Religion And Politics: A Concoction No Less Than A Dynamite

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 30 March 2023 At The Same Time, The Enigmatic Silence On Hate Speech Underlines The State's Complicity. In Fact, The Ruling Political Party Is Fanning Such Incidents And Encouraging These Elements. ---- The SC rightly observed on Wednesday that the hate speech will end the moment politicians stop using religion. Such worst characters abound in the current political dispensation. A number of Maharaj and Sadhvis in politics have nothing else to do except for abusing Muslims and Christians. At the same time, the enigmatic silence on hate speech underlines the State's complicity. In fact, the ruling political party is fanning such incidents and encouraging these elements. UP banned the sale and consumption of meat for nine days because of Chaitra Navratri....

Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Eighth Lesson on Iftar – Part 8

By Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam Translated into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 30 March 2023 Eighth Lesson on Iftar The fact that every good deed performed during Ramadan is multiplied by a variety of blessings and virtues is unquestionably a special blessing of the month. As an illustration, consider Sehri which is a pre-dawn meal. You have already seen the reward that is given on Sehri in the previous lesson if it is consumed with the intention of fasting. In the same vein, Iftaar, or breaking the fast is ostensibly done to relieve oneself of the discomforts of fasting. But it also contains mercy and benefits, as stated in the Sacred Hadith. The beloved Prophet (peace be upon him), says: “The people will not cease to remain upon goodness so long as they...

Jallianwala Bagh Was A Reaction To Muslims Celebrating Ram Navami

By Saquib Salim, New Age Islam 30 March 2023 Very Few Appreciate The Fact That The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre On 13 April 1919 Was A Punishment For Hindus, Muslims And Sikhs Of Amritsar For Showing Unity During Ram Navami Celebrations On 9 April. ------- “British Police drove a stick into Gholam Jilani’s anus. Also ,he was in a most pitiable condition. I saw his urine and excreta coming out. All of us, who were outside, were told by the police that those, who did not give evidence, would be treated like that.” This was the statement recorded by Haji Shamsuddin of Amritsar in 1919 after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Can one believe that Gholam Jilani, an Imam at a local mosque, was tortured for the crime of organising a Hindu Festival, Ram Navami? Very few appreciate the fact...

Burkina Faso Caught Between Jihadists and Imperialist Forces

By New Age Islam Staff Writer 29 March 2023 Burkina Faso Is The Second Worst Terror-Hit Country In The World Main Points: 1. Burkina Faso is a Muslim majority country in West Africa. 2. 65 per cent population of Burkina Faso is Muslim. 3. It has been going through a civil war since 2016. 4. Terror groups Ansarul Islam and Jamat Nusratul Islam wal Muslimeen are active in Burkina Faso. 5. These groups oppose modern education. ----- A photo taken on October 30, 2018 shows Burkinabe gendarmes sitting on their vehicle in... Copyright © africanews ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP or licensors ------ According to The Global Terrorism Index 2023, Burkina Faso is the 2nd most affected country by terrorism in the world, the first being Afghanistan. The country has witnessed terrorist...

Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Seventh Lesson On Sehri [Pre-Dawn Meal] Part 7

By Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam Translated into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam Lesson 7 on Sehri No matter how frequently we express our gratitude to our Lord, it is nothing in comparison to the mercy He has granted us. Ramadan is a month filled with many blessings and values for us. He gave us the glad tidings of reward for eating Sehri and commanded us to fast in His service. What else is there if not blessings atop blessings? [Translator’s Note: When fasting (Sawm) is required, Muslims typically have a meal before the true dawn, whether it is during or outside the Islamic month of Ramadan. This meal is referred to as Sahur, Suhur, or Suhoor as well as Sahari, Sahri, or Sehri, which literally means “pre-dawn meal” or “pre-fasting meal”.] It is recorded...

Sufis Were The Earliest Crusaders Against Capital Punishment

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 29 March 2023 Once Shams-e-Tabriz was returning to his monastery. He saw a large crowd of people. " What's going on," the great mystic asked." A convict will be beheaded. So, we all have gathered to see the spectacle," said one of the onlookers. The ultra-sensitive mystic fainted and when he regained consciousness, he began to cry and ask how could humans kill their fellow humans in the name of justice? Nearly a millennium has gone by and Shams' pertinent question is still valid and relevant and in the light of the Supreme Court's recent decision to look for other 'humane' alternatives to hanging, the futility of death rap becomes all the more acute. Apropos, Shams' disciple and friend, the great Rumi was also completely against executions. So were Hakim...

Why Is The Hafs Version Of The Quran Chosen As The Standard Quran?

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 28 March 2023 Hafs is the dialect and recitation of the Quran, not a version Main Points: 1. The Prophet Muhammad PBUH wanted to make it simpler for his nation to memorise and understand the Quran by employing seven dialects. 2. This question is the result of a misunderstanding of the modes and readings of the Quran. 3. It was decided to utilise Hafs since it was undoubtedly the most excellent and original dialect of the Quraishi people and the Prophet (pbuh). 4. You can see that the main disputes were over how the Quran should be interpreted and understood, not over the existence of several Quranic dialects. 5. By using seven dialects, the Prophet Muhammad PBUH hoped to make it easier for his people to memorise and...

Jamiat-i-Ulema Responded To Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Before Congress

By Saquib Salim, New Age Islam 28 March 2023 Ulema Like Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani, Maulana Muhammad Daud Ghaznavi, Maulana Nur Ud-Din Bihari, Maulana Habib Ur Rahman Ludhianvi, And Others Were Jailed Before The Quit India Resolution Of Congress. --------------------- "The goal of Jamiat-e-Ulema has ever been complete independence, and it regards this as its religious, political, and moral right. And anything which stands in the way of this right is unbearable to it." This is an excerpt from the statement delivered by the Working Committee of Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Hind in September 1939. Capt Lakshmi Sehgal with Subhash Chandra Bose during their INA days ----- The statement was published by Raj Printers in Meerut after a meeting held under the leadership of Maulana Ahmad Saeed. The...

Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Lessons Five and Six on the Rulings (Ahkaam) And Laws (Masaail) Of Taraweeh

By Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam Translated into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 28 March 2023 Lesson 5 on the Rulings (Ahkaam) and Laws (Masaail) Of Taraaweeh Law: Taraweeh is a Sunnah Muakkadah (emphasized Sunnah) for every sane and adult man and woman. It is prohibited to give it up. (Durre Mukhtar, vol. 2: p. 394) Law: Taraweeh is composed of twenty Rak’ahs. During the time of Sayyiduna Farooq-e-Azam, twenty Rak’ahs of Taraweeh were performed. (Al-Sunan Al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi, Volume: 2, Page: 299. Number: 4617) Law: The Jamaat of Taraweeh is Sunnah Muakkadah Ala Al-Kifayah (emphasized sunnah upon the community). (Hidayah: 1, p: 70) Law: The period of Taraweeh lasts from when the Isha Fard prayer is offered till the true dawn (Subh-e-Saadiq). The Taraweeh...

Fault-Finding Is Food For The Ego

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 28 March 2023 Nukta Cheeni Ghiza-E-Ana Hai. An Urdu adage (Fault-finding is food for the ego) " Doosron Mein Khaamiyaan Dhoondhna Taqreeban Har Shakhs Ka Marghoob Shaghl Hai. " (Finding fault with others is almost every individual's favourite pastime) Dhanpat Rai, Munshi Premchand There're few things the ego delights in more, than correcting other people's mistakes. One always draws some kind of patronising pleasure when one gets an opportunity to correct someone. To correct means to show a defect. In fact, unknowingly most of us have been doing this right from the beginning of our social intercourse with people around us. What we try to pass off as our genuine concern for others is actually an unwitting act of correcting an individual. You immediately...

Quranic Concept Of Eco-Protection: Eco-Friendly Iftar Celebration

By Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam 27 March 2023 Quran Has Pointed Toward Believers’ Moral And Spiritual Responsibility Towards Nature And The Protection Of Diversity. The Holy Qur’an Offers A Completely Integrated View Of The Universe, Where The Human Soul And The Environment, Mind, And Matter Are All Part Of One Living, Conscious Whole. ----------------------------------- Images + Kebabs (food.ndtv), Salad (health.US news), Fajitas (Today), Sandiches (Pinterest) ---- Believers should try to celebrate virtuous Iftar programs eco-friendly. Iftar is a pious ritual in Islam and the protection of nature and the environment is at the core of Islamic teachings. Iftar programs involving large-scale one-time-use-only plastics go against the grain of Islamic teachings which demands optimal...

Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Fourth Lesson on the Fasting Of Ramadan and its Intention – Part 4

By Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam Translated into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 27 March 2023 Fourth Lesson on The Fasting Of Ramadan And its Intention According to the accepted Shariah terminology, ‘Fasting’ refers to a Muslim's intentional practise of abstaining from eating, drinking and engaging in sexual activity, from the true dawn [Subh-e-Saadiq] until sunset, with the intention of worshipping Allah (Ibaadat). In order to fast, a female must be free from menstruation (Haidh) and post-natal bleeding (Nifaas). (Bahaar-e-Shariat) Gradations Of Fasting There are three gradations of fasting: The first is the Fasting of the common Muslims. They prevent the stomach and private parts of the body from eating, drinking and engaging in sexual activity. The...

Accept People As They Are - This Is The Kernel Of Happiness And The Essence Of Human Existence

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 27 March 2023 "Jo Dikhta Hai Woh Aksar Sach Nahin Hota Aur Jo Sach Hota Hai Woh Aksar Nahin Dikhta" (What we see is not always true and what's true is often not visible and obvious) Akhtar Orenvi (1911-1977) " When you call someone shallow, it's your shallowness that surfaces." A Turkish maxim I read this heart-touching and true anecdote in Anthony de Mello's immensely readable but out of print book, "The Prayer of the Frog." Gessen was a Buddhist monk. He was also an exceptionally talented artist. Before he started work on any painting, however, he always demanded payment in advance. And his fees were exorbitant. So he came to be known as the Greedy Monk. A geisha once sent for him to have a painting done. Gessen said, "How much will you...

Muslim Personal Law Is Not Divine And Can Be Reformed Or At Best Annulled

By New Age Islam Staff Writer 25 March 2023 Muslim Personal Law Is Anti-Islam And Anti- Women. Main Points: 1. Muslim Personal Law resists any reform regarding Muslim women' s rights. 2. Muslim Personal Law legitimises polygamy and arbitrary divorce. 3. Muslim Personal Law opposes inheritance rights of Muslim women in agricultural land. 4. Muslim Personal Law should be annulled like 370. ----- Representation image | Manisha Mondal | ThePrint ------ Ibn Khaldun Bharti analyses the Muslim Personal Law from an Indian perspective. He gives an historical account of the Muslim Personal Law and its contribution to the backwardness and victimisation of Muslim women of India. It legitimises polygamy and instant Talaq and opposes Muslim women 's right to inheritance in the...

“Breaking Down Barriers: Embracing Differences for a World of Love and Friendship Between Muslims and Christians”

By Fr. Midhun J Francis and Kochukallan SJ, New Age Islam 25 March 2023 Introduction In March 2023, the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue sent a message of good wishes to Muslims around the world on the occasion of the month of Ramadan and ‘Id al-Fitr 1444 H. / 2023 A.D. The message titled “Christians and Muslims: Promoters of Love and Friendship” aimed at promoting peaceful and harmonious coexistence between people of different religions, particularly Muslims and Christians. The Dicastery recognized that there are various challenges to friendly coexistence, such as extremism, radicalism, polemics, disputes, and religiously motivated violence, fuelled by a culture of hate. Therefore, the Dicastery sought to offer some thoughts to counter and overcome such a culture, enhancing instead...

Global Terrorism Index: India Ranked 13th on the Impact of Terrorism While ISIS Ranked Deadliest Terror Group of the World

By New Age Islam Staff Writer 25 March 2023 Representative Image ------ CPI (Maoist) Ranked As The 12th Deadliest Terror Group In 2022. Main Points: 1. India is one of the 25 most terror- hit countries. 2. Balochistan Liberation Army of Pakistan is the fastest growing terror group in Pakistan. 3. Pakistan ranks 6th on the index. 4. Afghanistan tops the list of terror- hit countries. 5. South Asia is the most affected region. ------ Insurgency, armed resistance and terrorism are the most common phenomena in the modern world. Numerous armed groups are active in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The activities of most of them come under the definition of terrorism though the definition of terrorism is largely contested. The Global Terrorism Index 2023 has been released...