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Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Balancing Traditional and Modern Education in Madrasas for a Comprehensive Understanding of Religion and the World

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 30 July 2024 Some Muslims Argue That Introducing Modern Education Could Dilute the Focus On Religious Teachings and Erode the Cultural Identity of Muslim Students. However, This Concern Is Unfounded as A Balanced Curriculum Can Coexist Harmoniously with Religious Instruction. Modern Subjects Like Science, Mathematics, Computer Studies, And International Languages Should Be Incorporated Alongside Traditional Religious Teachings Like the Qur'an, Hadith, And Islamic History. ------ Representative Photo from File ----- In today's rapidly evolving world, the role of education, especially within Madrasas, has become increasingly crucial. It is imperative for these to adapt and incorporate modern subjects such as science, mathematics, computer studies, and...

Rumi’s Legacy in the Modern World: The Timeless Resonance of a 13th-Century Poet

By Sabat Khan, New Age Islam 30 July 2024 Rumi's Teachings Promote Introspection and Inclusivity, Making His Poetry A Vital Resource For Spiritual Seekers And Practices Today Main Points: 1. Rumi's encounter with Shams of Tabriz shifted his focus from academic scholarship to a passionate exploration of Sufism and divine love. 2. Rumi's writings explore love, longing, and the connection to the divine, resonating with readers from diverse cultural and spiritual backgrounds. 3. Rumi emphasizes that personal suffering can lead to spiritual enlightenment, suggesting that challenges are growth opportunities. 4. Rumi’s profound insights continue to inspire contemporary poets and writers, enriching the field of spiritual poetry and modern literature. ------ Rumi's...

Crackdown On Mosques and Islamic Centres in Germany Has More to Do with Geopolitics Than to Anti-Semitism

By New Age Islam Staff Writer 30 July 2024 Blue Mosque and Other 52 Mosques of Germany Were Raided for Terror Links Main Points: 1. Blue Mosque, the oldest Shia mosque in Germany was banned. 2. Interior ministry alleged it was linked to Hezbollah. 3. Ministry alleged Blue Mosque promoted anti-semitism. 4. In June 2023, an interior ministry report said one third of Muslims in Germany faced racial discrimination. ----- A pro-Palestinian rally in Berlin, Nov. 4, 2023. Credit: Streets of Berlin via Wikimedia Commons. ------ On 24 July, hundreds of police personnel raided the oldest Shia Mosque, Imam Ali Mosque popularly called Blue Mosque in Hamburg in Germany. Other 52 mosques and Islamic centres in five states across Germany were also raided and the property confiscated....

Should Government Employees Be Allowed To Join RSS?

By Ram Puniyani for New Age Islam 30 July 2024 There Is A Need For Cultural Activists And Social Scientists To Assess The Contribution Of RSS To Indian Culture. This Mask Of RSS Being A Cultural Organization Needs To Be Undone And Its Political Agenda Grasped For Protection Of Indian Constitution And Democracy. As Such It Seems That It Is A Supra-Political Outfit. ------- RSS is the biggest organization in the World. It aims at working for Hindu Rashtra and also claims that it is a Cultural Organization. It is as such striving for Nationalism (Hindu)’ contrary to the one underlined in our Constitution, Indian Nationalism. It regards Hindus as a Nation and so it has set its goal. Times and over again one or the other top leader of BJP voices the demand for scrapping the Indian Constitution...

Why Should We Be Thankful to Puja Khedkar?

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 30 July 2024 "Often an unethical act of one man reveals the ethics and ethos of the whole system." A Dutch maxim Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar from Poona needs no introduction. Her tantrums and haughtiness are now national news. Chances are that she'll be dismissed and may even be put behind bars for all that she has done thus far. But this young and impetuous woman could have avoided the embarrassment of getting arrested and terminated had she kept a low profile. Delhi police’s crime branch has also registered a case of cheating, fraud and forgery against Khedkar, following an UPSC ------ Yet, in an indirect way, the entire country should be thankful to her because her series of arrogant acts opened a Pandora's box. To quote, Salaam Ahmadnagari,...

Monday, July 29, 2024

Abid Hasan Safrani: Netaji's Comrade and the Man Behind "Jai Hind"

By Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam 29 July 2024 Abid Hasan Safrani’s Life Is a Testament to The Power of Dedication and Patriotism. From His Early Days in Hyderabad to His Pivotal Role in The INA and Later as A Diplomat, His Contributions to India’s Freedom Struggle and Nation-Building Are Invaluable. His Creation of the Slogan "Jai Hind" Serves as A Lasting Tribute to His Vision of a Unified and Independent India. ----- Abid Hasan Safrani ------ Early Life and Education Abid Hasan Safrani, originally named Zain-al-Abdin Hasan, was born in 1911 in Hyderabad. His early life was marked by a strong academic background and a keen interest in the nationalist movements sweeping across India during British colonial rule. Hasan pursued higher education in Germany, where he studied engineering...

Exploring the Legacy of Hazrat Maulana Burhanuddin Muzaffar Shams Balkhi: A Pioneering Sufi Scholar

By Syed Amjad Hussain, New Age Islam 29 July 2024 Hazrat Maulana Burhanuddin Muzaffar Shams Balkhi, commonly known as Muzaffar Balkhi, stands as a distinguished figure in the annals of Sufism. Born in 1320 CE in the historic region of Balkh, Afghanistan, Muzaffar Balkhi was an eminent scholar and a revered Sufi saint who left an indelible mark on Islamic mysticism. Muzaffar Balkhi, renowned for his association with the Firdausi Sufi order, had a profound connection with Sheikh Sharafuddin Ahmad Yahya Maneri, a prominent Sufi of his time. His early education was completed in Delhi, after which he returned to Bihar to be with his father, Hazrat Shams Balkhi ibn Ali Balkhi. The claim that Muzaffar Balkhi was a descendant of Hazrat Ibrahim bin Adham Balkhi adds a layer of historical depth...

Friday, July 26, 2024

Adina Mosque of Bengal with Hindu Carvings

By New Age Islam Staff Writer 26 July 2024 Sikander Shah's Tomb Is Situated Inside the Mosque Main Points: 1. Adina mosque was built by Sikander Shah of Bengal Sultanate in 1375 A.D. 1. 2.The mosque was the largest one in the Indian subcontinent. 2. It was similar to the great mosque of Damascus. 3. The walls and doors of the mosque have carvings of Hindu deities. ------ The central Mehrab of the Adina Mosque (Masjid), Malda ----- Adina Masjid in Pandua in the Malda district of West Bengal is another reminder of the fact that in the medieval era, religious places of Hindus and Muslims existed side by side and that the Muslims did not mind the carvings of Hindu religious symbols or deities on the walls of mosques. Adina Masjid of West Bengal is proof of this mind-set...

Renowned Islamic Scholar Malik-ul-Ulama Zafaruddin Bihari: A Life of Scholarship and Influence

By Syed Amjad Hussain, New Age Islam 26 July 2024 Allama Malik Muhammad Zafaruddin Bihari, affectionately known as Malik-ul-Ulama, left an indelible mark on Islamic scholarship in the 20th century. Born on October 19, 1885, in Bihar Sharif, India, he emerged as a pivotal figure within the Barelvi movement, a revivalist Sunni Islamic movement emphasizing traditional Islamic values and practices. Most famous book written by Zafaruddin Bihari is Hayat-e-Aala Hazrat, known as the first biography of Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi. ----- Bihari began his educational journey at Madrasa Ghausia Hanafia under the guidance of Allama Wasi Ahmad Surati, later continuing his studies at Madrasa Manzar-e-Islam, founded by the eminent Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi. Under Imam Ahmed Raza Khan's tutelage,...

The Golden Rule Is That There's No Golden Rule

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 26 July 2024 George Bernard Shaw's profound assertion, "The golden rule is that there is no golden rule," challenges conventional wisdom and opens up a realm of limitless possibilities. July 26 is George Bernard Shaw's Birth Anniversary. ------ In a world governed by rules and norms, Shaw reminds us that every situation is unique, and what may work effectively in one case may not in another. By defying the existence of a universal guideline, he encourages us to abandon rigidity and adopt a mindset flavored with adaptability and open-mindedness. Shaw's quote compels us to question, explore, and continually reassess our beliefs, recognizing that there is no single formula for life or any given circumstance. " Ek Chaabi Se Sare Taale Nahin Khulte Hoti...

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Embracing Complexity and Diversity: A Moral Vision for the 21st Century

By Adis Duderija, New Age Islam 25 July 2024 In Practice, This Ethic of Intellectual Love and Presumptive Tolerance Might Manifest in Myriad Ways. It Could Inspire Greater Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation, Where Adherents of Different Religious Traditions Come Together to Explore Their Shared Values and Points of Connection ------- “we need an ethic that is grounded in intellectual love of the complexity of being and infused with the presumptive tolerance of a variety of faiths” by W.E. Connolly: In an age of growing division and polarization, the words of philosopher William E. Connolly ring truer than ever. His call for “an ethic that is grounded in intellectual love of the complexity of being and infused with the presumptive tolerance of a variety of faiths” points the way toward...

Malik Ibrahim Baya: A Revered Figure in Bihar's History and Sufi Tradition

By Syed Amjad Hussain, New Age Islam 25 July 2024 Malik Ibrahim Baya, a distinguished Islamic scholar, warrior, and Sufi saint, continues to be celebrated for his pivotal role in shaping the cultural and spiritual landscape of medieval Bihar. He was also contemporary to Sufi saints Shaikh Sharfuddin Ahmed Yahiya Maneri, Syed Ahmed Jajneri, Muzaffar Shams Balkhi, Ahmad Charamposh and others. The tomb is said to have been built by Syed Daud Malik, the eldest of the seven sons of the saint, who is also buried inside the tomb. The tomb of Syed Ibrahim Malik is located in Bihar Sharif, at the hilltop of Budhha Pahari, one mile west of the town. ------ His life, chronicled in various historical texts including "Reyazul Nayeem" by Muhammad Nayeem, “Hazrat Syed Ibrahim Was Hazrat Malik Bia”...

Screed of Love

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 25 July 2024 Bibliophiles are acquainted with a famous quote, rather an aphorism, that, "A big book is an evil. " Though 'evil' is too harsh a word, there's no doubting the fact that a big book is often boring. But the same cannot be said about Rakshanda Jalil's recent book 'Love in The Time of Hate in The Mirror of Urdu. ' Despite its 427 pages, readers remain glued to it till the end and there's never a ho-hum moment in the book. Rakhshanda Jalil's Book, Love In The Time Of Hate ------- Rakshanda, as her name suggests, is an ' effulgent ' and 'resplendent' writer, translator and literary historian with a universal vision that transcends country and creed. Her sane voice wafts through the dense clouds of hatred, violence and insanity like a whiff of fresh...

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Undermining the Quranic Message of Tolerance: The Roles of Islamic Supremacists and Islamophobes

By V.A. Mohamad Ashrof, New Age Islam 24 July 2024 Abstract: This paper explores the surprising convergence between two seemingly opposing ideologies: Islamophobia and Islamic supremacism. Despite their contrasting views on Islam's place in the world, both groups engage in similar tactics to undermine the Quran's message of tolerance and coexistence. The core of this analysis lies in how each group interprets key Quranic verses, particularly those promoting interfaith dialogue and respect for followers of other religions (Quran 2:62, 5:69). Islamophobes often cite the concept of abrogation (Naskh) to claim that verses promoting tolerance were nullified by later, supposedly more militant verses. Some Islamic supremacists argue for a historical shift in the Quran's message, suggesting that...

The Complex Route to Gender Equality for Muslim Women in Divorce and Alimony Issues

By Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam 24 July 2024 The Challenges Faced by Muslim Women Navigating Divorce and Alimony Underscore Broader Societal Implications of Legal Interpretations and Cultural Practices. The Intersection of Personal Laws, Constitutional Guarantees of Equality, And Judicial Interpretations Play Crucial Roles in Shaping These Issues in India. Main Points: 1. The Shah Bano case in the 1980s brought significant attention to the plight of Muslim women seeking alimony post-divorce. 2. The courts have ruled that Muslim women can seek additional alimony under CrPC 125, reflecting a growing recognition of the need for comprehensive financial security measures post-divorce. 3. While legal advancements are crucial, societal attitudes and entrenched cultural norms continue...

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