ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 11

32 Pages Rs. 25 Bengaluru English MonthlyNovember 2017 Vol. 30-11 No. 371 Safar/Rabiul Awwal 1439 H

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

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A Dargah with a DifferenceA visionary Sajjadanashin is revolutionizing the functioning

of Khaja Bandanawaz Dargah in Kalburgi. Besides the umpteen educational institutions that he runs, he has lent a modern touch to

the entire infrastructure and management within a short span of time. By Maqbool Ahmed Siraj

Dargahs are centres of devotion. They exercise immense pull over the devotees, who visit the mausoleums of saints and Sufis attracted by their message of love. They find solace by seeking peace for their distressed souls. The map of the Indian subcontinent is dotted with hundreds of such dargahs. But the one at Kalburgi (previously Gulbarga) is a dargah with a difference. If the teachings of the saint Hazrat Khaja Bandanawaz are a source of comfort for the hearts, the services rendered by the present custodians of the Dargah are equipping the youth with knowledge, tools and skills that can enable them to face the social and economic challenges of the times we live through. The Dargah has emerged as a catalyst for this transformation in the society. In fact, the Dargah has become a trendsetter in extending many benefits to the wider community. AutomationThat the Dargah Management Committee at Gulbarga runs a

string of institutions, including a medical and an engineering college, a college of law, a college of nursing and over two

dozen other schools and colleges may be an old story. What is more serendipitous is the fact that the entire management of the Dargah has witnessed a sea

change in recent years, with most services for the zaireen (visitors or devotees) having been modernized as well as

automated to the extent possible. The surroundings have been spruced up to the level of any modern facility. The credit for these changes goes to the

present custodian Dr. Syed Shah Khusro Hussaini, a visionary who succeeded his equally illustrious father Syed Shah Muhammad al-Hussaini in 2007 on the latter’s demise. Dr. Khusro is indeed a rarity among the genre of people who are generally associated with the management of dargahs in that he had the opportunity to attain modern education in best of public schools and to top it up with degrees from the famed McGill University in Canada. He began to straddle the two worlds, the old Sufistic school where traditions and conventions demanded compliance, and the modern academics, with focus on reason and the rational. The Dargah complex today is studded with all that a modern day visitor would expect. The pilgrims are guided through a ‘reception’ desk (or Isteqbalia) encased within a glass kiosk with computerized entry. Automated answering machines handle phone queries on EPABX system and direct callers to appropriate sections within the complex. Over 90 rooms meant for guests, spread

all over the complex with varying degree of comfort, offer state-of-the art facilities. Nearly all of them are equipped with biometric entry, provide surveillance with CCTV cameras and solar-heated water supply. Power back-up and air-conditioners take care of the contingencies and weather-related issues. Air-conditioners have been installed within the mosque inside the complex, while the entire floors have been carpeted.Regulated EntryVehicles’ entry into the Dargah is now regulated by men in uniform. In-house vehicles have their designated places. A motorized, noiseless buggy takes physically challenged visitors on a ride inside the complex. Cleaning the floor and picking littered solid waste is an ever on-going process, with a variety of machines, ranging from ride-on scrubbers and walk-behind sweepers to vacuum cleaners. Shade and Comfort Several Teflon canopies

Gulbarga Dargah has undergone a sea change during recent years, with visitors and devotees’

comfort taking precedence. Hygiene, safety and dignity are the buzzwords in the Dargah

management.

Khwaja Bandanawaz Dargah Concourse: Clean and Serene.

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 2follow-upPage 1

update

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Alliance for Peace and Justice‘Country is being Pushed under Corporate Fascism’

Moulana Sajjad Noamani and Justice Kolse Patil warn against lengthening shadows of authoritarianism and fascism.

By A Staff Writer

Bengaluru: MaulanaKhaleel Sajjad Noamani, Convener of the Alliance for Justice and Peace, has called for cooperation among all sections who are opposed to the ‘Corporate Fascism’ in the country. Addressing a large gathering of intellectuals here on

September 29 at the Agricultural Technologists Association Hall,

Noamani said Muslims, Dalits, OBCs and all progressive-minded and enlightened citizens should come together to resist the country’s downward slide

Moulana Khaleel Sajjad Noamani warns against ‘Corporate Fascism’ in the country.

Maulana Sajjad Noamani and Justice Kolse Patil addressed a gathering in

Bengaluru on September 29.

provide shaded spaces for the visitors within the premises as temperatures in Kalburgi are known to go considerably beyond 40 degrees Celsius during the

arid region’s torrid summers. The largest of the canopies is collapsible and measures 45 ft x 45 ft and covers the entire ablution tank that has automatic filtering machines to emit clean water. The elegant canopies and the meticulous cleaning effort have imparted a pleasant ambience to the main Dargah concourse ringed with several mausoleums, the largest of which is the domed structure over the grave of Khaja Bandanawaz, which rises to majestic heights. It is an iconic monument for the city of Kalburgi. The dome’s ceiling was repaired, restored and plastered with colourful mirrors during the 1980s. Though disapproved by archivists, the work was irreversible when critical evaluation was done by experts. Nevertheless, the interiors now exude a spectral splendor, casting a mesmerizing spell. However the latest restoration effort on the exterior of the domes has retained its plain white colour. A 76-ton air-conditioner now provides relief from the heat during rush of pilgrims during the annual Urs. The ducts for the cooled air are suspended from steel frames (the walls of the 15th century building do not support fixing). A Mist Cooling System comprising water

sprinklers has been installed under the large canopy that serves as the daily visitors’ resting place. The system is capable of cooling the interiors, bringing down

the temperature by six to eight degrees Celsius.

Khaja BazaarConcern for hygiene and sanitation go together. A toilet block with around 200 washrooms takes care of visitors’ needs. The traditional crafts bazaar known as Khwaja Bazaar around the complex is now more organized, with old makeshift shops having been replaced by pucca structures along neatly configured streets.

Digital Mapping Dr. Khusro Hussaini had gone about the task very systematically after his assumption of the seat of Sajjadanashin. He got the entire area digitally mapped in order to secure the Wakf properties,

raise fencing and consolidate and possibly restore heritage properties. The work for laying 260 metres of solar fencing was contracted out to Ibex Gallagher, a company from the Netherlands. Digitizing the Library The library in the Dargah complex, preserving some of the rarest of manuscripts, has also seen some whiffs of fresh air blowing across its musty interiors. The services of Arabic and Persian scholar Dr.

Mohammed Qamaruddin have been requisitioned to restore the library, which will be moving to the modern complex of the All-India Sayyid Muhammad Gisudaraz Research Academy. Qamaruddin says there are

plans on the anvil to digitize the entire works available within the library pertaining to tafsir (commentary of the Quran), Fiqh (jurisprudence), Ilmul Kalam (Science of discourse), history, literature and some rare copies hand-written copies of the Quran. The library is often visited by scholars of Eastern cultures from Western countries. Some of the manuscripts have already been transferred on DVDs by a Dubai-based firm.

A Monument RestoredAnother project worth mentioning successfully accomplished by the Management Committee is restoration of Sadar Sofah, the former residence of Sajjadanashins. It later came to be used as a venue for Mehfil-e Qawwali and other cultural activities. Known as Hussaini Mahal, it had lain in utter neglect for over a century and almost the entire roof had gradually vanished. Plaster had peeled off in vast patches of walls and plants and trees had taken roots into the crevices of the structure. Termites had hollowed out several rafters, beams and columns.The work was assigned to Jeernodhar Conservators, a firm specializing in restoration of heritage structures. Nilesh Thakker, a conservationist architect from the firm, says the team took care not to use concrete and only lime plaster was used to retain the originality. The entire roof was constructed anew. Around 80% of the old rafters had to be replaced. However glass panels replaced the front arches that previously carried bamboo curtains. Thanks to the restoration project, the over 3,000 sq. ft. historical building has turned into an edifice that can dilate pupils. The management has hung colourful drapery from alams that are taken out during Muharram. DynamismEven the Dargah Management Committee offices wear a new look. Be it finance, accounting, personnel management or educational institutions, Dr. Hussaini has been meticulous in recruiting only professionals and those who are amenable to learning new techniques. A man who is particular about details and is a passionate pursuer of refinement and elegance, Dr. Khusro has injected dynamism into an institution brimming with spiritual energy. n

A Dargah with a Difference ...

Shah Mohammad Khusro Hussaini An Inside View

Sadar Sofah: After Restoration Hoary library of the Dargah: Digitization is on.

Khaja Bazaar A Bangle Shop

Sadar Sofah: Prior to Restoration

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 33

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ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 4the muslim world

World Sufi Centre to be Set Up in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur: A World Sufi Centre is planned to be established in Kuala Lumpur for conducting studies and collecting inputs on Sufi practices, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said recently. He said that for a start, a philanthropist had agreed to donate US$1 million for the purpose. He said that it was hoped that the centre could help counter negative perceptions and prejudices about Islam. The idea of establishing the centre was agreed upon by Islamic scholars, muftis and thinkers from 38

countries who had gathered here in conjunction with a conference held at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Ahmad Zahid said it was the responsibility of the entire Muslim community to correct the perceptions of people of other faiths on Islam which had resulted following terrorist acts by a small group of people. He said Muslims must inform the world that Islam is a religion that promotes peace and they should separate militant groups from the religion.

(Extracted from themalaymailonline.com

Door-to-Door Campaign by Egyptian Women

Cairo: Muslim female preachers and Christian nuns recently attended an awareness course at Egypt’s Assiut University. This came as part of the training they have been receiving in the Door to Door campaign, led by Egypt's National Council for Women, in cooperation with the Ministry of Religious Endowments and the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church to promote Egyptian women’s issues. The head of Egypt's National Council for Women, Maya Morsi, said that the Door to Door campaign reached 1 million Egyptian women, adding that "a lot of the problems women suffered from were resolved." The Door to Door campaign sought to open informative

dialogues that focus on particular issues during face-to-face meetings with women and their families and provide religious, social or legal solutions to the problems raised. Sheikh Gaber Tayeh, the head of the Ministry of Religious Endowments' religious sector, stated: “The ministry is keen to involve female preachers in this campaign. This is based on its belief in the role of women and their importance in the community, and that the female preachers’ role should not be limited to the mosques. Rather, female preachers should assume an extensive role, reaching out to all parts across Egypt. This is why — in cooperation with the National Council for Women — a group of female preachers was chosen to volunteer.” n

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 55 CommentaryNew Hajj Policy

Affordable Pilgrimage without SubsidyThough the pilgrimage is performed only during 5-6 designated days, the operations are

large enough to demand the managerial exercise to span over the whole year.

By Maqbool Ahmed Siraj The Haj pilgrimage is the most complex organizational task undertaken by the Government of India beyond its borders. A little over 170,000 persons from India join the moving congregation around the holy sites in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia every year. This is the third largest contingent of persons after Indonesia and Pakistan. This entails the Government of India to work out the operations in detail. Though the pilgrimage is performed only during 5-6 designated days, the operations are large enough to demand the managerial exercise to span over the whole year. The Ministry of Minority Affairs has placed the draft of the New Haj Policy in public domain for discussion. Ever since the sea voyages were replaced by chartered flights to carry the pilgrims, the Government of India has been subsidizing the airfare. Under a Supreme Court ruling, the subsidy is being gradually phased out. The new policy rightly highlights the need to do away with it totally. It is perhaps towards this objective that the embarkation points for pilgrims have been recommended to be brought down from current 21 cities to nine, namely Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Lucknow,

Kochi, Chennai, and Ahmedabad. If indeed these nine cities were to be the only embarkation points, the pilgrims from North Eastern state and Srinagar will have to take additional flights to reach Kolkata and Delhi respectively, to board the flights to Jeddah. It would be rather cumbersome for the pilgrims from these far flung regions. The Haj Committee may include these regional destinations and make pro-rata increase in the airfare based on the added mileage. In fact, it should opt for differential airfare from all destinations based on the actual mileage travelled. Keep Off Sea VoyagesThe policy hints at possible reintroduction of sea voyages and calls for inviting Expression of Interest (EoI) from international bidders. The objective to make the pilgrimage for the average Indian by bringing down the cost of journey is indeed noble. Barring luxury liners where tariffs are astronomical and purpose recreational, days of passenger sea voyages are passé. It will be also erroneous to expect that sea voyages between Mumbai and Jeddah (distance 2,515 nautical miles or 4,527 kms) could be covered in three days. Generally, very sturdy ships can cruise at a speed of 15 nautical miles an

hour. Modern technology has not been able to enhance the speed of the sea vessels in any appreciable measure. Given this speed, no ship can traverse the distance in less than seven days. Add to this the hassle of taking a train journey to Mumbai, finding accommodation in the city for say a couple of days prior to departure etc. The idea

can best be given up. Moreover, Saudi authorities are less likely to entertain ships any more. Vulnerable to MisuseIt is useful to remember that ships were cancelled because they had become a source of corrupt practices. Sea voyages being cheap, organized gangs had begun human trafficking by taking poor people from West Bengal to the holy sites for begging during the pilgrimage. A former Chairman (1987 – 1994) of the Haj Committee of India, Mr. Ameen Khandwani is on record questioning: How come people who do not afford airfare, use sea voyages and bring fourfold more luggage while returning from the

pilgrimage? Gender ParityThe proposal to allow women above 45 to travel in a group of four without a Mehram is a step forward towards gender parity. (The term ‘mehram’ is used for the male whom a female cannot marry such as father, son or

brother). This would allow aged spinsters, widows and those whose husbands have already been to Hajj, to fulfill their lifelong desire to perform the Hajj. Whether or not its sharia-compliance, the private tour operators do take such

women on pilgrimage in larger groups. The Saudi authorities have maintained an attitude of benign ignorance on the issue. The draft calls for abolition of the special quota for applicants who have crossed the age of 70 and whose applications for Hajj could not find a chance through drawing of the lots four times. Going by the average life expectancy and health condition of an Indian, it will be advisable to retain this special quota in order to fulfill their lifetime ambition. One CategoryIt is quite in order that the policy calls for creation of just one category of accommodation during the 40-day stay in the holy

cities. So far there were three categories with differential tariffs, depending upon the distance from the Harem Mosques and the level of comfort. Since 30% quota for the pilgrims is being reserved for registered private tour operators, those looking for ease and comfort could always opt for them. Sacrifice CouponsThe policy makes it mandatory for all pilgrims to buy the coupons for sacrifice of animals from the Haj Committee of India. (The sacrifice is organized by the Islamic Development Bank against prepaid coupons which the committee proposes to buy and pass on to the pilgrims.) Such a provision may not be acceptable to all. Certain categories of Hajis would like to forgo the sacrifice (Qurbani) and instead fast for seven days as provided under the provisions of the Sharia.). Why make the buying of coupons (which on an average costs Rs. 7,000 and above) compulsory for all pilgrims? Overall the policy is in line with the changes that have occurred in recent times. It, inter alia, urges the Government of India to assign the Consul General’s position in Jeddah Consulate to the Ministry of Minority Affairs. It very rightly focuses on better training and selection of more able-bodied volunteers for Khadimul Hujjaj.

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 6update

Wakf Council

Rs. 2 Cr. for Wakf Complex ConstructionThe Board proposes to build four specialty hospitals in the State and a

rehabilitation centre for persons with mental disorders.By A Staff Writer

Bengaluru: The State Wakf Council will henceforth offer loans up to Rs. 2 core for construction of complexes on Wakf land. This was announced by Mr. Tanweer Sait, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Minority Affairs and Wakf on October 13. The Council will charge a cess of five per cent on all such loans. Hitherto, the Council was lending Rs. 50 lakh, the Minister observed. 4 Specialty HospitalsSait informed that the Karnataka Board of Awkafs will set up four specialty hospitals on Wakf lands in four divisions of the State. He appealed to the custodians of the Wakf estates to come forward to offer land for the purpose. He cited the instance of Bibi Ayesha Milli Hospital and Ansar Hospital operating out of Wakf properties in Mysuru. He said while the hospitals were providing treatment to the sick, the Wakf estates were receiving rents.Sait disclosed that a special task force had been set up in each district with the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and the Superintendent of the Police of the relevant district also included to oversee the protection of the

wakf properties and eviction of encroachment.Sait said the Wakf Board was pursuing the case of the Wakf land in Belahalli Cross (on the northern extremity of Bangalore) since 1971 and currently it is with Supreme Case. He said only 167 acre of this property is remaining and efforts are being exerted to bring it under the Wakf custody. Land DenotifiedReferring to the 2 acre 37 gunta Wakf land in Bhoopsandra (northern range of Bengaluru), he said the land had been notified by the Bangalore Development Authority. It has now been denotified and now efforts are on to bring it back to the Wakf Board. Even the Supreme Court has rejected its notification and now the Wakf Board was in correspondence with the Bangalore Development Authority to transfer Khata of the property in the name of Wakf Board. Two meetings have been held in this regard with the BDA Commissioner. Rehabilitation CentreThe Wakf Board proposes to set us a hospital and rehabilitation centre

at the Murgh Mallah Dargah in Chintamani (Kolar District), 75 kms north of Bengaluru, where several mentally retarded children are found abandoned by the devotees. The Board has allocated Rs. 2 crore for the purpose and has consulted the Bengaluru-based NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences) for the requisite know-how. The

Board has allocated Rs. 2 crore to the Rifahul Muslimeen, Mysore and Rs. 50 lakh for the repair works for the Masjid Quba in Vasanthnagar, Bengaluru. Madrassa ModernisationThe Directorate of Minorities of the Government of Karnataka has released Rs. 6.20 crore for 70 madrassas in the State as one time grant for introducing formal

education, modern sciences and computer training. In a notification dated October 16, the Directorate released of…………. (missing here) madrassas which include 18 madrassas in Bengaluru city, 11 in Kodagu, seven in Kalaburagi, 10 in Uttara Kannada, four in Bidar, three each in Dakshina District, Haveri, and Vaijayapura each, and one each in Chikkamagaluru, Raichur, Udupi, Bagalkote and Yadgir. n

World Tulip SummitAward for Istanbul Municipality

Ottawa: The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) was presented with an award and certificate by the authorities of the World Tulip Summit, which was held in Ottawa, in the first week of October. Presented by the head of the World Tulip Summit Michel Gauthier, the certificate was accepted by Turkish Ambassador to Canada Selçuk Ünal in the name of Istanbul Mayor Mevlüt Uysal, İBB stated. Addressing the participants, World

Tulip Summit Head Michel Gauthier stressed the importance of the "tulip" flower in Turkish culture, and praised the studies of İBB on tulips. Stating that the

tulip has an essential place in Istanbul's Cityscape, Gauthier expressed his gratitude over the "International World Peace Park" in Istanbul's Z e y t i n b u r n u district, which was garnished with many original tulips and flower

species. Under the context of the festival, İBB was also granted the award of "5 Best Spectacular Tulips." n

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 77

requested the leaders of the Khilafat Movement of British-ruled India to nominate someone

to care for the hospice. The Khilafat leaders honoured the request of the Supreme Council, then headed by Arab nationalist Mohammed Amin Al-Husseini. That is how in 1924 Sheikh NazirHasan Ansari – who was also part of the Khilafat Movement – was chosen to go to Jerusalem to take charge of the hospice. His son Sheikh Munir Ansari now heads the place. The Ansari family has been a steady presence in Jerusalem ever since.

(Extracted from mpositive.in)Page 18

Culture & heritaGeA 800-Year-Old Piece of Indian Heritage in

Jerusalem

Sufi saint Baba Farid

Jerusalem: Did you know that there is a corner of Jerusalem that has a distinct Indian stamp to it and its various residents wear their Indian origin like a medal? Next to the Al-Aqsa mosque in the city, there is the Indian Hospice in Jerusalem. The hospice is managed by the Ansari family and has a centuries-old connect to India. Indian pilgrims to Jerusalem can stay at the ‘Indian Hospice’ and pay homage to the IndianChishti Sufi saint Baba FariduddinShakarGanj, who visited the place 800 years ago. It is said that Baba Farid, who is revered by Muslims and

Sikhs and others, swept the stone floors around al-Aqsa mosque as a mark of devotion. He is also known to have taken up fasting in the silence of a cave nearby. Long after he went back to India, many Muslims from the sub-continent who passed Jerusalem on their way to Mecca stopped at this spot in memory of Baba Farid. It became a sort of temporary residence for the pilgrims.In early 1920s, Jerusalem’s Supreme Muslim Council

The Ansari family in front of their house in Jerusalem

Post-Sanctions, Iranian Rugs Arrive in US Markets

Iran has resumed carpet exports to the United States after nearly six years of inactivity. In the last Iranian calendar year (which ended March 2017), Iran exported nearly $90 million worth of carpets directly to the United States.

Tehran: Recently, Iran's capital city, Tehran, hosted the world’s largest handmade carpet exhibition. According to Hamid Kargar, the head of Iran National Carpet Center, about 730 companies from across Iran and dozens of carpet traders from across the globe participated in the 26th Iran Handmade Carpet Exhibition.” He added, “Among them were more than

90 international businessmen, including 14 Americans and 14 Japanese, who came to Iran for the first time.”The world-renowned Persian carpet, which is widely believed to have been around for more than 2,500 years, is deeply rooted in the Iranian national identity. There is probably no home in the country where at least one rug isn’t part of either the flooring or decoration.Iran is the world’s largest producer and exporter of handwoven carpets. According to Kargar, “About 3 million square

meters of carpets are woven in the country every year, 65% of which is exported to about 80 countries across the globe.” A number of antique Persian carpets can be seen in such renowned museums in different countries. This ancient industry has long had a significant share in Iran's non-oil exports. Nearly two decades ago, Iran had a record high export of nearly $690 million worth of

handwoven carpets (then 17.5% of total non-oil exports). But over the past decade, the value of such exports has slumped, for various reasons.

Increasing CompetitionAccording to the head of the Iran National Carpet Center, the last decade has been one of the toughest in the history of the Persian carpet industry. Referring to the US-imposed ban on imports of handmade carpets from Iran in September 2010, Kargar says: “The United States is considered

the world's top importer of handmade carpets and was Iran's top customer before the sanctions in 2010. At that time, they were importing some $80 million worth of carpets from Iran, which accounted for over 16% of our total carpet exports. So losing such a big customer was a major blow to our handmade carpet industry.”As a result of the US ban, not only did exports of Persian carpets to the country come to a total stop, but the overall value of exported carpets began to decline, reaching a record low of $315 million in the Iranian year of 1392 (March 2013-14). The industry has also seen increasing competition from other countries, which produce either replicas of original Persian designs or lower quality rugs for cheaper prices.

Protect the Rights of ArtisansAs a nonprofit governmental organization established in 2003 to support the Persian handwoven carpet industry, the Iranian National Carpet Center has undertaken several measures over the past years to protect the rights of artisans. “We have paved the path for issuing patents to Persian carpet designers," Kargar explains. "We have also registered our handmade carpets in 47 different geographical locations as national heritage with the World Intellectual Property Organization and registered the carpet-weaving craft in the

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 8women’s voiCe

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Saudi Women Allowed to Issue Fatwas

Saudi women are now allowed to issue fatwas following a vote in the Shoura Council. The historic move was approved by 107 votes and ends 45 years of only specialist men being able to issue fatwas in the Kingdom. The female muftis are to be chosen by a royal decree. The Shoura Council approved the recommendation,

made by one of its members, during its 49th meeting, calling

on the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta, the only governmental body authorized to issue fatwas in the country, to open independent sections for women. Women members of the Council last March had demanded that the issuing of fatwas should not be limited to men, through the involvement of female academies specialized in the study of jurisprudence in issuing fatwas. Professor of Juristic Policy at the Naif College for National Security, Saad Al-Quwaie, said that the involvement of women in Islamic jurisprudence and their participation in scientific activities was one of the key issues in the Kingdom.

(Extracted from

First Spokeswoman Appointed at Saudi Embassy in WashingtonFatimah Baeshen is the first Saudi woman spokesperson at the Kingdom's embassy in Washington DC. Baeshan was a director at the Washington based think tank Arabia Foundation. She joined the Arabia Foundation after having worked with the Saudi Ministry of Labour and the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning in Riyadh between 2014 and 2017. Her focus areas included the labour market, private sector

development, and women’s economic empowerment. Prior to that, Baeshen worked as a

consultant in socio-economic strategy for the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and the Emirates Foundation for Youth Development. She earned her master’s degree

with a focus on Islamic finance from the University of Chicago, and her Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Massachusetts, USA. n

Dr. Jemilah MahmoodMalaysian Woman Leads

Mercy MissionDr Jemilah Mahmood and her team were on their way to deliver medical supplies to a children's hospital in Iraq when they were trapped in a crossfire. Two people died, another two doctors were injured. Dr Jemilah was shot in her hip. She stitched herself up, left the bullet in. Today, Dr Jemilah is the Under Secretary General for partnerships at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the world's largest humanitarian group with over 190 national societies and 17 million volunteers, who together strive to help and save those stuck in wars, natural disasters and health emergencies.

Dr Jemilah's career in the medical sector began as an obstetrician and gynaecologist. But, it was a conversation with her son that sparked her love and interest in being a humanitarian. That night her life changed. She was watching television with her five-year-old son, explaining to him about the war in Kosovo

and telling him that children there were starving due to the war. His immediate response was, "Mum, you are a doctor, go and do something." That was the beginning of Dr Jemilah's journey as a humanitarian. She quickly applied to various humanitarian organisations volunteering her services and only Doctors without Borders responded., Dr Jemilah

asked her husband why Malaysians don't give importance to humanitarian causes. That's when her husband told her that if she felt so strongly about it, she should start an organisation. In 1999, Dr Jemilah

started MERCY Malaysia with the main objective of providing medical relief for vulnerable communities in both crisis and non-crisis situations. MERCY Malaysia sent five missions to Kosovo during the war in 1999 to provide mobile medical care. MERCY Malaysia had so little funds when they first started, to the point that their volunteers had to pay for their own airfares to fly into the Kosovo war zone. In the same year, the organisation also sent relief teams to Turkey to help victims of the 1999 Izmit earthquake. MERCY's medical team was also the first to arrive in Aceh, Indonesia, during the December 2004 tsunami. To date, MERCY Malaysia has sent

its team and aid to many war-torn and disaster areas in the world including Somalia, Turkey, Gaza, Sierra Leone, and Musan County in North Korea to name a few. Calling her childhood home a "mini United Nations", the 58-year-old doctor revealed that she was raised by kind and generous parents who taught her a great deal about helping those in need. n

Saudi clerics deny outright any possibility of equality between the sexes, discarding the precept as a foreign imposition. Viewed under this overarching lens, the lifting of the driving ban is best understood as an allowance of convenience, instituted not because it is likely to have wide and far-reaching implications, but precisely because it will have few or none. The reality of Saudi Arabia substantiates this reading; a majority of Saudi women (none of the kingdoms millions of migrant workers are included in this designation) are able and willing to afford chauffeurs, and driving for many will be a matter of sport or spectacle, an opportunity to have his and hers editions of fancy new cars. Jaguar and Cadillac know this and have already begun advertising to them.

The precept that the lifting of Saudi Arabia's driving ban suggests a new and different future for Muslim women disregards the work of Muslim feminists who have actually been working towards this goal. Jubilation at the lifting of an arbitrary edict, an example of how the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has used Islam to cover up its misogyny, is to recognise the legitimacy of the use of faith as a cover-up for laws and edicts that have nothing at all to do with it. Muslim women can do better than that; Muslim women are doing better than that. As long as the rights of millions of Muslim women remain subject to the whims of male monarchs, driving around is at best a fake freedom.

(This is a slightly edited version of the original article)

Muslim Feminism ...

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women’s voiCe

and binary, black and white, easy to applaud. Now that Saudi women could drive, it suggested; a constricted society, proudly patriarchal until now, had been transformed into the venue for a feminist victory.

Long-Denied EqualityBut simple solutions are often deceitful ones, using how

things may appear to cover up how things actually are. The Saudis did just that, utilising the simplicity of the driving-as-freedom metaphor as a front to distract from the real complications of faith and gender and long-denied equality. The proof is in the pronouncement itself, its glib grant of the freedom to "drive" without a male guardian covering up its smug silence on the larger issue of guardian-free travel itself. The detail is

As long as the rights of millions

of Muslim women remain subject to

the whims of male monarchs, driving around is at best a

fake freedom.

Muslim Feminism Beyond DrivingThe lifting of the Saudi driving ban is not motivated by concern for women's

rights, but rather strategic interest.

By Rafia Zakaria

The royal decree came on a Tuesday during the month of Muharram, while many of the world's Muslims were mourning. Announced simultaneously on Saudi state television and via a live media event in Washington, DC, King Salman's directive granted Saudi women, eternal passengers until now, the freedom to drive. They would be able to apply for and obtain driver's licenses, and when they had them, they could drive around the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia without the presence of a male guardian. The news, eagerly disseminated via Twitter, engendered great jubilation just about everywhere. "This is a huge step for us," one Saudi woman breathlessly exclaimed; the lifting of the ban was not just about driving, she gushed, it was a metaphor for Saudi women taking control of their own lives. Western women lavished their congratulations, their public praise underscoring a covert recognition of their own advanced freedoms; their luck at not being born in Saudi Arabia. It is no surprise that the driving decree was greeted with such profuse praise. The world loves simple solutions and here was a particularly appealing one, basic

just the sort to be overlooked by all those unfamiliar with the whims and fiats of the Kingdom, an oversight the architects of the ban-lifting spectacle were counting on. The grant of an almost freedom thus stood in for a promise of actual change or any real recognition of equality. A real advance in the project of empowering Muslim women and recognising their right to equality can never come from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The reason is simple: championing as it does literalist and de-contextualised readings of Islamic holy texts, the Kingdom and its clerics will never support the teachings of Muslim feminists who are pushing for just that. These women, who include scholars such as Dr Amina Wadud and Dr Asma Barlas among others, have used textual analysis of Muslim religious sources to argue that the Holy Quran enshrines gender equality as a central tenet of faith. Barlas, author of "Believing Women in Islam," shows how only six out of six thousand verses in the Holy Quran have been used by male scholars to impose male-dominated readings on Muslim women. It is just these sorts of male-dominated readings, intent

as they are on discounting the patriarchal context of the men who first produced them, that are the mainstay of the Saudi understanding of gender, their insistence that gender equality is antithetical rather than inherent to Islam.

Feel-Good SmokescreenSaudi intransigence towards

Muslim feminism and the project of recognising gender equality could be ignored were it not for the fact that the Kingdom and its scholars claim the provenance of defining true Islam for the rest of the Muslim world. It is on just this basis that they insisted the driving ban (and all other restrictions on women's

autonomy and leadership) was grounded in Islamic teachings. Driving may be off the list of forbidden acts for females, but everything else remains on it. The lifting of the Saudi driving ban is not motivated out of concern for women's rights but rather strategic interest. The story proceeds thus; for as long as it served their purposes, the Al Saud monarchs of old refused to budge in their insistence that women could not be permitted to drive. Then came the pressing prerogatives of the present moment; the lifting of the driving ban now had the potential to be just the feel-good smokescreen that could detract from more noxious issues such as the suppression of dissent within the Kingdom and the slaughter of Yemeni civilians just beyond it.In the interest of rescuing brand Saudi Arabia, a shred of misogyny was thus sacrificed; that the lifting of the ban was telecast not only in the Kingdom but also via a live media event in DC explains all the restThe intrigues of strategic manoeuvring, however, should not detract from the truth that the Kingdom's orientation towards the position of women within Islam is diametrically opposed to those who are pushing for a gender-egalitarian understanding of Islam. In still insisting that women can never lead, must beg guardians for permission to travel, to open a bank account, to enroll in university, must be subservient to husbands, to fathers and even to sons,

The reality of Saudi Arabia substantiates

this reading; a majority of Saudi

women (none of the kingdoms millions of migrant workers are included in this

designation) are able and willing to afford chauffeurs,

and driving for many will be a

matter of sport or spectacle.

national affairs

Journalists Protest Against Growing Intolerance

New Delhi: Hundreds of journalists recently formed human chains at various places across the country to protest intimidation of the media and the killings of scribes, including the murders of Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru and Shantanu Bhowmick in Tripura, and to draw attention towards “increasing intolerance against criticism”. Scores of scribes turned up at the Press Club of India (PCI) here and formed a human chain in the heart of the capital to express their solidarity with their colleagues who were killed in the line of duty. The protests on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti were organised by various media associations, including the Press Club of India, Federation of Press Clubs in India, Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Association, Kerala Union of Working Journalists and Indian

Journalists Union.The trigger for the protests were the killings of Gauri Lankesh, the editor of Karnataka-based Lankesh Patrike, who was shot dead at her own doorstep, and Bhowmick, who was abducted and later hacked to death by a tribal group in Tripura while he was covering a fight between two local factions. According to data compiled by an independent non-profit organisation ‘Committee to Protect Journalists’, at least 10 journalists have been killed in India since 2014 for various reasons. “Expressing concern at the growing incidents of attacks on sections of the media fraternity across the country – the symbolic protests on October 2 sent out one single message – violence against journalists in any form will not be tolerated in the land that preaches

nonviolence.” The protests were held to draw attention to the “increasingly unsafe environment for journalists, the misogynistic and abusive targeting of media persons for their views on online forums, covert and overt threats to physically harm journalists for holding different opinions and increasing intolerance against criticism”. They resolved that journalistic freedoms and the right to dissent needed to be protected and the right to freedom of expression needed to be upheld in the interests of India’s liberal secular democracy. The protesting journalists later signed a memorandum to be given to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh “requesting his intervention for a status report on attacks against journalists in various states and action in this regard”. n

“India Leads the World in the Rate of Growth in

Inequality” Says P. SainathPalagummi Sainath, India’s prominent journalist on rural affairs and poverty, spoke on inequality and the agrarian crisis in India, in a talk jointly organized by AID, Boston and the Alliance for a democratic South Asia, Boston, on September 28, 2017, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. Sainath expounded on the multifactorial causes of the agrarian crisis and the resulting rapid acceleration of inequalities in India in recent years. Citing the Credit Suisse Global Wealth Databook, he noted that inequality growth rate in India is now the fastest in the world. The top 1% of earners in India own 47% of its assets, while the bottom 30% own very

little. Sainath discussed how the globalization agenda pursued by successive governments has exacerbated poverty amongst rural farmers, driving many to suicide. This grim outcome has been the result of misaligned policies such as the move from subsistence farming to cash crops without sufficient grassroots support and training. Furthermore, systemic failures to ensure farmers from the vagaries of global markets and the negative effects of globalization of agriculture, inefficient allocation of resources and credit, and the rapidly rising rural healthcare and farming costs have all been significant contributors.

(Extracted from twocircles.net)

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 10letters

Dear ReadersWe thank you immensely for your continued support and encouragement all through these years and God willing for many more years.

Your feedback is extremely important for us. We welcome your letters of appreciation or brickbats which we will take in the right spirit. Let us know which pages inspire you in Islamic Voice which, if any, you think we could improve or even do without.

We welcome your suggestions for improvement.

Please email to workmailsedit@gmail.com or you may drop a post card to The Editor, Islamic Voice,

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editorial

from here & there

King Salman's Extravagant Morocco TripI have been receiving Islamic Voice Monthly regularly for which I am thankful to you. According to news published in a section of the Press, Saudi Arabia's King Salman visited Morocco recently and the amount wasted by the Saudi King comes to $100m. He visited with an entourage of over 1000 people. Islam preaches simplicity. Islam prohibits unnecessary expenses. Even the State heads of United States of America and the United Kingdom and other developed countries do not spend such an enormous amount during annual break. The amount wasted by King Salman could have been utilised to help Rohingya Muslims, Ethiopian Muslims and the Muslims who are living in dire

poverty. across the globe. The money wasted by King Salman could have been used for building science labs, Universities, colleges and for the upliftment and betterment of Muslims and other weaker sections of society. Has King Salman followed the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)? It is my opinion, as a Muslim, that King Salman's action is un-Islamic. I strongly condemn King Salman. Could you please join me in condemning the mighty and powerful King?

Farooq Abdul Gafar Bawani, Rajkot (Gujarat), Ph: 9879188179, bawanifarooq@gmail.com

A Modern Mosque without MinaretsThe Vali-e-Asr mosque in Tehran doesn’t have a minaret, nor a dome; neither did the first mosque. A mosque is a place for worship, and the Qur’an doesn’t

dictate a special structure for it. It’s what it contains that is important.

By Saeed Kamali Dehghan When the Tehran authorities commissioned the construction of a mosque near the City theatre – one of Iranian capital’s most distinctive buildings – it was always going to be a tricky balancing act for the architects to design something unique that did not eclipse the adjacent structure.The theatre, which was built before the 1979 revolution, has a spectacular tiled circular structure with external pillars and is the largest exclusive space in Iran for performing arts. The new mosque next door is a modern building that sits in harmony with it, sweeping from the ground towards the Qibla (the direction of Mecca), allowing sunlight through windows embedded in a wave-like structure.But the Vali-e-Asr mosque, designed by the Iranian architects Reza Daneshmir and Catherine Spiridonoff, is stirring controversy in a country that hosts some of the world’s most glittering places of worship. Iranian hardliners are refusing to recognise it as a mosque, complaining that it does not have a minaret or proper dome, and that it is dwarfed by the theatre.The mosque was due to be officially inaugurated this summer, nearly 10 years after the couple’s Tehran-based architecture firm, Fluid Motion, was commissioned to design it. The building is almost finished, but controversy has led to its funding being cut, meaning that the interior design has not been completed. The mosque is located in “one of the most culturally sensitive places in Tehran”, according to its architects. It is at a point where the Enghelab (Revolution) Street crosses the tree-lined Vali-e-Asr, the most important junction in the city, not far from Tehran University

and its surrounding bookshops.“We tried to create an interaction between the mosque, which has a cultural essence, and the City theatre. We wanted to make it a cultural project that would be in harmony with its surroundings – the mosque should respond to the needs of its own time,” the architects said.

Built over an area of 3,855 sq metres (4,600 sq yards), the seven-floor mosque is 32 metres high, only 20 metres of which is above ground. It has big prayer halls, cultural centres, an imam’s residence and parking spaces.The mosque was proposed 14 years ago when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was mayor of Tehran. When Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf became mayor, the design was given to Fluid Motion. The couple are experts in designing contemporary buildings. Daneshmir’s 2008 Pardis Mellat cinema is in many ways responsible for starting a new wave of modern structures in Tehran.“Our biggest source for this project was the Qur’an itself,” the architects said. “We tried to design this mosque with modesty,

simplicity and good faith, and not a mosque which would get its pride from its structural height. The Vali-e-Asr mosque is located near the students’ park and the City theatre. We wanted it to connect better with the younger generations.”The couple said they were inspired by the Quba mosque, the oldest in the world dating back to the lifetime

of the prophet Muhammad. “Simplicity was a main feature of the first mosques,” they said. They thought about the one-room concept and designed it so that “the general outline of the mosque is a gentle dome”.Creating novel religious spaces is not an unusual practice in the world of architecture, and unusual mosques even exist in

Tehran, such as al-Ghadir mosque in Mirdamad Avenue, which won the Agha Khan award for architecture.Whilst there are examples of humble religious spaces … religious buildings are often created from grand atriums, domes and towers which stand high to dominate the visitors. These typologies metaphorically refer to the grand nature of God. The geometry of Vali-e-Asr mosque doesn’t follow this logic. It dissolves into its surrounding context. This makes the mosque an accessible and a humble religious space, most important purposes of the mosque which praying and gathering people in a public space have been fulfilled.”Daneshmir and Spiridonoff said: “The Vali-e-Asr mosque doesn’t have a minaret, nor a dome; neither did the first mosque. A mosque is a place for worship, and the Qur’an doesn’t dictate a special structure for it. It’s what it contains that is important.”

(Source: theguardian.com/world/2017)

Reza Daneshmir Catherine Spiridonoff

Showing the Way ForwardPresident of India Mr. Ramnath Kovind has demonstrated true statesmanship by recognizing the role of Tipu Sultan in Indian history by fighting against the advancing British empire. He deserves appreciation for stating what appears unpalatable for the party that put him in the highest office of the land. Similarly, the retracing of steps by Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, by describing Taj Mahal ‘a gem’ causes relief for all those who were apprehensive about the safety and the security of the 16th century monument of love in Agra. Better late than never, the words from Yogi are soothing for the Muslim minority which was direly in need of positive signals from the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the most populous state of India which is also home to more than 25% of the country’s Muslim population. The two statements are likely to douse fears and bring down the social heat generated in the wake of flip-flop stances over issues of history, heritage and status of minorities within the country. The practice of resorting to issues pertaining to history and religion are having heyday ever since the BJP stepped into the saddle of Union Government. It serves no purpose in an India that faces monumental challenges of feeding, clothing and providing shelter to one sixth of the world’s humanity. Religion has thousands of manifestations in the lives of the people. But one would be totally mistaken if he or she were to take religion as the ultimate source of law and guidance in matters of nation-building. Religion as is seen today is an amalgam of scriptural doctrines, their interpretations in various ages and societies, mythology, archaeology, rulings by kings and courts, and the morphing it underwent at the hands of technology. Words and languages in which the divine scriptures were revealed may remain original, but are prone to varying interpretation as per the context. This being the reality, it will be appropriate to leave history to itself and eschew motivations emanating from it in today’s decision-making and statecraft. Only such a society and nation will be able to prevent revenge and prejudices from clouding their judgement and will help us build an inclusive society based on equality and justice. Little wonder then that most of the Western societies have taken this path and have been able to deal equitably with all within their borders including multiracial immigrants. Barring some aberrations, they deal with the multitudes on the basis of citizenship rather than on considerations of colour, gender, faith and culture. It is time we all engaged ourselves in assessing our positions and stances on various issues and align them along the lines of justice and fairness. A modicum of consensus on national issues is essential for progress of all and the building of an inclusive society. This necessitates a continuous dialogue on contentious issues and keeping them on the margins without their interference into statecraft. The President has shown us the way forward.

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 1111

Page 19

issues

Draft New Hajj Policy 2018-22Proposal for women pilgrims aged 45 and above to travel in group of four or more women;

Reintroduction of sea voyages to be explored; Embarkation points to be cut down to nine from current 21.

New Delhi: The Government of India's Ministry of Minority Affairs has released the Draft Haj Policy. The report by the Committee set up by the Union Government under chairmanship of Mr. Afzal Amanulla, former Secretary in the Central Government presented the draft policy on October 7 to the Union Minister for Minority Affairs (MoMA). The Union Government has sought the views of the people before the Policy could be finalized. Following are the salient points:

1 For the next five years i.e., 2018 to 2022, the Haj Committee of India (HCOI) and the Private Tour Operators (PTO) will share the pilgrim quota on 70:30 basis. (Currently the quota of Haj pilgrims allotted to India is 170,000. It is periodically reviewed between the Govt. of India and Saudi Arabia).

2 The reserved category of applicants i.e., for those who are 70 and above and

those who are applying for the 4th time (having failed in getting a slot in the first three times), will be abolished.

3 Of the 70% allotted to the HCoI, the Government of India will take out 625 for Khadim ul Hujjaj (volunteers sent for helping and guiding the pilgrims in the holy sites) and another 500 towards Government quota. The remaining quota will be distributed across all the states and Union Territories which is customarily done on the basis of proportion of Muslim population.

4 The pilgrims will be selected by Qurrah (drawing of the lots). In case there are surplus seats, some states such as Bihar, West Bengal, Assam generally have lesser number of applicants than the number of pilgrims allowed under the quota for these States.

5 Of the surplus seats, 500 seats will be utilised for Mehram. In case, more seats than 500 are surplus, upto 2,000 seats will be allocated to the State

of Jammu & Kashmir as a special measure. If still some more seats fall into the surplus category, these will be distributed among those State and Union territories that have received 500 or less Haj application forms, but have not been able to satisfy all the applicants.

6 The women above 45 years

of age, intending to perform pilgrimage, but do not have a male Mehram, will be allowed to travel in groups of four or more women.

(Note: Male Mehram is one who cannot marry a woman in any situation, such as father, brother or son.)7 a; The Haj Committee of

India should have only one category of accommodation.

b: All accommodation should be hired in Azizia area of Makkah (which is nearer to Harem) and where large chunks of accommodation are available.

c: Only new and multistoried buildings equipped with all the facilities should be hired.

d: There should be efforts to hire a series of buildings in the vicinity of each other.

d: Buildings with complaints should not be considered for hiring in the subsequent Hajj season. Brokers and agents should be avoided while hiring.

e: The HCoI can take into account the maximum hiring rate for fixing the Hajj charges. But the Hajis could be refunded the excess amount, if any, after the hiring and accounting has been done.

f: While hiring the building, the HCoI should look for all necessary items of use such as mattresses, pillows, bucket, mug, brooms and wiper and the hiring charges should include them rather than hiring these items separately.

8-Accommodation at Madinaa: All accommodation should be

within the first ring road i.e., Markazia area.

b: HCoI should go for open and transparent bidding.

9 The post of Consul (Haj) should be with the Ministry of Minority Affairs. (It is with Ministry of External Affairs

now.) 10 The posting of Consul General

Jeddah should be finalized in consultation with the Ministry of Minority Affairs and

the Annual Performance Appraisal Report of the Consulate General of

India and other officers should be partly assessed by officers of appropriate seniority in the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

11 The Government should pursue the existing subsidy plan for phasing out the subsidy.

12 Embarkation points may be reduced from the present 21 to nine which are: Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata, Ahmadabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Cochin.

13 Suitable facilities such as Hajj Houses be constructed at embarkation points.

14 The Govt. of India should engage with the Govt. of Saudi Arabia and try to get the option of undertaking global tenders for the Haj Charter.

15 During air charter operations, the flights take the pilgrims and return empty and again after 40 days, they fly empty and bring back the pilgrims. It would be appropriate

for Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Ministry of civil Aviation to explore the possibility of using the empty flights for commercial activity.

16 A debate is on to privatize the Air India (which currently operates the chartered flights). The Ministry should consider how to overcome the

challenge. 17 Before pilgrims disembark at

Jeddah or Medina, the airlines must necessarily give an extra food packet to each pilgrim and a bottle of water.

18 It is suggested that global Expression of Interest (EoI) from vessel owners having newer vessels of 4,000 plus capacity be invited who can ferry pilgrims between Mumbai and Jeddah in consultation of Ministry of Shipping & Transport and Shipping Corporation of India. But opinion of the Saudi Govt. should be ascertained to shipping operations and security concern be addressed.

19 Pilgrims should be instructed to carry only standard baggage with proper identification from India. Baggage in the form of bundles, loose items, items tied in bedsheets and those without proper identification tags should not be loaded on the planes at the embarkation points from India.

20 All pilgrims should be accommodated within the traditional boundaries of Mina.

21 Rates charged by the Moallims should be fixed for at least a five-year period.

22 Moallims against whom there are serious complaints, or those who have been non-responsive to the complaints should be blacklisted by the Indian Mission.

23 The coupons for sacrifice of animals should be made compulsory for each pilgrim.

24 The Khadimul Hujjaj should be physically fit and mentally alert and should be properly trained before being sent to Saudi Arabia. A Khadim should be tagged on to 200 pilgrims from the State concerned and should travel to Saudi Arabia before the group arrives there. They should wear sleeveless waistcoat with the Indian colour on top of their normal clothes at all times except when they may be in Ihram. They should mark their attendance in their respective branch office in Madinah and Makkah in forenoon and at night before Isha prayers. They should submit a detailed report to the respective State Haj Committee and the HCoI.

25 The present system of sending a two-member Hajj Goodwill Mission for Hajj each year by the GoI should continue. They should make it a point to inquire into the welfare of the pilgrims, visit the

places of stay and learn about the difficulties faced by the pilgrims.

26 Nomenclature of Private Tour Organisers (PTOs) should be replaced with Haj Group Organisers (HGO).

27 The Haj Division of the Ministry of External affairs should develop a portal for online receipt and processing of PTO applications. The manual applications can be done away with for certain specified categories of PTOs.

28 The PTO should be classified under three categories:

A: PTOs having experience of 12 Haj operations or more; average annual turnover of Rs. 5 crore or more from Haj/Umrah operations in the preceding two years. They may be allotted 200 seats.

B: Category-B: PTOs having experience of minimum of five Haj with an average annual turnover of Rs. 2 crore or more in preceding two years. They may be allotted 100 seats each.

New Haj Policy being unveiled by the Committee appointed by Ministry of Minority Affairs.

The draft New Haj Policy recommends

keeping the Haj Committee : Private

Tour Operators quota at 70%.

It proposes only one category of accommodation against current

three.

Buying of Qurbani coupons should be made compulsory

for everyone.

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 12Community roundup

Aurangabad Special Court Acquits Four Muslims

Booked on Terror ChargesBy Siddhant Mohan

The Aurangabad special sessions court has acquitted four Muslim youth from terror charges in a judgement on October 3. The accused, Shaker Khilji, Abrar Shaikh, Zafar Qureshi and Anwar Khatri were arrested in relation to Himayat Baugh encounter case, which happened on March 26, 2012, in which the Maharashtra ATS gunned down Azhar Khatri on the spot. The accused were tried under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 (UAPA), Sections 307, 353 and 34 of IPC, and sections 3, 25 of Arms act in the Aurangabad special sessions court. The case was running a slow pace until on the accused’s demands, Jamiat Ulama-e-Maharashtra took over the case in March 2017. Judge of the case, V.V Patil put the case on timed and fast proceedings by calling the witnesses and accused to appear on regular basis on September 11 this year. The judgment has acquitted all the four accused, from UAPA, but has convicted Shaker Khilji and Abrar Shaikh in the IPC section 307 only. Hafiz Nadeem Siddiqui, President Jamiat Ulama-e-Maharashtra said, “This is a big success for

the community where all the accused have been acquitted of terrorism charges.” “Our legal team is confident that even the conviction of two accused under sections of IPC will not survive before High Court and hence we will soon file an appeal against their conviction,” he added. The prosecution failed to provide any evidence regarding the charges which the accused were facing. The accused have been facing charges in relation to the Ahmedabad bomb blast case, 2008. Based on the input, Maharashtra ATS conducted a raid in Himayat Baugh locality of Aurangabad in 2012, in which one accused was killed. The investigation of this case was led by the CID.(Extracted from twocircles.net)

Muslims, Sikhs Join Hands to Contribute for

Rohingya KitchenShahi Imam Habib-ur-Rahman and Gurdwara

Dukh Niwaran Sahib Mukh Sewadar Pritpal Singh felicitate functionaries of Khalsa Aid at Jama

Masjid in Ludhiana.

Photo: Inderjeet Verma

Ludhiana (Punjab): In a humanitarian gesture to Rohingya refugees taking shelter in Bangladesh, members of the

local Muslim community have contributed Rs 9.32 lakh, which also include a contribution of Rs 1 Lakh from Pritpal Singh, Mukh Sewadar of Gurdwara Dukh Niwaran Sahib. The money will be

donated to Khalsa Aid, a voluntary body, which has been running a langar (community kitchen) for the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

In a function held at Jama Masjid here, the Shahi Imam of Punjab, Habib-ur-Rahman, felicitated the functionaries of Khalsa Aid for their noble gesture towards humanity. n

Jamia Opens Graduate & PG Programmes for Army Personnel

New Delhi: The Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) recently opened its graduate and post-graduate programmes to Army personnel through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed between Vice-Chancellor, Prof Talat Ahmad and Lt. Gen. Ashwani Kumar,

Adjutant General, Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Army). The army personnel can now register at the university’s Centre for Distance and Open Learning to complete their higher education under the aegis of ‘Taleem-e-Taraqqi’.

With this Mou, JMI has acquired the unique distinction of being the only university in the country where personnel of all three forces can enrol themselves to pursue a degree of their choice. JMI had signed similar MoUs with the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy in the past. These

MoUs have enabled sailors and airmen to enrol themselves in the university. As many as 12,000 personnel have already been registered so far. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Talat Ahmad said that the arrangement will help Army personnel complete their

higher education and improve their career prospects. It will be JMI’s way towards contributing to nation-building. Reminding the gathering about JMI’s rich past and its role in the freedom struggle, Prof Ahmad said, “there is a collective realization that our forces sacrifice a lot for us and so it is our duty to ensure a better future for them through higher education”. Prof Ahmad said that it is a matter of pride and privilege for the university to be able to serve all the three forces. Let. Gen. Kumar said that JMI is a university that was founded on principles of nationalism and has produced great luminaries and visionaries. JMI, he said, has excelled in giving value-based education which brings out the fundamental traits of character necessary for a healthy, prosperous and a happy society.

(Extracted from twocircles.net)

States Obliged to Compensate Victims of Cow Vigilante Groups: SC

The Supreme Court has said that states were obliged to compensate the victims of cow vigilante groups and asked all of them to file a report on the compliance of its order by appointing a nodal officer to prevent violence by such vigilante groups. "Victims are to be compensated. It is obligatory on the part of the state to compensate the victim of crime," said the bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. Under the Code of Criminal Procedure, the state is under obligation to have a scheme for victim compensation and if they don't have, then they should have one, it added. Senior counsel Indira Jaising, appearing for Tushar Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, had urged the apex court to order

compensation to the victims of violence by the vigilante groups. The court's observation that it was incumbent upon the state to pay compensation to the victim of crime, came in the course of the hearing on a batch of petitions, including by Tushar Gandhi seeking its intervention on curbing violence by cow vigilante groups. Jaising maintained that she was not asking for the formulation of a new scheme and just seeking the enforcement of the existing scheme in the case of the victims of cow vigilantism, referring to the case of Junaid who was beaten up and stabbed in a moving train between Delhi and Ballabgarh, was getting treated at a private hospital in Delhi and needed compensation immediately. She also said that there should be a National Policy for the Prevention

of Crime. Telling Jaising that they are not going to pass any order at this stage, the court said that all these issues can be raised during the next hearing of the matter on October 31. The court said that if the petitioners wanted, they can file a separate petition on the issue of compensation. Senior counsel Kapil Sibal, also appearing for one of the petitioners, told the court that while the perpetrator of violence in the name of protecting cows were on bail, the victims faced FIRs and persecution. "There are several FIRs lodged in cases involving violence by cow vigilante groups and not in one case, anything has happened," he told the bench. In the last hearing of the matter on September 6, the top court had said that that cow vigilantism has to stop and directed states/union territories to appoint district nodal officers to take steps to prevent and act against perpetrators of such violence. "This must stop. What action have you taken? It is not permissible. There has to be some kind of action," the court had said while seeking the response of the state governments. While directing appointment of nodal officers in each district, the top court had in the last hearing instructed the state Chief Secretaries in coordination with Director Generals of Police to crack down on vigilante groups.

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 1313 people Freed Indian Catholic

Priest to Receive Mother Teresa Award

An Indian Catholic priest who arrived home recently after being freed from 18 months of captivity in Yemen has been named as this year's recipient of the

Mother Teresa Award for Social Justice. Salesian Father, Thomas Uzhunnalil, will receive the award from the Harmony Foundation, a Mumbai-based group. Abraham Mathai, founder of the group, said that the priest had been chosen as his life exemplifies the theme of this year's awards. "Compassion Beyond Borders — a compassionate response to the refugee crisis," is the theme this year, Mathai said. Father Uzhunnalil was released on Sept. 28 after 18 months of captivity in Yemen, where a civil war between government forces and Houthi rebels has killed a vast number of people since 2015, according to the U.N. Suspected Islamist terrorists kidnapped the priest in March 2016 during an attack on a home for the elderly, operated by Missionaries of Charity nuns in Aden. The militants gunned down 16 people, including four Catholic nuns. The priest served as chaplain at the home.Father Uzhunnalil "had the option of leaving Yemen in 2015, but

he chose to stay and provide humanitarian aid in the midst of such terror," Mathai said. The award recognizes his "dedication and commitment towards working in a place of great danger where his colleagues were murdered in cold blood," Mathai said. The Mother Teresa Memorial

Awards for Social Justice was introduced in 2005.

Kashmiri Photographer Brings Laurels to the ValleySrinagar: Twenty-three-year old Sharafat Ali, a photojournalist from Srinagar, has brought

laurels to the Valley by winning the prestigious Ian Parry Scholarship award for his work. Ali started taking pictures in 2013 and was later mentored by Showkat Nanda, a documentary photographer from Kashmir. Ali won the award for his photo essay, “Who am I – Uncertain Identity”. Sharafat’s work deals with conflict, politics, faith and daily life in Kashmir. Ali gives all the credit to his mentor Nanda who trained him as a professional photographer. “A few years ago, there was nothing extraordinary about my photography until I met him and became his lifelong disciple. His mentorship completely transformed me and exposed me to a completely different world of photography,” he says. Ali plans to tell some of the most important stories from Kashmir. He plans to document Kashmir from the perspective of someone who has lived through the conflict there. “I don’t want to cover anything violent because that has been done

extensively. I feel that the other aspects of Kashmir have remained undiscovered”, he says. So, he plans to highlight the “personal side of Kashmiri life”, including “how courageously people have been living their lives amid a deep sense of fear, threat and identity crisis”, he says. Ali is currently studying Visual Documentary Photography and wishes to make a career in photojournalism and documentary photography.Ian Parry was a photojournalist who died while on assignment for The Sunday Times during the Romanian revolution in 1989. He was just 24 years of age. Aidan Sullivan, then pictures editor, and Ian’s friends and family created the Ian Parry Scholarship in order to build something positive from such a tragic death. Each year, the foundation holds an international photographic competition for young photographers who are either attending a full-time photographic course or are under 24 years of age.

(Extracted from twocircles.net)

Syrian Teen in UK gets Record GCSE Results

A schoolboy who left war-torn Syria for the UK is celebrating

after receiving some of the best GCSE grades in his school. Hamza Jouma joined B i r k e n h e a d Park School in the UK two years ago from Romania, where he lived for four years

after his family were forced to flee from Syria. The 16-year-old

got some of the best grades in his class—especially in English where he gained a 7 grade, despite English being his third language. Hamza and his family left Syria when he was ten and he’s thrilled with his results as he wants to become a doctor in the future. Hamza said: “We came to England two years ago because my father thought our educational opportunities would be better over here. “I can’t believe I got a 7 in English, I’m really proud of that. “I’m now going to go to Birkenhead Sixth Form and study physics, biology, chemistry and maths, because I want to become a doctor like my dad.”

Maryam al-Subaiey, 31, a Qatari woman became the first female

jockey to enter a horse racing event this year when she ended up e l e v e n t h among the

14 runners. A businesswoman, Maryam first took part in the

Father Thomas Uzhunnalil addresses a press conference in New Delhi

German Minister Moots Muslim HolidayBerlin: Germany’s Muslim community has welcomed Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere’s suggestion of recognizing Islamic holidays in the country. Aiman Mazyek, who chairs the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, said such a move would enhance the integration of Muslim migrants.

De Maiziere, a senior minister from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrat (CDU) party, told an election meeting in Lower Saxony in the second week of October, that he was open to having recognized Muslim public holidays.“I am ready to discuss whether we can introduce a Muslim holiday,” de Maiziere

said, adding that Catholics or Protestants could celebrate their religious festivals in regions where they had a large population.“In places where many Muslims live, why we don’t consider having a Muslim holiday?” he added.Germany is home to nearly 4.7 million Muslims, and they constitute nearly 5.7 percent of the population. Many of them are second- or third-generation Turkish families who migrated to the country in the 1960s. (Source: World Bulliten)

Qatar’s pastoral Racing and Equestrian Club, a green oasis on the western fringes of the capital Dohar. Her ranking was not important in the event. What was important was that a woman competed in the event.

Ajmer Dargah Committee

Ajmer: The management committee of the Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah has reelected Sheikh Aleem of Indore and Syeed Mohammed as President and Vice President of the Committee. The 9-member committee which met on October 9 elected them for one year. Of the nine members of the Committee, seven will complete their five-year term in April 2018. These are Sheikh Aleem, Javed Parekh, Wahaaj Chaudhury, Nayyar Mian, Asrar Ahmed Khan, Peer Wadood Ashraf and Moinuddin Chishti. Two other members, namely Obaidulla Sharief and Syeed Mohammad will complete their term in June 2018. After this, the Union Government will constitute a new management committee. n

Died: Shamsher Khan, the country’s first swimmer who had participated in the 1956 Summer Olympics, died following a heart attack at his native village, Repalle in Andhra Pradesh on October 15. He was 92. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, condoled the death of Mr. Khan. Mr. Khan had enrolled himself in the Indian Army in 1949. He had taken

part in various national swimming competitions. He won a place in the Indian Olympics contingent

that had visited Australia in 1956. He, however, secured fourth place in the competition. He continued to serve in the Army till he retired in 1973. After retirement, he settled at Repalle. He lived a life of penury till his death. In July

2016, the Andhra Pradesh Government awarded him Rs. 25 lakh.

TRIBUTES

Surendra Kumar Sinha, Bangladesh's first Hindu Chief Justice, is believed to have been forced to go on leave amid reports that the government was upset with him over his decision to scrap parliament's authority in impeaching Supreme Court judges.Sinha, 66, left for Australia on October 13, saying he was "embarrassed" over the

controversy surrounding his July ruling. He also denied claims by the government that he was sick.But Sinha added he "firmly believes" his stance over a recent verdict was misinterpreted to the government, upsetting Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina, but expected her to realise the fact

soon.Sinha, Bangladesh’s first Hindu chief justice whose tenure expires in January 2018, in his written statement said he was a "bit worried about the independence of the judiciary".n

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 14book review

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Capturing the Saga of Transition

The Arch that GleamsBy Dr. Nishat Arif HussainiAll India Sayyid Muhammad Gisudiraz Research Academy, GulbargaPages 155 Price: Not stated

This coffee-table book documents the transition of an institution from traditional to modern. The Arch That Gleams packs between its covers the saga of the Khwaja Education Society, founded by the custodians of the dargah of Khwaja Banda Nawaz, one of the most well-known Sufi saints of the Deccan. Gulbarga (now Kalaburgi) was the seat of Khwaja Banda Nawaz Gesudaraz, a saint of the Chishti Sufi order who migrated from the North and became a source of enlightenment in the region in the South where he settled down in the 14th century. The descendants of the saint kept the lamp of spirituality burning over the centuries. The Partition of the country came as a brutal shock to the community steeped in orthodoxy and conservatism. The big shake-up woke up the ones who had their fingers on the pulse of the time. The sajjada nashin or custodian of the dargah, Syed Muhammad Al-Hussaini, perceived the rumblings of change. He was sure in his mind that the convulsions that were being experienced would not be short-lived and were heralding a new age and that one could ignore the knock of the times

only at one’s own peril. In 1958, he set up the Khwaja Education Society, and a school was started to equip the younger generations with the knowledge and skills of the new age. Sixty years later, the dargah and its environs stand metamorphosed into a hub of education. Burqa-clad and mostly veiled girls can be seen heading to colleges clutching bags and laptops. Busy medical interns briskly strut about the campus with stethoscopes dangling from their shoulders. Boys can be seen strutting on horses in the Riding Club in Sangtrashwadi, an

Reviewed by Maqbool Ahmed Siraj

erstwhile desolate locale turned swanky in recent years. Muhammad al-Hussaini departed from this mortal world in 2007. He had groomed an able successor in his elder son, Syed Shah Khusro Hussaini. The movement and the institutions were not only in safe hands but were being passed over to a dynamo suffused with subliminal energy. Khusro had returned in 1982 after a decade of studies at McGill University in Canada. Appointed the naib

muttawalli (deputy custodian), he was ready to carry the mantle forward. Change is universally agreed to be the only constant in the world. But moulding an institution as old as the seat of a renowned saint into preparedness to accept change and modernity was no mean feat. It called for summoning a great deal of perseverance and tenacity, and Khusro was not found wanting. Slow but steadily, the father-son duo had nourished a pining for change among those associated with the dargah. Institutions

popped up with regularity—an engineering college (1980), a general hospital (1988), a school of Nursing (1992), a medical College (2000), a PG college of mass communications (2009), and, finally, the crowning piece, the Sayyid Akbar Husayni College of Law earlier this year.

This mission was not merely pioneering but also unique, for no dargah in the country had ever attempted channelizing the offerings it received so productively i.e., investing in education and skilling of the younger generation. The degree of altruism seen here is perhaps nowhere else to be seen at any other such shrine. In this book, Nishat Arif Hussaini, Principal of the Bibi Raza Post Graduate Department of English, strives to focus on the precision and meticulousness with which

this institution-building was undertaken under the stewardship of Mohammad al-Hussaini, and, still later, Khusro Hussaini. They had the eye for detail even as the work went apace. The dargah brought in computers and went out of the way to ensure comfort and convenience to the zaireen (devotees). Concern for the environment found due recognition, just as heritage was handled with respect and care. Values that inform and inspire great institutions pervaded all aspects of the growth and development. No wonder why the Khwaja Education Society should not graduate up to a university in years ahead. The book captures the trajectory of growth of the institutions around the dargah with great care, providing insights from the lives of the reservoirs of spirituality who are venerated by millions, regardless of religious affiliation. Multi-colour photographs and images amply intersperse the text. The author deserves kudos for the monumental effort that has gone into putting to shape a volume that is likely to adorn bookshelves for long. n

Father-son duo nourished the institutions of

Khwaja Education Society with great

care.

Be it heritage or environment, an

eye for detail was taken due care of.

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 1515

It has come to be widely believed that Science has ‘disproved’ God and that, consequently, it is ‘unscientific’ to believe in the Divine Creator. This belief is, in part, the outcome of propaganda by atheists, but it has no basis in fact. Actually, there is no way in which Science can either prove or disprove God. And beyond this, and further undermining the claims of anti-God propagandists, many recent findings of Science, far from disproving God, provide evidence for God, as this brilliant book explains. This book also provides convincing replies to questions often raised by atheists, such as “Isn’t the idea of God just wish fulfilment”, “What about all the harm done in the name of religion?”, “Why would a loving God allow suffering in the world?” and “How can a rational person believe in miracles?”, making it a must-read for those interested in reflecting on a subject of the most ultimate importance for human beings. An Entirely Rational Choice Francis Collins is one of the USA’s leading geneticists and long-time leader of the Human Genome Project (Wikipedia informs us that this international research venture “remains the world's largest collaborative biological project”). Collins is also a believer in the Creator God. In this book, he tries to show that a rigorous scientist like him can also be a serious believer and that, as he puts it, “belief in God can be an entirely rational choice, and that the principles of faith are, in fact, complimentary with the principles of science.” In this way, Collins seeks to disprove the notion that the synthesis of the scientific and spiritual worldviews is impossible. In fact, Collins says, contrary to what many realize, many scientists

do believe in a God who actively communicates with humankind and to whom one may pray in expectation of an answer. Scientific and Spiritual Worldviews Collins is critical of both anti-religious atheists who claim that belief in God is unscientific and false as well as some religionists who consider Science as dangerous. Collins explains to us that actually we are not forced to choose between these two extremes. There is, instead, he says, the possibility of a “richly satisfying harmony between scientific and

spiritual worldviews”. He tells us that “there is no conflict in being a rigorous scientist and a person who believes in a God who takes a personal interest in each one of us. Science’s domain is to explore nature. God’s domain is in the spiritual world, a realm not possible to explore with the tools and language of science. It must be examined with the heart, the mind, and the soul—and the mind must find a way to embrace both realms.”Collins asserts that these perspectives not only can coexist within one person, but can do so in a manner that “enriches and enlightens the human experience.” Science, he argues, “is the only way to understand the natural world”. But at the same time, Science is powerless to answer questions such as “Why did the universe come into being?” “What is the meaning of human existence?” “What happens after we die?” For answers to these questions, we need to bring all the power of both the scientific and spiritual perspectives to bear

an understanding on what is both seen and unseen. This isn’t a dry academic tome meant only for ‘specialists’. Although the ‘lay’ reader might find portions of it abstruse, the

personal element makes the book more engaging. Collins provides us interesting glimpses into his own spiritual journey, how he came to be as he says “a believer in a God who is unlimited by time and space, and who takes personal interest in human beings.” From the son of freethinkers and being raised in an upbringing where religious faith wasn’t very important, he became an agnostic. At Yale University, where he enrolled for a PhD in Physical Chemistry, he became an atheist, convinced that “no thinking scientist could seriously entertain the possibility of God without committing some sort of intellectual suicide.” But later, at medical school at the University of North Carolina, he experienced an amazing change, encountering intense experiences. He found relationships that developed with sick and dying patients “almost overwhelming”. What struck him profoundly about his bedside conversations with them was the spiritual aspect of what many of them were going through—their faith provided them with a strong reassurance of ultimate peace, be it in this world or the next, despite their terrible suffering. His most awkward moment came when a suffering patient asked him what he believed—she was a believer—and he embarrassedly said “I’m not really sure”. He had been running away from this predicament for nearly all of his 26 years, never having really seriously considered the evidence for and against religious belief. That moment haunted him for several days. The Moral Law Collins turned to studying various religions, and in this process one argument, by a noted Christian writer, caught his attention and really changed his ideas about science and spirit—the Moral

Law, the notion of right and wrong, that is a universal feature of human existence. It suggested to him that it could be something put into all humans by God—a “theist God” who desires some kind of relationship with human beings and has therefore instilled this special glimpse of Himself into each of us. Judging by the incredibly high standards of the Moral Law, this was a God who was “holy and righteous”, “the embodiment of goodness”. He was a God who would have to hate evil. The argument from the Moral Law (and many other issues) forced Collins to admit the plausibility of

God. “Faith in God now seemed more rational than disbelief”, he writes. It also became clear to him that science, despite its powers in unravelling the mysteries of the natural world, would get him “no further in resolving the question of God”. The evidence of God’s existence would have to come from other directions, and the ultimate decision would be based on faith, not proof. That said, many facts of Nature that modern Science has unravelled clearly do point in the direction of God (although of course atheists might not accept these as compelling evidence for God). Collins cites the Big Bang, which is said to have happened some 14 billion years ago and causing the universe to come into being, thus giving evidence for the First Cause and disproving theory that universe has no beginning or that it created itself. “The Big Bang cries out for a divine explanation”, Collins stresses. “It forces the conclusion that nature had a defined beginning. I cannot see how nature could have created itself. Only a supernatural force that is outside of space and time could have done that” Collins asserts. “It could be argued...that the Big Bang itself seems to point strongly towards a Creator, since

otherwise the question of what came before is left hanging in the air,” he explains. Further evidence of an All-Powerful Creator behind the universe that Collins cites is the fact that the various physical constants of the universe are just what is needed for life (had there been even a very minor difference, life would have been impossible). Scientific findings, far from ‘disproving’ the Creator God of the theistic religions, can thus be a powerful means for developing faith in Him. Allegorical Interpretation of Scriptures Faith in the Creator need not necessarily mean faith in a particular religion. Although Collins came to be a Christian, the scientific evidence he provides for God can be found to be convincing for other theistic faiths, too, the overall arguments of the book not being predicated on specifically Christian beliefs. “Christianity has provided me that special ring of eternal truth. But you must conduct your own search”, Collins writes. But this does not mean that harmonising Christianity or any other religion and science is always easy. Collins suggests that there might be need for allegorical or symbolic interpretation of portions of scriptures that seem to contradict scientific findings—this applies to the Christian case as it does to others. At the same time, though, one must also be open to rethinking claims about Nature by scientists, including Collins himself. Thus, while Collins suggests a theistic evolution (what he calls BioLogos) for the origins of life, one need not take this as ultimate truth, for surely there is no way it can be conclusively proven to be true (as is also the case with the hypothesis of non-theistic evolution). Scientific and spiritual worldviews both provide, Collins says, “differing but complementary ways of answering the greatest of the world’s questions, and both can coexist happily within the mind of an intellectually inquisitive person living in the twenty-first century.” He helpfully tells us: “Science is not threatened by God; it is enhanced. God is most certainly not threatened by science; He made it all possible. So let us together seek to reclaim the solid ground of an intellectually and spiritually satisfying synthesis of all great truths.” n

book review

Rich Harmony between Scientific and Spiritual Worldviews

The Language of God—A Scientist Presents Evidence for BeliefBy Francis S. CollinsPocket Books, LondonPages: 294

This isn’t a dry academic tome meant only for ‘specialists’.

Although the ‘lay’ reader might find

portions of it abstruse, the personal element makes the book more

engaging.

In this book, the author Francis Collins tries to show that a rigorous scientist like him can also be a serious believer and that, as he puts it, “belief in God can be an entirely rational choice, and that the principles of faith are, in fact,

complimentary with the principles of science.

Reviewed by Yoginder S. Sikand

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 16

world from their practices. This distinction between the faith and the various manifestations of its practice is a subtle but extremely important one.

Intellectual EffervescenceThe debate over women's rights within Islam is not a new one.

For centuries, Islamic scholars, thinkers, and activists have been pondering this question of women's rights, and reaching very different answers. The pre-Islamic environment of 7th century Mecca, with its tribalism, lack of law and order and constant warfare, was strongly male-dominated. The advent of Islam challenged the status quo and sought not only to introduce a new kind of social order, but to limit the excesses of Meccan society, which directly harmed women and girls -- abolishing the custom of burying baby girls at birth is one of the best examples of this spirit.Today, the issue of Muslim women is held hostage between two extreme perceptions: that of a rigid and conservative Islamic approach and that of a Western ethnocentric and Islamophobic approach. Nevertheless, recent developments mean that at the heart of this intellectual effervescence, Muslim women are seeking to reclaim their right to speak in order to re-appropriate their own destinies. Indeed, today many female Muslim intellectuals living in Muslim societies and in the West, are

opinion

The new Muslim woman […] is now a truly empowered

woman. Her intellect has an identity

independent of her family.

Women in Islam: Beyond Stereotypes The newer generation of Muslim women is trying to understand their social position from the

Qur’an itself. Across the Muslim world, Islamic feminists are combing through centuries of Islamic jurisprudence to highlight the more progressive aspects of their religion.

By Moin Qazi

"Learn this now and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman. Always."In Khaled Hosseini's novel about life in Afghanistan, A Thousand Splendid Suns, the character Nana, a poor unwed mother, gives this grim advice to her five-year-old daughter, Mariam. In 25 words, she tries to sum up the way the world thinks Muslim men govern the lives of women in the world of Islam.Too much of the thinking about Muslim women is done along predictable, clichéd lines. This is true of all shades of opinion, perception and scholarship .This opinion profiles Muslim women in stubborn stereotypes: supposedly powerless and oppressed, behind walls and veils, demure, voiceless and silent figures, discriminated and bereft of even basic rights. This picture keeps reinforcing itself, largely because this is how the Western media caricatures women in Islam. Recurring images beamed into our homes and phones keep strengthening the belief that Muslim women are being denied access to education, social space and privacy.

Flawed Social OrderIt is true that in societies trapped in poverty, illiteracy and ignorance, women continue to receive abominable and oppressive treatment. But then, this is true of all societies. Muslims cannot be singled out for such a flawed social order. The pictures we get of wife beating and other retrograde practices imposed on Muslim women are clearly aberrations which should not be generalized. The wrong practices rampant in some such societies have much to do with illiteracy, ignorance and sometimes dire poverty. In several cases, the plight of Muslim women is a direct consequence of a repressive

and highly discriminatory state. A dispassionate analysis will reveal that vested interests in all societies, particularly those driven by patriarchal values, have resisted the uplift of women and have failed to concede them the legitimate rights they have been guaranteed by their faith, community and State. This distortion however should not deflect our focus from some path breaking and stellar contributions of Muslim women, not just to Islamic civilization but to the secular society as well.Islam was the first religion to formally grant the women a status never known before. The Qur’an, the sacred scripture of Islam, contains hundreds of exordiums and commandments which apply both to men and women alike. The moral, spiritual and economic equality of men and women as propagated by Islam is unquestionable. In Islam, men and women are moral equals in God’s sight and are expected to fulfill the same duties of worship, prayer, faith, alms giving, fasting, and pilgrimage to Mecca. The triumph of Islam in the seventh century basically codified the position of women with its laws of spiritual and civic conduct. It banned female infanticide, limited polygamy to four wives, forbade sexual relations outside marriage and spelled out women’s rights in marriage and inheritance.Those who study the Qur'an know that Islam elevated the rights of women beyond anything known in the pre-Islamic world. In fact, in the seventh century Muslim women were granted rights not granted to European women until the 19th century, such as property ownership, inheritance and divorce. That said, Muslims who codified the Qur'an and Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) into Islamic law did not succeed in expunging the patriarchy of the pre-Islamic

questioning a number of negative preconceptions surrounding these issues. In particular, they contest the classical analysis which stipulates inequality between men and women by asserting that it is in fact certain biased readings, endorsed by patriarchal customs, which have legitimated these erroneous inequalities.Given that both men and women have the same spirit thus it is only natural that the Quran obligates them to the same religious and moral duties and responsibilities. The Qur'an says: "O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty toward God in Whom ye claim (your rights) of one another, and toward the wombs (that bear you)" (Qur'an 4:1). It also says ‘O mankind, we created you all from a male and female, and made you into races and tribes, that you may know one another. Surely the noblest among you in the sight of

God is the most God fearing of you’ (Q49:13).In relation to the absolute, woman is equal to man in all essential rights and duties; God makes no distinction between man and woman. They are to be equally rewarded or punished for their deeds. The Qur’an says: ‘Their Lord answers them, saying: I will deny no man or woman among you the reward of their labours. You are the offspring of one another’ (Q3: 194). ‘Man’ is not made in the image of God. Neither is a flawed female helpmate extracted from him as an afterthought or utility. Dualism is the primordial design for all creation: ‘From all (created) things are pairs’ (Q 51:49).The Qur’an further says: ‘Another of his signs is that he created spouses from among yourselves for you to live within tranquility: He ordained love and kindness between you. There truly are signs in this for those who reflect ‘(Q30:21) It further affirms, ‘… for women are rights over men similar to those

Page 17

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 1717 muslim perspeCtivesThe Cultural and Intellectual Decline

Destroyed the Spirit of Enquiry The Muslim world rumbled on towards obscurantism, with its enlightened intellectuals

being systematically condemned and people reduced to intellectual apathy.

By Shahid M Amin

There was a time when Muslims led the world in practically all fields of knowledge. During the Golden Age of Islam, from 8th to 13th century, and even later, Muslim scientists and philosophers contributed enormously to human civilisation. Thereafter, the Muslim world went into an intellectual decline. The torch of learning passed into the hands of Europeans. The West has ever since been in the ascendant. The bottom line is that knowledge is power. Let us look at the reasons why Muslims had advanced so much during the Golden Age of Islam. There was a willingness to learn. Translations were made of the works of ancient Greeks in science, medicine, philosophy and geography. Knowledge in arithmetic and astronomy was gained from Hindu India. There was a thirst for knowledge. Schools flourished. The institution of college was introduced for the first time and the world’s first university

was established. An enormous number of books were written. Authors, philosophers, poets and artists were patronized by rulers and well-to-do people alike. Huge libraries were set up in various parts of the Muslim world.The spirit of enquiry permeated the scholars. This was particularly so in Baghdad where the House of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikma) was founded by Caliph Mamun in 832, especially as a centre of translation and mastery of foreign sciences. The Muslims synthesized, elaborated and made their great contributions to human knowledge. Cordoba in Spain became the most shining centre of Muslim learning. At a time when Europe was in the Dark Age, Cordoba was the centre of light and knowledge for Christian Europe as well. For a thousand years, Arabic remained the language of science.

Renaissance in EuropeThe decimal system was introduced by Muslims to Europe and became the basis

for the scientific revolution. Avicenna was the medical giant, Al-Khwarizmi the mathematical genius, Jabir ibn Hayyan the father of chemistry, Ibn al-Haytham the founder of optics, and Averroes (Ibn Rushd) was the Cordovan philosopher who

wielded the greatest influence on Europe. A number of terms used in science today are of Arabic origin: alcohol, alembic,

alkali, elixir. Some terms are named after Muslim scholars or their books: algorithm, algebra, etc. Most scholars agree that the Renaissance in Europe would not have been possible without the Muslim contribution to the latter’s knowledge.

Religious OrthodoxySo what happened that brought an end to the Golden Age of the Muslims? The political reason was the loss of power following the Mongol invasions that also destroyed great centres of Muslim culture like Baghdad, Balkh and Bukhara. The Crusaders gained control over Jerusalem. The Christian re-conquest ended Muslim power in Cordoba and in the rest of Spain. The cultural and intellectual decline was even worse. Religious orthodoxy became dominant in Muslim societies. With the loss of political power, the traditional religious leaders were left with no influence in any sphere except religion. They became increasingly dogmatic and strict in their control of

religious life. Such orthodoxy destroyed the spirit of enquiry.Indeed, even before the Mongol invasion, the attack on modernity had begun in Baghdad when the seekers of new knowledge were condemned as bearers of foreign patrimony. A leading Moroccan scholar, Fatima Mernissi explains: “The Muslim world rumbled on towards obscurantism, with its enlightened intellectuals being systematically condemned and people reduced to intellectual apathy.” The Mullahs preached that learning the Quran and Islamic theology was the only knowledge worth acquiring. All other subjects were superfluous. They were unaware of many verses in the Quran calling on Muslims to think, as well as an injunction of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) to “seek knowledge even if it means going to China.” The stifling of ijtihad (independent reasoning) in favour of taqleed (imitation in thinking) was a key factor in the intellectual decline.

(Extracted from newageislam.com)

Cordoba in Spain became the most shining centre of

Muslim learning. At a time when Europe

was in the Dark Age, Cordoba was the centre of light

and knowledge for Christian Europe

as well. For a thousand years,

Arabic remained the language of science.

Women in Islam...of men over women.’(Q2:226) We must appreciate the spirit in which the Qur’an considers the congenital differences between the two genders resulting from their creation, and espouses a relationship based on equal justice between men and women. The traditional structure of Islamic society is based not on quantitative equality, but on the reality of complementarity, although there are exceptions. In these complementarities of functions, man is seen as the protector and provider of his family and its imam. The woman is the real mistress of the household, in which the husband is like a guest. Her primary duty has been seen as that of raising children and attending to their earliest education, as well as being the buttress of the family .like all the traditional societies, Islam has honoured the work of homemaker and mother as being of the highest value, to the extent that the Prophet said that heaven lies under the feet of mothers. Islamic society has never thought that working in an office is of a higher order of importance for society than bringing up one’s

children. The West appears to have gone too far in its attempt to achieve gender neutrality. While it is politically correct to readdress inequality prevalent in traditional practices, a worldwide gender neutral society is a macabre idea fraught with serious consequences. Such an artificially attained sameness between boys and girls can be a dangerous experiment.Contrary to the Eurocentric viewpoint, Muslim women are not a blank slate. When they are given the opportunity, Muslim women are integrating, participating in civic, economic and social life while raising children who are productive members of society. The distorted picture that we get is on account of the deliberate attempt to highlight the negative aspects and glossing over the positive developments. The Western world must understand that the new generations of Muslim girls are now in the vanguard of a revolution that is propagating the learning and understanding of the Qur’an. There was a time when a primary reading and understanding of the

Qur’an was discouraged, and whatever Qur’anic education was imparted was only through secondary sources. The education had obviously an ideological spin and the youth grew up with a coloured Islamic worldview.The newer generation of Muslim women is trying to understand their social position from the Qur’an itself. Across the Muslim world, Islamic feminists are combing through centuries of Islamic jurisprudence to highlight the more progressive aspects of their religion. These women embody a spirit of critical enquiry that has led them to raise questions about Islam which their predecessors would shudder to ask. Social networking has given these women a collective identity and they now have a transnational network. Critical questions raised in one corner are creating ripples across the world. Social networking sites have far wider and faster reach than the sermons of the mullahs. It will no longer be possible to subjugate women, particularly when they are enlightened about not just Islam but all religions and creeds. The new Muslim woman no

longer depends on their household males for clarification on religious issues from the local mullahs. The internet gives her access to most authentic information. She is now a truly empowered woman. Her intellect has an identity independent of her family.

A Fuller Role in Society It is clear that Muslim women’s empowerment, like many things, cannot be imposed on a country or a culture from the outside. Men and women within these conservative communities must first find their own reasons and their own justifications to allow women a fuller role in society. Increasingly, they are finding those reasons within Islam. Like

men, women deserve to be free. In today's increasingly global world, the stakes are higher than ever—for everyone. Societies that invest in and empower women are on a virtuous cycle. They become richer, more stable, better governed, and less prone to fanaticism. Countries that limit women's educational and employment opportunities and their political voice get stuck in a downward spiral. They are poorer, more fragile, have higher levels of corruption, and are more prone to extremism. Empowering women should be as much a man's responsibility, as it is a woman's aspiration.

(Extracted from www.newageislam.com)

Page 16

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 18tidbits

Page 7

provinces of Fars and Kashan at UNESCO. These measures will deter rival countries from producing fake versions of our carpets.”However, the sanctions and foreign rivals have not been the only causes of the slowdown in the industry. “Economic downturn among Europeans, political instability in several neighboring Arab states and increased risk of doing business with Iran as a result of [other] sanctions have also had their effect on our industry,” Kargar added.But the situation began to change after the landmark nuclear agreement between Iran and the six world powers was implemented in January 2016. One of its articles explicitly called for the removal of sanctions on Iranian carpets. As a result, Iran has resumed carpet exports to the United States after nearly six years of inactivity. In the last Iranian calendar year (which ended March 2017), Iran exported nearly $90 million worth of carpets directly to the United States, making it the top importer of Iranian handmade carpet once again. In the same period, another $270 million worth of carpets

Persian Rug ...were exported to other markets, bringing the total value of exports to $359 million, up from $333 million in the previous year.As Iran seeks to further diversify its economy and reduce its dependency on oil, attributing greater investment and attention to the carpet industry could help it create jobs, address its unemployment crisis and increase non-oil exports.While there are some 1 million carpet weavers in Iran, out of which some 700,00 are full-time workers, Kargar says the Iran National Carpet Center plans to create jobs for 20,000 new weavers across the country in the current Iranian calendar year (ending March 2018). “This industry has great potential to further boost our non-oil exports. It is considered a clean and environmentally friendly occupation with very low investment required, and can be set up anywhere without sophisticated machinery. On the other hand, the final product has a very high added value that can be a great source of bringing in foreign money to the country,” Kargar says. n

man’s life,” said Al Kumaiti. “All thanks and praise to Almighty Allah who gave me the power and courage to act and intervene into the situation at the right time and rescue the man’s life.” Both the drivers suffered 40-50% burns. Both were first taken hospital, said Major Tariq Mohamed Al Sharhan, head of the ambulance and rescue section at the Ras Al Khaimah police. Al Sharhan said they want to honour Al Kumaiti’s bravery. The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi will also honour Al Kumaiti, Navdeep Singh Suri, the Indian ambassador to the UAE, stated. n

soCiety & humanity

The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi will also

honour Al Kumaiti.

Emirati Woman Saves Life of Indian Driver Al Kumaiti persuaded her friend who was a passenger to take off her abaya,

then leapt out of the car and used it to put out the flames.

Dubai: A quick-thinking Muslim woman saved the life of an Indian truck driver in the UAE when she saw him in flames following a horrific road accident. The 22-year-old woman, Jawaher Saif Al Kumaiti, was driving home after visiting a friend in a hospital when she saw two trucks burst into flames in Ras al-Khaimah, a city in the UAE, and heard the victim shouting for someone to save him. Al Kumaiti said she was at first taken aback when she saw the two trucks on fire following the accident. She also saw a man

on fire screaming in pain and fear shouting for help, the report said. Al Kumaiti persuaded her friend who was a passenger to take off her abaya cloak, then leapt out of the car and used it to put out the flames. She said there were other people at the scene in

Jawaher Saif Al Kumaiti

before she was but they did not help and simply stared at the man as flames burnt his body. “He was lying down. He was on fire… I took out my friend’s

abaya, asked her to stay inside and left the car. I went to cover the guy because there were no clothes on him. He looked at me and said, ‘I’m dying. I’m afraid to die’,” she said, adding that she tried to talk to him and calm him down telling him that he would survive as the rescue teams will arrive soon.” Police named the victim as Harkirit Singh. “I just thought about saving the

Hunar Haat in Puducherry

Puducherry: Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on September 24 inaugurated the ‘Hunar Haat’ (Artisan’s Fair) Crafts Bazaar, Gandhi Thidal Beach, Goubert Avenue. The week long crafts mela attracted artisans and stalls from 16 states selling Hyderabadi pearls, wrought Iron and woodcarving, wooden and sandalwood items, handmade jewellery, hand embroidery, handmade painting, wooden toys, printed dresses and Maheshwari sarees. Culinary experts from Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Telengana, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh put up their

stalls.Naqvi said that Ministry of Minority Affairs has prepared an E-portal to provide national as well as international markets to artisans and craftsmen from across the country. A data bank of artisans and craftsmen will be prepared by this year end, thousands of artisans from various parts of the country have already been registered, he said.Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanaswamy also participated. Others who participated included National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation Chairman, Mr. Shabaz Ali and officials of the Ministry. n

surveillance. The hostel address is Minority Working Women’s Hostel, No. 2; 60 feet road, Malagala Road, Nagarbhavi, Bangalore. Those desirous of accommodation can contact Warden Sunitha 7259832552, or Minority Welfare Dept, District Office, First floor, Podium Block, V. V. tower, Bangalore-560001, Ph:

080-22866718, or Cell: 96200-74893 n

Karnataka Urdu Academy

Dr. Sargiro Appointed ChairmanBengaluru: Dr. Syed Qadeer Sargiro has been appointed the new Chairman of the Karnataka State Urdu Academy. Last incumbent Mr. Azeezulla Baig had demitted the office on May 31 on expiry of the term.In its first meeting on October 25, after the constitution of the new committee, the Academy has decided to hold a Mushaira in Kalburgi; organize a teachers’ workshop in Shivamogga for 60 participants; set up 10 centres for ‘Urdu Seekho aur Seekhao’ for learning of Urdu (open to all regardless of age and gender); convene a seminar on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad in Vijayapura; and hold an Urdu-Kannada Mushaira (venue not decided).Dr. Sargiro addressing a press conference on October 26, said the Academy plans to send a member of the Academy to Khuda Bakhash Khan Oriental Public Library in Patna to inspect the manuscript and printed material pertaining to Tipu Sultan and procure its copies for research purposes in Karnataka. He said a five-member delegation of the Urdu Academy will participate in

the Jashn e Rekhta’s fourth edition in Delhi being held in December. He informed that a seminar on

Urdu Marsiya (Monody) will be held in Mysore.Sargiro said the award presentation ceremonies of the Academy could not be held for awardees of 2014-15 and

2015-16 due to unavailability of the Minister for Minority Affairs. He said he will expedite the process and seek the relevant minister’s appointment for the same at an early date.He said the last State Budget had allocated Rs. 2.15 crore for the financial year, 2017-18. Following have been appointed the new members of the Academy besides the Chairman: Mr. Zaheer Ranibennuri, Mr. Siraj Wajhi, Waheed Wajid, Mr. Mohammad Aslam, Nayeemulla Khan, Mr. Mubeen Munawar, Ms. Fathima Zohra, Mr. Suhail Nizam Burburi, Mr. Syed Shaffi Ahmed, Mr. Mr. Syed Ahmed Rizwan, Mr. Syed Abid Aslam and Ms. Fareeda Rahmatullah. n

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 1919 positive thouGhts

By Sheima Salam Sumer

� If you develop the skill of remaining calm during stressful situations, you will feel better about yourself.

� You will succumb to negative emotions sometimes. It’s part of the process of learning to be a happy person. Be patient with yourself.

� Sometimes just saying “I am feeling really hurt” (or any other negative feeling) can reduce the power of your negative feeling.

� You will accelerate your journey to being a happy person by focusing on your personal strengths more than your weaknesses.

� Discover the positive coping skills that work for you. In my opinion, the three most important coping skills are:

� Remaining calm in every situation.

� Letting go of thoughts that are not helpful to you.

� Focusing on what you are thankful for.

� Ask God to make you a happy person.

� Dua (supplication to God) is the weapon of a believer.

� Every night, think of at least three things that you are feeling grateful to God for.

Happiness HintsTurn your most difficult problems and disappointments into your best friends by

using them as a way to worship God.

It could be things specific to that day or general things, but it should be GENUINE. One thing that I am always grateful for is the health of my children. It could be anything that YOU really FEEL.

� Gratitude is an incredible way to feel connected with God because you KNOW that He gave you those things. Remember, all help is from God. Every good thing you have is from God.

� Turn your most difficult problems and disappointments into your best friends by using them as a way to worship God.

� Believe in the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that says, “it is all good for the believer.” Everything that happens to a believer is good in some way.

� Find relaxation by letting go of all thoughts except for la ilaha ilallah (‘There is no god but God’)

� Learn to pay attention to your inner world

� Remembering God will help you to feel content all the time.

� You must teach yourself how to shift from a negative feeling to a feeling of

contentment.

� The blessings of God are always greater than our problems!

� View life’s difficulties as opportunities to learn and grow. You will feel more empowered.

� Treat yourself with compassion.

� Appreciate the fact that God emphasizes His attributes of mercy and compassion above all other attributes.

� Take full responsibility for your happiness and contentment.

� Take action to improve your condition rather than focusing on who is to blame

� Intuition is a tool that you should use with wisdom

� Use your speech for only good topics.

� Love your positive qualities.

� Be at peace with yourself.

� “A vigorous 5 mile walk will do more good for an unhappy but otherwise healthy adult than all the medicine and psychology in the world.” –Paul Dudley White

� Make peace with the fact that we don’t get everything we want in this life

� Remember that when we react negatively to our problems, this actually makes our problems grow.

� Keep trying to find a thought that makes you feel better.

� Train yourself to recognize your thoughts, to better understand your feelings. And remember: you are not your thoughts.

� Happiness starts with you.

� Watch out for irrational thinking such as the belief that life (including yourself) should be perfect.

� When you are not sure what to do, choose to be patient and calm until things become clearer.

� Always look for the positives and then use the positives to improve the overall situation. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! n

Page 11

C- PTOs having experience of less than five Haj with an average annual turnover of Rs. one core or more from Haj/Umrah operation in the preceding two years. They may be allotted 50 seats.

29 Fixed deposit for the PTOs may be revised as Rs. 50, Rs. 40 and Rs. 30 lakh for Category A, B and C respectively.

30 The infrastructure of the Haj Committee and the State Haj Committees be utilised for the educational and social upliftment of the Muslim community. The Haj Committee Act 2002 should add this provision.

31 The Haj Committee of India should be exempted for Income Tax, GST and local taxes and the air charter service which are hired for the benefit of the pilgrim, be exempted from service tax or GST.

32 HCoI should have a regional office in Delhi in a proper building.

33 The policy does not approve of

Draft New Hajj Policy...Haj Committee of India being replaced by Haj Corporation, but recommends that a Haj Corporation be formed and allow it to compete with PTOs in matters of Hajj, Umrah and Ziyarat (of Karbala in Iraq, Jerusalem, Iran etc) and also run a mutual fund based on savings of prospective pilgrims and be sharia-compliant.

The committee had the following members: Convener Afzal Amanullah, Shafi S. Prakar, Qasier Shamim, Kamal Faruqi, and J. Alam. (Note: The above document has been edited by Islamic Voice staff writer for brevity. Notes have been added in brackets for explaining the existing norms. Several portion meant for Tour Operators have been left out. For fuller version of the new draft Haj Policy, log on to: http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=171476http://pibphoto.nic.in/documents/rlink/2017/oct/p201710701.pdf )

'Personality & Leadership Development Workshop based on Spiritual Quotient'

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DYS WORKSHOP IN SRINAGARDATES: 17, 18 & 19 NOVEMBER 2017

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DYS WORKSHOP IN NAGPURDATES: 01, 02 & 03 DECEMBER 2017

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ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 20GuidanCe

youth voiCe

Page 21

Living Life: But For What Purpose?How many parents ever discuss the issue of the macro-purpose of life with their children?

By Yoginder S. Sikand

From the moment we get up in the morning till we go to sleep at night, everything we do, we do with a certain purpose in mind. We get out of bed even if we’d rather not because we don’t want to miss office or skip school. We brush our teeth because we want to keep them in good shape and we don’t like bad breath. We have our breakfast because we need the energy to work and because we don’t want to feel hungry. We smile at a friend because we want to express our warm feelings for him. We wish our boss because we want to be in her good books or because we are genuinely pleased to see her. We snap at someone because we want to express our irritation with him. We prepare for an examination because we want to get good marks so that we can get admission in a good college. And so on. From morning to night, each one of us is busy, at every single moment, doing something or the other, and for one or more purposes. Even ‘doing nothing’—lying down in bed and staring at the ceiling, for instance—is a sort of doing, and it, too, is for a certain purpose: in order to relax and unwind or simply to experience ‘non-doing’ for a few moments for a change.

Micro-PurposesOur everyday lives can thus be seen as a vast collection of actions or doings that we engage in from moment to moment, and all of these for some purpose or the other. We could call these purposes as ‘micro-purposes’ or ‘immediate purposes’. It doesn’t require

much effort for us to understand the micro-purposes behind the many actions that fill our daily existence. Often, we engage in certain actions fully aware of the purpose(s) for which we do

so. If sometimes we are not sure about why we have performed a particular action, a few moments of reflection can help give us greater clarity about the issue. And sometimes when we do something for reasons that seem beyond our control and which we cannot understand, psychological counselling can help to make us aware of their underlying causes.But besides and beyond these micro-purposes of the myriad actions of our everyday lives is something much larger—the overall or overarching purpose of our life as such. Generally

speaking, while most of us are generally clear as to our purpose in engaging in a particular action in our everyday lives (for instance, reading a book in order to gain knowledge or simply to amuse ourselves), few of us have a clear

idea of the macro-purpose of human life in general and our own life in particular. Not many of us know what the grand purpose of our short stay on this planet is, especially in the backdrop of the fact that we have to die one day (this being the only thing about the future that we can be absolutely sure of).

Macro-PurposeThis issue, of the macro-purpose of human life (which becomes starker when seen in the context of our inevitable death), is undoubtedly most important existential question that we could ask ourselves. And yet, how many of us ever care to think about it deeply? Many of us are so deeply engrossed in our innumerable immediate, micro-purposes of our day-to-day existence that we refuse to let our minds turn to the subject. For some, the issue seems so baffling, forbidding

and even frightening that they just don’t want to think about it. Others believe the question of the ultimate purpose of human life is simply unanswerable and hence not worth bothering about at all. And so, they waste their

lives drifting from one immediate purpose to another, sometimes just to keep themselves busy and thereby maintain a semblance of sanity, till they finally drop dead.How many parents ever discuss the issue of the macro-purpose of life with their children? Mine never did. How many of our teachers talk about the overall

purpose of life with their students? Mine never did—and I happened to study at some of the supposedly best educational institutions in India and abroad. I can’t recall my ‘elders’—be it at home or at school or in the several universities I studied in—ever once broaching the subject. I think the same is true for the vast majority of the people I have known—such is the deafening silence on what is the most important question of life.

Examination of LifeA basic prerequisite for successfully engaging in a particular action is to be clear as to the purpose for which one is doing it. If one lacks this clarity one is bound to make a mess of things. If we aren’t aware of the ultimate purpose of our life, we are likely to fritter it away on purposes other than this one, keeping ourselves busy with all sorts of things that take us away from our real

purpose—so that, ultimately, our lives end in waste and failure. It is like using a book to drive away mosquitoes or to fan oneself with instead of reading it for passing an examination. But if, on the other hand, we have clarity about the overall purpose of human life, the reason why God has created us and has sent us to spend a brief time on earth we are more likely to spend it in the right manner, and in this way, successfully pass the examination of life, the only examination that truly matters.The purpose of human life is a central concern in many of the world’s great religious scriptures. They may express this purpose in different languages, using different words and metaphors, but they indicate that it is to discover and remember God and to prepare ourselves to return to God that we have been sent into this world. Thus, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy scripture, says:

This human body has been given to you.

This is your chance to meet the Lord of the Universe.

Nothing else will work.

Join the Company of the Holy; vibrate and meditate on the Jewel of the Divine Name.

Make every effort to cross over this terrifying world-ocean.

You are squandering this life uselessly in the love of Maya.

(Sri Guru Granth Sahib 12)

Leading a God-conscious or God-oriented life alone is thus the way to fulfill life’s purpose.

Others believe the question of the

ultimate purpose of human life is simply unanswerable and hence not worth

bothering about at all. And so, they waste their lives drifting from one

immediate purpose to another, sometimes

just to keep themselves busy and thereby maintain a

semblance of sanity, till they finally drop

dead.

Intelligence Must Combine With Compassionif we use our God-given intelligence for the good of others (including non-human species

and the natural environment), many of our problems in our society will be solved.

By Pousong Gangmei Humans are proud creatures. And what makes them so? Maybe it is because many of them think they can achieve almost everything that they desire.Human beings are intelligent creatures. They’ve explored the moon and some other entities in space and some scientists know

about things that are located fairly deep below the surface of the earth. All of these accomplishments have been possible because of human intelligence. But is our God-given intelligence always used in the right way?Once, a group of people travelling together in a train were having a discussion on what human beings had become through what they regarded as their leaving all the beings of the animal kingdom behind. Among them there was a religious teacher who was doing more talking than the others. Towards the end of the discussion

he narrated a story to make his point clear. The story was

about a father lion and his son. The father instructed his son about how to live. He said, “Son, you are the future king of this

forest. Do not be afraid of any animals around you. Be a good friend to them. But please remember one thing: Do not try to meet with human beings.”The young lion did not understand why his father had forbidden him from interacting with humans.Time passed, and the young lion was happy with

his various animal friends in the forest, but he still couldn’t understand why he should be away from humans. So, he decided that he must find out about this on his

own. One day, he set out around searching for human beings. On his way, he spotted a deer and asked him if he was human. The deer, surprised and scared, replied: “No! Be careful with that! You better not search for humans, or even talk about them!” Saying this the deer left.The disappointed lion cub continued his quest. Next, he met a hippo, and thought to himself, “This being is big and seems very authoritative. He must be a human!” He approached the hippo and asked him, “My friend,

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 2121

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Question & answers

With Maulana Wahiduddin Khan on Islam and Peace BuildingQ: Religion can be a blessing. But it can also become a curse, if it turns into fanaticism and disrespect for others. I appreciate your efforts in trying to present an understanding of Islam so that it is a blessing in people’s lives. I’d love to hear more about how are presenting Islam so as to highlight the Prophet Muhammad’s commitment to peace and justice.

A: People often confuse between a religion and its followers, or those who claim to be its followers. They often conflate Islam with Muslims. I repeatedly stress that Islam and Muslims are two very different things. The foremost source of knowledge about Islam is the Quran. The next source is the Hadith, from which we learn about aspects of the Prophet’s life. Now, according to my study, some people refer to some battles that the Prophet fought, and on that basis claim that Islam is a religion of war, of violence. But here one needs to differentiate between the basic principles of Islam and those aspects that were a result of temporal or time-related factors, factors that were a result of that particular historical period or age. The Prophet started his mission in the seventh century CE. At that time in Arabia, the culture was tribal. It was seeped in tribal conflict and violence. Now, due to this particular age-specific or time-related factor, the Prophet was sometimes compelled to engage in fighting. But war itself is not an Islamic teaching. In fact, the Prophet sought to minimize war. Actually, he fought no full-fledged war as such. They were basically skirmishes.Now, in this context one also needs to reflect: What is the real goal of Islam? It isn’t to conquer territories or capture political power. The real goal of Islam is to prepare individuals, to purify them—or what in Arabic is

called tazkiyah. According to my study, the only goal of Islam is to purify people, to prepare them as positive personalities and to help them avoid negative thinking.

Q: In your writings, you call for a more contemporary understanding and application of the teachings of Islam. That seems to suggest that the Quran is to be understood and interpreted in a contextually-relevant manner. Many religions have their origins in a particular social and historical context and are shaped in a particular way in order to meet certain social needs, among other things. For example, maybe the Prophet allowed for men to marry more than one woman in order to protect widows. But times and circumstances change. And so, to what degree do you think the Quran needs to be interpreted in the light of the contemporary social context?

A: The Quran contains relatively few legal rules. Only a few things have been declared as unlawful in the Quran—such as, for instance, consuming wine, pork and adultery. There’s an important Islamic rule—that anything that is not declared as unlawful is lawful. So, that means that there’s great room for openness. And there is the facility of ijtihad, of evaluating and rethinking rules and regulations and developing new ones in the light of new conditions, in accordance with new needs, changed circumstances and the requirements of the age.

Q: What are your views on interfaith dialogue?

A: I believe interfaith dialogue is a very important process. For dialogue to be useful and meaningful requires true

understanding and acceptance of the other. In this process of seeking to understand the other, if you discover that you have some differences with them—and

there are bound to be differences since they are part of Nature and so it is but natural that you will find them—the best way is what the Quran says: “To you your religion, to me mine” (109:6). It means to follow one religion and to respect all.We at the Centre for Peace and Spirituality are all for interfaith dialogue. We regularly participate in interfaith get-togethers. Such dialogue is a must. One must be clear that dialogue is not meant for debating. Rather, dialogue is meant in order to interact and grow in mutual learning. One must remember that differences in the religions cannot be eliminated—whether through dialogue or other means. These differences will remain. But interfaith dialogue can help us greatly in enabling us to live together harmoniously despite our differences.

Q: What is the method or approach of your Centre for Peace and Spirituality? How is your work reflected in the lives of people?

A: Our focus is the individual. The mind is the centre of activity of the individual, and so, if you want to bring about a

transformation of a person, his or her mind must change. We focus on changing people’s minds, from negativity to positivity. We stress the need for people to change

their way of thinking. People try to eliminate differences, but that’s just impossible. The Quran gives us very valuable guidance in this regard. It stresses sabr, which means patience. That is one of the greatest Islamic teachings. Patience means that one shouldn’t try to eliminate differences, but, rather, avoid getting agitated and worked up about them. It means to avoid getting entangled in wrangling about differences. God has created us human beings with great potentials, many of which lie dormant within us. To activate these dormant potentials we need patience, we need dialogue, we need exchange, we need to relate with each other positively. It is this process that leads to tazkiyah, to becoming a purified personality.

Q: You say that nonviolence is the way to succeed in all spheres of life. How did you arrive at this understanding?

A: I was born in a family that had a Gandhian tradition. My elder brother, Iqbal Ahmed Suhail Sahib, was a great admirer of Gandhiji. He used to wear khadi, and when I got married, he made me wear khadi, too! He used

to take Gandhiji’s teachings and explain them to us along with wisdom from the Quran. So, from an early age onwards, I learnt about Gandhiji. So, that’s one factor in shaping my understanding of nonviolence.Another factor was the Partition and the horrible violence that happened then. It made me passionate about working for peace in the country. I dedicated myself to peace-work, which was also one of Gandhiji’s major concerns. Later, I went on to establish the Centre for Peace and Spirituality, whose purpose is to promote peace in society and in the world and to nurture spirituality in individuals.Peace and spirituality are interlinked. You can’t have one without the other. We are trying to promote both together. Unless there is peace you cannot do anything constructive. So, peace and spirituality—these two are our major focus.

Q: What is your aim in life?

A: God is my aim. The greatest truth is God, and we have to seek God, to attain Him. There is no bigger reality than God. But to realize God it is necessary that we be peaceful and that our environment be peaceful, too. So, for spirituality we need to work for peace as well. My purpose in life is to work for peace and spirituality in the world. Working for developing spirituality within and a peaceful environment without go together—that’s part of the process of realizing God. And positive thinking is the basis of both, of spirituality and peace. The way to God is through positive thinking and working for peace in the world.

(Maulana Wahiduddin Khan heads the New Delhi-based Centre for Peace and Spirituality. For more details, see www.cpsglobal.org)

are you a human being”? But this time, too, the cub had to face disappointment.The cub didn’t give up, though. Moving further, he came across a giraffe, and, then, an elephant, and asked them the same question, and on both occasions was disappointed. But he was very determined, and so he kept moving ahead. When he was trotting along, he heard a noise coming from ahead. In a while he

saw what the matter was: There was a boy who was cutting a branch off a tree. The young lion didn’t expect this sweet-looking creature to be the human he was searching for—because he didn’t at all look scary, quite unlike what his father had indicated human beings were. But thinking that there was nothing wrong in asking him, he stood before him and said: “Do you know where I could find human beings?”

The boy was surprised, and afraid as well, but quickly calmed down. After thinking for a moment, he replied, “Yes! I know where they live, but you have to help me before I take you there.”“What a relief!” the young lion thought to himself and cheerfully agreed to help the boy. All he needed to do was to stand below the branch. The young lion did as he was told while the boy continued with sawing off the branch. In a short while, the branch came crashing down on

the little lion! The cub cried out in pain. He asked the boy for help, but the boy laughed. “You want to see humans? I am one of them!” Saying this, the boy ran off.The cub now realized why his father had forbidden him from coming in contact with humans.This story was intended to support the discussion on the subject of human intelligence, which it very much did. But the story gives rise to yet another very important question,that has to do with the consequences of this

intelligence. What is the purpose of our intelligence? How should we use it? If we humans discover the answer to this question and if we use our God-given intelligence for the good of others (including non-human species and the natural environment), many of our problems in our society will be solved.(Pousong Gangmei is presently studying at the Henry Martyn Institute, Hyderabad, a centre for interfaith dialogue, understanding and reconciliation).

Intelligence ...

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 22

secret that causes life to become more varied and complex, giving rise to countless species, types and kinds of creatures? Yet most people choose to pass by such great wonders with their eyes and minds closed, just as they pass by something very ordinary that does not deserve a second look. These very people stand amazed as they look at a man-made machine which is very simple when compared to a single living cell and its accurately regulated behavior. We need not

compare such machines to more sophisticated living creatures, let alone to the human body which contains hundreds of chemical laboratories, storehouses, distribution centers, wireless stations that receive and transmit messages, as well as hundreds of other complicated functions, the secrets of which are known only to God. “We send down water from the skies to cause every kind of goodly plant to grow on earth in pairs.” Sending rain down

Quran speaks to you

Page 2

Signs of Wisdom

“He has created the skies without any supports that you can see, and has placed firm mountains on earth, lest it sway with you, and has scattered

through it all manner of living creatures. We send down water from the skies to cause every kind

of goodly plant to grow on earth in pairs. This is all God’s creation. Show me, then, what others

might have created! Surely, the wrongdoers are in obvious error”.

(Luqman: 31: 10-11) 31: 10-11

Holy Quran

At its outset, the surah described the Qur’an as a book that is full of wisdom. It certainly reflects the wisdom of its author, God Almighty. His wisdom can easily be seen in everything He has created. The present verses speak of the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in these, we behold a great many aspects of divine wisdom. If we take the term “skies” at its apparent meaning, without going into complex scientific research, we see how awesome, expansive and sublime they are. Whether the reference here is to planets, stars, galaxies or other celestial bodies that move in the space whose nature and extent are known only to God, or to this blue dome which we see with our eyes but no one knows what exactly it is, the fact remains that there are huge, majestic bodies that are elevated without supporting pillars. People see them with their eyes, wherever they look during the night or day and wherever they travel on earth. To contemplate the sky with our naked eyes, even though we cannot comprehend its great dimensions, is sufficient to send a shudder

through our whole beings. We see a great, endless expanse without limits, but we also see a fine and beautiful system that holds all these creatures in such perfect harmony. Neither our eyes nor our hearts ever tire of contemplating such majesty. Indeed, this beauty is so captivating that all our feelings are absorbed. What does man say when he realizes that each little dot of light moving in this great expanse may be millions of times bigger than the earth he lives on?

Contemplate it with Open MindsThis reference to the limitless space, ‘He has created the skies without any supports that you can see,’ is made quickly and briefly, before we are returned straight to earth which is no more than a tiny particle when compared to the great universal expanse. Yet man sees the earth as huge

indeed: no man can traverse it all, even though he spends his life in continuous travel. Thus, the surah returns us to earth so we contemplate it with open minds, and without the effects of familiarity that cloud our vision: “and has placed firm mountains on earth, lest it sway with you.” Geologists say that mountains are undulations of the face of the earth resulting from underground pockets of coolness where gases get frozen and reduce in size. Thus the surface of the earth shrinks and becomes wrinkled allowing elevations and falls to take place in proportion to underground reductions in size. This may or may not be true, but God’s book clearly states that these mountains

stabilize the earth so that it does not sway. Thus, the rise of a mountain in one place balances shrinkage in another. However, God’s word remains supreme. He is indeed the One who always states the truth. Great Wonders of ExistenceGod “has scattered through it all manner of living creatures.” This is one of the great wonders of existence. Up to the present day, no one can claim to have fathomed the secret of the presence of life on earth. This applies to life in its simplest, one-cell form. How then can we fathom the greater

from the sky is yet another universal wonder which we take for granted, oblivious to what is involved. The water that runs in rivers, fills up lakes, or bursts out in springs comes from the sky according to a carefully planned system that, in turn, is linked to the regulation of the heavens and the earth, their relative distances, natures and formations. The growing of plants after rain has fallen is another wonder that remains infinitely amazing. It reflects several miracles, including those of the springing up of life, its diversity, and the hereditary genes within a small seed allowing replication of all types of flora. To study the color diversity in one flower of a single plant leads an open heart to reflection on life and its profound secrets, and hence to genuine belief in God, the Originator of life. The surah makes clear that God has caused plants to grow in pairs, which is a fascinating fact that scientific research has only recently discovered. All plants have male and female cells, which may combine within the same flower, or in two flowers in the same little branch, or in two branches or trees. No fruit can be produced unless pollination takes place between the two types, just as happens in animal and human life. That these plants and their pairs are described as ‘goodly’ imparts a significant feeling, making it suited as God’s creation. Hence, it is raised in front of our eyes: “This is all God’s creation.” (Verse 11) And a challenge follows: “Show me, then, what others might have created.” (Verse 11) Then follows the comment: “Surely, the wrongdoers are in obvious error.” (Verse 11) What could be worse than wrongdoing and the error of associating partners with God when looking at God’s great and universal creation? n

Sending rain down from the sky is yet another universal wonder which we take for granted,

oblivious to what is involved. The water that runs in rivers, fills up lakes, or

bursts out in springs comes from the

sky according to a carefully planned

system that, in turn, is linked to the

regulation of the heavens and the

earth, their relative distances, natures and formations.

Corporate Fascism ...from the path of social justice. He said the current dispensation was following the agenda of corporate and was bent upon bullet trains

and statues that serve little purpose while ignoring the people’s basic needs.Noamani warned that the country was being pushed under an authoritarian mode by the Sangh Parivar and the media has been bought over by the corporates who have vested interest in enslaving the people.

He said media boycotts all such news items that highlight alternative viewpoints. He said frustration was

building up among several sections of people and they were gradually gravitating towards forces upholding peace and justice. Justice Kolse Patil, former judge of the Bombay High Court, said one should read Manusmirti as to what system was desired to be established in

India. He said Hinduism and Islam had no conflict. Similarly, the tussle within India should not be viewed as one between Secularism vs. Communalism. These were never the axis for conflict. The main conflict was between a set of people who were trying to impose fascism with the help of the corporates by ignoring the issues of roti, kapada and makan.He pointed out that Manuwadi forces were trying to suppress the rights of the people. Dr.Mahboob Awad welcomed the gathering and said the Alliance stood for elimination of all kinds of terrorism and restoration of faith in the Indian Constitution. n

The main conflict is between a set of people who were trying to impose fascism with the help of the corporates by ignoring the issues

of roti, kapada and makan.

Dear Readers We wish to inform you that Islamic Voice takes no responsibility for the validity of the commercial or

matrimonial advertisements which are published in the paper. The information and content in the advertisements

has to be verified by the readers themselves if they are using the products and the services.

- Editor

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 2323 hadith illuminates our path

Hadith

Falsehood is a Grave Treachery

The Prophet (Pbuh) is quoted by his cousin, Abdullah Ibn Abbas (RA), as saying: “ Do not

be too argumentative with your brother, and do not promise him something without fulfilling

your promises.”(Related by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al

Mufrad and Al-Tirmithi

When Prophet Muhammad sought to emphasise the importance of a particular value, he mentioned it in a variety of ways, making use of every chance that might have presented itself to remind his companions, and his followers in every generation, of its importance. Furthermore, he utilised all methods of emphasis in order to make its importance clear to all people. Sometimes, he would issue a straightforward and specific order. At other times, he would include it among similar qualities or values which he would either encourage his followers to adopt or forbid them to practice. He may also describe its effect in society either by using a parable or stating a rule. The Prophet (Pbuh) described truthfulness as a sure way leading to heaven and telling lies and being false as a sure way leading to hell. The Prophet often spoke to his companions of a person who maintains either quality as being entered in Allah’s book under the classification of truthful or liar. This was a very effective way of bringing home to Muslims the importance of maintaining truthfulness in all situations. All aspects of lying whether in earnest or in jest are forbidden. The Prophet is quoted by his cousin, Abdullah Ibn Abbas , as saying: “ Do not be too argumentative

with your brother, and do not joke with him, and do not promise him something without fulfilling your promises.” (Related by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al Mufrad and Al-Tirmithi).

Being Too ArgumentativeThis is a Hadith which gives a general instruction to believers to refrain from certain practices which are bound to have adverse effects on relationships within the community. On different occasions, the Prophet has spoken against being too argumentative. Indeed, such an attitude does not bring about any proper understanding of the opposite view. What the Prophet is warning against is argument for argument’s sake. He does not tell us not to have different views on matters which admit such differences, but he does tell us not to try to defend our views as if proving ourselves to be right, as an end in itself. The goal should always be to try to arrive at the proper view through enlightened discussion. This is what Muslim scholars have understood and practised. One of the most eminent of our scholars, Imam Abu Hanifa is reported to have said: “ To us, our view is right, but we do not exclude the possibility of being mistaken, and

the opposing view is wrong, but we do not exclude the possibility of its being right.” This is indeed the attitude of a truth seeker.

Carrying Matters to ExcessAs for the instruction against joking with one’s brother, it does not apply to ordinary jokes which bring about a relaxed atmosphere and a good relationship. What the Prophet was against is what people may sometimes do, that is carrying matters to excess, trying to play jokes on others in order to make those who are present have a good laugh. This may be at the expense of another

person among the group who may take it hard that he is being treated as a source of laughter. Indeed, any type of joking which generates ill-feelings is shunned by the Prophet. To establish good and close relationships within the community is a paramount consideration to which the Prophet attaches great importance. Hence, his instruction that we should not carry our jokes with others to excess. To fulfill one’s promises and to be true to one’s word is a characteristic of every good Muslim. Hence, the Prophet emphasizes it in this Hadith as well as in many others. It should be noted that the last two types of

actions which the Prophet shuns are closely related to lying, since they involve falsehood which may be deliberate or accidental. In another Hadith, the Prophet describes one aspect of falsehood as particularly repugnant. The Prophet is quoted as saying: “ It is a grave treachery indeed that you should say something to your brother and he believes you while you are lying to him.”

(Related by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al Mufrad and Abu Dawood). This Hadith applies to a situation which is quite frequent. Some people do not hesitate to make use of the trust of others who tell them something which they know to be false. They realise that their interlocuters believe them and take what they say on trust. Nevertheless, they show no indication whatsoever to suggest that the truth is different from what they say. They may have reason for that, but generally speaking, their reason is a very selfish one. They may stand to gain by the result of this talk or they may lead the

person who believes them to do certain actions which will serve a particular interest of their own. But this is extremely selfish. The Prophet describes it as a grave treason. That is an apt description indeed. Perhaps, nothing in social relations is worse than to exploit the trust of others in order to tell them a falsehood. Whatever the reason for that, it is totally unacceptable. Furthermore, it destroys mutual respect within the Muslim community.

Playing a TrickIt is well known that most lies are discovered after sometime. When a person who believes another in what he says to him discovers after sometime that his trust was misplaced and that the person was telling him lies, he feels very much aggrieved. When the speaker is aware that what he is saying is a plain lie, his action is indeed much worse than lying, because it involves fooling a brother or playing a trick on him. No one does this in idle jest, if he has any shred of faith. People do it in order to achieve something. When they do it deliberately, the dignity of their Muslim brothers seems not to be of any importance to them. They are indeed treacherous to them. Hence the Prophet denounces such an action in the clearest of terms. But this practice which the Prophet denounces is quite common in all societies which do not implement a proper code of moral values. Hence, the Prophet has seen it fit to warn his companions against it. Relations within the Muslim community are built on a totally different basis. Truthfulness and mutual respect to others are among the important elements in the foundation of the Muslim community. n

Some people do not hesitate to make use of the trust of

others who tell them

something which they

know to be false.

They realise that their

interlocuters believe them

and take what they

say on trust.

Kashmiri Film Bags 3rd Prize at India International Science Film Festival

film fare

Srinagar: “Tulla Dozing The Bull”, a documentary shot by Kashmiri filmmaker Jalal Ud Din Baba at Zojila has won the 3rd best film award at India International Science Film Festival (IISFF 2017).Zojila is a high mountain pass in Jammu and Kashmir, located on the National Highway 1D between Srinagar and Leh in the western section of the Himalayan mountain range.The documentary film narrates the life of Anayatullah Khan, 45,

nicknamed Tulla who was born as a special kid to a shepherd family at Sonamarg. Tulla is unable to hear and speak. But Tulla is well prepared for such eventualities. He was born and brought up under the circumstances where life and its necessities teach a harder lesson in practice, sweat and blood. Tulla is a bulldozer driver and works at the Zojila pass to clear boulders, fifty feet high snow avalanches, cutting mountain patches, under the

shooting stones so as to open the Srinagar-Leh National Highway

after the six months of winter. He is a front man earthmover

operator. “Tulla has never been to school for basics, brought up as

a deprived and unprivileged boy without two natural inevitable abilities of a normal human being. Having restricted communicational ability and understanding, without which human skill, capability, capacity, aptitude, knack, proficiency, power, talent and aptitude becomes contemptible,

but Tulla is altogether diverse, special and praiseworthy, miles

ahead of normally privileged human beings. His story is that of unmatched strength, brilliance and courage,” Jalal Ud Din Baba told TCN. The documentary has won the 3rd Best Film Award Competitive Film Category (A) for its green activism, film mastery, the remarkable art of storytelling, treatment and rare maturity of the filmmaker in his ability to trail the daily activity of his specially-abled protagonist Anaytullah Khan at Zojila.

(Tworcircles.net)

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 24matrimonial

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Palestinian Teenager Wins Arab Reading Challenge

Afaf Raed has won the overall award in the challenge to read 50 Arabic books a year.A Palestinian girl has won this year’s Arab Reading Challenge ahead of a record 7.4 million participants across the Arab world and with it a prize of US$150,000. Afaf Raed, 17, has won the overall award in the challenge to read 50 Arabic books a year. She finished ahead of the other

regional winners: Hafsa Al Thunhani from the UAE; Shatha Al Twaiqi from Saudi Arabia; Sherif Saeed from Egypt; and Bushra Maison from Algeria. Egypt’s Sherif Saif finished second and the Eman School in Bahrain won the school prize, picking up US$1 million (Dh3.7m) for

its efforts.The winner’s ceremony took place at Dubai Opera and saw total prize money of about Dh11m. It was attended by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. The 7.4 million participants came from 41,000 schools in 25 Arab countries. Afaf, who’s in grade 12 at Albera High School in Palestine, said: “We are all winners in the Arab Reading Challenge.” Afaf thanked her family and people who supported her during her journey in the challenge. When a judge asked her before winning the prize about the reasons why she read, she replied: “You ask me why I read. However, I ask you why not to read? Reading adds life to our thoughts. Only by words, we are able to solve the community’s problems. “Winning the Arab Reading Challenge was not an easy task but I dared to face myself and challenges that might stop me. “I dedicate this win to Al Quds and Palestine.” Afaf said that she plans to study medicine in the future. n

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ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 2525

Osage orange firewood, also known as hedge, horse apple or bodark, is one of the best

firewood types available. This oddly shaped tree does not grow

very tall (roughly 26-49 feet), but its wood is extremely dense making it a great firewood

choice. Historically found in the Red River Valley of Oklahoma,

Do Know?YouArkansas and Texas, the trees were planted by the millions for use as a natural wind

barrier. These "hedgerows" were created to reduce soil erosion. The heat produced from dry

TreesNature’s Most Wonderful Gift

Osage Orange Tree with fruits scattered on the ground.

Largest Living single tree 275 ft tall.

Red Sanders Tree Fugong Pagoda entire made of wood in Sahnxi Province of China.

Children's Corner

Osage orange wood has qualities often compared to coal.One cubic feet of softwood contains five million wood fibres. It can stretch upto 17.5 kilometre if stretched from end to end. Blackest wood is ebony and whitest is holly (Ilex opaca)Oldest fully wooden structure is Fugong Pagoda in Shanxi province of China which was constructed in 1056 AD under Liao dynasty. It is 220 feet high. Annual growth rings in the tree trunk hide a lot of information about the climate of the past. Scientist can now unravel the periods of floods, drought, volcanic activity, fire and earthquake or rain. Against this, the meteorological data preserved is roughly 100 years old. Tallest living softwood tree is

Coast Redwood tree in North California. It is 379 feet tall. Largest living single stem tree on the planet earth is in California which stands 275 feet. It is estimated that it has 52,058 cubic foot of timber, if cut. Matchsticks are made out of most inflammable type of wood. But remember there are certain types of woods that are fire resistant. Smoking pipes are made out of wood too. Pterocarpus santalinus or Red Sanders tree is highly prized for superior quality of wood. Though it is also called as Red Sandalwood, it is not aromatic. The rich red colour of the wood makes it suitable for high grade furniture. It is grown in Kadapa region of Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Tamil Nadu. The trees cannot be cut and timber cannot be exported. n

Red Cross Urges Western Countries to Help Stop Saudi War on Yemen

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has called on Western and regional countries to use their influence towards ending the Saudi war on Yemen. "Definitely we would hope that Western countries understand the deep crisis, the risk of this enormous crisis for international stability, for the stability of the region," said ICRC President Peter Maurer during a visit to the Yemeni capital Sana’a, recently. Saudi Arabia has been leading the campaign against Yemen to

reinstate the former government. Maurer went on to stress that Yemen’s health system is in shambles, salaries have not been paid for at least 10 months, rubbish is piling up in the streets, and hospitals, water stations and other vital infrastructure have been attacked and destroyed by the Saudis. He noted that about 400,000 people have been infected by cholera, a figure which may increase as the rainy season begins.

(Extracted from presstv.ir)

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 26life & relationships

The Sirri Saqti Foundation hosted the Discover

Yourself workshop in Kolkata on the 20, 21 & 22 October, 2017.

Around 125 men and women participated in

the workshop. We present the experiences shared by some of the participants.

� After attending this workshop, I have found answers to all my questions.

� It helped me to change my views, and it connected me to the reality.

� It helped me to clear all my doubts, and it detoxified my Qalb.

� This workshop has made accepting the day to day challenges easier. I cannot change others, so I will change myself and accept what Allah has chosen for me and be happy.

� I came to know the real ‘who am I’? What is Reality? Learnt to control anger.

� After the workshop, I have come to the realization about myself, and it gave me a direction to be a good human being. It is very interesting and eye-opening.

� Before the workshop, I was in a cage, and now I feel as free as a bird. It is a lifetime opportunity.

� The workshop provides very useful practical techniques to apply in our daily lives as a Muslim. It has given me the ability to think and act as per the Islamic way, submit to Allah’s commands and improve in my Iman and Ibadah.

� It helped me discover and find the real me, to be kind, never to judge anyone and live in peace. One must attend this workshop to find one’s inner-self.

� This workshop helped me to understand myself – my real-self from the false-self. It gave me the ability to face problems and challenges in life and taught us how to overcome them.

� I was not aware of the fact that, even there is something inside me that had to be changed.

DYS WORKSHOP SCHEDULE ON PAGE 19

Detoxifying the Heart!Connecting to Reality!

UZMA: This workshop increased my wisdom rather than knowledge which no workshop does. Before the workshop, I was a Muslim by chance, and now I am a Muslim by choice. I am living Islam now, before I knew about Islam.

MADEEHA: I used to accept the sours of my life unwillingly, but now I am willingly accepting everything that happens. My head which used to be full of stress is much calm. I used to get nervous and get stressed about everything very quickly. I used to assume a lot, and now, I only prepare myself

that whatever happens, happens for good, even if anything bad happens, I do not complain, I look for a solution and if I do not find the solution, I accept it as it is. This workshop surely made me flexible and trained me to accept everything that keeps happening. Next, I like to say that I really found my belief in Allah back. I had lost hopes that Allah would give me any good, but now, I know everything is good, but I just looked at the bad side. Life is incredibly so calm now.Further, I would like to share that truly I stopped judging others, and most importantly I stopped judging myself. Thank you,sadath Sir, you really changed me!

YASMIN: This workshop has changed the way I used to think and feel. Now, I could connect with Allah in salah and free myself from the diversions to a very large

extent. My children could notice the changes in me, and I was not shouting at them, nor I was freaky about the cleanliness. I hugged them, and they shared freely how they spent the day. Now, my focus will be to develop my connection to the heart, not the mind. The world has a lot of brainy people; we need people with a big heart because we lack in this aspect.

KAINAT: I found the workshop useful. I came in here with an attitude, ego and so on, but, now I find my brain empty, clean and have become a new person. Before the workshop, I was aimless, no destination, unsuccessful, hopeless and had lost my way. But, now I know how to live my way, Now I am seeing in me a new person. In the past, my brain was full of evil, but, now I identify as a human being.

FIRDOUS: First I like to thank Sadathullah Khan Sir and TSSF for giving me this golden opportunity to attend this workshop. It is wonderful, and I feel that at least once in their life time, everyone should attend this workshop. I feel such relief that I cannot explain. I learned how to make a choice from the heart and not decisions from the mind. I let go of my past and forgave everyone. It will take some time to recover from my two years of depression, but, I will overcome it.

ARFEE: Before, ‘she is bad,' ‘she is wrong,' ‘how can she get that when she is not deserving,' ‘why me?’, ‘what will happen now?’, I would judge everything and anyone. There was absolute confusion, hypocrisy, doubts, unwillingness to accept what Allah gave me. But, now I have thrown away all the rubbish.

I feel light, and the mind is at peace. I realized that I do not have to worry about the future, Allah is in the present, and He is always there. My relationship has become open with my family,; I feel free to share with them now.

ABDULLAH: Now, I realized how a true Muslim should ‘Be.' I now realized how I wronged myself, hurting the feelings of others, friends, relatives, colleagues, neighbours, teachers, students and much more. May Allah guide me to the straight path of truth. I express my heartfelt thanks to the organizers and Dr. Sadath for enlightening me.

MUNIRUL ISLAM: I gained an insight after attending this workshop. One of my favorite songs of Michael Jackson is “Heal the world; let’s make it a better place for you, for me and the human race.” Whenever I listened to this song, I wondered how to make it a better place, how to heal the wounded world. After attending this workshop, I realized that if I want to make

it a better place than it is ‘I’ who must hange first. And, how to change myself, I discovered it in this workshop. Once, I can connect with Allah through my heart, life will be full of love, enjoyment, and peace. To know Allah is to know oneself and to know oneself is to know Allah. We should always connect to Allah, and then everything will fall into place gradually, and life will be full of happiness. If I am happy, then my surroundings will be happy, and at peace, that is how we will be able to create a better world to live, it is so simple.

RIMSHA: I learned many things which I cannot explain in words, its a heart touching workshop. I experienced a lot of changes in myself. My family was very happy; I enjoyed with my son and the problem I was facing with my husband, I felt relaxation in my life. I am very happy with the workshop, and I would love to attend this workshop again and again. If I would not have attended the workshop, I would have regretted it all my life.

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 2727 advertisement

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 28

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Global affairs

Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Anti-Nuclear Weapons Campaigners

The 2017 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). The Norwegian Nobel Committee said ICAN was receiving the award for its "work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and for its ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons." Nobel committee president Berit Reiss-Andersen praised the work of ICAN at a time when tensions remain high over North Korea's nuclear weapons testing and as the Iran nuclear deal has been called into question by US President Donald Trump. "Some

states are modernizing their nuclear arsenals, and there is a real danger that more countries will try to procure nuclear weapons,

as exemplified by North Korea," Andersen said. "Nuclear weapons pose a constant threat to humanity and all life on earth. Through

binding international agreements, the international community has previously adopted prohibitions against land mines, cluster

munitions and biological and chemical weapons. Nuclear weapons are even more destructive, but have not yet been made the object of a similar international legal prohibition." ICAN, a coalition of n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l organizations in 100 countries, said that it was a "great honor" to have been recognized for its role as a driving force behind the United Nations Treaty

on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which was adopted on July 7 with the support of 122 nations. n

Bangladesh’s Buddhist Community Cuts Festival Expense to Aid Rohingya

RefugeesThe Buddhist community in Bangladesh has declared that they will forgo parts of their festivities for Probarona Purnima, their second biggest religious festival, and donate the cost of a major event for the Rohingya Muslim refugees who have recently arrived in Bangladesh. Community leaders announced this decision at a meeting with senior Awami League leaders recently. Bangladesh United Buddhists’ Forum Chief Convener, Ashokh Barua said: “We will not celebrate the lantern festival this year during Probarona

Purnima. The expenditure of the festival will be given to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to aid the refugees.” The Probarona Purnima festival marks the end of Vassa, a three-month retreat. Traditionally, the Buddhists celebrate the day by flying numerous paper lanterns or Fanush, among other rituals. “The government will ensure all kinds of security for the Buddhist community,” said Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport Minister, Obaidul Quader.

(Extracted from www.dhakatribune.com)

Ranks of World's Refugees Swell as Asylum Space

Shrinks: UNMore than 2 million people fleeing wars or persecution have joined the ranks of the world's refugees this year, but often face more restrictive asylum policies, including in Europe and the United States, the top United Nations refugee official recently said. They include 650,000 from South Sudan and 500,000 Muslim Rohingyas who have escaped violence in Myanmar for Bangladesh over the past five weeks. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi said, "So far in 2017, more than 2 million people have fled their countries as refugees," Grandi told the UNHCR Executive Committee. "They often arrive sick, traumatized and hungry, in remote border locations, in communities affected by poverty and underdevelopment. Many have urgent protection needs - children separated from their families, men, women, girls and boys exposed to sexual and gender-based violence," he said. At the end of last year,

17.2 million refugees fell under UNHCR's mandate, but some of them have returned and others have been resettled, and there is no updated total. An additional 5 million Palestinian refugees are cared for by UNRWA. Grandi said, nearly 1.2 million refugees need resettling globally to third countries. "It is an issue of major concern that fewer than 100,000 resettlement places are expected to be available this year – a drop of 43 per cent from 2016," he said. n

Pope Calls on Christians to Share Hope with Migrants

The same hope that moves people to seek a better life for themselves and their loved ones also moves the hearts of men and

women to welcome migrants and refugees with open arms, Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, recently said. "Those

who come to our land and we who go towards their heart to understand them, to understand their culture and language" embark on a shared journey that "without hope cannot be done," the pope stated. "Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to share the journey! Do not be afraid to share hope," he said. During the audience, Pope Francis launched the "Share the Journey" campaign, an initiative sponsored by Caritas Internationalis, the global network of Catholic charitable agencies. The campaign encourages Catholics to understand and welcome refugees and migrants. n

Philippines

Mindanao Province Fights Extremism through Schools

A province on the southern Philippines island of Mindanao

has teamed up with madaris or Islamic schools to prevent violent extremism from making

inroads among Filipino Muslim youth. Sarangani Governor Steve

Solon said the provincial government's "Madaris for Peace" programme will see 125 Asatidz (madrasa teachers) propagate peace and Islamic values among Muslim school children. Solon said local government and faith leaders decided to work together following the outbreak of conflict more than 300 km away in Marawi, the country's

only Muslim majority city. The result of the partnership is an "enhanced curriculum" in dozens

of Arabic schools to combat extremism among youth. "Let us act together in preventing the spread of violent radicalism in our province," the governor said in a message read out in over 250 mosques in the province. Ustadz Abdulbayan Laguialam, Madaris for Peace project manager, said the programme started classes using a modified curriculum last month and will run for 10 months, benefiting at least 3,500 kindergarten to high school students. Laguialam said madrasa teachers and Muslim community leaders were oriented on anti-radicalism a few months ago. n

Moro students in Sarangani province attend a peace forum

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 2929 Global affairsGlobal Hunger Index

The Inequalities of HungerHunger is still ‘serious’ in India, although the country has improved; Pak lags

behind India; B. Desh & Nepal have done better.

The hunger situation in India is still “serious”, notes the Global Hunger Index, 2017, a report prepared by the International Food Policy Research Institute. India ranks 100th on the list in ensuring food security for its peoples, placing it in the high end of the “serious” category. Not only that, India lags even in its own neighbourhood. India is easily the most dominant country in South Asia. While this translates into influence and power for the Union government, Indians themselves seem to have not benefited much from this. India’s supposedly weaker neighbours do

a much better job of feeding their citizens. The only country India manages to beat is Pakistan which is placed at 106th slot. The Report looks at 119 countries. Of these, one falls in the ‘extremely alarming’ range on the GHI Severity Scale; 7 fall in the ‘alarming’ range; 44 in the ‘serious’ range; and 24 in the ‘moderate’ range. Only 43 countries have scores in the ‘low’ range. In addition, 9 of the 13 countries that lack sufficient data for calculating 2017 GHI scores still raise significant concern, including Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria.

ParametersGHI scores are based on four component indicators—undernourishment, child wasting, child stunting, and child mortality. The 27 percent improvement

noted above reflects progress in each of these indicators according to the latest data from 2012–2016 for countries in the GHI:

� The share of the overall population that is undernourished is 13.0%, down from 18.2% in 2000.

� 27.8% of children under five are stunted, down from 37.7% in 2000.

� 9.5% percent of children

under five are wasted, down from 9.9% in 2000.

� The under-five mortality rate is 4.7%, down from 8.2% in 2000.

� The regions of the world struggling most with hunger are South Asia and Africa south of the Sahara, with scores in the serious range (30.9 and 29.4, respectively).

AlarmingEight countries suffer from extremely alarming or alarming levels of hunger. These are Yemen, Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Liberia, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Zambia. Except for Yemen, all others are in Africa. Many of these countries have experienced political crises or violent conflicts in the past several decades. CAR and

Yemen, in particular, have been riven by war in recent years.Among the countries around India, China is the best at 29,

Nepal is placed at 72nd position, Myanmar 77,

Sri Lanka 84,

Bangladesh 88, India 100 and Pakistan 106.

However, India has been faring better in reducing hunger, but other countries have been doing better than India in comparison. While the planet has reduced

hunger by 27% since 2000, the corresponding number for India is only 18%. In 1992, India was ahead of two countries, Myanmar

and Bangladesh in combating hunger. In the past 25 years, however, both these countries have managed to make greater

strides than India. So much so that Bangladeshis and Burmese are today better fed than Indians.

Pak Doing WorseIf it’s any consolation, the one country even worse governed than India in that time period

is – unsurprisingly – Pakistan. Pakistan actually had a better score than India in 1992. But in two and a half decades, it slipped behind India to become New Delhi’s most malnourished neighbour.

DistressingTwenty one per cent of Indian children suffer from wasting, that is, have a weight lower than normal for their height. Only three other countries in the world have worse statistics for child wasting than India. Moreover, India’s child wasting numbers have actually got worse since 1992, increasing from 20% to 21% in 2017, making it a laggard in South Asia.Nearly 40% of Indian children are also stunted (have low height for their age) due to hunger – better than only Pakistan in the neighborhood. India’s under 5 mortality rate is 4.8%. Amongst its neighbours, only Myanmar and Pakistan are worse.Why does India do so badly in feeding its children? While India

has implemented two large-scale national programs that address nutrition – the Integrated Child Development Services and the National Health Mission – but these have yet to “achieve adequate coverage”, says the report. n

A Pakistani woman bakes roti in Tharparkar region. Paki-stan is on 106th position among 119 nations.

What is Hunger?Hunger is usually understood to refer to the distress associated with lack of sufficient calories. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines food deprivation, or undernourishment, as the consumption of too few calories to provide the minimum amount of dietary energy that each individual requires to live a healthy and productive life, given his or her sex, age, stature, and physical activity level.

The right nutrition during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life will improve her or his physical and cognitive development and ability to learn in the future.

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 30

standing right in front of the two drunken men, he was stunned. “Simre! What on earth are you doing here?” he barked.“I want to know what on earth you are doing here, Papa” Simre burst out. She couldn’t believe

she was being so bold with her father—he was a stern man—but she knew she just had to speak her mind. Ayran tried to interrupt her, but Simre continued without a pause. She told him what had happened at school earlier that day and how ashamed she was with him. “I just don’t know how I am going to face my classmates again,” she said. “You’re running a pub here, helping all these men get drunk, and you kept this away from Mummy and me. You’ve lost my trust completely, and when Mummy comes to know, it will be the same with her, too,” she continued. “And worse than that, God is definitely not going to be pleased with what you’ve been doing. I just couldn’t imagine what you’ve been up to behind our backs.”Simre’s outburst went straight to Ayran’s heart. “Simre, please try to understand,” he stuttered, trying to justify himself, “but I did this so that we could have food on our table. This eatery isn’t going to run if all I serve are cold drinks and tea.” Pointing to the two drunks, he said, “These men—you see them? They come here for harder stuff. If I didn’t serve them that, I’d hardly get any customers, and then where would you and your mother get your food from?”Simre cut her father short. “You can survive on money from making people drunk if you want to, Papa”, she told him firmly, “But Mummy and I’d rather go hungry. We don’t want to eat food bought with money

Children's Corner

What Little Simre Taught Her FatherSimre had carefully prepared her speech for the event. She wanted to tell her class some nice

things about her family and also about some good times that they had shared together.By Roshan Shah

It was ‘Talk-About-Yourself Day’ at school that day. Simre was new at the school, and it was to be her first experience of what the other students said was a great occasion. “You stand in front of the class and tell them all you want about yourself,’ her friend Rooma explained to her. “You can crack a joke if you like, or share some good childhood memories. You could even speak your mind about some things about the school you don’t like or wish to see improved. But of course do that with tact!”Simre had carefully prepared her speech for the event. She wanted to tell her class some nice things about her family and also about some fun moments that they had shared together—like the vacation her parents had once taken her on to a hill-station and about the wonderful time they had recently had at her cousin’s wedding. When Simre’s turn to speak came, she said a little prayer. “God, please make me speak just as You want me to,” she whispered as she walked towards the front of the class—her mother had instructed her that morning that she must ask God’s help before starting her speech. Simre spoke with great confidence—it was the first time she was addressing such a large group. She didn’t once feel at a loss for words, unlike what she had feared might happen. She was just about to conclude when Natasha, the class bully, stood up. “I have a question for you,” Natasha announced. “You’ve given us such a rosy picture of your family—but you’ve conveniently forgotten to mention that your father runs an eatery where they serve alcohol. Every time I pass by, I see drunken men hanging around there, making a complete fool of themselves. Don’t you know this? You’ve lied to us about your family being all so very nice, Simre, and I think you better apologize. Lying isn’t a good habit, is it?”

“Hawww!” a collective gasp emerged from the other students. Simre just couldn’t believe her ears! She was so, so shocked. She burst into tears and ran out of the class as fast as her legs could carry her. She sped out of

the school gates, hopped into an auto-rickshaw and went straight to her father’s eatery.

****

When Simre got to the eatery, she saw two drunk men sitting at a table that was littered with empty bottles, babbling away to themselves. Natasha was right after all.Simre’s father Ayran was shocked to see Simre there, barging in unannounced. The only time Simre had ever been to the eatery before was some months earlier, the day he had launched it. Following that, Ayran had strictly told his family that they mustn’t ever come there. “We get all sorts of customers, so it’s better you keep away,” he had said to them without explaining further. He didn’t tell them that he served alcohol there.So when Ayran saw Simre,

earned from running a pub. God will provide for us.”Saying that, Simre rushed back home, where she told her mother all that had transpired.

****Ayran didn’t dare go home that night. He was too embarrassed to face his daughter and wife. Soon after Simre had left, he turned out the two drunken men, pulled down the shutters of the shop from the inside and sat down on a cot, holding his head in his hands. He thought hard—about what had happened that day and about the life he was leading. All along he had been aware, in some remote corner of his mind, that the means he had adopted to earn for his family and himself—selling alcohol and making people even more addicted to a bad habit—wasn’t at all a good thing. It was something that God had clearly forbidden. All this while he had struggled to expel this nagging thought from his mind by inventing excuses for what he was doing, such as by telling himself: “God is merciful, He’ll forgive me”, or, “I don’t drink myself, so God won’t be all that upset with me—after all, I’m doing this for my family”. And so on.But now, Ayran realised, these excuses just couldn’t work. He could no longer try to convince himself that they could.“God, what I’ve done is terrible! Please forgive me,” he prayed, his face soaked with tears. In his mind, he asked his wife and Simre, too, to forgive him. He also thanked Simre for what she had taught him that day. If his little daughter hadn’t firmly confronted him like she had, he

might never have realised how wrong he had gone.

****The next morning, without informing his family, Ayran took a train to a neighbouring city. There, with the help of a friend, he managed to get a job as a guard in an office. The salary was a third or less of what he had been earning from his eatery-cum-pub. But the important thing was that this was legitimate money, money earned from a means of employment that God would approve of, and his wife and daughter, too. He sent a letter to his wife informing her of the development and requesting her and Simre to forgive him for what he had done. “I know I’ve done wrong, and I’ve asked God to forgive me. I hope the two of you will forgive me, too. I’ve taken up a job that I know will make you happy,” Ayran wrote. “Even though I’m earning much less than before, I know you will approve. I can hear you and Simre say to me: ‘Well done, dear, for the good decision you have made. Don’t worry, God will provide for us, as He always has.’” n

Simre cut her father short. “You can survive on money from making people drunk if you want

to, Papa”, she told him firmly, “But Mummy and I’d rather go hungry. We don’t want to eat food bought with money earned from running a pub.

God will provide for us.”

Tale Time

ISLAMIC VOICE, November 2017 3131 Enhance Your Word Power Glossary of Equestrian Terms

گھوڑوں اور گھڑ سواری سے متعلق اصطالحات

Colt: A male horse under 4 years old that has not been castrated.

وھگڑا) (ونوجان Dam: The mother of the horse.

امں) یک (وھگڑے Dandy Brush: A brush with stiff bristles, used to remove dried mud from a horse’s coat.

رش) �ب اک افصیئ یک (وھگڑے Farrier: This is a blacksmith who does horse shoeing. (د

نالب (�ن

Farrier at work

Equestrian: Relating to horse-riding. (قلعتم ےس (وسہشاری

Filly: A female horse under 4 years old. (وھگڑی وھچیٹ ےس اسل (اچر

Gymkhana: Rodeo events made up of games such as pole bending and barrel racing. )اخہن )مج Hand: A hand is the unit of height that horses are measured in. 1 hand = 4 inches = 10 centimeters. ی)

ن یع� � د � ن

ی �ہ اہن۔ا�ی ی �پ اک اےنپ �ن وک وھگڑے اچن 4)

Horse-riding: The activity of riding a horse, for enjoyment, exercise, or in competitions. (وسہشاری)In harness: A horse that is in harness is wearing a harness.

وہاوھگڑا) دنباھ (یٹپ

Horse in harnessJodhpurs: Pants specially made for horse riding.

وایل) اجےن ینہپ لی ےک وساری ڑھگ �ت ومعامً ونخٹں ےس وں ن �

ھگ ی ر�ب (�ب

Jodhpurs

Jockey: A rider. The word “jockey” is usually used for race horse riders. (وسار (ڑھگدوڑاکاچ�ب Bridle: The entire headpiece, the headstall, bit, chin strap, and reins, is called the bridle. (اگلم)Broodmare: A female horse that is used strictly for breeding. (ان (وھگڑی،امد�یFoal: A baby horse or pony still at its mother's side. ےہ) راتہ اسھت ےک امں وج ہچب اک (وھگڑی Mare: A female horse over 4 years old. (وھگڑی �ری ےس�ب رس �ب (اچر

Martingale :A leather device used to control the position of a horse's head. (دنب

شی (�پ

Mane: The hair that grows out of the horse’s neck, from behind the ears to the wither.

بال) � ےبمل ےک رگدن یک (وھگڑے Muzzle: Basket for keeping horse mouth shut.

یٹپ) یک رکےن دنب (ہنم Mule : The offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. (پّ�ر �

ن �)

Stable: A building in which horses are kept. (البطص)

Stable

Purebred: A horse that through generations of unmixed breeding, has and will produce the preferred

physical characteristics of the breed. (السنل (اخصل Racecourse: A wide, usually circular, path with grass surface, on which horses race, or the area that includes this path and buildings around it.

دان) می اک دوڑ (ڑھگ Pony : Breeds of small horses, under 14.2 hands tall. (و ّ� �

�)

Pony

Stud book: A stud book is a written record of the breeding of particular horse, especially a racehorse.

اہم) �ن لسن اک (وھگڑے Stallion: A male horse over 4 years old that has not been castrated.

ےس) اسل اچر آہتخ ر ین

� ا �ی وہا ا کی ہن یصخ وھگڑا اک رمع د ی

ئ(زا�

Syce: A person who takes care of horses. (رگنان اک (وھگڑوں