Homoeroticism in Sufi Literature and Mysticism

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 28 Feb. 25 “However, the love expressed by some Sufis is more perplexing. Take, for instance, Amir Khusrau’s devotion to Hazrat Nizamuddin, where he casts himself as the yearning lover and Nizamuddin as the beloved. Such expressions blur the line between spiritual longing and personal attachment. A similar dynamic can be observed between Sri Ravi Shankar and his disciple Rishi Nityapragya—just listen to him singing Bollywood love songs for his Guruji. x1MdFmCwl-8 WnB3hdRHoac cxPCqQgoM0U Furthermore, some among them are known to have harboured forbidden desires for boys, raising serious questions about the nature of their so-called 'divine love.' This aspect of Sufism does not command my respect. Spirituality is absent where physicality obtrudes.” Your...

Hindu Deities Applauded by Muslim Scholars

By Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi, New Age Islam 28 Feb. 25 It should be Indian people's joint effort to strive for the development and prosperity of our country. Our society has lately been crippled both in religious and secular field. Hatred and enmity are prevalent everywhere. Human virtues like brotherhood, equality, solidarity and fraternity have almost vanished in recent years. India has a history of unity in diversity. There have been many poets, writers who have sung praises for the country’s Ganga-Jamuni civilisation in which both Hindus and Muslims have participated. Among those who wrote on the subject was Amir Khusro. With his poetry, he instilled the glory of India and its love within the hearts of innumerable people. The central them of Hazrat Amir Khusro's poetry is Indian culture...

New Political Party Coming Up In Bangladesh

By Nava Thakuria, New Age Islam 28 Feb. 25 As presumed by many observers, a new political party is emerging in the trouble-torn Bangladesh under the leadership of agitating students and young people, who compelled the sitting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee to India on 5 August 2024. The new political entity, to be named Jatiya Nagorik Party (National Citizens’ Party), will be launched this afternoon (28 February 2025) in Dhaka. Nahid Islam, who had recently resigned as a member of the interim government led by Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, is expected to take responsibility as the convener of JNP/NCP with an aim to ‘work for fulfilling the aspiration of a new Bangladesh’. Prof Yunus, who has been serving the caretaker government as its chief adviser, was...

Understanding the Psychological Factors of Terrorism: An In-Depth Analysis of Dr. Randy Borum’s Ideas

By Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 27 February 2025 Terrorism is a complex and multifaceted issue, which is not only linked to political and economic problems but also has psychological factors playing a significant role behind the scenes. Dr. Randy Borum, an expert in this field, highlighted in his book Psychology of Terrorism that individuals become part of terrorist organizations due to personal struggles, oppression and injustice, sympathetic ties to a group, or feelings of insecurity. His research has made it clear that terrorism is not limited to just political or economic issues; it is also a psychological problem. Psychological vulnerabilities such as feelings of loneliness, anger, and lack of social justice drive individuals toward extremism, while the sense of support and...

Economic Condition of Religious Minorities: Quota or Affirmative Action

By Ram Puniyani for New Age Islam 27 February 2025 The economic plight of minorities, particularly Muslims has been a very disturbing factor for all those who would like the society to strive for equality and justice. If we see the origin of Muslim community in India apart from the spread of Islam through Arab traders from 7th Century AD in Malabar Coast, the majority conversions have been mainly from the victims of caste oppression who were also economically deprived sections of society. During what is called the Mughal period, the Muslim King ruled from Delhi-Agra. During this the structure of society where landlords were Hindus in great numbers the economic plight of large sections of Muslims remained similar to poor Hindus. After the 1857 uprising the backlash from the British...

Fracas over a veil

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 27 February 2025 Four young girls in Jaunpur, UP, returned home in a huff without taking the exam when they were asked to remove their burqa. This has again catapulted the practice of wearing burqa and its significance in modern Islam and the perceived advanced society of ours. Well, nowhere does the Qur'an specify that women are to wear veils. It merely stipulates that women should dress modestly at all times. However, in some societies, female modesty has been judged to include covering the face to varying degrees, even so far as to using a semi-see-through veil that doesn't even have openings for the eyes. In very traditional areas all over the Middle East and North Africa, for example, one is still likely to see veiled...

The School of Love: Ibn ʿAṭṭār's Transgressive Path to the Divine

By Adis Duderija, New Age Islam 26 February 2025 In the rich heritage of Sufi literature, few figures stand as prominently as the Persian poet and mystic, Farid al-Din ʿAṭṭār. His conceptualization of the “School of Love” (madhhab-i-ʿishq) offers a profound exploration of love as a transformative force, transcending conventional boundaries and societal norms. In this essay, through a selection of evocative quotes harnessed from the excellent book of Cyrus Ali Zargar's Religion of Love, I want to present ʿAṭṭār articulates a vision of love that defies the constraints of piety and embraces the ecstatic, often unruly nature of human desire. Central to ʿAṭṭār's philosophy is the assertion that “Anyone whose foot becomes firm on the way of Love will leave behind both infidelity and Islam.”...

Ideas Wreak Havoc

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 26 February 2025 "Most of the ideas are just to be appreciated but not to be assimilated." Here's a newspaper (Le Monde) account of torture practised in modern concentration camps: The victim is bound to a metal chair, then electric shocks are administered to him in increasing intensity till he confesses. The torturer cups his hands and slaps the victim on the ear repeatedly till the eardrum breaks. A dentist straps the prisoner to a chair and drills till he strikes a nerve. The drilling goes on till the victim agrees to cooperate. Human beings aren't naturally cruel. They become cruel when they're unhappy-or when they succumb to an ideology. One ideology against another; one religion against another; one god pitted against another god. This goes on. And...

Harmony in Stone and Spirit: The Dargah of Peer Hazrat Shahaduddin and Its Legacy of Unity

By Sahil Razvi, New Age Islam 26 February 2025 The Dargah of Peer Hazrat Shahaduddin in Panhala embodies Hindu-Muslim unity, renowned for healing rituals, sacred springs, and royal patronage. Its Urs and Muharram celebrations blend traditions, fostering communal harmony through shared faith and heritage. Main points: Blends Hindu-Muslim traditions, with rituals like using Nag Zari spring water for Islamic ablutions (wuju) and reverence for Nag Devta. Features Hauz-e-Khizr pond (linked to a subterranean river) and Nag Zari spring, both central to healing and spiritual practices. Associated with 12th-century king Silharaja Bhoj II and legends of Peer Shahaduddin’s victory over a demon, evidenced by his stone footprint. Soil from the dargah is believed to cure snake bites; barren women...

The Quest for Meaning: A Quranic Perspective on the Purpose of Human Existence

By V.A. Mohamad Ashrof, New Age Islam 26 February 2025 The Quran unveils a treasure trove of profound insights into the purpose of human creation. These insights are not only theological but also deeply intertwined with ethical, social, and existential dimensions. By engaging with the Quran through the prism of Islamic humanism and liberation theology, we can uncover a rich tapestry of human purpose that emphasizes dignity, justice, and the transformative power of human agency. This essay provides an in-depth examination of the Quranic perspective on the purpose of human creation, focusing on themes of worship, vicegerency, moral responsibility, and divine mercy, while contextualizing these themes within a framework of human liberation and ethical progress. 1. Why Seeking Meaning...

Congress takes cudgels with Assam CM Himanta Biswas

By Syed Ali Mujtaba, New Age Islam 26 February 2025 New Delhi: The allegations against Assam Chief Minister and BJP show-boy in the east, Himanta Biswas Sarma are flying thick and fast in the northeast state, while the BJP is backing him for his anti-Muslim slurs and anti-Congress rants. The Assam Congress has mounted a scathing attack on the Chief Minister of Assam for his large-scale corruption, calling it a ‘Double dhokha government.’ In a press conference in New Delhi on February 23, some prominent Congress leaders levelled allegations against the Assam CM. This was ahead of the ‘Advantage Assam 2.0 business summit’ inaugurated by PM Modi on February 24 in Guwahati. The first allegation of the Congress was the Assam Chief Minister and his family members and associates had become...