Bakhabar, January 2014

Better light a candle than curse the darkness

Monthly e-Magazine

http://bakhabar.biharanjuman.org/

ISSN 2319-4049

BE AWARE, ALWAYS, EVERYWHERE

Volume 7, Issue 01, January 2014

INSIDE

Editorial Board

Publisher: Bihar Anjuman BaKhabar

Editorial Board: Asrarul Haque, Seraj Akram, Mohd. Allam, Ms Farhat Shakeel and Jahanzeb Mashhadi

Chief Editor: Ms. Asma Anjum Khan

Karamaat of the Awliya

bakhabar@biharanjuman.org “The editors and publishers are not responsible for the views of writers, and their views do not reflect our policy or ideology in any way. We however reserve the right to edit any material submitted for publication, on account of public policy, or for reasons of clarity and space. – From Publishers.” Pictures have been taken from available public sources.

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A Shrewd Trap to Boost Sectarian Polity

All you want to know about Lokpal Bill

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C U L T I VA T I N G ONE'S CHARACTER

19 Is it better to wipe over 03

the socks or to wash the feet

Islam Q&A

T

Is it better to wipe over the socks or to wash the feet?

Praise be to Allaah.

he majority of scholars, including Abu Haneefah, Maalik and al-Shaafa’i, are of the view that it is better to wash the feet. They said: that is because the basic principle is washing the feet, so that is better.

See al-Majmoo’, 1/502

Imam Ahmad was of the view that wiping over the socks is better. He gave the following evidence for that:

1 – It is easier, and the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was never given the choice between two things but he chose the easier of the two, so long as it was not a sin; if it was a sin he would be the furthest removed of the people from it. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3560) and Muslim (2327).

2 – It is a concession, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah loves concessions to be taken as He hates sin to be committed.”

Narrated by Ahmad, 5832; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani inIrwa’ al-Ghaleel, 564.

3 – Wiping over the socks involves being different from the people of bid’ah who reject it, such as the Khaarijis and Raafidis.

There are many ahaadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) which indicate that he did both: he washed his feet and he wiped over his khuffayn (leather slippers). This led some scholars to say that wiping and washing are the same.

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This was the view favoured by Ibn al-Mundhir (may Allaah have mercy on him).

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah and his student Ibn al-Qayyim were of the view that either may be better depending on the circumstances of his feet. If a person is wearing socks it is better to wipe over them, and if his feet are bare, it is better to wash them, and he should not put socks on in order to wipe over them.

This is indicated by the hadeeth of al-Mugheerah ibn Shu’bah (may Allaah have mercy on him) who wanted to take off the Prophet’s khuffayn in order to wash his feet.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to him: “Leave them, for I put them on pure,” so he wiped over them.”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 206; Muslim, 274. This indicates that wiping is better for one who is wearing socks.

This is also indicated by the report narrated by al-Tirmidhi (96) from Safwaan ibn ‘Assaal (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to tell us when we were travelling not to take off our kufoof for three days and nights, except in the case of janaabah, but if one defecated, urinated or slept (there was no need to take them off). Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Irwa’ alGhaleel, 104. The command to wipe

indicates that it is better, but that applies to one who is wearing socks.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: Conclusion: what is better for each one is that which is suited to his circumstances. For the one whose feet are bare, it is better for him to wash them, and he should not put on socks so that he can wipe over them, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to wash his feet when they were bare, and he would wipe over them if he was wearing khufoof. End quote from al-Insaaf, 1/378

Ibn al-Qayyim said in Zaad alMa’aad (1/199):

He is not required to do more than is required with regard to the situation of his feet. If he is wearing khufoof, he should wipe over them and not take them off, and if his feet are bare he should wash them, and he should not put on socks so that he can wipe over them. This is the most correct opinion concerning the issue of whether wiping or washing is better. This is the view of our Shaykh (i.e., Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah). End quote

Islam Q&A

Who are the ones who will be excused for ignorance about Aqeedah and matters of Fiqh?

Shaikh Abdul-Aziz bin Baz (rahimahullah) replied, "Praise be to Allah. Claiming that one is ignorant or using ignorance as an excuse is a matter which needs further discussion. Not everyone can be excused for his ignorance.

With regard to Islamic teachings that have been explained by the Messenger , clarified in the Book of Allah and are widely known among the Muslims, then no claim of ignorance is accepted, especially in matters related to Aqeedah and the basics of religion.

Allah sent His Prophet to teach the people their religion and explain it to them, and he indeed conveyed the message clearly and explained to the Ummah the truths of their religion. He explained everything and left them with a clear path which is always obvious...

If some people claim to be ignorant about things which are known to be essential parts of the religion, and which are well known among the Muslims, such as claiming to be ignorant about Shirk and worshiping anything other than Allah, or claiming that Salaat is not obligatory, or that fasting Ramadan is not obligatory, or that paying Zakaat is not obligatory, or that performing Hajj when one is able to, is not obligatory - in these and similar matters, claims of ignorance are unacceptable... These are known to be essential parts of the Muslim's religion and arewidely known among the Muslims, so claiming ignorance is not acceptable.

The ruling is also the samewith 4

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regards to a person claiming that he does not know that what the Mushrikeen do at the graves or idols is wrong, when they call upon the dead, seek their help, offer sacrifices to them and make vows to them, or offer sacrifices to the idols, stars, trees or rocks; or seek healing or help against their enemies from the dead or idols or jinn or angels or Prophets.

Because it is clearly and essentiallyknownin the religion that they are all major Shirk.

Allah clearly explained this in His Book, and His Messenger clarified it. He remained in Makkah for thirteen years warning the people against this Shirk, and he preached the same message in alMadina for ten years, explaining to them that it is obligatory for their worship to be purely and sincerely for Allah Alone, and reciting to them the Book of Allah, such as the verses,

"Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him." [Soorah al-Isra (17): 23]

...The same applies in the case of thosewhomake fun of the religion, attack it,mock it and insult it - all of these are forms of major Kufr and are things for which none may be excused on the grounds of ignorance, because it is wellknown in the religion that insulting the religion or insulting the Messenger are forms of major Kufr, as is making fun of the religion or mocking it. Allah says, "Say, 'Was it at Allah, and His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuse; you

have disbelieved after you had believed." [Soorah at-Tawbah (9): 65-66]

It is obligatory for the scholars in every place to spread this knowledge among the people and to make it known so that the common people will have no excuse and so that this important knowledge will become widespread among them; and so that theywill give up their attachment to the dead and seeking help from them...

The silence of the scholars is one of the reasons for the loss and ignorance of the common people.

The scholars, wherever they are, must convey to the people the religion of Allah, and teach them about the Oneness of Allah (Tawheed) and the kinds of shirk, so that theywill give up shirk out of understanding, and so that theywill worship Allah Alonewith understanding. Similarly, they must speak out against the things that happen at the grave of alBadawi, the grave of al-Husayn , or at the grave of Shaikh AbdulQaadir al-Jeelani or at the grave of the Prophet in al-Madina and at other graves. The people must know that worship is for Allah alone, and no one else has any right to it, as Allah says,

"They were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)." [Soorah al-Bayyinah (98): 5]

...With regards to matters which may be unclear, such as some transactions and some matters of prayer and fasting, the one who is

Islam Q&A

ignorant of them may be excused, as the Prophet excused the man who entered ihraam dressed in a cloak and wearing perfume. The Prophet said to him, "Take off the cloak and wash off the perfume, and do in your umrah what you do in your Hajj." He did not tell him to pay a penalty (fidyah) for his ignorance. Similarly, some matters which maybe unclear should be taught to the onewhois ignorant, so that hewillcometo understand them.

But as far as the basics of Aqeedah, the pillars of Islam, and things which are clearly Haraam are concerned, claims of ignorance cannot be accepted from anyone who lives among the Muslims. If anyone who lives among the Muslims were to say, 'I did not

know that adultery is haraam,' this is no excuse. If he were to say, 'I did not know that disobeying my parents is haraam,' this is no excuse. Rather he should be punished and disciplined. Or if he were to say, 'I did not know that homosexuality is haraam,' this is no excuse. These are matters, which are clear and well known among the Muslims and in Islam.

But if he lived in a land far away from the Muslim world or in remote parts of Africa where there are no Muslims around him, then the claim of ignorance may be accepted from him, and if he dies in that state, his case will rest with Allah; hewill come under the same ruling as those who lived during the fatrah (time between two Prophets). The correct view is

that they will be tested on the Day of Resurrection, if they respond and obey they will enter Paradise, and if they disobey, theywill enter Hell.

But the one, who lived among the Muslims and did actions of Kufr, and neglected the well-known obligations, he has no excuse, because the matter is clear and there are Muslims around him,whofast and perform Hajj. All of this is wellknown and widespread among the Muslims, so the claim of ignorance in this case is a false claim. And Allah is the One Whosehelpweseek." [KitabMajmooFatawawaMaqalatMutnawwi'ah li Samaahat (7/132)] heKnowledge ofAqeedahatTawheedFirst

Some Muslims have fallen into acts of shirk or they utter words of Shirk as a result of ignorance that these acts and statements are against Islam.

Are they excused due to their ignorance? What is required from the students of knowledge and scholars with regards to these people in matters related to Aqeedah and others?

In light of the above reply of Shaikh ibn Baz, it becomes explicitly clear that Aqeedah is the first matter, which is obligatory for a person to have knowledge of. Aa'isha (radhi allahu anha) explains how Allah primarily revealed verses that cultivated and strengthened the Aqeedah of the Sahabah, and the rulings concerning the various religious duties and prohibitions were revealed later, she (radhi allahu anha) states, 'The first thing that was revealed thereof was a Soorah from al-Mufassal, and in it was mentioned Paradise and the Fire.

When the people embraced Islam, the verses regarding legal and illegal things were revealed.

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If the first thing to be revealed was, 'Do not drink alcoholic drinks,' people would have said, 'We will never leave alcoholic drinks,' If there had been revealed, 'Do not commit adultery,' they would have said,'Wewill never give up adultery.' While I was a young girl of playing age, the following verse was revealed in Mecca toMuhammad , 'Nay! But the Hour is their appointed time (for their full recompense), and the Hour will be more grievous and more bitter."

[Soorah al-Qamar (54): 46] [Saheeh al-Bukharee (6/515)]

The saying of Abdullah ibnUmar further elaborates the issue, he said,"We lived during a time, in which one of us would receive faith first, before receiving the Qur'aan, and when the soorahs were revealed,wewould learn what they permitted and what they prohibited, and what they forbade, and what they ordered, and what should be the stance towards them.

But I have seen many men from whom one is given the Qur'aan before faith, and he reads it from the opening of the Book to its closing, and he does not know what it orders and what it forbids, and what should be his stance to-

Islam Q&A

wards it.

He is like someone, who is just throwing out dates [i.e., he does not get any benefit from his recital]." The first issue of Aqeedah that needs to be learned is Aqeeqah at-Tawheed, since it is the first pillar of Islam, and one does not enter Islam without it. When Allah's Messenger sent Muadh bin Jabal to the land of Yemen, he advised him to initiate his Dawahwith the teachings of Aqeedah, which if accepted, then he should proceedwith the obligations of Islam.

He instructed him saying, "You are going to a people from the People of the Book. Let the first thing that you call them to be, (Oneness of) Allah's worship. If they acknowledge Allah (i.e., His Oneness), then inform them that Allah has obligated upon them five prayers during their days and nights." [Saheeh al-Bukharee and Saheeh Muslim] Reply by Shaikh Salih ibn Fawzan al-Fawzan, "He, who has fallen into acts of shirk or statements of shirk, while he is in a Muslim society and he is capable of questioning the scholars, and read the Qur'aan and the Ahaadeeth and listen to the sayings of the people of knowledge, then he is not excused for what he has fallen into, because the Dawah has reached him and the Hujjah has been established upon him.

As far as someone who is far away from the Islamic state is concerned and he lives in a country of Jahilyah (ignorance) or in a society that does not know anything about Islam then he is excused due to his ignorance, because the Hujjah has not been established upon him, but if the Dawah reaches him and he knows his mistake then it is obligatory upon him tomakeTawbah (repentance) to Allah.

But the problem is that most of the people who have fallen in Shirk al-Akbar live in mainland Islamic states, and amongst them are scholars and they do not accept the Dawah of Tawheed, rather they turn away from it, and they abandon the DawahofTawheed by giving it the worst names, and this is a great problem.

What is obligatory on the scholars is to establish the Dawah of Tawheed that which the Messengers called towards, and warn against what contradicts it from Shirk, and explain what some societies have fallen into Shirk al-Akbar, and explain its causes until the Hujjah is established and Allah guideswhomsoeverHewills.

If the scholars keep quite and submit to the prevailing occurrences, or direct their Dawah to other side issues and leave the fundamental issues as what some groups do who associate themselves with Dawah nowadays, then this does not benefit at all, and is not consideredDawahto Islam.' [Muntaqa min Fatawa Shaikh Fawzan, question no.37, p. 44] 6

Bakhabar : January 2014

Har

Mirch

Seraj Akram

Log kafi deen ki batayn karte hain, lekin kam hi imandari ke bare me sunne ko milta he, imandari ki sahih tashrih sunne ko milti he. mazhab ki batayn har koi karta he lekin uske khameer yani imandari ki bat bahut kam sunne ko milti he, shayed is liye ki Allah ki khushnudi ke liye yah jitni zaruri he utni mushkil bhi. Log ibadat ki bat karte hain lekin isme imandari kitni zaruri he, ibadat ke matlab kya he us par gaur karne par shayed hi matluba zor diya jata he.

UP ke fasad me saikron log mare gaye, lakhon log mutassir hue, sarkar ka nikammapan bhi jag zahir he phir na jane kuch ulema aur qaum ke rahbaron ko Mulaym ki zimmedari ke bjaye usme khubian hi khubiya nazar aati hain...jab qaum ke zimmedar log itne zameer farosh hon to phir aam awam ko dar dar ki thokar khane so kaun rok sakta he.

Kuch log Duaon hi se dil ke sare armaan pure kar lena chahte hain, unki sharton ko puri karne ki zahmat gawara nahi. Amal se farigh hote hue sirf Dua hi Dua ho raha he, sanjidgi kahin nazar nahi aati.

2014 ka chunaw qareeb he lekin abhi tak pata nahi ke muslim ki mansuba bandi kya he, ya phir hawa ko dekh kar jaldbazi me kuch bhi faisla liya jaega aur phir baad me shayed ahsas ho ke kahan kahan kami rah gayi. jo chand mahine bache hain usi ke dauran sare muslim neta, tanzimon ke rahbaran aur danishwar baithkar halat ko behtar dhange se tajzia karke koi mansuba banate to shayed behtar na hota?

Mulk me ek silsila chala aa raha he fasad ka, aakhir yah khatm kaise ho, iska kya hal he, kya muslim ki taraf se aur koshis tez nahi honi chahie. Aakhir fasad mukhalif bill abhi tak kyon nahi pas hua, kya is mudde par congress par dabaw aur banana ki zarurat nahi takay chunaw ke pahle yah bill pas ho jaye. Natije aane ke baad tanqeed karne se kya bhala hogaa?

SPIRITUAL

KARAMAAT OF THE AWLIYA

A

By Shaikh Saleh ibn Fawzan al-Fawzan

wliya of Allah are the pious believers, as Allah said, "No doubt! Verily, the Awliya of Allah, no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve.

Those who believed (Eeman) and used to fear Allah much (Taqwa)." [Soorah Yunus (10): 62-62] So, every believer (Mu'min) is a Wali (pl. Awliya) of Allah in accordance to the degree of his Eeman (faith) and Taqwa (god-fearing, piety), and Allah might show something exceptional on his hands, which is called Karamaat (sing.Karamah).

Karamah: Something exceptional which Allah causes to occur at the hands of the righteous followers of Sunnah – as an honor from Allah and as a blessing - due to the slave's following the Sunnah of the Prophets .

Not everyWali achieves a Karamah, few of them achieve it – either for the purpose of strengthening his Eeman, his need or for establishing a proof against the opponent of truth.

If Karamah does not appear at the hands of the Awliya, it does not prove any deficiency in them just like the appearance of a Karamah at the hands of aWali does prove that he is superior to others.

Karamaat of the Awliya is true by the Ijma (consensus) of the Imams of Islam, Sunnah and Jama'ah. (and the existence/occurrence of) Karamaat is established in the Qur'aan and the authentic Sunnah.

The people of Bid’ah from the Mu'tazilah and the Jahmiyah and those who follow them have denied (the existence/occurrence of) Karamaat of the 7

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Awliya. Such a denial of the Karamaat of the Awliya is denying what has been established in the Qur'aan and the Sunnah.

The Qur'aan mentions the story of the people of cave and the story of Maryam. And the authentic Sunnah mentions that the angels descended in the shape of a canopy of lamps to listen to the Qur'aanic recitation of Usayd ibn Hudayr , the salaam of the Angels upon Imran ibn Husain and many such examples.

He whowishes to pursue the subject should read the book, 'al-Furqan baynal-Awliya ar-Rahman wa Awliya ash-Shaytan' by Shaikhul-Islam IbnTaymiyah (rahimahullah).

Great confusion and doubts have spread amongst the people concerning theKaramaat of theAwliya.

A group has denied its occurrence and rejected it completely, and they are the Jahmiyah and the Mu'tazilah and those who follow them. (In doing so) they have opposed the texts (of the Qur'aan and the Sunnah) and stubbornly insisted against the reality.

A group has exaggerated in affirming the Karamaat.

These are the common masses and the scholars of misguidance. They have affirmed Karamat for the disobedient and the sinners and those who are not Awliya of Allah rather they are Awliya of Shaytan and they have relied their affirmation upon false stories, dreams and unusual shaytanic acts.

This group has claimed Karamaat for the magicians, swindlers and liars from the shaykhs of the Sufis – to the extent that they worshiped them instead of Allah – whether they are alive or dead.

They have built structures upon the graves of those who claim Wilaya by narrating fabricated stories and

SPIRITUAL

attributing the power to manage the world and fulfill the need of those who call upon them and seek help from them. They call such people Aqtab (sing. Qutb) and Aghwath (sing. Gawth) due to these alleged Karamaat and false stories.

They have made this claim of Karamaat a pretext to worship the one whom the Karamah is attributed to.

They call swindling, lying and magic a Karamah perhaps because they do not distinguish between Karamah and shaytanic acts. They do not differentiate between the Awliya of the Rahman (i.e. Allah) and Awliya of the Shaytan. Otherwise, it is known from the Qur'aan and the Sunnah that even if a certain person is proven to be Wali of Allah and even if a Karmah is caused to occur at his hands – it is not permissible to worship him instead of Allah or seek blessings from him or from his grave because worship is the Right of Allah alone.

Distinguishing between the Karamaat of the Awliya and unusual Shaytanic Acts There is a distinction between the Karamaat of the Awliya and unusual acts of the magicians, swindlers and the liars. From these distinctions are:

1. The cause behind the Karamaat of the Awliya is Taqwa (fear of Allah) and righteous actions and the cause of (unusual) acts of theswindlers isKufr (disbelief), disobedience and sin.

2. Karamaat of the Awliya are used for Birr (good) and Taqwa and permissible matters while the acts of the swindlers and the liars is used for Haraam matters such as Shirk, Kufr and taking lives.

3. Karamaat of the Awliya is strengthened by the Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah and his Tawheed but the unusual acts of the magicians and the swindles becomes inactive and feeble by the Dhikr of Allah.

So it has become clear that there is a difference between the Karamaat of Awliya and clowning of the swindlers and the liars which distinguishes the truth from falsehood and as we have mentioned above, the true Awliya of Allah do not use the Karamaat which Allah causes to occur at their hands – to achieve position, deception and lower the eyes of the people in their honor.

Rather the Karamaat of the Awliya increases them in their humbleness and love for Allah and seeking closeness to Allah by worshiping him – as opposed 8

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to these swindlers and liars, who use these unusual Shaytanic acts to cause people to honor them, to come close to them and worship them instead of Allah - until each one of these swindlers has a particular Tareeqah (way) and Jama'ah (group) which is named after him like the Shadhaliyyah, ar-Rifa'eeyah, an-Naqshbandiyyah... and other SufiTareeqah (way).

Summary is that the people are divided into three groups with regards to the issue of the Karaamaat.

The first group exaggerated in denying the Karamaat of the Awliya until they rejected what is established in the Book and the Sunnah from the true Karamaat that is caused (to occur by Allah) for the righteous Awliya of Allah.

The second group exaggerated in affirming the Karamaat to the extent that they believed that magic, swindling and other deceptive acts are Karamaat.

They capitalized on this belief and made it a means of committing Shirk and clinging to those who perform such unusual acts – whether they were dead or alive –until Major Shirk stemmed from it through worshiping the graves, and venerating the people and exaggeration in them when it was alleged that they possessedKaramaat.

The third group is Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah, which has an intermediate position which is free from exaggeration and shortcoming in affirming the Karamaat. They affirm what is affirmed in the Qur'aan and the Sunnah. They neither exaggerate in (honoring) those who possess Karamaat nor cling to them instead of Allah, and they do not hold them superior to others. (because of their belief) that there might be Awliya of Allah who are superior to them although no Karamah is caused to occur (by Allah) at their hands.

They also negate that which contradicts the Qur'aan and the Sunnah such as swindling and deception.

They believe that this is from Shaytan and are notKaramaat of theAwliya.

All the praise and grace belongs to Allah for clarifying the truth and exposing falsehood, "so that those who were to be destroyed (for their rejecting the Faith) might be destroyed after a clear evidence, and those who were to live (i.e. believers) might live after a clear evidence. And surely, Allah is AllHearer, All-Knower." [Soorah al-Anfal (8): 42]

Published by Quran Sunnah Educational Programs www.qsep.com, translated by Shawana

A. Aziz

RCC

RAHBAR COACHING CENTRE

@ PATNA distributes winter garments to all 94 students, in its 52nd Award ceremony, on 24th December

The 52nd award ceremony of RCC @ Patna on 24th December 2013 proved to be special for more than one reason. Continuing in its tradition of “warming” the students up every winter by giving away winter garments to them, they distributed 51 women’s ladies cardigans to all the girl students and 43 leather jackets to all its male students. The ceremony became even more special by the presence of Maulana Anisurrahman Qasmi Sb., Nazim Imarat Sharia and chairman of Bihar state Hajj committee, Brother Ajmal Farid Sb, Chief Editor, Qaumi Tanzeem,

Patna, and Janab Md. Shaukat Ali Sb, a farmer, as chief guests. Many other dignitaries took time out of their busy schedule to witness this special event of the RCC @ Patna – they included Janab Syed Shabbir Ali Barvi Sb, Journalist, Janab Qazi Mujiburrahman Sb., Janab Tabrez Alam Sb, Janab Mahtab Khan Manager BA, Janab Najmul Hassan Najmi Sb, and Janab Md. Naushad Ansari, IRS. Janab Enam Khan Sb. who managed the event in his usual informal style, conveyed the vision and mission of Bihar Anjuman and its RAHBAR Coaching Centres project in an eloquent manner.

The total cost of the winter garments came to Rs.33,500/=, and all of it was raised by Patna chapter itself, with contributions from the following benevolent members of the community: 9

Bakhabar : January 2014

1. Badar Education & Welfare Trust, Patna: Rs.15,000/ 2. Janab Munir Aziz Khan of Delhi: Rs.7,500/ 3. Janab Nurul Aziz Khan of Sudan: Rs. 7,500/ 4. Janab Ajmal Farid sb, Editor Qaumi Tanzeem, Patna, Urdu daily: Rs.3,500/-

The monthly award ceremony (52nd) gave away awards in three categories to 16 girl students and 2 boy students based upon best performance, best

attendance, and best improvement with respect to previous month.

Please note that there is massive drive launched by Br. Shoaib Khan Sb., IPS, retired DIG with all grade 10 students to get best possible results in the coming 10th board exams of Bihar. Patna chapter thanked him for his tireless efforts. His last year’s campaign to send RCC students to Diploma engg. colleges resulted in large number of RCC students actually achieving an astounding result.

DEEN

10 VALID EXCUSES FOR MEN TO MISS THE JAMAAH IN THE MASJID

By Ibn Hibban (may Allah have mercy on him)

1. A sickness which prevents the person from attending It was narrated that Anas said: “The last time I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he drew the curtain when the people were in rows behind Abu Bakr - May Allah be pleased with him. Abu Bakr wanted to step back, but he gestured to them to stay as they were, and let the curtain drop.

He died at the end of that day, and that day was Monday.” [ An-NiasI 1832] read more Not praying in congregation because of sickness 2. A meal is ready.

The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If dinner is ready and the Iqamah for prayer is said, then start with dinner first." [ An-Nisa’I 854]

3. Forgetfulness or sleep “ We were with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) when some of the people said: why do you not stop us to rest a while, O Messenger of Allah ?

He said : “ I am afraid that you will sleep and miss the prayer.” Bilal said: I will wake you up.”

So they laid down and slept , and Bilal leaned back on his mount. Then the Messenger of Allah woke up 10

Bakhabar : January 2014

when the sun had already started to rise and he said” “ O Bilal, what about what you told us? “ He said: “ I have never slept like that before.”…[ An-Nisa’I 847]

4. A person is obese and cannot attend Narrated Anas bin Sireen : I heard Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) saying, “ A man from the Ansar said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) , “ I cannot offer As-Salat with you (in congregation).” He was a very fat man and he prepared a meal for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and invited him to his house. He spread out a mat for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and washed one of its sides with water, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) offered two Rakat prayers on it…” [ Bukhari 670] 5. A person has to answer the call to nature Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “ None of you should pray while suppressing the call of nature. “ [ Ibn Hibban 2107] 6. A person fears for his well being on the road to the masjid It was narrated from Mahmoud bin Ar-Rabi that Itban bin Malik used to lead his people in prayer,

DEEN

and he was blind. He said to the messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) : Sometimes it is dark or rainy or there is a flood, and I am a blind man; O Messenger of Allah, (come and ) pray on a place in my house , so I can take it as a prayer place.” He said: Where would you like me to pray for you?” He showed him a place in his house, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed there.” [ An-Nisa’ 789] 7. The temperature is extremely cold Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: One night he found it was very cold, so he allowed the people who were with him to pray in their homes. Ibn Umar said, “I saw the Messenger do the same thing when the weather conditions were like this. He ordered the people to pray in their homes.” [ Ibn Hibban 2076]

8.

Rain Nafi narrated that Ibn Umar gave the call to prayer on a cold and windy night, and he said: “ Pray where you are, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to order the Muadhdhin, if it was a cold and rainy night to say: " Pray in your homes.” [ An-Nisa’I 655]

9.

Other reasons of fear, which frightens the person to attend the salah Amr bin Aws said : “ A man of Thaqif told us that he heard the caller of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on a rainy night during a journey saying : Hayya ala as-salah, Hayya ala alfalah, sallu fi rihalikum (come to prayer, come to success, pray in your dwellings. “[ An-Nisa’I 654]

10. Eating garlic and onions The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever eats from these plants must not come to the masjid until its smell is gone." [ Abu Dawud 3828] Taken from Ibn Hibban’s Saheeh with the checking from Shuaib Ar-naut 5/ 417-439] Translated by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle Doha, Qatar 1/23/1432

11

Bakhabar : January 2014

Khabron ki Khabar Seraj Akram

Aam aadmi Party ne delhi me sarkar banaya, afsos us party se ek bhi muslim nahi jeet kar aa saka.

Barson ki tarah is baar bhi muslim baad me ahsas kar paye hawa ke rukh ko. Jab support ki bari thi to muslim confused the, aaj hukumat unki awaz ke lie koi muslim MLA nahi he, agar 6 Muslim candidate me se 2-3 bhi jite hote to sarkar me unki behtar hissedari ho sakti thi.

Arvind kerjriwal delhi ke chief minister bane Delhi ke logo ne sachai aur imandari ke liye vote dala, ab dekhiye aage kya hota he. Ek nayi umeed ki kiran to jagi he ab uska natija dekhna baqi he.

Gulbarg society ke qatl aam par Modi ko clean chit Sarkari adalat chahe clean chit kyon ne de de, upar wale ke yahan der he andher nahi.

Modi ne fasad par dukh jataya.

Sattar chuhe khakar billi haj ko chali, yah bataane me bhi 10 sal lag gaye.

Syria me logo ka qatl aam jari Aur puri duniya ke muslim is qatl aam se alag apne apne dhun me mashgul, dusron ki madad ke bina muslim khud apne masayle kaise hal karen?

Bangladesh bhi tashaddud ki raah par Afra tafri aur tashaddud ki raah par pahle hi kam muslim mumalik nahi the, 1 mullk ka aur izafa ho gaya he, afsos ki bina kisi wajah se Hasina mulk ko is raah par dal diya he.

Muzaffar Nagar Camp me wahi log maujud hain jo BJP ya congress ke supporter hain: Mulayam Ab in mutassrin ke liye camp me bhi rahne ki jagah nahi…Mulayam ko vote dene ka yahi sila mila UP ke muslim ko, 2 sal me 100 se zyadah fasadat.

Saharanpur ki Firoz Fatma Kaun Banega Karorepati7 ki pehli Lady Crorepati bani.

Firoz Fatma apne bimar walid mohtaram ka loan chukane ke liye KBC me participate kar rahi thi. yaha se inhone 1crore rupaye jeete. Science Graduate Fatma ab age aur padhna chahti hai aur apne walidain ko tension free rakhna chahti hai.

In DEPTH

A Shrewd Trap to Boost Sectarian Polity

O

By Dr. V.K. Tripathi

ne cannot deny that there have been good prime ministers and presidents in India and the world. Nehru, for instance, is remembered to have given roots to functional democracy, science and technology, nonalignment movement and so on.

His magnetic personality is given credit for it. However, much less magnetic Narsimha Rao could dramatically change the track of economy, from mixed economy to free market economy.

The point is that mighty changes in economy or policy are not laid by an individual.

Economic forces shape them; legacy of grassroots movements shapes them. Nehru's policies were laid by the national movement for freedom. The policy of mixed economy had an added influence of economic forces.

The momentous changes presided over by Narsimha Rao were led by the thrust of economic forces. Domestic and global capital, besides the crisis of payment and internet, enforced it to operate freely. All political parties, from left to right, eventually followed the same. Higher education is closely linked to economy hence there is a global pattern for it also. For the elitist good governance implies facilitator of free market economy.

There are areas of internal security, social justice, health, welfare, foreign policy, environment and others that, besides being dictated by the system, give some leverage for action by political formations.

These actions depend on the sup12

Bakhabar : January 2014

port base and ideology of that formation. BJP and RSS for instance have their support base among the middle classes, traders and corporate sector and feed on sectarian plank. They project terrorism as a major issue while suppress efforts to address much bigger devastation caused by communal violence. Congress has its support base among all sections, thanks to remnants of legacy of freedom movement. For them pro-people stance and secularism (despite the blot of 1984) are vital for survival.

Other political parties similarly

have their support bases and policies. Thus prime minister is mainly a figure who keeps the ruling combine together and pursues policies of its constituents.

The free market economy in last two decades has created a much widened and assertive middle class and gave it enormous power by way of internet and electronic media. Ideologically and politically they are close to BJP who have projected Nartendra Modi as

their prime ministerial candidate.

Media and middle classes are making out as if he can deliver.

But what is he? Merely a facade of RSS-BJP! He has always followed policies of these organizations. He never disowned the perpetrators of 2002 carnage (even if one leaves himself innocent until proven guilty by the court of law), rather continues to give them patronage. He did not even allow the implementation of Center's Minority Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for 5 years in his state. RSS has the largest network in the country with sizeable influence over various centers of power, ranging from religious shrines to educational institutions and administration.

With their ascendance to power at the center, they would become more assertive and ruthless.

They are building a trap by putting pressure on Congress to name their prime ministerial candidate for 2014 elections so that by default their leader may be projected as more popular and strong. They are projecting Rahul Gandhi as the undeclared Congress nominee and ridiculing his inexperience to show by contrast Modi the most capable leader. Even if Rahul Gandhi comes to power, he would merely be an unifying figure for the constituent political formations. Similarly if Modi comes to power RSS, VHP, BJP will prevail. It would be a grave mistake if one follows the facade and ignores the soul.

Dr. V.K. Tripathi, Professor @ IIT Delhi, writes from Maryland, USA, where he is on a Sadbhanvna Yatra

FROM THE BOOK

QURAN

THE MYTH OF ABROGATION IN

I

By Arbaz Fahad

f you ask about the concept of abrogation in Quran, then most probably you will get answers like:

1. Sometimes Allah enforces a legal edict that is relevant only to a particular situation.

2. Later, in His infinite wisdom, He cancels the order and enforces a new one in its place.

3. This action is known as “abrogation” (naskh), and the replaced order is then termed “abrogated” (mansukh) while the new replacing order is called “abrogator” (nasikh).

4. It means the abrogated ayah of the quran was meant only till the abrogator ayah was revealed. Abrogated ayah can never ever be practiced.

Abrogation concept says - "Allah gave a ruling for a particular issue. But later on Allah changed the ruling through another Ayah.

Hence the previous ruling is cancelled and irrelevant now." Abrogation is translated from the Arabic word naskh which literally means “to erase; to compensate.”

Its technical definition is “to repeal a legal order through legal argument”.

The concept of abrogation opens door for some serious questions as it is full of flaws. It goes against Quran and common sense. All arguments given in favor of abrogation are extremely bogus-cannot 13

Bakhabar : January 2014

go down well to any honest and logical person. In order to justify abrogation people come up with weak arguments which puts islam into dock and make us laughing stock. Anti-islamic writers exploit it to defame Quran and islam.

Why abrogation came into existence?

1. The root reason for the evolution of the concept of abrogation was inability to explain the “seeming-contradiction” in the Quran. When we felt that a particular ayah of the Quran contradicts with other ayah of Quran and both cannot be practiced then we declared one of the ayah to be abrogated. It means this ayah is not relevant today; its ruling / command / order was cancelled by Allah by another ayah.

2. This concept was accepted by the general body of scholars as a fundamental aspect of Islamic legislation, and there is therefore not a single book on Usul al-Fiqh (The basic legal theories of source methodology in Islam) which does not have a section on the issue.

3. Let me give you one horrible example of abrogation concept: While explaining the ayah "There is no compulsion in religion..." (Quran, Surah Baqrah 2:256) - a famous salafi website says that this ayah is abrogated and hence invalid now. Please read carefully what is told on this site about ayah 2:256 "Other scholars said that this applied in the beginning, but was

subsequently abrogated by Allaah’s command to fight and wage jihad. So whoever refuses to enter Islam should be fought when the Muslims are able to fight, until they either enter Islam or pay the jizyah if they are among the people who may pay jizyah. The kuffaar should be compelled to enter Islam if they are not people from whom the jizyah may be taken, because that will lead to their happiness and salvation in this world and in the Hereafter."

Source: http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/34 770/abrogated

[I am very sorry to say that above quoted statements from the site is completely alien to islam; contradicting to the very basic of islam; it projects islam as a violent, illogical and inhumane religion. Tell me why non-muslims will not hate islam if one teaches such things? No wonder the general perception created by us is that all ayah revealed in mecca which speaks about peace, love and harmony were abrogated by ayah speaking about fighting with nonmuslims revealed during medina life!!!!!

Oh Allah! Have mercy on the ummah and its learned people.]

A contemporary Scholar, Muhammad Al-Ghazali's (Born 1917) says: "The allegation that 120 verses on the invitation to Islam were abrogated by the verse of the sword [Surah tauba 9:5], is in fact one of crassest stupidity and only serves to show that the great number of Muslims are in a stage of regres-

FROM THE BOOK

sion of either knowledge or intelligence in our time, and have become ignorant of the Qur’an. As a result of this ignorance therefore, they have forgotten how to call to the way of God, how to facilitate the call to Islam, and how to be proper examples, and how to present a good perspective. Perhaps this is the reason for the failure in the propagation of Islam, and the prolonged stagnation of the Islamic message being affected— for it has been assumed that the sword is that which fulfills the obligation of delivering the message.

Such a concept is, by the agreement of all those who are rational and discerning, totally absurd."

were some ayah in Quran that no more exists in Quran now but they should be followed today. According to this story, the 'stoning verse' was recorded in Quran during the time of Prophet Muhammad; but after his death, a goat ate the page on which that verse was inscribed.

Thus, the stoning verse has been abrogated physically. Ibn Maja, Nikah, 36/1944 and Musnad Imam Ibn Hanbal, 5/131,132,183; 6/269.

Family members of abrogation

As if this shock is not enough we have some more from the "misunderstanding of Quran" list. Abrogation concept has its whole family ruling over minds of muslims for centuries.

Once the concept of abrogation was given sanction from the Qur’an and hadith, the jurists started categorizing the different types of abrogation. Three types of abrogation in Quran are explained as:

(1) Abrogation of the text and its ruling: It is said that there were some Ayah in the Quran earlier; they no more exists in Quran now; so their recitation and command both are cancelled and abrogated.

For example: We are told that earlier there were some ayah in Surah ahzab (Surah number 33) that were as long as Surah Baqrah (Surah number 2). But these ayah are not part of Quran now. (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 21245) (2) Abrogation of the text, but not its ruling: We are told that there 14

Bakhabar : January 2014

(3) Abrogation of the ruling, but not the text: It means there are ayah in Quran that will be recited but will not be practiced. For example: Ayah dealing with prohibition of alcohol; Ayah quoted above from the website about 2:256; Ayah dealing with kalala; Ayah dealing with fidya in context with fasting; Ayah dealing with marriage with ahle-kitab women etc. This is the type of abrogation which we are dealing in this article.

One important observation

Quran is a book that constantly urges its reader to ponder over it, understand its meaning and not be blind minded. The more one ponder over Quran better will be understanding. Scholars who declare abrogation in Quran have good intention. But piety does not always refer to intelligence level of a per-

son. The passing of time has seen a tremendous fluctuation in the number of ayah alleged to have been abrogated.

Al-Zuhri (8th century AD), one of the first to write on the subject, mentioned 42 abrogated ayah in Quran, Al-Nahhas (10th century AD), mentioned 138 abrogated ayah in Quran, Ibn Salama (11th century AD), mentioned 238 abrogated ayah in Quran, Ibn al-Ata’iqi (14th century AD), mentioned 231 abrogated ayah in Quran, al-Suyutti (16th century AD), declared 20 ayah of quran to be abrogated!

Shah Wali Allah (18th century AD), mentioned only 5 instances of abrogation in Quran!!

Will not Quran become a laughing stock where; as per some scholars there are 500 ayah in Quran which will be recited but not practiced; while some scholars say that 200 such ayah exists; and on the other extreme some scholars will tell that only 5 such ayah exists in Quran. The whole Quran will loose its beauty, its divinity. Why were they given to us in our constitution and guidance if we are not to obey them? Tell me-how come then Quran is divine? How come Quran is so wonderful book?

Attention: All so-called-examples of abrogation in Quran can be very well explained by pondering over the Quran. I am not going into detail for those. Each socalled-examples of abrogation require separate article.

To be concluded in the next issue: •Concept of abrogation clearly contradicts with Quran •Does Quran support abrogation?

•Prohibition of Alcohol - An example of abrogation? <arbazfahad@rediffmail.com>

POLITICS

ALL YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT LOKPAL BILL

1

By TNN

0 points of the Lokpal Bill which make it stronger

* Lokpal will have power of superintendence and direction over any central investigation agency including CBI for cases referred to them by the ombudsman.

* A high-powered committee chaired by the PM will recommend selection of CBI director. The collegium will comprise PM, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India PM has been brought under purview of the Lokpal, so also central ministers and senior officials.

* Directorate of prosecution will be under overall control of CBIdirector. At present, it comes under law ministry.

* Appointment of director of prosecution to be based on recommendation of the Central Vigilance Commission.

* Director of prosecution will also have a fixed tenure of two years like CBI chief.

* Transfer of CBI officers investigating cases referred by Lokpal with the approval of watchdog.

* Bill incorporates provisions for attachment and confiscation of property acquired by corrupt means, even while prosecution is pending.

* Bill lays down clear timelines for preliminary enquiry and investigation and trial. Provides for special courts Public servants will not present their view before preliminary enquiry if the case requires 'element of surprise' like raids and searches. * Bill grants powers to Lokpal to sanction prosecution against public servants.

* CBI may appoint a panel of advocates with approval of Lokpal, CBI will not have to depend on govt advocates.

15

Bakhabar : January 2014

Important features

Lokpal will consist of a chairperson and a maximum of eight members, of which 50% will be judicial members 50% members of Lokpal shall be from SC/ST/OBCs, minorities and women Selection of chairperson and members of Lokpal through a selection committee consisting of PM, Speaker of Lok Sabha, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India or a sitting Supreme Court judge nominated by CJI Eminent jurist to be nominated by President of India on basis of recommendations of the first four members of the selection committee "through consensus" Lokpal's jurisdiction will cover all categories of public servants All entities (NGOs) receiving donations from foreign source in the context of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) in excess of Rs 10 lakh per year are under the jurisdiction of Lokpal Centre will send Lokpal bill to states as a model bill, states have to set up Lokayuktas through a state law within 365 days

Points of discord on Lokpal

Aam Aadmi Party and NCPRI have said the Lokpal bill passed by Parliament is a "sarkari jokepal'' that does not adhere to the resolution which Parliament passed in August 2011 besides raising other concerns.

Lokpal's appointment

Govt | Lokpal will be selected by 5 members (PM, leader of opposition in LS, Speaker, CJI and one jurist nominated by these four) AAP | Majority of those who will select Lokpal will be from the political class who will have a vested interest in a weak Lokpal. Jan Lokpal had recommended a 7-member

POLITICS

committee including 2 SC judges, 2 HC judges, one nominee of CAG+CVC+CEC, PM and LoP. Lokpal's removal

Govt | Only govt or 100 MPs can complain to SC. AAP | Will keep removal under political control. Jan Lokpal said any citizen can complain and seek any Lokpal member's removal.

Investigating machinery

Govt | Lokpal would have to get complaints probed by any investigating agency, including the CBI, all of which would continue to remain under the administrative control of govt. AAP & NCPRI | CBI officers' transfers, postings will be under govt control compromising independence of the investigative machinery.

CBI should be under the Lokpal's administrative control.

Ambit of the Lokpal

Govt | Judiciary excluded and MPs' actions in respect of speeches and vote in Parliament excluded. AAP & NCPRI | Include all public servants including judges and MPs in discharging public duties.

Whistleblower's protection

Govt | Absent from govt law. AAP & NCPRI | Protection for whistleblowers must be addressed in this law or a separate one.

Citizen's charter

Govt | Absent from govt law. AAP & NCPRI | This was part of the resolution passed by Parliament in August 2011 and must be adhered to.

Lokayuktas

Govt | Have been left to the discretion of state govts.

AAP & NCPRI | Bill should have been a model legislation for states to adopt mandatorily.

Frivolous complaints

Govt | Any person making a false complaint can be jailed for up to 5 years. AAP | Penalty for frivolous complaint is up to Rs 1 lakh; no imprisonment.

16

Bakhabar : January 2014

377 under attack by 666

By Asrar M. Khan

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu In their attempt to sound politically correct it's sickening to see anybody who is somebody going head over heels in their show of support to the LGBTs (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender).

If moral goodness or societal wholesomeness go to the dogs, not to speak of the utter disregard and manifest disrespect for the highest court in the land, then so be it! The moment the case was brought to court, it was not private anymore, and the "business in our bedrooms" logic bandied about by the proponents holds no water. Even if it appears that Supreme Court has passed the buck to the parliament, the fact that they overruled a high court decision, reflects precedence of propriety over deviation.

They should have kept their bedroom businesses in their bedrooms. By bringing it out in the open they are not just offending the sensitivities of the masses, but are also thrusting undesirable changes in everyone else's lives and values. The next assault on our sensitivities will be same-sex marriages. Imagine their impact on our lives when issues pertaining to inheritance, adoption, familial rights, etc. come up for review in that context. In the name of civil liberties for them, the rest will have to give up theirs. Be it their neighborhoods, workplaces, recreation areas or transport, one will be compelled to endure the assault on their senses and sensitivities.

It is easy to make sense how the Anti-Christ will have so many followers despite his evil being well known to everyone. If the song and dance, media circuses, parades by the high and mighty today numb our senses and make us a zombie, who knows what arsenal the Dajjal will have with him! May Allah protect us from all evil here and in the hereafter. <asrarmkhan@hotmail.com> Allah haafiz

2015 SCIENCE

THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF LIGHT AND LIGHT-BASED TECHNOLOGIES

2

By Sameen Ahmed Khan

015 has been at last proclaimed as the International Year of Light and Lightbased Technologies (IYL 2015).

This was done on Friday the 20 December, during the 71st Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly 68th Session. The move has been lauded by a number of scientific societies and institutes. The IYL-2015 partnership, formed in 2010, is a cross-disciplinary educational and outreach project with more than 100 partners from more than 85 countries, accompanied by the UNESCO International Basic Sciences Program. A resolution welcoming and endorsing an International Year of Light in 2015 was adopted by the UNESCO Executive Board at its 190th session which took place at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from the 3rd - 18th October, 2012. UNESCO formally submitted to the UN on 6 November 2013. It is an effort of several years and the persuasion of the numerous optics-related organizations, which eventually lead to the proclamation. The text of the resolution, which was adopted as part of a more general agenda item on science and technology for development, stated: “Applications of light science and technology are vital for existing and 17

Bakhabar : January 2014

future advances in medicine, energy, information and communications, fiber-optics, astronomy, architecture, archaeology, entertainment and culture.”

The central role of light needs no elaboration. On the very basic level it provides us vision. On the most fundamental level through photosynthesis (mostly in the green leaves of the plants), light is necessary to the existence of life itself. In humans skins, the sunlight induces the synthesis of the essential vitamin-D. The science of light is applied in the technological field known as photonics,

and this theme addresses the important ways that photonic devices impact on areas such as medicine, communications and energy. When harnessed, the light-based technologies can promote sustainable development and provide solutions to global challenges in energy, education, agriculture, health and well-being.

Light is more than just science and technology. Light matters to all of us. The IYL-2015 will cre-

ate a forum for scientists and engineers and all others inspired by light to interact both with each other and with the public so as to learn more about the nature of light and its many applications.

IYL-2015 is a tremendous opportunity to ensure that policymakers are made aware of the problemsolving potential of light technology. As light becomes the key cross-cutting discipline of science and engineering in the 21st century, it is essential that the brightest young minds continue to be attracted into careers in this field.

The year 2015 commemorates a remarkable series of important milestones in the history of the physics of light. A number of major scientific anniversaries will be celebrated in 2015, starting with the early work on optics by the Islamic scholar Ibn AlHaytham in 1015. The notion of light as a wave proposed by Fresnel in 1815; the electromagnetic theory of light propagation proposed by Maxwell in 1865; Einstein’s theory of the photoelectric effect in 1905; Einstein’s embedding of light in cosmology through general relativity in 1915; the discovery of the cosmic microwave background by Penzias and Wilson in 1965; and Charles Kao’s achievements in 1965 con-

SCIENCE

cerning the transmission of light in fibers for optical communication.

The year 2015 represents over ten centuries, since the publication of the great works on optics by the medieval Arab scholars, during the Islamic Golden Age. Abu Saad Alaa Ibn Sahl had translated Greek books on optics including Ptolemy’s Optics. Ibn Sahl in 984 wrote his book, On The Burning Instruments. Ibn Sahl’s book is both experimental (he provides the mechanical means to draw the conic sections) and theoretical.

The diagram on refraction of light from the book by Ibn Sahl (published in 984)

pler (1571-1630), Roger Bacon (1214-1292), Isaac Newton (1643-1727), and many others benefited from his theories in this field.

The IYL-2015 is a time to recognize the Greek and the Arab pioneers of optics. Importantly it is a time to reflect on the decline of science in the Arab and Muslim world. It is an excellent opportunity to address the theme of the

& Photonics News, 14(7) 30-35 (July 2003); Akhlesh Lakhtakia, Optics in Medieval Islam, Letter in Optics & Photonics News, 14(9) 6 (September 2003).

3.Zakaria Virk, Europe’s Debt to the Islamic World, Review of Religions, 98(07) 36-52 (July 2003).

4.Sameen Ahmed Khan, Medieval Arab Understanding of the Rainbow Formation, Letter in Europhysics News, 37 (3), pp. 10 (May/June 2006). (Publication of the European Physical Society).

5.Sameen Ahmed Khan, Arab Origins of the Discovery of the Refraction of Light; Roshdi Hifni Rashed Awarded the 2007 King Faisal International Prize, Optics & Photonics News (OPN), 18 (10), 22-23 (October 2007).

6.Sameen Ahmed Khan, In his book published in Report of the First Interna984, Ibn Sahl, stated the tional Conference on law of refraction of light Arabs' and Muslims' His(commonly and errotory of Sciences, (24-27 neously known as the March 2008, University of Snell’s law after Dutch Sharjah, Sharjah, United scientist, Willebrord SnelArab Emirates), Islamic lius, 1580-1626) long beVoice, Vol. 21-05, No. 257, pp. ?? (May 2008); Amerifore Snellius himself. Ibn can Journal of Islamic SoSahl was well known cial Sciences (AJISS), Vol. among his colleagues and 25, No. 3, pp. 158-160 students. Abu Ali al(Summer 2008).

The diagram on refraction of light from the book by Hasan ibn al-Haytham Ibn Sahl (published in 984) (965-1039, known as Al7.M. Salih, M. Al-Amri hacen/Alhazen, the Latin translit- renaissance of science in the Mus- and M. El-Gomati, The Miracle of eration of his first name al-Hasan) lim countries.

Light, A World of Science, 3 (4) 2-7 wrote several books on optics ac(October-December 2005). knowledging his mentor Ibn Sahl. Bibliography http://www.unesco.org/science/infoIbn al-Haytham authored fourteen 1.Roshdi Rashed, A Pioneer in Anacus_full_oct_05.shtml; Natural Sciclastics: Ibn Sahl on Burning Mirrors ence Quarterly Newsletter, UNESCO books on optics alone. His magand Lenses, ISIS, 81 464-491 (1990). Publication No. 385 (February 2006), num opus Kitabl al-Manazir The University of Chicago Press.

(Foundation for Science Technology (Book of Optics) earned him the http://www.jstor.org/stable/233423 and Civilization, UK, title of father of optics. This book and http://www.fstc.org.uk/). was translated into Latin in 1270 http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/jour(rohelakhan@yahoo.com, as Opticae Thesaurus Alhazen, nals/journal/isis.html http://SameenAhmedKhan.webs.com and many prominent European /) Engineering Department, Salalah scientists including Leonardo da 2.David C Lindleberg, Medieval IsCollege of Technology (SCOT), Vinci (1452-1519), Johannes Kelamic Achievement in Optics, Optics Salalah, Sultanate of Oman 18

Bakhabar : January 2014

C U L T I VAT I N G ONE'S CHARACTER

'A

By Sumayya bint Joan

believer plants a palm tree and fears that thorns will grow' We have to constantly search our behavior to insure its consistency with that of the believers.

While walking in the market not so long ago, I happened to see a group of foreign Muslim sisters heading my way. Needless to say I was very happy, because it is not often that I run across other Muslim women when out and about.

From the manners of giving the salams, I greeted them first. To my dismay, they all looked at me from the top of my khimar-clad head to where my Abaya (outer garment) pooled around my feet with a look of total disgust, and walked away without uttering a word in response. I was so hurt and shocked that all I could do was stand there with my mouth wide open behind my niqab.

It never ceases to amaze me how many of us claim to follow the Qur'an and Sunnah, yet our actions are in total contradiction to what we say we believe. It was part of the manners of those who lived with the Prophet, Sal-lallahu alayhe wasallam, that they would constantly search their thoughts, hearts and behaviors, to make sure they were consistent with those of the believers, and to discard those things which were characteristic of the hypocrites.

19

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For Allah Ta'ala says, "They say, 'We believe in Allah and in the apostle, and we obey:' but even after that, some of them turn away: they are not (really) believers." [24:47]

Along with this, Allah Ta'ala paints for us a complete picture of the believers when He says,

"Those who turn (to Allah) in repentance; that serve Him, and praise Him; that wander in devotion to the cause of Allah; that bow down and prostrate themselves (in salah); that enjoin good and forbid evil; and observe the limits set by Allah - so proclaim the good tidings to the believers."

[9:112]

Also, Yahya ibn Muadh, rahimahullah, talked about the believers possessing the following characteristics in one of his essays:

"It is to be full of modesty, and to be harmless too. To be full of goodness and not to be corrupt.

For the tongue to be truthful, for the words to be little and to be

plentiful in good actions. To have little slip-ups and not be excessive. To be good to one's relatives, building closeness between them.

To be dignified and grateful, and to be full of contentment if Allah restricted some provision. To be forbearing and friendly to his brothers, and to be compassionate and chaste. Not to curse, swear, insult, backbite, nor to gossip. Not to be hasty, envious, hateful, arrogant, or vain, neither to lean towards worldliness or to extend long hopes and wishes. Not to sleep too much, nor to be absentminded, nor to show off nor be hypocritical. Not to be selfish, but to be soft and cheerful and not servile. Loving for the sake of Allah, being pleased for His sake and being angry only for His sake.

His provision is taqwa, and his worries are what will happen to him in the Afterlife. His friends remind him, his beloved is His Protector and Master, and his struggle is for the Hereafter."

How many of us possess these qualities? How many of us are striving to cultivate these characteristics within ourselves? How can we profess to be true believers when we don't even spread the salams, and protect each other from harm and hurt?

We're not, for the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, said, "By Allah, he does not believe. By Allah, he does not believe. By Allah, he does not believe." He was asked, "Whom, O Messenger of Allah?" He said,

"The one who does not safeguard his neighbor from his harms." (Bukhari)

Allah Ta'ala also says about the believers that, "The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular salah, practices regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His Mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise. [9:71] As Muslims, we must remember that Islam is not a religion based on theories, but it is something that is alive and practical, and must be implemented into practice in every aspect of our lives. Since we are striving to achieve true success, our attitudes should be as

Allah Ta'ala says, "The answer of the believers when summoned to Allah and His Messenger, in order that He may judge between them, is no other than this: they say, 'We hear and we obey;' it is such as these that will attain felicity." [24:51]

As it was the practice of those who came before us, let us then too search our hearts, souls, thoughts and actions on a daily basis in order to cultivate the character of a believer, and stamp out any weeds of hypocrisy before they can gain root. Let us remember what Fudayl ibn Iyadh, rahimahullah, said, "A believer plants a palm tree and fears that thorns will grow. The hypocrites plant thorns expecting ripe dates to grow."

"Each One Teach One"

Campaign for Muzaffarnagar Children join the Bihar Anjuman, Delhi chapterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initiative

As you know that there are lakhs of people who have suffered due to muzaffarnagar disaster. All the section of the society has been affected including children, young, old, men and women.

Question is what we can do for their pathetic situation?

Pondering on this Delhi Chapter had organized a small meeting in view of the same.

We all decided to work in the field of education of children whose education has severely affected. It's also our motive to educate the children. Therefore we come with the idea of "Each One Teach One".

We will visit the effected family and find out some of more needful children and try to help them for their tuition fees. Children will be identified and details will be provided for each child. Those who will take the responsibility of educational costs can contact him, can get his reports, visit him and his school.

Or, get all his progress reports from Bihar Anjuman.

Bihar Anjuman will be monitoring their reports.

Therefore we request all people to take part in this.

Those who want to be part in this capaign are most welcome. You may respond to biharanjumandelhi@gmail.com or may contact on +91 99 99 340986 (Javed) 84 47 11 6424 (Anees), or to the undersigned.

20

Bakhabar : January 2014

We request you all to take part in "Each One Teach One" campaign; volunteers are most welcome. You may become a part of several smiling faces.

Regards and Best Wishes _______________________ Bihar Anjuman Delhi Team

Tanweer A. - 8800955324 M. Rashid - 9871309191 S.A.Ali - 9958446582 M. Aneesul Azam - 8447116424 _________________________________________

Email: biharanjumandelhi@gmail.com Web: www.biharanjuman.org Office Address: Xchange Smart, E-36, Thokar No.6, Shaheen Bagh, Okhla, New Delhi-110025.

THE SUBTLE DIALECTICS OF

T E R R O R I S M

C

By Arbaz Fahad

old Waves ravished with callous ferocity yielding the dark, fuliginous night as an unbearable companion. The deafening Silence enumerated the horrors, an occasional frosty bone-chilling wave would break the jinx of silent notes. High Profile politicians assure these itinerant, peripatetic destitutes of succor and assistance. A glimmer of hope rises, but vanishes instantly akin sunlight on a cold January afternoon. They are left alone to wander in ignominy, amidst shades of their vague future and memories of their hazy past. Which God was responsible for the cataclysmic event that befell their family? A Nida Fazli couplet fizzes through my psyche ...

"Insaan main haiwan yahan bhi hai wahaan bhi, Allah nigahbaan yahaan bhi hai wahaan bhi.

Hindu bhi maze main hai musalmaan bhi maze main. Insaan pareshaan yahaan bhi hai wahaan bhi,"

7 years old, Arsalaan Khan scavenges around in the suburbs of the Shamli refugee camp to satiate the indispensable entity of human existence-Hunger. Food supplies in the refugee camps are meager and scanty, and there are a million mouths to feed. A perfect illustration of the Neo-Darwin, Wallace and Malthus theory-STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE. His Family was killed in the Muzaffarnagar riots. Life has taken dense summersaults for Arsalaan. Ammi ke 21

Bakhabar : January 2014

haath ke Paraathe have been substituted with stale and Fusty food.

The Euphoria and elative screech, running around in his home, A stroll in the fields on his Abba’s shoulder!- The best Safari ever for a seven year old. All these abstract beatitudes of a seven year old have been swapped for isolation and desolation, anguish and despair in a harsh, despondent environment repugnant to the ideals of compassion and affection. Sobs and laments, cries and snivels have been resonating in Arsalaan’s ear’s since he stepped in this Refugee camp. To counter his fear, he follows his Late Ammi’s advice; She used to say “Beta, Jab Dar laga Kare to Allah ko Yaad kar lia karo”. In moments of anxiety and turbulence, he murmurs in a soliquyic tone a prayer taught by his mother

“Allah is Sufficient for Us; and he is the best Disposer of Affairs” Quran 3:173 Arsalaan’s life is overshadowed with austere shades of incertitude and ambiguity, a future canopied with reminiscence of a traumatic past. He sparsely speaks, he has learnt to camouflage his fears and apprehensions-his reticent and stoic personality is a testament to the rough lessons he has learnt in life. All these burdens on the poor soul’s conscience due to- A split moment of insanity, instant when puritanical superlatives outweighed altruistic values in a plethora of religious zeal and extremism, a moment when people thought they could prove the sin-

cerity of their allegiance to Ram or Allah, A farcical delusion!!.

Arsalaan grows up, his youth nurtures in sinistral shades. He entertains grudge and rancor against a particular community and makes a firm resolve to avenge his family’s death..Does any one of us ponder over the far looming repercussions of these communal riots?

Else, let’s approach this conundrum in a different manner-Have we ever realized, what coerces a normal human being to disown all heavenly virtues of forbearance and benevolence and turn into a blood thirsty terrorist? All of us have been born endowed with the same essence of God Consciousness, What is it that impulses some of us with the saintly and ascetic virtues of Mother Teresa and others with the depravities as such of Hitler? Clear your mind of all obscure notions and contemplate succinctly over the matter.

As Jesus said “Seek Ye The truth, and the Truth shall set you free” (John 8:32).

In his noble discourse to Arjun, Shri Krishna re-affirms the necessity, to strive for the truth with an unbiased psyche, devoid of all apocryphal notions.

The disaster-destined are driven by false ideas about the world and about themselves. They lack prudence - knowledge (of what they are in reality) and the firm resolve to free themselves of their false ideas. And they become lost.

- Bhagavad Gita, 16.9.

It is our inner sanctum, our homeostatic environment which determines the scope of our utility for the society. Be rest assured, these terrorists do not strike at innocent civilians in an urge of religious fervorism and heightened zealotry to book their seats in Paradise.

Why masquerade Allah, Ram or Jesus as scape-goats for the misgivings of Bin Laden, Prabhakaran or Hitler. What is it that motivates a person to blow himself up, forsaking all vicissitudes of this worldly existence? It is the desire to “Get even with your Enemy”. “Revenge is a dish best served cold”- The proverb stands factual since the inception of human civilization. Someone has wronged us, because we have wronged someone, not individually-but as a society, deprived him of his rights, oppressed him, subjugated and exploited him as per our whims and chalices. One of the greatest orator, statesman and social reformer of the 19th century Frederick Douglass quotes.

“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.”

It is the quintessential right of human beings to retaliate and dissent against subjugation and exploitation. In an oligarchic world, these moves don’t budge a fly. We are residing in an age where the media is more of an intermediate of procuring the interests of a certain faction of the society. It has forfeited its primary objective i.e. to enlighten the common En 22

Bakhabar : January 2014

Masse with the trepidative elements in the society, unmasking the pungent and masquerader fraction of the society and upholding the “Real Truth”. The truth, stranger than fiction, a reciprocal to people’s beliefs and assertions.

Truth is a powerful weapon, it can instigate revolutions, a mighty shield against the sword of tyranny and inequality. However it is a mystifying notion that the news we see on television is manipulated and maneuvered as per the desires of the glitterati.

Secondly, it is a common misconception that terrorism is a weapon of the weak. Infact, it is a bludgeon of the strong and mighty to terrorize people to submit to their autonomous authority. It is held to be a weapon of the weak because the strong also control the doctrinal systems and their terror doesn't count as terror. I would quote

John Pilger- Former Chief Foreign Correspondent, “The Mirror”

He says “Murder is Murder regardless of whether you crash a plane into a building or order and collude with it from the Oval office and Downing Street”

America’s unflinching support to Zionism:- This issue has been the thorn of contention between the USA and the middle east nations.

USA’s rigid support to Israeli apartheid policy, its inhumane

atrocities makes USA a convict on equal footing for the morally reprehensible situation of the Palestinians. What USA claims she felt on 9/11 was a mere trailer of what millions of Palestinian and Iraqi children have to go through in their daily rigours.

Far from being the terrorists of the world, the overwhelming preponderance of the people of middle East and south Asia have been its victims. Victims largely of the west’s exploitation of valuable natural resources in or near their country. The tragedy of the Iraqis, Palestinians and Afghanis is a truth that is very opposite of their caricatures in much of the western media.

Ghosts Of America’s Christmas past: The 700,000 displaced Palestinians, the 17,500 killed when Israel backed by US invaded Lebanon. The millions killed in Korea, Vietnam and Cambodia. The 200,000 Iraqis killed in operation desert storm and the millions who died in Yugoslavia, Somalia, hiati, Chile, Nicaragua, El Salvador, The Dominican republic and panama at the hand of terrorists, dictators and genocidists whom the American government supported, trained, bankrolled and supplied with arms. And this is far from being a comprehensive list!!:- As Quoted by Arundhati Roy

Think carefully, before you label someone as a Terrorist. The dialectics of Terrorism are subtle!!. I would conclude by quoting Dwight .d. Eisenhower “Peace and Justice are the two sides of the same coin”

KUN FAYAKOON

I

By Shakeel Ashraf

remember once I posted a news item about new findings on the Big Bang theory related to the creation of the universe, when a brother promptly responded, “ Kun, fa yakoon...

Allah says be and it is...” I appreciate him for rightly attributing the grand creation of the universe to the Divine Decree. In verse 117 of Surah Baqra Allah says, “He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth: when He decrees a thing, He merely says, "Be," and there it is.

Believing that Allah is the Creator of everything is an integral part of true faith. Does this belief discourage the exploration of Divine creation? Definitely not, but unfortunately it is probably happening with us, today. Muslims are nowhere in scientific research, explorations and expeditions.

In verse 164 of Surah Baqra Allah says,

“Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, and the ships which sail through the sea with that which is of use to mankind, and the water (rain) which Allah sends down from the sky and makes the earth alive therewith after its death, and the moving (living) creatures of all kinds that He has scattered therein, and in the veering of winds and clouds which are held between the sky and the earth, are indeed Ayat (proofs, evidence, signs, etc.) for people of understanding”.

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According to the above verse, all the phenomenon of nature are signs of Allah for people of understanding. Who are the people of understanding? On one side the followers of scientism don’t accept the existence of the Creator and on the other side those who worship the Creator are so complacent that they don’t bother to explore and expedite His grand creation and as a result are the loser on this earth. The callous attitude of Muslims towards science and technology has made them weightless in the affairs of the world.

In Islam, nature is not seen as a separate entity, but rather as an integral part of Islam’s holistic outlook on Allah, humanity, and the world. This link implies a sacred aspect to the pursuit of scientific knowledge by Muslims, as nature itself is viewed in the Qur'an as a compilation of signs pointing to the Divine. It was with this understanding that the pursuit of science was respected in Islamic civilizations, specifically during the eighth to sixteenth centuries, prior to the colonization of the Muslim world.

They were Muslims who opened the doors of scientific studies to the world. It was the intellectual explosion created at the time of Caliphs Harun and Mamun that propelled science into the forefront of knowledge and made Islamic civilization the beacon of learning for five hundred years.

History remembers it as the golden age of Islam. It was the period of Abbasid caliphate, begin-

ning in mid 8th century and lasting up to 1258, when Mangole destroyed Baghdad and its house of wisdom. It is said that intellectual stagnation of the Muslim Ummah started after the destruction of Baghdad. What had made this era the golden age, and what ultimately caused its destruction? It was not the fabulous wealth of the empire or the fairy tales of the Arabian Nights that made it golden; it was the strength of its ideas and its contributions to human thought. And what could be the reason of destruction other than the wrath of Allah? Probably Allah didn’t like the obsessions of the Abbasid regimen of rationalists where ink of a scholar was declared holier than the blood of a martyr.

I am aware that my level of studies and understanding hasn’t reached the threshold where I can have a clear perception of such intricate issues. Nevertheless, this is the issue, which, since I reached maturity, has always been there in my consciousness. So much so, that, I have been wandering to understand the reason behind the zero contribution of Muslim community to pure and applied sciences in the recent history. A sweeping majority of people cite a very simple reason, “Muslims don’t put any effort in this direction”. That is perfectly true. However, the question is, why don’t they put the effort? Is it not their necessity? If the saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention”, is true, then what keeps them away from this realization? I am not convinced with the popular arguments like Muslims are oppressed,

they are poor, they don’t go to schools and colleges, they study in Madarsa, they only memorize Quran, they are orthodox, etcetera. Whatever population of the community studies in schools, colleges and universities- Let me categorically ask this questionwho has curbed their aspiration to pursue advanced research in science? Muslims are not beggars only.

They are engineers, doctors, teachers, civil servant, businessman, bankers, politicians, kings, dictators, everything but not scientist (illa masha_Allah!). I dislike the act of boasting about the cultivation of science by Muslims in 8th century (pedram sultan bood!). As if we are dying to claim the intellectual royalty for the contribution of our ancestors!

There are many ignorant (I don’t like to call them orthodox) in our community who are devoid of any realization on this issue, there are others who rightly take the pursuit of scientific knowledge as a worldly necessity, while there are others who consider the pursuit of scientific knowledge as a religious duty.

Many enthusiastic debaters from the third category (I don’t mind to call them morons) probably fail to understand that the religious duty of such high level are farz-e-kifaya on the community as a whole and not farze-ain on any individual. I appreciate everyone from the second and third category, subject to a criterion that they demonstrate a balanced attitude in their thought.

Now I would like to risk and disclose to the readers, my personal opinion, which might sound, quite immature to many, or even absurd to them who are fond of obsession of a particular type. To start with let me recite a portion of the Quranic verse (3:185): 24

Bakhabar : January 2014

“Innamal hayat-ud-dunia illa mataa-al-ghuroor… ..”

“As regards the life of this world, it is merely a thing that deceives”.

Islam deputes a moral guard on every beleiver so that he doesn’t get lost in his worldly affairs, forgetting the purpose of his own creation. And the purpose of his creation is outlined in the Quranic verse (51:56):

“Wama khalaqtul jinnah wal insa ila liyaabudoon… .”

“I have not created the jinn and the men except for this that they worship Me”.

Science is a blessing but scientism is a curse.

Fear of the curse might be keeping us away from the benefits of a blessing.

The barrier of fear is probably a psychological trial and the best thing would be to pass this trial in order to reap the benefits of the worldly bounties of Allah without being disqualified of ultimate success.

However, in my humble opinion, if one is unable to pass this test and the reason of his failure is his genuine fear of getting lost in the affairs of this world, I believe he would not be disqualified at the ultimate level. After all, no matter how huge it might appear to be, the loss would be of limited extent and one would not be wrong to cherish the hope of pardon by mercy of Allah on the day of resurrection. (shakeel.ashraf@yahoo.com)

OUR WOMEN, OUR PRIDE WOMEN

T

By Mohammad Allam

he march of women in modern age for self reliance and dignity seems to be straying with the outcome. The rising atrocities against women around the world is an example .According to National Crime Record Bureau â&#x20AC;&#x153;a total of 2,44,270 incidents of crime against omen (both under IPC and SLL) were reported in the country during the year 2012 as compared to 2,28,650 in the year 2011 recording an increase of 6.4% during the year 2012. These crimes have continuously increased during 2008 - 2012 with 1,95,856 cases in the year 2008, 2,03,804 cases in 2009 and 2,13,585 cases in 2010 and 2,28,650 cases in 2011 and 2,44,270 cases in the year 2012â&#x20AC;? (National Crime Record Bureau).The matter of shock is that, this trend is rising in whole of the country irrespective of any particular region. Why there is rising atrocities against women in age of modern civilization when people are claiming morally so sound?

There are numerous shortcomings of the modern women movements. The most important shortcoming is the stress on redefining the dignity of women in the society on the basis of ambiguous ideologies .The position of women has been started to be redefined on the basis of economic empowerment. While the criteria for defining the dignity of women from time immemorial were the role of women in the construction of family irrespective of economic means owned by them and the religion.

The women have been considered the prestige of family, society and nation. This was the reason that in ancient time the victorious powers raped and captured the women to humiliate the defeated. In modern time this trend of associating women with prestige of society and family has been questioned by feminists. They are blaming this trend of society for the degrading condition of women. The feminists reject the dignity of women on the past criteria.

These feminists have put forward own criteria for defining status of women. These criteria are ranging from economic means to freedom of sexuality. One radical group of feminists has now seen the freedom of women in terms of sexuality. They are of the 25

Bakhabar : January 2014

opinion that the more freedom of sexuality for women, will result in more freedom and power enjoyed by the women. Is it not a deliberate attempt to degrade the position of women from the honorable position?

These two criteria of traditional society were altered by the Industrial Revolution, started in later half of the Nineteenth century in England. The women became a source of labour and means of entertainment to the large working forces of men in Industries. The

WOMEN

women were not to come out so easily from their respective positions in their homes. The surety of bread and status in the family and society was not so weak to be broken easily. So, to drag out the women from the shell of safety there was need of very strong philosophy of life which could not only be attractive but also driving force to break the shell.

The slogan of gender equality which was floated by western scholars after French Revolution of 1789, based on freedom of women, brought drastic change in the thinking of the women. Numerous movements were launched to achieve the equality through political empowerment of the women. But unfortunately women did not get right to vote-the basis of political empowerment, before 1946 in France. The other western nations gave right to vote only in early 20th century.

Later in 20th century, under the banner of Socialist and Communist movements, economic equality was floated in the thought formation for empowerment of women. The philosophy of â&#x20AC;&#x153;freedom of womenâ&#x20AC;? from social bondage through economic empowerment was stressed with the passage of time. In 21st century, the empowerment of women through economic means has been working .Women have been given equal right in inheritance, wages, jobs etc. The gates of restricted areas have been opened for them.

The power of media and faulty education system made the women vulnerable to market forces. The dignity of society and family were handed over to the market forces. The pride of womanhood has been sold for a price as a commodity which brought multiple and speedy changes in the status of women.

The women should be happy. But the data of atrocities against them is not allowing them to be happy.

The market forces which turned them as commodity made them prey of market players. The dreams to be dignified and empowered have been put on stake.

The rising trends of atrocities against women have made them to decide what role they want to play in the society-as a commodity or as a dignified member of a society. To attain both is not impossible but indeed difficult for the women. The movements which are running for empowering the women should decide how they are going to help them. Till now the movements have been stressing on assigning a dignified role to the women in the society without considering the nature of women, purpose of their creation and outcome. In future those societies will assail whose members have successfully accepted their assigned status on the basis of purpose of their creation in the society. The women should be given their due 26

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rights and men should be limited to their rights to meet the goals of society.

In case of Muslim society, the time is very critical.

The bringing of Arab Spring by the youth of Islamic countries comprising of both genders has indeed been carving a new path of more liberty to the women. On the one hand there is demand of a modern society and on the other hand there is demand of Islam. The Muslims have to be very clear on the demands for both. They have to decide what they prefer for their society? A society based on the whims of modern life or a society on the will of Allah or the assimilation of both? They have to face the outrage of other societies in the form of condemnation by not allowing their societies to be modeled on modern way of life or the wrath of Allah Rabbul Alameen by neglecting His will.

In present time the crisis of Islamic society related to the rights of women is due to the mute spectatorship of Ulemas who have not been delivering timely guidance based on the synthesis of modern life and Sharia. The world is changing dynamically. And to coup with this world there is need of dynamic Sharia too. A static Sharia cannot meet the challenges of a dynamic society. The need of time is IJTEHAD based on Quran and Sunna.

The time has come for the members of Islamic society to synthesize the modernity and Sharia on priority basis to give true direction to the march of Islamic society. The time has come to actively stop the movement of the society in the wrong direction.

Otherwise they would present the same scene what the West has been depicting for centuries in the absence of guidance from the pious people. The present trend of the Western society shows that now they are moving towards a change for dignity of women through Islam. That is one reason why Islam has been accepted by women in large numbers? If they can move towards a better society after destruction of family and society by hidden weapons of modernity then why we not stop that destruction before it happens? Have we not courage to do so? Have we forgotten the wrath of Allah who destroyed many such societies in the past?

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to decide what we want? But this should be certain that our women should be our pride. We cannot remain dignified by humiliating our women.

Minto circle, A.M.U.Aligarh <mohammad_allam@rediffmail.com>

YOUTH

Don't Kill This Sunnah

By Nissar Nadiadwala

Last year a man, dressed in almost rags, was talking to me about the injustice done to him by his brothers in law. He was referring to the distribution of inheritance and said that his brothers in law had refused to share their father's wealth with his wife. He wanted to know what the Qur'an says about the inheritance. After going through the verses that rightly went in his favor, he got up in despair and threw his hands up and left saying, “Alas! This sunnah is dead.” I watched him walking down the lobby with painful steps.

A few years back, an interesting case came up on the table of Mumbai High Court where a Muslim refused to share his father's wealth with his sister. His claim was, “My father had already spent money on her wedding, so she has got her share, now everything else belongs to me.” The wise jury asked both the parties to get their testimonies and proofs.

The brother got a fatwa (I will not disclose which sect gave the fatwa, but you can guess), where the mufti had ruled in his favor.

The sister got a fatwa from Madrasa Rahmanya, Ahlul Hadith Kandilvli, Mumbai, and the Mufti stated that since the expenditure of marriage was done in his life time by the father, hence it does not deprive the sister from inheriting her share. The jury gave its verdict in favor of the sister.

Many of us display our generosity when it comes to little expenditures but our hearts shrink when it 27

Bakhabar : January 2014

comes to share our houses, shops, lands and other immovable properties, with the rightful heirs. At times it also happens that elder brothers of a joint family refuse or delay the share stating that their younger brothers will blow away their father's wealth. Some come out with excuse that since they are the eldest one, it was their hard work that earned the wealth and the father had no contribution in it.

This reminds me two threatening hadiths. The Prophet (pbuh) said, “If I give a ruling in favor of a person who argues smartly but is on wrong side, then he is tying a rope of fire around his own neck.”

On other occasion he said, “Whoever snatches away a piece of land (property) unjustly, he will drag the piece of the said property in the court of Allah on the day of Qiyamah, with the land up to seven earth tied on his neck.”

Take this into consideration: A man is already 45-50 by the time his father dies and he inherits the property. Little does he realize that he has only 12-15 years to live more and yet he clings to the wealth.

Surah Takathur begins with the plight of such

people who chase wealth and suddenly reach their graves. Here it is: The Mutual rivalry for piling up diverts you, until you reach the grave, Surah Takathur, chapter 102 verse 1-2.

Then why do many of us still refuse to share? The answer is also found in the Qur'an Surah Taghabun Chapter 64, verse 1415. Indeed among your wives and your children are your enemies (A test for you); so it warns that it is the love and concern for wives and children that man fails in the test of wealth, and the next verse confirms it that it is the children and wealth that is a test for you.

Don't fail in this test.

From “Beyond Education” collection – Nissar Nadiadwala’s Editorial for Young Muslims

CONCERN

Sharp fall in recruitment of minorities in central govt services

R

ecruitment of minorities in central government services fell from 11.56% of total hires in 2010-11 to just 6.89% in 2012-13, according to data collected from nearly 70 Union ministries and departments.

The government, which released the data in reply to a Parliament question on Thursday, has blamed the falling recruitment levels of minority candidates, which depends on the number of applications received and percentage of qualifying candidates from the community, on absence of minority job quota, their dependence on traditional/religious education, low literacy levels, non-availability of suitable candidates and low scores of minority aspirants in written examination.

In comparison, data put out by 70 central ministries and departments shows that 22,674 minority candidates were recruited during 201213, which works to just 6.89% of the total 3,28,723 candidates hired through the year. While the total recruitments increased by nearly 1.25 lakh between 2010-11 and

cruitment of minority candidates among the total candidates hired by them in both 2010-11 and 2012-13.

In his reply to the Rajya Sabha query, Narayanasamy said initiatives were taken to boost minority recruitment in central government services. These included instructions issued to all appointing authorities on September 17, 2011, making it mandatory for them to include one member each from the SC/ST and minority community in selection boards for making recruitment to 10 or more vacancies.

As many as eight ministries/departments accounted for nil recruitment of minority candidates among the total candidates hired by them in both 2010-11 and 2012-13.

According to data capturing central government employees appointed across 71 ministries and departments in 2010-11, 2,03,798 candidates were recruited through the year, of which 23,567 belonged to the minority community. The statistics, cited by minister of state for personnel V Narayanasamy in his written reply to a query in the Rajya Sabha, show that the maximum number of minority candidates were recruited that year by the ministry of mines (7,802), followed by department of financial services (4,702) and ministry of home affairs (4,539).

28

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2012-13, the number of successful minority candidates dipped by 893.

The maximum recruitment of minorities in 2012-13 were in the department of financial services (5,844), ministry of railways (4,210), ministry of home affairs (3,518) and central paramilitary forces (3,483).

As many as eight ministries/departments accounted for nil re-

The instructions required the appointing authorities to give wide publicity to appointments in government, public sector banks and financial institutions. Advertisements were to be issued in regional languages, apart from English and Hindi. For Group C posts, information regarding vacancies must be disseminated through schools and colleges, according to the instructions.

The appointing authorities were also asked to distribute vacancy circular in local language in areas having a concentration of minority community.

Source: http://toi.in/edZeDZ @timesofindia

OPINION

SINGLES, SEX AND FAITH

L

By Aslam Abdullah

iving together before marriage is generally accepted as a normal practice in the USA and Europe. Pre-marital sex in the USA and European societies has become a norm and even though adultery is illegal in 23 states in the USA, since 1983 no one has been punished while some 60 percent men and 42 per cent women reportedly commit acts of adultery in the country. In those states where adultery is still on the statute books, penalties vary from life sentence in Michigan to a $10 fine in Maryland to a Class B misdemeanor in New York to a Class I felony in Wisconsin and to a fine of $500 in South Carolina.

Islam advocates celibacy before marriage and defines pre-marital and extra-marital relations as greater sins and proposes strong penalties.The Quran says, "Nor come closer to illicit relations (zina) for it is shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the door (to other evils)." 17:32

Yet many in the Muslim community living in Europe and the USA and elsewhere cannot claim to be strict followers of their faith. A good number of single men and women as well as married couples, mostly men, seem to be involved in pre-marital or extra-marital relations. There is no sociological study to substantiate the statistics, yet there are reports based on independent research of many journalists and social scientists that suggest incidents of premarital sex among Muslim men far exceed the incidents of similar behavior among Muslim women.

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By and large, Muslims avoid discussion on this subject often living under the assumption that their community is free from these acts. Few would dare any write up and those who do would generally be looked down upon.

Yet it is an issue that one has to face especially when it impacts the image of Islam and the health of the community. There are many disgruntled women, mostly nonMuslims, who feel betrayed by their Muslim boyfriends after living together for several years and there are many Muslim women who out of fear and social pressure are not willing to admit the intimate nature of their relations with their boyfriends in secrecy. It is an issue that deserve to be addressed openly, fearlessly and seriously.

With sex and the discussion about sex everywhere, the Muslim community cannot claim to save itself from its impact. It cannot simply close its eyes and say that “it’s a non-Muslim problem.” It has to deliberate the issue and work to strengthen young men and women to stand their moral grounds no matter how tough the circumstance may be. Sex is a physical activity but it is born in the mind and ideas. It is not a physical activity without which a human cannot survive like food or water. So it is possible that if the mind is properly trained and the ideas are channelized into positive energy, people can control their sexual instincts within a moral frame. But this would happen only when the discussion is open and objective.

It is one thing to say that God frowns upon those who indulge in illicit sexual relations, But it is an-

other to study the causes of this life style and pragmatically take steps to channelize the sexual urges into an ethical framework.

Not many are willing to admit that pre-marital sex is common among single Muslim male students in various colleges and universities especially among those enrolled as foreign students. There are incidents of extra-marital relations among students who live without their spouses.

Among the male students, this happens in different ways. The boy either enters into a temporary marriage relationship with a nonMuslim girl for a specific period of time or maintains relationship in secrecy. In some cases, the boy even marries the girl in what he defines “Islamically”, without any legal contract or paper work. In this situation, the couple approaches either an Imam or anyone they trust to conduct marriage Islamically. The marriage is not recorded under the assumptions that God is the greatest witness along with two other male witnesses. Such marriage are also solicited by married men. The women are generally non-Muslims and they are told that at a later time when it is appropriate the husband would divorce his first wife.

Temporary hookups through chat sites and dating agencies are also not uncommon among Muslim singles and married men. Usually, Muslim men and women come to these chat sites with non-Muslim names regardless of the region they live in and slowly and gradually they reveal true identify once the possibility physical hookup

OPINION

become a reality. Usually, Muslims would avoid entering into these kinds of hookups with fellow Muslims of opposite or same gender, yet, these unions are not rare.

Single Muslim men often start facing the trouble, when their partner wants to declare their relations open. Most of the time such single Muslim men, who are not serious do not introduce their girlfriends to their Muslim circles.

However, when girlfriends ask for declaring these relationship in open, they refuse and offer religious explanations admitting that they were wrong in maintaining these relations. This either terminates the relationship or assume different dimensions.

Ironically, many non-Muslim women take these relationship seriously and some try to familiarize them with Islam or even considering to become Muslims. Single Muslim men often avoid discussions about marriage under the plea that either they are not ready or their families are not. In this situation, the couple usually

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breaks up.

So what needs to happen to address the situation? First of all, Muslim social scientists and leaders should acknowledge that the issue is real and take it seriously and conduct objective studies to assess the true dimensions of this issue. Simultaneously, we should also develop a curriculum that addresses the issue of relationship between boys and girls and men and women sociologically and pragmatically. This should happen from an early age because in public or private schools they are exposed to sex-related issues at a very tender age. While, we Muslims, generally, leave it to an individual to navigate his or her way through the maze of information on sex, others offer structured courses on the subject to students as young as nine or ten. By the time, we intervene, the children are already exposed to information far better than the one offered by us. In fact, intervention at this time becomes counter productive as it leads to stealth sexuality that no one would want to admit to one's elders. We have to decide

when it would be appropriate to introduce such subjects to students.

Only when one would have a strong foundations in a life style guided by the divine teachings, one can hope to reduce such incidents in real relationship. The solution lies in empowering individuals with a knowledge that would inspire them to be responsible and disciplined in every aspect of life. Where self-control would be an assertive way of life and where the relationship would not be used to serve feelings of selfindulgence. It is possible to control sexual urges but it would not come through condemning sexuality but giving it a positive spin within a moral framework that is useful for everyone. Humans are their best supervisors and controllers, but we have to be empowered with the knowledge that would strengthen those aspects of our character inwardly.

http://aslamabdullah.blogspot.ae/2 013/11/singles-sex-and-faith-living-together.html

NEWS

This scientist has made Bihar proud

Dr Haque said, "When we blocked the CCN1 pathway, the stem cells were unable to self-renew, which resulted in long term and irreversible impairment of tumour growth. In other words, the cancer was permanently shut down."

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By Binay Kumar Jha Bihar-born scientist is member of a small team which has identified a new gene, CCN1, and new biological pathways that help in healing pancreatic cancer.

Dr Inamul Haque, a native of Supaul Bazaar, Biraul, in Darbhanga district, is an assistant professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, USA, and investigated the biochemical activity and the molecular targets of CCN1 in pancreatic cancer cells. The study was published recently in the Journal of Biological Chemistry and accepted by American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology meeting, 2013, held at Boston, USA.

The lead author of the study, Dr Haque said, "The treatment of this disease has largely been unsuccessful due to higher resistance offered by pancreatic cells to conventional drugs. Therefore, our aim was to make these pancreatic cells more sensitive towards drugs. We have identified CCN1 as a key regulator for drug resistance and our studies have resolved how the CCN1 system becomes rewired at the molecular and cellular levels to promote pancreatic cancer."

During the study, the researchers used mice in which human pancreatic cancer cells with or without CCN1 gene had been placed. The tumours 31

in mice having CCN1 positive cancer cells began growing in less than a week, while no tumor was formed even three weeks after the placement of genetically engineered CCN1-negative cancer cells.

Bakhabar : January 2014

His mentor, Dr Sushanta Banerjee explained that this finding is valuable in both scientific and clinical aspects.

"Scientifically, we identified the molecular mechanism of local invasiveness in pancreatic cancer. Clinically, our results provide a drug-able target, CCN1, for developing therapeutic strategy against advanced pancreatic cancer. This study will provide important information for developing the personalized medicine of pancreatic cancer."

The seventh season of the hit television game show Kaun Banega Crorepati has got its first female crorepati.

Banega Crorepati" (KBC).

She took home a jackpot of Rs.1 crore from the show, hosted by Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan.

Her victory will be showcased on the season's last episode Sunday.

A Bachelor of Science student from Uttar Pradesh, Fatma participated in the game show to win a certain amount to pay off her deceased father's loan.

Fatma had lost hope to make it to the hot seat this season, but she finally found her lucky moment.

"I was very nervous when I wasn't able to make it to the hot seat in the second last episode and felt I have to go home empty handed. But then I aced the fastest finger first round and made my way to the hot seat," Fatma said in a press statement issued post her Rs.1 crore victory.

"Also, I didn't feel as the one-crore winner until the audience clapped and Bachchanji hugged me. It is a great feeling," she added.

Fatma credits her pool of general knowledge to newspapers and news channels.

Now the young lady wants to help her family get rid of her father's loan, and invest some money in studying further for a brighter future. She also wants her mother to live a tensionfree life.

KBC is the Indian adaptation of international format "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire". KBC first went on air in 2000.

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iroz Fatma, 22, hails from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, and was thrilled with the big win.She has emerged the first female crorepati of the 2013 edition of popular reality TV game show "Kaun

Except the third season, which was hosted by Shah Rukh Khan, Big B has been in the anchor's seat for all KBC seasons.

Source 1News: Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/This-scientist-hasmade-Bihar-proud/articleshow/27811698.cms 2 News: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/131128/entertainment-tvmusic/article/firoz-fatma-becomes-first-woman-crorepati-kbc-7