform civil code.
Mr. Nayar has quoted the example of some Muslim countries for their laws on marriages. He should know that the anti-Muslim and anti-Islam attitude of the so called national press and others have virtually weakened the hands of those people who are for changes in the Muslim Personal Law in accordance with Islamic laws.
The resolution of the Board that the Babri Masjid cannot be sold, purchased or exchanged nor can it be handed over to any individual, association or government by agreement or so called conciliation is not only reasonable, but also in the interest of the country. If a mosque is not safe in the hands of the government, then the Muslims will feel that the are not safe and the laws of the land have no meaning and validity. The place of Babri Masjid is vital. Its removal from its present place will mean rewriting the Indian history and defeat of the minority Muslims by Hindu fundamental forces. The Hindu wrote editorially a couple of months ago that " No formula that envisages the destruction of the Babri Masjid should be seriously entertained even if the Muslim community leaders decide." It further said that " to say that the surrender of the claim to the Babri Masjid is the sole right of the Muslim community is to surrender India's pride-a rich and composite cultural heritage."
It should also be kept in mind that no court of law will give a verdict against the Babri Masjid and its property as their case in crystal clear. The Board has not questioned the validity of any court in taking a decision in this matter, but it has only expressed its opinion about it.
If "many among the Hindus have come out in the open to oppose what is sought to be done to demolish the secular policy of the country", I don't think, they are doing any favour to the minorities here. We do not know what is secularism and what is Hindu Rashtra. Muslims are perhaps the worst sufferers of the term "Secularism". it is high time that it is redefined not orally as done hitherto but constitutionally so that no particular religious community is considered its whole beneficiary.
The Muslim Personal Law Board has expressed its opinion honestly in clear terms without any ambiguity so that justice is done to the minorities here and our country does not face another serious problem on national level, creating an impression in the world that there is no safety for the Muslim minority and others in India. Its resolution reflects the opinion of all right thinking people.
(VMK in Radiance, Delhi dated 12-18 January 1992)
Muslim ulema have always been patriotic citizens of this country. They have played a vital role in the freedom struggle of our country. The history is replete with sacrifices and sufferings. It was not Maulana Abul Kalam Azad who wanted partition. The creation of Pakistan was the result of hypocritic, unprincipled and dictatorial attitudes of some leaders in the Congress and RSS who were not for accepting the reasonable demands of the Muslims.
Indian Muslims want to safeguard their identity in the same manner as every religious and linguistic community wants to do here. Our country's beauty lies in its different identities and cultural heritages. It is like a garden of different flowers. A Muslim or a Christian is in no way less Indian or less patriotic than a Hindu. We can all be together proud of our rich and unique composite cultural and religious heritage which is our country's thrilling and glittering beauty and speciality.
A uniform civil code for all is opposed because not only it will give a feeling of slavery to the minorities here but will also alienate them from the national mainstream. People of every religion have a feeling rightly that their religion is respected to the extent of giving importance in the laws of our country. In case a uniform civil code is brought in this feeling will be missing and I feel that this situation will be dangerous to our country's integration. We want protection of the Muslim personal law in India for national strength and togetherness of the people. We must continue to approve and cherish the formula and slogan of unity in diversity. The Russian case is also before us. Today it stands shattered.
People of India are by and large peace loving. It is a segment of politicians who create ill will and tension among them. It is also these people who do not give importance to the Constitution of the country in the matter of the Rights and Guarantees to the minorities. A Muslim does not agree that the Muslim Personal Law comes in the way of nationalism or homogeneity. A Hindu does not lose his respectability in his society if he has a woman as his wife without a marriage apart from his actual wife. In some states like Tamil Nadu many leading political leaders and other dignitaries of the majority community have lived or live with more than one wife, with or without marriages. How is it possible for these Hindus to do so? Why unnecessarily blame the Muslim community in which polygamy is less prevalent.
Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi has rightly said that the Muslims remained united in opposing the Supreme Court judgement in the Shah Bano case. It is not so much for granting maintenance to a Muslim divorcee, but more for ridiculing Islam and giving unwanted sermon to the government for a uniform civil code.
Mr. Nayar has quoted the example of some Muslim countries for their laws on marriages. He should know that the anti-Muslim and anti-Islam attitude of the so called national press and others have virtually weakened the hands of those people who are for changes in the Muslim Personal Law in accordance with Islamic laws.
The resolution of the Board that the Babri Masjid cannot be sold, purchased or exchanged nor can it be handed over to any individual, association or government by agreement or so called conciliation is not only reasonable, but also in the interest of the country. If a mosque is not safe in the hands of the government, then the Muslims will feel that the are not safe and the laws of the land have no meaning and validity. The place of Babri Masjid is vital. Its removal from its present place will mean rewriting the Indian history and defeat of the minority Muslims by Hindu fundamental forces. The Hindu wrote editorially a couple of months ago that " No formula that envisages the destruction of the Babri Masjid should be seriously entertained even if the Muslim community leaders decide." It further said that " to say that the surrender of the claim to the Babri Masjid is the sole right of the Muslim community is to surrender India's pride-a rich and composite cultural heritage."
It should also be kept in mind that no court of law will give a verdict against the Babri Masjid and its property as their case in crystal clear. The Board has not questioned the validity of any court in taking a decision in this matter, but it has only expressed its opinion about it.
If "many among the Hindus have come out in the open to oppose what is sought to be done to demolish the secular policy of the country", I don't think, they are doing any favour to the minorities here. We do not know what is secularism and what is Hindu Rashtra. Muslims are perhaps the worst sufferers of the term "Secularism". it is high time that it is redefined not orally as done hitherto but constitutionally so that no particular religious community is considered its whole beneficiary.
The Muslim Personal Law Board has expressed its opinion honestly in clear terms without any ambiguity so that justice is done to the minorities here and our country does not face another serious problem on national level, creating an impression in the world that there is no safety for the Muslim minority and others in India. Its resolution reflects the opinion of all right thinking people.
(VMK in Radiance, Delhi dated 12-18 January 1992)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
An appeal to the TN government
The All India Urdu Conference held in Chennai by Measi Urdu Academy and Muslim Educational Association of Southern India on 31st January 2009 has rightly appealed to the government of Tamil Nadu to exempt the Urdu speaking children from the existing Tamil Nadu Learning Act 2006 and allow them to study their mother tongue Urdu as the first language in schools which are having facilities for its teaching. According to an estimation there are more than 300 schools in Tamil Nadu offering Urdu as a medium of instruction or first language.
It is not fair to deprive any child from learning his/her mother tongue in school. Urdu is a sweet language spoken all over the country and abroad. Even Nehruji's mother tongue was Urdu. It is is one of the officially recognized languages in India and has official language status in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi.
The Tami Nadu government must be aware that removing Urdu from part I and thus preventing children from studying their mother tongue will very much harm the educational upliftment of the Urdu speaking minority, render Urdu teachers jobless and create a situation for closure of Urdu schools.
We request the goverment of Tamil Nadu to consider the appeal made by the Urdu conference now and others in the past and help the Urdu speaking minority to march forward in the educational arena without any hamper.
It is not fair to deprive any child from learning his/her mother tongue in school. Urdu is a sweet language spoken all over the country and abroad. Even Nehruji's mother tongue was Urdu. It is is one of the officially recognized languages in India and has official language status in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi.
The Tami Nadu government must be aware that removing Urdu from part I and thus preventing children from studying their mother tongue will very much harm the educational upliftment of the Urdu speaking minority, render Urdu teachers jobless and create a situation for closure of Urdu schools.
We request the goverment of Tamil Nadu to consider the appeal made by the Urdu conference now and others in the past and help the Urdu speaking minority to march forward in the educational arena without any hamper.
A letter to Mr. T. Rafeeque Ahmed
Dear Mr. Rafeeque Ahmed,
Assalamu Alaikum
It is with pleasure that I received the Silver Jubilee commemorative souvenir of the T.Abdul Wahid Matriculation & Higher Secondary School and read it with interest. The late leader, guide and philosopher Janab T. Abdul Wahid sahib is undoubtedly a great visionary and practical in all his approaches. He did what he thought was right with his best efforts and succeeded in all his attempts. He never followed anything blindly. Even in business we have heard leather magnates saying that he always bought raw skins after entering into export contracts without indulging in speculations which was the order of the day with tanners at that time. In short he was rational in thinking and scientific in actions which is really a special trait rare among the people particularly Muslims. We miss him very much. May his soul rest in peace.
I take this opportunity to thank and congratulate you for continuously improving the standard of the School for the benefit of the students belonging to all communities. I know personally that even non Muslim professionals like doctors, engineers, businessmen etc. prefer and admit their children in your school because of its excellent training, education with moral values, good infrastructure, etc. We wish that it should be the case of other Muslim institutions too, but it is not so. There are only a few Muslim institutions in Tamil Nadu where excellent education is available. You are aware more than people like me that even in Chennai Muslims who want to give better education to their children admit them in non-Muslim institutions like DAV etc. In Ambur your school enjoys this reputation. It gives us great pleasure as members of the Muslim community.
And exactly this is the reason why interested people like me aspire to see a women's college functioning under your able guidance and imparting excellent higher education to women for their bright future. There is no power as strong as education to Muslim women which can make our community live with dignity and honour in the present fast changing world. Where do our women stand? I need not tell you. Their case is very pathetic inspite of some educational progress which we see in them, thanks to the efforts by the AMES. But you will agree with me that there is a lot to be done for them as only a very few can get education in other places like Chennai and Bangalore.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
V.M. Khaleelur Rahman
Assalamu Alaikum
It is with pleasure that I received the Silver Jubilee commemorative souvenir of the T.Abdul Wahid Matriculation & Higher Secondary School and read it with interest. The late leader, guide and philosopher Janab T. Abdul Wahid sahib is undoubtedly a great visionary and practical in all his approaches. He did what he thought was right with his best efforts and succeeded in all his attempts. He never followed anything blindly. Even in business we have heard leather magnates saying that he always bought raw skins after entering into export contracts without indulging in speculations which was the order of the day with tanners at that time. In short he was rational in thinking and scientific in actions which is really a special trait rare among the people particularly Muslims. We miss him very much. May his soul rest in peace.
I take this opportunity to thank and congratulate you for continuously improving the standard of the School for the benefit of the students belonging to all communities. I know personally that even non Muslim professionals like doctors, engineers, businessmen etc. prefer and admit their children in your school because of its excellent training, education with moral values, good infrastructure, etc. We wish that it should be the case of other Muslim institutions too, but it is not so. There are only a few Muslim institutions in Tamil Nadu where excellent education is available. You are aware more than people like me that even in Chennai Muslims who want to give better education to their children admit them in non-Muslim institutions like DAV etc. In Ambur your school enjoys this reputation. It gives us great pleasure as members of the Muslim community.
And exactly this is the reason why interested people like me aspire to see a women's college functioning under your able guidance and imparting excellent higher education to women for their bright future. There is no power as strong as education to Muslim women which can make our community live with dignity and honour in the present fast changing world. Where do our women stand? I need not tell you. Their case is very pathetic inspite of some educational progress which we see in them, thanks to the efforts by the AMES. But you will agree with me that there is a lot to be done for them as only a very few can get education in other places like Chennai and Bangalore.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
V.M. Khaleelur Rahman
A letter to Mr. T. Rafeeque Ahmed
Dear Mr. Rafeeque Ahmed,
Assalamu Alaikum
It is with pleasure that I received the Silver Jubilee commemorative souvenir of the T.Abdul Wahid Matriculation & Higher Secondary School and read it with interest. The late leader, guide and philosopher Janab T. Abdul Wahid sahib is undoubtedly a great visionary and practical in all his approaches. He did what he thought was right with his best efforts and succeeded in all his attempts. He never followed anything blindly. Even in business we have heard leather magnates saying that he always bought raw skins after entering into export contracts without indulging in speculations which was the order of the day with tanners at that time. In short he was rational in thinking and scientific in actions which is really a special trait rare among the people particularly Muslims. We miss him very much. May his soul rest in peace.
I take this opportunity to thank and congratulate you for continuously improving the standard of the School for the benefit of the students belonging to all communities. I know personally that even non Muslim professionals like doctors, engineers, businessmen etc. prefer and admit their children in your school because of its excellent training, education with moral values, good infrastructure, etc. We wish that it should be the case of other Muslim institutions too, but it is not so. There are only a few Muslim institutions in Tamil Nadu where excellent education is available. You are aware more than people like me that even in Chennai Muslims who want to give better education to their children admit them in non-Muslim institutions like DAV etc. In Ambur your school enjoys this reputation. It gives us great pleasure as members of the Muslim community.
And exactly this is the reason why interested people like me aspire to see a women's college functioning under your able guidance and imparting excellent higher education to women for their bright future. There is no power as strong as education to Muslim women which can make our community live with dignity and honour in the present fast changing world. Where do our women stand? I need not tell you. Their case is very pathetic inspite of some educational progress which we see in them, thanks to the efforts by the AMES. But you will agree with me that there is a lot to be done for them as only a very few can get education in other places like Chennai and Bangalore.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
V.M. Khaleelur Rahman
Assalamu Alaikum
It is with pleasure that I received the Silver Jubilee commemorative souvenir of the T.Abdul Wahid Matriculation & Higher Secondary School and read it with interest. The late leader, guide and philosopher Janab T. Abdul Wahid sahib is undoubtedly a great visionary and practical in all his approaches. He did what he thought was right with his best efforts and succeeded in all his attempts. He never followed anything blindly. Even in business we have heard leather magnates saying that he always bought raw skins after entering into export contracts without indulging in speculations which was the order of the day with tanners at that time. In short he was rational in thinking and scientific in actions which is really a special trait rare among the people particularly Muslims. We miss him very much. May his soul rest in peace.
I take this opportunity to thank and congratulate you for continuously improving the standard of the School for the benefit of the students belonging to all communities. I know personally that even non Muslim professionals like doctors, engineers, businessmen etc. prefer and admit their children in your school because of its excellent training, education with moral values, good infrastructure, etc. We wish that it should be the case of other Muslim institutions too, but it is not so. There are only a few Muslim institutions in Tamil Nadu where excellent education is available. You are aware more than people like me that even in Chennai Muslims who want to give better education to their children admit them in non-Muslim institutions like DAV etc. In Ambur your school enjoys this reputation. It gives us great pleasure as members of the Muslim community.
And exactly this is the reason why interested people like me aspire to see a women's college functioning under your able guidance and imparting excellent higher education to women for their bright future. There is no power as strong as education to Muslim women which can make our community live with dignity and honour in the present fast changing world. Where do our women stand? I need not tell you. Their case is very pathetic inspite of some educational progress which we see in them, thanks to the efforts by the AMES. But you will agree with me that there is a lot to be done for them as only a very few can get education in other places like Chennai and Bangalore.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
V.M. Khaleelur Rahman
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Obama has changed the history of the U.S....
President Barack Obama's inaugural speech was fascinating in substance. No doubt the leader who promises "change" has changed the history of the U.S. in becoming its first black President with the strong support of the American people who have exhibited their preference for him without any colour discrimination which is really an excellent exhibition and proof of their camaraderie and changed outlook in accordance with the need of the present time.
The blunders committed by George Bush cannot be considered as those of the American people as a whole. It is now for Obama to prove his mettle in doing so many things which the world expects and demands from him such as ending the 60 year old Israel-Palestine conflict, withdrawing troups from Iraq and Afghanistan and strengthening Indo-American relations etc. He has also to make the people the worldover believe that his country is for world peace and not for interfering in any other country's internal affairs and creating troubles.
The blunders committed by George Bush cannot be considered as those of the American people as a whole. It is now for Obama to prove his mettle in doing so many things which the world expects and demands from him such as ending the 60 year old Israel-Palestine conflict, withdrawing troups from Iraq and Afghanistan and strengthening Indo-American relations etc. He has also to make the people the worldover believe that his country is for world peace and not for interfering in any other country's internal affairs and creating troubles.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
MODEL BANKING
The comments of R. Seetharaman, chief executive officer of Doha Bank (Micro sector fit for Islamic financing, Deccan Chronicle dated 16 January 2009) are worthy of consideration and implementation. Islamic financing is not exploitative in nature as in the case of the 40 per cent interest charged by banks for credit card users. Reports of a large number of such users being in deep trouble unable to pay their dues is the result of a system which is based on legal and not practical grounds. Of course the defaulters are also equally guilty. There needs to be some serious thinking about this state of affairs. The welfare of the people should be dearer to rulers.
If an Islamic banking system is introduced along with the existing one, we can attract big investments from oil rich as well as other countries as the CEO has explained so convincingly. The undersigned had written an article sometime ago in the Financial Express about the necessity of having atleast a counter for interest free banking system in our country.
If an Islamic banking system is introduced along with the existing one, we can attract big investments from oil rich as well as other countries as the CEO has explained so convincingly. The undersigned had written an article sometime ago in the Financial Express about the necessity of having atleast a counter for interest free banking system in our country.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Democracy triumphs in J&K, India
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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