Muslims Today - Part 9

AMU Alumni Meet 2015

Its quite difficult to sum up the recently concluded AMU Alumni meet in words. I have never witnessed such enthusiasm, dedication, hard work and professionalism in any meet. More than 600 delegates (AMU Alumni) across the globe gathered to pay tribute to the founder of AMU, the great Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, and also pledged to take his mission forward by investing time, talent and treasure. The three day event started with SS day celebrations on 17th October 2015. The chief guest of the event was PK Abdu Rabb, Minister for Education and Culture, Government of Kerala, who himself is a proud alumnus of AMU. In the evening each and every hall of AMU hosted its annual SS day dinner and eminent alumni of AMU presided those functions as chief guests.

On 18th October 2015 AMU Alumni meet commenced at Kennedy auditorium. The dais was full of eminent alumni consisting of Chief guest Javed Usmani (CIC, UP Govt.), Prof. Habib Zuberi (Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Michigan, USA), Dr. Ashok Seth (Padam Bhushan, Chairman , Fortis-Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi), Ameer Ahmad (Chairman & Group MD of Manappat Group of companies, Dubai, UAE), Nasiruddin Shah (Padam Bhushan awardee and renowned actor, Mumbai) , Vice Chancellor Lt. General Zamir Uddin Shah, Pro Vice Chancellor Brigadier Ahmad Ali and Dr. Suhail Sabir (Chairman of Alumni Affairs Committee, AMU ). These alumni made not only the alma mater but also the country proud through their work and talent. Continue reading “AMU Alumni Meet 2015”

Joint Shia-Sunni Namaz in Lucknow

The Shoulder to Shoulder movement which started in Delhi has now reached Lucknow. A joint Shia-Sunni Eid-ul-Zuha namaz was offered at Imambada Sibtainabad in the city today. The event has been creating a buzz on the social media during the last few weeks.

The prayer was led by a Sunni Imam, Maulana Shehzad, and the participants included Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Sadiq.

It’s a welcome change from the regular dividing news coming out of the Muslim community. Let’s hope we see more of this peaceful efforts.

Eid mubarak to all!

Indian Muslims’ Growth Rate Drops Sharply

Muslims at Jama Masjid, New Delhi Amidst the usual interest and misrepresentation of facts related to Indian Muslims’ population, the following figures tell a different story altogether.

As per the latest Census of India (2011) the Growth Rate of Indian Muslims have gone down sharply from 29.52% (2001 Census) to 24.60%. The areas with the highest literacy in India are the state Kerala (93.91%) and the Union Territory (UT) Lakshadweep (91.85%). It’s interesting to note that Kerala’s Muslims account for 26.56% of the total population, in Lakshadweep they are in absolute majority at 96.58%. Incidentally Kerala also has the Best Sex Ratio (1084 females per 1000 males). Continue reading “Indian Muslims’ Growth Rate Drops Sharply”

Kalam – The Legacy Lives On

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam “If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher”- Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

WE all know Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam as a great scientist and visionary, but today I am going to touch upon his role as a teacher. It is in this role that he transformed many lives and became a role model of millions.

Years back when he visited Jamia Millia Islamia, he took questions from the students. The first question was, “Which role do you prefer – the president or the scientist?” He promptly replied, “A teacher.” Continue reading “Kalam – The Legacy Lives On”

Muslims should learn to respect each other

No one has a right to declare that Shiism or Sunnism is false and heretical.

One of the major differences between Shia and Sunni traditions is about the role of leadership. When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was returning from his last pilgrimage, he gathered the caravan at an oasis called Ghadir Khumm and delivered a revelation, that as of this day he has delivered the complete guidance from God, the message of Islam is complete now.

That message was and is crystal clear; there is no misunderstanding about it. There is no more advisement from God, and nothing more needed to added to the religion, it’s done. However, the tag part of that message was understood in two different ways. Continue reading “Muslims should learn to respect each other”

A root problem needs a root answer

Girls outside a school in India Education comes in many forms when experience is your teacher. I recall the day when I was part of a delegation to some muscular regional satrap. There was only one point on our agenda: the extent, quality and depth of education among minorities, with a stress on how to do far more for the Muslim girl child. A worthy cause brought together a worthy lot: an assortment of editors, educationists, NGO heads, marginal do-gooders. We sat in the room adjacent to the satrap’s office with beatific smiles on our faces. After the compulsory wait, we entered his sanctum in a solemn file.
Continue reading “A root problem needs a root answer”

America, Iran and Iraq: Partners, not friends

Kerry-Zarif handshake Stability is an illusion that nations advertise to comfort citizens. Countries either sink along a gravitational pull beyond the control of governments, or ascend into a virtuous spiral. The pace is often slow, and sometimes invisible, but society is never static.

In the first 15 years of the 21st century, a linear, contiguous land mass from the Atlantic shores of Africa to the Pacific shore of Japan has become a slope. The western wing is slipping into quagmire, while the eastern expanse, starting from India, is inching up. This may not be an even fact. There are exceptions, some significant. But this is the broad truth. Continue reading “America, Iran and Iraq: Partners, not friends”

How AIMIM is Challenging the Traditional Turf

An AIMIM meet The outcome of the recent assembly elections in Maharashtra is surely a sign of changing times. Against odds, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen won three seats. The result meant that Owaisi brothers have finally succeeded in expanding the party’s base outside its stronghold in Andhra Pradesh.

Fighting elections in the name of religion is nothing new in India, neither is the exploitation of a persecution complex in minorities. What’s new is the emergence of a Muslim led and governed party. It reflects the level of dissatisfaction of the Muslim minority with mainstream political parties.
Continue reading “How AIMIM is Challenging the Traditional Turf”

Qadam Sharif in Delhi lies neglected and forgotten

A painting from Thomas Metcalfe’s ‘Imperial Delhie’.

After reading Shamsur Rahman Farooqi’s ‘Mirror of Beauty’, I was very intrigued by a description in it of a very popular and revered shrine called Qadam Sharif. Having spent a lot of time in Delhi, I was surprised because I never heard of this shrine and was determined to locate it myself.

In Farooqi’s book when misfortune strikes Shamsuddin Khan of Loharu, Wazir Khanum makes a trip to the shrine. The author describes it as a very beautiful and busy place with supplicants and mendicants both going about their business. In fact the impression I got was of a fair the kind one sees on urs days in the dargahs.

In Qadam Sharif, the annual urs is held on Barawafaat, which is the Holy Prophet’s [PBUH] birthday. On that day the slab with the imprint of his foot is immersed in water and that water is offered as ‘tabarruk’ (religious offering of food) to devotees. The slab was acquired by Feroz Shah Tughlaq. Continue reading “Qadam Sharif in Delhi lies neglected and forgotten”

A petty feudal at Jama Masjid

Imam Bukhari

WHEN ignorance marries bluster you get a functioning blunderbuss. Every scattershot gun should come with a safety catch, but human behaviour so often becomes vulnerable to the ego of a weak mind.

Muslims claim, with justified pride, that the age of jahilya, or ignorance, ended when the message of Islam came to the Prophet Muhammad in the desert city of Mecca. Regrettably, jihalat still lingers in parts of the Muslim world. It has found a temporary sanctuary in Delhi’s Jama Masjid, the iconic symbol of Indian Islam.

If the bluster of its Imam, Syed Ahmad Bukhari, were nothing more than self-inflicted wounds, it would not matter so much. But Bukhari gets media space, thanks to his position, and thereby affects the wider perception of Indian Muslims. When he claims that he will not invite India’s Prime Minister to his 19-year-old son Shaban Bukhari’s so-called investiture ceremony, but would like Pakistan’s leader to be present, Ahmad Bukhari is guilty of many varieties of stupidity. Indian Muslims relate to their country’s leaders, not to those of a foreign nation. But this is an appropriate moment to ask another question. Continue reading “A petty feudal at Jama Masjid”