BEDÃR AWAKE TO YOUR HERITAGE! Issue #

Bedãr Awake to your

Heritage!

September 2015

MY MERCY EMBRACES ALL THINGS – QURAN 7:156 DIVINE QUOTES

The old monk lit a candle with his trembling hands and went down the worn out stone steps into the secret chamber below where he had carefully hidden the old manuscripts. Outside the ancient crumbling walls of the basilica, the night was moonless and a gentle wind ruffled the desert sands of Basra. He could barely control his excitement. The day was near, perhaps it would happen tomorrow – on the night of the crescent moon!!

He was almost at the end of his mortal age and in all the long years in the past he had watched a spiritual decadence creeping in the world around him. The holy flames lit by Zoroaster, Moses, and Jesus were extinguished with the blood of humans. A corrupt Zoroastrianism was at war for centuries with a more corrupt Christianity, there was a continuous conflict among sects and creeds for supremacy stifling humanity and bleeding the life blood of nations. Among the sons of Ismail the belief in one true God had become a faded memory sinking the Arab world into the

darkness of idolatry. People of the Earth had become blind and were suffering under the heels of their tyrannical masters. As he stepped into the dark chamber he let out a silent prayer– ‘Please God let tomorrow be the day when I meet the Deliverer’.

Bahira had spent most part of his long life pouring over the tattered manuscripts, which he believed to be the original and unaltered gospels. The language resembled old-Aramaic. On many a nights he had crouched over them under the candle light deciphering this ancient language till early hours of the morning. The texts talked about the coming of a great Prophet, one who would bring the light of Knowledge to the ever darkening world. Signs had been mentioned, celestial bodies would form the divine pattern heralding the coming of this Messiah.

Continued in the next issue….

“….O my Lord, enrich me in knowledge.”(Quran, Sura Tãhã

20:114)

“Even if you are the most evil of evil people, by the raft of knowledge

alone you shall cross over all sin.” –Bhagvat Geeta, Verse 36

Basilca of Nestorian Christian monk Bahira, 4th century A.D., Basra, Syria (photo credit: 12).

Spring in the Desert The Story of Islam 01: Bahira of Basra

BEDÃR AWAKE TO YOUR HERITAGE! | Issue # 2

Sometime in the early 10th century a street in Kufa, Iraq, called Damascus Gate was being

rebuilt. During the demolition of the old street an ancient laboratory was unearthed. It contained, besides other things, a mortar and a large lump of gold. Experts began to wonder, could this be the laboratory of the legendary alchemist, Jãbir who tried to turn gross metal to gold and create artificial life?!!

We are talking about Abu Müsa Jãbir ibn Hayãn, also known as Geber in the West. He is the founder of chemistry and the author of the first chemical treatise. He was one of the greatest alchemist who lived in 8th century Kufa, Iraq. This Arab genius sought to discover the nature of things and in the process made fundamental discoveries and invented over 20 kinds of laboratory equipment which became the foundation for the development of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical science of the future. He paved the way for most of the later alchemists such as al-Kindi and al-Razi who too were giants in the field of chemistry. Geber’s books were of a major influence for the medieval European alchemists. They were later translated into Latin and became standard texts for the European alchemists of the Middle Ages. Jabir is credited with scientifically systemizing Chemistry and standardizing and perfecting numerous basic chemical processes and equipment which today form an integral part of a chemical laboratory worldwide. Some of these include sublimation, crystallization, liquefaction, distillation, purification, amalgamation,

oxidation, evaporation and filtration.

Above: Various instruments invented by Jabir

(Photo credit: 13, 7)

ALCHEMY: MISCONCEPTS

The word Alchemy is derived from the Arabic word for chemistry – Kimia i.e. al Kimia. For the Islamic scientist, alchemy had nothing to do with folk-lore or occult practices. It meant experimental chemistry and till the 17th century the Arab alchemists were the masters of this science.

The ancient world had the knowledge of only a mild acid – vinegar. Jabir discovered Sulphuric, Nitric and Nitromuriatic acids which are today the basic raw materials for several chemical industries. He began the chemical classification of substances, invented a scale so precise that it could weigh substances that were over 6400 times less heavy than a kilo.

Over 1250 years ago, this remarkable experimenter was a man ahead of his times. Some of his remarkable books include, The Great Book of Chemical Properties, The Chemical Combinations and The Dyes. His contribution to Chemical industry is equally impressive. He made major breakthroughs in the dyeing of cloth and leather, preparation of hair dyes, water proofing of cloth and

protection of iron using varnishes. He researched on writing in gold using iron pyrites, glazing of tiles and ceramics using salts. His work on metal refinement and preparation of steel contributed to the development of foundry techniques.

Among his greatest contributions are his theories related to the constitution of metals which, after minor modifications, have become a part of Modern Chemistry since the 18th century.

As for our fantasy and fairy tale fans, he invented something for them as well - a paper that was fire-resistant and an ink that could be read in the darkness of the night!!

Our Islamic Heritage-I The Three Giants of

Chemistry- 1: Jabir

ry

Continued from above: Jabir Above: Distillation process from 18th century Arabic treatise. Photo credits: 13. Below: 15th century European portrait of Geber. Photo credit: Wikipedia

BEDÃR AWAKE TO YOUR HERITAGE! | Issue # 3

JAT EMBROIDERY

Blue Aba (woman’s tunic) Embroidery by Jat women

The Hand of Abbas The small white five -petalled flowers used to border certain areas are believed to represent the panja (the hand of Al-Abbas ibn Ali a.s.). [Image credits: 6.]

FAST FACTS

68th Ranking of Bangladesh (GDP per capita- 2,364 US$) in Global Gender Gap Report out of 142 countries by World Economic Forum 2014

130th Ranking of Saudi Arabia (GDP per capita – 51,000 US$)

This index measures gender equality. The lower the rank the bigger the disparity in the rights enjoyed by men as compared to women.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Need more information on a certain topic in this magazine? Want to know the source/references for information given in this magazine? Please refer to page no. or contact the editor:

abdi_rupa@yahoo.co.in

The desert landscape of northwest India and eastern Pakistan is dotted with mud huts and thatched roofs of the hardy pastoral and semi-pastoral nomads. Their homes have been molded from the ochre earth beneath them and vary from the well plastered huts to a simple temporary dwellings made from reed and grass. However in this desolate land bloom blossoms of a different kind – bright and beautiful motifs woven by the nibble fingers of their womenfolk to adorn themselves, their families and their homes.

Certain styles, color schemes, stitches and motifs are specific to certain clans and have complex social meaning. These are passed on from mother to daughter. The purpose of weaving embroidery onto clothes and other objects of daily use is not just decoration, its purpose is also to ritually transform and make it function spiritually as well as physically. The pieces of mirrors stitched into the patterns are believe to ward off evil spirits who flee when confronted with their own images.

Some of the tribes who are known for their embroidery are the Jats and Mutwas.

Spinning and weaving are popular Sufi

motifs in cotton growing areas of the world. For the common folks living in these regions, creating Islamic motifs, through weaving, spinning and needlework, itself becomes an act of prayer. Spinning accompanied by the humming sound is compared to Dhikr. Such spinning turns the heart into a splendor precious thread. The need to spin also symbolizes working on one’s material i.e. the Self.

Header Image: Mutwa embroidery-The Mutwa women incorporate tiny mirrors into the design, along with intricate stitching using buttonhole and chain stitches in their style of embroidery. Motifs are mostly geometric in keeping with Islamic rules forbidding the depiction of humans and animals.

Blue Aba: Very intricately worked blue aba (tunic, top left) in which a variety of looped and flat stitches are used to create subtle changes in textures along with chain stitch, open chain, couching, cretan, dot, fly, long armed cross, and stem stitch interlaced with tiny mirrors.

Image on bottom right: The Suf embroidery style bears a resemblance to the Phulkari of Punjab, Baluchi embroidery of Iran and the needlework of Swat and Hazara in Pakistan. This embroidery work can, thus, be identified as a style of embroidery common to the wider region of Southwest Asia. In craft history, soof (a triangle) is explained as one of the most imaginative embroidery techniques, as no sketches or motifs are ever drawn on cloth. The result is a medley of fine geometric shapes which needs a diligence in mathematical counting (stitches are counted to create a consistent series) to learn this art.

Art in the Muslim World Blooms in the desert: Embroideries of Northwest

India and Pakistan

Beautiful motifs adorn the walls of the Bhunga: -the traditional hut of the semi-pastoral nomads .

BEDÃR AWAKE TO YOUR HERITAGE! | Issue # 4

THE JATS They came with only their Kharai

camels out of a landscape of naked tidal mudflats and a bleak desolation flecked with saline efflorescence that is the Desert of Kutch in north-west India. They migrated southwards into coastal parts of Kutch and Saurashtra in search of greener pastures (peninsula part of Gujarat, India.) But this was over fifty years ago. Since then they have dispersed into smaller groups and evolved a semi pastoral way of life. These are the Fakirani Jats. we met them near the salt pans of Bhavnagar port in Gujarat State of India. The Jats are believed to have their origin in Syria, Iran and Afghanistan. According one legend their tribe was initially settled in Iran. A king of Iran wanted to marry a beautiful girl called Jattu from their tribe. When the king arrived with his soldiers to take his bride the Jats massacred the soldiers and fled to Sindh and Baluchistan. The Jats of Sindh and Kutch are divided into 3 major clans - Garasia , Dhanetah and Fakirani. Among these the Fakirani Jats are semi-pastoral camel herders. Before the partition of India they would migrate freely between Sindh and Kutch with their camel herds feeding on the mangrove forests which once dotted the entire northwest coastline of the Indian subcontinent. They were originally considered as holy men, leading an austere life hence the name Fakirani.

[Above: A Jat playing the Surando]

‘Life was good then’, recalled Mohammad Bhai, one of the Jat elders, ‘the mangrove forests were dense and we would wander following our camels from one pasture to another.’ But times had changed, the forest had gone taking with them an entire way of life. The rapid pace of ‘development’ has by passed them. Their camel herds which once ran into hundreds have been drastically reduced. Most of the men have taken up alternate means of livelihood. Some have taken to cows and buffaloes, selling their milk in the neighboring villages. Others have taken up petty jobs in the cities. Mohammadbhai himself worked at the Bhavnagar port. With most men going out for work only the young boys are left behind to graze the camels. The Fakirani Jats are struggling to adapt to changing times. The camels are their only link to their past and they have clung on to them along with the Surando, which is their 100-year old,

five-stringed traditional musical instrument. But both lie in a dilapidated condition now. It’s only a question of time before the indiscriminate industrialization along the coast of Kutch and Saurashtra forces these Jats to entirely give up their traditional livelihood. As for the Surando, none among the youngster know how to play it. The Jats live near the coast in temporary huts made from reed and grass, never knowing when they will be driven out by the government authorities.

The only brightness in this bleak scenario is the colorful and ornate needle-work and jewelry adorning their women. The Jat women are skillful in embroidery, weaving densely worked geometric patterns resembling cross stitch, and incorporating mirrors. The girls begun to learn this craft from the older women from a very young age.

Today coffee has become an integral part of human lifestyle, but who really discovered it?

More than 1200 years ago a shepherd boy named Khalid, grazing his goats on the slopes of Ethiopia discovered this life changing substance. He observed that after eating some wild berries his goats became excited and lively. The berries were taken home and boiled in water to make the first cup of coffee called al-qahwa. From Ethiopia this beverage reached the Khanqahs of Yemen where it was consumed by Sufis to keep them vigilant during late night dhikr. [Image below: A Turkish Coffee House]

From here it spread to the rest of the Muslim world through traders, pilgrims and travelers. By 15th century it had reached Mecca and Turkey, and by 16th century it became a popular drink on the streets of Cairo. A Turkish merchant called Pasqua Rosee first brought coffee into the UK in 1650 CE. The preparation of coffee in Europe is largely based on the traditional Muslim preparation-boiling a mixture of coffee powder, sugar and water and allowing the coffee residue to settle at the bottom. In 1683 a Capuchin monk, Marco d’Aviano was fighting against the Turks who had besieged the city of Vienna. Once the Turks retreated, the Viennese prepared coffee from the abandoned sacks of Turkish coffee. Finding it too bitter for their taste, they added cream and honey to it. Since its resulting brown color resembled the robes of the Capuchin Monk, they named this preparation Cappuccino in his honor.

To listen to a more exciting version of this story please click the link given below:

SOUND FILE

https://soundcloud.com/rupa-abdi/coffee-final-revised

Our Islamic Heritage II The Story of Coffee

BEDÃR AWAKE TO YOUR HERITAGE! | Issue # 5

Most of us have seen the effect that a mother’s lullaby has on a crying infant. The muezzin’s soulful call to prayer (azãn) or the divine melody emanating from the chanting of the Holy Quran has inspired or calmed many a dull and restless heart. Would you still say that music and melody are Devil’s temptation?!!

Music was a popular cultural tradition among the Arabs during the time of the Prophet (saw). Music was used in worship rituals and to express delight and sorrow. Many Hadiths (a collection of traditions containing sayings of the prophet Muhammad which, with accounts of his daily practice, constitute the major source of guidance for Muslims apart from the Koran) have indicated that the Prophet (saw) not only expressed his likeness for Music but also encouraged others to play it during festive occasions. Hence music is an integral part of Islamic traditions. According to A M Baqir al-Majlisi, Allah revealed the Zabur (Book of Psalms) to Prophet Dawud (David a.s). And Allah commanded birds and mountains to sing praise of Allah along with Dawud. Allah gave Dawud a.s. such a melodious voice that none before him had ever heard. But there is other form of music played for vain entertainment which can lead to temptation and distract us away from the path of God. Under its captivating and sometimes almost hypnotic effect music can make people indulge in acts of violence and lust.

Thus different kinds of music can have different effects on people. Among the Sufis sama (literal meaning in Arabic - to listen deeply) refers to the practice of listening to sacred verses, sacred poetry, spiritual music / song for Divine remembrance and in Divine remembrance, often accompanied by ecstatic whirling and other gestures. The Sufis called sama a slippery stone, implying the dangers associated with it and the need for discretion. Perhaps by knowing the intention of the one who composed the music and the intention of the listener one can judge what kind of music takes us closer to God and what kind leads us into darkness. So music per se is neither good nor bad. It’s like the TV, its effect depends on which channel you are tuning into!!

Why is Pig’s meat

forbidden in Islam?

Forbidden to you (for food) are blood, dead meat, flesh of swine, and that which has been sacrificed in a name other than that of Allah….

Quran, Sura Al-Mã’idah 5:3

Pigs are scavengers by nature, which

means that they will eat almost anything,

including rotten food, feces, urine,

carcasses and even cancerous

growths. Unfortunately the digestive

system of a pig is incapable of effectively

removing these accumulated toxins from

the body because a pig will digest its food

entirely in about 4 hours. This is simply

not long enough to remove the excess

toxins that were ingested, these toxins

are then stored directly in the fat cells and

organs of the pig itself. Pigs are a host to

a number of parasites, viruses and other

organisms, many of which can be directly

transmitted to humans, some include:

Taenia solium (Tapeworm) -an intestinal

parasite that can damage almost all

organs of the body

Menangle virus –a virus that can cause

fever, chills, rashes, headaches and

sweating.

Trichinella –A parasitic roundworm that

can cause edema, myalgia, fever and

malaise. Hepatitis E –A viral inflammation that can cause fatigue, nausea and jaundice. More severe cases can lead to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Raising pigs under hygienic conditions and cooking their meat properly is no guarantee of safety from the above mentioned risks.

WHAT DO OTHERS THINK

Sarojini Naidu She was an Indian freedom fighter, a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and a poetess. She said:

It (Islam) was the first religion that preached and practiced democracy; for, in the mosque, when the call for prayer is sounded and worshippers are gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and king kneel side by side and proclaim: ‘God Alone is Great’… I have been struck over and over again by this indivisible unity of Islam that makes man instinctively a brother.

DID YOU KNOW? On 9th Nov.2004 the Amman declaration was issued jointly by 170 of world’s leading Islamic clerics and scholars in Amman, Jordan under the stewardship of King Abdulla II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan (above). It was a fatwa (legal ruling) denouncing all acts of terrorism committed in the name of Islam. The Amman declaration was an endeavor by the clerical institutions to reiterate some amount of authority over those who have hijacked Islam for their own murderous agenda.

Myths? Beliefs? Facts?

Music: A slippery stone

BEDÃR AWAKE TO YOUR HERITAGE! | Issue # 6

1. Parker, Philip. 2010. The Empire Stops Here: A Journey along the Frontiers of the Roman World. Pimlico Random House, London

2. Schaik, J., Christine Gruwez. 2014. The Impulse of Freedom in Islam. Lindisfarne Books. Great Barrington, USA

3. Janekins, Everett Jr. 2011.The Muslim Diaspora (Volume 1, 570-1500): A comprehensive reference to the spread of Islam in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas: Volume 1. McFarland & Company, North Carolina, USA.

4. BaqirAl-Majlisi,Allamah

Muhammad. (publication date not

mentioned)Hayat Al Qulub, Vol. 1,

Stories of the Prophets. Ansariyan

Publications, Qum, Iran

5. Yadama, Gautam N. 2013.Fires,

Fuel, and the Fate of 3 Billion: The

State of the Energy Impoverished.

Oxford University Press, New York.

USA

6. Dusenbury, Mary M, Carol Bier.

2004. Flowers, Dragons & Pine

Trees: Asian Textiles in the Spencer

Museum of Art. Hudson Hills Press.

USA

7. Lockyer Norman ed.Nature,

Volume7.Nov.1872-April1873.

MacMillan and Co. New York.

8. Reffner, Ervin. (Publication date

unknown). The Esoteric Codex:

The Alchemists. e-publication

(public domain)

9. Samiuddin.Abida and R. Khanum.

2008. Global Encyclopaedic

Ethnography of Indian

Muslims.Volume2.Global Vision

Publishing House, New Delhi, India. 10. ‘So Heddan So Hoddan’, a flim by

Anjali Monteiro and K.P. Jayasankar

11. https://procaricature.wordpress.com/2008/12/05/memory-of-another-day-damascus-syria/

12. Al-Hassani,SalimTS.2006.1001

Inventions: Muslim Heritage in Our

World. Foundation for Science and

Technology. Manchester, UK 13. Engelberg,NC

et.al.2013.Schaecher’s Mechanisms of Microbial Disease. Wolters Kulwer and Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.PA.USA

14. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/12/eating-pork.aspx

[Note: Unless otherwise mentioned, all photo credits are to Wikipedia.]

LETTERS FROM OUR

READERS

References and Further Reading

BEDÃR AWAKE TO YOUR HERITAGE! | Issue # 7

Bedãr Awake to your

Heritage!

Dr. Rupa Abdi abdi_rupa@yahoo.co.in

What has Islam come to mean? What was it meant to be? What does the world owe to the Islamic Civilization, which reached its peak when Europe was passing through the Dark Ages? These are some of the questions that we are trying to explore in this e-magazine. Suggestions and criticism are welcome but please keep it civil.