Interview30 Mar 2011, NewAgeIslam.ComMuslims and Inter-communal RelationsIn the last few years, especially since 1992, when the Babri Masjid was destroyed and Gujarat witnessed considerable violence, Muslims have been giving particular attention to education. In fact, today Muslims in Gujarat have a higher overall literacy rate than Hindus, although their relative representation at the higher levels of education is much less. There are a number of new Muslim schools coming up today in Gujarat today. I see this with mixed feelings. On the one hand, setting up modern schools is, of course, a good thing. It shows that Muslims are awakening to the importance of education. But, on the other hand, often because Muslims often are denied admission...

Current affairs30 Mar 2011, NewAgeIslam.ComMaking Jamia MinorityA whole range of self appointed guardians of Muslims were at the forefront of a campaign to turn Jamia into a minority institution. Some of these stalwarts include the current custodian of Munger Khanqah, the beleaguered and besieged Arshad Madani of whatever is left of the Jamiat Ulama e Hind, retired bureaucrats tangentially connected to Muslim education, out of job Muslim politicians and an alumni network of Jamia who think that Muslims are best served by organizing occasional educational seminars in places like Jeddah. In the best feudal tradition of Muslim politics, none of these players even for a moment thought that the minority issue was a contested one within the teaching community of Jamia. Thus the move to turn Jamia...

Interfaith Dialogue30 Mar 2011, NewAgeIslam.ComReformists Challenge Religious ‘Charter of Slavery’Some years ago, a Commission headed by Justice N.P.Nathwani was appointed to investigate the complaints of the Bohra reformists. The Commission had dragged out several skeletons from the Syedna’s cupboard. It revealed out that the Syedna and his family of several hundred members had amassed enormous wealth by taxing his followers, wielding, for this purpose, the mithaq as a weapon to reduce the Bohras into virtual slavery. Indeed, as numerous reformists attending the Udaipur convention stressed, so abject is the surrender of the Bohras to the Syedna that they willingly call themselves abd-e syedna or ‘slaves of the Syedna’. Bohra reformists claim that although the mithaq was a traditional Bohra...

Urdu Section30 Mar 2011, NewAgeIslam.ComRaymond Davis affair: How the ISI created and then defused the crisisNow the story of Raymond Davis is no secret. It was nothing but day dreaming of a new patriotic awakening in Pakistan. People were wondering how to end America’s growing attitude of a master. It was to make America understand that even if it is united and strong it is just a country like Pakistan with a sovereign identity. Thus both the countries have similar status in their relationship. America often crosses its limit in its of power arrogance which the Pakistanis do not like. It has become imperative that Pakistanis made America understand this. None of the governments paid attention to the self respect of the country as Late Zulfikar...

Islam, Women and Feminism30 Mar 2011, NewAgeIslam.ComUnveiling the Veil: Garment of Modesty – In different ages and culturesIslam did not introduce veiling or seclusion to the Arab region, nor are these institutions indigenous to Arabs. Strict seclusion enforced by eunuchs and the veiling of women were fully in place in Byzantine society some evidence indicates that in the south western Arab region, only two clan ( the Banu Isma’il and Banu Qahtan ) may have practiced some form of female veiling in pre- Islamic times. No seclusion or veiling existed in ancient Egypt either, although according to one reference some women may have been using a head veil in public in the later period, during the reign of Remises III (20th dynasty ) . -- Sadat A. KhanUnveiling the Veil: Garment of Modesty –...

Islam and the West30 Mar 2011, NewAgeIslam.ComMemo to Bangladesh: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix itUnfortunately the government of Bangladesh’s central bank, Bangladesh Bank – which regulates Grameen Bank – has instructed the board of Grameen to immediately remove founder Muhammad Yunus as Grameen’s managing director. This intrusion is now under appeal in the courts and will be decided imminently. Recently, international civil society has been amplifying its voice on the issue, and those who care about sustaining this movement may be able to prompt the government of Bangladesh to reverse its stand by contacting them now, as global opinion does matter to them. An independent Grameen with Yunus as its leader is eminently worth saving. Yunus and the Grameen Bank he created won the Nobel Peace Prize...

Islamic World News30 Mar 2011, NewAgeIslam.ComIraqi forces end siege, 53 killed in attackIndian people's Solidarity with Arab UprisingSuicide bomber kills 10 in NW Pakistan: PoliceIndia, Pakistan agree to 'terror hotline'SA condemns desecration of Holy Quran in USWashington in Fierce Debate on Arming Libyan RebelsKuwait sentences 3 to death in Iran spy caseIndia-Pak Cricket Diplomacy: Now, Chandigarh-Lahore people-level peace appealIndia and Pakistan Leaders Meet at Cricket MatchUK talks agree Qaddafi must goLibya rebels flee Gaddafi assault as world debatesObama defends Libya offensive, rules out ousting Gaddafi by forceLibya: William Hague hints at Muammar Gaddafi exileClinton meets Libyan opposition in London: OfficialUS Muslim coalition...