Mulling Over A Very Famous Couplet

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 20 August 2024 Surme Ka Til Bana Ke Rukh-e-Lajawaab Mein Nuqta Badha Rahe Ho Khuda Ki Kitaab Mein Qamar Jalalvi (1887-1968) (A pretty face is artificially embellished with a mole of collyrium or kohl / You're adding a dot to the book of Allah). Qamar Jalalvi was born on August 19. ----- 'NuqtaBadhana' (adding a dot) is a theological phrase in Urdu which means committing an act of blasphemy as humans have no right to alter even a dot in the 'holy' Book. This extremely famous Urdu couplet is often quoted by those obstinate and dyed-in-the-wool Muslims who still believe that no change in the Quran is acceptable because the Quran is Allah's unadulterated message to mankind via Muhammad, who was unlettered (Ummi in Arabic). Hardly anyone is aware that it was written by the poet Qamar Jalalvi (Syed Muhammad Hussain), who was born on August 19 at QasbaJalali, Aligarh district. He migrated to Pakistan. I'll write about his poetry some other time. Now let me focus on his couplet which's still quoted by stubborn Muslims, not knowing that towards the fag-end of his life, Jalalvi himself started asking questions about the authenticity of many verses in the Quran. This intimidating approach that no change can and should be incorporated in the Book has made Islam the most stubborn faith which is not amenable to changes. The apostates Ibn Warraq and Salman Rushdie are of the view that Islam's obstinacy is a shrewd tactic. By the perceived unchangeability of the Quran, Muslims want to prove that it's the only true faith and the Quran is the only true Book. Since all the scriptures of other faiths have accepted errors in them and even made changes, Islam has remained adamant on this count. This has created untold miseries for the whole world and also for the sane Muslims (there're many) who want to change a lot many violent, dubious and controversial verses in their holy book. Those are interpolations and you cannot justify them however hard you may try. But the hardcore Muslims think that changing even a dot in the Quran amounts to sacrilege. Ye Kufr Hai(this is blasphemy), they'll shout. In other words, they want a flawed Book to guide and regulate the lives of all Muslims. That this is happening in these modern times is indeed surprising. The problem with the Muslim exegetes is that despite knowing that the removal of many potentially violent verses is a must, they keep interpreting them in their own way. That's why there're so many subjective interpretations of the Quran and every interpreter thinks that his interpretation is the best and flawless. Change is often resisted and resented. History in the making is always persecuted by the people with vested interests. Yet, there have been radicals in all faiths who brought about significant changes. One doesn't have to be an apostate or an ex-Muslim to effect changes. One can do that staying in the fold of Islam. Islam needs the likes of the venerable Mr Ghulam Mohiyuddin who can prove to be a catalyst. ------ A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/mulling-famous-coupletjalalvi/d/132989 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism