The Absurdity of Ruet e Hilal Committees (Moon Sighting Committees)

By Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New Age Islam 20 April 2023 Every year there is a tussle about the correct date of Ramadan and Eid. The Muslim Mullahs, scholars and clergymen belonging to various schools of thought are not antagonistic about the correct dates for initiating Ramadan and Eid, because in most South Asian Countries we have the Ruet E Hilal committees that are supposed to declare the correct dates of Ramadan and Eid. Muslims too are waiting quiet eagerly for the verdict of these committees about the appearance of moon. For the rest of the eleven months no one is bothered about these committees as they continue to remain in oblivion and hibernation. All of these committees are quiet representative as scholars of all denominations and schools of thought are represented. We should complement the moon for uniting our scholars, who have been divided by the variegated interpretations of Islam. This year too the Ruet E Hilal committee was very cautious and till late in the night they did not declare whether Ramadan moon has been sighted or not? So, the Grand Mufti of J&K, Nasir Ul Islam stated that Ramadan moon has not been sighted. There were number of his audio clips going viral, wherein he declared that the moon has not been sighted. But then Pakistan declared that the moon has been sighted so Kashmiris without bothering about the opinion of the not so Grand Mufti started offering Taraweeh (Special night prayers held during Ramadan) and opted for fasting leaving the Mufti and coterie of other Ulema as red faced. There were apprehensions cast at the role of Grand Mufti with the masses saying that he was renegading against the declared verdict of Pakistan and trying to cozy up to the Indian masters, who had dictated to him that J&K should fast on the same day as Indian Muslims not with Pakistani muslims who constitute the enemies. Anyways in the game of politics, religion always becomes the casualty. This confusion about the sighting of moon is just a South Asian Muslim issue, otherwise the science, astronomy and geography have evolved so much that there is no need for the physical sighting of the moon. Most muslim countries including Turkey and Malaysia have lunar calendars made beforehand, so there is utterly no confusion. The physical sighting of moon was restricted to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and immediate period when science, astronomy were not advanced that they could predict the exact movements of moon. But now when science has progressed so much, what is the fun of clergy in declaring when to fast or celebrate Eid? It just appears to be a tactic of clergy, theologians and Ulema to remain relevant and exhibit their power over the gullible masses. What specific tool does Nasir ul Islam or any other Mufti has to render him eligible for the moon sighting? Infact I even doubt his religious credentials, because like his father was a Sarkari mufti he too inherited the mantle from him like ancestral property and fiefdom. Although, Islam abhors following the Sunnah of Yazeed or Shia Imamate where leadership is passed based on patriarchal lineage. Other Ulema who are members of the self styled committee are of doubtful credentials too because they have studied Islam from sectarian lens. Leaving their religious and literary credentials aside, I do not understand what makes them specialists or experts in declaring the fasting and Eid dates? In the words of leading scholar and Mujtahid of our times Javed Ahmad Ghamidi, when he was offered a position in Ruet e Hilal Committee of Pakistan he declined it observing that he does not possess the requisite qualification for the task. But in Kashmir every other mullah wants to be part of the Ruet e Hilal Committee. Then the Grand Mufti, renegaded on his stance by observing that those who did not fast on the first day at his insistence, should do a Qaza (observe fast after Ramadan) for a day, thus endorsing the public stance, while remaining adamant that he was correct that moon had not been sighted. If moon had not been sighted why offer a Qaza fast? These changing and contradictory stances have further eroded the religious credentials of the Committee. Although all the sects and schools of thought are represented in this Committee, and they convened a new meeting that passed the verdict about Qaza fasting. It was to restore the diminishing faith of masses and a manifestation of show of strength that all Ulema, despite the shameful rejection of the Committee by the masses. On the other hand, one scholar of the Ahle Hadith sect Dr Abdul Latif Al Kindi declared that Grand Mufti had lied while taking his name about his endorsement about not fasting as moon was not sighted. Also one Barelvi group in Jammu declared that they do not accept Nasir ul Islam as Grand Mufti because he is not exoterically religious. In the midst of all this, chairperson J&K Waqf board, Dr Darakshan Andrabi, another political opportunist who has no religious qualification except for being member of a political party, that has declared a crusade against the families running the shrines in J&K. Andrabi, who herself is proud of her non Kashmiri lineage under a political agenda declared that Waqf Board will have its own Ruet e Hilal Committee again leading to a turf of statements between her and scholars of Hilal Committee. The real issue was lost in the statements and counter statements; Is there a need for a Reut e Hilal Committee? As I have opined with irrefutable proofs that the science and astronomy has advanced so much that it can predict the lunar calendar and months beforehand as happens in most muslim countries. Further, the Ulema and members of these Hilal Committees do not qualify for moon sighting. So these Committees should be disbanded and dismantled for the greater good and unity of Muslims. In South Asia particularly in Pakistan the state should take over the decision for declaration of moon, assign some institution the task so that confusion, tussle, problems and waste of time and resources is avoided. Also the Ulema need to be engaged with some constructive work so that their expertise is put to some positive use. ----- M.H.A. Sikander is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir URL: https://newageislam.com/the-war-within-islam/ruet-hilal-moon-sighting/d/129610 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

The Rulings of Sadaqa-e-Fitr or the Fast-breaking Charity: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 29

By Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam Translated into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 20 April 2023 Islam has commanded Muslims to pay "Sadaqa-e-Fitr" [also known as Zakat al-Fitr or Zakat al-Fitrah] in order to make up for any deficiencies that may have occurred while fasting throughout the month of Ramadan and to share the joy of Eid with the less fortunate Muslims. The verdicts in this matter are clarified in the ensuing hadiths. Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) commanded that every Muslim, whether slave or free person, a male or a female, a young or an old, pay one Saa’ of dates or one Saa’ of barley as Sadaqat-ul-Fitr. Furthermore, He (peace be upon him) ordered that it be paid before the people's departure for performing Salah (Eid Namaz). (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) "Pay Sadaqa for your fasts," said Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) at the end of Ramadan, "for this Sadaqa has been stipulated by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), which is one Saa' of dates or one Saa' of barley or half Saa' of wheat." (Abu Dawud and Nasa'i reported this) Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Haakim have reported from Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stipulated the Zakaat-ul-Fitr in order to purify the fasts from vulgar and shameless speech and to provide food for the needy (Miskeen). Hazrat Anas narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “The fasts of a servant remains suspended between the skies and the earth until he does not discharge the Sadaqa-e-Fitr.” (Reported by Dailami, Khateeb and Ibn Asaakir) Law: Sadaqa-e-Fitr is Waajib (compulsory). One has their entire life to pay it off. In other words, if he has not paid it off within the allotted time, he should do so right now. If it is not discharged it will not fall away [from one's obligation], and to pay it right now does not mean it is Qaza, but it will still be regarded as Ada (on time), even though it is Masnun to do so before the Namaaz of Eid. [Durr-e-Mukhtar] Law: Since Sadaqa-e-Fitr is Waajib upon the person (i.e., an individual) rather than his wealth, it will not be paid from his wealth in the event of his death. But if his heirs would choose to pay it as a gesture of goodwill on their part, they are free to do so. They are not required to, though. Even if his heirs object, if the deceased made a Wasiyat that it should be paid, it must be paid from one-third of his wealth (from which he is allowed to make a Wasiyat). (Juahira, etc) Law: As soon as the True Dawn (Subh-e-Saadiq) arrives on the Day of Eid, Sadaqa-e-Fitr turns into Waajib. So, it is not Waajib upon someone who passed away before the True Dawn, or if someone was wealthy and became a Faqeer, or if an unbeliever became a Muslim after the first light appeared, or if a child was born, or if a Faqeer became affluent, then it is not Waajib upon them. However, it is Waajib upon them if he passed away after the first light had appeared, or if an unbeliever became a Muslim before the first light had, or if a child was born, or if he was a Faqeer and became affluent. [Alamgiri] Law: Every Free Muslim who owns Nisaab, whose Nisaab is greater than his Haajat-e-Asliyah, is required to pay Sadaqa-e-Fitr. There is no condition of Aaqil (sanity), Baaligh (puberty), or Maal-e-Naami (productive wealth) in this. [Durr-e-Mukhtar] Law: It is also not a condition for the wealth to stay intact in order to pay Sadaqa-e-Fitr. In contrast to the rule of Zakat and Ushr, the obligation of which falls away after the wealth has been ruined or lost, Sadaqa is still Waajib and will not fall away (from one's duty) even if the wealth is destroyed or lost. [Durr-e-Mukhtar] Law: Fasting is not a condition in order for Sadaqa-e-Fitr to be considered Waajib. Regardless of whether someone missed the fast for a legitimate reason—such as travel, illness, or advanced age—or whether he missed it without a legitimate excuse, the Sadaqa e Fitr is still Waajib in all of the aforementioned situations. [Raddul Muhtaar] Law: The paternal grandfather takes the role of the father if he is not alive. He is obligated to give Sadaqa on behalf of his needy grandsons and granddaughters. [Durr-e-Mukhtar] Law: A person is not liable for the Fitrah of his wife and his children who are Aaqil and Baaligh, even if they are disabled [or differently abled], and even if he is in charge of their provisions. [Durr-e-Mukhtar] Law: If a person paid the Fitrah of his wife and his Baaligh children without getting their consent, it will be considered discharged, on condition that the children are from his Ay’yaal (i.e. his children whom he is providing for, i.e. his dependants). In other words, the provisions etc. of those children are his responsibility; otherwise, it will not be regarded as discharged if he does so, on behalf of his children without their permission. It won't be discharged if the wife paid her husband's Fitrah without his consent. [Alamgiri/Raddul Muhtar] Law: One is not responsible for paying the Fitrah of his mother, father, paternal grandfather, paternal grandmother, and his Na-Baaligh brothers and for that of his other relatives; and he cannot pay it without their authority. [Alamgiri] Law: It is best to give the Fitrah of one person to one Miskeen (needy person), and if it was divided between several needy persons, then this is also permissible. Similarly, the Fitrah of many needy persons can be given to one Miskeen, even though they may all be mixed together. [Durr-e-Mukhtar/Raddul Muhtaar] Law: The recipients of Sadaqa-e-Fitr are the same as those who are the recipients of Zakat. In other words, you may give Fitrah to those to whom you may give Zakat, and you are not permitted to give Fitrah to those, to whom you are not permitted to give Zakat, with the exception of an ‘Aamil’ (Zakat Collector appointed by the Islamic Ruler), because he is permitted to accept Zakaat, but not Fitrah. [Durr-e-Mukhtar/Raddul Muhtaar] (Continued) Related Article: How, When, Whom and Why To Pay Fast-Breaking Charity (Sadqa-E-Fitr)? ------ Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi is the author of multiple books. He has also lectured and held positions such as Mufti, Shaykhul Hadith, president, founder, and director at a number of institutions, including Darul Uloom Ghousia in Hubli, Karnataka, and Darul Uoom Solemaniya Rahmaniya in Bikaner Darul Uloom Reza-e-Mustafa, Bihar, Madrasa Shah Khalid, Vanwa Libo Muslim League, Fiji (near Australia), Madina Educational Society, Rajasthan. He currently holds the positions of Mufti in the Sunni Darul Ifta in the Madina Masjid, General Secretary of the Raza Foundation, Director of the Darain Academy, Founder of the Afkar-e- Raza Institution, and Chief Editor of the Do-Maahi Raza-e-Madina (Urdu, Hindi) in Azadnagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Previous Articles: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Welcome to Ramadan and First Lesson on the Virtues of Ramadan Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Second Lesson on the Respect of Ramadan – Part 2 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Third Lesson On The Horrific Consequences Of Desecrating Ramadan – Part 3 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Fourth Lesson on the Fasting Of Ramadan and its Intention – Part 4 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Lessons Five and Six on the Rulings (Ahkaam) And Laws (Masaail) Of Taraweeh Part 5 and 6 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Seventh Lesson On Sehri [Pre-Dawn Meal] Part 7 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Eighth Lesson on Iftar – Part 8 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Ninth Lesson on Rulings and Laws Related to Fasting – Part 9 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Tenth Lesson On Rulings And Laws Related To Fasting – Part 10 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Eleventh Lesson on Rulings Regarding Fasting and the Conditions That Permit Refraining From Fasting - Part 11 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Twelfth Lesson on Rulings Related to Qazaa, Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 12 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: 13th Lesson on Rulings of Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 13 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Fourteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 14 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Fifteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 15 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Sixteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 16 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Zakaat in the Light of the Quran and Hadith – Part 17 The Rulings and Laws of Zakaat: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 18 The Virtues and Laws of I’tikaaf: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 19 The Virtues of the Qadr Night or Lailatul Qadr: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 20 Fasting and Modern Science: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 21 Some Facts about The Holy Quran: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 22 Virtues and Rulings about the Recitation of the Holy Quran: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 23 Ramadan—the Month of Generosity and Charity: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 24 The Importance of Halal Sustenance: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 25 The Rights of Neighbours in Islam: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 26 Juma’ah and Jumu'at-ul-Widaa': Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 27 The Description Of Moon-Sighting: Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan – Part 28 URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/rulings-sadaqa-fitr-fast-charity-ramadan-part-29/d/129609 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

Giving Thanks For Abundance Is Sweeter Than The Abundance Itself

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 20 April 2023 Whenever I feel down in the dumps, it's one of the Masnavis or quotes by the great Rumi that comes to pull me out of the morass. One such gem of a thought is: Giving thanks for abundance is sweeter than the abundance itself. One should be aware of the context of this beautiful thought. Jalaluddin Rumi and Shams-e-Tabriz were soulmates. Shams was older than Rumi by 22 years as the former was born in 1185 CE and the latter in 1207 CE. Shams had the habit of suddenly disappearing without intimating Rumi. When he did this for the first time, Rumi went mad and he stopped eating. Shams came back after a fortnight. The overjoyed Rumi hugged him and thanked god as well as Shams for returning. He told Shams that while he was elated to see him, his palms got automatically clasped ( Nighafat in Pahalavi) to thank the Almighty for bringing Shams back. What a beautiful expression, Nighafat! A natural desire and an involuntary action to be grateful for whatever one has. And this spontaneous sense of gratitude exceeds the abundance one has. During Ramzan or Lent, the importance of showing gratitude to Allah or the Universe is particularly common and emphasised. Et bent minkoor dee ben abli ( to be grateful is to be plentiful) is a Turkish adage that articulates the value of being thankful. The ambit of gratitude is wider than one can think of. To be thankful to fellow humans is also gratitude and an exercise in universal connectivity. Mansoor al-Hallaj showed his thankfulness to those who were peeling his skin off. Sufi Sarmast held the blade of the sword and thanked his executioner. Psychologists believe that ever gratefulness can help one get rid of many hidden ailments. A sense of gratitude fills the heart with an all-pervasive blissfulness, so much so that even material abundance pales in comparison. Gratitude is a magnet that attracts greater abundance. To be thankful is to be conscious of all that you've. It's a key to existence and the essence of transcendence. ----- 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/thanks-abundance-sweeter/d/129608 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

Pulwama Terror: Conspiracy, Execution And Coincidental Revelation Of The Whole Suicidal Mission

By Mushtaq ul Haq Ahmad Sikandar, New Age Islam 19 April 2023 As Far As The Saffron Fields: The Pulwama Conspiracy Author: Danesh Rana Publisher: HarperCollins, India Year of Publication: 2022 Pages: 315 Price: Rs 599 ISBN: 9789354895227 ----- The conflict in Kashmir is a violent one. Despite the government claiming time and again that it has triumphed over the violent insurgency and there are not more than two hundred insurgents active in the Valley, the violence time and again raises its ugly head. There are very few stray incidents of Kashmiris opting for suicide missions, and if there are some indigenous suicide bombers they always pointed towards Jaish e Muhammad (JeM). JeM is as notorious as its founder Maulana Masood Azhar who has always believed and encouraged Ghazwa e Hind (War against India), based on some misinterpretation of Prophetic saying. The Prophetic sayings (Hadith) like Quran have been misinterpreted, misused and exploited by people and ideologues with nefarious designs to achieve their political aims. JeM although never in the insurgent history of Kashmir, was a dominant group but it was quite lethal. The various suicide attacks in Kashmir, bear a witness to its lethality. In the recent history the Valentine Day brutal suicide attack in 2019 is a manifestation of the violence that JeM is capable of unleashing. Now there have been doubts, allegations, counter allegations about the aftermath of this attack even from the highest office of Ex Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Mr Satyapal Malik. This book certainly is not about the politics revolving around the suicide attack, but it uncovers the conspiracy, execution and coincidental revelation of the whole suicidal mission, its actors and supporting members, written in an interesting manner by a senior police official who was involved in unveiling the mission, once it has been executed. The suicide mission executed led to the death of more than forty Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men. It certainly pointed out to the failure of security agencies, although no responsibility for the failure has been fixed on anyone. There is a conspiracy theory that this attack certainly helped reap political dividends for the ruling regime. Also, it paved the way for the abrogation of special status of J&K. These aspects are not engaged by the author. Fayaz Ahmad Ganie of Nowgam was working as Over Ground Worker (OGW) for militants belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) insurgent group. An encounter between security forces and militants hiding in the house of Ganie took place on 29 March, 2019 in which a Pakistani militant Umar Alawi was gunned down, while his accomplice Sameer Dar of Gundibagh, Pulwama was successful in escaping, giving a slip to the security forces. At the encounter site, a damaged mobile phone was recovered belonging to slain Umar Alawi. This damaged phone that was sent for data recovery would after few months spill the beans about the Pulwama, to be precise Lethpora suicide attack. Umar Alawi did not share anything about the suicide attack, but his phone provided enough evidence to book the surviving conspirators. The book reads like a thriller except the fact that all the characters of the book are real persons who walked in flesh and blood. The suicide bomber Sameer Ahmad Dar’s journey from being a petty boy of Kakapora, Pulwama to his radicalization and being convinced to carryout the suicide mission is a great revelation about understanding the pull factors that violent conflict has at driving the youth to embrace death as a form of salvation. The demographic details of Kakapora village that nurtured Sameer the suicide bomber is given. Killings, dirty work of spying and other issues related to the insurgency are deliberated in this book, but the author Danesh Rana confesses that money trail in this suicide bombing has not been traced. It means that the variegated agencies working on this case failed to identify the people or institutions that funded this suicide mission. Money is very important for the success of any insurgency and counter insurgency, so the dirty and unaccounted money is used both by state and non-state actors to fuel, flare and extinguish the flames of insurgency. The suicide attack and its aftermath are discussed with very precise details. In any insurgency and particularly in a suicide attack, a number of players, characters and actors are involved for variegated roles. It starts with the ideologues, then the work is executed by the radicalizers on ground. There are strong push factors that involve youth with radicalization, given the fact that Kashmir being the highest militarized zone in the world, the abrasions with the army and police certainly leave deep unhealed scars in the minds and bodies of youth. These scars are exploited by the radicalizers who reinforce the hurt, that ultimately pushes the vulnerable youth towards violence. Then these youth are inducted as OGWs so that they can gain the trust of the insurgent groups. These OGWs help the insurgents stay in safe houses, transport them and their goods and ultimately join the insurgent ranks. Ashiq Nengroo was one such character who helped transport the militants from one place to another and now has escaped to Pakistan. The involvement of virtual spaces and dark net cannot be discounted in the insurgency. ISIS used this tool very effectively to appeal to Muslims to join its violent terror group. In case of Pulwama attack, the use of online virtual radicalization has not been explored, but certainly a chance discovery of a mobile phone coincidentally helped the security agencies to unearth the deep rooted conspiracy. Umar Alwai was ultimately trapped by his excessive utilization of Cellphone. The book also discusses another failed suicide attack orchestrated under the leadership of HM commander Riyaz Naikoo, to replicate Lethpora but it failed to achieve its goals. This book certainly is a very good addition to the literature on suicide attacks in Kashmir. But the demerits of being an official narrative cannot be discounted, plus the reasons why youth choose the terror, violent and suicidal path are not discussed. Unless there is not an engagement with the real causes for violence, the mere documentation will prove to be a journalistic exercise. Also, the Islamophobic description of Nengroo, does not go well with the academic credentials, but depicts the bias and prejudice of the author while stereotyping beard and madrasas, “His look, complete with a beard that reached his neck, was that of the quintessential Islamic teacher or clerk working in a seminary of terror.” (P-56) Also there are some details that are wrongly mentioned, like 30 July 2016 has been given as the date of death of charismatic militant leader Burhan Wani and his two associates, whereas the correct date is 8 July. Similarly, Kal Baafi has been mentioned as carpet, whereas it means carpet making. Overall the book is a good read and should be read to understand the Lethpora suicide attack, that shook the core of security agencies and took India and Pakistan to the brink of war. ---- M.H.A. Sikander is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir. URL: https://newageislam.com/books-documents/pulwama-terror-conspiracy-execution-suicidal-mission/d/129599 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

Vandalising Libraries And Incinerating Books

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 18 April 2023 " To A Destroyer, A Book Is An Ideal Object To Be Torn And Destroyed." Ibn Hazm, Quranic scholar and one of the fathers of comparative religion " Vandalising Libraries And Burning Books Is The Favourite Pastime Of Neanderthals." Editorial in NY Times in 2005 when Hindu goons of Sambhaji Brigade vandalised Poona's famed Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute over a passage in the historian James Laine's book on Shivaji The destruction and desecration of 110-yr-old Madrasa Azizia library in Bihar Sharif, Nalanda reminds us of the ill-fate of the great library of Nalanda that was gutted by the marauding army of a Turkish invader Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1193 CE. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Related Article: The Destruction of Madrasa Azizia By Rioters A Huge Blow to the Cultural Heritage of India ------------------------------------------------------------------ Anil Dharker, one of the best editors India has had who edited now-defunct Debonair, wrote a long article, " Who're those who burn books and libraries? " Mind you, it was Debonair which carried this editorial piece! Prejudiced people often think that this magazine catered only to voyeurs and perverts. Nope! It carried profound pieces on all subjects, including religion and spirituality apart from flaunting vestiphobic damsels. Dharker wrote, " It's an ingrained misnotion that Bakhtiyar Khilji destroyed Nalanda Library because it belonged to some other faith/s (predominantly Buddhism and also Hinduism/Jainism). He burnt because the very sight of burning books gave him a macabre pleasure. Psychological whims and quirks have nothing to do with the faith of the perpetrators." Psychologists Duncan MaCabe and Maria Gilbert called it " Book Burning Orgasm." Whether Halaku, Mauqoof, Bakhtiyar, the Hindu miscreants involved in gutting Azizia or BORI in Poona or unknown miscreants burning Java library that housed rare Pitakas of Buddhism in the 15th century, all had one thing in common: They were depraved humans who had nothing to do with written words. All those who destroyed books, never read a single book in their lifetime because if you read, you cannot burn (books). Just imagine, by burning books, we destroy our own heritage and block all the paths to wisdom. Though not as serious and reprehensible as book burning, book banning culture can at times be as bad as book burning. They ban the book/s who never read a book is a famous aphorism. Rajiv Gandhi banned 'The Satanic Verses' of Salman Rushdie without reading it. In fact, he never read a book in his whole life! But his well-read grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru lifted the ban on D H Lawrence's controversial ' The Lady Chatterley's Lover.' Quran begins with the exhortation of Iqra (to read). Once we read and educate ourselves, the acts of vandalising books and libraries will stop automatically. But the question is, who reads in these times of visual overfeeding? ----- 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/vandalising-libraries-incinerating-books/d/129598 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

The Description Of Moon-Sighting: Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan – Part 28

By Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam Translated into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 19 April 2023 Islamic acts of worship are performed in accordance with the lunar calendar. Therefore, it is essential to see the moon from an Islamic perspective. Its significance has been referenced in the Quran and the Hadith. Allah Almighty says in the Quran: “They ask you [O Prophet] about the new moons. Say, “They are a means for people to determine time and pilgrimage.” (2:189) [Translator’s Note: In this context, new moons (ahillah, sing. hilal) do not refer to the new moon defined purely astronomically, which is the time when the moon is still hidden (dark moon), but rather to the first visible crescent of the lunar cycle. The moon is positioned between the Earth and the sun during a dark moon so that the dark side of the moon faces the earth. Lunar conjunction is the term for this. Typically, a lunar conjunction does not result in a solar eclipse, because the lunar orbit is tilted several degrees in relation to the earth’s orbit around the sun. Hence the three bodies are only in an approximately straight line. That is also the reason why the full moon can be seen from the Earth when it is approximately in between the moon and the sun. The new moon or crescent (hilal) arises when the moon moves far enough away from conjunction for a thin strip of the illuminated side of the moon to become visible. The sun and moon both set over the western horizon during the dark moon phase, but at the start of a new lunar month, the sun sets first and the moon is only momentarily visible just above the horizon. If the moon is far enough out of line between the earth and the sun, the crescent will become visible before the moon follows the sun below the horizon and disappears. The new lunar month in the Islamic calendar begins with the observation of this new crescent. In the last part of the lunar month leading up to the dark moon, the moon “sets” before the sun and remains below the horizon until rising later that night.] It is in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim from Ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Do not commence fasting unless you have seen the moon, and do not do Iftaar (i.e. end your fasts) unless you have seen the moon, and if it is cloudy, then complete the counting.” The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, “Commence fasting by sighting the moon and end fasting by sighting the moon, and if it is cloudy, then complete the counting of thirty for [the month of] Sha’baan” (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that a Bedouin came before the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said, “I have seen the moon of Ramadan.” The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Do you attest that there is none worthy of Worship except Allah?” He said, ‘Yes.’ He (peace be upon him) said, “Do you bear testimony that Muhammad is The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)?” He said, ‘Yes.’ He (peace be upon him) said, “O Bilal! Announce amongst the people that tomorrow is a day of fasting.” (Abu Dawud/Tirmizi/Nasa’i/ Ibn Majah/Daarimi) Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that people started seeking for the moon. “I reported seeing the moon to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) himself kept fast (based on this) and also commanded the people to keep fast.” (Abu Dawud and Daarimi) It is narrated by Ummul Mu’mineen Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) respect Sha’baan to such an extent that he did not respect any other month in the same way. When He (peace be upon him) saw the moon, He (peace be upon him) would then begin to fast. If it were cloudy, He (peace be upon him) would then complete counting to thirty before beginning to keep fast. (Abdu Dawud) These blessed hadiths reveal that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to make special arrangements for the sighting of the moon in Shaaban and Ramadan. Because there is great worship associated with the moon of these months, therefore, he used to pay attention to its beginning and also to its end. In view of the facts, Ulama say that it is Waajib-e-Kifaayah to see (i.e. make an attempt to see) the moon for five months: 1) Sha’baan 2) Ramadan, 3) Shawwal 4) Ziqaadah and 5) Zul-Hijjah It is Waajib to see the moon of Sha’baan, because if it is cloudy or foggy when you seek the moon of Ramadan, you can complete thirty days of Sha’baan and then commence Ramadan. The sighting of the moon of Ramadan is for you to be to keep the fasts of Ramadan; the sighting of the moon of Shawwal is for you to end the fasting of Ramadan; the sighting of Ziqaadah is for you to know when the month of Zul-Hijjah starts; and the sighting of Zul-Hijjah is for Eid ul Adha. [Fatawa Razaviyyah] Law: One should search for the moon (of Ramadan) on the evening of the twenty-ninth of Sha'baan. If it is seen, one should observe fasting the next day; if not, one should finish the thirty days of Sha'baan before beginning the month of Ramadan. [Alamgiri, vol.1, pg.197] Law: It is not required for the person hearing the testimony to inquire as to where the witness saw the moon, on which side was the moon, how it looked (i.e. how it appeared), how high it was, etc. [Alamgiri, vol.1, pg.197] One should only question the witness if his (or her) testimony is doubtful, especially for Eid, because individuals tend to baselessly claim to have seen the moon (of Eid). (Continued) ------ Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi is the author of multiple books. He has also lectured and held positions such as Mufti, Shaykhul Hadith, president, founder, and director at a number of institutions, including Darul Uloom Ghousia in Hubli, Karnataka, and Darul Uoom Solemaniya Rahmaniya in Bikaner Darul Uloom Reza-e-Mustafa, Bihar, Madrasa Shah Khalid, Vanwa Libo Muslim League, Fiji (near Australia), Madina Educational Society, Rajasthan. He currently holds the positions of Mufti in the Sunni Darul Ifta in the Madina Masjid, General Secretary of the Raza Foundation, Director of the Darain Academy, Founder of the Afkar-e- Raza Institution, and Chief Editor of the Do-Maahi Raza-e-Madina (Urdu, Hindi) in Azadnagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Previous Articles: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Welcome to Ramadan and First Lesson on the Virtues of Ramadan Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Second Lesson on the Respect of Ramadan – Part 2 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Third Lesson On The Horrific Consequences Of Desecrating Ramadan – Part 3 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Fourth Lesson on the Fasting Of Ramadan and its Intention – Part 4 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Lessons Five and Six on the Rulings (Ahkaam) And Laws (Masaail) Of Taraweeh Part 5 and 6 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Seventh Lesson On Sehri [Pre-Dawn Meal] Part 7 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Eighth Lesson on Iftar – Part 8 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Ninth Lesson on Rulings and Laws Related to Fasting – Part 9 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Tenth Lesson On Rulings And Laws Related To Fasting – Part 10 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Eleventh Lesson on Rulings Regarding Fasting and the Conditions That Permit Refraining From Fasting - Part 11 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Twelfth Lesson on Rulings Related to Qazaa, Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 12 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: 13th Lesson on Rulings of Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 13 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Fourteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 14 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Fifteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 15 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Sixteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 16 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Zakaat in the Light of the Quran and Hadith – Part 17 The Rulings and Laws of Zakaat: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 18 The Virtues and Laws of I’tikaaf: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 19 The Virtues of the Qadr Night or Lailatul Qadr: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 20 Fasting and Modern Science: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 21 Some Facts about The Holy Quran: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 22 Virtues and Rulings about the Recitation of the Holy Quran: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 23 Ramadan—the Month of Generosity and Charity: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 24 The Importance of Halal Sustenance: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 25 The Rights of Neighbours in Islam: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 26 Juma’ah and Jumu'at-ul-Widaa': Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 27 URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/moon-sighting-ramadan-part-28/d/129597 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

Why Dalit Muslims Should be Recognized as Scheduled Castes

By Arshad Alam, New Age Islam 18 April 2023 The Government And Dalit Bahujan Intellectuals Should Stop Opposing This Inclusion Main Points: 1. The supreme court of India recently said that it wants to adjudicate on whether Dalit Muslims and Christians should be granted Scheduled Caste status. 2. The court took this position because successive governments have prevaricated on this issue. 3. This prevarication is because Dalit Bahujan intellectuals have been opposing the inclusion of Dalit Muslims in the SC quota. ----- Muslim (and Christian) groups have for long approached the supreme court with the plea that ex- untouchable castes that converted to so called egalitarian religions be granted scheduled caste (SC) status. We know that through a presidential ordinance of 1950, the SC status was restricted to only three religious groups: Hindus, neo-Buddhists and Sikhs, effectively excluding Muslim and Christian ex-untouchable castes from the ambit of affirmative action. Dalit Muslim and Christian groups have long argued that this constitutes discrimination on the ground of religion, which is unconstitutional. Long time ago, in 1995, Mother Teresa, even sat on a day long fast to highlight this discrimination. But who are these castes who want to be included in the SC list and why? Who are Dalit Muslims? Dalit Muslims (and Christians) refers to those ex-untouchable castes who converted to Islam but continued to face discrimination on account of social stigma. Conversions took place in India due to multiple reasons, not least because these castes wanted to escape the inhuman treatment meted to them by caste Hindus. However, even after conversion, their social status did not undergo changes; they did not get accepted by caste Muslims as equals. Meenakshipuram conversion of 1981 serves as an apt example. Hundreds of Dalits did embrace Islam but it is recorded in memoirs that Muslims refused to have any matrimonial alliance with these converts. There is evidence to suggest that caste Muslims discriminated against lower castes as viciously as caste Hindus. Sociologists and anthropologists like Ghaus Ansari, Zarina Bhatty and Imtiaz Ahmad have documented their multi-level exclusion from the Muslim society even in the post-Independence period. There is some documentation which suggests that at places, these castes have their separate burial grounds and even mosques. During my own fieldwork in Azamgarh, I interviewed members of the Halalkhor/sweeper caste who were in the process of constructing their own mosque. They told me that the dominant Muslim caste in the city, the Rautara, did not allow them to pray peacefully in mosques. As a result, they were forced to construct their own mosque. The claim of Islam is that it is an egalitarian religion; the social dynamics might be very different though. Ali Anwar’s book Dalit Muslims of Bihar sheds spotlight on the precarious state of existence of these castes through a small survey. He documents the lack of education within these castes and argues forcefully that without any affirmative action for them, their situation is unlikely to improve. It is these castes who are now demanding that they be included into the SC list to avail of the benefits that government bestows on the Scheduled Castes. It must be noted though that all such Muslim castes are within what is called the OBC category, which means that they get reservations within the overall 27% quota. So technically, they are recognized as backward castes but their demand is to be included in the SC quota. This demand is only just because it is exceedingly difficult for them to compete with more ‘advanced’ castes within the OBC quota. Lack of Support Their demand has largely remained unheard till now. Successive governments have failed to even commission a survey to find out the socio-economic condition of these Muslim castes. The Sachar committee report referred to them as a separate category but ultimately fused them with the OBCs for the purpose of analysis. The Ranganath Misra committee, on the other hand, advocated for their inclusion within the SC quota. Despite these committees being formed by the Congress led UPA government, their recommendations were not followed up. The present BJP government has in fact taken a position in the supreme court that Dalit Muslims (and Dalit Christians) should not be granted SC status because Islam is an egalitarian religion and hence has no concept of untouchability. Ironically, this is the same government that advocates the issue of Pasmanda/backward Muslims and argues that they should be included into the governance structure. The party has even given a call to organize meetings with backward Muslims and develop solidarity with them. The prime minister has himself been at the forefront of such messages. He has repeatedly called for understanding the problems of backward Muslims in party meetings as well as from public platforms. But it is sad to see that this does not get reflected at the level of government policy. Rather, we have become painfully aware that this government’s position has been no different from the previous ones when it comes to affirmative action for Dalit Muslims. But it is not just the government’s stand which is worrying. Intellectuals from Hindu Dalit and OBC communities are also not comfortable with the inclusion of Dalit Muslims (and Christians) within the SC quota. Surprisingly, while they oppose the government on almost everything else, there is remarkable unity of purpose between these intellectuals and the government when it comes to denying Dalit Muslims their due rights. Even their argument is the same as that of the government: that since Islam does not sanction untouchability, there cannot be an existence of untouchable castes within Muslim society. This argument lacks historical nuance but it is its duplicity that must be called out first. Sikhism also does not approve untouchability; in fact, it vehemently condemns it. The institution of Langar (communal dining) was devised so that all castes could eat together. But Sikhs are included within the SC list. If these intellectuals are honest, then they should ideally be demanding that Sikhs should be excluded from the SC list as Sikhism does not approve of untouchability. Even Muslim intellectuals and politicians have been slow to articulate the demands of these castes to be included within the SC category. We see no effort on part of Muslim politicians to raise this issue in the Constituent Assembly debates. Also, the clergy for the longest time kept denying the existence of castes amongst Muslims by giving exactly the same argument that the government is giving today. Even after the implementation of Mandal Commission report, politicians like Syed Shahabuddin were demanding reservation for all Muslims. They not only turned a blind eye to the existence of caste among Muslims but even continued to keep up the canard that Muslims were not getting any reservation at all. But of course, we know that after Mandal, majority of Muslims were already covered under the OBC quota and they also qualified for preferential treatment under the religion-neutral category of the Scheduled Tribes. A large part of the problem was that most Muslim intellectuals and politicians were themselves Ashraaf/upper caste and hence had no interest in talking about the amelioration of the backward Muslims. It is not surprising therefore that they would hardly recognize the existence of Dalit groups within the Muslim community. It must be put on record though that of late, some important Muslim organizations have been talking about caste within their society. The Jamiat Ulama e Hind, the largest body of Muslim clerics, though primarily Deobandis, recently talked sympathetically about them. However, just like the current government, we have seen no follow up action to their well-meaning statements. If they are really serious, what stops them from including Dalit and Shudra Muslims into their policy making bodies? The Courts To The Rescue? One criticism that is often levelled at our judiciary is that it lacks representation of lower castes because it has exempted itself from the state policy of reservation. But it is the same court which has now told the government that it will go ahead and look into the issue of whether Dalit Muslims (and Christians) should get SC reservation. The case has gone for years and successive governments have been reluctant to take a stand on the issue. The present government has constituted a committee led by the only Dalit chief justice India ever had, K G Balakrishnan. The government has pleaded before the supreme court that till the time the report of the commission is not finalized, the honourable judges should not pronounce any verdict. However, since the matter is pending for nearly two decades and the said report is not coming out anytime soon, the supreme court has decided that it will go ahead with its proceedings without waiting any further. In its observation, it also said that social stigma can continue despite conversion to any religion, a fact that is completely lost on the state as well as the Dalit Bahujan intellectuals. These intellectuals have rightly remarked that the courts of this country are dominated by upper castes. But ironically, it is this space of privilege which is suggesting the very obvious: that religious conversion does not put an end to discrimination and exclusion. That simply because one converted to Islam does not mean that all his markers and signifiers will melt away in an instant. The act of religious conversion does not automatically lead to social acceptance. Being included in a community which had disdain for Dalit Muslims and even called them Arzal (singular Razil; lit. useless) certainly meant that the social stigma continued even after their conversion. It is this social stigma that needs to be addressed. Merely asking if Islam has the concept of untouchability or not will not do. Taking recourse to religious texts when one is clearly discussing a much complex social problem reflects poorly on those who are claiming to be the champions of social justice. ----- A regular contributor to NewAgeIslam.com, Arshad Alam is a writer and researcher on Islam and Muslims in South Asia. URL: https://newageislam.com/the-war-within-islam/dalit-muslims-scheduled-castes/d/129589 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

The Destruction of Madrasa Azizia By Rioters A Huge Blow to the Cultural Heritage of India

More Than 4000 Rare Books And Manuscripts Were Destroyed Main Points: 1. The madrasa was built by Soghra Bibi in 1896. 2. The 110 year old madrasa was built on 3 acre land. 3. 300 students studied in the madrasa. 4. Heritage practitioners have remained silent on the destruction of the library. ----- By New Age Islam Staff Writer 18 April 2023 The madrasa is one of the very first educational establishments built by Bibi Soghra’s donations. | Twitter ------ The destruction of the 110 year old Madrasa Azizia of Bihar Sharif in Nalanda district of Bihar in India is another blow to the cultural heritage of India. The madrasa housed a library of thousands of rare books and manuscripts. It is not the first time a library has been destroyed. History has been witness to the destruction of great libraries by invading rulers. In 1258, the, Mongol ruler Halaku Khan invaded Baghdad and massacred hundreds of thousands of men, women and children. He destroyed palaces, mosques and libraries. Halaku's soldiers destroyed the grand library of Baghdad called Baytal Hikmah apart from other 35 libraries of Baghdad. Baytal Hikmah was a centre of research and learning. It housed millions of books and manuscripts on poetry, medicine, philosophy, astronomy, medicine and optics. The library encouraged translation of important books from Greek, Persian and Indian languages. Writers, scientists and researchers met every day in the library and discussed important issues carried out research work. Halaku Khan's invasion wielded a huge blow to the advancement of sciences and arts made during the previous 500 years. Around 50 years before the fall of Baghdad, the Turk ruler Bakhtiyar Khilji invaded Bengal and Bihar and destroyed Nalanda University and its library. The library housed millions of manuscripts on religion, medicine and other sciences. The soldiers of Khilji set fire to the entire university which was one of the greatest seats of learning in the world in the middle ages. But it is unfortunate that libraries are being destroyed or set on fire even in this modern age when the world recognises the importance of libraries. In 2013, the Islamic insurgents associated with Al Qaida destroyed the famous library of Timbuktu of Mali, a west African country. The library was built in the 13th century and had a rich collection of rare books, and manuscripts. This was done by the Islamic insurgents who claimed to be upholders of Islam. In fact, they have always opposed learning and education. Boko Haram is one of such extremist organisations that opposes modern education and knowledge. During Bosnian war also, libraries were destroyed together with mosques and churches. During the Iraq war, the Allied Forces destroyed museums and libraries of Iraq. Therefore, the libraries and centres of culture have been destroyed by invaders during the middle ages, and by rioters in the modern age as a tool of suppression of the targeted community. The madrasa Azizia falls among the libraries that were destroyed by the successors of Halaku and Khilji. This is very unfortunate. ------- Bihar’s Burnt Madrasa Azizia Was Built By One Woman’s Charity, Produced Freedom Fighters By Sabine Ameer 17 April, 2023 Amid the upheaval in Bihar Sharif during Ram Navami processions, images of the gutted 110-year-old religious and educational heritage site, Madarsa Azizia shook the Muslim community across India and beyond. The madrasa was targeted and torched by extremists on 31 March. The historic library within its precinct housed an estimated 4,500 books of Islamic literature with some rare manuscripts. The financial damage is upwards of Rs 10 crore, according to an initial estimate by conservation architect Ruknuddin Mirza. The community might take years to recover from the emotional and psychological damage that it caused. However, what has been more surprising is that the state, political elites and heritage practitioners have chosen to stay silent about the burning of the madrasa and the loss of cultural heritage. This has further aggravated the community’s suffering — they’re not just grappling with the loss of a century-old legacy but also a sense of alienation in their own homeland. Rich Legacy Established in 1896 and later shifted in 1910 to a sprawling three-acre campus in Bihar Sharif, a historic city in the Nalanda district of Bihar, Madrasa Azizia was built by the philanthropist Bibi Soghra in memory of her husband, Abdul Aziz. Soghra inherited property worth lakhs after her husband’s death and decided to donate it to the Waqf. A large chunk of this donation was envisaged to be spent on the health and education of marginalised Muslims in Bihar. The madrasa is one of the very first educational establishments built by Bibi Soghra’s donations. Others include Soghra High School and Soghra College. They are still managed by Soghra Waqf Estate. Since its inception, Madrasa Azizia has been a well-known hub of Islamic education having hostel facilities for students, as well as teachers and a mosque within its precinct. As per the latest reports, 300 students study at the madrasa, ranging from those in class one to those pursuing postgraduate courses. Based on its continued efforts to improve the education of Muslim communities in Bihar, the Madarsa received recognition from the British government in 1920. Later on when the efforts for Indian independence were at their zenith, a number of Muslims who studied at the Madarsa participated in the struggle for freedom from the British. In March 2020, the madrasa received a special mention from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The team was in the state as part of a visit to interact with students under an educational programme run by the Bihar State Madrasa Education Board. The madrasa is a symbol of a sense of belonging, shared identity, memories and peaceful co-existence for Muslims in Bihar and beyond. This is not the first time the madrasa has been targeted, there have been attempted attacks on it during the 1981 riots and later in 2017. Destruction Of Cultural Heritage The intentional targeting of heritage sites is not unique or new. Cultural heritage, specifically religious and syncretic heritage which are symbols of peaceful co-existence and social cohesion, has been targeted since time immemorial. Be it the burning of synagogues in Hitler’s Germany or vandalism of mosques and churches alike during the Bosnian war in the former Yugoslavia, the alleged torching of Charar-e-Sharief in Kashmir during the active phase of Kashmir Insurgency in 1995 or the desecration of the ancient library of Timbuktu by Ahmad Al-Mahdi in 2013. These incidents of deliberate destruction and the torching of the Madarsa Azizia are part of a pattern to incite fear, intimidation and humiliation and cause psychological harm to the affected communities. Scholars have highlighted that the fear, humiliation and intimidation such acts incite impact the everyday life of affected communities. Polish lawyer Raphael Lemkin historically labelled the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage as ‘cultural genocide’, highlighting the relationship between human security and heritage destruction. With the advent of urbanisation, the blurring of civilian and non-civilian boundaries during contemporary conflicts has rendered cities and built heritage at higher risk of deliberate destruction. Ostensibly, human security has been inferred as inseparable from the protection of built heritage in the events of conflicts. The state’s decision to intervene to prevent such attacks on cultural heritage or its failure to do so influences the trust of affected communities in the state and therefore its legitimacy. In cases like the Timbuktu Library torching, the Mostar bridge destruction or the destruction of Palmyra’s arch efforts were made to reconstruct the historic fabric of these heritage sites in an attempt to restore peace and harmony. However, the on-ground response to the intentional targeting of Madarsa Azizia is highly siloed. It is irresponsible and surprisingly frustrating that the incident has not been publicly condemned by the state, the political elites or even the heritage practitioners. While an online initiative launched by the community to restore the gutted Madarsa is already in place, state intervention to restore the desecrated heritage is the way forward to restore peace, cohesion and trust. It is crucial that the state, the political elites and the heritage practitioners form a coalition to retrofit, reconstruct and restore the damaged heritage. ----- Sabine Ameer is an architect-urban planner whose primary research explores the interlinkages between urban heritage, human security and legitimacy. Views are personal. (Edited by Theres Sudeep) Source: Bihar’s Burnt Madrasa Azizia Was Built By One Woman’s Charity, Produced Freedom Fighters URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/madrasa-azizia-rioters-cultural-heritage/d/129588 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

Juma’ah and Jumu'at-ul-Widaa': Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 27

By Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam Translated into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 18 April 2023 Lesson 27 On Juma’ and Jumu'atul-Widaa' (Farewell Friday of Ramadan) Regrettably, the holy month of Ramadan is gradually coming to a conclusion with all its beauty and blessing. The holy month, during which the evil deeds of the sinners were washed away by the water of divine kindness and forgiveness, is about to come to an end. The heart of a believer was first happy when these hours arrived; it is now becoming more and more devastated by their departure. After accompanying us like a kind and generous guest for a few days, this month of mercy and blessing is coming to an end. Obviously, this is a sad and unfortunate situation. Islam places a strong emphasis on purifying one's soul and Nafs, but it also gives particular attention to collective life and affairs. Congregational prayers, Fridays, Eids, and Hajj are organised in order to achieve the same objective of collective life. Due to the significance of this, the good news is that praying in the congregation will reward you 27 times more than praying alone. (Sahih Bukhari) One day of the week known as "Friday" has been granted a unique status in order to stabilise collective life. Allah Almighty revealed a whole Surah in the Holy Qur'an, known as Surah Juma, in which He Almighty declared while emphasising the significance of the particular Friday prayer and establishing its value in the heart and mind of the believers. Allah Almighty says: “O you who believe, when the call for Salah (prayer) is proclaimed on Friday, hasten for the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business. That is much better for you if you but know” (62:9) The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is reported to have  said, “The best day amongst your days is a Friday. Adam was born and passed away on the same day. Nafakha (i.e. the blowing of the trumpet for the second time) will occur on the same day. Sa’aqa (i.e. the blowing of the trumpet for the first time) will happen on the same day. Recite Durood (blessings and peace) as many times as you can for me on this day, because your Durood is presented to me. The people (companions) asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah! When you leave this world, how will our Durood be presented to you?’ He said, ‘Allah has made it forbidden upon the earth to eat (devour) the bodies of the Prophets” (Abu Dawud/Nasa’i/Ibn Majah/Baihaqi) The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, “Send Durood (peace and blessings) upon me in abundance on Fridays, since it is well known that Angels appear on this day, and one who recites Durood upon me, his Durood is presented to me.’ Abu Dawud (may Allah be pleased with him) says that he then said, “And after your passing away!” He [the Prophet] said, “Undoubtedly Allah has made it forbidden upon the earth to eat the bodies of the Prophets. The Prophet of Allah is alive and he is blessed with sustenance.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol.2, p.291) The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, “A Friday is the Leader of all the days and it is regarded by Allah as the most virtuous, and it is more virtuous than Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha in the Sight of Allah, and there are five attributes for this day: 1. Allah created Adam (peace be upon him) on this day. 2. On this day, Allah sent him down to earth. 3. On this day, Allah caused him to pass away. 4. On this day, there is a special period during which a servant may ask Allah for anything, and Allah will give it to him, as long as he does not ask for something Haraam. 5. The Day of Resurrection will take place on this day. (Sunan Ibn Majah) The greatness of Friday can be estimated from these blessed hadiths. Since Ramadan is a month with exceptional splendour and these hadiths speak of the majesty and beauty of the Fridays throughout the entire year, it is much more important to make special arrangements for the Fridays of Ramadan. May Allah grant us the wisdom to understand it. The Reality of Jumu'atul-Widaa (Farewell Friday) The last Friday of this blessed month is known as Jumu'atul-Widaa. Although Farewell Friday does not have any special significance from the Shari'a point of view, since it is the last Friday of the month of Ramadan, special arrangements might be made for that day. Since nobody knows how much time we have left in this world, we might or might not ever experience another blessed month quite like this one. Jumu'atul-Widaa is therefore observed with special arrangement. Many people who do not even attend Jumu'ah prayer throughout the year come especially on this day in order to be blessed with divine reward as atonement for their sinful conduct. Allah, the Exalted, by His perfect mercy, with the blessing of the congregational prayer on Friday, looks at the regret and remorse of such people and enriches them with His infinite mercy, which is why this Friday is arranged with such care. Removing a Misconception The common conception is that the Imam must include the Arabic phrase "Al-Wida Al-Wida Yaa Shahra Ramdana" in the sermon before performing the prayer Jumu'atul-Widaa. There is a big commotion from the side of the common people if Imam Sahib forgets to recite this Arabic phrase during the Friday sermon. These people should know that it is not compulsory to utter this phrase on the last Friday of Ramadan. The prayer will be valid without any issue even if the imam is unable to read it and finishes the sermon out of forgetfulness. No need to debate it or react to it. We ask Allah, the Most Exalted, to give us the ability to learn Islamic teachings and act upon them. ----- (Continued) Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi is the author of multiple books. He has also lectured and held positions such as Mufti, Shaykhul Hadith, president, founder, and director at a number of institutions, including Darul Uloom Ghousia in Hubli, Karnataka, and Darul Uoom Solemaniya Rahmaniya in Bikaner Darul Uloom Reza-e-Mustafa, Bihar, Madrasa Shah Khalid, Vanwa Libo Muslim League, Fiji (near Australia), Madina Educational Society, Rajasthan. He currently holds the positions of Mufti in the Sunni Darul Ifta in the Madina Masjid, General Secretary of the Raza Foundation, Director of the Darain Academy, Founder of the Afkar-e- Raza Institution, and Chief Editor of the Do-Maahi Raza-e-Madina (Urdu, Hindi) in Azadnagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Previous Articles: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Welcome to Ramadan and First Lesson on the Virtues of Ramadan Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Second Lesson on the Respect of Ramadan – Part 2 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Third Lesson On The Horrific Consequences Of Desecrating Ramadan – Part 3 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Fourth Lesson on the Fasting Of Ramadan and its Intention – Part 4 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Lessons Five and Six on the Rulings (Ahkaam) And Laws (Masaail) Of Taraweeh Part 5 and 6 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Seventh Lesson On Sehri [Pre-Dawn Meal] Part 7 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Eighth Lesson on Iftar – Part 8 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Ninth Lesson on Rulings and Laws Related to Fasting – Part 9 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Tenth Lesson On Rulings And Laws Related To Fasting – Part 10 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Eleventh Lesson on Rulings Regarding Fasting and the Conditions That Permit Refraining From Fasting - Part 11 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Twelfth Lesson on Rulings Related to Qazaa, Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 12 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: 13th Lesson on Rulings of Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 13 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Fourteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 14 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Fifteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 15 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Sixteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 16 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Zakaat in the Light of the Quran and Hadith – Part 17 The Rulings and Laws of Zakaat: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 18 The Virtues and Laws of I’tikaaf: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 19 The Virtues of the Qadr Night or Lailatul Qadr: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 20 Fasting and Modern Science: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 21 Some Facts about The Holy Quran: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 22 Virtues and Rulings about the Recitation of the Holy Quran: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 23 Ramadan—the Month of Generosity and Charity: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 24 The Importance of Halal Sustenance: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 25 The Rights of Neighbours in Islam: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 26 URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/jumaah-widaa-ramadan-part-27/d/129587 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

Outdoing Each Other In Stupidity

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 18 April 2023 In 2018, a year before the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stormed back to power for a second term, a federal education minister said he believed Indians were the descendants of Hindu “rishis” (sages) and not monkeys. Satya Pal Singh, who was the minister of state for human resource development, said Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution was “scientifically wrong." “It needs to change in the school and college curriculum. Since man has been seen on Earth, he has always been a man. Nobody saw an ape turning into a man,” he said. In 2019, while addressing the 106th Indian Science Congress, Nageswara Rao Gollapalli, vice chancellor of Andhra Pradesh University, claimed the Dashavatar gave a better theory of evolution than Darwin because it (the Theory of Dashavatar) 'scientifically' explains that humans evolved through the incarnations of Hindu god Vishnu! He urged that it should be taught not merely to Hindu students, but to all students of India. The whole world will benefit from the message of Dashavatar because it's not just mythology, but history. It must be mentioned in no uncertain terms that by 2022-2023, the topic of evolution was completely purged from school textbooks. Whichever religion it may be, one thing that remains unchanged and intact is human stupidity. Neighbouring Pakistan already did away with Darwin's Theory of Evolution as Islam, esp. the Qur'an, believes that Allah sent Adam and Eve down and we're their offspring! Many Muslim countries consider the Theory of Evolution to be outright blasphemous because it doesn't gel with Islam's desert beliefs of 1,400 years. What's most bizarre is the fact that there're 'educated' Muslims who believe that this is true and Darwin was wrong. When humans fail to understand the prehistoric symbolism of all religions and take every event and episode at literal level and ignore the obvious metaphors, ridiculous theories like Dashavatar and Adam and Eve as humans' earliest parents emerge as 'realities' in a collectively deluded domain of extreme religiosity. Remember, Hindus were religiously not so fanatic and backward as most of the Muslims have always been right from the inception of Islam. But as Einstein said, " Human stupidity is contagious, " Hindus post-2014 also started behaving like Muslims in terms of religion and belief. Hardly any Hindu would use the irritating term ' Sanatan' prior to 2014. In fact, barely any Hindu was aware of it. But a majority of asinine Muslims, right from the beginning, have been claiming that Islam is mankind's eternal faith and every infant is actually a Muslim irrespective of his or her later religion! What a universally sublime thought (ironically, of course). Now Hindus are doing the same. They're saying that every child, born any part of the world, is a Sanatani. When religion becomes so obvious and totalitarian, rationality goes abegging. We're outdoing each other in moronic behaviour. ----- Note: (A couple of facts taken from an article published on Al Jazeera.com) URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/hinduism-darwin-bjp-stupidity/d/129586 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

Social Reformation from the Perspective of the Biography of the Prophet Muhammad Pbuh: Part 3

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 17 April 2023 Examining Areas Of Social Reformation In the Light Of Sirat Al-Nabi Main Points: 1. Islam has outlined clear principles of social justice. The establishment of a legal system has inspired people to defend their rights. 2. Islam has elevated humans to the highest level. This promotes equality and appeals to harmony and unity. It holds that there is no superiority based on ancestry, caste, or colour. In the line of justice, everyone is equal. 3. The last sermon of the Prophet PBUH, which was intended for all humanity as the core of social transformation, is very succinct and unambiguous. ------- Islam has outlined clear principles of social justice. The establishment of a legal system has inspired people to defend their rights. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) once said: "A person who is oppressed and killed while defending himself is on the rank of a martyr." (Al-Sunan Al-Kubara 3/455) Almighty Allah has also commanded us to treat other people with justice, as He says in the Quran: “Indeed, Allah commands to do justice and be good, and give relatives (their due), and forbids from shameless acts, evil deeds and transgression. He exhorts you so that you may be receptive to advice” (16:90) This verse, which is the most complete verse in the Holy Quran, contains the essence of the full spectrum of Islamic teachings in a few words. The tradition of reciting this line at the conclusion of the special sermon for Friday and the two Eids (Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) has therefore persisted since the blessed time of the most righteous elders up until the present day. According to Sayyiduna 'Abdullaah ibn Masud, the verse "Indeed, Allah commands to do justice and be good" is the most comprehensive verse in the Holy Quran. According to tradition, Aktham Ibn Saifi, a companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him), adopted Islam as a result of this verse. Abu Ya'la's book Maarifatus Sahaaba narrates: Aktham ibn Saifi served as the leader of his people. He made the decision to physically meet the Holy Prophet after learning about him, his claim to prophethood, and his efforts to advance Islam. But his followers advised him against going there personally because he was their leader and the most significant individual in the group. Then Aktham suggested that they select two tribal members to visit there, examine the situation, and then return with a report for him. These two people said they had come from Aktham ibn Saifi to know two things when they came before the Holy Prophet: "Who are you and what are you?" In response to the first query, the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: "I am Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah, and in response to the second query, “I am a servant of Allah and His Messenger." Then he recited verse 16:90, which starts with the words "Truly, Allah commands to do justice and do good..." He was requested to repeat those statements to them. The verse was repeatedly read out to them until they had learned it by heart. The emissaries informed Aktham when they arrived back that they had intended to learn his ancestry by asking the first inquiry. He did not, however, pay any attention to this. He just felt it was enough to say his father's name. But when they asked others about his ancestry, they learned that he was of very high pedigree and nobility. The verse that the Prophet recited in front of them was also brought up to the notice of Aktham, who immediately responded, "This tells us that he bids morals which are high and forbids morals which are low. Please embrace his faith as soon as you can to keep ahead of the people and avoid falling behind as camp followers." (Abu Ya’la, Maarifatus Sahaaba) Similarly, Uthman ibn Maz'un says, "I initially adopted Islam because others around me told me to. Islam had not, however, become ingrained in my heart. Then there came a day when I was there in the Holy Prophet's fortunate company. After some weird events, he said: "The emissary of Allah came to me and this verse was revealed upon me." Suddenly, indicators related to the descent of revelation on him became clear.” According to Uthman ibn Maz'un, after witnessing this incident and hearing this verse, his faith was strengthened and solidified in his heart, and his love for the Prophet of Allah eventually found a permanent home there. After hearing this verse, Walid ibn Mughirah also went to share his impression with his people, the Quraish of Makkah, saying: "By God, in it, there is a special sweetness and, above it, there is a unique hallow of light, and leaves are going to sprout out from its roots and fruits are going to show up on its branches - and this can never be the speech of any human being." Allah says in the Quran, "When you speak, be just, even if there be a relative, and fulfil the covenant of Allah." (6:152) Islam has elevated humans to the highest level. This promotes equality and appeals for harmony and unity. It holds that there is no superiority based on ancestry, caste, or colour. In the line of justice, everyone is equal. Islam considers the unjust killing of a person to be the murder of all humanity. Allah says in the Quran: “Whoever takes a life—unless as a punishment for murder or mischief in the land—it will be as if they killed all of humanity; and whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity.” (5:32) Islam forbids discrimination on the grounds of race, nation, tribe, religion, or creed. Allah says in the Quran: “O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may get to know one another. Surely the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (49:13) On the ninth of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave his final sermon, 10 years after Hijrah, in the Uranah Valley of Mount Arafat. His message, which was intended for all humanity as the core of social transformation, was very succinct and unambiguous. He praised and thanked Allah and then said: “O People, please pay close attention, as I don't know if I'll ever see you again after this year. As a result, pay close attention to what I am saying and convey it to everyone who is unable to attend today. “O people, just as you hold this month, this day, and this city in high respect, hold each Muslim's life and possessions in the same high esteem. Return the items to their respective owners that were given to you. Do no harm so that no one may do you harm. Keep in mind that you will meet your Lord and that He will account for your actions. You are no longer required to pay any interest because Allah forbade you from receiving usury (interest)... “O people, although you do have some rights in relation to your ladies, they also have rights in relation to you. Keep in mind that you have only taken them as your wife with Allah's faith and approval. They have the right to be fed and clothed with love if they uphold your right. Women are your partners and devoted helpers, so treat them with respect and kindness. Additionally, it is within your rights for them to never be unchaste and to not make friends with anyone you disapprove of. O people, pay attention to what I say, worship Allah, perform your five daily prayers (Salat), observe Ramadan's fast, and offer your Zakat. If you have the means, perform the Hajj. “Since everyone on earth descended from Adam and Eve, neither an Arab nor a non-Arab is superior to the other. Similarly, neither a white person nor a black person is superior to the other, with the exception of piety (taqwa) and good deed. Recognise that all Muslims are related to one another as brothers and that they form a single brotherhood. Nothing belonging to a fellow Muslim shall be legitimate to a Muslim unless it was given voluntarily. Therefore, don't treat yourself unfairly. “Keep in mind that you will one day give an account of your actions to Allah. Therefore, take care to stay on the righteous path when I am gone. Therefore, O people, use good judgement and pay attention to what I say. The Qur'an and my example, the Sunnah, are the two things I leave behind, and if you abide by them, you will never go astray.” References: Sahih Bukhari, Hadith numbers 1623, 1626, and 6361. In Hadith number 98, the Sahih of Imam Muslim also makes reference to this sermon. Imam Tirmidhi mentioned this sermon in Hadith nos. 1628, 2046, and 2085. The longest and maybe most comprehensive account of this sermon has been provided by Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal in his Masnud (Hadith no. 19774) ------ Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. Previous Article: Social Reformation from the Perspective of the Biography of the Prophet Muhammad Pbuh: Part 1 Social Reformation From The Perspective Of The Biography Of The Prophet Muhammad Pbuh: Part 2 URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/social-reformation-biography-prophet-part-3/d/129583 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

The Rights of Neighbours in Islam: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 26

By Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam Translated into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 17 April 2023 Lesson 26 on the Rights of Neighbours in Islam The last few days of the holy month of Ramadan are drawing nearer. We are thankful to Allah Almighty for enabling us to complete the fasts in good health and without incident. Islam is more than merely keeping fasts, establishing prayers, and performing the Hajj and Zakaat obligations; in addition to these obligations, there are various other important things that must be done in order to truly experience the sweetness of Islam and appreciate it. I, therefore, want to discuss an important aspect of social life in this grouping today during this great month of Ramadan. I'm hoping you'll take the time to read it thoroughly and make a clear decision to follow your heart. Islam holds that in order to avoid being branded a criminal for violating the rights of the people and suffering divine retribution, people must respect one another's rights. In social contexts, people who live next to one another are referred to as neighbours. Islam has outlined neighbourly responsibilities in great detail because it desires for people to live in harmony, joy, and energy. People are therefore required to watch out for one another, share in each other's delight and happiness as well as their grief and suffering, and offer solace to one another. In Surah Nisa, verse 36, Allah Almighty describes their responsibilities: “Worship Allah alone and associate none with Him. Be good to [your] parents and relatives, the orphans and the needy and the neighbours who are your relatives, and the neighbours who are strangers, and to travellers in need, and to those whom your right hands possess. Allah does not love the arrogant and the boastful” (4:36) Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Jibreel (peace be upon him) kept reminding me about the neighbour till I began to believe that he would make him a sharer in the inheritance.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) made the following statement regarding respect for one's neighbours: “The person who believes in Allah and the Last Day should treat his neighbour well," according to the narration of Abu Shurayh al-Khuza'i. (Reported by Bukhari) A Faith-Building Rule Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “By the One in Whose possession is my soul, a man cannot be a true believer until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself.” The spirit-loving teaching of Islam is what has transformed countless lives around the globe. As a result, many hearts embraced the pure principles of Islam, many concepts were reformed, and many lives were offered eternal happiness. In the same way that Muslim brothers are included in the grand address of Islam, so are their neighbours. Many disagreements and problems can be avoided if this attitude towards neighbours becomes the norm in social interactions. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stresses the need of upholding one's neighbour's rights and that doing so will keep society calm and forward-moving: It is narrated by Abu Shuraih that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe!” It was said, “Who is that, O Allah's Apostle?” He said, "That person whose neighbour does not feel safe from his evil.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol: 8, hadith: 45) The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has very gloriously forbade hurting one's neighbours in this holy hadith. A neighbour is typically enraged with a neighbour today, thus keep this holy hadith in front of your eyes and observe your society. Sometimes they start arguing because of a drain, other times because of water, other times because of a balcony, and still other times because of a door. Some individuals go so far as to terrorise their neighbours, commit murders and file lawsuits. However, it just leads to regret and the obliteration of both this world and the afterlife. Neighbours Serve As Mirrors for One Another Islam holds that a neighbour serves as a mirror to assess a person's virtues and flaws. Let's not forget that one neighbour does not interact with other people as frequently as it interacts with neighbours. Therefore, it is crucial to rely on the testimony of neighbours in order to assess a man's moral character and determine if he is good or bad. In this regard, the beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud says that a person came to the Prophet's house and asked, "O Messenger of Allah!" How can I know if what I have done has been good or bad? In response, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If your neighbour compliments you for a good deed, see that as evidence that you did something admirable; if, on the other hand, your neighbour criticises you for a bad deed, interpret it as evidence that you committed a bad deed.” This suggests that a person's neighbours, not his own words, should be used to judge his morality and character. From this revered hadith, which assesses the magnificence of the neighbour, it is inferred that one should never use defamatory words against a neighbour who is the subject of an inquiry. A beloved activity of our ancestors and pious predecessors was providing for the neighbours. The following incident involving Hazrat Imam-e-Azam (may Allah be pleased with him) is well-known in this regard. Imam-e-Azam and the Neighbouring Cobbler In the vicinity of Imam-e-Azam Abu Hanifa (may Allah be pleased with him), there was a happy cobbler. He used to bring meat and wine home from work and spend the evening entertaining his friends. He would share his homemade wine and kababs with them all. He would occasionally sing a couplet while intoxicated that read: "People have let me go to waste me, who would have been useful to them in battle and siege." While Imam-e-Azam used to spend the later hours of the night in prayer, he would occasionally hear him singing. However, out of habitual kindness and care for his neighbours, he never objected. The cobbler was apprehended and imprisoned one night by a passing police prefect. The Imam told his buddies the following morning that he had missed his neighbour's singing the night before. They told him what had occurred. The Imam immediately summoned his mount, dressed in his darbaar robes, and rode straight to the governor's residence. The governor at the time was 'Isa b. Musa, a courageous and shrewd Abbasid who was a relative of the Caliph Mansur. He despatched many of his courtiers to see Imam Abu Hanifah after learning that he was visiting him and instructed them to ride with him all the way up to the governor's house's courtyard. As soon as the Imam's horse came up, he stood up and, once the Imam got down, sat him down with utmost respect. Then he said, "Why have you gone to the trouble of coming here? You could have sent for me." The Imam said, "What brings me here is the fact that the police perfect had detained a cobbler who happens to be my neighbour, and I want him released." Isa quickly issued instructions for the release of the cobbler. After being taken to the governor's residence and freed, the cobbler joined the Imam on his journey home. "Well, my friend," said the Imam to him, "have I allowed you to go to waste?" This was with reference to the couplet that the cobbler sang. "No, sir, you have proven to be a good neighbour," the cobbler answered. His manner of life altered after that day. Giving up drinking, he enrolled in the Imam's classes and eventually reached a level of scholarship that earned him the title of Faqih. (Sachchi Hikaayaat [The Real Stories], Vol.2, p.345) We may learn a lot from this episode involving Imam-e-Azam since it shows how a great Imam of the day cared so much for a troublesome neighbour. Regrettably, we often get into arguments with our neighbours over unimportant matters. The purest Islamic teachings serve as our model, and we should apply them to our morality and lifestyle. (Continued) ------- Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi is the author of multiple books. He has also lectured and held positions such as Mufti, Shaykhul Hadith, president, founder, and director at a number of institutions, including Darul Uloom Ghousia in Hubli, Karnataka, and Darul Uoom Solemaniya Rahmaniya in Bikaner Darul Uloom Reza-e-Mustafa, Bihar, Madrasa Shah Khalid, Vanwa Libo Muslim League, Fiji (near Australia), Madina Educational Society, Rajasthan. He currently holds the positions of Mufti in the Sunni Darul Ifta in the Madina Masjid, General Secretary of the Raza Foundation, Director of the Darain Academy, Founder of the Afkar-e- Raza Institution, and Chief Editor of the Do-Maahi Raza-e-Madina (Urdu, Hindi) in Azadnagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Previous Articles: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Welcome to Ramadan and First Lesson on the Virtues of Ramadan Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Second Lesson on the Respect of Ramadan – Part 2 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Third Lesson On The Horrific Consequences Of Desecrating Ramadan – Part 3 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Fourth Lesson on the Fasting Of Ramadan and its Intention – Part 4 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Lessons Five and Six on the Rulings (Ahkaam) And Laws (Masaail) Of Taraweeh Part 5 and 6 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Seventh Lesson On Sehri [Pre-Dawn Meal] Part 7 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Eighth Lesson on Iftar – Part 8 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Ninth Lesson on Rulings and Laws Related to Fasting – Part 9 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Tenth Lesson On Rulings And Laws Related To Fasting – Part 10 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Eleventh Lesson on Rulings Regarding Fasting and the Conditions That Permit Refraining From Fasting - Part 11 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Twelfth Lesson on Rulings Related to Qazaa, Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 12 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: 13th Lesson on Rulings of Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 13 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Fourteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 14 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Fifteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 15 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Sixteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 16 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Zakaat in the Light of the Quran and Hadith – Part 17 The Rulings and Laws of Zakaat: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 18 The Virtues and Laws of I’tikaaf: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 19 The Virtues of the Qadr Night or Lailatul Qadr: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 20 Fasting and Modern Science: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 21 Some Facts about The Holy Quran: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 22 Virtues and Rulings about the Recitation of the Holy Quran: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 23 Ramadan—the Month of Generosity and Charity: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 24 The Importance of Halal Sustenance: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 25 URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/rights-neighbours-ramadan-part-26/d/129579 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

Gun, Nation And Religion

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 16 April 2023 "Drill Into The Brain Of A Child That A Specific Community, Race, Religion Or A Group Of People Is Your Enemy And He'll Be Comfortable With This Prejudice Till The End. He'll Never Scrutinize That Wrong Notion Because Harbouring A Prejudice Is Always Easier Than Getting Rid Of It And Loving Someone Wholeheartedly." Dr Martin Luther King Jr. I'm terribly disturbed to read (I got to see the video as well) that a few Hindu boys stripped an 11-yr-old Muslim minor and forced him to chant ' Jai Sri Ram ' and ' Pakistan Murdabad'. This happened in Indore. This ' Jai Sri Ram ' slogan seems to have become a passport to committing crimes of all sorts from beating a helpless Muslim child to killing (as in the case of Atiq and Ashraf's brutal killings when all three Hindu criminals were shouting 'Jai Sri Ram'). But let me first write and condemn what happened in MP. That kids are being indoctrinated and instigated to browbeat the minorities is a glaring sign that the country has become religiously too sensitive, polluted and prejudiced. Just imagine, these kids will become tomorrow's adults and the kind of venom and religious hatred they'll be filled with because their brains are already indoctrinated with putrid bilge of religion and nation. The three young miscreants, who killed Atiq and Ashraf, belonged to lowly and impoverished Hindu families and one of them even begged to survive. They shouted 'Jai Sri Ram' while pumping bullets into the bodies of the criminal brothers, who were no saints either. This has halved the country into two distinct blocks: Hindus and Muslims. Since these scum of the earth killed two 'Muslim' demons, they're being held as ' Saviours of Sanatan Dharm' and even being compared to the great Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. All three valiant revolutionaries must be agonizing wherever they're! Instead of condemning, many Hindus are happy and projecting these three as heroes. This shows the turbid national spirit and a totally transformed mindset of its people who're now too much into religiosity and bellicose nationalism. No exaggeration, but if the truth must be told, new India is thriving on gun, nation and religion culture. This doesn't portend well for the country. We're living in critical times. This rabid religiosity and national tendency to hail the Hindu criminals will further widen the chasm. ---- 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/gun-nation-religion/d/129578 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

Muslims Are NOT Arabs On Indian Soil

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 15 April 2023 While I respect Dr Anburaj and for that matter, everyone on this forum, I beg to differ with him that Muslims are Arabs on Indian soil. First of all, hardly any educated Muslim considers a Hindu to be a Kafir. Agreed, there're such Muslims who call Hindus Kafir/infidels, but don't exceptions prove the rule? Muslims of India are Indianised Muslims. Since Dr Anburaj is from the southern part of the country, he must be aware that Kerala had the first mosque outside Arab Peninsula when even Muhammad was alive! You should read Kerala's great Muslim writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's stories. Years ago, I read one of his short stories translated into Urdu. I don't know Malayalam. So, here's the translation in Urdu. The protagonist says, "Mujhe Is-Se Kuchh Sarokaar Nahin Ke Mere Purkhe Kahan Se Aur Kab Aaye. Meri Paidaish Yahan Ki Hai Aur Sarzameen-E-Hindustan Meri Apni Hai " (I've no truck with my ancestors and I don't care from where they came. I was born here and India is my home). You cannot deny the role and existence of Muslims who've been living here ever since Islam came into being. Too much bitterness is not going to lead us anywhere. One may say that I've started favouring Muslims whom I disliked until yesterday. No, it's not a change of stance with a hidden agenda. It's a conscious change of attitude, if still not a change of heart. To me, all religions, including Islam and your Hinduism, are extremely bad and absolutely useless. I ridicule them and will continue to. But should I hate every Muslim ( or Hindu) I come across? Won't that be like throwing the baby out with the bathwater? Humans evolve continuously and they need to. Yesterday's naked anger mellows into bearable and constructive criticism and that's wisdom. I'm not sermonising and preaching. In these times, when the whole country is polarised and there's a marked binary of Us-and-Them, it's time to rethink and rejig our priorities and perceptions about those we've been condemning for years. Rabid hatred is often implacable. It cauterizes. So, it's time for all of us to shed our bags of prejudices and think beyond religions, books, gods and rituals. Humanity is the greatest religion and mankind is a very big family. Remember, Neil Armstrong's words, " Seeing our earth's speck like existence from the space, I realized that more than our insignificant national and religious identities, it was a boundless universal identity without divisions, demarcations and distinctions that we all needed urgently." Think over his words. ---- 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/interfaith-dialogue/muslims-arabs-indian-soil/d/129570 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

Ramadan—the Month of Generosity and Charity: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 24

By Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam Translated into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 15 April 2023 Ramadan—the Month of Generosity and Charity Ramadan is a time for performing good actions. It depicts several methods of performing good actions. The importance of reward increases in this month compared to other months, as evidenced by hadiths. Mercy, good treatment with the families, and charity are other effective ways to carry out good deeds throughout this blessed month. On regular days, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would pour out rivers of compassion and charity. However, the river of his kindness used to flow faster during Ramadan. In this regard, Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) was the most generous of people, but in the month of Ramadan, he became more generous than the wind for all kinds of good. (Bukhari and Muslim) When describing this hadith, Ibn Hajar Asqalani states: "Just as the bounties of a strong wind are frequent and everything receives its benefit quickly, similarly, the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to bestow blessings upon people with speed." (Page 39 of Majlis Ramadaniya) In "Lataaif al-Ma'arif", it is stated to what extent the Prophet (peace be upon him) was benevolent and generous. He used to shower the people with beauty and enlightenment and devote all of his wealth to serving them and advancing the cause of Islam. He used to feed the poor, give them direction, and attend to all of their needs. (Also p. 39) All through the year, one should perform an act of kindness that Allah Almighty himself has commanded, with the only purpose of gaining His pleasure. The noble deed of generosity should be enhanced as well as all other forms of prayer and acts that please our Lord when the Holy Month of Ramadan begins. The prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, “Ramadan is an honourable and blessed month, and the rewards for generosity are multiplied in it. The best charity is that which is given in Ramadan” (Tirmidhi). This Hadith demonstrates how giving to others is more valuable during Ramadan. Ramadan is thus a time of Sadaqah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) describes the benefits of generosity, saying that "it [Sadaqah] extinguishes the wrath of the Almighty and averts an evil death." (Tirmidhi, Vol. 2, p. 146) The Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said: Verily, by the acts of charity and mercy, Allah extends life [of those practise generosity and mercy], prevents evil death and eliminates disgust and terror. (Musnad Anas Ibn Malik 3 p. 398) Spending, in this blessed month, the wealth provided by Allah Almighty is the way for someone to be purified of their sins. As demonstrated by the hadith reported in Sahih Muslim, "Sadaqah does not decrease one's wealth; rather, it is the cause of more wealth and blessing," The Holy Qur'an also attests to this fact: “Allah deprives interest of all blessing, whereas He blesses charity with growth.” (2:276) During Ramadan, when we experience the effects of hunger while fasting, we develop closer bonds with those who frequently experience hunger as a result of a lack of food. Thus, there are two advantages to fasting. It tests your self-control and your obedience to Allah, the Almighty, and it constantly acts as a reminder of the predicament of those who are enduring hunger. This emotion inspires and empowers us to assist others. Giving to these families this month will have a positive spiritual and material impact on them. The scholars of Ahlus Sunnah frequently cite a pertinent Hadith in this regard: "In the sight of Allah Almighty, the most beloved deed of all, after the obligatory acts, is to make a Muslim happy." (Al-Mu’jam al-Awsat 6/73) The best method to make others happy is through charity; therefore during this month of Ramadan, one must strive to do as many good deeds as they can by meeting as many needs of people as they can. May Allah Almighty grant us all to do this action! Aameen (Continued) ------- Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi is the author of multiple books. He has also lectured and held positions such as Mufti, Shaykhul Hadith, president, founder, and director at a number of institutions, including Darul Uloom Ghousia in Hubli, Karnataka, and Darul Uoom Solemaniya Rahmaniya in Bikaner Darul Uloom Reza-e-Mustafa, Bihar, Madrasa Shah Khalid, Vanwa Libo Muslim League, Fiji (near Australia), Madina Educational Society, Rajasthan. He currently holds the positions of Mufti in the Sunni Darul Ifta in the Madina Masjid, General Secretary of the Raza Foundation, Director of the Darain Academy, Founder of the Afkar-e- Raza Institution, and Chief Editor of the Do-Maahi Raza-e-Madina (Urdu, Hindi) in Azadnagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Previous Articles: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Welcome to Ramadan and First Lesson on the Virtues of Ramadan Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Second Lesson on the Respect of Ramadan – Part 2 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Third Lesson On The Horrific Consequences Of Desecrating Ramadan – Part 3 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Fourth Lesson on the Fasting Of Ramadan and its Intention – Part 4 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Lessons Five and Six on the Rulings (Ahkaam) And Laws (Masaail) Of Taraweeh Part 5 and 6 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Seventh Lesson On Sehri [Pre-Dawn Meal] Part 7 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Eighth Lesson on Iftar – Part 8 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Ninth Lesson on Rulings and Laws Related to Fasting – Part 9 Thirty Lessons Of Ramadan: Tenth Lesson On Rulings And Laws Related To Fasting – Part 10 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Eleventh Lesson on Rulings Regarding Fasting and the Conditions That Permit Refraining From Fasting - Part 11 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Twelfth Lesson on Rulings Related to Qazaa, Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 12 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: 13th Lesson on Rulings of Kaffarah and Fidyah – Part 13 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Fourteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 14 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Fifteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 15 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: The Sixteenth Lesson on the Updated Guidelines for the Treatment in the State of Fasting – Part 16 Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Zakaat in the Light of the Quran and Hadith – Part 17 The Rulings and Laws of Zakaat: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 18 The Virtues and Laws of I’tikaaf: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 19 The Virtues of the Qadr Night or Lailatul Qadr: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 20 Fasting and Modern Science: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 21 Some Facts about The Holy Quran: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan - Part 22 Virtues and Rulings about the Recitation of the Holy Quran: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan – Part 23 URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/ramadan-generosity-charity-part-24-/d/129569 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