In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
1
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English Monthly
February 2013 Vol. 26-2 No. 314 Rabiul Awwal-Rabius Sani 1434 H
Limited Freedom in Muslim Countries
A recent survey, titled “Freedom of the World 2013,” reveals that none of the
Muslim countries topped the list of granting rights and civil liberties to its citizens.
Washington D.C: Islam professes
freedom and human rights for its
citizens, but ironically it is the
Muslim countries that have been
lagging behind in providing its
citizens the basic freedom and
liberties. According to a recent
survey, titled “Freedom of the
World 2013”, published by the
Freedom House, an NGO based
in America and an independent
watchdog organization dedicated
to the expansion of freedom
around the world, the Muslim
countries have disappointed those
who boast of the human principles
of Islam.
Though the report also shows
that there has been a decline in
the overall freedom in the world
due to the political, religious and
social crises, it prominently comes
out in the report that the Muslim
majority countries have fared
badly in terms of political and
civil liberties to their citizens.
The survey has divided all the
countries under three heads —
free, partly free and not free. The
report says, “A Free country is
one where there is broad scope
for open political competition,
a climate of respect for civil
liberties, significant independent
civic life, and independent
media.
Partly Free countries are
characterized by some restrictions
on political rights and civil
liberties, often in a context of
corruption, weak rule of law,
ethnic strife, or civil war.
A Not Free country is one where
basic political rights are absent,
and basic civil liberties are widely
and systematically denied.”
It has rated the countries on the
basis of most free to the least free
where 1 represents the most free
while 7 represents the least free.
Out of 197 countries and 12
“disputed” territories like the two
Kashmirs and Gaza strip, most of
the Muslim majority countries
have fared badly winning 7 out
of 7 in both categories of Political
Rights and Civil Liberties.
A majority of Muslim countries
do not even have electoral
democracy. Thus most of the
countries have got the worst
marks, that is, 7 while the
better ones have got 5 or 6. For
example, Afghanistan, Algeria,
Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Bahrain,
Brunei, Chad, Egypt, Kuwait,
Kazakhstan, Jordan, Libya,
UAE, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Maldives and Mali. Oman,
Qatar, Yemen and Turkmenistan
have got points from 5 to 7. It
speaks of the lack of freedom and
liberties in these countries.
Worse, out of 47 countries, 9 have
been designated as Not Free,
and these are Muslim majority
countries or monarchies. The
countries are Eritrea, Equatorial
Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Somalia,
Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan,
and Uzbekistan. Only Muslim
countries that have scored 3 or
below 3 is Indonesia that has
scored 2 for political rights
and 3 for civil liberties. The
other Muslim country that has
demonstrated a better score is
Bangladesh with 3 for political
rights and 4 for civil liberties.
Bosnia Herzegovina has scored
3-3 under both the categories.
The majority of the Muslim
countries with low marks that
is highest in political insecurity
and violation of human rights are
those that are going through civil
and political strife like Pakistan
where
terrorism,
political
instability
and
Muslim-onMuslim violence have earned it 4
and 5 for political rights and civil
liberties respectively. Similar is
the case of Afghanistan, Bahrain,
Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and Iraq
that are going through political
and sectarian strife. Iran also fares
badly on freedom and liberties
index as it has been cracking
down on journalists, writers,
artists, bloggers and political
opponents. The number of death
sentences was the highest during
the year as political opponents
were sentenced to death.
Another country which is
grappling against the dictatorship
is Bahrain, a Muslim majority
country. It was rated 6 on both
counts. The political opponents
as well as democracy and
rights activists have been at the
receiving end of the dictatorship
and freedom and liberty is at its
worst in this country.
Turkey had though improved
during the early years of
Erdogan’s tenure, of late it has
seen deterioration on the rights
front as it leads in the incarceration
of journalists and advocates of
democracy. Thus though it has
got 3 for political rights, it has
earned a 4 for civil liberties. It has
shown in a negative change that is
a decline in an overall situation of
rights and liberties.
Most of these countries with
poor track record have 60 to
98 percent Muslim population.
These countries have not only
demonstrated intolerance towards
the minorities, but have also
shown intolerance on the basis of
ethnicity or linguistic prejudice.
Pakistan, Iraq, Egypt, Iran and
Saudi Arabia are powerful
Muslim countries but have
disappointed the world with their
treatment of their citizens. Recent
developments in Maldives and
Mali have only strengthened
the belief that Muslims are not
satisfied with any system. When
under dictatorship or monarchy,
they fight or rebel against the
dictatorship, but when they
achieve democracy like in Egypt,
they begin their struggle for the
Page 22
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
2
Kannada book on the Prophet Released
By A Staff Writer
Bangalore: Muhammad: Sarvajana Parvadi, the Kannada
translation of the Salaam Centre’s
book on Prophet Muhammad was
released here at a press conference
on January 23, on the eve of Eid
Meelad-un-Nabi by Prof. Sheik
Ali, former vice chancellor of
Mangalore and Goa Universities.
The Centre had released the original English book titled Follow
Me: God will Love You, meant for
free distribution among non-Muslims in 2011. Prof. Sheik Ali also
launched the e-book version of the
same title which will be accessible
free of cost.
Launch of first Kannada E-book Website
Speaking at the occasion, Prof.
Sheik Ali commended the
services of the Salaam Centre
in disseminating the message
of the Prophet and the Quran.
He said Syed Hamid Mohsin
had done yeoman service in
making available the copies of
the Quran and the book on the
life and achievements of Prophet
Muhammad to common men and
officials.
Dr. Khamaruddin Abdur Rahman,
Chairman of the Darul Umoor also
spoke on the occasion. Maulana
Khadeer Ahmed was also present
on the occasion.
Syed Mohsin while addressing
the press said, he intended to
distribute one lakh copies of the
Kannada book free of cost among
people desirous of knowing the
life and achievements of the holy
Prophet. n
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ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
3
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
Bangalore: Burooj Realization
organised an Islamic Quiz for
children in the city last month.
“Many children are deprived of
basic Islamic education owing
to ill-programmed “Islamic
classes” or those who do get
the Islamic education, do not
get the practical aspect of it
and unfortunately it remains as
a ritual to be practised in their
daily lives,” says Dawood
Vaid, chief of Burooj who was
in Bangalore with his team.
With a BE in Engineering,
Dawood, 34, had a comfortable
job in Dubai, but his passion
to impart Islamic education to
children in a motivating and
dynamic environment, initiated
him to quit and migrate to Mumbai
and set up Burooj in 2006.
Burooj Realization comes with a
programme that is practical and
entertaining, so that the children
look forward to it. “We at Burooj,
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Indian Chapter of CRDDP
Opens in Bangalore
Bangalore: The US-India Policy
Institute under the banner, Centre
for Research and Debates in
Development Policy (CRDDP),
democracy, Indian government
spends people’s money and people
have the right to know where
their money is being spent and
the Indian
chapter
w o u l d
empower
people with
authentic
information
Dr. Mumtaz Ahmed Khan with the CRDDP Team
on this and
commenced its activities from allow politicians, leaders, activists
Al-Ameen College in Bangalore to take up the issue with the
with a formal inauguration of its government.” It was an initiative
office here in the main campus on undertaken by Dr Abu Saleh
Hosur road near Lalbagh. Founder Shariff of the US-India Policy
president of the US-India Policy Institute, Washington DC. The
Institute, Washington DC, Dr NGO and the Indian chapter would
Page 13
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ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
United Kingdom
Muslim Population is now 2.7 Million
London: The population of
Muslims in the United Kingdom
has shot up to 2.7 million in the
2011 Census from 1.5 million in
2001. Since the data of the UK
Census 2011 was revealed last
month, a debate has ensued with
regard to increasing presence
of British Muslim community.
The data has revealed that the
Muslim population in Britain
has almost doubled in ten years
so that Muslims make up 50%
of the residents in some British
towns. According to the Office
for National Statistics (ONS)
that conducted the Census, the
multiplying of Britain’s Muslim
population has occurred for
several reasons. The ONS said
one of the reasons for the massive
growth in the number of Muslims
in Britain is the rising number
of Britons who are converting to
Islam.
Many analysts believe that the true
number of Muslims in Britain may
be much higher than indicated by
the Census data. This is because
the religion question was the only
voluntary question on the 2011
Census and 7.2% of people did
not answer the question.
The increasing proportion of
Muslims has inevitably led to a
significant presence of Muslims
McDonald’s Pays Out
$700,000 for False Halal Food
Michigan:
McDonald’s has
paid $700,000 to members of
a U.S. Muslim community in
Michigan after one of its franchise
restaurants falsely advertised its
food as prepared in accordance
with Islamic law (halal).
A Muslim Detroit resident,
Ahmed claimed he bought a
chicken sandwich in September
2011, but found it was not halal.
The restaurant is one of two in
the locality which sells halal
products to cater to one of the
nation’s largest Arab and Muslim
communities.
The
Detroit
area is home to about 150,000
Muslims of different ethnicities.
The two McDonald’s branches
advertise that they exclusively
sell halal Chicken
McNuggets
and
McChicken meals.
Ahmed approached
lawyer,
Kassem
Dakhlalah, together
they pursued an
investigation before
launching a classaction
lawsuit
against the fast-food
heavyweight.
McDonald’s
and
Finley’s Management agreed to
the tentative $700,000 settlement.
The money will be shared by
Ahmed, a Detroit health clinic, the
Arab American National Museum
in Dearborn, Michigan and
lawyers. McDonald’s and Finley’s
Management deny any liability,
but they claim the settlement is in
their best interests. n
in the public. In this regard, a
study published by UK think tank
Henry Jackson Society points
out the increasing representation
of Muslims in the media.
According to the study, which
monitored statements of religious
groups and media coverage of
religion in the UK, the most
prolific spokespeople over the
last decade were the Muslim
Council of Britain. This group
made more interventions in the
national discussion than any other
faith group or leader, including
even the leader of the Church
of England, the Archbishop of
Canterbury, who came a close
second. n
6
Muslims ask for Exclusion
from Gay Laws
London:
Muslim
Council
of Britain (MCB), umbrella
organization of British Muslims
that represents 500 mosques
across the UK, has strongly
criticized the new government
initiative to pass a law which
would allow gay marriages to take
place in religious establishments.
According to the law however
it is illegal for the Church of
England and the Church in Wales
to conduct same-sex weddings.
The MCB statement found the law
“utterly discriminatory” as it does
not provide a similar exemption
for Muslims. Farooq Murad, the
Secretary General of the MCB said:
‘We find it incredible that while
introducing the bill in the House,
culture secretary Maria Miller could
keep a straight face when offering
exemption for the established
Church while in the same breath
claiming, “fairness to be at the
heart of her proposals”… It is not
just the ‘Church of England and
Church in Wales’ who “explicitly”
stated strong opposition’ as Mrs.
Miller says, the Muslim Council
of Britain along with most other
faith groups also made equally
strong representation… no one
in their right mind should accept
such a discriminatory law. It
should be amended to give exactly
the same exemption to all the
religions.’Ministers expect the
legislation to take up to 12 months
to get through Parliament. n
German Parliament approves Ritual Circumcision
Berlin: After
controversial
debates about religious motivated
circumcision,
the
German
Federal Parliament approved
circumcision in the second
week of January. The enabling
legislation said, the circumcision
must be executed by trained
persons and must fulfill health
and medical regulations. A prior
draft attempted to legalize the
circumcision of boys with the
minimum age of 14. However,
the majority of the parliament
did not approve it.
Federal Minister of Justice Sabine
Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger
(FDP) welcomed the decision
of the Federal Parliament:
“For decades, parents have not
been penalized when accessing
professional means to circumcise
their sons.” Circumcision would
remain legal. n
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
Spain has 1,200 Mosques
Barcelona: Spain has 1,200
officially registered mosques. The
Catalonia region has the maximum
number among all regions.
According to the Observatory
of Religious Pluralism in Spain,
under the Ministry of Justice, the
Principality has 242 mosques
in comparison with other
communities like Andalucia
(180) or Madrid (106).
Of the 242 Muslim places
of worship in Catalonia,
146 are in the province
of Barcelona, 40 in the
province of Girona, 28 in
Lleida and 28 in Tarragona.
Barcelona is the city with
many Mosques (24), but
other smaller municipalities
of the province also have more
than one. n
Star Wars anger Turkish Muslims
The Austrian Turkish community
has accused the popular line of
construction toys, Lego, of racism
after the release of a new Star Wars
model that resembles the historic
Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul.
”What Lego is recommending
parents to buy as a Christmas
gift? The answer is pure racism”,
the Turkish Cultural Community
of Austria said in a statement cited
by The Huffington Post on January
24, 2013. The group was referring
to a newly released Jabba the Hutt
Set.
It accused the giant toy
manufacturer of modeling Jabba,
the Star Wars villain’s palace, on
the famous Hagia Sophia mosque
in Istanbul and a minaret, adding
that the firm is linking evil to
Muslim places of worship. On its
website the group in Austria has
posted a photo of the box plus
an image of the mosque, saying
the roof was a one to one copy
of the roof of the mosque. It also
complains that the muezzin is
portrayed as a criminal with an axe
and machine gun, while machine
guns are stored in the minaret.
The community called on Lego to
apologize for affronting religious
and cultural feelings. They added
that they were considering legal
action against Lego, urging
parents not to buy toys of war or
toys of discrimination. Lego has
rejected the accusations, denying
any link between Jabba’s Palace
and the mosque.
(Islamonline)
USA
Dept Store to
28 Muslims Elected to
Pay Penalty to
California Democratic Party Muslim Woman
Los Angeles: California Muslims
made political history when 28
Muslim candidates were elected
by Democrats as delegates
and alternate delegates to the
California Democratic Party
(CDP). This constitutes the largest
number of Muslims ever elected
as delegates in California.
The CDP held statewide elections
for delegates to represent each of
the state’s 80 assembly districts.
This encouraging achievement
was reached with the help of
CAIR-CA PAC, an independent
political organization. In an effort
to promote American Muslim
political engagement, CAIRCA PAC closely worked with
candidates and organized voters
to support them.
Among the hundreds of other
candidates, at least 36 California
Muslims ran for delegate
positions. Twenty-eight were
elected (five as executive board
members and two as alternate
delegates), and eight lost their
races. This is an incredible step
for Muslims to become more
involved in the political process
and make a difference for the
Muslim community and in their
districts.
Brussels: A Belgian tribunal has
determined that an outlet of the
Dutch department store Hema
was wrong to fire an employee
for wearing a headscarf. The
woman had worked for the store,
located in the Belgian city of
Genk, for two months wearing a
headscarf before her employment
was terminated on the grounds
that she refused to remove it
following
complaints
from
customers. The tribunal ordered
Hema, to pay the 21- year- old
woman, six months salary in
compensation. n
Canada
‘Judges may order Witnesses to Remove Niqab’
Toronto: A Muslim woman
who is the complainant in a
sexual assault trial in Toronto
has lost her bid before Canada’s
top court to have an unimpeded
right to wear her niqab while
testifying. In a split Supreme
Court of Canada decision on
December 27, the seven judges
largely upheld a lower court’s
French Magazine Sued over
Cartoons
Paris: Two Muslim organizations
have launched legal proceedings
against French satirical magazine
Charlie Hebdo, accusing it of
inciting racial hatred after it
published provocative cartoons
of Prophet Muhammad. The
allegations concern cartoons that
caricatured the Prophet, published
at a time, on September 19, when
violent anti-Western protests
were flaring across the Muslim
Belgium
7
world in response to an US antiIslam amateur film. The Algerian
Democratic Union for Peace
and Progress (RDAP) and the
Organization of Arab Union are
claiming a total of €780,000 in
costs and damages. According to
the complainants’, the drawings
were “damaging to the honour
and reputation of the Prophet
Muhammad and the Muslim
community”. n
ruling that the woman to protect
her identity under a courtordered publication ban, may
have to remove her niqab.
The woman, known as N.S.in
the court, appealed to the
Supreme Court arguing her
sincere religious beliefs meant
that her face must be covered
before all males who are not
close relatives. Lawyers for the
two men accused of sexually
assaulting her when she was a
child argued that a fair and open
trial means the face of a witness
must be seen because facial
cues are important to establish
credibility. n
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
Indonesian Muslim Scholars Reject Ban on
Female Circumcision
Jakarta:
Indonesia’s highest
council of Muslim scholars has
stirred up a new controversy after
urging the government to continue
allowing female circumcision,
objecting to a United Nations’ plan
to ban the procedure. “What we
reject is the ban,” Ma’ruf Amin, the
chairman of the country’s highest
Islamic authority, the Indonesian
Ulema Council (IUC), was quoted
by ABC News on January 24,
2013. The comments came as
a response to the UN approval
last month of a non-binding
resolution urging its 193 member
states to enforce legislation
prohibiting
female
genital
mutilation (FGM). FGM includes
procedures that intentionally alter
or injure female genital organs
for traditional socio-religious and
other non-medical reasons. The
procedure has no health benefits
for girls and women, but instead
causes severe bleeding, and later,
childbirth complications and
newborn deaths. The practice is
mostly carried out by traditional
circumcisers, who often play other
central roles in communities, such
as attending child births. FGM
is internationally recognized
as a violation of basic human
rights of girls and women and
is mainly carried out on young
girls sometime between infancy
and the age of 15. Other Muslim
countries where FGM is most
prevalent is Egypt, followed by
Sudan, Ethiopia and Mali.
30,626 Couples Divorced in 2011
Riyadh: The Ministry of Justice
has disclosed that the number
of divorces in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia, reached 30,626 in
2011 against 162,880 registered
marriage contracts. The figures
appeared in a statistical report for
the year 2011 recently published
by the Ministry of Justice. “Of the
total number of divorces, 26,840
were husband-initiated cases
accounting for 87.6 percent, while
1,071 cases were “khul”, which is
when a wife demands divorce,
and 2,715 were annulment
cases,” according to the report.
The ministry employed 4,615
marriage clerks who recorded an
average of 31 registrations in the
year the study was conducted.
The clerks register marriages only
if both the bride and bridegroom
University Chair for Rose Studies
Taif: Taif University has launched
a university chair for rose studies.
The cost of the project is to be
funded by a businessman who
has donated SR 4 million for
various research studies such as
developing better scientific ways
for the profitable manufacture
of the Taif variety of the rose
flower and rose oil and ways to
protect the rose from various
plant diseases. The chair will also
advise farmers on the healthy
farming of the plant and the
flower production. The university
also plans to launch chairs for the
study of the indigenous varieties
of pomegranate and grapes. In the
month of April, the rose fields are
filled with small fragrant pink
roses that are picked at dawn
and later distilled into expensive
Taif rose oil. The Taif Tourism
Promotion Council also had
approved the launching of the
Chair for Rose Studies, according
to Executive Director of the Taif
branch of the Saudi Commission
for Tourism and Antiquities, Tariq
Mahmoud Khan. n
are citizens of the Kingdom.
With 50,007 marriage contracts,
accounting for 30.7 percent of the
total marriage contracts signed
in the Kingdom, Makkah topped
the list of provinces in terms
of marriages. Riyadh province
came second registering 35,132
marriages, which accounted for
21.6 percent and the least number
of marriages was registered in the
Northern border province with 744
marriages. The highest number
of divorces and annulments was
reported in Riyadh with 10,460
cases accounting for 30.2 percent
of the total cases in the Kingdom.
Makkah came in the second place
with 9,996 divorces, while the
Northern border witnessed only
319 divorces, according to the
report published by the Ministry
of Justice. Coincidentally, the
highest rate of reconciliations also
took place in Riyadh with 496
resolutions out of a total of 2,154
registered cases. The report also
indicated that 251,390 cases were
pertaining to legal rights, 116,190
were criminal cases, while
121,411 operations were related
to registration of legal documents
at notary offices.”
Saudi Arabia’s
Largest
Solar Park
Commissioned
Riyadh: SaudiAramco’s President
and CEO Khalid A. Al-Falih has
inaugurated 3.5 megawatt solar
energy field in Riyadh on Dec.
25, 2012, according to a report
in Gulf Today in its issue dated
Jan. 17. The energy field spread
over 55,000 square metres, has
been installed by King Abdullah
Petroleum Studies and Research
Centre. It will feed into the Saudi
central grid 5800 megawatt hours
of electrical energy annually.
The field uses 12,684 fixedangle polycrastalline PV panels
provided by Suntech with 14.4%
efficiency and maximum power
of 280 watts at standard test
conditions, the report quoted. The
feed will offset carbon emission
by about 4900 tons every year.
Egypt to Issue
Islamic Bonds
Cairo: Egypt has approved a draft
law to allow sovereign Islamic
bonds, known as sukuk, as a new
way to finance an unsustainable
budget deficit. Finance minister
Al-Mursi Al Sayed Hegazy
has told the media that Islamic
Development Bank, a multilateral
institution, has indicated it
could buy around $6 billion of
sukuks. Egypt has never issued a
sovereign sukuk. An international
8
Dubai unveils
Plans for Islamic
Economy
Dubai: Ruler of Dubai Shaikh
Mohammed bin Rashid alMaktoum has appointed crown
prince Shaikh Hamdan bin
Mohammed bin Rashid alMaktoum as the head of the council
to oversee the development of the
Islamic economy in the emirates.
The Ruler unveiled plans on
January 10, what the Khaleej
Times termed as ‘turn Dubai into
an Islamic economy capital of the
world’. Shaikh Mohammed said
the Islamic economic principles
played a growing significance
in today’s global business
environment with its size reaching
$2.3 trillion. The initiatives
include the development of
commercial standards for Islamic
industries and guidelines for Halal
food manufacturing, Islamic
insurance, Islamic contracts
arbitration, and Islamic quality
management standards.
issue would help the government
replenish dangerously low foreign
reserves.
The Muslim Brotherhood, which
controls the presidency, also
wants to promote sukuk for
religious reasons. Hegazy, an
economist who is an expert on
Islamic finance, said he expected
the new law to attract fresh
investment to Egypt, said Reuters
in a dispatch.
Free Download of Iqra e-books
Chicago: The Iqra International Educational Foundation and
Impelsys will run a free download programme for their books
currently in the process of digitization from January 24 to
February 7, 2013 in celebration of the month of Rabiul Awwal.
Several of the e-books can be downloaded by visiting : : IQRA
ebooks - http://ebooks.iqra.org/
update
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
12th Five-Year Plan
9
Financial Outlay for Minority Development Hiked by 137%
Sustained Work Bears Fruit
Lucknow: Sustained and concerted
efforts to get the right size of
financial pie towards development
of Muslim community in the 12th
Five-Year Plan has borne fruit.
The efforts put in by Maulana
Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, chairman
of the Strive for Eminence and
Empowerment (SEE) and the
members of the organization
received rich encomiums at the
SEE’s national conference on “12th
Five-Year Plan and Minorities” on
January 13 at the Ganna Sanstha
auditorium.
Maulana Rahim, who is also a
member of the Steering Committee
of the Planning Commission, while
delivering the keynote address at the
conference called upon Muslims to
keep track of each and every paisa
which has been allocated for their
welfare in the 12th Plan. He said
the community was so far engaged
only in reminiscing the ‘glorious
past’.
Maulana Rahim pointed out
that in the 11th Plan we mainly
concentrated on Ministry of
Minority
Affairs
(MOMA),
wherein the community had three
tasks viz. 1. To understand the plan
and Process; 2. To understand the
guideline, and 3. To understand the
implementation mechanism. “Now,
after being okayed by the National
Development Council (NDC) on
December 27, 2012, the 12th FiveYear Plan, the Prime Minister’s
new 15-point Flagship Schemes,
we will have only one task i.e.
Maulana Mujaddidi with Shriprakash Jaiswal and Dr. Nirmal Khatri
monitoring each and every paisa”,
he added.
Talking about the 12th Plan
which the Government claims to
be a harbinger of faster growth
and assures more inclusive and
sustainable progress, Maulana
Rahim pointed out that the total
outlay for minority affairs has
been hiked from Rs.7,283 crore in
the 11th Plan to Rs.17,323 crore
in the 12th Plan, an increase of
137.85 %. In the social services
sector the total outlay has been
increased from Rs.1,197,576 crore
in the 11th Plan to Rs. 2,664,843
crore in the 12th Plan, a jump of
122.52%. Of this, 15% share
or Rs. 399,726 crore has been
earmarked for minorities. He said,
of this allocation, a whopping
Rs. 100,000 lakh crore has been
allocated for the Uttar Pradesh
Muslims under social services,
Maulana Rahim stated.
Maulana Rahim pointed out that
under specific interventions under
PM’s 15-Point Programme, the
12th Plan provides for quality
education. The document states
that in order to provide the best
quality education, the endeavour in
the 12th Plan will be to set up one
residential school along the lines
of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
and Kasturba Gandhi Balika
Vidyalaya for the minorities. It
will be established in a phased
manner in minority concentration
blocks and minority concentration
towns/cities. It stipulates that at
least 50% of the students in these
schools will be from non-minority
communities. Maulana Rahim
lamented that in the just concluded
11th Plan, under the Indira Awas
Yojana (IAY) only 2% of the
targeted 15% houses were alloted
to the minorities.
Nirmal Khatri, Member of
Parliament and President Uttar
Pradesh Congress Committee
(UPCC), presided over the
conference, while Prakash Jaiswal,
Union Coal Minister, was the chief
guest. Dr. Rita Bahuguna Joshi,
ex-president of UPCC; Zafar Ali
Naqvi, Member of Parliament;
Dr. Mohammad Muslim, MLA
from Sultanpur; Akhtar Husain
Akhtar; Masood Ahmad and Dr.
Anees Ansari (Retd. IAS), were
guests of honour on the occasion.
Many important dignitaries,
academicians, social activists,
NGOs and delegates from all
over India participated in the
programme.
Speaking as chief guest, Prakash
Jaiswal said the importance of
education must be inculcated
among Indian Muslims and
they should be acquainted with
the schemes brought out by the
Union Government for their
welfare so that they can derive
maximum utilisation and thereby
extricate themselves from the
morass of illiteracy and poverty.
He told the audience that it is
their responsibility to make the
government answerable by taking
two steps and then ask it to take
four steps. Jaiswal commended
the services rendered by Maulana
Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi through
his Jameatul Hidaya at Jaipur by
blending the religious, secular and
technical education.
Three books related to the 12th
Plan brought by SEE were released
on the occasion. At the end of
the National Conference three
resolutions were unanimously
adopted. The resolutions which
were passed are:(i) The Union Ministries concerned
with the tasks should immediately
make public the Action Taken
Report. The first year of the 12th
Five-Year plan (i.e., 2012) is already
over. Therefore it is proposed that
concerned Ministries are requested
to prepare an implementation
Schedule for 12th Plan.
(ii) Though, the Scholarship
Scheme has been made Demanddriven in the 12th Plan but the
financial outlay will not be
sufficient for the financial needs
to make it Demand Driven.
Therefore, it is proposed that
the Scholarship outlay should
be increased and matched as per
recommendations of the Working
Group (Ministry of Minority
Affairs) and Steering Committee
(Planning Commission) proposal.
Further, the guidelines should
also be amended according to the
proposal.
(iii) The 12th Plan has introduced
three new Schemes viz. (a)
Educational Infrastructure for 100
MCTs, (Minority Concentrated
Towns); (b) Scholarship for
Civil Services Exams, and (c)
Appointment of Welfare Officer
in MCDs (Minority Concentrated
Districts). These schemes are yet
to be launched. It is proposed
that these schemes should be
launched immediately. (TCN story
reworded) n
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
No Room for Extravaganzas
Muslims in India do not lack resources. What they lack is a mission
statement and a vision for the community. It is tragic that some
nouveau riche Muslims make ugly show of pomp and pageant by
spending their money on marriages, while the projects like schools,
libraries, media and hospitals suffer from paucity of resources.
Two months ago, the marriages of two daughters of SA alias KK from
the non-descript village of Baraut under Baghpat district became a
talking point in the entire western region of Uttar Pradesh. While
one of the brides was seen off in a helicopter—hired at a whopping
bill of Rs. four lakh—the other was taken away in a cavalcade of
elephants. Yet another marriage party from Moradabad, in the same
region, was taken to Masjid e Nabawi in Madinah in a chartered
plane for Nikah ceremony. What a travesty of the Holy Prophet’s
teachings who was insistent upon making the marriages simpler,
easier and least expensive. Little did the Moradabad tycoon realize
that he was solemnizing the Nikah of his daughter in the holy precinct
of the mosque of a Prophet who was himself opposed to wasteful
ostentation. That the news is emanating from western Uttar Pradesh is
more distressing. It is the very region where the community harbours
maximum illiteracy and poverty and is the den of the extremely
dogmatic clerics. This was however, not the first time that such an
ugly show of opulence was witnessed. It is rather becoming an order
of the day for rich Muslims in Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and
several other metropolises in South India. Not long ago, a Muslim
family from Udaipur split the marriage ceremony between the royal
city of Udaipur and Bali islands and flew a full contingent of five
hundred friends, relatives and guests to the tourist paradise in the
Pacific. And if the Urdu newspapers have to be believed, former BSP
minister YQ of Meerut, squandered Rs. 6 crore on the engagement
ceremony of his daughter. It is the same minister who had announced
an award of Rs. 100 crore for the head of writer Salman Rushdie
and does not bat an eyelid while declaring himself to be an Ashiq e
Rasool, or the cherisher of the Prophet’s manners.
The elites of the society set precedents. What they do, others follow.
It is where marriages in the rich households need to be made simpler.
Marriages are of course, private affairs, but are social occasions. It is
where the legal intervention becomes difficult. But governments are
duty bound to act when social mores suffer damage due to private
highhandedness. Some regulation seems to be quite in order to
restrain people from indulging in extravaganzas. Perhaps the onedish marriage regulation of Pakistan may be worthy of emulation for
Indians too. We have had some marriages in Bangalore where guests
were served with a menu card before they entered the dining hall.
But while the official regulations would regulate all the marriages,
the Muslims must think of their own priorities. They have few people
gifted with enough fortunes. They need to place their resources
from where social dividends are expected rather than looking for
individual name and fame. Social sectors such as mass education,
higher education for those who are talented, hostels in urban areas,
scholarships, endowments for medical assistance, hospitals, blood
banks, ambulance services and mass housing are immediate needs
of the community. Investment in social infrastructure will ensure
empowerment of the community and secure their future. Currently,
raising of a vibrant middle class should engage our attention. Its
absence has allowed the clerics and the politicians to hijack the
leadership. Both are exploitative and are leading the community to the
abyss of darkness. Their regressive prescriptions continue to mislead
the community. Coming into existence of a sizeable middle class
would give rise to a vision for the community in the contemporary
context. It is the middle class that ensures dynamism and propels
the communities forward. The ingredients that go into its making
are modern education, a keen eye on the future, wide exposure and
willingness to change and reform. The civil society too takes root
in the middle class. It exerts pressure on the people to change and
government to enact progressive legislation.
10
LETTERS
Grand Claims about Glass Mosque
The article published in Islamic Voice
(November 2012) about Shillong Muslim
Union and the glass mosque is totally false
as Mr Syedullah Nongrum has been falsely
representing the Muslims of Shillong, as
no local Muslims of Shillong recognise or
accept him as the general secretary of Shillong
Muslim Union. Moreover, the glass mosque he
claims to have built under his leadership is
also false as it was done against the will of
local Muslims of Shillong. The mosque is built
in the Laban Eidgah and it is not the property
of the Shillong Muslim Union. You can even
confirm this with any social organization in
Shillong and the list is here: The Laban Muslim
Panchayat, the Laban Kabaristan Committee,
the Laban Muslim Youth Association, Dargah
Shareef Caretaker Committee, and the Laban
Mosque Committee.
General Secretary
Laban Muslim Youth Association
alex18826@gmail.com
aameer Nongbri
No Captions with Pictures
I wish to bring to your notice that the pictures
and group photos you publish in Islamic Voice
are often without captions. This makes it very
inconvenient for readers to relate to the picture
and identify the relevance. It would indeed be
great if you could please look into the matter
and improve your editing.
A loyal Subscriber.
luglioaprile@gmail.com
Compile as Books
I am regular subscriber of Islamic Voice and
have been reading “ Our Dialogue” column
and Question and Answers regularly. My
suggestion to the Editor is to compile both
these columns in the form of a book. This
compilation will be useful to the readers who
have not been reading Islamic Voice from the
very beginning.
Farooq Abdul Gaffar Bawani
Rajkot, Gujarat
mohammed.galeriya@yahoo.co.in
A Note of Thanks
Thank You very much for publishing a report in the January 2013 issue of Islamic Voice about
the felicitation made by MSO to meritorious students in December 2012. We look forward for
the same support and encouragement in future also.
Syed Shahid Ahmed
Asif Ali,
President, MSO, Bangalore Gen. Secretary MSO, Bangalore, mso.karnataka@gmail.com
Thought-Provoking Pieces
The article “ The Best of 2012”- Time for
Tributes in Islamic Voice, December 2012, was
very good. The writer’s reflections on people
from various religions promoting peace and
harmony was very thought-provoking. Also
the piece, “A Noble Peace Prize for Malala”
was timely and relevant.
Kazi Mohammad Ayub
Shehar Khateeb & Pesh Imam
Shahi Ikminara Masjid, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Stop Killing of Shia Muslims in Pakistan
The Shia Muslims of India are outraged at
the brutal killing of Hazara Shia Muslims in
Pakistan. More than 100 Shias were killed by
suicide bombers and Jihadist organizations on
January 10, 2013 in the Pakistani city of Quetta.
We urge the peace loving people of India to
show their solidarity with the oppressed Shia
Muslims of Pakistan.
Anjuman-e-Imamia,
Bangalore
Email: anjuman.imamia@yahoo.com
Dear Subscribers
As per the new Postal rules, we cannot write or
print or paste the subscription numbers, expiry
date on the address labels. However, we will send
the Money Order Form and fix the “Expired”
sticker on the Form, two months in advance.
Thank you
Manager, Islamic Voice
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
Young, Dynamic Leadership
for IUML
Cochin: The elevation of
Mohammed Siraj Ebrahim Sait
as the National secretary of the
Indian Union Muslim League on
December
2, 2012 in
Cochin,
Kerala,
is
an indication
that the party
has woken
up for a
young and Siraj Ebrahim Sait
dynamic leadership. Siraj Ebrahim
Sait is son of late Suleiman Sait
and a resident of Bangalore, but
a member of the Kerala Unit.
“It is sad that in 1950, the party
was branded as a communal
organisation and as an architect
responsible for Partition, which is
not right. It was the Muslims of
Kerala who realized the necessity
of a political body which can
represent the aspirations of the
Muslim community in education
and economy building. This has
been well demonstrated in the last
65 years of post-independence
period with the effective political
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consolidation of IUML in Kerala.
Even today, we have demonstrated
our strength during the seat
sharing with the Congress. We
made 24 of our contestants to
contest and we won 20 out of
24, it is a thumping popularity
of our effort in Kerala,” says
Siraj Ebrahim Sait. Ebrahim
boasts that IUML is the second
leading force after CPIM. The
party is likely to consolidate its
position with existing members
in 10-12 states. The aim will be
to consolidate the Muslim and
minority votes. n
Reshmi Roomal Tehrik
Commemorative Stamp Released
New Delhi: A commemorative
postal stamp on silk letter
movement or what is known in
Urdu as Reshmi Roomal
Tehrik
(1915,
1916)
launched by Shaikhul Hind
Maulana Mahmood Hasan
Deobandi—a pioneer of
the freedom struggle and
a prisoner of Malta and
trainer of freedom fighters
was released here by President
Pranab Kumar Mukherjee on
January 11. The President said,
“The sacrifices of individuals and
groups, such as those associated
with the Silk Letter Movement,
constitute a glorious chapter of
Wakf Board Development
Fund in TN
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu
government has announced setting
up a of Wakf Board Development
Fund and has sanctioned an initial
grant of Rs. three crore for the
same. The Fund would finance
repair and expansion of the
dargahs and mosques. A official
announcement said, chief minister
J. Jayalalithaa’s government is
implementing several schemes
for the welfare of the minorities.
It said the government has
increased the pension for the
ulema and enhanced the number
of beneficiaries to 2,600, besides
increasing subsidy for the Hajj
pilgrims. n
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and need to be acknowledged, and
appreciated”. The Rs. 5 stamp
depicts a yellow scroll
over blue background
with Reshmi Roomal
Tehrik inscribed in Urdu,
English and Hindi.
This movement was
launched to mobilize
the support of the
governments of Afghanistan and
Turkey in organizing a revolt
within India to overthrow the
British rule. Obaidullah Sindhi
and Maulana Mahmood Hasan
were two important leaders of this
movement. In August 1916, some
letters written on silk fell into British
hands. It is believed that the Silk
Letters confiscated by the British
Government contained details
of the Provisional Government
of Azad Hind and its plans and a
comprehensive scheme of forming
an army and getting the support
of the Turkish Government,” said
the President addressing the 60th
Session of Shaikhul Hind’s Silk
Letter Movement Centenary.” n
Congress Demonstrate
Collective Leadership
Gulbarga:
The
Gulbarga
convention held on
January
6, at the KCT college grounds
K. Rahman Khan addressing the
crowd at KCT Grounds
in Gulbarga was represented
by
Congress stalwarts like
Parmeshwar, Mallikarjun Kharge,
K. Rahman Khan and Siddaramiah
who demonstrated their support
for Qamarul Islam, Gulbarga
MLA. The chief architect of
these conventions was MLC
Naseer Ahmed. A resolution was
also passed condemning the fiery
speech recently made by MIM
leader, Akbaruddin Owaisi at
Nirmal in Andhra Pradesh. n
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ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
Hyderabad: The Centre for Study
of Social Exclusion and Inclusive
Policy (CSSEIP) in the Maulana
Azad National Urdu University
(MANUU) is convening an
international
conference
on
“Status of Muslim Women in
the Indian Sub Continent” at the
university campus on March 6-8,
2013.
Seminar coordinator Dr. Farida
Siddiqui has called for original
papers or case studies on the
following themes: Muslim Women
in contemporary Indian subcontinental society, 2- Exclusion
of Muslim women in Indian sub
continent, 3- Policy Perspective
for Inclusion of Muslim women in
Indian sub-continent, 4- Health,
Nutrition and Fertility of Muslim
women in Indian sub continent, 5Muslim women and their Impact
on literature, Culture and Society
in Indian sub continent.
The concept paper circulated by
Dr. Siddiqui says, the objective
of the Conference is to initiate
a discussion on the need to go
beyond the stereotype image of
Muslim women and re-establish
the essence of being the Muslim
woman from an authentic Islamic
perspective and their identity in
Indian Sub-continent. It further
says, the conference provides a
platform to the Islamic scholars,
researchers, policy makers and the
academia to express their views
on the status of Muslim women
and the problems confronted by
them based on their experiences
in the contemporary society.
The last date for submission of
abstract in 300 words is January
25. The last date for submission of
full paper is Feb. 20. Acceptance
of the full paper will be intimated
by Feb. 28. For details contact,
Dr. Farida Siddiqui, Centre for
the Study of Social Exclusion
and Inclusive Policy, Maulana
Azad National Urdu University,
Gachibowli, Hyderabad-500032,
Ph: 040-23006612—15, email:
muslimwomen.intconf@gmail.
com.,csseip_manuu@yahoo.com.
CMWC Micro-loans in Mysore
By A Staff Writer
Mysore: The Central Muslim
Welfare Council here disbursed
micro-loans to the tune of Rs.
24.44 lakhs during the past
financial year ending on March
31, 2012 among over a thousand
men and women engaged in petty
businesses. The Council general
secretary Syed Zaheer Ahmed
told the fifth session of the general
body held on 6th January at
Gumbaz in Srirangapatna that the
council is maintaining five centres
for loan disbursement in Azeez
Sait Nagar, Shantinagar, Momin
Nagar, Ganjam and RGA School.
However, 175 beneficiaries turned
out to be defaulters. He said
those who have improved their
financial turnover and thereby
requiring bigger loan amounts
were being shifted to Janaseva
Credit Cooperative Society in
the city. He said the expenses on
running the facility at five centres
were eroding the capital base and
appealed for generous donations.
The Council provided scholarships
to 85 students
pursuing
BE,
Diploma, B.Ed,
PUC,
D.Ed.,
and studies in
high school with
Rs. 2.95 lakh
received through
donations. It also
ran
coaching
classes for SSLC
failed students for 142 students. Of
these eight secured distinction, 32
secured first class and 97 passed the
exam. The Council spent around
Rs. 64,000 on the project. Md.
Idriss and Prof. N. A. Mohammad
Naseem conducted the coaching
classes for 26 days. The Council
awarded Rs. 11,000 to Md.
Saad who secured 99% marks in
Science paper in the SSLC exam.
Nine other students were given
Rs. 1,000 each for distinctions in
SSLC. Two teachers, Niyaz Pasha
and Rabia Basri were presented
Rs. 12,500 each for producing
excellent SSLC results.
Presiding over the general body
meeting, Prof. Sheik Ali, former
vice chancellor of Mangalore
and Goa Universities, exhorted
the members to take education
and awareness to the grassroots
of the Muslim society. Special
guests Mohammad Ismail from
the United States and journalist
Maqbool Ahmed Siraj asked the
members to expedite the pace of
social change among Muslims.
The Council was formed in 2007
and has 75 members. A general
call was given for enhancing the
membership. Prof. Qudratullah
Baqvi conducted dua at the
conclusion of the programme. n
CMA’s New Projects
Bangalore: The Central Muslim
Association (CMA) which lost a
portion of its prime property in
the heart of Bangalore city, to the
Metro Rail project is now looking
at new avenues. The Metro
annual rent of Rs 81 lakhs from this
portion of the property. The fair
compensation received has been
spent judiciously and carefully
with an investment on a property
situated in Jayanagar second
block at Das compound
and the property opposite
Das compound. The major
portion of the land acquired
will get a facelift with a
commercial complex to be
constructed by Bangalore’s
Prestige Group, while the
smaller portion where an
hostel is likely to come up
will be developed by India
Builders Corporation(IBC)
chairman, Ziaulla Shariff in
the memory of his mother.
The foundation stone was
laid for the construction
K. Rahman Khan with Ziaulla Sharief
of the hostel building on
at the function
January 5, by the Minister
Corporation acquired 21,000 sq for Minorities affairs, K. Rahman
feet at Rs 29 crores from CMA, Khan. Both the shopping
the remaining portion of 19,000 complex and the hostel building
square feet is still with the CMA are likely to be completed within
and the organisation is getting an 18 months. n
Pic by Ansar
International Conference: Status of Muslim
Women in the Indian Sub-Continent
Jamia Promotes Sports for
Junior Students
New Delhi: The Sports Authority
of India had adopted Jamia Millia
Islamia as an Extension Centre
for sports such as Athletics,
Football and Hockey. Under this
scheme, schools and colleges
actively involved in sports, with
adequate infrastructure, and a
history of producing national and
international sports persons are
eligible and Jamia was chosen
Online Free Career Counseling
by Khaildar Anjuman
Kota: Khaildar Anjuman is
starting an online career counseling
for students. In the first phase, it
will focus on Kota, Jaipur, Sawai
Madhopur, Baran and Jhalawar
districts of Rajasthan. Khaildar
Anjuman is a voluntary and social
welfare organisation working for
Khaildar community, established
in 2012 with the initiative of some
12
social workers in Rajasthan.
Speaking to TCN, Ziyaul Islam of
Khaildar Anjuman said, “Career
counseling is now just a click
away.” He added that after filling
the online form, the counselors
will get back to you in the next
24 Hours. To register: www.
khaildaranjuman.com.
(Twocircles.net)
for these very reasons. These
schemes have been promoted
by the Sports Authority of India
with a view to promote sports
at all levels especially at the
junior level. The concept is
to develop sports standard in
schools and colleges who have
shown commendable results in
the field of sports, but may not
have adequate infrastructure
of their own. Under the above
scheme, Jamia will be conducting
selection for Athletics, Football
& Hockey from February 04-06,
2013. Boys in the age group of 12
to 18 years are eligible to appear
in the trials. Students other than
those studying at Jamia can also
take part in the trials. The trials
will be held at the TTI Ground,
Faculty of Education, Jamia
Millia Islamia from February 04,
2013.
(Two circles.net)
MUSLIMS & EDUCATION
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
Jodhpur to have Maulana Azad University
By A Staff Writer
Jodhpur:
The Rajasthan
Government will set up the
Maulana Azad National University
here in the next academic session.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot
addressing the Valedictory Session
This was announced here on
January 14, in the valedictory
session of the first All Rajasthan
Talimi Conference by Chief
Minister Ashok Gehlot.
The
conference had been organised
by the Marwar Muslim Education
and Welfare Society (MMEWS)
coinciding with the silver jubilee
of the Maulana Azad Senior
Secondary School at its premises.
Gehlot also inaugurated the
Chemistry Lab and the Computer
Lab of the school which has been
set up with the financial help of the
Jodhpur Municipal Corporation.
Union Minister for Minority
Affairs, K. Rahman Khan laid the
foundation stone for the Rs. 83
lakh building of the Muslim Girls
Hostel while Gehlot inaugurated
the work on the second floor of
the Barkatullah Khan Hostel for
Boys. The Municipal Corporation
will lend the financial assistance
for both the projects. Khan said
the Maulana Azad Educational
Foundation would soon start
the sessions.
State Health Minister Imamuddin
Durru
Miyan,
Education
Minister Brij Kishore Sharma,
Minister of State for Education
Naseem Akhtar Insaf, State’s
13
UP Wakf Board to set up
Wakf University
By A Staff Writer
Lucknow: The Sunni Central
Wakf Board will set up Wakf
University at Kannauj. Board
CEO Dr. Akmal Hussain told
Islamic Voice over phone that
a plot of 220 hectare wakf
land near Kannauj town has
been offered by the Ghufran
Siddiqui Wakf. Hussain said
he is approaching the Central
Wakf Council for sanction of Rs.
1,000 crore for the establishment
of the proposed university. He
said the Council has shown
positive attitude towards the
proposal. He said though the
Wakf University would be set
up by the Sunni Central Wakf
Board, but its management will
have no interference from the
Board. Hussain said the Wakf
Board was facing financial crisis
and all its current budget was
merely funding the wages of
the employees. Hussain who
is touring the state, said he was
exploring avenues to enhance the
revenue resources of the Board.
Chishti University Makes
Urdu Compulsory
K. Rahman Khan addressing the Conference Participants
skill development programme,
women leadership programme,
and Rajasthan Coaching Centre.
Ms. Chandaresh Kumari, Union
Minister for Culture said she
would recommend direct flights
for taking Haj pilgrims to Makkah
from Jodhpur.
Chief Minister Gehlot said the
Rajasthan
Government
has
sanctioned Rs. 618 lakh for the
introduction of modern sciences
and computer education in 241
madrassas in the state. He said Rs.
11 crore for Pre-matric scholarships,
Rs. 12 crore for the post-matric
scholarship and Rs. 325 crore for
Merit-cum-means scholarship has
been sanctioned for minorities in
the State for the year.
The two day conference drew
around 25,000 participants during
Minister for Minority Affairs
Mr. Ameen Khan, State Wakf
Board chairman Liyakqath Ali
Khan, Rajasthan Madrasa Board
Chairman Maulana Fazle Haq,
State Milli Council President,
Qaiyum Akhtar etc attended the
conference.
MMEWS secretary Mr. Atique
Ahmed told Islamic Voice from
Jodhpur that the University
would initially start working from
the Society run campus in the
city from June 2013 and would
gradually set up its campus in the
outlying extensions of Jodhpur.
The Marwar Muslim Education
and Welfare Society runs nearly
25 high schools, ITIs, colleges,
and other institutions besides Mai
Khadija Hopsital and a Gaushala
for aged, sick and disabled cows.
tarnished by the media and the
administration. He was ultimately
honorably acquitted by the court
which found 63 of the 94 accused
innocent. Six of his children were
married off while he was in jail.
(IOS). The 78-year old Azmi is
a known Arabic scholar and edits
the Al-Baas Al-Islami, the Arabic
journal from Nadwatul Uloom,
Lucknow. He studied at Nadwa
and later went to Iraq and Jamia
Azhar in Cairo for higher studies.
He has authored more than a
dozen books in Urdu and Arabic.
Lucknow:
The
Khawja
Moinuddin Chishti Urdu, ArabiFarsi University here will make
study of Urdu compulsory at all
levels and with all courses. This
was stated here by Vice chancellor
Dr. Anis Ansari (IAS retd.).
While studies in faculties such as
Management, Commerce, Science
and Technology and Humanities
would be through English
medium, Urdu would be added
as a paper and would continue
till the highest level. He said 16
departments were being set up
under the university i.e., English,
Page 4
Commerce,
Management,
Urdu, Arabic, Persian, Hindi,
Computer Application, History,
Geography,
Home
Science,
Mass Communication, B.Ed,
Political Science, Economics
and Physical Education. The
University was set up in 2009
as Dr. Kanshi Ram Urdu, FarsiArabi University by the erstwhile
Mayawati Government. Last year,
it was rechristened as Khawja
Moinuddin Chishti Urdu, ArabiFarsi University. Its campus is
coming up on Sitapur-Hardoi
Road near Lucknow.
CRDDP Opens in Bangalore ...
be headed by retired bureaucrat
Syed Zameer Pasha (IAS) as the
executive director for the entire
country and B. L. Joshi as Chief
Research Officer. “The initiative is
likely to have an impact as this will
be a unique initiative anywhere
across India,” says Zameer Pasha.
The Indian Chapter will publish
papers, organise seminars and
hold workshops besides, meeting
policy makers. n
developed into a group of educational institutions comprising
engineering, educational training
and women’s college.
French Centre for Promotion of
Advanced Research to set up a
state-of-art reference laboratory
under Dr. Hameed’s chairmanship
in the C. Abdul Hakeem College
at Melvisharam, a town 130 kms
west of Chennai. The fellowship
carries a monthly grant of Rs.
20,000 and Rs. 5 lakh towards
annual contingency.
people
Died: Social worker and leader of
Godhra Muslims Maulana Umarji
who ran relief camps for those
fleeing anti- Muslim violence in
and around Godhra following the
Sabarmati Express coach burning
on Feb. 27, 2002, died on January
13. He was 72. Maulana Umarji
had to spend nine years (20022001) in jail as an accused in the
coach burning case. The vindictive
administration of Narendra Modi
had arrested him under POTA,
although the widely respected
Maulana had been only engaged
in dousing the communal flames
and providing succor to the riotaffected people fleeing villages.
According to journalist Jyoti
Punwani (The Hindu Jan. 17),
Maulana Umarji was constantly
reviled by the Gujarati media even
though he had apologized for the
coach burning on behalf of his
community even before the crime
could be proved. More than his
incarceration, Maulana was more
heartbroken for his image being
Halima Yacub, 58, became
the first woman Speaker of
the Singapore Parliament. She
replaced Michael Paimar who
resigned after a scandal. Halima
of Indian origin had held the
portfolio of Social and Family
Welfare which she quit to assume
the new post. Halima who was
earlier an advocate had been
elected the Member of Parliament
on the ticket of ruling Peoples
Action Party.
IOS Lifetime Achievement
Award: Dr. Saeedur Rahman
Azmi Nadvi was adjudged the
winner of the fifth IOS Lifetime
Achievement Award last month,
by the governing Council of the
Institute of Objective Studies
First Day Cover to Honour
Nawab C. Abdul Hakeem: The
Indian Posts has issued a First
Day Cover to honour Nawab C.
Abdul Hakeem, a philanthropist
from Melvisharam. He was born
in 1863 in Keelvisharam and became a leading merchant in the
region of Madras and earned great
reputation as a philanthropist. He
was also appointed the Sheriff of
Madras and was conferred the titled Malikut Tujjar (King among
the businessmen) by the Madras
Presidency Administration. His
descendants set up the famous
C. Abdul Hakeem College at
Melvisharam in 1969 which has
Tata Innovation Fellowship
for Dr. Shahul Hameed: Dr.
A. Shahul Hameed, associate
professor,
Department
of
Zoology in the C. Abdul
Hakeem College has been
selected for Tata Innovation
Fellowship by the Department of
Biotechnology, Government of
India for the year 2012-13. The
fellowship has been conferred
in recognition of Dr. Hameed’s
distinguished services in the
field of Aquaculture research.
Dr. Hameed’s work has led to
discovery of several viruses in
prawns and other seafood which
has led to work on the treatment
of the viral diseases and ensuring
their safety for consumption. His
work has also prompted France
based World Organisation for
Animal Health and the Indo-
Appointed
Member
of
NIDM: Mr. Najeeb Jung,
Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia
Islamia has been nominated to
the National Institute of Disaster
Management as a Member. The
Institute has been set up for
training and capacity building
for managing natural disaster in
India on a national scale. The
National Centre of Disaster
Management, constituted under
an Act of Parliament in 1995,
was re-designated to give the
present name of National Institute
of Disaster Management by the
Page 16
special report
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
A University for Minorities
14
Points to Ponder
Setting up a university could be a fanciful idea in the current context of
mega ventures, but ground realities suggest that Muslims suffer more due
to absence of good quality education at the lower level.
By Maqbool Ahmed Siraj
The proposal to set up a university
named Tipu Sultan at his erstwhile
capital Srirangapatna has raised
quite a storm of protest from the
ranks of the Bhartiya Janata Party
(BJP). It was not unexpected
from quarters that are accustomed
to see issues from communal
perspective. But this has not
allowed several other aspects
of the issue to be discussed
adequately in Karnataka.
Universities are meant to provide
higher education and lend an
emphasis to specialization. All
that has been said about the
proposed university is that it is
meant especially for minorities.
Since it is located in Karnataka, it
will necessarily and is principally
supposed to serve the minorities
in the State.
Universities, except those that
are meant to affiliate constituent
colleges, are set up with special
focus. For instance, the Aligarh
Muslim University was meant
to promote modern education
among Muslims. The Jamia Millia
Islamia was founded by Mahatma
Gandhi and Maulana Muhammad
Ali Jauhar with the objective of
nurturing nationalist sentiments
among
Muslims.
Osmania
University was meant to impart
modern learnings in a native
language medium i.e., Urdu. Jamia
Hamdard has come up to preserve,
promote and impart continuity and
modernity to traditional sciences
especially the Unani system of
medicine.
Mr. K. Rahman Khan, Union
Minister for Minority Affairs,
who has floated the idea, has
however not come out with any
such vision statement for the
proposed Tipu University. All
that he has said is that it will be
meant for minorities and will be
located at Srirangapatna and will
also celebrate the memory of Tipu
Sultan, a ruler who though ruled
merely for 18 years, was far ahead
of his times. In itself, these are
worthwhile causes as the State
administration in Karnataka has
never been fair to this ruler who
laid down his life in the battlefield
while fighting against the colonial
rulers. But further than this the
roadmap is not clear.
Karnataka has sizeable minority
population i.e., Muslims making
Tipu University
M. A. K. Tayab (IAS Retd.)
13 per cent and Christians around
four per cent. Jains though
constitute not more than half a
per cent, have deeper historical
and cultural affiliation with the
State as testified by the historical
monuments. Going by the Sachar
Committee Report, Muslims in the
state are educationally backward
community. To the contrary, the
Christians, the second largest
component among minorities, are
much ahead in terms of modern
education. Their presence and
influence in the field of modern
education, given the large number
of schools and colleges run by the
various Church organizations, talk
about their dominance. Jains, not
being indistinguishable from the
majority community both in terms
of language and religion, as well
as being miniscule in size, have
been spared any discrimination or
disadvantages. So the bottomline
is that the new university has to
mainly cater to the needs of the
Muslim community.
Let us be fair to admit that
Muslims no longer suffer from
discrimination in terms of
admission to the professional and
technical courses that fetch these
graduates jobs, both at home and
overseas, with reasonable ease.
The 4% exclusive reservation
for the community as well as the
plentiful seats in engineering,
nursing, pharmacy, and teachers
training colleges and the
polytechnics have ensured that
no Muslim with eligibility criteria
is deprived of admission in these
courses.
But the fact remains that despite
administering a good many
schools in the State—let us admit
that the Government has been quite
liberal in granting recognition
and affiliation—very few Muslim
students earn degrees. Even those
who end up earning such degrees,
scarcely make a grade to enter
the State government services,
universities, banks, research and
financial institutions. Presence of
individuals from a community at
such key positions often boosts
morale and reinforces perception
of inclusiveness. But one should
not miss the point that all these
services apply rigorous norms
to pick and choose the required
talent or personnel. Passing
the muster here is a function of
quality education, rather than just
attainment of a degree. Engineers,
pharmacists, doctors, nurses
and technicians can land up jobs
anywhere, if not within the state
or the country, in the Gulf states.
Perhaps the buck stops there. It is
this crucial slot which the current
pattern of Muslim education
fails to fill as far as Karnataka is
concerned.
Reasons are not far to seek.
Graduates of this quality cannot
be produced by a University
unless they are fed by quality
schools.
So the challenge
lies not at the top, but at the
grassroots. Addressing the issues
of providing quality school
education of Muslim therefore
should not be overlooked while
chasing the fanciful dreams of
a Tipu University. Bottom-up
approach rather than the topdown approach is called for.
Even if the future government
in the State proceeds with the
setting up such a university in
the State, it must address the
seminal issues. Rather than
starting hi-tech courses, the
University would do well in
training out a crop of talented and
creative teachers, engage itself
in producing teaching aids to
enable the Urdu medium students
to switch over the medium to
either English or Kannada with
confidence and conduct research
in entrepreneurship, modern ways
to revive dying crafts, making
wakf properties economically
beneficially etc besides running
the courses in sciences and
humanities.
The community must address
the basic issue of integrating
the Urdu medium students into
the mainstream education. The
community faces the serious
dilemma on educational front.
While the Government may be
forced to provide the education in
mother tongue, it is not bound to
provide jobs to people who have
received their instructions in such
schools, unless they are conversant
with and comply with the requisite
standard of knowledge of the
language of the administration.
Urdu medium of instructions
has become a stumbling block in
Muslim students reaching up to
some decent level of education.
Most of them drop out before
arriving in 10th standard and
the few who cross this crucial
threshold, fail to enter any such
courses or careers that can fetch
them a decent livelihood. And
the number of such students in
nearly 5,000 government run
Urdu medium students is more
than half a million.
A university fed by low-quality
schools may deliver degreeholders, but is unlikely to churn
out high quality professionals who
earn their alma mater name, fame,
research contracts and distinction.
It is time we in Karnataka ponder
over the priorities.
Quality education is the need
of the hour for Muslims. This
necessitates better quality schools
which will only enable these
Muslim children to aspire for and
capable of getting admissions into
colleges and universities. Tagging
a university with Muslims or
minorities will prove a stumbling
block in landing up good jobs.
Some people are trying to earn,
name and slice of some funds by
making this an emotive issue. The
more immediate gains they may
be expecting is the Muslim vote in
the coming elections in the State.
It is sad that the issue is getting
the communities lined up against
each other.
Dr. Abdul Aziz, Economist
Former Professor, Institute for
Social and Economic Change
All this hullabaloo over a
university being named after Tipu
Sultan is motivated by communal
intentions. Tipu, an enlightened
ruler of 18th century is being
unnecessary maligned by parties
with partisan appeal. History
bears witness that his suppression
of Christians in Mangalore and
Nairs in Kerala was because of
the disloyalty of his subjects to
his rule. It applies to all ages as
any government is duty bound to
suppress disloyalty. It is rather
bizarre that people who wear
patriotism on their sleeves are
siding with colonial propaganda
spread by the British historians
who followed the policies of
‘divide and rule’. Their allegation
against Tipu do not bear any
truth.
I welcome the establishment of
a university for Minorities. Of
course, this will be run under the
State Universities Act and there
cannot be any digression from
the laws of the land. Teachers will
have to be selected on the basis
of their professional standards,
rather than affiliation to the
community. It will be helping
the Muslim students in attaining
higher education as currently very
few of them are able to cross the
PUC level.
Azeezullah Baig, IAS retd.
Administrator, Islamiah Institute
of Technology, Bangalore
Page 15
opinion
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
Tipu University
Page 14
Points to Ponder ...
A Needless Controversy
Dr. K. Javeed Nayeem
With a Union Minister announcing
that the centre would start a separate
university for the minorities at Tipu
Sultan’s capital, Srirangapatna and
name it after him, a controversy
seems to be gaining momentum
with new entrants passing
comments each day. Whether this
university sees the light of the day
or not is still uncertain but since
elections are just around the corner,
it is possible that crafty netas are
hoping that just the announcement
of its creation will please the
Muslims of the state and tilt the
electoral balance in their favour.
Their not-so-holy hopes may not be
entirely misplaced too considering
the fact that they are playing to a
gallery of a confused and expectant
people who have been groping
in the dark for decades to find a
leader at the national level who
can show them the light of the day.
The sad thing about this dirty game
is that successive generations
of politicians have been able to
get away with this trick of luring
successive generations of a sizable depends on who is saying it and
Muslim vote bank just by showing therefore it is bound to always
them a cardboard cutout of the have in addition to its many milder
proverbial carrot, let alone a real variants, diametrically opposite
one. But an announcement like views too. We have to realise
this is naturally bound
here that in all historical
to raise the hackles of
accounts fact and fiction
are both very often
all those who think
weaved like warp and
that the minorities
are already a very
weft in equal measure to
pampered lot and
give the resulting fabric
Tipu their legendary
its most fascinating
design.
While most
hero, whom they see
Muslims will remain
only as an intolerant
steadfast in their view
and cruel despot,
that Tipu was a just
is being needlessly Dr. K. Javeed Nayeem
glorified. That is why
and benevolent ruler,
we have been seeing a spate of several non-Muslims, especially
statements in the media by people the ones whose ancestors suffered
who support the move and those pain or humiliation at his hands
who are opposed to it. However, will only see him as an intolerant
this is not the time for us to polarize and tyrannical monarch. There is
ourselves into two warring groups no denying the fact that Tipu was
and draw our battle lines especially particularly harsh in punishing
over the question whether Tipu certain sections of people during
was a good or a bad man. It serves his military campaigns. But he
no purpose because in doing so did this not because they were
we would only be flogging a dead followers of a particular religion
horse that is not going to take but because they were staunch
us anywhere. What history says supporters of the British to whom
book review
Sachar Report Summary in Hindi
Sachar ki Sifarishen
By Abdur Rahman IPS
Kashyap Publications
B-48/UG-4 Dilshad Extension-2,
DLF, Ghaziabad
kashyappublications@gmail.com
Ph: 9313282945, 9868778438
Pages 258, Rs. 210
Hindi has emerged as the most
widely known and used language
among India’s 18 national
languages. It is also one among
the two official languages of the
Central Government.
Going
by this, no official document
remains without being translated
in Hindi.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan
Singh had appointed the High
Power Committee to look into the
socio-economic and educational
situation of Muslims in India in
2005. The Committee headed by
Justice Rajinder Sachar presented
its report in 2006. Since then, it
has come to be recognized as
the most comprehensive official
Reviewed by
Maqbool Ahmed Siraj
document on the status of
Muslims and has remained as the
reference point for any informed
discussion on Muslim situation
15
in India.
Mr. Abdur Rahman, an IPS
officer of Maharashtra cadre
and
currently
additional
commissioner of Police in Pune,
has summarized the report in
Hindi under the above title i.e.,
Sachar ki Sifarishen. Rahman
emphasizes the point that the
book is not a translation of the
Sachar Committee report but is
a summarization in simple Hindi
in order that a common reader
could access the content.
The book is divided into 14
chapters, 12 of them—from
third
to
twelfth--carrying
content from similar number of
chapters of the original report.
First chapter, author’s original
contribution, takes a look at the
various reports that highlighted
the
socio-economic
and
Page 17
he was violently opposed. But
what we have been seeing ever
since the advent of the internet,
which is itself an open battlefield,
is an undue magnification of
Tipu’s cruelty by his detractors.
No amount of debating will be
able to alter even an iota of the
individual opinions we hold in this
matter and it is therefore best to
bury this matter here along with
our hatchets. Today what we are
in need of is a harmonious and
forward-looking society that can
take the nation to newer heights
of progress and prosperity. If the
government at the centre is sincere
in its intentions of establishing a
new university named after Tipu,
let it do so. But let it not make it
an exclusive domain of just the
Muslims or any particular section
of people. Let it be established as
a centre of learning with its doors
open to all those who wish to
acquire excellence in disciplines
of their choice, unfettered by
despicable constraints of caste,
creed or class.
(The author is director at the Bibi Ayesha
Milli Hospital, Mysore. He can be reached
at kjnmysore@rediffmail.com) n
The proposal to set up Tipu
University is welcome. Opposition
to the name from communal
elements is quite understandable.
As I understand, the proposed
University would be run on
public-private partnership basis as
the UGC is granting recognition
to several such universities in the
country. The University could very
well take up projects like challenges
for the minorities/Muslims in a fast
changing world. There could be a
chair on conducting research on
the life and achievements of Tipu
Sultan, several aspects of whose
life are still unexplored.
It is true that Urdu medium
students remain from reaching
the post-SSLC stage. Switch-over
from Urdu to English medium is
not a major problem. The Urdu
medium schools produced many
worthies. But these schools have
become a victim of neglect both
from the Government as well as
their intended beneficiaries, the
Muslims. The teachers of the
past used to be dedicated one.
Now great majority of teachers
are women who have to bear the
double torture of teaching as well
as household work. Their skills are
never updated. n
people ...
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
16
Page 13
Disaster Management Act 2005
passed by President of India on 9
January 2006.
Former Minister in Old Age
Home: Sabir Shaikh, a close
buddy of Shiv Sena chief
Balasaheb Thakeray and twice
minister under the Shiv Sena
led Government in Maharashtra
who was found in a distressful
condition in a congested room
of a Mumbai chawl, has been
brought and accommodated in
an old age home in Aurangabad.
Shaikh was twice elected from
Kalyan on Shiv Sena ticket in
1995 and 1999 and held the labour
portfolio. A UNI report said the
party cadres who found him in
miserable conditions, brought
him to Aurangabad and admitted
him in a home for the Aged. He
was the only Muslim who shared
a stage with Thackeray every time
he addressed the rally at Shivaji
Park. It is often assumed that
ministers earn enough to subsist
on this wealth. But Sabir Shaikh
is said to have earned and saved
nothing for himself and considered
the ministerial portfolio a means
to serve the people. He was one
among the founders of Shiv
Sena and he was once made the
chairman of the Maharashtra Haj
Committee.
Humaira Tasneem receives
Player of the Match Award
Dubai: UAE’s women’s cricket
team
off-spinner,
Humaira
Tasneem produced a
fivewicket haul in the Asian Cricket
Council Women’s tournament
in Thailand against Hong Kong,
last fortnight. UAE lost the match
by four wickets, but Tasneem
was adjudged the player of the
match for her spell of 5 for 18.
Tasneem is a Grade 12 student of
the Delhi Private School, Sharjah.
“I was born in Al Ain, but went to
Hyderabad and returned to UAE
in 2004. I started playing cricket
five years ago and want to be an
all-rounder,” said Tasneem who
is also the captain of her school.
Her father, M.M. Hamid, is a
civil engineer.
(Gulf News)
Tahirul Qadri’s Advisor is
Joel Hayward who is known
as a Defence and Security
Advisor to several institutes
and government institutions
in the United States, United
Kingdom and Israel. This was
revealed by Daily Ummat, an
Urdu newspaper from Karachi
in its issue dated January 21.
Columnist Md. Yunus Alam
said the website minhajuk.com
had made an announcement
to this effect some time ago.
The website is registered in the
United Kingdom and publicises
the activities of Minhajul Quran,
an outfit affiliated to Allama
Tahirul Qadri.
Joel Hayward was born in a
Christian family of New Zealand
and graduated in Military History.
He became an active member of
the ‘New Zealand Friends of
Israel’ organization and went to
Israel for higher studies. He had
been named Stewart Andrew
Hayward at birth but he adopted
the name Joel Hayward upon
arrival in Israel and converted
to Judaism at the behest of his
Jewish grandmother. He began
to write articles on history and
strategic issues in the American
journals. He took bachelors
degree in military history from
Israel and later shifted to the
US where American Aviation
Research Academy granted him
a fellowship. Title of his Ph.D
thesis in the US was ‘A Study
of German Air Force during the
Second World War’. He was later
appointed in Massey University
and was promoted senior
lecturer within three years. His
articles and review took him
to the United Kingdom where
he was appointed a lecturer in
Joint Services Command and
Staff College in 2004. Shortly
thereafter he was appointed the
head of the Air Power Studies
Division and also became a
guest lecturer in Britain’s Royal
Air Force and Kings College.
He is currently Director of Air
Force Centre for Air Power
Studies. He has recently been
taken as a visiting lecturer in the
Khalifa University of the United
Arab Emirates.
What one wonders is that how
does he find a place as an advisor
in Allama Tahirul Qadri’s
organization Minhajul Quran
which has nothing to do with
Defence and Strategic affairs.
How does he find time to advise
this organization amidst his busy
schedule?
Joel
Hayward
has
been
instrumental
in
organizing
several seminars in the Middle
East on pacifist nature of
Islam and extremism and has
been found quick to condemn
extremist activities in Iraq and
Afghanistan. It is surmised that
he has been enlisted for securing
loyalty of gullible Muslims under
the guise of recruiting people on
‘Sharia-based projects’. One of
these topics is Sufism which has
come for aggressive promotion
by the think tanks in the UK
and the US on an agenda set by
the UNO. This responsibility
was assigned to Cheryl Benard,
wife of Zilmay Khalilzad, the
American envoy in Afghanistan
and a leading light of the State
Department. Benard heads
the Rand Corporation, a think
tank in the US and has been
instrumental in setting up Sufi
Council in Pakistan under the
leadership of Pervez Musharraf.
Under the project, the former US
ambassador to Pakistan visited
several mazars and shrines and
soon the mutawallis there were
seen zipping in MUVs and
SUVs. What is clear is that it was
not Tahirul Qadri who needed
Joel Hayward but the other way
round to implement a project in
the subcontinent that carries the
stamp of US strategic interests.
Are we listening? n
Mental Health
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
Good to have a Beautiful Mind
17
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail,” said poet, Ralph Waldo
Emerson. Dr Safiya has just done that! Following her heart, rather than succumbing to societal pressure, she has
taken up psychiatry as her passion and profession. Apart from counseling, she is working on spiritual psychiatry
to help people lead happy lives.
By Nigar Ataulla
Born in the land of oranges
and coffee plantations, Coorg,
Dr Safiya reflects serenity and
calmness just like the land where
she spent her childhood. Growing
up amidst nature, her kind smile
radiates positivity and concern for
humanity. Keeping herself away
from the rat race of taking up
education that would fetch pots of
money, she chose first to complete
MBBS from Mangalore, followed
by post-graduation in Psychiatry
from Father Mullers Medical
College and a Masters degree in
Counselling and Psychotherapy
from
Kuvempu
University,
Shimoga.
“ My parents encouraged me, and
all my three siblings too took up
education seriously and today, are
busy with their careers. Economic
independence is important for
women, especially in the Muslim
community, so that they feel
strong and can stand on their feet.
After my studies, I worked as a
psychiatrist, in several hospitals
in Bangalore and then set up my
own clinic here. My husband too
supports me in my efforts to give
better mental health to people,”
says Safiya who also feels that as
a mother, she hopes to be the best
teacher to her two lovely kids.
For Safiya, her work as a
psychiatrist is not a job, but
her passion. Looking at people
succumb to the false claims
of faith healers. Superstitious
practices are still alive. Most of
the Muslims who come to me are
from the middle and upper classes.
Difficult to believe, but it’s true
that even the upper class are in
“In this world of competition, materialism and technology, our
human emotions are being crippled. Our emotional, psychological
health and related issues are neglected due to lack of time.
crumbling mentally, caused by
a whole lot of mental disorders,
long hours of her day are spent
counseling them, changing their
perceptions and belief systems
about themselves and bringing
them out of the depths of
darkness that they have drowned
themselves in.
“In this world of competition,
materialism and technology,
our human emotions are being
crippled.
Our
emotional,
psychological health and related
issues are neglected due to lack of
time. Despite the advancement in
knowledge about health, yet the
ignorance and stigma attached
to emotional and psychological
illness persists. Many of the
emotionally troubled individuals
the clutches of the faith healers
who extract money in lakhs,
promising to cure their mental
illness. My purpose of setting
up the Mind & Brain Clinic was
to create awareness and to be
available as a specialized service
with
neuropsychiatric
care,
counseling, psychotherapy, deaddiction and child guidance,”
says Safiya
“ Shocking? But again its true, I
have encountered numerous cases
of alcoholism, not just among the
men in the Muslim community,
but also women!” adds Safiya.
Emotional
and
behavioural
problems
among
children
are on the rise. Appropriate
psychological
instruments,
inventories,
questionnaires
and tests are used for complete
assessment. Even violent and
aggressive behavior among
the teens is rising and has to be
addressed at an early stage. Sadly,
Muslims simply do not want to
face these realities.
“I see Muslim families breaking
up as some members suffer
from
depression,
anxiety,
hyper-activity, seizure disorder,
suspicious behavior, suicidal
tendencies,
phobias,
mood
disorders, obsessive compulsive
disorders, addiction to Cannabis
(ganja), cocaine, heroin, dope,
and they go around blaming that
their relatives, cousins, in-laws
etc, have done black magic on
them!” says Safiya.
Apart from cyber addicts, internet
and games addiction which has
become very common among
children and young adults, Safiya
explains that she has come across
innumerable cases of young
professionals who are extremely
wealthy, are experts in their field,
have the best of material things,
but have disastrous personal lives
with their spouses, parents or even
friends, all for petty matters which
consumes their minds, leading to
Page 15
Sachar Report Summary ...
educational status of Muslims
prior to the presentation of the
Sachar Report. Short summary
of Wilson Hunter’s study in
1871,
Royal
Commission
Report in 1886, Islington Report
1912, Alexander Muddiman
Commission Report 1924 and
Inder
Malhotra
Documents
1965 provide useful insight into
Muslim situation over the preand post-Independence decades.
What is significant is that issues
pertaining to inclusiveness,
access to opportunities and social
justice were matters of concern
for the colonial administration.
Extreme care has been taken in
inclusion of tables and graphs.
English abbreviations, acronyms
and terms have been liberally
retained within the Hindi text.
Choice of English numerals for
statistics too is appreciable. Their
translation in Hindi would have
made the reading cumbersome.
Though the book summarises
the report, no information or
data having some significance
has been left out. In this respect,
it must be a valuable addition to
Hindi which is fast becoming a
medium of research in humanities
in several universities of North
India. Flawless printing leaves
no room for complaint. n
serious mental disturbances.
Neurological
disorders
like
Alzheimer’s disease, dementia,
Parkinson’s disease, stroke,
paralysis, epilepsy, migraine and
chronic headaches have a high
emotional impact on emotional
and social life. Timely medical
and psychological management,
along with family training is given
at her clinic, apart from clinical
hypnotherapy for stress-related
issues and childhood conflicts.
“Spiritual psychiatry is something
close to my heart and I feel that
many emotional issues can be dealt
with in an effective way using
spiritual psychiatry, irrespective
of any religious background of a
person,” advises Safiya.
“Most of the youngsters who take
up psychiatry as a profession fly
away to the US or Australia for
lucrative reasons, but I wish to
stay here and be available to help
everyone. My purpose in life
is to bring peace in the lives of
emotionally and mentally troubled
people,” says Safiya flashing her
kind smile again.
(Dr Safiya.M.S can be reached at
safiyafaaz@gmail.com. Ph: 08023628017 )
Attention readers if
you have any relatives
/ friends in educational
field who is interested
to be partner to start
muslim deemed
universities across
India please contact
09448844939, Khazi,
Bangalore.
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
18
In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Happiness or Misfortune is Determined by God
Respond to your Lord before there comes, by God’s will, a day that cannot be put off. There shall be no refuge for you
on that day, nor shall you be able to deny your sins. If they turn away, We have not sent you to be their keeper. Your
only duty is to deliver the message [entrusted to you]. When We give man a taste of Our grace, he rejoices in it, but if
misfortune befalls him on account of what he has done with his own hands, he is bereft of gratitude. To God belongs
sovereignty over the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He grants female offspring to whomever He will,
and male to whomever He will; Or gives both male and female to whomever He wills, and causes whomever He wills to
be barren. He is all-knowing, infinite in His power.
(Consultation, Al-Shura, 42: 47-50)
By Adil Salahi
The surah addresses those who
stubbornly opposed the Prophet’s
message with an order to respond
to their Lord before such a fate
comes upon them, all of a sudden,
when they will be without support.
A directive to the Prophet is added
instructing him to turn away
from them if they persist in their
rejection. His task though is only
to deliver his message; he is not
responsible for anyone: “Respond
to your Lord before there comes,
by God’s will, a day that cannot be
put off. There shall be no refuge
for you on that day, nor shall you
be able to deny your sins. If they
turn away, We have not sent you to
be their keeper. Your only duty is
to deliver the message (entrusted
to you). When We give man a
taste of Our grace, he rejoices in
it, but if misfortunes befalls him
on account of what he has done
with his own hands, he is bereft of
gratitude”.
Having made the warning and
the directive abundantly clear,
these verses portray the nature
of the one who opposes the
divine message and stubbornly
refuses to submit to its truth. He
is fickle, wildly rejoicing when
he is granted something of God’s
grace and panicking in the face of
adversity. In such a situation, man
often transgresses all bounds and
shows no gratitude for what he
is given: “When We give man a
taste of Our grace, he rejoices in
it, but if misfortune befalls him
on account of what he has done
with his own hands, he is bereft of
gratitude”.
By way of comment on this, the
surah makes absolutely clear that
whatever happiness or misfortune,
affluence or scarcity befalls man
is determined by God. It is very
strange therefore for someone,
who reacts in this way to blessings
and misfortune, to turn away
from God when He holds all the
strings affecting his life: “To God
belongs sovereignty over the
heavens and the earth. He creates
what He wills. He grants female
offspring to whomever He wills,
and male to whomever He wills;
Or gives both male and female to
whomever He wills, and causes
whomever He wills to be barren.
He is all-knowing, infinite in His
power”.
Offspring is an aspect of what
man is given or denied. It is
something very dear to man. Since
human nature is very sensitive to
procreation, looking at it from
this angle is more effective. The
surah spoke earlier of man’s
provisions and how they are given
in plentiful or scant measure.
Offspring is a different aspect of
what God provides man with. It is
no different from money, however,
in the way it is granted.
These verses begin by stating that
everything in the heavens and earth
belongs to God alone.
This introduction fits
with every detail that
follows this statement
of general ownership.
The same is true of the
succeeding sentence:
“He creates what He wills.” This
emphasizes the effect the verse
aims to generate, directing man,
who loves every good thing, to
turn to God who creates everything
that man loves and dislikes.
Further details are given of what
God may grant or withhold. He
may grant female offspring to
anyone. The Arabs addressed
for the first time by the Qurân
used to dislike females. He also
grants male children to anyone He
chooses. Alternatively, He may
give offspring of both kinds to
anyone. The fourth situation is that
He may deny offspring altogether,
making people barren. What is
important to remember is that all
these situations are determined by
God’s will. None interferes in His
decision which is based on His
perfect knowledge and executed
by His power: “He is all-knowing,
infinite in His power.”
As it draws to its conclusion,
the surah picks up its main
theme again, which is the truth
of revelation and message. It
speaks of the nature of this
contact between God and His
chosen servants and how it is
done. It asserts that such contact
has actually taken place with
the last messenger, Muhammad
(peace be upon him). This last
contact has a definite objective
God wishes to accomplish,
namely, providing guidance
along a straight path to whoever
chooses to be guided. n
LIVING ISLAM
The Believer must also be a Traveller
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
The believer, according to the
Quran, must be a traveller (AlSaihoon) (9:112). This is not just
in the sense of one who goes on
journeys: it actually means one who
learns spiritual lessons through
Tawassum (15:75). Tawassum
means to elicit spiritual lessons
from material experiences.
A believer is one who is always in
a state of contemplation. When a
believer is on his travels, his mind
is always in the contemplative
mode. Whatever a believer sees
around him turns into a spiritual
experience. A true believer’s mind
is like a spiritual industry. He sees
everything with a divine eye and
learns spiritual lessons through
Tawassum. His travelling thus
becomes an ibadat (worship).
This process is integral to the
workings of the mind of a true
believer — a spiritually hungry
person, who is constantly trying
to derive spiritual lessons from
everything. Naturally, this process
continues during his travels. There
is a formula for this which can
be summarised thus: Siahat plus
Tawassum is equal to Marafat.
Siahat means travelling, tawassum
means to learn a lesson, and
marafat means realisation of God.
A believer’s journeying is a kind
of ibadat on the move, in the
course of which his contemplation
becomes more profound, and
he is able to expand his spiritual
experiences universally. When
at home, he lives in a confined
environment, which permits him
to develop his personality at the
rate of say one per cent, but when
he travels, he can add many new
dimensions to his personality.
For example, when you buy a
return ticket from an airline, you
travel with the assurance that
you will return home. Then you
remember death. Death is also
a journey. But on this journey,
you have no return ticket. This
is tawassum. An air ticket is a
worldly item, but as a matter of
tawassum, through this ticket,
you can be reminded of the world
hereafter.
Meaning of Love of God
Love means strong affection.
Love is a natural phenomenon; an
elevated kind of positive response
towards someone you feel is
loveable. Love cannot be created
in a vacuum; it requires a strong
base of affection.
Love of God is this same kind of
strong affection. The basis of this
love is quite natural when one
discovers that one was created
by God and that it was God who
has given us human beings such
bounties as planet earth, the lifesupport system, oxygen, water and
food, for instance. All these things
were not created by humans. They
are precious gifts bestowed by
someone else. When one discovers
this fact, one naturally becomes a
lover of God. Thus, love of God
is the outcome of one’s discovery.
Every sincere person reaches a
stage in life when he faces some
basic questions such as, how did
I come into existence, how is it
that I find myself in a world that is
extremely favourable to me. One
realises that this compatibility
between man and the rest of the
universe is so unique, that science
has observed that the universe has
been custom-made for man. Love
is in fact an acknowledgment
of this. When we endeavour
to acknowledge our superbenefactor, we call it love of God.
Although love is an inner feeling,
it comes naturally to us to give it
an external expression. It is said
that man is a social animal, so it
is but natural that one’s inner love
should also find some expression
in terms of social relationships.
It is this social expression of
one’s inner feeling that is called
peace. In terms of God, love is a
psychological acknowledgment
of the Creator, and in terms of
society, love is manifested in
peaceful living among other
members of society.
God is an unobservable being of
this kind whom we see through
His creation. In such a world, it
is irrational to say that one cannot
love God because one cannot
observe Him. Love of God is not
simply a philosophical issue: it is
rooted in the very nature of man.
The fact is that if you receive some
good things from anyone, you
cannot do other than acknowledge
his generosity. In this sense, love
of God is a natural phenomenon.
If you add a pinch of dye to a glass
of water, all of the water becomes
coloured. So, too, in the case of
love. When a person has love in his
heart for his Creator, at the same
time he cannot resist showing his
love to his neighbours.
Love has two dimensions:
theoretical and practical. In terms
of the theoretical dimension, love
means love of God and in terms
of the social; love means love of
all beings.
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
19
Sparing People Any Embarrassment
The Prophet (Pbuh) never spoke directly to anyone about what he disliked if what he
wanted to say could embarrass the person concerned. Examples abound showing that the
Prophet was very sensitive to other people’s feelings.
Commentary by
Adil Salahi
There
are
two
important
characteristics of the Prophet
(peace be upon him): His
generosity and his forbearance.
These are not limited to what
is material or physical. He was
generous at heart, willing to give
what he can, and overlook any
fault or offense.
In the period leading to the advent
of Islam, poetry was highly valued
by the Arabs, who were very
eloquent and expressive. Hence,
their poets were often of high
caliber. Many would sum up a
clear aspect of universal wisdom
in a beautiful line that is easy to
memorize. Such wise poetry was
often learned and quoted or sung
at every opportunity. One such
poet who lived shortly before
Islam was Labeed. Asma bint Abu
Bakr reports that her father once
quoted a line of Labeed’s poetry
which says: “I have a friend who,
whatever I ask he is certain to
grant, and whatever slip I make
he is sure to overlook.” Abu Bakr
then commented: “Such was God’s
Messenger (peace be upon him).”
This report is not a Hadith, since it
is a comment by Abu Bakr on a line
of poetry by Labeed. Hence we do
not find it in the main anthologies
of Hadith, but it is mentioned in
books that speak of the Prophet’s
character, manners and personal
attributes. Hence, it is included in
Al-Anwar by Al-Baghawi, which
is dedicated to highlighting the
Prophet’s personal character. What
is stressed here is the Prophet’s
willingness to overlook every
mistake, provided that it is not a
willful act of disobedience to God,
and his readiness to grant every
request. This is the attitude that
earns genuine love.
In his care for others, the Prophet
never spoke directly to anyone
about what he disliked if what he
wanted to say could embarrass
the person concerned. Examples
abound showing that the Prophet
was very sensitive to other
people’s feelings. Anas ibn Malik
reports: “The Prophet was visited
by a man who had used yellow
makeup. The Prophet never
confronted anyone with something
he disliked. Hence, when the man
left, the Prophet said to the people
present: ‘You may wish to advise
this man not to use such yellow
make up.’” (Related by Ahmad,
Abu Dawood, and Al-Tirmidhi).
It should be explained here that
yellow makeup was normally worn
by women. This means that the
man had used feminine makeup,
which is clearly discouraged by
Islam. His action is like that of
a man using mascara or lipstick
these days. What is recommended
for men is makeup that gives good
smell, but does not show, such as
perfumes. Women may wear at
home any makeup, but when they
go out, they are recommended
not to wear perfume, while they
are allowed visible makeup such
as kohl. Given such standards,
the Prophet felt that it would be
embarrassing to the man if he
pointed this out to him in front of
the people present. But the Prophet
needed to make it clear to all that
such practice is discouraged. Had
he not commented, his silence
would have been interpreted as
approval. Therefore, he made
his comment in the most gentle
manner,
clearly
indicating
disapproval and suggesting that
someone should tell the man
privately that he should not use
such makeup.
In another example, Aishah reports
that “a man sought admission to
see the Prophet. The Prophet said:
“Admit him. He is such a disliked
person.” When the man came in,
the Prophet spoke to him gently.
After he left, I said to the Prophet:
‘Messenger of God! You said
about the man whatever you said.
Nevertheless, you spoke gently to
him.’ He said: ‘Aishah! The worst
position is given on the Day of
Judgment to one whom others
leave alone in order to avoid his
abusive language.’” (Related
by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Malik,
Ahmad and others)
Needless to say, the Prophet did
not publicize his feelings about
the man. He was speaking only
to his wife. Nor did he speak ill
of him, other than to say that the
man did not command respect
even among his own people.
Nevertheless, Aishah wondered
how the Prophet could speak
gently to a man whom he knew to
be undeserving of such kindness.
Hence, her question. The Prophet
explained that people normally
avoid dealing with those who are
ill mannered. Such a person will
rue his conduct on the Day of
Judgment when he discovers that
it lands him in a bad position.
That the Prophet did not confront
people with what they disliked
is confirmed in several Hadiths.
Aishah reports: “If the Prophet
was informed that anyone said or
did something wrong, he would
not confront the man saying: ‘You
said this or that.’ Rather, he would
say: ‘Why is it that some people
say this or that.’” (Related by Abu
Dawood).
This Hadith tells us about a
practice the Prophet always
resorted to in order to spare
people embarrassment. He did
not even tell them privately
what was communicated to him,
because he did not wish to create
an atmosphere of apprehension
with people feeling that whatever
they did would be reported.
Therefore, he made his comments
as general as possible, saying that
some people might have done
this or that which Islam does not
approve. In this way, not only
the person concerned would
understand, but also anyone else
who might do something similar.
The advice was to all.
Another Hadith gives us an
example of how this worked out in
practice. Al-Nu’man ibn Basheer
says: “The Prophet used to make
the rows (in congregational
prayer) very straight, so as to look
like an arrow ready for release.
Once he saw a man with his chest
protruding. He said: ‘Servants of
God! Straighten your lines, or
else God will let disunity creep to
you.’” (Related in all six authentic
anthologies).
Although the action that needed
correction was done by one
person, the admonition was
general, and it was certain to
make everyone look at his own
position to ensure that the row
was straight at his own point.
Thus, no one would feel that the
criticism was directed at him, and
the result would remove the fault.
There can hardly be a better way
of correcting mistakes. n
Burnt Toast
“When I was a little Boy, I remember one day
in particular when she had made breakfast. She
must have been very tired. My mom placed a
plate of eggs, and rather burned toast in front
of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone
noticed. Yet all my dad did was reach for his
toast, smile at my mom, and ask me how was
I ready for school. I don’t remember what
I replied, but I do remember watching him
smear butter and jam on that toast and eat
every bite!
When I got up from the table, I remember
hearing my mom apologize to my dad for
burning the toast. And I’ll never forget what he
said: ‘, I love burned toast.’
Later that night, I asked dad if he really
liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his
arms and said, ‘Your Mamma works hard day
after day and she’s real tired. And besides
a little burnt toast never hurt anyone!’ You
know, life is full of imperfect things…..and
imperfect people. What I’ve learned over the
years is that learning to accept each other’s
faults – and choosing to celebrate each other’s
differences – is the one of the most important
keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting
relationship.
We should learn to take the good, the bad, and
the ugly parts of your life and hand them over
to Allah. Because in the end, He’s the only
One who will be able to give you a relationship
where burnt toast isn’t a deal-breaker! We
could extend this to any relationship in
fact – as understanding is the base of any
relationship, be it a husband-wife or parentchild or friendship!!
our dialogue By Adil Salahi
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
Quran and Appropriate Medication
Q: I believe that the Qur’an is most powerful and that it cures every kind of
illness. I do not know, however, the Surahs, which should be used for curing
illness. I wish to depend only on the Qur’an for the rest of my life. Could you
please explain which Surahs one should read in cases of illness?
A: Allah certainly describes the
Qur’an as a cure and mercy to
mankind. In another verse, the
Qur’an is described as a cure for
what lies in the hearts of people.
The Prophet (Pbuh) also speaks
of “The two cures: Honey and
the Qur’an.” Hence, it is perfectly correct to say that the
Qur’an helps overcome illness
and get rid of its effect. There
is no particular Surah, which is
required to be read to cure any
particular illness. However, the
Prophet says that Surah 36, entitled Ya’seen, helps achieve the
purpose for which it is read.
Having said that, I wish to emphasize that we must not view
the Qur’an as a substitute for
medical treatment. The Prophet instructs us: “Seek medical
treatment, for Allah has not cre-
ated an illness without creating a
cure for it.” This Hadith should
be taken as an encouragement
to try to discover a cure for any
illness, which remains without
a cure. Moreover, when the
Prophet was ill, he sought medical treatment. It is needless to
say that the Prophet knew the
Qur’an by heart and he recited
it all the time. Yet, he wished
to show us that trying to overcome an illness by a powerful
medicine or herb is necessary
to help the human body against
the attack of germs and viruses.
An illness may weaken the body
considerably and the defense
mechanism of the body may
be in certain cases in bad need
of external help in the shape of
drugs and medicines. It is not
acceptable, from the Islamic
point of view to deny the body
that, saying, that the Qur’an is
a better substitute. The Prophet
often emphasized that the rules
of nature which Allah has set in
operation work in the same way
for and against the believers and
non-believers.
Moreover, the Qur’an does not
have the same effect on illness
as the appropriate medication.
What it does is to reassure a believer and strengthen his faith.
That is very helpful in curing
any psy­chological disorder. On
the other hand, the sense of relaxation derived from reading
the Qur’an helps the body in its
fight against the attacking germs.
If this method is urged on by the
use of appropriate medication,
recovery can be achieved in a
short pe­riod of time. n
Ostentation in Religious Practices
Q: I am a regular reader of your column, although I am not a Muslim. I
recently came across a Hadith, mentioned by Al-Ghazali, which quotes
the Prophet, peace be upon him, as saying in his supplications: “We seek
refuge in God from the Chasm of Grief.” When asked about this Chasm of
Grief, the Prophet said: “It is a part of hell which God has prepared for the
ostentatious reciters of the Qur’an.” It appears that the Prophet himself
recognized that overzealous piety is also a sin. Please comment.
A: I am very grateful to you for the
kind words you have said about
this column. I only try to present
Islam as I learned it: a religion
revealed by God, Whose wisdom
and knowledge are limitless, and
Who wants this religion to shape
human life in a reasonable manner
to bring happiness to mankind.
Extremism is alien to the nature of
this religion, as it is indeed to all
divine messages.
What you have pointed out is
certainly correct. Ostentation
[display or bragging] is shunned
in all matters, but most of all in
religious practices. Moreover, we
are instructed not to judge people
by the appearances they put out. A
man spoke highly of a person he
knew in front of the Caliph Omar
ibn Al-Khattab. Omar questioned
him about how well he knew the
other person, asking if he was his
next door neighbor, or if he had
any financial transactions, or gone
on a trip with that man.
When he answered in the negative
to all three situations, Omar said,
“Then you might have seen him
in the mosque moving his head
up and down as he recited the
Qur’an?” This time the man
answered in the affirmative. Omar
told him: “You do not really know
him.”
In this case we have a testimonial
rejected by Omar, who was
endowed with an exceptional
insight into the Islamic faith,
simply because it was based on an
acquaintance in the mosque where
the person concerned was in the
habit of reciting the Qur’an.
It had no basis in actions and
practices that relate to dealings
with fellow human beings. The
Prophet, defines true faith as how
a believer deals with other people.
That is the true test of whether a
person is truly religious or not. It
is always easy to pray and fast, but
to observe a strict code of values
in day-to-day affairs, overcoming
the natural tendency to put one’s
own interest first, is not so easy.
Worship is meant to enhance one’s
consciousness of God so that one
always remembers that he or she
will inevitably face the reckoning
on the Day of Judgment when
God will ask him/her about his/her
actions. Only those actions, which
are undertaken purely to please
God, earn the highest reward.
Hence the Prophet encourages
us to keep voluntary worship
private. In Islam, the obligatory
20
Women Working for
Self-Fulfillment
Q: At the time of my marriage I made it clear
to my husband that I wish to be always in work.
He did not object. However, now he is saying
that I should not work because it is ‘un-Islamic’
for a Muslim woman to work except in cases of
financial difficulty. This has been a cause of friction in our family. Please advise.
A: If your husband had agreed
to your working at the time
of marriage, then he may not
withdraw
this
commitment
without a very good reason. To
claim that it is un-Islamic for a
woman to work is wrong. Some of
the Prophet’s women companions
had their own work, and he did not
object. A woman who was in her
waiting period after her husband
had died asked the Prophet
whether it was permissible for her
to supervise the work in her farm.
Some of her relatives objected to
her doing this. The Prophet told
her to attend to her work, adding:
“You may have a chance to give
something in charity or do some
other good.”
If a man is married to an educated
woman who has a good job, or to
a skilled woman who does some
skillful work, like dress making,
farming, or some handicraft, it
may be highly beneficial to the
family if she continues with her
work. Here the income is not
of paramount importance. The
fact that the woman enjoys selffulfillment as a result is very good
for a better family life.n
part of worship may be done in
public. Congregational prayers
are held in mosques for the
obligatory prayer, but voluntary
prayer is better done at home. If
you are fasting voluntarily, as all
of us are encouraged to do, it is
reprehensible to talk about your
fasting to others.
The most rewarding voluntary
prayer is the one done at night,
in the privacy of your own home,
when other people are asleep. In
such a situation, you appeal to
God feeling that you are so close
to him. The Prophet says: “The
best type of remembering God is
that done in secret.” As you may
be aware, we are all encouraged
to remember God all the time,
glorifying and praising Him, but
such remembrance produces the
best effect on us when no one sees
or feels we are doing it. If it is left
between a person and his Lord, it
is bound to improve his behavior.
It also earns the richest reward.
All this confirm the view you
have expressed that ostentation is
shunned. A moderate and sensible
approach to religion is the one
God wants of all of us. n
soul talk
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
21
Parent’s Day Out-Part 1
I usually travel around the country and ask parents, What do you do for your child? The most
common answers I receive are, “we pick and drop our children to school,” or mothers say we pack
their lunch boxes or revise their homework. Fair enough. This is something any project manager can
do as well! What is it that you are doing for your child as Parents?
By Dawood Vaid
All parents need a little advice
now and then. Unfortunately
the children do not come with
an operating manual. We begin
a series of articles on
parenting basics like
discipline, homework help,
and how to talk to your
child about tough subjects,
like pocket money, peer
pressure and friends.
Plus, we focus on
relationships
between
spouses and in families.
This article is all about
self - discovery. About
discovering the Parent in
Us.
I usually travel around the
country and ask parents, What do
you do for your child? The most
common answers I receive are,
“we pick and drop our children to
school,” or mothers say we pack
their lunch boxes or revise their
homework. Fair enough. But isn’t
this an administrative job. This is
something any project manager
can do as well. What is it that
you are doing for your child as
Parents?
Let us begin with one of the most
beautiful chapters on Parenting.
Surah Luqman, along with a brief
summary of this surah. It is a Makki
surah. What was happening in
Makkah? Were Muslims safe and
secure? Imagine a place where
it was criminal to be a Muslim,
Allah is sending down verses on a
father-son relationship.
This goes on to emphasize, how
important this topic is for Allah.
He wanted, despite the tortures
and hardships in Makkah, the
family to realize the importance
of supporting each other.
Another very interesting aspect is
- Allah speaks about a father.
Why a father and not a mother?
We compare the ratio of mothers
to father in almost all our
workshops and the findings are
similar - Mothers are always
more, eager to learn while father
is not even present!
Now let us find out, who is
Luqman?
Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib said to
him: “Do not be upset because
you are black, for among the
best of people were three who
were black: Bilal - the muezzin
of Rasulullah, Mahja` the freed
slave of `Umar bin Al-Khattab,
and Luqman the Wise, who was
a black Nubian with thick lips.’’
According to most of the
Mufaseers, Luqman was a black
Ethiopian slave. The Qur’an
does not even mention his colour
or ethnicity. In the eyes of Allah,
Taqwa is what matters. The
Messenger of Allah said: “Three
supplications will not be rejected
(by Allah), the supplication of
the father (parent) for his child,
the supplication of the one who
is fasting, and the supplication
of the traveller. [al-Bayhaqi, atTirmidhi - Sahih]
Fathers are essential to
a child’s growth. Be a
loving father in
your child’s life, not a
successful businessman!
Allah begins introducing
Luqman as: And indeed
We
bestowed
upon
Luqman
Al-Hikmah,
Give thanks to Allah.
What is Hiqma?
According
to
the
scholars, Hiqma is a
unique blessing that is
bestowed on people chosen by
Allah himself. The best tafseer
of the Qur’an is the Qur’an itself.
Let us look at an another verse
where Hiqma is mentioned.
In Surah Nahl Chapter 16 verse
125: “Call all to the way of your
Lord with Wisdom (Hiqma)”
Who is Allah talking about here?
It is about Prophet Ibrahim
Let us recall the story of Prophet
Ibrahim where he goes to meet
the king Nimrod. Ibrahim tells
Nimrod that Allah can give life
and death.
Nimrod calls two of the
prisoners who are serving life
imprisonment and sets one free
and hangs another. Nimrod
claims he can gives life and death
as well! What does Ibrahim do?
Does he get into this argument?
No, no, technically you are
wrong brother! Actually this is
not this way. Has not most of
our Dawah become like this.
Our arguments are based on
logic while here the best way
was wisdom.
Ibrahim says something so
simple yet so challenging.
“My Lord can make the sun rise
from the East. Can you make
it rise from the West”? End of
argument. Nimrod is stumped!
This is Hiqma
Parenting Lesson: Do not argue
with your children especially
the
teens.
Take
another
approach. You end up bitter after
argument.
How do we get this Hiqma?
The next ayah explains, Give
thanks to Allah. Such a beautiful
analogy, Allah is saying that the
first thing you should be doing
for becoming parents is thank
Allah. It is indeed such a big
blessing to be a Parent.
Ask those who are not blessed
with children or who lost their
child to an illness or accident,
and you would realize that just
by being blessed with a child is
a Nyemah (blessing) and even
if we spend all our life thanking
Allah in Sajdah, we would not
be able to thank Him enough!
(The writer can be reached at
dawood@burooj.org)
Parent & Child
There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our
children. One of these is roots, the other, wings. - Hodding Carter
Parents need to fill a child’s bucket of self-esteem so high that
the rest of the world can’t poke enough holes to drain it dry.Alvin Price
The more people have studied different methods of bringing up
children, the more they have come to the conclusion that what
good mothers and fathers instinctively feel like doing for their
babies is the best after all. - Benjamin Spock
globe talk
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
Wikipedia
22
The Free Encyclopedia has 23 million articles on its web-pages
written by 1.5 million people around the globe.
World population today stands at
seven billion. About half a billion
of them rely on Wikipedia—the
Free Encyclopedia for information,
which everyone can access for
free on the Internet. Currently,
it is the largest source of written
information on both the stock
subjects as well as developing
issues.
Wikipedia was launched 12 years
ago by Jimmy Donal Wales and
Larry Sanger on January 15,
2001.
The most distinctive feature of
Wikipedia is that anyone can
write for it and its content is open
to frequent editing and updating.
More than 1.5 million people
around the world have contributed
articles to Wikipedia’s which has
currently 23 million articles. Any
estimate about the articles can
only be subject to a precise time on
the clock because by the time you
will finish this piece in Islamic
Voice 40 new articles might enter
the Wikipedia. Nearly, 12,000
entries are created every day.
Authors could be anyone, from
any corner of the world, including
you. Its contributors have ranged
from a seven-year boy to a 73year old professor. But the core
community of contributors are
estimated to be 12,000 people who
are mainly techno-savvy, largely
male (9 out of 10 contributors
being so), intellectually confident,
argumentative,
and
thickskinned.
Founder Wales is a US citizen born
in Huntsville, Alabama where he
attended Randolph
School and later
took a bachelor’s
and master’s degree
in finance. In the
beginning it was
called Nupedia but
later took the name
Wikipedia. It has
become the most
popular encyclopedia and this
led to Timemagazine listing him
among the world’s 100 most
influential people in 2006. The
Wikipedia is owned and run by
Wikimedia Foundation, a noprofit company.
Since the content is sourced from
anywhere, one could question the
credibility of such a work which
does not undergo the rigours of
editing which makes the content
credible and accurate. Even
Wikipedia does not claim accuracy
and credibility for all that it has to
offer. If the content of a particular
article looks less than credible,
partisan, biased or even slightly
inaccurate, the website page
would tell the same with a small
logo of an unbalanced scale.
Since truth cannot be established
on
a
long-running
issue,
theWikipedia takes the risk of
publishing all that is available
on an issue at a particular point
of time and allowing readers to
criticize or challenge its contents.
If editing is required, it will
be carried out later. This is bit
ticklish as long running feuds,
unestablished scientific theories,
historical facts and shifting
borders between nations urge
changes in the content. Balance
and non-partisanship too is
difficult to maintain in issues such
as Palestine-Israel conflict where
one’s views are heavily influenced
by his location across dividing
lines of religion, ethnicity,
geography and fear of being
prosecuted (such as anti-Israeli
content being banned by law in the
US). Today, the article on ArabIsrael dispute is 10,000-word long
and has undergone editing 5,000
times by 1,800 persons of nearly
a dozen countries.
Wikipedia is now referred to as a
public utility with everyone, free
to access it and benefit from the
content.
(Source: Compiled from material
collected from various sources
including article on its founder
from Wikipedia itself.) n
EMPOWERING THE MUSLIM MIND
Grow Good Thoughts
In order to grow beneficial thoughts, cultivate the fertile
mind, weed out prejudice and hate, uproot wild plants of self-importance.
By Aqeel A. Ansari
Recall our twofold challenge: rein
in and train the horse and empower
the rider.
The natural capacity of body
exists to make natural response
instinctively in order to protect the
body, whereas the mental capacity
exists to think and feel in order to
respond to challenges of life. But
mind cannot respond naturally
as body does. You need a way to
translate the mental response into
a natural response for body to act.
We however must distinguish the
natural response prompted by
mind from the instinctive response
prompted by brain. Again, our
challenge is twofold:
· How to translate
mental
response into natural response for
body to act, and
· Define the nature of natural
response prompted by mind to
distinguish it from instinctive
response prompted by brain
Your self-image, attitude and
personality form a composite
mental expression of YOU.
Recall? You build character to
translate personality traits into
natural response for body to
act. How? You train the body
to learn and practise the traits
of your personality. Scientific
evidence suggests that the body’s
immune system listens and reacts
to what you think. The link to
the slideshow explains how the
immune system eavesdrops on
private conversation with your
mind. http://tommyswindow.com/
en/english.html?start=50
Scroll down to the slideshow,
As He Thinks In His Heart.
The practice of traits results in
gradual formation of habits. This
is how mental response habitually
translates into natural response
for body to act. The natural
response may include your facial
expression, gesture, manner,
behavior, speech or action. Notice
the nature of this response. It is
habitual and not instinctive.
Recall the ancient wisdom, “You
are what you think.” And what
you think are thoughts. Like the
body has the natural tendency to
invent desires, the mind has the
mental tendency to reason with
knowledge and create thoughts.
Thoughts are powerful because
they can resolve what you expect
from life or how you view success.
Your thoughts, for example,
may strengthen you to discover
opportunity in difficulty or may
weaken you to see difficulty in
opportunity. Great thoughts are
great ideas and great ideas can and
do change the course of history,
let alone the life of an individual.
The mind is never idle; it always
thinks thoughts. Hasn’t the
thought of being alone in a crowd
ever occur to you? Your character
embodies thoughts of your selfimage, attitude and personality.
In other words, character
displays personality naturally, but
habitually and not instinctively.
It is reasonable to argue that
you should think thoughts that
empower you. How and what you
think can open closed doors and
locate buried treasures.
How do you think? Of course,
you reason with knowledge to
guard against biased thinking.
What do you think? Of course,
you think thoughts but the idea
is to avoid injurious thoughts
and expand instead the capacity
to think beneficial thoughts
because you want to benefit self
and others. Train your mind to
think beneficial thoughts of hope,
dignity and love, and to shun
injurious thoughts of despair,
prejudice and hate. Beneficial
thoughts are good thoughts.
Hence my slogan: Grow Good
Thoughts!
In order to grow beneficial
thoughts cultivate the fertile
mind; weed out prejudice and
hate; uproot wild plants of selfimportance, selfishness, greed and
arrogance; plant seeds of what
are good and true. This is how
inclusive satisfying self-image,
inclusive attitude and pleasant
personality blossom into friendly
character. You do not build
character overnight. You think
thoughts as long as you live. Once
you take charge of life, you view
every life experience as a learning
experience. Be a student of the
Qur’an and grow good thoughts.
It will inspire you with pristine
optimism and new zeal you need
to take charge of life. You begin
to view obstacles as challenges,
understand the realities of life,
strive wholeheartedly without
flinching and experience ease
in your journey through a life of
satisfaction.
Never trade your character for
anything. Your character embodies
your personality, it goes with you
wherever you go.
(The writer is based in Texas, USA
and can be reached at ansari@
austin.rr.com)
undue stress on the external form
of the government and not on the
inner soul of it where the delivery
of justice and good governance
matters. In the past, there existed
a few monarchs whose reign
was more democratic than some
of the best democracies of the
modern world.
It is very unfortunate that none
of the
Muslim dominated
governments scored a 1 in the
survey. The United States of
America, the United Kingdom,
Germany,
France,
Ireland,
Norway,
New
Zealand,
Netherlands etc have got 1
both in political rights and civil
liberties. They are all Christian
countries with a sizeable minority
population of Muslims and
followers of other religions. n
(newageislam.com.)
Page 1
Limited Freedom ...
establishment of a democracy
governed by the Shariah. And
then persecution of minorities
starts because of the wrong
interpretations of Islam by the
narrow-minded scholars who
are ignorant of the essence of the
teachings of Islam.
Muslims the world over, lay
Aqeel A. Ansari
follow-ups
Page 26
Food is Wasted ...
depending on how food is produced
and the validity of forecasts for
demographic trends, the demand
for water in food production could
reach 10–13 trillion cubic metre
annually by mid-century. This is 2.5
to 3.5 times greater than the total
human use of fresh water today.
Agriculture currently consumes
approximately 1% of total global
energy consumption.
In the case of water for example,
about 550 billion cubic metre
of water is wasted globally in
growing crops that never reach the
consumer
Cosmetic reasons &
Cautious labels
Of the quantity that does reach the
supermarket shelves, 30–50% is
thrown away by the final purchaser
in the home often at the direction
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
of conservative ‘use by’ labelling.
Labelling of many foods can actually
encourage waste. Many consumers
have a poor understanding of ’best
before’ and ‘use by’ dates, and
these dates are generally quite
conservative, as they are driven by
the retailer’s desire to avoid legal
action. Promotional offers and highpressure advertising campaigns,
including bulk discounts and ‘buy
one get one free’ offers, encourage
shoppers tobuy large quantities in
excess of their actual needs, which
leads to substantial food wastage in
the home. In the UK, for example,
about seven million tons (worth
about £10.2 billion) of food is
thrown away from homes every
year.
(Source: This is a summary of the
report by global NGO, Institution
of Mechanical Engineers and
could be downloaded by clicking:
MechE+Global+Food+Report-1.
pdf-Adobe Reader)
Islamic Voice English Monthly
WANTED
Agents throughout Bangalore on Salary plus
Commission basis:
Contact: Akbar, Manager, Islamic Voice
Think About It
How many trees are cut down to make one
piece of paper?
It would take a rough average
of 24 trees to produce a ton of
printing and writing paper. We
can estimate that it takes about
12 trees to make a ton of ground
wood and newsprint.
1 ton of uncoated virgin (nonrecycled) printing and office
paper uses 24 trees
1 ton of 100% virgin (nonrecycled) newsprint uses 12 trees
A “pallet” of copier paper (20-lb.
sheet weight, or 20#) contains
40 cartons and weighs 1 ton.
Therefore,
1 carton (10 reams) of 100%
virgin copier paper uses .6 trees
1 tree makes 16.67 reams of copy
paper or 8,333.3 sheets
1 ream (500 sheets) uses 6% of a
tree (and those add up quickly!)
1 ton of coated, higher-end
virgin magazine paper (used
for magazines like National
Geographic and many others)
uses a little more than 15 trees
(15.36)
1 ton of coated, lower-end
virgin magazine paper (used
for newsmagazines and most
catalogs) uses nearly 8 trees
(7.68)
23 trees needed for making a ton
of paper
Attention
Subscribers of Islamic Voice are requested to update their
addresses and phone numbers whenever they change their
locations or residence. The postal department returns a
large number of undelivered copies marked “ Addressee
not found” or “ Left the place,” every month. Please convey to us your new address and phone numbers by SMS,
email or a phone call.
Akbar
Manager, Islamic Voice
Landline: 080-41126165, 9880191134
Email: islamicvoiceadmin@gmail.com
Landline: 080-41126165, 9880191134, Email: islamicvoiceadmin@gmail.com
Ph.: 080- 41126165
23
MATRIMONIALS
WANTED GROOM
BANGALORE - SM Tamil
speaking parents invite alliance for
their Daughter from Urdu & Tamil
Speaking muslims. Fair & slim, 26
years, 5’-4”, B’com (MBA) working
in MNC Bangalore. Groom should
be good looking well settled working
professional hailing from decent
family. Email bio data: allahgreat12@
gmail.com. Contact: 9900700944/974
0282982/9611099344
CHENNAI: SMU parent from
respectable, affluent, well-educated,
business family seeks alliance for fair,
well-mannered, beautiful daughter, 26
yrs/mbbs, PGDFM, prep. For USMLE.
Groom must be working/settled in
usa. Pref. Doctor from well-educated
& decent family background. CHN/
BLR/HYD based. Reply with photo &
bio-data: abidazb@gmail.com.
SM parents seek alliance for their
fair, good looking, B.E. Computer,
working in MNC in Bangalore 5’4”
hijabi and namazi daughter from B.E..
MS or well settled software Engineer
boy from decent and educated family
contact: 9886315426 sehbafatima@
yahoo.com
S.M parents invite suitable alliance
for their daughter 26 yrs, 5’.5”, B.D.S
(Dental Surgeon) fair, Slim, polite,
convent educated. Groom should be
Engineer/Doctor/P.G Professionals,
Preferably working at Bangalore. Age
between 28-30 yrs, Good-looking,
from respectable and educated family
is required. Send resume and Photo
to E-mail ID: adaz8286@gmail.com.
Contact No : 8123977626
SM Mother seek alliance for her
daughter, 26 years,5’-1”, working in
MNC. The groom should be well settled
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
hailing from Bangalore with Religious
background. Contact: syedshobie@
gmail.com, 9901047838
BANGALORE based Sunni
Syed muslim parents seek alliance
for their daughter, 25 years, BSc,
B.Ed, M.B.A, 5’-6”, Fair, Beautiful,
charming, religious, belonging to a
respectable cultured family. Groom
should be Syed, good looking,
smart working professionals, Govt.
employed, Doctors, Bankers, Public
sector enterprise Businessman with
MBA (finance), well settled around
30 years with clean habits, good
character, Namazi from a respectable
educated family. Insha allah
immediate marriage. Agents please
excuse. Those who are genuinely
interested with no demands, Email
biodata with recent full size photo to
inshu_97@yahoo.com. Contact: 900
8720132/9845439937/9739624006
SM Ahle sunnah waljama
religious,
professional
groom,
married, divorce having one baby girl
age 3 years. My daughter MBA, age
25 years looking fair, 5’-1”. Contact :
9945416696
Sunni Muslim parents seek
alliance for daughter, 23 years, 5’-2”,
B’com, religious and good looking.
Email: shariquayezdani@yahoo.in.
Contact : 9741912792
Well settled Syed family
invites alliance for their daughter, fair,
22 years, 5’-3”, BDS final year from
well educated B.E/MBA, Abroad/
Bangalore. Contact: Syed MD Nasir:
9845098602/9902400120,
email:
sasco3701@yahoo.co.in,
early
marriage possible.
Sunni Muslim parent (an
educated, cultured & religious
family) originally from Hyderabad
heritage
seek alliance for their daughter age
27, 5’-3”, fair, homely, religious, BE
graduate working in MNC firm in
Bangalore, from a boy who is religious
well educated (professional/graduate/
post graduate) well settled in India/
Abroad belonging to a good cultured
family. Contact: ajaz.khan02@gmail.
com. phone: 9591400944 (Aijaz)
Affluent family smart haseen
jamil Doshiza gori, slim, B.Sc (CS)
attractive face 23 years, 5’-4” alliance
from gracious family employed boy,
MBA, MCA, Graduate, Excuse Email/
Agent: 9019354702
Bangalore SM parents seek
alliance for daughter BSc/MBA,
very fair, 25 years, from respectable
well educated family. Groom should
be BE and/or MS/MBA working in
USA/UK aspiring to settle there.
Contact: 080-40915219/9916570786
Email:reachus.m@gmail.com.
Sunni
Muslim
(Cutchi
Memon) Parents seek alliance for
their daughter B.Arch 24 years 5’.5”
Good looking, from a respectable
and educated family. Groom should
belong to a Good Sunni Muslim
family, a professional and well
settled. Preference will be given to
those working / settled in Bangalore
- India / USA / UK / Australia. E-mail
Biodata to: rafiq737@gmail.com,
+91-9886791119.
SMU parents invite alliance for their
daughter 28 years, 5’-4”, B.E/M.B.A
working in MNC Bangalore issueless
divorcee obtained qula seeking well
qualified boy below 35 years from
respectable family. Proposals from
India/Abroad, send Biodata/photo to
s.sub2509@gmail.com or contact:
8050009241/00971556503640
WANTED BRIDE
(Sunni, Shiekh) looking for
marriage i am 28 year old boy
height 5.5 working pvt wakf office
as accountant qualification B.com
own house good income well
stalled contact mujahid pasha no
9060330785, email pmujahid@
in.com.
SMU parents seek alliance for their
son, 31years, 5.8”, DAE, BBA working
in Dubai, UAE at reputed organization.
Bride should be religious, educated
from respected family. Contact: 99 01
635642, naveedmeet@gmail.com.
BANGALORE: SM mother from a
respectable family seek alliance
for her only son (Syed), 29 years,
5’-7”, undergraduate, working as
a Consultant in a reputed MNC in
Bangalore. Girl should be good
looking educated and religious from
a decent family. No demands, early
marriage. Contact: 9986607907,
email: syedsalman84@gmail.com.
SM Mother seek suitable alliance
for their Son, 27 years, 5’-7”, B’com
working as a System Analyst at
Accenture in Bangalore. Seeks
fair age upto 24 years, religious,
respectable family settled in
Bangalore. Please send your details
to ksharieff@gmail.com or contact:
9886285934
Bangalore: SM parents seek alliance
for their Son age 35 years, 5’-9”, BSc
computer science back from UAE
to settle down working in reputed
company in Bangalore, also pursuing
MBA course, Bride should be good
looking from religious educated
decent families aged 25-30 years,
5’-4” to 5’-6” minimum qualification
BE/MBA/Graduates, send biodata/
photo to email: ahmedfamly@yahoo.
com, TEL: 9845089266/9880292862
24
Bangalore: SM parents well settled,
seek alliance for their son 27 years,
5’-10”, BE (CS) working in reputed
MNC, From a girl well educated,
beautiful, slim with BE (CS) (E&C)/
(IT) working in Bangalore . photo
& biodata must Contact: email:
altimailfska@yahoo.com.
Sunni muslim seek alliance for brotherin-law 42 years old (unmarried),
D.Pharma, runs a pharmacy, 5’-5,
looking for religious unmarried girl.
Email: tmdirfan@yahoo.com, phone:
9008718722
Bangalore: SM Parents (well settled)
seek alliance for their Son, 30 years,
5’-9”
(own business) require
cultured Namazi girl well educated,
photo & biodata must Contact: Email:
alam3112@gmail.com, 8123451194/
9742576205
SM Sheik parents (Bangalore ) looking
for a bride for their son fair,handsome
and religious, 5’11”, 28years, MBA,
having its own business. Girl should
be religious, fair, beautiful, slim, non
working from a religious and decent
family CONTACT : 080 - 23519056/
9886723350. Email: basidneo@
gmail.com.
SM Family from chennai. Age 29, 5.5,
BBA, Working in MNC, Good salary,
Looking for Fair, Pious, educated
girl from in and around chennai.
ct:9003183825,rafileader@gmail.
com.
S.M parents invite alliance for their
son aged 29 yrs BE working in
MNC Bangalore issueless divorcee
.Girl should be from a respectable
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good looking and nonworking from
Bangalore .Early marriage. Contact
9945211226 /08023655776 and
Email: umair.thriller@gmail.com
Gulbarga Monuments
Fort is now a Trash Bin of Rubble
While Conservation efforts have failed to protect the Jamia Masjid, the
moat around the Fort is being used as a trash bin of city’s rubble.
By Azmathulla Shariff
It is a case of one arm of
the
government
conserving
monuments, while another bent
upon reducing them to the trash
bin of city’s rubble.
It may be recalled that the
Archeological Survey of India
undertook major conservation
work to save the monuments of
Gulbarga in August 2003. As part
of the conservation work, major
restoration was undertaken on
Haft Gumbad at Sangtrashwadi,
Shahi Jamia Masjid within the
Fort (qila) and the boundary walls
of the Fort.
The ASI carried out the work in
close collaboration with the then
district administration. It removed
tones of garbage, rubble and
illegal encroachments and gave a
massive facelift to the monument.
The then deputy commissioner
of Gulbarga Anjum Parvez stood
by the Archaeological Survey of
India as a strong pillar of support.
The local Superintendent of
Police too chipped in booked the
trouble-mongers.
But it seems the current
administration is bent upon
undoing all the good work.
Rubble is being dumped in the
moat surrounding the Fort. It is
feared that if the moat get filled
up by the rubble being brought
from the city by truck-loads, the
land sharks will not be behind
and the entire area may be game
for squatters, encroachers and no
one knows, even by politicians.
The ASI and the then District
Administration had planned to
clean the moat and fill it with
water and make arrangement for
boat-ride for visitors.
The locals and the ASI official
complain that the moat is being
dumped with debris at the behest
of local councilors, MLA and
goons who enjoy the support of
the local politicians. Whenever
the ASI staff protest against the
dumping of rubble in the moat,
the local MLA and councilors
bring political pressure to counter
the resistance. This is has been
going on for years around the
Qila, which is a protected national
monument. But who cares? The
district administration then had
planned to shift the encroachers
by relocating them elsewhere
under the Ashraya Housing
Scheme. But all this is story of
bygone era. There seems to be
no coordination with the district
administration at any level in the
protection of the national heritage
in Gulbarga.
Though the plans to turn the Qila
into a tourist spot were grand, it
turns out now that the restoration
work done a decade ago in the
Page 25
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ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
Green Valley National School & Pre-University College
25
Towards Creating Global Citizens
Registration for Admissions at the Green Valley National School and Pre University
College at Shiroor in Udupi district, a prestigious residential educational institution
of Karnataka, for the academic year 2013-14 has commenced on February 1.
As the name suggests, GVNS is
situated on a 10 acre campus in
a picturesque lush green land
on National Highway 66, just 3
km from Byndoor, 14 km from
Bhatkal railway station and 125
km from Mangalore Airport.
The motto of the School is not only
scoring high marks, but scoring
high marks with students’ overall
personality development. The
school follows ICSE syllabus from
LKG to 10th standard and state
curriculum in PUC. The institution
offers an education programme
that surpasses the expectations
of students and parents in terms
of quality. Spacious class rooms,
ultra modern laboratories, and vast
indoor and outdoor play grounds,
Audio Visual room, Smart class
and Art rooms are part of the
campus. Varieties of sports and
gymnastic equipment are also
available.
The school has a team of well
qualified
and
experienced
class English teaching programme
led by Wilhelmina Mathew, Chief
Coordinator of the institution and
Head of English Department.
Equal importance is given to
extra-curricular activities and
non-vegetarian food. There are
experienced caretakers to take care
of children’s health. Teachers take
care and guide them as mentors
round the clock .Students will
have access to telephone to talk to
teachers and is run under the
able guidance of Principal John
Mathew who has served in a
number of prestigious educational
institutions in India and abroad as
Principal. The School offers world
CET coaching is also provided.
Hostels
Separate hostel facility for girls
and boys of 5th and above classes
is provided , with clean, delicious
and nutritious vegetarian and
parents on scheduled day and time.
Courses offered in PUC
PCMB and PCMC in Science
stream and EBAC in Commerce
stream.
What makes GVNS stand out?
Good results every year.100
percent results in ICSE 10th
standard in the last five years in
a row.100 percent results in PUC
since last two years. Students of
the school were featured on the
list of high performers.
For more details contact: The
Principal, Green Valley National
School and Pre University College,
NH 66, Shiroor, Kundapurtaluk,
Udupi district, Karnataka. Phone:
08254-253999, 273333, 255633,
Email:
gvnsindia@gmail.com.
Website: www.gvnschool.net
Admission Procedure: Through
an entrance test for classes from
1 to 9.
Admission for PUC on the basis
of 10thstd marks and an oral
interview. n
mistakes are not repeated.
The chunks of eroded plasters
and cracks in walls and domes of
the Jamia Masjid bear tell-tale
evidence of shoddy work done
earlier. It is said that the construction
work of the mosque was begun by
Sultan Hasan Gangu Bahmani.
His successors, Mohammed Shah
Bahmani and Feroz Shah Bahmani
took it to completion. It has some
unique features. The mosque does
not require fans or a public address
system. The voice of the prayer
leader is clearly audible in every
corner which puzzles every visitor.
The mosque has 240 arches and
series of domes, both circular and
rectangular. It is said that the chief
architect, Mohammed Mahmood
Rafee wanted this mosque to be
a replica of Grand Mosque in
Cordova and invited expertise from
Iran and Turkey. The wall depict
150 floral designs, each different
from the other.
Incidentally, the muezzin, Mohd
Shafeeq Chaoos who is also the
caretaker of the mosque for the last
20 years gets a paltry salary of Rs.
650 a month from the Karnataka
State Board of Wakfs and the Imam
receives Rs. 850. n
Page 24
Fort is now a Trash Bin ...
Shahi Jamia Masjid was of inferior
quality. The plaster has peeled off
from vast chunks of the edifice. Md.
Shafi, a mason currently working
on the restoration of the 700-year
Zanana (women’s) Masjid, says:
“the work executed with mortar
within and outside the Shahi Jamia
Masjid had no strength and has
consequently eroded under rains or
impact of sun within five years.”
However, it is pointed out that the
current conservation in the Zanana
Masjid, lying closer to the Shahi
Jamia Masjid, is being carried out
by the ASI with expert masons
requisitioned from Jabalpur.
It
is being done with the traditional
plaster, mortar and stone work.
Pramod Singh, a mason from
Majholi, says, “While undertaking
restoration tasks, expertise should
be employed and no compromise
should be made in the quality of
the material.” Another official feels
that the earlier mistakes which
have caused extensive damage to
the monument cannot be ignored.
The department is making use of
the black stone obtained from a
quarry situated near Herur dam.
The quarry is supplying desired
size stones from the blast as per
requirement. It is time that such
global affAIRS
26
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
12.2 Billion ton Food is Wasted Annually
Globally 30 to 50 per cent of total food produced around the world is wasted.
It is estimated that 12.2 billion
tons of the total food produced on
the Planet Earth, i.e., 30 to 50 per
cent, is wasted before reaching the
human stomach. It is revealed in a
report titled Global Food: Waste
Not, Want Not compiled by Dr.
Tim Fox and Dr. Ceng Fimeche of
Institution of Mechanical Engineer
or IMechE, a global NGO. The
world population will be reaching
9.5 billion by 2050 and if all these
mouths have to be fed, sustainable
practices will have to be promoted
to save the food. Today the world
produces four billion metric tons
of food annually.
Overall between 30% and 50% of
what has been bought in developed
countries is thrown away by the
purchaser. For example, up to
30% of the UK’s vegetable crop is
never harvested as a result of such
practices.
21 million tons in India
In India 21 million tons of wheat is
wasted each year due to inadequate
storage and distribution systems.
In neighbouring Pakistan, losses
amount to about 16% of production,
or 3.2 million tons annually.
In China, a country experiencing
rapid development, the figure
is about 45% whereas in lessdeveloped Vietnam, rice losses
between the field and the table can
amount to 80% of production.
Overall the wastage rates in fruits
and vegetables are considerably
higher than for grains. In the
UK, a recently published study
has shown that 46% of potatoes
grown is not delivered to the retail
market. (6% lost in the field +12%
discarded on initial sorting+5%
lost in store+1% lost in poststorage inspection+22% lost due
to rejection after washing). A
similar survey in India showed
that at least 40% of all its fruit and
vegetables is lost between grower
and consumer due to lack of
refrigerated transport, poor roads,
inclement weather and corruption.
Controlling and reducing the level
of wastage is frequently beyond the
capability of the individual farmer,
distributor or consumer, since it
depends on market philosophies,
security of power supply, quality
of roads and the presence or
absence of transport hubs.
As nations become more affluent
in the coming decades through
development, per capita calorie
intake from meat consumption is set
to rise 40% by mid-century. These
products require significantly
more resource to produce. As a
global society therefore, tackling
food waste will help contribute
towards addressing a number of
key resource issues.
Over the last five decades, the
farm lands have increased by 12%
globally. However, with global
food production already utilizing
about 4.9 Giga hectares (Gha) of
the 10Gha usable land surface
available, a further increase in
farming area without impacting
unfavourably on what remains of
the world’s natural ecosystems
appears unlikely. The challenge is
that an increase in animal-based
production will require greater
land and resource requirement,
as livestock farming demands
extensive land use. One hectare of
land can, for example, produce rice
or potatoes for 19–22 people per
annum. The same area will produce
enough lamb or beef for only one or
two people. Considerable tensions
are likely to emerge, as the need
for food competes with demands
for ecosystem preservation and
biomass production as a renewable
energy source.
Water Usage
Over the past century, fresh water
abstraction for human use has
increased at more than double
the rate of population growth.
Currently, about 3.8 trillion
cubic metre of water is used by
humans per annum. About 70%
of this is consumed by the global
agriculture sector, and the level
of use will continue to rise over
the coming decades. Indeed,
Page 23
GHOUSE TOURS & TRAVELS
Hajj, Umrah & Ziarath
Recognized by Government of India, Recognized by Government of Saudi Arabia
HO: 3/1, 1st Floor, Opp. Gundu Rao House (Ex CM)
Rahmath Nagar, R.T. Nagar Post, Bangalore, India
E-mail: hmdghousebly@gmail.com
IATA
BO: VI Ward, Bandimote, Bangalore Road,
Opp. Masjid, Bellary - 583 101, Karnataka, India.
Ph: India Code: 0091 STD: 08392 Off: 250526, 250531, (R) 244606
Al-Haj Mohammed Ghouse, Prop. Cell: 98440-50531 (0) 080-23530531
advertisement
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
27
LIFE & RELATIONSHIPS
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
28
Lessons on Kindness in Kadapa
The two-day Discover Yourself Workshop was held on 19th and 20thJanuary 2013, at Hazrath Ayesha (RA) Model High
School for girls at Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh.
It would be desirable if Mr.Khan starts a training institution to impart his techniques to hundreds of Muslim youth (who
could in turn become good coaches in due course) to transform the Muslim community to a path of righteousness
By Syed Sultan Mohiddin
Located in the midst of a cluster
of slums, the school is a beacon
of hope to hundreds of Muslim
girls in Kadapa. A majority of
the students are from the lowermiddle income group.
With
English as the medium of
instruction, this institution is
imparting modern education with
a mix of Islamic studies since the
year 1993. The story behind the
founding of the school is nothing
short of a fairy tale. It is a unique
example as to how an adversity
was brilliantly converted into
an opportunity. Soon after the
demolition of Babri Masjid on
December 6, 1992, there was
a trivial communal tension in
Kadapa, which resulted in police
firing. About a dozen Muslims
received bullet injuries. Some
philanthropists raised money to
help the victims. It so happened
that a small amount was left
unutilized after meeting the
medical needs of the injured. The
community leaders handed over
the money (about Rs.30,000/-) to
a group of educated Muslim youth
and asked them to spend it as they
thought it fit. The youth formed
into an NGO and started a small
NOORJAHAN: Before attending the
workshop, I was in darkness. Now
I understand the purpose of life and
know the ability to practice patience.
It is the best gift Allah has given
me till date. I always heard Islam
is a way of life, but did not exactly
know how. The workshop made me
understand Islam better. It helped me
to improve the quality of my life.
TASLEEMA KHANUM: I have
school under a temporary roof
with only 30 students of LKG.
Thanks to the sheer commitment
and enduring dedication of the
Muslim NGO for two decades,
as one can see now, the school
has transformed into a massive
building located in one acre of
prime land. Of the 750 students
(all girls) on roll, as many as 200
students would get free education
as per the guiding principles of
the school.
Sadathullah Khan took the pains
to travel from Bangalore to
Kadapa in his car, driving himself
. It was about 10 pm in the night
when he arrived. The fatigue
of 6 hours of non-stop journey
notwithstanding, the first thing
Mr Khan insisted was to have a
look of the venue. “Let me see
the arrangements now itself, as we
must begin the workshop on time
tomorrow morning”, he said. He
delayed his supper to for over an
hour, till he was himself satisfied
that everything is in place.
The next two days, every moment
of the workshop was filled with
joy and ecstasy for over 150 girls
of Hazrath Ayesha (RA) Model
High school who are studying
in 8th, 9thand 10th classes. The
mesmerizing effects of the coach’s
learnt from this workshop, how to
overcome wrong thoughts and how
to behave with my mother, friends,
relatives, teachers, elders and others.
I learnt the simple technique to
control anger. I have also overcome
stage fear from this workshop.
AYESHA PARVEEN: I always
feared to talk with my father freely.
But after I attended this workshop,
I talked with my father freely for
techniques should be
seen to be believed.
One could see the
unbelievable
change at the
beginning
of
the second day session.
The students who were hitherto
shy and mediocre and those who
never dared to speak were seen
grabbing the mike to express their
views before a large audience, as
how they felt lighthearted when
they “interviewed” their fathers,
mothers, brothers, sisters and
their relatives.
The techniques adapted by
Sadathullah Khan to teach the
students are matchless. It is
most unfortunate that Muslim
masses often view Islam through
the prism of Namaz, Roza, Haj
and Zakat only, and fail to look
beyond these “fundamental”
tenets. The precepts like loving
fellow human beings, forgiveness,
controlling anger, frustration etc.,
are very much embedded in the
Quran and Sunnah. By putting
modern technology into use and
by presenting Islamic tenets
with a tinge of modernity in an
easily understandable manner, at
the grass root level, Mr. Khan is
doing remarkable service.
about 2 hours. I felt very happy
when I talked with my father. I had
stage fear also. But the stage fear
has gone.
ALIYA MUBEEN: I have attended
the Discover Yourself workshop. It
was so excellent. This is the best
way to create awareness about Islam.
Before the workshop, I was just a
Muslim. After attending it, I became
a true Muslim.
Changing for the Better in Kuwait
Participants share their experiences after attending the Discover Yourself
Workshop held in Kuwait on 20, 21 and 22 December, 2012
IT: A must to anyone who wants to
change for the better. This is my
fifth Discover yourself workshop
and every time I attend it, I discover
myself from different perspectives
to take up challenges and move
forward to make a difference to me,
others and my family.
MP: My life was in darkness of
self deception, ego, questions and
doubts. Now after attending the
workshop “I” am in submission,
feel so much at peace and relief
from all the pain, worries, and
sorrows.
TI: The most important thing that
has impressed me is to accept
your mistakes, instead of blaming
others and criticizing. I want to
say that anyone and everyone who
has the time and money to attend
this workshop must not miss such
an opportunity, because this is not
something to just know about it,
but it is about bringing your own
knowledge into actions.
SN: The workshop was energetic
and awesome. It was full of
enjoyment and a source of
knowledge. I specially appreciate
your explanation of ego, chatter
box, submission, denial and
forgiveness.
UK: My life was full of ups and
downs and now because of the
workshop, I can see clearly the
right path. Now I know which path
I have to follow. From now on, I
will treat my family members with
ABIDUNNISA:
This workshop
changed my whole life. I knew
my responsibilities and got the
confidence and courage to face the
obstacles. Nothing is impossible in
our life. I also learnt that by helping
poor people, how much peace,
satisfaction we get in our life.
TABASSUM:
The
workshop
inspired me a lot. It made me
realize the reason for anger and
how to disconnect with Satan. Such
workshops must be conducted in
all the institutions to inspire the
students to do good things.
MUBASHIRA: Before attending
the workshop, I was depressed.
Now, I came to know that my present
moment holds the key to liberation.
Now I have started my new life in
a peaceful manner. I learnt that my
past and future are not that important.
I have to find the present moment in
life.
FATHIMA: Before the workshop,
I used to be angry with my sister
and brother. After attending the
workshop, I have taken control of
my temper, anger and became Allahconscious. My relationship with my
relatives improved with lots of love,
peace and good understanding.
TAHASEEN: After attending the
workshop, I came to know that there
is negativity inside me. I have learnt
how to control my ego, fear and
anger. It is a golden opportunity to
have attended this workshop and no
one should miss this.
NIDA ZAREEN: I was very angry
with my mother before I attended the
workshop because of some reasons.
I felt that I had done wrong with my
mother. After this workshop, I went
and said sorry to my mother
DISCOVER YOURSELF
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE – FEB - MARCH 2013
WORKSHOP IN JEDDAH
DATES 14,15 & 16 FEBRUARY 13
Contact for details: Abdul Lateef:
Email: alparappurath@gmail.com
SOUTH AFRICA MARCH - 2013
1. DATES: 01,02 &03 MARCH 2013 - STANGER
2. DATES: 08,09 &10 MARCH 2013 - DURBAN
3. DATES: 15,16 &17 MARCH 2013 - JOBURG
4. DATES: 22,23 &24 MARCH 2013 PRETORIA
FOR DETAILS AND INFORMATION CONTACT: CRESCENT INTERNATIONAL
012 370 1069 / 082 707 3996 / 076 785 6751
E-MAIL: crescentintl@gmail.com
For more info visit: www.discoveryourself.in
love and I will respect them.
AG: I was not in the right state
of mind and could not make my
own decisions and was relying on
others and I lived in the past ruining
my present and future. Now I have
changed my views completely. I
will never forget this experience, it
was a dream come true and I never
thought that I would get such an
opportunity ever in my life.
SF: I am so happy, that I got an
opportunity to attend this workshop.
It has changed the way of thinking.
I have a clear mind now. Please
keep going, no matter what, people
need your service. You are doing
great service to mankind.
Advertisement
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
29
art & culture
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
Mukhtar Kazi’s paintings
30
Doorways to Heritage
By A Staff Writer
Thane based painter Mukhtar
Khazi recently exhibited his
paintings of doors of the heritage
forts in India at Bangalore. The
show was co-sponsored by the
Alliance Francaise and HabitArt.
Kazi, 35 and still a student of
Diploma in Arts, has been wielding
his brush for nearly 15 years and
has been lending expression to
balance and harmony in the Nature
through his abstract art. He had
been simultaneously developing
paintings of doors of the heritage
forts around the country as his
forte. The heavy doors, some still
carrying those fearsome spikes
prominently and others reached
by moss-ridden cobblestone
stairs have mesmerized him for
decades. “These are not merely
doors, these are doorways to our
majestic heritage which currently
lies in ruins,” says Mukhtar while
talking to Islamic Voice.
Capturing the majesty and finesse
of the art that has gone into them,
Khazi said he had been really
impressed by the old stone work
of these forts. He says his subject
had been heavy and he has used
lighter water colours. A total
of 26 paintings
were exhibited
at
Bangalore
between January
14 and January
20.
A
self-taught
artist, Kazi has
a good command over acrylic, oil
and watercolour mediums.
Kazi has exhibited his works at
several cities including Delhi,
Mumbai, Indore and Riyadh.
His work also received the ‘Best
artist residency that promotes
contemporary artists. It enables
art enthusiasts to buy genuine
art works at affordable prices.
It also undertakes specially
commissioned
works
for
residential
and
commercial
Painting Award’ in Delhi by art
critic Keshav Malik in 2011. He
was also invited by the Cultural
Centre at Chandigarh for a 15day training camp in the same
year.
HabitArt, an NGO, is an
www.paalmgrove.com
spaces.
Mukhtar Kazi can be reached at
mukhtar123@gmail.com (cell:
9821310397) while Shujaat
M. Abrar of HabitArt can be
contacted at habitart.info@gmail.
com (cell: 9821576784). n
ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2013
CHILDREN'S CORNER
Spacesuits for
Astronauts
Humans see Colour, Dogs do not
The astronauts wear spacesuits when they go out for a walk
or work in space. These suits are essential for astronauts to
survive in space where no oxygen is available for breathing
and the weightlessness is likely to discontinue supply of
blood to brain leading to unconsciousness. These suits will
allow continuous supply of oxygen to the men who wear it
and also protect them from radiations from space and severe
changes in temperature. These suits completely insulate the
body of the astronauts. These have hollow cavities which are
filled with air. In the absence of these spaces blood may get
collected in the lower half of the body.
How were the Pyramids Built?
Pyramids are the graves of the Egyptian
rulers who were known as Pharaohs or
Firaun (as in Arabic). They were made
of cubic stone builders which were cut
from stone quarries and weighed as
much as 2,500 kgs. They were bigger
than a big sized room.
But one would wonder as to how they
were moved to be placed at such great
height as is seen today. Particularly
the pyramids of Cheops needed nearly
two million such stones. It is said first
a ramp would be made till the actual
pyramid and the boulders will be moved
on a kind of a sledge. It is estimated that
nearly 4000 to 8,000 labourers worked
on the construction site.
Did you Know?
• The brain of a bee is smaller than a pinhead?
• In some countries like China or Myanmar, it is disrespectful and impolite to look into the eyes of the
person talking to you. This means people should
talk with their eyes downcast.
• The smallest city of the world is the Vatican City
with a population of around 800 people. The Vatican City is the religious capital of Christianity
where the Pope lives.
31
We the humans see colour,
but dogs do not. Do you know
why?
Human retina has two types
o sensory cells : rods and
cones. At twilight more than
100 million rods permit us
to distinguish between the
colourless bright light and the
dark. During the day around
six million cones help us see a
variety of colour. The eyes of
dogs possess very few cones,
which are sensitive only to
blue and yellow for this reason, dogs see the world differently from us.
Even there are many people who are blind to red and green and cannot
correctly distinguish between these two colour.
How are the Laws Made?
In a democracy, laws are made by the
Parliament which is a house of elected
members. In India our Parliament has
lower house known as Lok Sabha while
the upper house is called Rajya Sabha. A
draft bill can be introduced in any of the
houses. On being voted by a majority of
the members, the bill goes to the other
house. If it is passed from there too, it
goes to the President of India. If the President gives his assent, it becomes an
Act and will be known as the law of the land. In some cases, the President
of India can return the bills even if they have been passed by the two houses
of the Parliament for reconsideration. If the houses again return the bill to the
President, he is bound to given his assent.
• In every 9 seconds, one person dies as a result of
cigarette smoking.
day. Most of the movements take place in the
night while dreaming.
• There are around 40 species of bacteria in the
mouth, which protect the mouth cavity from diseases.
• The Russian cosmonaut Walentina Tereschkowa
was the first woman to fly in space.
• Only half of a dolphin’s brain sleeps. The other
half remains awake so that the animal can emerge
from water to get air.
• The eye muscles move about one lakh times a
• The first space tourist was American multimillionaire Dennis Tito who made the journey in 2001.
• Modern notes are made forgery-proof through
the Guilloche—special patterns made of entwined lines of holograms—which are complicated laser photographs.