Indian Secularism: Non-Religious, Irreligious or Anti-Religious?

By Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 14 July 2018 A self-confessed Secular fundamentalist Mani Shankar Aiyar writes,  “First, Indian secularism cannot be anti-religious or irreligious, for the bulk of our people are deeply religious. Unlike in Christendom, where the word originated, secularism in India is not about pitting the state against the religious authority but about keeping matters of faith in the personal realm and matters of the state in the public realm. Second, in a nation of many faiths, where people take their faith seriously, secularism must be based on the principle of equal respect for all religions (and for those who choose not to follow any religion). As Nehru once said, ‘[Secularism] means freedom of religion...

Darul Qazas or Sharia Courts: Why both must be Opposed?

By Arshad Alam, New Age Islam 13 July 2018 The recent ‘desire’ of AIMPLB to establish Darul-Qazas in every district has understandably met with resistance, not just from different political parties, but also from within the Muslim community. It must be underlined though that equating this with something like a Sharia court is clearly a misnomer. Courts have the ‘power’ to adjudicate over issues; the Darul-Qaza will have no such power and as such will be more like arbitration councils.  To be fair to the AIMPLB, such quasi-judicial bodies do exist in other communities, such as the Khap Panchayats in Western Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. In some tribal areas, these bodies even have legal recognition. Thus, the...

UAE Fatwa Council to Fight against Rogue Fatwas That Promote Extremist and Terrorist Narratives

By New Age Islam Special Correspondent 11 July 2018 The chairman of the newly formed Emirates Fatwa Council, Abdullah Ibn Bayyah and other high-profile Islamic scholars vowed on Monday (July 9, 2018) at an inaugural meeting to wage a pre-emptive war against extremists and rogue Fatwas that promote extremist and terrorist narratives. Sheikh Ibn Bayyah, who is also the chairman of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, said the council would make all the possible efforts to “protect the country from corrupt Fatwas and disrupting influences that endanger the safety of society, citizens and even the entire world”. He said, “The role of the council will be a significant step for scholars and their counterparts in this...

The Politics of Religion and the Changing Concept of Shuhuda over the Years

By Naseer Ahmed, New Age Islam 23 October, 2015 In the Quran, the term Shuhuda is used for people who exemplify the virtues of the religion of Islam in their conduct, deeds, in patient perseverance and striving in the cause of Allah through the vicissitudes of life. They uphold what is just and fair. They provide witness or evidence of the nature of the religion of Islam through their personal example conforming to what is best in the Religion. They are the people who take the religion of Allah to other people through both precept and example and are the witnesses of Allah for having communicated the message of Allah to mankind. They establish a just and equitable system free from any kind of oppression or coercion. These are people...