Showing posts with label Indian Muslim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indian Muslim. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
India's religious minorities and Dalits weep alone
By John Dayal,
India’s several religious minorities weep alone when they are in pain. So to do the Dalits and the Indigenous people, called Tribals or Adivasis.
There are a few vibrant human rights groups, who organize factfinding missions, go to the media and demonstrate before parliament. But there has seldom been a national outrage, cutting across ethnicities, languages and caste barriers, which would force policy and judicial reforms, or change the mindset that has fueled so much violence since independence.
The most terrible single episode in this tortured history was the massacre of almost 5,000 Sikhs, 3,500 of them in the national capital Delhi, in October 1984.
The chain of events began when then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi sent the Army into the Golden Temple, holy to the Sikhs, to neutralize a group of armed extremists. The Army killed the leader of the group, Bhindranwale, and destroyed the Akal Takht, the seat of supreme command of the faith.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Minorityism of the majority rule
By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net
A new regime is in town and there is a rush to pledge allegiance to the new power. The power brokers that reside in Delhi (and there are many of them there) need to make peace with the new power centres or be forced to close their shop, so they decided to sing paens to the new King of Delhi.
In past few days statements are floating from Muslim leaders and organizations ranging from telling Muslims not to fear the new regime to wishing a long life to the new PM to the nephew-faction of the oldest Muslim organization deciding to engage with Modi-led government.
But these are the outsiders who spent last few years bitterly opposed to Modi. They are just trying to be on the good side of the government. We have to look up the statements of the Muslims who can be considered insiders to understand what will be the fate of the Muslims in this new regime.
Najma Heptulla is a political nobody who spent a lifetime in Congress as one of the several Muslim faces and amply rewarded for it by not only being a Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha for twenty-four long years but also being Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha for sixteen of those years.
A new regime is in town and there is a rush to pledge allegiance to the new power. The power brokers that reside in Delhi (and there are many of them there) need to make peace with the new power centres or be forced to close their shop, so they decided to sing paens to the new King of Delhi.
In past few days statements are floating from Muslim leaders and organizations ranging from telling Muslims not to fear the new regime to wishing a long life to the new PM to the nephew-faction of the oldest Muslim organization deciding to engage with Modi-led government.
But these are the outsiders who spent last few years bitterly opposed to Modi. They are just trying to be on the good side of the government. We have to look up the statements of the Muslims who can be considered insiders to understand what will be the fate of the Muslims in this new regime.
Najma Heptulla is a political nobody who spent a lifetime in Congress as one of the several Muslim faces and amply rewarded for it by not only being a Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha for twenty-four long years but also being Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha for sixteen of those years.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Complainant blasts Swamy’s “political vendetta” charge
By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: After the Delhi Police filed an FIR against Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy for spreading enmity between two communities through a hateful newspaper article, Swamy has been on defensive and trying to project the case as political vendetta for his active role in exposing the 2G scam. But the first and original complainant against Swamy’s article has blasted the charge.
The Crime Branch of Delhi Police on Monday registered the case under Section 153A (spreading enmity between communities) of Indian Penal Code for his article published on 16th July 2011 in the DNA newspaper. Swamy said that the FIR about three months after his article was published is a clear case of political vendetta.
Subramanian Swamy
But the first complainant against Swamy’s hateful article, Mr Shehzad Poonawala, a 24-years law student in Delhi, said the complaint against Swamy was registered with the Delhi Police within 24 hours of the publication of his article in July itself. Harvard-educated economics scholar, Swamy’s article 'How to wipe out Islamic terror' was published on 16th July in Mumbai-based English daily DNA. Aggrieved with the highly inflammatory and hateful article, Shehzad Poonawa had approached Defence Colony Police Station in Delhi on 17th July with a written complaint against Swamy.
In July the 2G scam probe was not as hot as it is today and the Central Government was not facing as much humiliation as it is today particularly after the exposure of PMO note making the thing messier than ever. Rather the Congress-led UPA had an upper hand for not hesitating to send even cabinet minister to jail for his alleged involvement in the scam.
New Delhi: After the Delhi Police filed an FIR against Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy for spreading enmity between two communities through a hateful newspaper article, Swamy has been on defensive and trying to project the case as political vendetta for his active role in exposing the 2G scam. But the first and original complainant against Swamy’s article has blasted the charge.
The Crime Branch of Delhi Police on Monday registered the case under Section 153A (spreading enmity between communities) of Indian Penal Code for his article published on 16th July 2011 in the DNA newspaper. Swamy said that the FIR about three months after his article was published is a clear case of political vendetta.
Subramanian Swamy
But the first complainant against Swamy’s hateful article, Mr Shehzad Poonawala, a 24-years law student in Delhi, said the complaint against Swamy was registered with the Delhi Police within 24 hours of the publication of his article in July itself. Harvard-educated economics scholar, Swamy’s article 'How to wipe out Islamic terror' was published on 16th July in Mumbai-based English daily DNA. Aggrieved with the highly inflammatory and hateful article, Shehzad Poonawa had approached Defence Colony Police Station in Delhi on 17th July with a written complaint against Swamy.
In July the 2G scam probe was not as hot as it is today and the Central Government was not facing as much humiliation as it is today particularly after the exposure of PMO note making the thing messier than ever. Rather the Congress-led UPA had an upper hand for not hesitating to send even cabinet minister to jail for his alleged involvement in the scam.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Why “they” love to hate a young, educated Muslim?
By Shehzad Poonawalla,
It’s been 63 years since we became independent but how many more years it will take for us to become liberated is anyone’s guess. As vocal democrats and committed secular liberals, my family has been at the forefront of shunning those who speak the language of fundamentalism and violence, whatever be the hue of this hate-filled ideology- green or saffron. For us, those who instigate in the name of political Islam and those who uncork the poisonous vials of political Hindutva, represent the two sides of the same coin.
My brother Tehseen has been a prolific writer and an open supporter of better ties between India and Pakistan. In article after article, he has justified why we need to choose peace over war and how India’s true position in the comity of nations would be attained by eliminating visible poverty, which should be our most important constitutional commitment. Yet it seems that, a vocal section, those who have made nationalism and patriotism their sole privilege, would continue echoing an outdated line of how my brother is sympathetic to Pakistan (because he happens to be Muslim) and should be asked to leave India.
It’s been 63 years since we became independent but how many more years it will take for us to become liberated is anyone’s guess. As vocal democrats and committed secular liberals, my family has been at the forefront of shunning those who speak the language of fundamentalism and violence, whatever be the hue of this hate-filled ideology- green or saffron. For us, those who instigate in the name of political Islam and those who uncork the poisonous vials of political Hindutva, represent the two sides of the same coin.
My brother Tehseen has been a prolific writer and an open supporter of better ties between India and Pakistan. In article after article, he has justified why we need to choose peace over war and how India’s true position in the comity of nations would be attained by eliminating visible poverty, which should be our most important constitutional commitment. Yet it seems that, a vocal section, those who have made nationalism and patriotism their sole privilege, would continue echoing an outdated line of how my brother is sympathetic to Pakistan (because he happens to be Muslim) and should be asked to leave India.
 | Translation: "Mr. Shehzad Poonawalla. Jay Maharashtra We have learnt through Facebook that you are going to celebrate Valentine's Day. V-Day is western culture. It is alien to Hindu Culture. Therefore, the Shiv Sena opposes it time and again. Therefore, we ask you not to celebrate V-Day. Or else we will protest against this in the 'Shiv Sena' style. This be noted. Janu Akhade Former Councillor (Pune Municipal Corporation) Vadgaon Sheri Vidhansabha Matdar Sangh Jayesh Pawar Shiv Sena functionary/incharge, Yerwada, Pune" |
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
A plan for minority development
By Moosa Raza,
The main minorities in India are Muslims and Christians. At the all-India level, Muslims form close to 15% of the population. There are other minorities like Sikhs and Jains but they are dominant minorities. But among all the Minorities, both in terms of education, economic development and share in both public and private services, Muslims are at the bottom of the ladder. They are the deprived minorities; their share in the national cake is far less than their population warrants.
Statistics have been analysed by the Sachar Committee, I cannot refrain from highlighting only a couple of them.
According to Census data, while about 7% of the population aged 20 years are graduates or hold technical diplomas, this proportion is less than 4% among Muslims, and less than 1% have technical education.
Only 3.6% of Muslims are graduates. 25% of Muslims children in the 6-14 age group have either never attended school or have dropped out. A majority of these are girls. That is why more than 50% of Muslim women are classified among illiterates, even by the minimalist definition of literacy – mere reading and writing and arithmetic.
1. The large scale illiteracy among mothers especially in rural areas. Hence, they are unable to educate their children at home.
2. Absence of all-girl schools within easy reach for girls.
3. Absence of transport arrangements to go to school.
4. Economic necessity of retaining girls to look after younger siblings.
5. Demand for dowry by the bridegroom and his family, which the economically depressed cannot afford.
6. Finding well educated grooms for educated girls of equivalent level.
7. The feeling that if one has to choose between spending your meager resources on educating a boy or a girl, the cost/benefit ratio goes in favour of the son.
8. Absence of girls hostels and safe transport for college girls specially in the uncertain security scenario.
The main minorities in India are Muslims and Christians. At the all-India level, Muslims form close to 15% of the population. There are other minorities like Sikhs and Jains but they are dominant minorities. But among all the Minorities, both in terms of education, economic development and share in both public and private services, Muslims are at the bottom of the ladder. They are the deprived minorities; their share in the national cake is far less than their population warrants.
Statistics have been analysed by the Sachar Committee, I cannot refrain from highlighting only a couple of them.
According to Census data, while about 7% of the population aged 20 years are graduates or hold technical diplomas, this proportion is less than 4% among Muslims, and less than 1% have technical education.
Only 3.6% of Muslims are graduates. 25% of Muslims children in the 6-14 age group have either never attended school or have dropped out. A majority of these are girls. That is why more than 50% of Muslim women are classified among illiterates, even by the minimalist definition of literacy – mere reading and writing and arithmetic.
1. The large scale illiteracy among mothers especially in rural areas. Hence, they are unable to educate their children at home.
2. Absence of all-girl schools within easy reach for girls.
3. Absence of transport arrangements to go to school.
4. Economic necessity of retaining girls to look after younger siblings.
5. Demand for dowry by the bridegroom and his family, which the economically depressed cannot afford.
6. Finding well educated grooms for educated girls of equivalent level.
7. The feeling that if one has to choose between spending your meager resources on educating a boy or a girl, the cost/benefit ratio goes in favour of the son.
8. Absence of girls hostels and safe transport for college girls specially in the uncertain security scenario.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Ayodhya, Babri Masjid and status-quo
By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net
Liberhan Commission investigating destruction of Babri Masjid was given 48 extensions before it submitted its final report after a delay of 17 years. Allahabad High Court directive to maintain status quo on Babri Masjid site after its judgment in the title suit has already been given one extension and its second deadline is February 15th of this year. It is safe to assume that it will be given extensions for many years to come. By delaying action or resolution we are making the problem bigger and even more difficult to resolve.
Recently, I was part of a panel on BBC Radio’s Beyond Belief program to discuss Ayodhya dispute, importance of Babri Masjid, and implication of the Ayodhya verdict by the High Court. With me on the panel were Dr. Raj Sharma, a Hindu priest based in UK and Dr John Zavos, Lecturer in South Asian Studies at the University of Manchester.
Click here to listen to the program: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00xpnd4
Liberhan Commission investigating destruction of Babri Masjid was given 48 extensions before it submitted its final report after a delay of 17 years. Allahabad High Court directive to maintain status quo on Babri Masjid site after its judgment in the title suit has already been given one extension and its second deadline is February 15th of this year. It is safe to assume that it will be given extensions for many years to come. By delaying action or resolution we are making the problem bigger and even more difficult to resolve.
Recently, I was part of a panel on BBC Radio’s Beyond Belief program to discuss Ayodhya dispute, importance of Babri Masjid, and implication of the Ayodhya verdict by the High Court. With me on the panel were Dr. Raj Sharma, a Hindu priest based in UK and Dr John Zavos, Lecturer in South Asian Studies at the University of Manchester.
Click here to listen to the program: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00xpnd4
Monday, November 15, 2010
Why are Muslims not succeeding?
By Fatima Tanveer,
Mr. Kaleem Khwaja's article "Why Indians are succeeding in US but not Indian Muslims?" needs to be read between the lines. Though it is a criticism of the way of living of Indian Muslims based in US, it reflects the pain and anguish of Mr. Khwaja seeing his co-religionists from India not succeeding in the same degree as non-Muslims from the sub-continent.
For any community to grow, it requires a favorable political atmosphere for the members of the community in the country because the political system and state administration plays a vital role in any kind of development. And it becomes very difficult if the administration and political system do not cooperate with the members of the community.
The news available through print, television and internet media indicate there is deep Islamophobia generated throughout the length and breadth of US after 9/11 when twin World Trade Towers were attacked by suspected Muslims. There is a strong bias among the US Christians against Islam and Muslims and entire atmosphere has turned extremely hostile for Muslims. In such a situation, it will become extremely difficult for any Muslim to make any remarkable achievement particularly in electoral politics in which support is given on the basis of religious, caste and regional identities. It is not true of India only but the entire world.
So, non-Muslim Indians Bobby Jindal or for that matter Nikki Haley won the elections to become governors of their respective states because they happened to be Christians. Even US president Barack Hussein Obama had to several times prove his Christian identity when he came under severe attack from his Republican opponents for his father's Muslim background.
Muslims in ‘liberal’ Europe
And in fact, the same anti-Muslim sentiment prevails in the rest of the world including. Europe. All of us know that Bosnian Muslims had almost assimilated themselves with the rest of the Yugoslavians. No one could recognize from their dresses and outer appearance if he/she is a Muslim. When Yugoslavia split and different regional identities demanded independence for their respective regions, it was quite natural for Bosnians (most of them Muslims) to demand an independent state for themselves.
But the world powers like Britain said that an independent Muslim state can not be allowed inside Europe, indicating a clear bias against Muslims and Islam at a time when no incidents like 9/11 involving Muslims had taken place. And all of us know what happened to Bosnian Muslims and how they were treated. Such a savagery had never been witnessed in the recent human history. And Bosnian Muslims had to pay the price for simply identifying themselves as Muslims.
Interesting example of Turkey
Turkey, with half of its geographical area in Europe and the remaining half in Asia, is another example of facing discrimination because of its majority population being Muslims though it is among the most secular of Muslim nations in the world.
The grand Blue Mosque in Istanbul was converted into a national museum by Turkey's Muslim army under Kamal Ataturk on the ground that it was once a Church and hence, it can't continue as a mosque. And it is still a museum.
Wearing of Muslim head scarf for women and a Turkish cap for men was banned in that country to prove Turkey's secular credentials and in a bid to Westernize(or culturally Christianize) it.
Yet, Turkey has yet not been incorporated as a member of the European Union (or better call it a Christian Union because all EU members are Christian majority states) for the simple reason of Turkey carrying a Muslim identity.
People of Turkish origin numbering around four millions in Germany are taunted as people with low intelligent quotient simply because they happen to be Muslims. And recent wave of ban on full veils or wearing of head scarves by Muslim women in France and other European countries, publication of derogatory cartoons of Prophet Muhammed (Peace be Upon Him) indicates the deep-rooted hatred against Muslims in European Christian society, hinting how difficult it will be for Muslims to make political, social, educational, cultural and economic advancement.
Muslims in ‘USSR’
Let's now come to another side of the world including Russia. A number of Muslim majority areas like Kazakastan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan etc were part of USSR for several decades. Yet, these areas did not witness the kind of industrial and economic development like other parts of USSR with Christian or non-Muslim majority.
Though USSR was a communist ruled country with not favoring any particular religion, yet Muslim areas faced discrimination. And when they became independent after break up of USSR, we know what was the condition of these Muslim majority states known as Commonwealth of Independent States(CIS) despite the fact most of these states are rich in petroleum and natural resources.
Disaster in the Arab world
Coming to the Muslim Arab world, Iraq occupied by US-led Christian forces was militarily the most powerful in the Gulf region and it was the only country with some degree of military might to challenge Israel.
President Saddam Hussein had his training in a communist set up and was also not a religious fundamentalist. Yet, the Christian world decimated Iraq to ensure that there is no threat to Israel, an extension of Christian US in the Gulf region.
Now, the Christian powers are planning to target Iran, the only other Muslim country in the Gulf region with a powerful military. However, with US and European economy taking a slide down and global strategic situations going against US- led Christian world, Iran has got a temporary respite.
But the economic and trade sanctions, imposed by manipulating the United Nations has been aimed to spoil Iran’s economy and ensure it dies a slow death.
Muslims in India
Now let me come to the Muslim situation in my own country. In the last 60 years of independence, Muslim Indians have been reduced to the status of the most backward communities as proved by the Sachar committee report.
On the other hand Dalits who were at the bottom in every sphere of life have made much progress by governmental intervention through reservations in jobs, educational institutions, assemblies and parliament.
Muslim representation in parliament and state assemblies has been going down continuously. Despite Muslims accounting for 13.4 % (2001 Census) of India's population, their representation in the centers of political power is miniscule.
Prejudice against Muslims is so rampant that they can’t buy houses and properties in non-Muslim localities in major metros like Delhi, Mumbai and even Ahmedabad.
Every body knows how film actor and parliamentarian Shabana Azmi couldn’t buy a flat in an elite locality in Mumbai some time ago. The state sponsored killing of Muslims and destruction of their properties in the anti-Muslim pogrom in Gujarat in 2002 with the accused roaming freely is before every body to see.
Since Independence, Muslim Indians are facing terror in shape of communal riots in which state agencies have been found to be by and large biased against Muslims.
How can then Muslims be expected to grow at the same pace and make achievement of the same degree like non-Muslims?
It is not that Muslim leadership has not made efforts to improve the situation. They have made best of the efforts in the past and are still making an effort in that direction. Yet, the success has eluded them all.
It is a to be given a deep thought and prepare the next generation on how to steer the community towards its overall improvement and betterment of the country and the world, while at the same time preserving our religious and cultural identities as per the guidelines laid down in the Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet(PUBH).
We need not lose hope. We must repose our trust in Allah, the Almighty and strive with patience and perseverance for improving the situation.
The kind of progress being made by Muslim boys and girls in the field of education in the last few years in India will, Inshallah, change the Muslim situation for the better in the next two decades.
Source : http://www.twocircles.net/2010nov15/why_are_muslims_not_succeeding.html
Mr. Kaleem Khwaja's article "Why Indians are succeeding in US but not Indian Muslims?" needs to be read between the lines. Though it is a criticism of the way of living of Indian Muslims based in US, it reflects the pain and anguish of Mr. Khwaja seeing his co-religionists from India not succeeding in the same degree as non-Muslims from the sub-continent.
For any community to grow, it requires a favorable political atmosphere for the members of the community in the country because the political system and state administration plays a vital role in any kind of development. And it becomes very difficult if the administration and political system do not cooperate with the members of the community.
The news available through print, television and internet media indicate there is deep Islamophobia generated throughout the length and breadth of US after 9/11 when twin World Trade Towers were attacked by suspected Muslims. There is a strong bias among the US Christians against Islam and Muslims and entire atmosphere has turned extremely hostile for Muslims. In such a situation, it will become extremely difficult for any Muslim to make any remarkable achievement particularly in electoral politics in which support is given on the basis of religious, caste and regional identities. It is not true of India only but the entire world.
So, non-Muslim Indians Bobby Jindal or for that matter Nikki Haley won the elections to become governors of their respective states because they happened to be Christians. Even US president Barack Hussein Obama had to several times prove his Christian identity when he came under severe attack from his Republican opponents for his father's Muslim background.
Muslims in ‘liberal’ Europe
And in fact, the same anti-Muslim sentiment prevails in the rest of the world including. Europe. All of us know that Bosnian Muslims had almost assimilated themselves with the rest of the Yugoslavians. No one could recognize from their dresses and outer appearance if he/she is a Muslim. When Yugoslavia split and different regional identities demanded independence for their respective regions, it was quite natural for Bosnians (most of them Muslims) to demand an independent state for themselves.
But the world powers like Britain said that an independent Muslim state can not be allowed inside Europe, indicating a clear bias against Muslims and Islam at a time when no incidents like 9/11 involving Muslims had taken place. And all of us know what happened to Bosnian Muslims and how they were treated. Such a savagery had never been witnessed in the recent human history. And Bosnian Muslims had to pay the price for simply identifying themselves as Muslims.
Interesting example of Turkey
Turkey, with half of its geographical area in Europe and the remaining half in Asia, is another example of facing discrimination because of its majority population being Muslims though it is among the most secular of Muslim nations in the world.
The grand Blue Mosque in Istanbul was converted into a national museum by Turkey's Muslim army under Kamal Ataturk on the ground that it was once a Church and hence, it can't continue as a mosque. And it is still a museum.
Wearing of Muslim head scarf for women and a Turkish cap for men was banned in that country to prove Turkey's secular credentials and in a bid to Westernize(or culturally Christianize) it.
Yet, Turkey has yet not been incorporated as a member of the European Union (or better call it a Christian Union because all EU members are Christian majority states) for the simple reason of Turkey carrying a Muslim identity.
People of Turkish origin numbering around four millions in Germany are taunted as people with low intelligent quotient simply because they happen to be Muslims. And recent wave of ban on full veils or wearing of head scarves by Muslim women in France and other European countries, publication of derogatory cartoons of Prophet Muhammed (Peace be Upon Him) indicates the deep-rooted hatred against Muslims in European Christian society, hinting how difficult it will be for Muslims to make political, social, educational, cultural and economic advancement.
Muslims in ‘USSR’
Let's now come to another side of the world including Russia. A number of Muslim majority areas like Kazakastan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan etc were part of USSR for several decades. Yet, these areas did not witness the kind of industrial and economic development like other parts of USSR with Christian or non-Muslim majority.
Though USSR was a communist ruled country with not favoring any particular religion, yet Muslim areas faced discrimination. And when they became independent after break up of USSR, we know what was the condition of these Muslim majority states known as Commonwealth of Independent States(CIS) despite the fact most of these states are rich in petroleum and natural resources.
Disaster in the Arab world
Coming to the Muslim Arab world, Iraq occupied by US-led Christian forces was militarily the most powerful in the Gulf region and it was the only country with some degree of military might to challenge Israel.
President Saddam Hussein had his training in a communist set up and was also not a religious fundamentalist. Yet, the Christian world decimated Iraq to ensure that there is no threat to Israel, an extension of Christian US in the Gulf region.
Now, the Christian powers are planning to target Iran, the only other Muslim country in the Gulf region with a powerful military. However, with US and European economy taking a slide down and global strategic situations going against US- led Christian world, Iran has got a temporary respite.
But the economic and trade sanctions, imposed by manipulating the United Nations has been aimed to spoil Iran’s economy and ensure it dies a slow death.
Muslims in India
Now let me come to the Muslim situation in my own country. In the last 60 years of independence, Muslim Indians have been reduced to the status of the most backward communities as proved by the Sachar committee report.
On the other hand Dalits who were at the bottom in every sphere of life have made much progress by governmental intervention through reservations in jobs, educational institutions, assemblies and parliament.
Muslim representation in parliament and state assemblies has been going down continuously. Despite Muslims accounting for 13.4 % (2001 Census) of India's population, their representation in the centers of political power is miniscule.
Prejudice against Muslims is so rampant that they can’t buy houses and properties in non-Muslim localities in major metros like Delhi, Mumbai and even Ahmedabad.
Every body knows how film actor and parliamentarian Shabana Azmi couldn’t buy a flat in an elite locality in Mumbai some time ago. The state sponsored killing of Muslims and destruction of their properties in the anti-Muslim pogrom in Gujarat in 2002 with the accused roaming freely is before every body to see.
Since Independence, Muslim Indians are facing terror in shape of communal riots in which state agencies have been found to be by and large biased against Muslims.
How can then Muslims be expected to grow at the same pace and make achievement of the same degree like non-Muslims?
It is not that Muslim leadership has not made efforts to improve the situation. They have made best of the efforts in the past and are still making an effort in that direction. Yet, the success has eluded them all.
It is a to be given a deep thought and prepare the next generation on how to steer the community towards its overall improvement and betterment of the country and the world, while at the same time preserving our religious and cultural identities as per the guidelines laid down in the Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet(PUBH).
We need not lose hope. We must repose our trust in Allah, the Almighty and strive with patience and perseverance for improving the situation.
The kind of progress being made by Muslim boys and girls in the field of education in the last few years in India will, Inshallah, change the Muslim situation for the better in the next two decades.
Source : http://www.twocircles.net/2010nov15/why_are_muslims_not_succeeding.html
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
What happened at Ayodhya 155 years ago?
By Md. Aziz Haider,
Ayodhya genie is out of the bottle again. BJP President has urged the Muslims to hand over the claim of mosque at Ayodhya to Hindus while All India Babri Masjid Action Committee convenor Zafaryab Jilani has rejected the offer claiming that BJP is yet to change its mindset.The Court is scheduled to give its verdict shortly. With mistrust prevailing between both communities, it is not possible to get to a change. As long as there is sincere will to come to some solution, no solution can be reached.
Looking back in history, we found one particular incident very similar to the Babri Masjid Ram Janambhoomi issue. Let’s look at the issue, how it was flared up and how a solution was reached. It is said, if there is a will, there is a way! Read on.
Hanumangarhi, not to be confused with the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid site, is a cluster of temples in Ayodhya. The temples, it is said, were built by the money of Nawab Safdarjung, great grandfather of Wajid Ali Shah. A Muslim living with Hindus in this area (most likely instigated by the British or by those who do not like co-existence between the two communities) came out proclaiming that Hindus have demolished a mosque that was situated in between the temple complex. The matter took a serious turn as about a dozen Hindus and more than 70 Muslims got killed in the communal clash that followed. The Muslims presented a petition to the Nawab and beseeched him to intervene as a Muslim on this plaint. Not to go by what they wanted, Wajid Ali Shah instituted a commission, setting a 3-member committee consisting of a Muslim, a Hindu and a British officer. These three men were Raja Man Singh, Agha Ali Khan- the nazim at Faizabad and Captain Orr of the East India Company.
The Commission reported that there was no mosque within the precincts of Hanumangarhi.These three men went to Ayodhya and succeeded in bringing Hindus and Muslims together.Agreement was arrived and a deed of compromise executed.
The matter would have been settled but some Muslims started an agitation claiming it to be an act of appeasement. A Muslim Maulvi Ameer Ali threatening Jehad vowed to go to Ayodhya and rebuild the mosque. As he with his followers marched to Ayodhya, the Nawab sought the fatwa of the chief cleric Mujtahid Sayyad Muhammad Nasirabad, a scholar of the famous Khandan-e-Ijtihaad family. The chief cleric in consultation with the senior most Ulema from Firangi Mahal (another Muslim institution of repute) ruled that since it was established that there was no mosque, constructing the mosque was not permissible by Islam as it would hurt the sensibilities of the Hindus. Armed with the fatwa, the Nawabs forces confronted Maulvi Ameer Ali and his followers at Rudauli, a little distance away from Faizabad, as he proceeded towards Ayodhya.
In the battle that ensued, Ameer Ali was killed and his followers either killed or made to flee.And the Hanumangarhi episode was resolved once and for all.
The great justice that the erstwhile Nawab of Lucknow may have delivered also left several detractors. It is nearly impossible that each and everybody gets pleased. But a sincere willingness to find a ompromise is the need of the hour without which it will not be possible to do away with widespread discontent.
Acts like those of last Nawab of Awadh laid the foundations of that great Hindu-Muslim unity,which historians never fail to mention. It was due to this that when the Nawab was dethroned by the British about a year later, a general atmosphere of restlessness prevailed all over Awadh,which resulted in several skirmishes even prior to the great fight for independence in 1857.Nearly the entire population of Awadh fought against the British forces in 1857; some of the fiercest battles took place on the banks of Gomti in Lucknow and Ganga in Cawnpore (Kanpur),where Hindus and Muslims fought shoulder to shoulder with their common enemy. And it was not mere co-incidence that Mangal Pandey, who actually started it all at a remote cantonment in Meerut, belonged to a small village near Faizabad, in the very vicinity of Ayodhya itself.
Nearly a century and a half later, a similar story has been enacted. Hindus and Muslims came to loggerheads at the same venue Ayodhya. We have seen that even the intervention of Shankaracharya of Kanchi failed to resolve the problem. Innumerable Jehadis and Kar Sewaks were born out of this conflict, which still threaten to tear the social fabric apart. Still there are some who are talking of building a monument by force, this time a temple over the ruins of a structure revered by the other community as mosque till some time back.
There is one major difference though. Politics of the vote bank has replaced the monarchy,adding new dimensions to the erstwhile divide and rule policy followed by the British. Unity between Hindus and Muslims has been made a martyr at many a sacrificial pyre, by the near fatal blows of fundamentalists and politicians.
And instead of a quick and impartial resolution to the conflict, the matter is simmering since decades, whose most brutal eruptions have lately been seen, time and again.
Is there a silver lining then? Can the politicians be trusted that they won’t dip their loaf of bread in a little more of human blood before eating? Are we to know for sure whether the religious heads of either community are not nursing their own personal ambitions, political or otherwise? And are Indian Hindus and Muslims again going to act as naïve siblings unable to comprehend the ferocious propaganda aimed at them? The truth will be out in some time!
It is time for every right (not rightist) thinking citizen of India to speak now, without reconciling themselves to the decree of the politicians. Perhaps answer lies in Wajid Ali Shah’s words itself as he described the infamous Hanumangarhi episode in poetry:
Hum ishque ke bande hain mazhab se nahin vaqif Gar Kaaba hua to kya butkhana hua to kya. (We are the votaries of love and unacquainted with religion; To us it does not matter, whether it is Kaaba or a temple.)
(The author is Editor, Life Watch News)
Source : http://www.twocircles.net/?q=2010sep21/what_happened_ayodhya_155_years_ago.html
Ayodhya genie is out of the bottle again. BJP President has urged the Muslims to hand over the claim of mosque at Ayodhya to Hindus while All India Babri Masjid Action Committee convenor Zafaryab Jilani has rejected the offer claiming that BJP is yet to change its mindset.The Court is scheduled to give its verdict shortly. With mistrust prevailing between both communities, it is not possible to get to a change. As long as there is sincere will to come to some solution, no solution can be reached.
Looking back in history, we found one particular incident very similar to the Babri Masjid Ram Janambhoomi issue. Let’s look at the issue, how it was flared up and how a solution was reached. It is said, if there is a will, there is a way! Read on.
Hanumangarhi, not to be confused with the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid site, is a cluster of temples in Ayodhya. The temples, it is said, were built by the money of Nawab Safdarjung, great grandfather of Wajid Ali Shah. A Muslim living with Hindus in this area (most likely instigated by the British or by those who do not like co-existence between the two communities) came out proclaiming that Hindus have demolished a mosque that was situated in between the temple complex. The matter took a serious turn as about a dozen Hindus and more than 70 Muslims got killed in the communal clash that followed. The Muslims presented a petition to the Nawab and beseeched him to intervene as a Muslim on this plaint. Not to go by what they wanted, Wajid Ali Shah instituted a commission, setting a 3-member committee consisting of a Muslim, a Hindu and a British officer. These three men were Raja Man Singh, Agha Ali Khan- the nazim at Faizabad and Captain Orr of the East India Company.
The Commission reported that there was no mosque within the precincts of Hanumangarhi.These three men went to Ayodhya and succeeded in bringing Hindus and Muslims together.Agreement was arrived and a deed of compromise executed.
The matter would have been settled but some Muslims started an agitation claiming it to be an act of appeasement. A Muslim Maulvi Ameer Ali threatening Jehad vowed to go to Ayodhya and rebuild the mosque. As he with his followers marched to Ayodhya, the Nawab sought the fatwa of the chief cleric Mujtahid Sayyad Muhammad Nasirabad, a scholar of the famous Khandan-e-Ijtihaad family. The chief cleric in consultation with the senior most Ulema from Firangi Mahal (another Muslim institution of repute) ruled that since it was established that there was no mosque, constructing the mosque was not permissible by Islam as it would hurt the sensibilities of the Hindus. Armed with the fatwa, the Nawabs forces confronted Maulvi Ameer Ali and his followers at Rudauli, a little distance away from Faizabad, as he proceeded towards Ayodhya.
In the battle that ensued, Ameer Ali was killed and his followers either killed or made to flee.And the Hanumangarhi episode was resolved once and for all.
The great justice that the erstwhile Nawab of Lucknow may have delivered also left several detractors. It is nearly impossible that each and everybody gets pleased. But a sincere willingness to find a ompromise is the need of the hour without which it will not be possible to do away with widespread discontent.
Acts like those of last Nawab of Awadh laid the foundations of that great Hindu-Muslim unity,which historians never fail to mention. It was due to this that when the Nawab was dethroned by the British about a year later, a general atmosphere of restlessness prevailed all over Awadh,which resulted in several skirmishes even prior to the great fight for independence in 1857.Nearly the entire population of Awadh fought against the British forces in 1857; some of the fiercest battles took place on the banks of Gomti in Lucknow and Ganga in Cawnpore (Kanpur),where Hindus and Muslims fought shoulder to shoulder with their common enemy. And it was not mere co-incidence that Mangal Pandey, who actually started it all at a remote cantonment in Meerut, belonged to a small village near Faizabad, in the very vicinity of Ayodhya itself.
Nearly a century and a half later, a similar story has been enacted. Hindus and Muslims came to loggerheads at the same venue Ayodhya. We have seen that even the intervention of Shankaracharya of Kanchi failed to resolve the problem. Innumerable Jehadis and Kar Sewaks were born out of this conflict, which still threaten to tear the social fabric apart. Still there are some who are talking of building a monument by force, this time a temple over the ruins of a structure revered by the other community as mosque till some time back.
There is one major difference though. Politics of the vote bank has replaced the monarchy,adding new dimensions to the erstwhile divide and rule policy followed by the British. Unity between Hindus and Muslims has been made a martyr at many a sacrificial pyre, by the near fatal blows of fundamentalists and politicians.
And instead of a quick and impartial resolution to the conflict, the matter is simmering since decades, whose most brutal eruptions have lately been seen, time and again.
Is there a silver lining then? Can the politicians be trusted that they won’t dip their loaf of bread in a little more of human blood before eating? Are we to know for sure whether the religious heads of either community are not nursing their own personal ambitions, political or otherwise? And are Indian Hindus and Muslims again going to act as naïve siblings unable to comprehend the ferocious propaganda aimed at them? The truth will be out in some time!
It is time for every right (not rightist) thinking citizen of India to speak now, without reconciling themselves to the decree of the politicians. Perhaps answer lies in Wajid Ali Shah’s words itself as he described the infamous Hanumangarhi episode in poetry:
(The author is Editor, Life Watch News)
Source : http://www.twocircles.net/?q=2010sep21/what_happened_ayodhya_155_years_ago.html
Grass-root suggestions for peace during communal tension
By A Gujarat resident,
Here are a few suggestions that immediately come to my mind.
1. If possible, install CCTV cameras on important religious buildings vulnerable to attacks from miscreants to get evidence of who was involved in the violence and use them evidence for filing criminal cases later.
2. In cases where Hindus and Muslims are living in separate mohallas but adjoining each other, there may be a threat of attack from either side. The best way, I think, is to form a joint team, say consisting of four or six persons, with equal representation of sensible persons from both sides. They should be given the responsibility to keep watch on miscreants from attacking the other community and inform the police immediately. Being locals, they can identify those involved in the violence. In case, the miscreants are from outside the locality, immediate information to the police can lead to their arrest. But the Muslims must take full assurance from the other side as well for their cooperation and may be police could also be involved in forming the joint teams of the two communities. The members of the team should have cell phone/contact numbers of the prominent members of the two communities as also police officials to approach them in case of any untoward incident and seek their help. This is how I was able to keep my mohalla in Vadodara violence-free when a major part of Gujarat was burning in 2002. I had involved even local RSS leaders. The joint Hindu-Muslim team used to sit in the verandah of the local mosque dividing the Hind-Muslim localities. While, three members of the team patrolled the lane dividing the Hindu-Muslim localities, the remaining three stayed at the mosque to keep watch to ensure no one made a mischief of defiling the mosque. The strategy worked.
4. In case, any rumour is spread about stockpiling of arms and ammunition in some Muslim buildings/religious places as such stories are fiddled out by the local media everywhere spoiling the peace, a team of Hindu-Muslim along with a senior police official be taken for an inspection of the place to instill sense of confidence in police as well as the local population and win their support. We did this in case of our mohalla mosque as RSS activists had alleged that arms had been stored in its basement. Local police station in-charge was angry with the RSS activists after
inspection when he did not find the basement and `secret' exits as they had told him. Police supported us and in fact, forced the other side to cooperate with us in maintenance of law and order. But while taking the team inside a mosque or a Muslim building, care should be taken not to take many people inside because there can be problem if some unscrupulous elements plant some objectionable material. In my case, I had allowed only one RSS activist, the local police inspector and the Imam of the mosque, besides myself, to inspect the mosque and its premises.
5. Local people should be asked not to assemble in groups at street corners because it can send a wrong message to the other side and they may also assemble in their areas, and many miscreants from both the sides misuse such assemblies to foment trouble.
6. Try not to have police points near the Muslim localities because police points have been many times misused by the miscreants from the other side to attack the Muslims. In fact, unscrupulous elements among the policemen here have been found to become a part of the mob to attack the Muslims. In my mohalla, I got the police point removed immediately. We assured the police chief of the city that we will inform the police control room and the local police station immediately in case any untoward incident takes place.
7. Local Muslim leaders and activists should be in regular touch with secular Hindu leaders and non-government organisation representatives and human rights activists and seek their assistance in ensuring peace.
Post-Babri Verdict: A TCN Peace Initiative
Source :http://twocircles.net/?q=2010sep22/grassroot_suggestions_peace_during_communal_tension.html
Here are a few suggestions that immediately come to my mind.
1. If possible, install CCTV cameras on important religious buildings vulnerable to attacks from miscreants to get evidence of who was involved in the violence and use them evidence for filing criminal cases later.
2. In cases where Hindus and Muslims are living in separate mohallas but adjoining each other, there may be a threat of attack from either side. The best way, I think, is to form a joint team, say consisting of four or six persons, with equal representation of sensible persons from both sides. They should be given the responsibility to keep watch on miscreants from attacking the other community and inform the police immediately. Being locals, they can identify those involved in the violence. In case, the miscreants are from outside the locality, immediate information to the police can lead to their arrest. But the Muslims must take full assurance from the other side as well for their cooperation and may be police could also be involved in forming the joint teams of the two communities. The members of the team should have cell phone/contact numbers of the prominent members of the two communities as also police officials to approach them in case of any untoward incident and seek their help. This is how I was able to keep my mohalla in Vadodara violence-free when a major part of Gujarat was burning in 2002. I had involved even local RSS leaders. The joint Hindu-Muslim team used to sit in the verandah of the local mosque dividing the Hind-Muslim localities. While, three members of the team patrolled the lane dividing the Hindu-Muslim localities, the remaining three stayed at the mosque to keep watch to ensure no one made a mischief of defiling the mosque. The strategy worked.
4. In case, any rumour is spread about stockpiling of arms and ammunition in some Muslim buildings/religious places as such stories are fiddled out by the local media everywhere spoiling the peace, a team of Hindu-Muslim along with a senior police official be taken for an inspection of the place to instill sense of confidence in police as well as the local population and win their support. We did this in case of our mohalla mosque as RSS activists had alleged that arms had been stored in its basement. Local police station in-charge was angry with the RSS activists after
inspection when he did not find the basement and `secret' exits as they had told him. Police supported us and in fact, forced the other side to cooperate with us in maintenance of law and order. But while taking the team inside a mosque or a Muslim building, care should be taken not to take many people inside because there can be problem if some unscrupulous elements plant some objectionable material. In my case, I had allowed only one RSS activist, the local police inspector and the Imam of the mosque, besides myself, to inspect the mosque and its premises.
5. Local people should be asked not to assemble in groups at street corners because it can send a wrong message to the other side and they may also assemble in their areas, and many miscreants from both the sides misuse such assemblies to foment trouble.
6. Try not to have police points near the Muslim localities because police points have been many times misused by the miscreants from the other side to attack the Muslims. In fact, unscrupulous elements among the policemen here have been found to become a part of the mob to attack the Muslims. In my mohalla, I got the police point removed immediately. We assured the police chief of the city that we will inform the police control room and the local police station immediately in case any untoward incident takes place.
7. Local Muslim leaders and activists should be in regular touch with secular Hindu leaders and non-government organisation representatives and human rights activists and seek their assistance in ensuring peace.
Post-Babri Verdict: A TCN Peace Initiative
Source :http://twocircles.net/?q=2010sep22/grassroot_suggestions_peace_during_communal_tension.html
Monday, August 23, 2010
World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims: Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan, Mahmood Madani, Badruddin Ajmal included
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Among 500 Most Influential Muslims of the world, there are more than a dozen personalities from India. The top 50, however, include three known figures from the country of second largest Muslim population: Barelwi leader Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan, Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind leader Maulana Mahmood Madani and Dawoodi Bohra leader Dr Syedna Mohammad Burhannuddin.
While the top 10 list, overwhelmed with the presence of kings and rulers, has no Muslim personality from India, the list of top 50 influential Muslims from across the world and walks of life has got three from India. While Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan is on 26th Maulana Mahmood Madani and Dr Syedna Mohammad Burhannuddin are on 40th and 47th rank respectively.
The list has been prepared by Oman based The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (RISSC).The website of RISSC says it is an independent research entity affiliated with the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought. The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought is an international Islamic non-governmental, independent institute headquartered in Amman, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. This is the second year that RISSC has released such list.
Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre: http://www.rissc.jo/
Full list of 500 Most Influential Muslims: http://www.rissc.jo/docs/0A-FullVersion-LowRes.pdf
The list of top 50 also has Grand Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Rank 3), and Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Iranian Opposition Leader (Rank 46). However, Iranian president is missing. The list also includes Hajji Mohammed Abd al Wahhab, Amir of Tablighi Jamaat, Pakistan (Rank 16), Seyyed Hasan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hezbollah (Rank 18), Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, Brother Leader of the Revolution of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Rank 27) and Khaled Mashaal, Leader of Hamas (Rank 38).
Top 10
1.
His Majesty King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
2.
His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey
3.
His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
4.
His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
5.
His Majesty King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco
6.
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Sa’id al Sa’id, Sultan of Oman
7.
His Eminence Professor Dr Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad al Tayeb, Grand Sheikh of the Al Azhar University, Grand Imam of the Al Azhar Mosque
8.
His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hussein Sistani, Marja of the Hawza, Najaf,Iraq
9.
His Excellency President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia
10.
His Eminence Sheikh Dr Ali Goma’a, Grand Mufti of The Arab Republic of Egypt
Indian Personalities
RISSC describes 63-year-old Mufti Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan Qaadiri Al Azhari as Grand Mufti of India, Barelwi Leader and Spiritual Guide. His influence, RISSC says, is among approximately 2 million Barkatiya Barelwis worldwide. His school of thought is traditional Sunni, Hanafi, Sufi. Mufti Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan is the leader of the Indian Barelwis and considered by his followers as the Grand Mufti of India. He is the great-grandson of Ahmed Raza Khan (d. 1921), who founded the Barelwi movement in South Asia.
46-year-old Maulana Mahmood Madani is leader and Executive Member of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, India. His influence spreads over 10 million Muslims who are “members of Madani’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind. His Source of Influence is Scholarly, Political, Administrative. A little down in ranking (in 2009 at 36, and in 2010 at 40) Maulana Mahmood Madani, a leading Islamic scholar and politician in India, has gained influence for his forthright condemnations of terrorism and unfaltering support of the Indian Muslim community, says the institute.
85-year-old Dr Syedna Mohammad Burhannuddin Saheb is the 52nd Da‘i l-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras. His influence is among 1 million Dawoodi Bohras in the world. His school of thought is traditional Ismaili Shi’a, Dawoodi Bohra. He has also slipped. In 2009 he was at 45,now at 47. “Mohammad Burhanuddin Saheb is the leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community,which stems from the Ismaili Shi’a sect of Islam. As leader of the Bohras, he has been influential in the fields of education and the development of community institutions in Mumbai, India and across the globe.
The 500 Most Influential Muslims have been put in 15 categories of influence – Scholarly,Political, Administrative, Lineage, Preachers, Women’s Issues, Youth,Philanthropy,Development,Science/Technology/Medicine/Law, Arts and Culture, Media, Radicals, International Islamic Networks, and Issues of the Day.
Scholarly: Asghar Ali Engineer, Prof Sayid Ameen Mian Qaudri (in 2009, he was at rank 44
among top 50), Maulana Kalbe Sadiq (New)
Administrative: Syed Ahmad Bukhari [New]
Preachers: Dr Zakir Naik
Philanthropy: Maulana Badruddin Ajmal Qasmi [New]
Science/Technology/Medicine/Law: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
Arts and Culture: Maqbool Fida Husain, Shahrukh Khan, Allah Rakha Rahman
Asghar Ali Engineer has also been listed in the category of Issues of the Day for working among Muslims on AIDS/HIV. “The Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN), of which Engineer is chairman, seeks to build awareness and capacity among Muslim communities in Asia so that they may effectively respond to the growing problem of HIV/AIDS,” says RISSC.
Source : http://www.twocircles.net/2010aug23/world_s_500_most_influential_muslims_mufti_akhtar_raza_khan_mahmood_madani_badruddin_ajmal
New Delhi: Among 500 Most Influential Muslims of the world, there are more than a dozen personalities from India. The top 50, however, include three known figures from the country of second largest Muslim population: Barelwi leader Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan, Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind leader Maulana Mahmood Madani and Dawoodi Bohra leader Dr Syedna Mohammad Burhannuddin.
While the top 10 list, overwhelmed with the presence of kings and rulers, has no Muslim personality from India, the list of top 50 influential Muslims from across the world and walks of life has got three from India. While Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan is on 26th Maulana Mahmood Madani and Dr Syedna Mohammad Burhannuddin are on 40th and 47th rank respectively.
The list has been prepared by Oman based The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (RISSC).The website of RISSC says it is an independent research entity affiliated with the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought. The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought is an international Islamic non-governmental, independent institute headquartered in Amman, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. This is the second year that RISSC has released such list.
Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre: http://www.rissc.jo/
Full list of 500 Most Influential Muslims: http://www.rissc.jo/docs/0A-FullVersion-LowRes.pdf
The list of top 50 also has Grand Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Rank 3), and Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Iranian Opposition Leader (Rank 46). However, Iranian president is missing. The list also includes Hajji Mohammed Abd al Wahhab, Amir of Tablighi Jamaat, Pakistan (Rank 16), Seyyed Hasan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hezbollah (Rank 18), Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, Brother Leader of the Revolution of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Rank 27) and Khaled Mashaal, Leader of Hamas (Rank 38).
Top 10
His Majesty King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
2.
His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey
3.
His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
4.
His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
5.
His Majesty King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco
6.
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Sa’id al Sa’id, Sultan of Oman
7.
His Eminence Professor Dr Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad al Tayeb, Grand Sheikh of the Al Azhar University, Grand Imam of the Al Azhar Mosque
8.
His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hussein Sistani, Marja of the Hawza, Najaf,Iraq
9.
His Excellency President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia
10.
His Eminence Sheikh Dr Ali Goma’a, Grand Mufti of The Arab Republic of Egypt
Indian Personalities
RISSC describes 63-year-old Mufti Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan Qaadiri Al Azhari as Grand Mufti of India, Barelwi Leader and Spiritual Guide. His influence, RISSC says, is among approximately 2 million Barkatiya Barelwis worldwide. His school of thought is traditional Sunni, Hanafi, Sufi. Mufti Muhammad Akhtar Raza Khan is the leader of the Indian Barelwis and considered by his followers as the Grand Mufti of India. He is the great-grandson of Ahmed Raza Khan (d. 1921), who founded the Barelwi movement in South Asia.
46-year-old Maulana Mahmood Madani is leader and Executive Member of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, India. His influence spreads over 10 million Muslims who are “members of Madani’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind. His Source of Influence is Scholarly, Political, Administrative. A little down in ranking (in 2009 at 36, and in 2010 at 40) Maulana Mahmood Madani, a leading Islamic scholar and politician in India, has gained influence for his forthright condemnations of terrorism and unfaltering support of the Indian Muslim community, says the institute.
85-year-old Dr Syedna Mohammad Burhannuddin Saheb is the 52nd Da‘i l-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras. His influence is among 1 million Dawoodi Bohras in the world. His school of thought is traditional Ismaili Shi’a, Dawoodi Bohra. He has also slipped. In 2009 he was at 45,now at 47. “Mohammad Burhanuddin Saheb is the leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community,which stems from the Ismaili Shi’a sect of Islam. As leader of the Bohras, he has been influential in the fields of education and the development of community institutions in Mumbai, India and across the globe.
The 500 Most Influential Muslims have been put in 15 categories of influence – Scholarly,Political, Administrative, Lineage, Preachers, Women’s Issues, Youth,Philanthropy,Development,Science/Technology/Medicine/Law, Arts and Culture, Media, Radicals, International Islamic Networks, and Issues of the Day.
Scholarly: Asghar Ali Engineer, Prof Sayid Ameen Mian Qaudri (in 2009, he was at rank 44
among top 50), Maulana Kalbe Sadiq (New)
Administrative: Syed Ahmad Bukhari [New]
Preachers: Dr Zakir Naik
Philanthropy: Maulana Badruddin Ajmal Qasmi [New]
Science/Technology/Medicine/Law: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
Arts and Culture: Maqbool Fida Husain, Shahrukh Khan, Allah Rakha Rahman
Asghar Ali Engineer has also been listed in the category of Issues of the Day for working among Muslims on AIDS/HIV. “The Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN), of which Engineer is chairman, seeks to build awareness and capacity among Muslim communities in Asia so that they may effectively respond to the growing problem of HIV/AIDS,” says RISSC.
Source : http://www.twocircles.net/2010aug23/world_s_500_most_influential_muslims_mufti_akhtar_raza_khan_mahmood_madani_badruddin_ajmal
Friday, August 20, 2010
I am an Indian at heart: Shah Rukh
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan doesn't seem to shy away when it comes to expressing his sentiments for the nation.
Describing his nationality, Shah Rukh tweeted: "I am half Hyderabadi (mom) half Pathan(Dad), some Kashmiri (grandmom). Born in Delhi, live in Mumbai. Have a punjabi wife and own Kolkata (India Premier League) team. Indian at heart (sic)."
The 44-year-old is currently shooting in Hyderabad and feels nostalgic with his visit to the city after 12 years.
"Flew into Ramoji Rao in Hyderabad... last I shot here was 'Badshah', some 12 years ago... time flies... and how nice to be here," he posted.
Shiv Sena had hit out at the actor, who is also the co-owner of IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders, for his comments on Pakistani cricketers.
lhttp://www.twocircles.net/2010aug20/i_am_indian_heart_shah_rukh.html
Describing his nationality, Shah Rukh tweeted: "I am half Hyderabadi (mom) half Pathan(Dad), some Kashmiri (grandmom). Born in Delhi, live in Mumbai. Have a punjabi wife and own Kolkata (India Premier League) team. Indian at heart (sic)."
The 44-year-old is currently shooting in Hyderabad and feels nostalgic with his visit to the city after 12 years.
"Flew into Ramoji Rao in Hyderabad... last I shot here was 'Badshah', some 12 years ago... time flies... and how nice to be here," he posted.
Shiv Sena had hit out at the actor, who is also the co-owner of IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders, for his comments on Pakistani cricketers.
lhttp://www.twocircles.net/2010aug20/i_am_indian_heart_shah_rukh.html
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Muslim NRI launches “Voice of Bihar” bilingual monthly
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: Bihar has about 90 million population, more than that of many countries put together. The language of this huge human population is Urdu or Hindi, not English, thus there is vast space for vernacular media,” said Darbhanga-born and Dubai-based NRI Omer Hejazeen at the launch of his bilingual monthly “Voice of Bihar” here yesterday at Hotel Chanakya.
Outlining the precincts of the periodical Hejazeen said it will work for the development of Bihar by informing and educating the masses about their rights and government programs. “We will side with only truth, not any party or politician,” said the NRI who has businesses in several countries including India. In the last four and half years, Hejazeen has invested huge sum in several government-guided projects.
Omar Hejazeen launching news website "Voice of Bihar"
L-R: Ex-Union Minister MAA Fatmi, BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, LJP MLA Izhar Ahmad
[Photos by Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net]
http://www.twocircles.net/2010aug12/muslim_nri_launches_voice_bihar_bilingual_monthly.html
Patna: Bihar has about 90 million population, more than that of many countries put together. The language of this huge human population is Urdu or Hindi, not English, thus there is vast space for vernacular media,” said Darbhanga-born and Dubai-based NRI Omer Hejazeen at the launch of his bilingual monthly “Voice of Bihar” here yesterday at Hotel Chanakya.
Outlining the precincts of the periodical Hejazeen said it will work for the development of Bihar by informing and educating the masses about their rights and government programs. “We will side with only truth, not any party or politician,” said the NRI who has businesses in several countries including India. In the last four and half years, Hejazeen has invested huge sum in several government-guided projects.
Omar Hejazeen launching news website "Voice of Bihar"
L-R: Ex-Union Minister MAA Fatmi, BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, LJP MLA Izhar Ahmad
[Photos by Mudassir Rizwan, TwoCircles.net]
http://www.twocircles.net/2010aug12/muslim_nri_launches_voice_bihar_bilingual_monthly.html
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Muslims, Christians need to work together for their uplift: ZFI
By TCN News,
New Delhi: “Due to exclusion from the list of Scheduled Castes many Muslims and Christians are deprived of their basic rights in India. So, there is a need to work together for the uplift of the two communities,” said Dr Syed Zafar Mahmood, president of Zakat Foundation of India.
Dr. Syed Zafar Mahmood in centre
“We have initiated in this regard by allowing Christian students to take benefit of the scheme for Civil Service aspirants sponsored by Zakat Foundation of India and also on our request many Christian schools are giving priority to Muslim students. We need such cooperation of each other in every part of the country” said Dr. Zafar Mahmood while addressing the gathering of Muslims and Christians.
“Muslims and Christians are more than half of the total population of the world and they are spreading all over the world geographically. If they stand for the welfare of each other, it will make a big change for the weaker sections of both communities” he continued.
Dr Mahmood appreciated the social work being done by Christians all over the world and urged Muslims to do the same as it is the part of mission of Prophet Mohammad {PBUH}.
Source : http://twocircles.net/2010aug07/muslims_christians_need_work_together_their_uplift_zfi.html
New Delhi: “Due to exclusion from the list of Scheduled Castes many Muslims and Christians are deprived of their basic rights in India. So, there is a need to work together for the uplift of the two communities,” said Dr Syed Zafar Mahmood, president of Zakat Foundation of India.
Dr. Syed Zafar Mahmood in centre
“We have initiated in this regard by allowing Christian students to take benefit of the scheme for Civil Service aspirants sponsored by Zakat Foundation of India and also on our request many Christian schools are giving priority to Muslim students. We need such cooperation of each other in every part of the country” said Dr. Zafar Mahmood while addressing the gathering of Muslims and Christians.
“Muslims and Christians are more than half of the total population of the world and they are spreading all over the world geographically. If they stand for the welfare of each other, it will make a big change for the weaker sections of both communities” he continued.
Dr Mahmood appreciated the social work being done by Christians all over the world and urged Muslims to do the same as it is the part of mission of Prophet Mohammad {PBUH}.
Source : http://twocircles.net/2010aug07/muslims_christians_need_work_together_their_uplift_zfi.html
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