Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was a legend in his life time; a rebel with a cause; a social reformer with a transparent and clear vision; a leader who changed the destiny of his community. He was born in Delhi on 17 October 1817. He was brought up in the finest of ’Elite Indian Muslim Traditions’.
Nothing can carve out cultural divides quite like the issue of the Islamic head covering (hijab) or face veil (niqab). Both continue to be the subject of not only debate but legislation the world over. We are not immune. Few Canadians would be unfamiliar with Quebec and its history with scarf-wearing Canadian Muslim learners. The issue has exhibited a tenacious longevity but, alarmingly, it continues to be hotly contested in ways that rarely rise to a sphere of mature discourse so essential to the functioning of any healthy civic society.
Jareer, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “I pledged allegiance to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to establish the prayer, give the Zakat and advise every Muslim.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Ibn Hibban narrated (this Hadith) by way of Abu Zur’ah Bin Amru Bin Jareer on the authority of his grandfather (i.e Jareer) and added: So whenever Jareer used to buy or sell something he used to say, “Know that what I have taken from you is more valuable than what I have given you, so choose.” (Fath Al-Bari, 1/139)
Baghdad, October 16: Raad Bader al-Muhssin, 41, worked as a gardener for more than 20 years, during which he used to make no more than $4 dollars per day.
After the 2003 US invasion and the ensuing violence, life became harder as the number of clients requesting his services nosedived.
Adding insult to the injury was the recent discovery that his wife had cancer.
Thus, when he was offered $12,000 dollars for one of his kidney he did not hesitate or have second thoughts.
The rising tide of communal violence from the decade of 1980 has consolidated the communal politics, politics in the name of religion. The party riding on the chariot of religious nationalism became the second largest party and tasted power at center for six long years and is now entrenched in few states and is knocking at the door of power in few other states.
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Modern Science has discovered that in the places where two different seas meet, there is a barrier between them. This barrier divides the two seas so that each sea has its own temperature, salinity, and density.1 For example, Mediterranean sea water is warm, saline, and less dense, compared to Atlantic ocean water. When Mediterranean sea water enters the Congress out to woo Muslims for supportTwo significant events took place last weekend in the national capital. ANHAD, an NGO, organised a meeting on the plight of Muslims to show how they were victims of bias and prejudice of the state. Muslims from across the country attending the three-day meet were critical and sceptical of the secular credentials of the Indian state and many went so far as to insist that the character of the Indian state is patently communal. Gaza War’s Effect on Women‘I was the happiest woman in the world, now I have lost my children and my husband.’ The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights’ (PCHR) new report, titled “Through Women’s Eyes,” highlights “the Gender-Specific Impact and Consequences of Operation Cast Lead” and the ongoing siege, including 12 case study examples “through the victims’ words.” Several are discussed below. Govinda wants to play variety of roles, loses weightMumbai, October 08: Comedy king Govinda feels that he should try his hand in other genres as well and is working on his physique for the same. He has already shed 30 kg. “I am losing weight and making physique to do different cinema… it’s just that I am not publicising because then if I am not able to do good after it, then I’ll be criticised,” Govinda told IANS. “I’ve lost about 30 kg in the last one-and-half years. I’ve quit dinner and I am eating light. Sometimes I even skip the lunch and my family has been very supportive, especially my wife Sunita,” he added. Palestinian official: we erred over Gaza reportAn Israeli border police officer detains a Palestinian allegedly accused of throwing stones in the Shuafat refugee camp in the West Bank. An Israeli border police officer detains a Palestinian allegedly accused of throwing stones in the Shuafat refugee camp in the West Bank. The Palestinian leadership made a mistake by suspending action on a UN report on Gaza war crimes, a member of President Mahmoud Abbas’ inner circle said on Wednesday — the first such acknowledgment after days of protests in the West Bank and Gaza. Formation of madrasa board will not be forced upon India madrasas: SibbalAfter a meeting with Muslim member parliament on the issue of Central Madrasa Board Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibbal said that in case the Muslim Community is not in favor of the proposed board his ministry will withdraw the proposal. Minister assured that there is no attempt to interfere in the religious teaching of madrasas. Out of 30 MPs who had promised to attend the meeting only 18 Muslim Members of both the house of Parliament met HRD Minister Kapil Sibbal. As expected most of the member were not in favor of the concept or the formation of proposed board. Muslims and the real ‘going back’Every Muslim talks about the Golden Age of Islam, and is nostalgic about it. Rightly so. In terms of science, medical progress, scientific achievements, and philosophical, religious inquiries, Islam and Muslim societies were recognized as the gateway to knowledge. While Muslims derive great satisfaction in recounting the past glory of Islam, no one is interested in answering the questions as to how these things ended. There must be a reason for this. Why Islam suddenly went into a deep freeze intellectually speaking? Niqab in FocusEvery now and then the issue of wearing niqab (women face veil) arises stirring controversies even among Muslims. The latest incident is that of Al-Azhar Grand Imam, sheikh Tantawi, who ordered a schoolgirl to remove her niqab, expressing determination to prohibit its wearing in Al-Azhar schools. He added that niqab is a tradition and that it has no connection with religion. Status of Muslims final day of meetingSummary of Findings and Recommendations Identity of Muslims in India distorted by media, Bollywood:The image created by the Bollywood films and the media of the Muslims is such that either a Muslim would be Mafia Don or would sacrifice his life for the majority’s Hindu Hero. But hardly a Muslim who is professional and educated, who does not want to live in slums is shown, said Sohail Hasmi, Javed Naqvi, Shesh Narayan and Mohammed Shoaib while discussing the issue related to the Identity of the Muslims in India on the second day of the three days national meet “What it means to be a Muslim in India” in New Delhi today. Convention on Status of Muslims in Contemporary India beginsWhat it means to be a Muslim in India today? In different words by different people the answer was same: it means to be vulnerable to state terrorism, to be fit to be treated as second-class citizen, said family members of some of the terror blasts accused from across the country. They were sharing a dais provided by ANHAD in the three-day national convention on Status of Muslims in Contemporary India in New Delhi on October 3. Intellectualizing Polygamy “A Futile Argument”Polygamy (in this context, polygny) in Islam is a subject that has been debated . Head of UN nuclear watchdog sees Iran cooperationTehran, October 05: The visiting head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog set Oct. 25 as the date for his inspectors to check Iran’s newly revealed uranium enrichment site and struck an upbeat note Sunday, saying Tehran’s confrontation with the West is shifting gears to more cooperation and transparency. Though the United Nations has no “concrete proof” of an ongoing nuclear weapons program, the chief of the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, said he has “concerns about Iran’s future intentions.” Flood threat to Hyderabad, other areasHyderabad, October 04: The flood fury in river Krishna has cut a devastating swathe in hundreds of villages along its course in Andhra Pradesh. The toll — unofficial reports put it over 100 — does not reflect the magnitude of the devastation. Thousands have been rendered homeless and remained without food and water for the second consecutive day, most parts of Kurnool and Mahaboobnagar districts were still under knee-deep water and the submerged temple town of Mantralayam resembled just a huge mound of sand after water receded. Father of the nationOne of the greatest men in the history of India is unarguably Mahatma Gandhi. The way he gave shape and character to India’s freedom struggle is worthy of a standing ovation. He sacrificed his own life for the sake of his country. The respect that he earned for himself despite leading a simple lifestyle is much appreciable. Mahatma Gandhi played a pivotal role in the freedom struggle of India. His non violent ways and peaceful methods were the foundation for gaining independence from the British. Read about Mahatma Gandhi’s role in freedom struggle of India. The Golden Age of IslamEvery Muslim talks about the Golden Age of Islam, and is nostalgic about it. Rightly so. In terms of science, medical progress, scientific achievements, and philosophical, religious inquiries, Islam and Muslim societies were recognized as the gateway to knowledge. While the Muslims derive great satisfaction in recounting the past glory of Islam, no one is interested in answering the questions as to how these things ended? Zawahri calls Obama a ‘fraud’Al-Qaida’s deputy leader on Monday seized upon President Barack Obama failure to bring about a freeze in Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank and called him a “fraud” in a new audio message. Ayman al-Zawahri’s 28-minute audio message was mainly to deliver a eulogy for slain Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, but he also took the opportunity to slam NATO member states operating in Afghanistan, including Germany, which he criticized for keeping troops there. Pawar takes a gamble; says he wants to retireSholapur, September 28: Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar says he wants to retire from politics and give younger leaders a chance. Plain enough but his party members are guessing who the younger leaders are going to be. “It is time for the younger generation to play a greater role and for me to slowly step back. Isn’t that a good idea?” said Pawar, 69, at an election rally of the NCP in Sholapur on Sunday. Israel shuts down for Day of Atonement amid fearsThe start of the Jewish Day of Atonement at sundown Sunday marked the beginning of a day like no other in Israel, on which even Israelis with no connection to religion tend to put their normal lives on hold. This year Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, comes at a particularly somber time following revelations of a previously hidden Iranian nuclear facility and more missile tests by the Revolutionary Guard. Can religion help the economic crisis?The worlds of economics and religion may seem far apart but a meeting in South Korea has been attempting to narrow the gap between the two. Religious and political leaders gathered in Seoul for a conference on interfaith co-operation. They concluded their three-day meeting with a call for religious perspectives to be taken into account by governments tackling issues like the financial crisis. |