Malaysia: Stay Away From Book On Muslim Women, Muslims Advised, Islamic World News, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic World News

Malaysia: Stay Away From Book On Muslim Women, Muslims Advised

The book "Muslim Women and The Challenge of Islamic Extremism" can create doubt and disharmony among the people in the country, according to the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM).

Its director general, Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz Wan Mohamad said the contents of the book contravened the Islamic Publication Materials Censorship Guidelines issued by Jakim in 1996.

"Several obvious errors were found (in the book)," he said in a statement Tuesday.

He said among others the book stated that Islamic family laws and Syariah criminal laws were promoting prejudice and discrimination against women.

The book also questioned the Fatwa institution and the ban on non-Islamic scholars from discussing Islamic issues, besides promoting re-interpretation of the verses in the Quran, especially on gender bias, he said.

Wan Mohamad said the book had been scrutinised, checked and referred to the Islamic Publication Materials Censorship Committee chaired by the Mufti of Perak, Tan Sri Dr Harussani Zakaria.

"Hence, Muslims in the country are advised to be wary of reading materials which contravene Islamic teachings. If in doubt, refer to the guidelines issued by Jakim," he said.

Wan Mohamad said Jakim also respected the High Court's decision on Monday to lift the ban on the book, but felt that it was its responsibility to explain to the public on the errors found in any Islamic book in the market.

http://newageislam.com/malaysia--stay-away-from-book-on-muslim-women,-muslims-advised/islamic-world-news/d/2421

India: Affirmative action, not reservation is the answer for Muslims, says Minister, Islamic Society, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic Society

India: Affirmative action, not reservation is the answer for Muslims, says Minister

By Manoj C G

Jun 08, 2009

New Delhi: In contrast to predecessor A R Antulay who maintained a studied silence on the issue of reservation, newly-appointed Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has called quota for Muslims a “double-edged sword” which could create “envy, hostility and resistance”. He has instead advocated affirmative action as a tool to “inject an ability to compete” rather than make them “constant beneficiaries of additional help”.

In an interview to The Indian Express, Khurshid said it was time to explore “angles” other than reservation. He said it was his intention to roll out some “quick impact” schemes and fine-tune delivery of recommendations made by the Justice Rajinder Sachar committee.

“You don’t want to try and please somebody and not get them the comfort of actually getting any relief. I think it is much better to get substantive relief, substantive opportunity rather than stick your mind only on one particular way of doing it.”

“If you can get them what they want by another method... what they want is opportunity, why should we just follow a standard line of reservation. There may be a better way. If there isn’t then, we will come back to discussing reservation. Let us look at other angles,” Khurshid said when asked about implementation of the Ranganath Mishra committee report which he maintained he had not read.

http://newageislam.com/india--affirmative-action,-not-reservation-is-the-answer-for-muslims,-says-minister--/islamic-society/d/1451

Harmony in the time of strife: Kashmiri Pandit Matrimony, Islam and Pluralism, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and Pluralism

Harmony in the time of strife: Kashmiri Pandit Matrimony

Press Trust Of India

Srinagar, August 04, 2008

Kouls are the only Pandit family living in the area after rest of their community fled to Jammu after eruption of militancy in the state in the early 1990s.

The locals and Auqaf Committee of Habba Kadal in a joint effort held the marriage ceremony.

“We did whatever we felt as our moral duty. We know communal forces are eyeing to disrupt the religious harmony in the state, but we will not allow them to succeed,” Bashir Ahmad, a neighbour of the Kouls, said.

A member of the Auqaf Committee said Muslims were duty bound by their religion to take care of their neighbours. “We are Muslims and will abide by what our religion says in matters of behaviour with our neighbours, no matter what the caste or religion of the neighbour is,” he added.

The Pandit family had arranged separate feasts for Muslims and Pandits on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

http://newageislam.com/harmony-in-the-time-of-strife--kashmiri-pandit-matrimony/islam-and-pluralism/d/424

Something stirring in America: Barack Obama laying claim to the presidency is a miraculous moment in US racial history, Current affairs

Current affairs

Something stirring in America: Barack Obama laying claim to the presidency is a miraculous moment in US racial history

By Eugene Robinson, Columnist and Associate Editor of the Washington Post

“I cried on Monday when Michelle spoke,” Rep. John Lewis told me Wednesday at the Pepsi Centre, “and I know that on Thursday night at the stadium I’ll cry again.” Lewis, as every schoolchild should know, is one of the few lions of the civil rights movement still with us. As a Freedom Rider, he was pummelled by white Alabama mobs in 1961. As chairman of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee, he spoke alongside Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Washington in 1963. His pate is scarred from a brutal beating administered by Alabama state troopers at the Edmund Pettus Bridge during the first Selma-to-Montgomery march in 1965. Lewis has earned the right to shed tears of amazement and joy.

A Democrat who represents Atlanta, Lewis fretted for months over whom to endorse in the primaries. Last October, he joined much of the black political establishment in backing Hillary Clinton — out of a sense of loyalty and realpolitik. But as it became clear that Barack Obama might actually win the nomination, Lewis seemed increasingly agonised over the choice he had made. It wasn’t just that he was catching hell from his African-American constituents; he began to feel that he was on the wrong side of history.

http://newageislam.com/something-stirring-in-america--barack-obama-laying-claim-to-the-presidency-is-a-miraculous-moment-in-us-racial-history/current-affairs/d/677

Supreme Court's withdrawal of Haj Subsidy: A Welcome Order, Islamic Society, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic Society

Supreme Court's withdrawal of Haj Subsidy: A Welcome Order

by Vidya Bhushan Rawat, New Age Islam

Interestingly, none of these contractors of religions have time to ask the government to do something good for their communities. Justice Rajinder Sachar committee has reported how the socio-economic conditions of Muslims in our country are abysmally pathetic and in many places worse than the Scheduled Castes. The communities need money to be spent on health care and education. One must appreciate the judgment delivered by Justice Aftab Alam and Justice Ranjana Desai in asking the government to scrap the entire subsidy provided on Haj in next 10 years. More important is the order that Rs 650 crore which is being spent on this subsidy must be spent on the education and social development of the Muslim community. The decision is not only progressive but also pragmatic and will definitely start a developmental debate in the Muslim community.