What about Takfir, Divine Mercy, Hell, Heaven, So-Called Jihad, Radicalism and Misinterpretations of the Quran and Hadith, and Battling Radical Ideologies?

By New Age Islam Staff Writer 29 April 2023 Muhammad Raafat, an Islamic Scholar, Responds To the Question in an Interview with Al-Bawaba News Main Points 1. Allah Almighty did not give the keys to Heaven and Hell to anyone. 2. The mercy of Allah Almighty extends to everything. 3. Extremist groups are trying to interpret the texts according to their deviant thinking and whims. ------ Muhammad Raafat, a writer and researcher in comparative religions, holds a master’s degree in comparative religions from Zagazig University. In an Arabic interview with Al-Bawabah News about extremist groups and extremist ideology, he stressed that extremist groups are striving to interpret the texts in accordance with their whims and erroneous thinking, so as to serve their purposes and interests. Extremism in religion, according to Raafat, is one of the main reasons for Takfir, a practice that runs counter to all the tolerant tenets of Islam. It typically results from ignorance and a lack of understanding of religious concepts. He said that the religious institutions in Egypt, most notably Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, are combining their efforts to combat those who contaminate the minds of young people and attempt to lure them into the clutches of extremists. Muhammad Raafat, an Islamic Scholar ------ Full Text of the Interview Translated from Arabic by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam · You are one of the researchers who compare religions; how do you envision various religions being integrated? Allah Almighty created the whole universe in perfect harmony. The difference is a cosmic norm that God Almighty made as one of His signs. Thus, the diversity of languages, dialects, and colours is proof of the power of God Almighty, as the Almighty said, “And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colours. Indeed in that are signs for those of knowledge.” (30:22) Allah Almighty made the difference and diversity among human beings, as we said, a cosmic norm, so if He had desired, He would have united all peoples under one nation, as the Almighty says: “And if Allah had willed, He could have made you [of] a single community, but He sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And you will surely be questioned about what you used to do.” (16:93) He Almighty also said, “And if your Lord had willed, He could have made mankind one community; but they will not cease to differ. Except whom your Lord has given mercy, and for that He created them." (11:118-119) All religions are integrated and all of them came with the message of oneness (Tauheed) of God Almighty, after which they imparted moral perfection and virtues. However, God Almighty gave each its own set of rules and guidelines. · If religions are integrated; then why do we still encounter sceptics? God Almighty commanded Muslims to believe in all the prophets, as well as all the heavenly books. God Almighty says: “The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination.” (2:285) If a believer doesn't accept all of the prophets and all of the heavenly books, his faith isn't perfect. According to a well-known hadith, when our master Angel Gabriel visited the Prophet (peace be upon him), he asked him what faith. The Prophet replied that faith means believing in God, His angels, His scriptures, and His messengers. Our Prophet Isaa (Jesus peace be upon him) ratified the Torah and gave glad tidings of the arrival of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as God Almighty says: “And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "O Children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad.” (61:6) As a result, there is no room for doubt or for trading accusations. · What do you think of the takfir issue, which is advocated by those with extremist ideologies? Takfir is a big issue since God Almighty condemned it in the Holy Qur'an. The Kharijites were the first to adopt this idea in the history of Islam when they declared Imam Ali to be a Kaafir. This is a problem that arises from a misinterpretation of the Qur'anic verses or Prophetic sayings. Extremist organisations make an effort to read texts in a way that advances their objectives and interests. This was warned about in the Qur'an. Allah says in the Quran: “O believers! When you struggle in the cause of Allah, discern (between friend and foe). And do not say to those who offer you [greetings of] peace, “You are not a believer!”—seeking a fleeting worldly gain. Instead, Allah has infinite bounties [in store]. You were initially like them then Allah blessed you [with Islam]. So be sure! Indeed, Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” (4:94) Also noteworthy is what the Messenger (peace be upon him) said when Hazrat Usama killed a man who declared, “None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Hazrat Usama, “Did you kill him after he had said; 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah?" Hazrat Usama said, "O Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him)! “He said so out of fear of our weapons". The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked him, “Why did you not cut his heart open to find out whether he had done so sincerely or not?” Islamic law forbids falsely accusing others of committing Kufr, as shown by the Qur'anic text as well as by the hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) says: "Whoever says to his brother 'disbeliever' then it will have settled upon one of them." (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2637) Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying, "If somebody accuses another of disbelief or calls him the enemy of Allah, such an accusation will revert to him (the accuser) if the accused is innocent." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Thus, religious extremism is one of the main causes of takfir. Extremism in religion is unquestionably in opposition to all of the merciful principles of Islam, and it frequently arises from a lack of knowledge and comprehension of religious matters. · However, some extremist groups cite the hadith “I have been commanded to fight people until they testify that there is no god but Allah.” in order to justify their actions. Does this hadith legitimise the assault and killing of non-Muslims under the pretext of jihad? As I've already indicated, radical organisations attempt to interpret the scriptures in a way that supports their whims and deviant thinking. The hadith just says, "I have been commanded to fight," not, "I have been commanded to kill." The two expressions significantly differ from one another. Consequently, the Hadith "I have been commanded to fight" was intended to thwart and deter aggression. God Almighty forbade the beginning of aggression, regardless of whether there is a religious difference or a difference of opinion that could cause conflict. The Prophet (peace be upon him) made a covenant with the Jews in Medina for this reason, right? When the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) made peace and reconciliation with the Quraysh at Al-Hudaybiyah, God Almighty gave man freedom of worship and freedom of belief and reserved the reckoning for him alone. Allah Almighty said: “There is no compulsion in religion.” The call to Islam should not involve compulsion and violence. The invitation to Islam has some means mentioned in the holy Quran: “Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious” (16:125) God Almighty also said: “Had your Lord so willed, all those who are on the earth would have believed. Will you, then, force people into believing?” (10:99) Extremist organisations do not take into account such texts in their creed, but instead, work to stoke misunderstandings in order to advance their objectives. · But what about those who assert that X is in heaven and Y is in hell? God alone has the power to decide Heaven and Hell. Because of their misinterpretation of the texts, people who swear an oath in the name of God will face harsh punishment from God, the Most Mighty. This is also because they have granted themselves the authority to judge the servants of God in the kingdom of God in a manner that is contrary to what God desires. Then, I am in awe of those who judge someone's punishment or termination after observing their lives and actions, while God Almighty said: “Those who have gone astray will not harm you when you have been guided. To Allah is your return all together; then He will inform you of what you used to do. O you who have believed, (look) after your (own) selves (Literally: upon you are yourselves). He who errs (does not) harm you when you are (rightly) guided.” (5:105) The only one with authority is Allah. He is the only one who judges and holds others accountable. What Allah Almighty has widened, the extremist elements have shrunk. Allah Almighty declared, "My mercy extends to everything." He alone holds the keys to both Heaven and Hell; no one else has been given them or has been selected to hand them out to people on His behalf. · What part do religious organisations play in battling radical ideologies? Religious organisations in Egypt, led by Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, play a significant role in debunking and responding to the suspicions made by extremists. Al-Azhar established the global observatory, which addresses extremist ideas and claims in numerous languages, as well as the World Organisation of Al-Azhar Graduates, which has produced a large number of books, most notably, the series Refuting Extremist Ideology, which addresses all of the concerns brought up by those with extremist ideologies. The Al-Azhar Training Academy is an additional effort in this regard. Dar Al-Iftaa is also exerting significant effort through its observatory and the publications it has produced. The Ministry of Religious Endowments has decided to prevent non-Azharis from holding the pulpit. All efforts are combined to combat those with radical ideologies who seek to hijack the minds of young people and take them captive in the service of extremism. Source of the Arabic interview: https://www.albawabhnews.com/4785702 URL: https://newageislam.com/interview/takfir-mercy-hell-heaven-jihad-quran-hadith-radical/d/129668 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

‘Maulana’ Sajjad Nomani Wants To Put Breaks On Muslim Women Empowerment

Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy April 28, 2023 Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) is shocked by the blatantly anti-women diktat of the spokesman of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, ‘Maulana’ Sajjad Nomani. In a video clip posted on YouTube (https://youtu.be/tyO5E8MgQEQ), the influential cleric with a large following among Muslims across the country can be seen and heard issuing the edict: “Do not send your girls to college unaccompanied, not even with a hijab. This is haram, haram (forbidden, sinful). On this night of holy Ramzan, I send this curse on parents who send their daughters to a coaching centre or college unaccompanied: unless they mend their ways, may Allah condemn them to hell.” Nomani further declared: hijab or burqa is not enough… it is the duty of parents to keep in touch with the college principal and urge her/him to inform them if their daughter bunks any classes. The word ‘Maulana’ means a learned Muslim scholar but the latest fulmination of Nomani reeks of blatant ignorance and misogyny. Where does his dire warning leave his flock of followers? How practical is it for either of the parents to accompany their hijab or burqa-clad daughter to college and back, then to coaching classes and back on an everyday basis? What if they have more than one daughter, pursuing different courses/careers, attending different colleges? And what if both parents are working? Nomani’s imagery and advise are patently feudal; unsuited for Indian Muslims who are overwhelmingly working class. Does it also mean that sending their daughter to a hostel is out of the question? Is this not an indirect way of advising parents to keep their daughters away from higher education? And what about the sons: do as they please? When the Taliban recaptured power in Afghanistan in 2021, Nomani was among the first to rejoice and dash off his congratulations to the mullahs. His blatantly anti-women utterances are proof of his Talibani mindset. By damning those who do not follow his diktat to hell, Nomani is attempting to exert pressure upon and influence his followers to discriminate against women in the community and deprive them of their agency, right to move freely and right to education which are provided under the Indian Constitution. Muslim women are leaders and educators of today, with equal rights and entitlements. Nomani is not only threatening those rights directly by misrepresenting and using the tool of religion, but is misusing his authority to propagate inequality and orthodoxy. The IMSD categorically rejects Nomani’s antediluvian ideas and underlines that they do not represent the opinion of all Indian Muslims. This moral policing of women should stop and the likes of Nomani should be called out by all right-thinking Indians. Many decades ago, it was this very mindset which advised Muslims to keep away from modern education as a result of which Muslims are the most deprived community in India. Today, when Muslim women are coming out in large numbers to access higher education, it should be welcomed and the community should put structures in place to facilitate this process. Instead, we have regressive minds like Nomani who want to put breaks on Muslim women empowerment and re-domesticate them. In particular, we appeal to Muslim organizations to condemn this anti-women statement of Nomani. Signatories: 1. A. J. Jawad, Advocate, Chennai 2. Aftab Khan, Journalist, Nasik 3. Anjum Rajabali, Film Writer, Mumbai 4. Arif Kapadia, IMSD, Business, Activist, Mumbra, Thane 5. Arshad Alam, IMSD, Columnist, New Age Islam, Delhi 6. Aziz Lokhandwala, Businessman, Mumbai 7. Bader Sayeed, Advocate, former MLA, Chennai 8. Bilal Khan, IMSD, Activist, Mumbai 9. Farhan Rahman, Asst. Prof., Ranchi University, Ranchi 10. Feroze Mithiborwala, IMSD, Co-convener, Bharat Bachao Andolan, Mumbai 11. Gauhar Raza, Anhad, Delhi 12. Irfan Engineer, IMSD Co-convener, CSSS, Mumbai 13. Javed Anand, IMSD Convener, CJP, SabrangIndia Online, Mumbai 14. Kasim Sait, Businessman, Philanthropist, Chennai 15. Khadija Farouqui, IMSD, Activist, Delhi 16. Lara Jesani, IMSD, PUCL, Mumbai 17. Mansoor Sardar, IMSD, Bhiwandi 18. Massoma Ranalvi, IMSD, We Speak Out, Delhi 19. Mohammed Imran, PIO, USA 20. Muniza Khan, IMSD, CJP, Varanasi 21. Naseeruddin Shah, Actor, Mumbai 22. Nasreen Fazelbhoy, IMSD, Mumbai 23. Qutub Jahan, IMSD, NEEDA, Mumbai 24. (Dr) Ram Puniyani, IMSD, Author, Activist, Mumbai 25. Rashida Tapadar, Academic, Activist, Nagaland 26. Ratna Pathak, Actor, Mumbai 27. Sabah Khan, IMSD, Parcham, Mumbra/Mumbai 28. Saif Mahmood, IMSD, Supreme Court Lawyer, Delhi 29. Shabana Azmi, Actor, Former MP, Mumbai 30. Shabana Mashraki, IMSD, Consultant, Mumbai 31. Shabnam Hashmi, Anhad, Delhi 32. Shama Zaidi, Documentary Film Maker, Mumbai 33. Shamsul Islam, Author, Delhi 34. Sheeba Aslam Fehmi, IMSD, TV Commentator, Delhi 35. Simantini Dhuru, Documentary Film Maker, Mumbai 36. Sohail Hashmi, IMSD, Sahmat, Delhi 37. Sultan Shahin, Editor-in chief and publisher, New Age Islam, Delhi 38. Taizoon Khorakiwala, Businessman, Philanthropist, NRI 39. Teesta Setalvad, IMSD, CJP, SabrangIndia Online, Mumbai 40. Yash Paranjpe, Activist, Mumbai 41. Yousuf Saeed, Documentary Film Maker, Delhi 42. Zakia Soman, BMMA, Delhi 43. Zeenat Shaukat Ali, IMSD, Wisdom Foundation, Mumbai URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/maulana-nomani-muslim-women-empowerment-/d/129663 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

When Sympathy Cheapens You

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 29 April 2023 " Khwahish-e-Hamdardi Ne Mere Kirdaar Ko Daaghdaar Kar Diya." (The Desire For Sympathy Has Besmirched My Character) - Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi " Seek The Warmth Of Sympathy. Chances Are, You'll Get The Coldness Of Apathy." -Mehdi Akhavan-Sales, Persian poet, also wrote some stories " Sympathy Always Has An Element Of Condescension." Anon We all have come across and disliked those who seek sympathy. This habit is indeed irritating. Many people are in the habit of telling others about their pains, sorrows and sufferings. While it's good to share one's pain with near and dear ones, one must remember that all aren't your close ones or dear friends. Moreover, we all have our own pains and troubles and when someone starts narrating his/her sob-stories, it becomes unbearable for others. Some do it just to gain sympathy and they keep doing it. Those who have a certain inferiority complex and who want to draw people's attention, often concoct sob and sad stories to get people's sympathy. We don't understand one simple rule of life that those who seek cheap sympathy always get insincere sympathy. An Urdu maxim encapsulates it: Hamdardi Maangoge Toh Bedardi Milegi (If you ask for sympathy, you'll get rudeness). People somehow realise that the person is telling his/her artificially painful stories to gain sympathy. So, they also give him/her lip-service and are never genuinely interested in his/her sufferings. At the same time, unnecessarily crying before others is degrading. It's insulting. You cheapen yourself. Maut, Maatam, Mamta Aur Muhabbat Ko Sikke Ki Maanind Nahin Uchhala Jaata (Death, mourning, affection and love cannot be tossed around like a mere coin). Rumi wrote so soulfully: ' When I sought sympathy, I broke life's symphony.....I broke its musicality and realised, pain shared with all is pain uncared for by all.' This is an invaluable piece of wisdom that the pain shared with all is pain uncared by all. It's the relegation of pain and dwarfing its intensity. Don't belittle the profundity of pain by seeking unnecessary sympathy. Let pain and sufferings smoulder in the crevices of your heart. Sympathy dilutes its sombreness. It (sympathy) corrodes and blunts those sharp edges that lend quality to one's persona. Urdu poet Makhmoor Saeed aptly says,'Akele Mein Ro Leta Hoon, Khud Se Khud Ko Bahlata Hoon/ Mere Wajood Ko Khokhli Hamdardi Ki Chahat Nahin' ( I weep in my own company/My existence needs no hollow and shallow sympathy). People with dignity seldom share their pains and sufferings with others and if at all they share, they share with only those, they've complete faith in and vice versa. Sensitive and self-respecting people know that sympathy makes a person feel small. Any Tom, Dick and Harry cannot be so close to you as to be able to know what's happening inside your home, heart and hearth. An individual's dignity lies in camouflaging his/her pains and losses. Remember, the greatest art is to conceal art. Why should sufferings be displayed like clothes in tatters? Is pain an object to be showcased through the window of sympathy? It's akin to washing one's dirty linen in public. Then it doesn't remain in pain any longer. It becomes a trivial gimmick and an act of indignity. 'The sheen of suffering goes away with sympathy's cheap offerings.' So, take utmost care who you should share your sob stories or genuine problems with. Remember, we're all born with someone's pain and die with our own. Pain is too personal and suffering is equally private. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. This article is an extended, enlarged and corrected version of the writer's blog on TOI. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/sympathy-cheapens-/d/129662 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Sudan: Misplaced Aspirations of Two Army Generals Turned A Country Into A Hell

By New Age Islam Staff Writer 28 April 2023 Gen. Al Burhan And Gen. Dagalo Bay For Each Other's Blood Main Points: 1. The Sudan Armed Forces and Rapid Support Force fight for supremacy. 2. More than 500 people have died in the crossfire. 3. Dictator Omar al Bashir had formed RAF to prevent any coup by the army. 4. RAF was used by Bashir against pro-democracy protesters. 1. 5.Three day ceasefire ends tonight. ----- People have used the relative lull in fighting to go outside their homes (Reuters) ----- Sudan, a country of 40 million people of whom 97 percent population is Muslim.is going through a civil war due to the ego clash and misplaced aspirations of two army generals. The African country that was ruled by dictator Omar al Bashir till 2019 and had seen a transition to a democratic system has plunged into bloody internal conflict since April 15 in which more than 500 people have died and more than 4000 people have been injured. The root of the conflict is the paramilitary force called RSF or Rapid Support Forces formed by the former dictator Omar al Bashir in 2002 to crush a rebellion in Darfur and to prevent any coup attempt by the army. The RSF was also used by Bashir to crush the pro-democracy protests in 2019 and earlier. Omar al Bashir made it a semi- organised paramilitary force and gave their leaders the status of army officers. On 11 April, RSF forces were deployed near the city of Merowe and Khartoum. The government forces saw it as a threat and ordered them to leave the place. But Dagalo 's RSF refused to leave and took control of Sobo military base and Khartoum. This was the immediate cause of the current conflict between RSF and SAF. The RSF is said to have 70,000-110,000 fighters including battle hardened army veterans while the SAF has 220,000 soldiers. However, the RSF headed by Dagalo has military support of Russia as its fighters have received training from Russia. Russia's private military Wagner group is,also said to have provided support to RSF. The RSF was headed by Gen. Mohammad Hamdan Dagalo alias Hemedti. Under Dagalo, the RSF committed large scale massacre, mass rapes, torture and pillage. Since Bashir depended much on Dagalo for survival as the dictator, he gave Dagalo a free hand in the management of gold mines in Darfur through which he amassed huge wealth. Dagalo killed more than hundred protesters in 2019 but when he realised that Omar Al Bashir will not survive the uprising ignited by rising prices of bread, he allied with the Army general Al Burhan and forced Bashir to step down. From then on an army- civilian alliance was running the semi - democratic government with Gen. Al Burhan as Chairman and Dagalo as the Deputy Chairman of the alliance government. But in 2019, Al Burhan again staged a coup and the head of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Al Burhan became the country's de facto ruler. Since then the conflict between Al Burhan and Dagalo has intensified. The RSF is loyal to Dagalo while the Sudanese Army is headed by Abdal Fatah al Burhan. The battle of supremacy between Al Burhan and Dagalo alias Hemedti turned into a civil war on April 15 during the holy month of Ramadhan. The most unfortunate aspect of the conflict is that it turned into a full fledged war duing the holy month of Ramadhan. The two sides did not stop fighting even on the day of Eid. The entire country has been ravaged by bombings and shelling. Essential services have been hit and people do not have access to water, electricity and even to medical aid. The two factions have not spared hospitals and have even used hospitals for attacking each other. Many hospitals have stopped working due to shortage of medicines. The bone of contention between Al Burhan and Dagalo is the integration of the RSF into the Sudanese Army but Dagalo will not content with a junior post. Dagalo wants integration of the RSF within ten years while Al Burhan wants it in two years. Another bone of contention between the two generals is the economic interests of the forces. It was said earlier that Dagalo had authority over the gold mines in Darfur which were a source of huge wealth for Dagalo and Omar al Bashir. Therefore, when RSF is integrated into the Sudanese forces, Dagalo may his control over the gold mines. That is the reason he wants the integration to take ten years. The sooner the integration, the sooner he will lose his source of wealth and authority. Perhaps Sudan's army and Dagalo's forces emulate Pakistan's army's economic model which is a constant source of wealth for retired army generals and officers. It should be noted that Pakistan army is the world's biggest business conglomerate having annual revenue of $26 billion. The Pakistan Army invests in real estate, manufactures steel, furniture, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, cereals, processed meat and runs sugar mills etc. under Fauji Foundation. Sudan's civil war is the result of the tussle for control of the natural resources between the Al Burhan and Hemedti factions. And for this, both have ignored the Islamic principles of warfare and moral compulsions. They shelled residential complexes killing and injuring civilians, during the Ramadhan and on the day of Eid. They did not allow humanitarian aid to reach the civilians. After the Eid, they agreed on a 72 hour ceasefire that ends tonight. The United Nations Security Council convened meeting on Monday in which the members called for an immediate end to the war but the two factions seem to believe in defeating each other in war. Both Dagalo and Al Burhan vow to punish each other for treason and claim that they are fighting for the people of Sudan. The Secretary General of the United Nations raised concern over the humanitarian crisis arising out of the war. He said: "Reports from Khartoum paint a devastating picture: people are trapped indoors, terrified, with dwindling supplies of food, water medicines and fuel, health services are near collapse and several hospitals are being used by armed groups. Across the country, there have been reports of armed clashes; people have fled their homes in Blue Nile and North Kordofan States and across Darfur, with refugees and returnees having arrived in Chad, Egypt and South Sudan. This power struggle is lighting a fuse that could make an already catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Sahel even worse, setting back development by decades. All parties — General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemedti”, Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces — must silence the guns. They must put the interests of the people front and centre, respect the ceasefire and establish the permanent cessation of hostilities. This conflict will not and must not be resolved on the battlefield with the bodies of Sudan’s children, women and men. The United Nations stands with the Sudanese people." Sudan's internal conflict that has continued for more than three decades has been the cause of death of millions and displacement of millions. The forces have massacred and raped thousands of people to suppress the popular uprising. Omar al Bashir and other politicians have been declared war criminals by the International Criminal Court and have been in jail. Two days ago, they managed to flee the jail in Khartoum taking advantage of the chaos but the army claimed they are in its custody. The civil war in Sudan has once again shown that Muslims have not learnt to live in a democratic political system. So- called Islamic countries have been ruled by army. Egypt, Pakistan and African countries are some of the examples. The ceasefire between RSF and SAF ends tonight. While Sudan burns, the Islamic world looks on in silence. The OIC has no role to play. Only the United Nations is trying its best to resolve the conflict. URL: https://newageislam.com/current-affairs/sudan-aspirations-army-generals-country-hell/d/129656 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Malabar Revolt: Fictions In History Narration

By Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam 28 April 2023 One century has elapsed after tragic anti-colonial resistance at Malabar in Northern Kerala rocked British colonialism. Still, communal controversies are doggedly unleashed to tarnish the event as a Muslim communal frenzy and drive religious divisions. The great revolt against the oppressive British Raj has not given its historical due and is employed to tarnish the valiant participants of this resistance movement. The latest recommendation of the Indian Council for Historical Research to remove the 387 martyrs' names from the national martyrs' list is one among the many moves to efface its historical significance. Malabar revolt was a chain of anti-colonial appraisals from 1921 August to 1922 February in three Taluks of Malabar. Many authentic first-hand experiences during the upheaval have been published in books like the memoirs of the then Malabar collector William Logan, Stephen F. Dale, Saumyendranath Tagore and K.N Panikker. It was the culmination of a string of small, localized resistance uprisings against colonial economic and religious policies that started in 1836. These long decades of stiff resistance have been strategically relegated as communal events of ‘Mopplas'. (Mappila is predominantly Muslims of North Kerala) by the British to justify the excuses to crush the movement. The communal history employed by imperial powers has been sadly the pet historical interpretation for many modern Indian historians and thanks to this the anti-colonial mobilization of this proportion is still mired in controversies. British documents depicted this revolt as fanatical mobilization, vendetta and plundering. William Logan (Malabar Manuel) and Stephan Dale (Mappilas of Malabar) are some of the British works in this repertoire. Marxist history depicts the Malabar revolt as an agrarian uprising against the oppressive feudal system by Hindu landlords bolstered by British military strength. They argue the revolt was due to the landholding issues that pauperized the tenants. K.P. Gayathrivallabha Iyer and K.N Panikkar have critically analyzed Malabar revolts from an agrarian perspective. Panikkar in his work has brought forward extensively land issues and the feudal economy and that the revolts escalated against the colonial masters who supported such an oppressive system. Agrarian causes have been cited by British officers too. William Logan endorsed this idea in his report of 1882 titled ‘Report on Malabar Land Tenures’. Conrad Wood also incidentally found agrarian discontent as the trigger. The reversal of Tippu reforms (1784-1792) and institutionalization of feudal landholding caused steep financial changes in society and that bred social tension against feudal lords and the colonial administrative ecosystem. To limit the historical revolt to communal and agrarian causes is to present an incomplete scenario. It certainly had political and religious motives and implications. The pan-national Khilafat Movement has influenced the developments. The Malabar revolt should be understood from the national Khilafat Movement perspective as well. Khilafat Movement has been explained as the outbreak of Muslim discontent against the domestic issues. The immediate trigger was the humiliation Ottoman Caliphate incurred under the settlement after World War I drafted by the British War Cabinet. The movement should be read as an extension of anti-colonial resistance across the Muslim world. Roland E. Miller says: “Mappila revolt was an incendiary cocktail of economic distress, independence zeal, Khilafat Movement and British oppression. These factors sporadically led Mappilas to revolt against the new hierarchies. But in 1921 it was the Khilafat factor that occupied pre-eminence while other elements made it a mass movement” (Mappila Muslims of Kerala). The pivotal factor of the revolt was the political and economic hardship of everyday life after the British took over Malabar following the Third Anglo-Mysore War of 1792. In order to crush the political support Tipu Sultan enjoyed, the British made seminal changes in the region. Bringing back old feudal lords and extricating heavy taxes from agriculture were important measures. This caused fragmentation of the Mappila economy and resulted in the resultant political irrelevance. According to British documents the majority of Mappila Muslims were tenants. The heavy taxation, unregulated land alienation and stringent tenancy system were the core hardships. While low-caste Hindus were dissuaded from rising against injustice due to religious strictures, the Mappila community often revolted for their rights, right from the Portuguese invasion of the early sixteenth century. In 1916 Mappila Muslims had formed a league of peasants against oppressive agricultural practices. They tried to ameliorate the problems through prayers and public representation to landlords and British authorities. But after British deceit came to light to divide Muslim holy places against the promises given, the revolt assumed new vigour and political symbolism. With the publication of the Severes Treaty in 1919, anti-imperial tension flared across the Muslim regions. 1919 October 17 was marked as Khilafat Day. National Khilafat Committee was formed in February 1920 in Bombay. By 1921 June 30 more than 200 branches were opened across the country. 1920 April 28 Khilafat Conference at Manjeri was an important event in Malabar. It heralded the launching of the Khilafat Movement in the region. After initial hesitation, Congress under Gandhiji's leadership accepted the proposal to work together to redress Khilafat grievances and cement Hindu-Muslim unity. On 18 August 1920 Gandhiji and Shaukat Ali addressed a large gathering at Kozhikode. Between April 23 and April 27, 1921 Congress held Khilafat Conferences at Ottapalam and Palakkad. As per these decisions, peaceful protests launched on August 21, 1921, in the Malabar region. British police with the connivance of feudal lords moved swiftly to foil peaceful protests against the authority. Police started massive arrests of leaders. On August 20 Khilafat leader Ali Musliyar approached Tirurangadi Police Station to release the arrested activists. While the discussion was on, police opened fire against people clustered around the police station. This led to chaos and this was the beginning of the Malabar revolt of 1921. Ali Musliyar surrendered after ten days. With leaders in detention, the situation led to total anarchy. At this critical moment, Congress unilaterally withdrew from the protest. This made the protest outright leaderless and chaos prevailed everywhere. Till February 1922, the revolt continued unabated. Pookkutur War (August 26, 1921), Pandikkad fight (November 14) and Wagon Tragedy (November 19) which claimed 120 lives happened during this period. The official reports show the mortality rate around 1000; unofficial documents negate this. According to unofficial reports, more than 10,000 people were murdered and an equal number were exiled. Historians and people who survived genocide allege the withdrawal of Congress as cascading factor for the protest being blown out of proportion. R.C Majumdar viewed this act as an unpardonable political blunder from Congress leadership. According to local historian C.K Kareem, ‘The revolt originated in political and agrarian woes, strengthened by dire police repression, and ended in an explosion'. Secular historians are reluctant to consider this a crucial chapter in the Indian freedom struggle. Communal narratives have painted the movement as a fanatical frenzy by Mappila Muslims to establish Islamic rule. They allege mass-level conversion and pillaging of Hindu properties. These arguments are fabrications and the statements by Hindus after the revolt attest to this fact. Khilafat leaders had cordoned off Hindu homes providing them security while cutting off British efforts to divide communities. Hindus were actively part of the movement as they endorsed sweeping changes in landholding that enabled all to possess the land. The movement was decentralized without centralized leadership and coordination. At some places, Hindu landlords and British supporters have been assaulted and few escaped to nearest places. While this part is true, many Muslim landlords and British supporters were murdered and their property seized. The revolt was against British authority and feudal landlords irrespective of religion. Militant revolutions are part of the Indian freedom struggle. These revolutions have not been given much credit as Gandhian non-violence was more popular. Gandhi, Ambedkar and Annie Besant called the Malabar riots as Hindu genocide, why? Gandhi never rejected the Khilafat or the Malabar struggle outright, but only the misdirection that came out of it. It is true that these leaders denounced it as Hindu genocide. A firm believer in non-violence, Gandhi has denounced his struggles whenever the struggles descended into violence in any part of the country. Unlike modern political leaders, Gandhi never tried to find justifications for violence or blame the police when his own ranks went astray. A good example of this is when Gandhi dissolved the Non-Cooperation Movement itself after the Chaurichaura incident in 1922. It does not mean that Gandhi accepted the communal argument that the Muslims in Malabar premeditated the massacre of Hindus to establish an Islamic state, and he adopted the same policy when the Khilafat struggle turned violent and led to mass murders. To mention one more, there is now a campaign going on that Gandhi was forced to reject the struggle because it turned against the natives. This is also untrue. Because Gandhi stepped into the national movement by leading the anti-Janmi movement for farmers' rights in Champaran, Bihar. There is also a campaign going on now that the movement turned against the Janmis which prompted Gandhi to reject it. We must not forget that when Gandhi decided to link the Khilafat with the freedom struggle, Ambedkar and Annie Besant were among the strongest opponents in the Congress. Both strongly argued that surrendering to the caliphate would lead to the hijacking of the freedom struggle by Islamist forces. When the course of the struggle ended in violence, the first thing these two did was to use that opportunity to implicate Gandhi, who had made friends with the Khilafat leaders without putting aside their opposition. The notes that came with both of them (Ambedkar's Pakistan or the Partition of India and Annie Besant's chapter of Malabar's Agony in C. Sankaran Nair's Gandhi and Anarchy) equally put all the responsibility for the violence on Gandhi. Ambedkar interpreted the tragedy as the result of Gandhi's obsession with Hindu-Muslim unity. “Mr. Gandhi was so much obsessed by the necessity of establishing Hindu-Muslim unity” (Pakistan or the Partition of India, p.158) were the words used by Ambedkar. Moreover, he alleges that Gandhi praised the Mappilas as God-fearing for killing Hindus in accordance with religion. Here are the words used by Ambedkar: “He spoke of the Moplahs as the “brave God-fearing Moplahs who were fighting for what they consider as religion and in a manner which they consider as religious” (Pakistan or the Partition of India, p.158). Gandhi was never averse to the idea of Khilafat Movement, but opposed it when it went against Ahimsa. Similarly, a section among the Congress who opposed the idea of Khilafat Movement, condemned the revolt due to their opposition to the idea of the movement. Kerala Muslim Response Against Colonialism Kerala Muslims were at the forefront of the anti-colonial struggle. It began when the Portuguese tried to sabotage trade by imposing unilateral practices. It is true that Islamic principles have always been the guide, it was for the protection of peace and homeland. It continued even when Tippu Sultan acted against the interests of the people. This continued well into the British era. It is a blunder to argue that Muslim responses always have been monolithic. Many scholars and leaders from the community had protested the Mappila outbreak even from the beginning. Although Muslim scholars issued fatwas in support of the Khilafat Movement they never thought of violent means. The leaders heralded peaceful, constitutional means for achieving the targets. But the vacuum created by the arrest of leaders and massive repression led to violent incidents in some parts of Malabar. The words of Khilafat leader Pangil Ahmed Kutty are all telling while addressing people: “Our country should be free. British should leave. But violence is not the path, struggle peacefully till the end”. The communalization will stand no chance if historians go through local records and documents produced at that time. It includes fatwas, autobiographies and newspaper reports along with recorded oral testimonies. A vast collection of oral testimonies are available from both Hindu and Muslim perspectives. The efforts to denigrate the historic freedom event as communal is a great disservice to the people who sacrificed their lives for the nation. ----- A regular columnist for NewAgeIslam.com, Mubashir V.P is a PhD scholar in Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia and freelance journalist. URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-politics/malabar-revolt-fictions-history/d/129655 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Islam Is An Environmentally Friendly Religion

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 27 April 2023 The War And Violence Have Caused The Condition Of The Ecosystem To Deteriorate. The Availability Of Clean Water And Food Is Decreasing Main Points: 1. Islamic teachings have much to educate people about their relationship with nature. 2. Animals and birds are important components of the environment. Islam teaches that they should not be killed unjustly. 3. Water is essential for human life, and one of Islam's teachings is not to pollute it, which can cause diseases like liver and stomach inflammation. 4. Islam prohibits littering in public, as it makes the atmosphere dirty and poisonous. 5. Islam commands protection from air pollution by burying the deceased, which is done to prevent impurity and odour from polluting the air and atmosphere. 6. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) highlighted the need for environmental preservation in various hadiths, such as "There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm". ... The universe is thought to be 15 billion years old, while the earth is thought to be 4.6 billion years old. Our world has valuable assets of life, but environmental pollution is increasing due to many reasons including war and violence. The availability of clean water and food is decreasing. Environmental organisations are taking action to protect the environment. When we examine Islamic teachings in this context, we discover that Islam strongly promotes environmental survival and is thus an environmentally friendly religion. Islamic teachings have much to educate people about their relationship with nature. Islam actually derives its name from the Arabic term "Silm," which means peace. This word refers to peace not just between humans but also between other living things and the environment as a whole. Islam teaches mankind to regard the environment with reverence and respect and to live in peace with it. The Quran and the Hadith make frequent mentions of the environment and the responsibility of humans to protect it. Both clearly state that humans are responsible for caring for and maintaining the creatures of Allah as part of the Amaanat (trust) handed to them as the caliphs of the earth. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Also Read: Environment And Human Life Are Inter-Dependent in all World Religions ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Allah says in the Quran: “Surely, We have made what is on earth an adornment for it so that We test them as to who among them is better in need” (18:7) What is on Earth contains all living creatures, vegetation, mountains, minerals, and everything else. This verse states that Allah created nature in order to beautify the planet and provide pleasure to our eyes and hearts through it. It also highlights that this creation serves a higher purpose, which is to put people to the test by requiring them to perform good deeds and display their piety by leaving the environment as Allah made it. The verse emphasises the significance of treating the environment wisely and responsibly, lest there be severe consequences for humans and life on Earth. A pollution-free environment is something that all living creatures on Earth, including humans, rely on. It is critical for human health, survival, and growth to keep the ecosystem's elements in the same balance, order, and beauty that the Creator of the universe created them in. If any of these factors is interrupted, the entire ecosystem suffers. Causes Of Environmental Pollution Things that damage the environment and the climate have existed throughout history, but the current industrial revolution has propelled man to the top in many spheres of life while polluting the climate and the environment. The continual discharge of trash from factories and various companies, as well as the fumes from vehicles on the highways, have greatly exacerbated environmental pollution. The air here is often dusty due to inadequate sanitation in big cities. People in our country are supposed to eat less food and more dust. The teaching of Islam is that life should be lived with moderation rather than greed and extravagance. Allah says in the Quran: “And eat and drink and do not be extravagant. Surely, He does not like the extravagant” (7:31) The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) says: "Be upright in your actions, and be moderate." (Bukhari) Mizan is an Islamic concept that emphasizes the importance of balance and justice, as it implies a state of equilibrium that is fair and just. Allah created the earth in perfect equilibrium, as He says in the Quran: “And He raised the sky high, and has established the balance so that you would not transgress the balance. And observe the correct weight with fairness, and do not skimp in the balance. And He laid out the earth for all creatures” (55:7-10) These notions of moderation, preservation, and balance inspire Muslims to respect the planet's boundaries as well as the symbiotic ecosystems on which all creatures rely for survival. If the world continues to go forward with moderation, the ecosystem's equilibrium will be preserved, the environment will be conserved, and development will proceed. The teaching of Islam on the interaction of humans with the environment is further based on its fundamental moral values. In various hadiths, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) highlighted the need for environmental preservation, albeit in a roundabout way. For example, the hadith "There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm" implies that humans should be accountable for their actions and refrain from causing harm to one another, whether directly or indirectly through disrupting the environment in which they live. In another hadith, it is stated, "If the Resurrection were established upon one of you while he has in his hand a sapling, then let him plant it." This Hadith encourages Muslims to plant trees. Importance Of Planting One of the teachings of Islam in relation to environmental protection is to plant more trees. Allah says: “And He is (The One) Who has sent down from the heaven water; so thereby We have brought out the growth of everything; so We have brought out of it greenery, from which We bring out close-compounded grains, and out of the palm-trees, from their spaces, thick-clustered (dates) within reach, and gardens of vineyards, and the olives, and the pomegranates, each similar to each, and each not (Literally: other than being co-similar) similar to each. Look upon their produce when they have produced, and their mellowness. Surely, in that (Literally: in those) are indeed signs for a people who believe.” (6:99) This verse draws our attention to the causes of green, such as tree planting. There is no doubt that dense woods are a significant source of environmental pollution protection and clean air for humanity. On the one hand, humans gain fruits, grains, shade, fuel, and wood for furniture from trees and plants, and on the other, these trees absorb the substances that create environmental pollution and make humans and other creatures transparent. We must protect this natural treasure of woods for future generations while also maintaining environmental balance. Animals and birds are important components of the environment. Islam teaches that they should not be killed unjustly. The Prophet (peace be upon him) reportedly said, "Whoever kills a bird without a reason, it will beseech Allah on the Day of Resurrection saying: O Lord, so and so killed me for no reason, and he did not kill me for any beneficial purpose” Islam commands protection from air pollution. One of its teachings, for example, is to bury the deceased. One of the goals of this instruction is, among other things, to prevent the impurity and odour emanating from the dead man's body from polluting the air and atmosphere. Islam prohibits littering in public, as it makes the atmosphere dirty and poisonous. According to a Hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered to cover phlegm by putting mud on it. Water is essential for human life, and one of Islam's teachings is not to pollute it, which can cause diseases like liver and stomach inflammation. Today, water pollution is a major problem. Islam emphasizes the importance of a moderate attitude when raising one's voice in order to control noise pollution. Occasional and excessive sounding is seen as reprehensible, and excessive sounding is described as the "braying of a donkey". Islam is an environmentally friendly religion, as evidenced by its instructions to protect the environment in the Qur'an and Hadith. By following these instructions, we can easily control environmental pollution. ----- Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-environment/environmentally-friendly-religion/d/129650 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

A Facial 'Fig-Leaf' For A Muslim Woman

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 27 April 2023 One must appreciate Tabassum Shaikh for topping the Karnataka PUC State Exams. Now it's incumbent upon her to publicly condemn hijab as a sign of oppression and Islam's religious chauvinism. One may say that she's too young to be so vocal against a practice which's as old as Islam is. But then, Malala Yousufzai was even younger and was in a country which's religiously too backward and prehistoric. Tabassum must realize that she's a brilliant girl, a topper at that and she has achieved this by shedding hijab. Her peers who were reluctant to do away with hijab, left their modern education for the orthodox Islam. No one knows them. But whole India knows Tabassum and everyone is lauding her efforts for standing first-class-first. We often say in Dari, 'Bera Bina Izz Aadat-e-Musteer Ifn An' Kazeer-E-Mustaqil' (once you bid adieu to a bad habit, leave it completely). Tabassum must put her foot down and state categorically that hijab is an impediment to a woman's empowerment and she's happy to have left it completely to surge ahead in life. Tabassum's unequivocal criticism of hijab will pave the way for other Muslim girls who want to pursue higher studies and do something worthwhile in life. What impedes your progress and individuality, must be dispensed with. When a Muslim teacher asked Qurratulain Hyder why she never wore a veil/hijab? Her reply was, 'Hijab Pahanti Toh Ghar Pe Hi Baithti, Padhne Kyon Aati? ' (Had I worn hijab, I'd have preferred to stay indoors. I'd not have dared come out to study). Needless to say, what the legendary novelist, journalist and academician achieved in her life. The brilliant and highly educated Pakistani poet(ess) Parveen Shakir, who never wore a hijab in her rather brief life (she died in a car accident at the age of 42), called hijab, ' a facial fig-leaf for a Muslim woman.' Pakistani Human Rights activist Asma Jehangir would often say, "Hijab Kathmullon Ki Beewiyon Aur Betiyon Ke Liye Hai, Padhi-Likhi Aurton Ke Liye Nahin" ( Hijab is meant for the wives and daughters of the clerics and fanatics, not for the educated women). When hijab is being condemned and criticised across the world and women are dying in Iran and Afghanistan, it's time for every Muslim girl and woman to throw away this oppressive piece of apparel that smacks of religious primitivism and sartorial ghettoisation. Once again, kudos to Tabassum. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/facial-fig-leaf-muslim-woman/d/129651 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

How Religions Whip Up Mass Hysteria

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 26 April 2023 One Pastor Paul Mackenzie, who runs the Good News International Church in Shakahola, Malindi, Kenya, made the news after a massacre took place in the Shakahola forest. People were left shocked after Kenyan police found dozens of bodies in the eastern part of the country. Soon after this, Paul Mackenzie was arrested as he allegedly asked people to starve themselves so they could meet Jesus and attain heaven. He reportedly converted people to his beliefs and engaged them in fasting. This has shocked the whole world. Believers from affluent countries might argue that since this happened in Kenya, a rather poor African country where tribal superstitions and shenanigans overwhelm religious beliefs, this is a rare and isolated incident that has nothing to do with mainstream Christianity. They're mistaken. Go to the US. According to the ' Christianity Today, ' " There're more than 1450 known as well as obscure cults of Christianity in the States that indulge in Doomsday Prophecies, Wandering Jew Myth ( plagiarised from the Accursed Ashwatthama Legend in Mahabharata; who was condemned by Krishna to live till the end of the world....all bogus), Apocalypse, Armageddon and what not. Often the heads of such cults convince the credulous believers to commit suicide or go on hunger strike (an alternative form of suicide) to attain heaven where they would be hobnobbing with Jesus, the man who never existed. Scores of moronic believers take the words of these charismatic Pastors, Fathers and evangelists as Gospel Truths and commit suicide or starve themselves just to meet Jesus or attain heaven. Muslims are often criticised that suicide bombers blow themselves off to get 72 Houries and 28 Gulmas ('Beresh Launde' in Urdu) in heaven. But this stupidity is more or less prevalent in all faiths. Out of 18 Puranas in Hinduism, four Puranas clearly and categorically state that celibates (Brahmachari) will be making love to ever-youthful Apsaras ( Hindu Houries!) all the time! Quite possible because heaven of all faiths is a place for idlers and lewd people having no worries to earn and run a family. So, keep indulging in perpetual orgies and debaucheries. By the way, have you ever thought how come what is condemnable or illegitimate in this world becomes perfectly legitimate in heaven? Don't drink here. You'll get rivers of wine flowing in paradise. Don't have sex on earth. There'll be damsels up in the heaven to give you earth-shattering orgasms sans refraction intervals in between! What nonsense! But legions of believers think that they'll get all this if they lead an unexciting life on the planet earth! A recent convert in Punjab's Kapurthala (he was a Sikh who embraced Christianity) wrote in a Christian magazine that now Jesus accompanies and guides him wherever he goes. He has got a personal god whereas all the Gurus in his erstwhile faith never guided him personally. Obviously, this neo-convert to Christianity is a deluded man who was brainwashed by unscrupulous missionaries. These unethical missionaries go to the extent of making the bovine brains believe that after accepting Jesus as their saviour, he'll protect them 24 x 7 ! What a great marketing gimmick! It's time to think rationally and apply the prudence nature has endowed us with. Whichever religion it may be, at the end of the day, you're going to be disillusioned with all esoteric mumbo-jumbo of all faiths. But then, to be disenchanted, one has to have a semblance of reason and sanity. Alas, we don't seem to have that. So, from the cradle to the grave, we remain yoked to a plethora of irrational religious beliefs and obfuscated customs. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/religions-whip-hysteria/d/129644 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Adieu Tarek Fatah: You Took On The Mullahs, But Succumbed To The Hindu Right

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 25 April 2023 I may sound outright caustic, but the fact remains that a majority of Muslims across the globe have heaved a sigh of relief and said, good riddance, following the demise of Islam's trenchant and most vocal critic Tarek Fatah. Tarek Fatah ----- As his name ' Fatah' (triumph) suggests, Tarek triumphed over the primitive and parochial religiosity of Islam and its palpable obscurantism that still exists even after more than 14 centuries. Never given to mincing words, Tarek called a spade a spade, nay a shovel and took the marauding bison of Islam by the horns. Tarek was a relentless crusader and an indomitable champion of human rights. He was an indefatigable reformer who was often mistaken for an apostate (Murtad) or atheist (Ilhadi). Unlike Salman Rushdie, Ibn Warraq, Ali Dashti or Ayan Hirsi Ali who all left Islam and turned nonbelievers, Tarek remained in the fold of Islam and called himself a liberal and latitudinarian Muslim who questioned every belief or tenet he felt uncomfortable with. Whether it was the issue of the fundamental rights of LGBT community, punishment for Zina (adultery) or conversion of minorities in Pakistan, Tarek always raised his voice. He had the honesty to admit in public that the Muslims of the subcontinent were emotionally as well as biologically closer to their Hindu brethren than they were to the Arabs. He further added that since most of the Muslims of the subcontinent had Hindu ancestors, they (Muslims) must never forget their roots. A majority of Muslims, weaned and fed on Zakir Naik's hateful diet of Wahhabi and Salafist Islam of Saudi Arabia, didn't like it. But there's no gainsaying the fact that a handful of sane and sensible Muslims always tacitly agreed with his unbridled views. A number of fatwas (edicts) couldn't dampen his courage and zeal. Tarek always remained unperturbed and till the end, he believed in Nietzschean dictum of living dangerously. He was the first person to suggest that the name of Delhi's Aurangzeb Road must immediately be changed. A vocal critic of Pakistan, Tarek always rued his parents' decision to migrate to Pakistan. He left Pakistan in 1987 and settled in Canada where he breathed his last. I became his fan when I read his book, " The Jew is not my Enemy: Unveiling the myths that fuel Muslim anti-Semitism." Every Muslim must read this book to disabuse himself/herself of the innate and implacable hatred for the Jews and Judaism. Though the 'striker'/'knocker' (the name Tariq- Toye, Alif, Re, Qaaf, in Arabic means, a striker/knocker/morning star) has gone, his views will continue to strike like a blitzkrieg and he'll always remain as distinct as a morning star. Au revoir, Tariq Saheb. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/current-affairs/tarek-fatah-fanatics-liberals/d/129642 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Tarek Fatah: Abused By Fanatics, Admired By Liberals

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 25 April 2023 I may sound outright caustic, but the fact remains that a majority of Muslims across the globe have heaved a sigh of relief and said, good riddance, following the demise of Islam's trenchant and most vocal critic Tarek Fatah. Tarek Fatah ----- As his name ' Fatah' (triumph) suggests, Tarek triumphed over the primitive and parochial religiosity of Islam and its palpable obscurantism that still exists even after more than 14 centuries. Never given to mincing words, Tarek called a spade a spade, nay a shovel and took the marauding bison of Islam by the horns. Tarek was a relentless crusader and an indomitable champion of human rights. He was an indefatigable reformer who was often mistaken for an apostate (Murtad) or atheist (Ilhadi). Unlike Salman Rushdie, Ibn Warraq, Ali Dashti or Ayan Hirsi Ali who all left Islam and turned nonbelievers, Tarek remained in the fold of Islam and called himself a liberal and latitudinarian Muslim who questioned every belief or tenet he felt uncomfortable with. Whether it was the issue of the fundamental rights of LGBT community, punishment for Zina (adultery) or conversion of minorities in Pakistan, Tarek always raised his voice. He had the honesty to admit in public that the Muslims of the subcontinent were emotionally as well as biologically closer to their Hindu brethren than they were to the Arabs. He further added that since most of the Muslims of the subcontinent had Hindu ancestors, they (Muslims) must never forget their roots. A majority of Muslims, weaned and fed on Zakir Naik's hateful diet of Wahhabi and Salafist Islam of Saudi Arabia, didn't like it. But there's no gainsaying the fact that a handful of sane and sensible Muslims always tacitly agreed with his unbridled views. A number of fatwas (edicts) couldn't dampen his courage and zeal. Tarek always remained unperturbed and till the end, he believed in Nietzschean dictum of living dangerously. He was the first person to suggest that the name of Delhi's Aurangzeb Road must immediately be changed. A vocal critic of Pakistan, Tarek always rued his parents' decision to migrate to Pakistan. He left Pakistan in 1987 and settled in Canada where he breathed his last. I became his fan when I read his book, " The Jew is not my Enemy: Unveiling the myths that fuel Muslim anti-Semitism." Every Muslim must read this book to disabuse himself/herself of the innate and implacable hatred for the Jews and Judaism. Though the 'striker'/'knocker' (the name Tariq- Toye, Alif, Re, Qaaf, in Arabic means, a striker/knocker/morning star) has gone, his views will continue to strike like a blitzkrieg and he'll always remain as distinct as a morning star. Au revoir, Tariq Saheb. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/current-affairs/tarek-fatah-fanatics-liberals/d/129642 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Yati Narsinghanand's Outbursts

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 24 April 2023 Today is very auspicious both for Hindus and Muslims as Akshya Tritiya and Eid-al-Fitr fall on the same day. So, condemning anyone from any faith will make me an insensitive person. Yet, I'm having to condemn this Yati Narsinghanand for urging his followers to attack Mecca and seize Kaaba! If this is not sacrilegious, what else is? This fanatic labours under the misconception that Kaaba was originally a Hindu temple! He calls it Makkeshwar Mahadev Mandir. Yati Narsinghanand ----- Discerning readers might be aware that there was one joker by the name of P N Oak. This Poona-based 'historian' wrote a useless book, ' Some blunders of Indian Historical Research ' in 1966. That book was an unadulterated diatribe against Muslims and Christians and he tried to prove that Taj Mahal was Tejo Mahal and Girja ( church) was a distortion of Girija, a Hindu goddess. That book was rife with complete nonsense and it annoyed the historians, most of them being Hindus, so much that he was thrown out of The Indian Council of Historical Research. Though no serious historian of any stripe ever took this rabid Brahman from Maharashtra seriously, the uneducated WhatsApp generation and the current political dispensation birthed a harvest of sick Sanatanis like this Yati, Sadhus, Mahants, Sadhvis and pseudo-researchers who're ready to believe every word that Oak said in his long spells of delirium. Hindus entertain a very erroneous view that once upon a time, Hinduism spread across the world and all the holy structures anywhere in the world were once Hindu temples or structures! Now when the government is also hell-bent upon deleting historical facts, the outbursts of people like Yati, Sadhvi Prachi, among others add fuel to fire and receive more traction. We're living with zealots. Religion is the latest buzzword. Christian missionaries in Punjab are giving concessions on bus tickets to the newly baptized (erstwhile Sikh/Hindu) girls. We're least bothered about much more pressing issues like population and employment. To us, religion is the alpha and omega. Jai Sri Ram, Jay Jesus, Jay Allah......Have I committed an unforgivable act of blasphemy by adding the prefix ' Jay' to Jesus and Allah? By the way, Eid Mubarak to all. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/yati-narsinghanand-outbursts-kaaba/d/129633 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Of The Month Of Ramazan Just Gone By

By Prof. M. A. Sofi, New Age Islam 24 April 2023 The Good Deed Being Performed Voluntarily Ought To Fall Within The Ambit Of Duties Towards Fellow Beings (As Part Of Haqooq-Ul-Ibad) And Has To Be Distinguished From The Mandatory Ones Involving Duties And Rights Towards Allah (Haqooq U Allah) Which Are A Binding On The Faithful Like Five Times Prayers, Haj Or Zakat Etc. ----- With the holy month of Ramazan of 2023 just gone by, it’s intended to share certain personal experiences based on how people look at and conduct their lives while following the obligation of fasting and prayers during Ramadhan. The need for sharing my thoughts is motivated by the vice-like grip of the Pesh Imams, aka priests, on the masses and how almost everything being uttered by them finds instant traction with those in attendance in the mosques. These are my observations as much as a casual observer of things would notice them, and so no originality of the contents is claimed of what follows in the lines below, other than to suggest what could possibly be a way out, in my limited understanding, to impart a semblance of sanity to the proceedings. We are told that apart from fasting, the act of virtue like prayers or charity in the shape of zakat being performed during Ramadhan is supposed to fetch "seventy times" as much reward in the hereafter as it would otherwise if performed outside the month of Ramadhan. That is the kind of stuff that has been fed to Muslims all over the world who have been made to accept that as an inviolable act of faith. To put into perspective the logic of the "70- times" divine windfall, it’s important to note that the idea of the reward being promised to the faithful in return for good deeds being performed within the holy month is to be understood in the sense of the unlimited bounty and kindness that God has promised to shower upon those among the faithful who are sincere while performing such good deeds, regardless of whether such deeds are performed during or outside the month of Ramadhan. A scholar friend who has a deep insight into Quran and Ahadees endorses that point of view. In an effort to corroborate this viewpoint, let us to ponder the logic of the 70- times benefit as decreed in various interpretations of the divine text. To begin, this over-emphasised insistence on doling out charity as part of zakat during Ramadhan arises from a ubiquitous disposition to quantify reward and punishment as one would normally do with material goods, gains and losses. Of the many less desirable consequences of such an approach towards the issue is this unwholesome spectacle of most of the Muslims giving away almost the entire amount due to them as zakat necessarily during the holy month of Ramadhan, thus leaving little or no money and other resources with them to be paid to the poor and the needy who may need that during the rest of the year. As a consequence, a whole lot of the destitute and of the sick and those in heavy debt among them would be left high and dry for want of timely assistance by those who have the resources and the wherewithal but who had chosen to give that away exclusively during Ramadhan. As opposed to the spirit of these injunctions which is primarily to engender virtue and piety in the believers, such unreasonable allegiance to the letter involving the "material arithmetic" of reward and punishment would defeat the very purpose of zakat which combines self-sacrifice with compassion and fellow feeling. To ensure the institution of zakat being used to good effect, this diehard allegiance to the obsession of earning "good grades" on individual actions has to give way to rational distribution of wealth and other resources as part of zakat’s being ensured to be spread over the entire year if it is to be hoped that those beset with hunger, need and poverty do not remain deprived as a result an exclusive emphasis on the quantification of returns. In the same vein, the sheer size of congregation of the 'faithful' thronging the mosques and other places of worship for prayers at least five times a day during Ramadhan and then thinning out and subsequently staying out during the rest of the year is again a result of the same thinking involving the factor of 70 being forced into the equation! A plausible, commonsensical interpretation to tease out a sense of the 70-multiplier thing would be to postulate that the “70-multiplier offer’ is not automatic, unless the good deed intended to fetch seventy times the promised reward is part of the set of exhortations that are not mandatory from the Islamic jurisprudential point of view but are undertaken of one's own volition, on voluntary basis that is. Further, the good deed being performed voluntarily ought to fall within the ambit of duties towards fellow beings (as part of Haqooq-ul-Ibad) and has to be distinguished from the mandatory ones involving duties and rights towards Allah (Haqooq u Allah) which are a binding on the faithful like five times prayers, Haj or zakat etc. In short, the point is that the scale and magnitude of the reward in lieu of the latter deeds (based on Haqooq-ul-Ibad) shall remain the same irrespective of the time of the year, whereas such epistemic virtues as truthfulness, kindness and good behaviour towards fellow beings or even a kindly word to a beggar as acts of charity are the good deeds (as part of Haqooq-ul-Ibad) being non-obligatory would reasonably fetch seventy times the promised reward if these acts were performed during the month of Ramadhan. Yet another side of the picture and involving such good deeds as mentioned above being exhorted to be practiced to attain to spirituality of the individual, the buck is seen to stop right at the door of the mosque. This is so because it's rarely the case that the sheer majority of those seeking proximity to the Almighty through the rigorous regime of prayer and good deeds as prescribed for the holy month are seen to translate into piety, morality and good behaviour of the individual towards fellow beings. It's a sad reflection of the moral depravity of the Muslim community that the rigorous discipline exhorted to be inculcated towards self-purification and edification of the soul as ordained as divine injunctions happen to make no difference in terms of such habits as dishonesty, corrupt practices and bad manners among the practicing Muslims which are seen to witness no worthwhile decline even during the holy month of Ramadhan, other than in the rarest of rare cases. That should serve to underscore the redundancy of the "70-times-reward" inanity being attached to an obligatory act of virtue if performed necessarily during the month of Ramadhan. Of a piece with what has been said above is this display of raucous, haranguing sermons by those occupying the pulpits of mosques especially in the subcontinent which provide a telling example of how a sense of mortal fear of God as a supreme dispenser of punishment is instilled in the minds of the people regarding the consequences of foregoing one's religious obligations. On the contrary, the need for highlighting the mercy and compassion of God towards those who may unintentionally err or deviate from the path of righteousness seems to be completely lost on these demagogues whose shrill rhetoric on a myriad inanities being passed for as being central to the Islamic faith gets carried as the main take away from their outpourings. Of course, it’s reasonable to understand and infer that those who are insincere and in grave error as a result of their arrogance, rebelliousness and a wilful denial of the word of God shall not be entitled to His forgiveness and mercy. ---- Prof. M. A. Sofi is currently NBHM Visiting Professor at JK Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Srinagar He previously taught at AMU, Aligarh, Central University of Kashmir, Srinagar and University of Kashmir, Srinagar Did Master’s from AMU, Aligarh (1978) and Ph. D Mathematics at IIT Kanpur(1982) Presently living in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. URL: https://newageislam.com/debating-islam/ramadhan-ramazan-ramadan/d/129624 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Javed Akhtar Is A Belligerent Atheist

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 23 April 2023 While the entire nation celebrated two festivals, Akshay Tritiya and Eid on April 22, the wet blanket Javed Akhtar said that he wanted to see a few festivals for atheists as well. He urged fellow atheists to come up with some fresh ideas. Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi ------ This is called monomania. Javed's atheism is too loud and exasperating. It's belligerent atheism. In a bid to flaunt his 'unadulterated' atheism, he condemns festivals, not knowing that festivals have nothing to do with any religion. All festivals are manifestations of exuberance. If an atheist celebrates Eid or Akshay Tritiya, will he or she become a Muslim or a Hindu? Just the way neo-converts zealously condemn all the practices, customs and rituals of their earlier religion(s), these rabid atheists also cast aspersions on all that they erroneously think to be religious. This is also some sort of an intellectual extremism one doesn't approve of. Humans tend to stretch their beliefs a trifle too far and a tad too much. One doesn't have to wear his/her atheism on the sleeve and demand a festival for atheists. One can enjoy the gaiety of all festivals without adhering to any god and faith. I've no faith in any god or religion. But I enjoy the festivals of all faiths. I love to have bowls of Sheer Khurma and Aamras Poori on Eid and Akshay Tritiya. I unabashedly accept Eidi on the occasion of Eid. All my Hindu and Muslim friends invite me despite knowing that I'm an apatheist. I appreciate the concept of Shab-E-Charaghaan (Diwali) and like the idea behind Holi without an iota of faith in Hinduism, its scriptures and deities. I celebrate X-Mas and appreciate the significance of Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement and Repentance in Judaism and Samaritanism) but my faith in Christianity or Judaism is cipher. I try to practise Anekantvad or Pluralism of Jainism but have no faith in Jainism. In short, one can enjoy all festivals in a detached manner if one wants to. An atheist must never be rigid. In fact, it's the rigidity of the followers of all man-made faiths which an atheist dislikes and doesn't approve of. So, why on earth should an atheist be rigid like Javed Akhtar? In this age of ubiquitous social media, whether a theist or an atheist, all are playing to the gallery with a view to getting that proverbial Warholian fame of 15 minutes. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/javed-akhtar-belligerent-atheist/d/129625 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Zakaat: A Source Of Welfare For The Muslim Community; But It Requires An Overhaul In Muslim Mindset From The Flawed Notion Of 'Piety' And 'Righteousness' To Genuine Concepts Islamic Charity And Purification Of Heart

By Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi, New Age Islam 21 April 2023 Viewed From The Perspective Of “Fi Sabilil-Allah” (In The Path Of God), Zakaat Is A Source Of Welfare For The Muslim Community. Main Points: 1. Common perception of 'righteousness' which consists of extreme externalism, an outward conformism or formal conformity to the legal codes and customs. 2. What was reflected in the attitude of the Pre-Islamic traditionalist Jews is deeply entrenched in the common mindset of Muslims today. 3. A flawed notion of 'piety' and 'righteousness' is deeply seated in the majority of the contemporary Muslim society across the world. 4. The institution of Zakaat as the fifth pillar of Islam, is an important case in point. ----- “You shall not attain righteousness unless you spend on others of that which you love, and whatever you spend, verily God has knowledge of it.” (Qur’an: 3:92) Shaan-e-Nuzool--context of the revelation-- of this verse was basically to disabuse the false notion of 'righteousness' perpetuated by the highly textualist legalism of the then jurists [among the Jews and Christians]. In a strikingly similar way, today's Muslims have developed a common perception of 'righteousness' which consists of extreme externalism, an outward conformism or formal conformity to the legal codes and customs derived from the outdated laws of the Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). What was reflected in the attitude of the Pre-Islamic traditionalist Jews is deeply entrenched in the common mindset of Muslims today. In the words of Maulana Abul A'ala Maududi who wrote an Urdu commentary on the Qur'an, Tafheem-ul-Qur'an (Towards Understanding the Quran): "Narrow-mindedness, greed, covetousness, meanness, concealment of the Truth and readiness to barter with it lay beneath this veneer of formal piety. They were, nevertheless, considered pious in the minds of the people; Jewish public opinion condoned their conduct because it conformed to its concept of 'righteousness'." This flawed notion of 'piety' and 'righteousness' is deeply seated in the majority of the contemporary Muslim society across the world. As a result, basic tenets, key precepts and principles of the Islamic faith and creed have lost their actual essence which is miserably missing from their actions. The institution of Zakaat as the fifth pillar of Islam, is an important case in point. Literally, Zakaat means “purification” or “cleansing”. Though it encompasses the purification of all of one’s possession, it refers, most specifically, to one’s enormous wealth. However, it purifies not only the wealth of the giver but also his heart and mind from miserliness, greed and all selfish tendencies. Imam Ghazali states in his spiritual discourses (Ihya Ulum al-Din): “The divine decree by which Allah bids His servants to spend their wealth, is also significant in purging the habit of miserliness, which is a deadly evil. It can only be eliminated by making oneself accustomed to spending money. The purity he acquires is in proportion to his expenditure, to his delight in giving away and to his joy in spending for the sake of God.” Zakaat actually awakens and enlightens a humane spirit within us. It tells us that the acquisition of wealth is not an end in itself, nor is it to be squandered for lower motives. Almighty Allah has endowed it to certain people with it, to serve higher spiritual purposes. Clearly, it is not meant to gain power over the less fortunate through monopolization of the means of livelihood. Rather, the will of the endower, the Almighty, is to ensure kindness and charity from the rich to the poor. As clearly stated in the Qur'an (3:134): “Those who spend [in Allah's Cause – deeds of charity, alms, etc.] in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon people; verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers). Significantly enough, Zakaat also purifies the hearts of the poor recipients from hostility, envy and all ill feelings that they harbour towards the rich. Instead, it fosters in their hearts goodwill and warm wishes for the contributors. Most remarkably, it instigates them to do special dua (prayer) for their helpers. And a prayer from a Faqir (poor), Yateem (orphan) or Miskeen (beggar) will never be rejected in the court of Allah. But the greed, covetousness and meanness as exhibited by the pre-Islamic Jews have encouraged some Muslims today to misuse the Islamic charity and alms (Zakat o Sadqaat) for their petty interests. Fake Madrasas and fictitious organisations are booming and mushrooming on Zakaat in various parts of the country. They can be found collecting Zakaat during the holy month of Ramadan especially in metro cities. Those who work with such organisations as Chanda-takers or Muhasailin are making their living, while the poor, for whose betterment Allah has ordered Muslims to pay Zakat, remain hungry, homeless and sick. Many rectors of madrasas [Mohtamims] and the management committee [Nazims] send out the Zakaat collectors on hefty commissions, sometimes even more than 60 percent of the collected Zakat. They also perform something called Heela-e- Shari'ee on part of their Safeers (salaried representatives) to collect Zakaat. Now the question is: why is Zakaat being donated to the Madrasas, and if they are worthy of receiving the Zakaat, then why not the modern Muslim educational institutions? As a matter of fact, Zakaat can be distributed only to deserving individuals or groups who belong to any of the eight categories mentioned in the Quran (Surah Al-Tawbah, 9:60). These are: Faqirs, Miskeens, Yateems (orphans), Musafir (helpless travellers), Maqrooz (debtors), etc. It was also given as a ransom to free the slaves. The holy Prophet (PBUH) liberated many slaves by paying ransom money. Similarly, he was so caring for the orphans that he promised, “The one who cares for an orphan and me will be together in paradise like this”, and held his two fingers together to illustrate”. Also, one of the legitimate recipients of Zakaat is “Fi Sabeel-Allah” (in the Cause of Allah). What does “Fi Sabeel-Allah” mean? It refers to those who are on the path of Allah. This is the seventh category of those eligible to receive Zakaat. There is a difference of opinion among the jurists on the implication of the term “Fi Sabeel-Allah”. Imam al-Kasani al-Hanafi states: Fi Sabeel-Allah refers to all virtuous acts that achieve divine proximity. This includes everyone who struggles for virtuous acts and the obedience to Allah while they are eligible to receive Zakaat. Thus, Zakaat can be paid for the purpose of educating Muslim children from poor families, which is permissible on the ground that most Muslim families in our country are either poor or middle class, and they cannot afford to pay for private education of their children and facilities for their essential Islamic teaching. Therefore, Zakaat can be paid for the education of underprivileged and needy Muslim children in the category of “Fi Sabilil-Allah” (in the Cause of Allah) on the basis of preserving the future of these poor Muslim children. With a view to upbringing children in a proper Islamic way, payments for tuition of poor Muslim children as well as for supporting such educational institutions fall within the category of “Fi Sabilil-Allah”. Viewed from this perspective, Zakaat is also a source of welfare for the Muslim community. ----- Regular Columnist with Newageislam.com, Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi is an Indo-Islamic scholar and English-Arabic-Urdu writer. He graduated from a leading Islamic seminary in India, and acquired a Diploma in Qur'anic sciences and a Certificate in Uloom ul Hadith from the Al-Azhar Institute of Islamic Studies. He has also participated in the 3-year “Madrasa Discourses” program initiated by the University of Notre Dame, USA. Presently, he is pursuing his Ph.D. in Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-ideology/zakaat-righteousness-islamic-charity-purification/d/129619 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Variegated Timings of Suhoor and Iftaar

By Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New Age Islam 21 April 2023 Islam lays a strong emphasis on proper time management. Cursing time has been abhorred. The whole life of a believing Muslim revolves around the proper time management. The five prayers are supposed to remind Muslims at specific times to remember Allah, purpose of creation while being a constant reminder of the fact that all their deeds should be revolving around pleasing Allah. Despite such a comprehensive emphasis on time management, Muslims have very poor skills at managing this greatest resource. Also the poor management of time is manifested in the variegated timings of prayers in various mosques, the initiation (Suhoor) and breaking fast (Iftar) timings. No one seems to give it a comprehensive thought. The different timings for every ritual speak volumes about our conflicting interests that we try to camouflage in the calls towards Unity. Sometime back while discussing the steps needed to be taken for developing a uniform prayer time in J&K at the sidelines of a Muslim unity conference, one scholar refuted my arguments by articulating a valid statement that a uniform timing system will rob off the diversity, pluralism, democracy that variegated timings do offer, to the praying believers. It is indeed a valid and factual argument that diverse timings do offer the relaxation to believers for not missing the prayers. The four schools of thought among Sunnis i.e. Hanafis, Malikis, Shafiees and Hanabalis offer prayers with differences of few minutes, here and there. But the timing of prayers between Shias and Sunnis is not just few minutes but more. So that explains how the timings of Suhoor as well as Iftar are apart between the Shia and Sunni sects. The differences in timings certainly do point out the dynamism about Islam, and complexity of human life. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) must has offered prayers with different timings as an elaborate system of documenting and knowing about the correct timing was not evolved during his times. So it explains the variegated timings of different schools of thought and sects. Some offer prayers, at the very start of the prayer times while others offer the same at the end. No one thinks about taking steps aimed at framing a uniform prayer timing calendar, according to the region. The manifestation of these variegated timings is witnessed most during the month of Ramadan, when timings for starting and breaking the fasts is reflected differently and it leads to family members starting and ending fasts at different times. So when we are not united even on the timings of fasting, and we make no efforts even for making a uniform timing for the Suhoor and Iftar, then the call for unity and organizing such conferences is futile. The real efforts for unity need an execution of practical and pragmatic steps that include praying after Imams of each other, considering those prayers as valid and further reaching out at a consensus to develop a uniform timing schedule for prayers and fasting. It is in these efforts that the real call for unity gets manifested, rest everything else is a hoax, a false call towards unity. Developing a uniform timing schedule for prayers and fasting is the real test for any unity efforts because it depicts giving up or giving in the sectarian stances for greater unity of Ummah. Also developing a uniform schedule will be a step towards rekindling Ijtihad. As the clock has now been invented and modern tools of astronomy too, that help us depict the correct timings of solar and lunar calendars, duration of day and night, so it becomes incumbent on Muslims to utilize these tools of science. They will help in the Ijtihadi efforts to develop a uniform timing schedule. But undertaking such an Ijtihad is not without its perils because it will include the erosion of sectarianism and position/power of the mullahs that they hold while altering timings of prayers as well as declaring when to fast, start as well as end it. History is but a witness that under pressure from the masses, the mullahs have given up thus saving their skin. It happened in case of printing press, loud speakers, camera, videos, English education, social media etc. They opposed it initially to stay relevant but once they witnessed it to be futile as Muslims were not paying a heed to their whims, they sought out the religious legitimacy for the same. The Mullahdom has severely impacted the progress of Muslims, as they hold a sway over them. Muslim gullible masses consider any person with a beard, cap, speaking few Arabic lines as a scholar bestowing him the right to interpret Islam. These mullahs unlike Christian clergy have not apologized to the Muslim masses for hampering their progress and keeping them in dark. The height of hypocrisy is the fact that they still make fools out of masses, when the science has advanced to a level where the timing can be counted even for nano seconds, what issues are creating obstacles towards the development of a uniform timings calendar for prayers and fasting? Basically, all the sectarian mullahs do not want to loosen their grip over the masses, who take their views as God ordained verdicts, so the need is to educate masses to help them understand the nefarious designs of sectarian mullahs. We need to initiate steps towards developing a uniform calendar in consultation with geologists, astronomers, and some genuine scholars, only then the sectarian mullahs will give up their resistance. They have a history of opposing everything that threatened their influence, so once they feel threatened they cry hoarse at Islam being in danger. Although, it is their influence and impact that is in danger not Islam. So practical steps need to be undertaken to resolve the issue of different timings, that is giving birth to fissures in the Muslim families and society on the whole. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, M.H.A. Sikander, is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-ideology/variegated-timings-suhoor-iftaar/d/129618 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

The Rulings of Eid ul Fitr: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Concluding Part 30

By Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam Translated by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 21 April 2023 The glorious day of joy and gladness known as Eid ul Fitr is when the Almighty Lord rewards His obedient servants. A Muslim works for one whole month to obey the commands of his Lord Allah Almighty; at times, he observes Sehri, at other times, Iftaar, at other times, Taraweeh, at other times, he fasts, and at still other times, he is immersed in worshipping, praising, and glorifying Allah Almighty. The followers continue to obey their Lord Almighty until His divine mercy grows excited and summons them to celebrate the festival as the divine recompense for their dedication. This festival is known as " Eidul Fitr." Allah, the Almighty, says: “All this is so that you may complete the number (of fasts as prescribed) and proclaim the Takbir of Allah for having guided you, and (so) that you may be grateful.” [2:185] He also blesses his servants with the reward and invites them to share their joy, as is stated in the following verse: “Say, [O Prophet] In Allah’s grace and mercy let them rejoice.” (10:58) The mercy of Allah Almighty descends upon the soul during the month of Ramadan, where the souls bathe in it to illuminate and magnify their sinful deeds. Ramadan, a holy month, is now over. Although Shawwal-ul-Mukarram's moon has risen, God's grace's door is still open. Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says in a lengthy hadith, that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: “And the night of Eid ul Fitr, the night that is termed Laylat al-Jaa’izah, (The night of prize giving), comes along. On the morning of Eid, Allah sends forth the Angles to all the lands of the earth. They take up positions at road access points and call out with a voice that only humans and jinn can hear: “O Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him), come forth from your homes and head towards a just and forgiving Lord who bestows bounties and pardons grave misdeeds. When they make their way to the places to offer their Eid prayer, Allah says to the Angels: “What indeed is the reward of that employee who had rendered his services?” The Angles reply, “O Lord and Master, it is only fair that he should receive his reward in full for his services”. Then Allah says, "I call you to witness, O My Angels, that I have given to them as a reward My pleasure and have forgiven them for their fasting during the month of Ramadan and for their standing before Me in prayer at night. “O My servants, ask of Me right now because I swear by My honour and My magnificence that whatever you ask of Me in this assembly of yours today for wants relating to the Hereafter, I will grant you; and whatever you seek for needs related to this world, I will regard you favourably. As long as you follow My instructions, I will conceal your shortcomings, I swear on My honour. I swear on My Honour and My Greatness that I will never disgrace you among the evil people and disbelievers. You are pardoned; leave at once. You have made Me happy, and I am happy with you. The Angles become extremely pleased and joyful upon witnessing this magnificent recompense granted by Allah upon the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him) on the day of Eid ul Fitr”. [See Al-Targheeb wa al-Tarheeb p.602] The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) reportedly said, “One who stands (in Allah’s remembrance) on the nights of Eid, his hearts will not die, on the day when the hearts of the people will die.” (Sunan Ibn Majah) Hazrat Buraidah narrates that on the day (morning) of Eid ul Fitr, The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would eat something before going for the Salah and in Eid al-Azha, he would refrain from eating anything, until after performing the Salah. (Tirmizi/Ibn Majah/Daarmi) Imam Bukhari narrates from Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would not go out for the Salah of Eidul Fitr unless he had eaten a few dates, and they would be an odd number (of dates).” Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) took one route to go for performing Eid [prayer] and he would use a different route when returning (from Eid prayer).” (Reported by Tirmizi and Daarmi) Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) also narrates that once it rained on the day of Eid, so The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) performed the Eid prayer in the Masjid. (Reported by Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah) It is reported in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim from Ibn Abbas that The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) performed two Raka’ats of Eid prayer, and neither did he read any Salah (i.e. any other Raka’ats) before or after it. Hazrat Jabir bin Samurah says, “I performed Eid Salah with the Messenger of Allah, and not just once or twice (but time and over again). Neither was there Azaan, nor Iqaamat (called out for it). (Sahih Muslim) The Eid ul Fitr Salah is compulsory [Waajib] but not for everyone. Actually, it is Waajib upon those upon whom Jummah is Waajib, and for it to be right, it must meet the same requirements as Jummah. The only difference is that in Jummah the Khutbah is a condition and in the Eidain (both Eid Prayers) the Khutbah is Sunnat. If the Khutbah is not read (i.e. delivered) in Jummah, the Jummah is not valid, and if it is not delivered in this (Eidain), then the Salah will be valid, but by (not reading it) one has wronged. The other difference is that the Khutbah of Jummah is delivered before the Salah and the Khutbah of Eidain is delivered after the Salah. If it is delivered before, then one has acted wrongfully, but the Salah will be valid and there will not be a need to repeat (the Salah) and there will also be no need repeat the Khutbah. There is neither Azaan nor Iqamat in Eidain. Permission is only granted to say twice ‘As Salaatu Jaamia’. [Alamgiri/Durr-e-Mukhtar] The following actions, according to Bahar-e-Shariat, are Mustahabb on the day of Eid: 1. To clip the hair, 2) To clip the nails, 3) To perform Ghusl, 4) To perform Miswaak, 5) To wear new clothes. If one has new, he should wear new, if not clean clothing, 6) wear a ring, 7) apply fragrance, 8) To perform the Salah of Fajr in the local Masjid, 9) go early to the Eidgah, 10) To discharge the Sadqa-e-Fitr before the Eid Salah, 11) To go to the Eidgah by Foot, 12) To return from an alternate route, 13) To eat a few dates before going for Salah. If there are no dates available, one should eat any other sweet thing. [Alamgiri/Durr-e-Mukhtar vol.1 pg.776, cited in Bahar-e-Shariat) There is also no harm in going (to the Eidgah) on a mode of conveyance, but for the one who has the ability to go by foot, then for him, it is better to go by foot, and if he returns on a mode of conveyance, there is no objection. [Jauhira/Alamgiri] It is Sunnat to go to the Eidgah for Salah, even if there is a place in the Masjid, and there is no harm in making a Mimbar or taking a Mimbar to the Eidgah. [Durr-e-Mukhtar/Raddul Muhtar ] Method of Performing the Salah/Namaz of Eid The method of performing the Eid Salah is as follows: 1. Make the Niyyat of two Raka’ats Waajib of Eid ul Fitr. 2. Raise the hands to the ears and say ‘Allah u Akbar’. 3. Then read the Thana. 4. Then raise both hands to the ears, say ‘Allah u Akbar’ and release the hands. 5. Then again, raise both hands to the ears, say ‘Allah u Akbar’ and release the hands. 6. Then again, raise both hands to the ears, say ‘Allah u Akbar’ and tie the hands. In other words, tie the hands after the first Takbeer and after that leave, the hands untied after the next two Takbeers and then tie the hands after the Fourth Takbeer. Remember it is this way that if something needs to be recited after that Takbeer, then the hands will be tied and after those Takbeers in which there is nothing to read, leave the hands untied in them. 7. The Imam should then recite the Ta’ooz and the Tasmiyyah softly and he should then recite the Surah Fatiha and a Surah. 8. He should then perform Ruku and complete that Raka’ats as normal. 9. In the second Raka’t he should first recite the Surah Faatiha and a Surah. 10. He should then raise the hands to the ears saying Allah u Akbar and not tie the hands (i.e. release the hands). This should be done thrice. 11. He should then say Allah u Akbar for the fourth time and without raising his hands he should go into Ruku. (Complete Salah as normal). From this, it can be ascertained that there are six extra Takbeers in the Salah of Eid. Three Takbeers are before the Qira’at, after the Takbeer-e-Tahreema, and three Takbeers are in the second Raka’ats after the Qira’at and before the Takbeer of Ruku. The hands will be raised in all six Takbeers, and between every two Takbeers, there should be a short pause equal to the duration of three Tasbeehs. [Durr-e- Mukhtar, cited in Bahar-e-Shariat] It is good for Muslims to shake hands and embrace each other after the Eid Salah as is the general practice of Muslims, as this is a showing of happiness. ... (Concluded) Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi is the author of multiple books. He has also lectured and held positions such as Mufti, Shaykhul Hadith, president, founder, and director at a number of institutions, including Darul Uloom Ghousia in Hubli, Karnataka, and Darul Uoom Solemaniya Rahmaniya in Bikaner Darul Uloom Reza-e-Mustafa, Bihar, Madrasa Shah Khalid, Vanwa Libo Muslim League, Fiji (near Australia), Madina Educational Society, Rajasthan. He currently holds the positions of Mufti in the Sunni Darul Ifta in the Madina Masjid, General Secretary of the Raza Foundation, Director of the Darain Academy, Founder of the Afkar-e- Raza Institution, and Chief Editor of the Do-Maahi Raza-e-Madina (Urdu, Hindi) in Azadnagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Previous Articles: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Welcome to Ramadan and First Lesson on the Virtues of Ramadan Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Second Lesson on the Respect of Ramadan – Part 2 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Third Lesson On The Horrific Consequences Of Desecrating Ramadan – Part 3 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Fourth Lesson on the Fasting Of Ramadan and its Intention – Part 4 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Lessons Five and Six on the Rulings (Ahkaam) And Laws (Masaail) Of Taraweeh Part 5 and 6 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Seventh Lesson On Sehri [Pre-Dawn Meal] Part 7 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Eighth Lesson on Iftar – Part 8 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Ninth Lesson on Rulings and Laws Related to Fasting – Part 9 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Tenth Lesson On Rulings And Laws Related To Fasting – Part 10 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Eleventh Lesson on Rulings Regarding Fasting and the Conditions That Permit Refraining From Fasting - Part 11 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Twelfth Lesson on Rulings Related to Qazaa, Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 12 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: 13th Lesson on Rulings of Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 13 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Fourteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 14 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Fifteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 15 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Sixteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 16 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Zakaat in the Light of the Quran and Hadith – Part 17 The Rulings and Laws of Zakaat: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 18 The Virtues and Laws of I’tikaaf: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 19 The Virtues of the Qadr Night or Lailatul Qadr: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 20 Fasting and Modern Science: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 21 Some Facts about The Holy Quran: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 22 Virtues and Rulings about the Recitation of the Holy Quran: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 23 Ramadan—the Month of Generosity and Charity: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 24 The Importance of Halal Sustenance: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 25 The Rights of Neighbours in Islam: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 26 Juma’ah and Jumu'at-ul-Widaa': Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 27 The Description Of Moon-Sighting: Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan – Part 28 The Rulings of Sadaqa-e-Fitr or the Fast-breaking Charity: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 29 URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/eid-fitr-lessons-ramadan-part-30-/d/129617 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism