Bakhabar, May 2014

Better light a candle than curse the darkness

Monthly e-Magazine

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ISSN 2319-4049

BE AWARE, ALWAYS, EVERYWHERE

My Journey to COVER STORY

Freedom

Volume 7, Issue 05, May 2014

From Chief Editor

The Prophet as the Feminist

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

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Bakhabar : May 2014

The Prophet championed the rights and dignity of women at a time when they were the most degraded lot in Arabia and around the world

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, a feminist? I can see a few eyebrows raised, several harsh glances thrown and some hands lifted.

Relax. Let me explain.

Here comes his story, though it is possible that you might not have heard it from this angle or were just misinformed, as is often the case.

Being a woman is hard work.

Says the Black American writer Maya Angelou. It is indeed hard [and lots of it!] work to be a woman and stay that way! Should I add being a Muslim woman is more difficult, at least in the eyes of the Western world?

The popular image of the suffering Muslim woman is orientalist in nature. The West and its media are obsessed with the false perception of the alleged suffocation of Muslim women. This image suggests that these veiled souls can’t speak for themselves and need to be, ‘saved’. We do not need, saving, and this liberty is forced upon us.

Also we must do away with despite-being-a-Muslim woman kind of rhetoric. It is too patronizing an attitude and instills dichotomy.

To begin with the story, he began with the banning of female infanticide. It was a hugely revolutionary step. Imagine how difficult it must have been to convince a people, to not be killing their daughters, who had the habit of burying them alive?

Once he wept uncontrollably to hear one such confession. He had not one or two but four daughters and was an exemplary father to them.

He had informed his people that they should not prefer their sons over daughters, and they should bring them up with utmost care and never ever subject them to discrimination of any kind. If they succeed in doing so, they were assured, they will be rewarded immensely in the afterlife. We all know how this charity of discrimination with us begins at home; with mothers expecting their daughters to be perfect and contributing in the household work while the sons are spoilt to the hilt.

Discrimination begins with this attitude where sons/boys are preferred for exceptional treatment. He never was one for this. According to his wife Aisha RA, he would be at his happiest best when his youngest daughter Fatima RA came visiting. His face would lit up and he would be at his warmest best towards her and happiest in her company.

When it comes to the issue of women and Islam, everyone is familiar with the commonplace perceptions and stereotypes as to how Islam exploits women, curbs their freedom and condemns them to domestic

Editorial

existence in their homes.

The fact of the matter is that if we look closely, it is actually Muslim men who should be complaining about not being favored as much as women. I am illustrating my case here.

The Prophet said that a woman has the freedom to choose her spouse, to spend her money where she wants to and has the right to own property. That was some 1400 years ago!

If she earns, her money is her property entirely; any male relation, has no right to stake a claim on it, directly or indirectly. The argument that this creates inequality among the genders does not hold water.

Does granting of privileges of some special kind, means we are unequal? Why not then ban the special reserved seats for women in buses or even refrain, from offering a woman your seat?

Furthermore, without her explicit consent, she can’t be married off; she can demand divorce if she is not happy in her marriage. The Prophet was most concerned about widow remarriage and asked for avoid-

While my case is, if you are given a privilege, a concession, without your asking for it, then just grab it and make hay. Of course the sun shines bright on us the Muslim women. There is no scope for a Muslim

ing any delays regarding this. In those times a woman could even send her own marriage proposal to a man!

man to take a single penny from a woman relative [especially wife] without her unambiguous and happy consent.

Can you imagine such a thing today? They could earn their living, why his first wife Khadijah RA was a business woman and had employed him to help her. Financial freedom is the true freedom. In Islam it is binding on the male relations of a woman to take care of her expenses. Irrespective of whether she earns or not, she is not obliged to or does not need to spend on herself, from her own pocket.

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This way, the concept of dowry is also automatically rendered un-Islamic. He knew the importance of educating women and had asked the believers to learn teachings of Islam, also from his wife Aisha, who was groomed by him with special care and attention.

I wish to share a few slices of his wonderful life

Editorial

where he shows how cool he was with the women.

He understood them, loved them, respected them, cared for them and most of all he showed that he cared. He said it as it was. He was never shy of expressing his love for his wives. They were bestowed with lovely nicknames; were listened to patiently, never taunted, criticized or made fun of by him.

If reprimanding them was necessary, he did so privately and in a very gentle and considerate way. His wives would even stop talking to him if they were miffed for some reason and could even reply back!

He was there for them, when they needed him.

Talking to them, narrating the day’s happenings, asking for their opinion, never hurting their sentiments, sharing caring and loving….You have to be a wife [woman] to know how precious this feels!

He was also not one among those scores of men who order around their women. He would wash his clothes himself, mend his shoes, serve himself and did whatever other ordinary workmen do.

The popular perception calculatingly enforced in the media is that Islam is a bad religion for women. [Oh! You have four wives! They forget to mention 4, 5 or 6, girlfriends for some!]

When it comes to the matter of rights, there is justice and equality among men and women, no prejudice no favoritism to him or her. Yes, due to their characteristic traits, there are bound to be specifications about their dealings with the world and hence a different set of instructions for them to follow.

This is what the critics of Islam must understand, attributing individual and communal follies, [be it against educating women or their driving cars] to Islam and the Prophet’s teachings is like blaming Taliban for the fly sitting on your pretty nose. Thank you.

This champion of women’s rights practiced what he preached. He never hit any of his wives, and severely reprimanded the men who resort to violence.

Once when Aisha RA angrily smashed a bowl filled with food from another of his wife Safia RA; he dealt with it astutely. He sat down and picked up the shreds of glass with his own hands, uttering the words, Oh, she got angry!

Imagine in his place a typical husband and you know the difference. This slice from his life makes it clear that he was not unaware of the psychology of 4

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women, her natural jealousies with a co-wife and, hence his maturity and wisdom of demeanor.

The matter of breaking a bowl was resolved finally when the guilty party was asked to procure a similar bowl with similar filling, and that was that. The matter was over within seconds, no hard feelings and no grudges. He understood a woman’s mind perfectly well.

Yes, he was a feminist, a fierce one at that. He was feminist enough to accept his weakness and proclaim that it was his wife Khadija who helped, consoled and supported him when he was emotionally wrought at the time of the first divine revelation.

Talking of the Prophet’s equation with her, Dr. Gary Miller makes an interesting observation:

As a matter of fact she [Khadija] must have been quite a woman because when the first revelation came to him, he ran home to her, afraid. Certainly, even today one would have a hard time trying to find an Arab who would tell you, “I was so afraid that I ran home to my wife,” They just aren’t that way. Yet Mohammad, pbuh, felt comfortable enough with his wife to be able to do that.–The Amazing Quran.

How many men can admit to their wives that they were afraid and needed their support? He was courageous and man enough to acknowledge his wife’s contribution and gave her the credit where it was due. Stressing the importance of treating a wife in the best way possible, he had said,

The best of the believers are those who are best in their manners and kindest to their wives.

Elsewhere, he said,

The best one of you is the best to his family and I am the best one of you to my family.

The Prophet also famously said that Jannah or heaven lay at the feet of a woman–one’s mother.

‘Treat women kindly, Fear Allah concerning women’ were his last words.

With his model life before us and his noble words to guide us, being a woman is not hard work.

ASMA ANJUM KHAN

(Asma Anjum Khan is Assistant Professor of English and a community activist based in Maharashtra, India)

When It Is Time to

Pray Islam

The Merits of the Prescribed Prayers at Set Times I By Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali I

{Prayers have been prescribed for the believers at set times.} (An-Nisa' 4:103)

T

"Indeed, the five Prayers remove sins, just as water removes dirt."

time.

here are many sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that emphasize the importance of performing prayers on their set

"There are five Prayers which God has prescribed for His servants. For those who perform them properly, without disrespectful omissions, there is a guarantee that God will admit them to Paradise. To those who do not observe them, however, God offers no such guarantee: He may punish them or He may admit them to Paradise, as He wills." (An-Nasa'i)

Once the Prophet told his Companions:

"The five set Prayers may be compared to a stream of fresh water, flowing in front of your house, into which you plunge five times each day. Do you think that would leave any dirt on your body?"

They replied: "None at all!"

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Indeed, the five Prayers remove sins, just as water removes dirt." (Al-Bukhari, 528)

The Prophet also said: "The five set Prayers are expiation, for there is something amongst 5

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them by which major sins are repelled." (Muslim,55)

"What distinguishes us from the hypocrites is our attendance at late night and early morning Prayers, both of which they miss." (At-Tirdmidhi, 89)

"Had anything been dearer to Him than this, it would have become a form of worship for His angels. As it is [each of them performs part of the Prayer,] some bowing, some prostrating themselves, some standing upright and some sitting on their heels." (AtTabarani) One of the Prophet's Companions, Abu Hurairah, said:

"If someone makes his ablution and does it well, then sets out with the intention of performing the Prayer, he is already in the state of Prayer while on his way to it. With each two steps he takes, a good deed is added to his record and a bad deed is erased from it. So do not linger when you hear the signal that the Prayer is beginning, for the one who is farthest from home will get the greatest reward."

They asked: "Why is that, Abu Hurairah?"

He said: "Because of all the steps he had to take."

(At-Tirmidhi)

According to tradition, of all a person's actions, the first to be examined on the Day of Resurrection will be the Prayer. If it The Importance of Prayers is found to be complete, it will be accepted of - Prayers and the Worst Kind of Theft him along with the rest - Prayers through Tests of his works, but if it is found wanting it will be - Unable to Perform Jumu`ah for Work rejected along with the - Prayer: The Key to Good Life rest of his deeds.

- The Spirit of Prayer - (Exclusive Video)

"The merit of congregational Prayer surpasses

Islam

that of individual Prayer by twenty-seven degrees."

A scholar once said:

One who performs Prayer is like a merchant, who does not start making a profit until he has recovered all his capital. In similar fashion, one who performs Prayer gets no credit for supererogatory devotions until he has discharged his basic obligations.

If someone performs his Prayer at the proper time, makes his ablution correctly, does the bowing and prostration properly and observes due humility, that Prayer will rise up, all bright and shining, and will say: "May God take care of you as you have taken care of me!"

But if someone performs his Prayer at the wrong time, without correct ablution, not bowing and prostrating properly and not observing due humility, his Prayer will rise up all dark and gloomy, saying: "May God neglect you as you have neglected me."

Then when it has reached wherever God wishes, it will be folded up like an old rag and he will be slapped with it in the face. (At-Tabarani)

Merit of Congregational Prayer The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"The merit of congregational Prayer surpasses that of individual Prayer by twenty-seven degrees." (Muslim, 650)

According to the Companion Uthman that Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:

"To perform the late evening Prayer in congregation is equivalent to spending half the night in vigil, while to perform the dawn Prayer in congregation is like keeping vigil throughout the night." (At-Tirmidhi, 221)

http://www.onislam.net/english/readingislam/living-islam/first-steps/prayers/446990when-it-is-time-to-pray.html

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Khabron ki Khabar Seraj Akram - Lucknow k eek molana ne kaha ki Modi se dar lagta he, Rajnath to Vajapaye jaise hain.

Agar itne bare ulema ki jankari itni kamzor hai to qaum ke liye yah bahut hi bara almiya hai. Modi, Advani, Vajpayee ya Rajnath yah sab mohre hain RSS ke, inko sirf RSS ke ideology par kaam karna he, inki apni koi auqat nahi. Mohre koi bhi hon, kaam usi ideology par kiya jata he jis ki shapath lekar yah log rajniti me aate hain. Kya Modi ya Rajnath ke badalne se RSS ki fikr badal jayegi? Yah molana khud farebi ke shikar hain ya gharib awam ko fareb dena chahte hain?

- Modi ki mukhalifat karne walon ko Pakistan jana hoga…

Griraj, Hame apne samman ke liye badla lena hai…Amit Shah, Kiski buti buti hogi wah to election ke baad pata chalega…Schidhia, Musalman ko hindu ilaqe se ghar khali karna parega…Togadia, kuchh logo ko darna to hoga…

Modi, Modi PM bane to 6 mahine me Pakistan ko dhwast kar denge aur aur bharat me hangama karne walon ko sabaq sikha denge.

Election jitney se pahle in deshbhakton ke yah tewar hain to aage Allah hi malik he. Rawayya aisa phir bhi deshbhakti ka guman? Kya baat hai.

- Musalmano ko reservation denge…Congress Phir wahi sapne, phir wahi naatak, ya to congress ki hiss mar chuki hai jhute wade karte karte ya muslim khud sirf jhute wade ke mustahaq ban kar rah gaye hain.

- Har Har Modi, ghar ghar Modi…

Paise me itni taqat hoti hai ki kuch bhi kar de, jise modi ke bare me ABC pata nahi wah bhi aise naare laga rahe hain, Media ne itne shor se propaganda kiya he kea am awam ko kuch samajh me nahi aata, bas dusre ka dekha dekhi khud bhi nare lagane lagte hain.

- Har taraf Modi hi Modi, Modi by media, media by Modi Chand rupia ki khatir garib janta to vote bechti thi, ab media chand crore rupie me pure media ke zameer ko hi bech rahi he.

- Rajnath Singh Lucknow me molana se mile.

Agar yahi kaam congress ka koi neta karta to wah Tushtikaran ho jata, na jaane kin kin alfazon se nawaza jata, lekin khud kare to koi bat nahi, aise mamlon me congress ki khamoshi bhi qabil deed hoti he.

- Misr me 682 logon ko maut ki saza sunayi gayi Qanun ke sath kaisa bhadda mazaq hai, phir bhi aalmi biradri apne chahete Sisi ke khilaf kuch bhi nahi bolte. Aur yahi kaoi aur hukumat karti to sare hangama kar dete, yahi hai inke insaf ka paymana. Aise me aalmi media bhi khamosh tamashayi ban jati hai, sare media ke asool khatm ho jate hain.

Vadodara Politics

Still Has Not Fallen

I

I By Prof. V.K. Tripathi I

visited Vadodara for 3 days, April 17-19, 2014.

Narendra Modi is contesting Loksabha election from here. Congress has fielded Madhusudan Mistry, its strategist and grassroots man, against him.

Mistry’s candidature has galvanized non-political social groups to come in open against the Modi cult. 30 such groups have formed “Peoples’ Forum for Madhusudan Mistry”. 150 of their volunteers are campaigning in the area. Sadbhav Mission is not a part of it. However, our valuable colleague and Sdabhav Mission core group member, Prof. Mehrunnisa Desai, called me from Ahmedabad and suggested that the “Loksabha chunaav ke mudde” fliers, that I have been taking to people in Delhi and elsewhere, were relevant for Vadodara. I talked to Indu Bhai Jani and he also expressed similar views. Hence I decided to go to Vadodara to campaign against Corporate-communal nexus and media ‘s partisan indulgence.

I reached Vadodara on April 17 at 12 noon with 2500 copies of the Hindi flier, “Loksabha Chunav ke mudde”. I left my bag at the University Guest House, talked to friends at the University and went to Manjalpur to meet Raju Purohit, a long time social activist, and his wife Deepti who were looking after Mistry’s campaign in the city. There I met volunteers of Disha. They shared their experiences in talking to people about Mistry. At 3 PM 8 ladies/ girls of the group left for localities with fliers introducing Mistry. I joined them with our own fliers.

The girls distributed fliers door to door. I went to people where ever they were sitting/ standing in groups of 3 or more, gave them fliers and talked about the storm created by one sided media propaganda. It helped girls morale. By 5 PM girls left. I continued by myself till 8:30 PM. The response was not hostile as I had anticipated. Nearly half the people agreed with me that media’s indulgence for Modi was unjustified. Many agreed that he represented the interests of the top rich. Towards the end of the day I met a group of 10 educated elderly people sitting near a bus stop. They expressed their disapproval for 7

Bakhabar : May 2014

my views and strongly supported Modi. Some even said that Godse was needed today who could kill Congress leaders. I argued with them for 20 minutes while they revealed their sectarian ideology.

Next morning I left the guest house at 7:20 AM and walked to Prof. J.S. Bandukwala’s home. He was very warm. He apprised me of the situation in the city and dropped me at Navaya, the area with poor and lower middle class people from Hindu and Muslim communities. It was a very heartening experience. Instantly people could connect with me. They agreed with my assessment of media and Modi and felt the need for bringing up leaders who could take masses of all communities and all strata along. Many people read the flier in total. By 11:15 AM, Dr. Sujat Vali brought 4000 copies of the Gujarati flier, “Loksabha chunaav ke sandarbh mein atmnirikshan ki appeal” that Prof. Ashwin Karia so ably translated

Politics

from our English flier, “An appeal for self-introspection in the context of Loksabha elections”. The flier also contained an appeal from eight prominent social activists. I kept 1500 copies of the flier with me and Dr. Vali carried 2500 copies with him for distribution in Godhra, Lunawada and Bala Sinor. At 12 noon I reached Zenith School and held fruitful discussions with Chairman Shri Abbasi Barodawala, Principal Mrs. Poornima Bhatt and teachers. Then I went to adjoining areas. By 3 PM I had met 500 people. At 3 PM I met Deepti. She offered lunch. Immediately afterwards, Advaita, a lawyer social activist from Ahmedabad, took me to an area where 10 women volunteers were campaigning. We held a short meeting and then went on door to door drive. We met a stiff group of ten people from not so privileged class.

Their element of fanaticism was disappointing. By 5 PM these girls left and continued campaigning through Pratap Nagar, Gandy Gate, Moghulwada, Mandvi, Naya Mandir area and markets uptil 8:30 PM. There were several heartening responses. At 9 PM I met Raju Bhai and Deepti. At 10 PM I reached the Guest House.

On April 19, I began the campaign at 7:30 AM. I walked through the localities, talking to people and giving fliers, and reached uncovered areas of Navaya. The response was warm. I encountered the Congress Corporator and a group of 10 volunteers.

They liked the fliers and felt energized. By noon I returned to Guest House, picked the bag, met friends

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at the University and reached the station at 1:30 PM. For 30 minutes I distributed fliers at the platforms.

My return reservation was not cleared hence faced some difficulty travelling to Delhi. However, in the train I exhausted all my fliers (from bogeys S1 to S12) and won many hearts.

The situation in Vadodara is far better than one senses through the media hype. People at the grassroots have little respect for Modi’s words and deeds. Mistry may provide an outlet for peoples’ disenchantment. Next one week’s campaigning will be crucial. Elections will beheld on April 30.

*Prof. V. K. Tripathi, born in UP on March 11, 1948, did masters in Physics from Agra University in 1967 and Ph.D. from IIT Delhi in 1971. In 1972 he joined IIT faculty as SSO II/lecturer. In 1976 he moved to University of Maryland, USA and worked for six years in the area of thermonuclear fusion, developing nonlinear theories of RF heating and current drive in tokamak. He also worked as a consultant to Science Applications Inc. on ELF generation for global communication. In 1983 he joined IIT Delhi as professor of Physics. He established a leading group in free electron laser, gyrotron and laser plasma interaction. He guided twenty students to Ph.D., completed 10 sponsored projects, and published 250 papers. He has an active interaction with several leading universities of the world.

So What Are You Doing This Weekend?

Education

A

guest from Romania was asking me, So what do you do for a living?

I teach English literature , was my prompt reply.

No, she insisted , What do you do for a living?

Finding me surprised she rephrased her query.

I am asking what do you do for the people , for your society?

What did she exactly mean, I asked. She explained she goes to an Old Age home every weekend and spends time with the elderly , tells them stories , listens to their woes ,worries and returns feeling fulfilled.

Fulfilled? I was surprised again.

And slowly the reality began to dawn. She meant Social work! And we look down upon this term, thinking, only affluent women with nothing much to do at hand, go for such social work!

But how wrong I was!

Doing something for our society is so very precious.

We women especially in India are not used to this concept. Our idea of a good life doesn’t include this, unfortunately. Most of us women , after a day’s work at home , switch on the Television and enjoy a regular bout of Saas –Bahu serials or romantic sagas.

Our idea of outing is limited to being with family to a picnic spot, mall or visit to relations. But have we ever given a thought to the idea that while our husbands and kids are busy in their own life and friends , what do we do? Except waiting for them, after finishing the work and killing the time by watching inane television or gossiping? Shouldn’t we too get some life?

What about the idea of spending time meaningfully?

For caring for some other not so privileged people , for a change? This giving , would give you so much happiness , I am sure , that a good bout of television or shopping , won’t. I as a teacher, have been taking my students for such Good Picnics. We go to orphanages, Schools for the Blind and Deaf and the Dumb. The change in the attitude and way of thinking in our kids after the visit is visible and positive.

Doing good, does not just mean dispensing off some money to the needy; it can also mean giving your time. Time is the greatest gift, we can give someone, because once you give time, you can’t take it back.

In fact it becomes the most precious gift to the society you live in. Dedicating a few hours of the week 9

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for a good cause means you too get to spend your time in a better way. The satisfaction you feel, when you know that you have brought a smile to some one’s lips is indeed valuable. Black American writer, Maya Angelou claims, Giving liberates the soul of the giver. The giver is as enriched as is the recipient, and more important, that intangible but very real psychic force of good in the world is increased.

How true!

Examples of Muslim women working for a just social cause are many. Coming to the mind right now is from history, our dear Old Bi Amman, the great mother of the great Ali brothers, who inspired her sons and a whole lot of her countrymen to fight against the British oppression in pre-1947 India.

There are numerous others.

Let’s begin to give for a good cause and the cause of education is the best cause and what better platform than our Biharanjuman?

Wish you all the Best !

[Shenanigans007@hotmail.com]

Etiquette of Generosity: Islam

The Islamic Way to Preserve Your Charity I By Nissar Nadiadwala I

Among the earliest injunctions from Allah besides abstaining from shirk, was to be generous.

The Qur’an encouraged in a very motivating manner to spending in the way of Allah. Many people think that they are next to Hatim Tai when it comes to being charitable and feel that they own a monopoly in giving out to poor. It reflects in their attitude and in their expectations from the beneficiaries. Let me remind you a few of the noble etiquette that the Qur’an wants us to fulfil in order that it qualifies of being accepted

by Allah and deserve a reward.

Recall the verses form the Qur’an Surah Baqarah, chapter 2 verse no. 261-274 and checkup the following points.

• Hope for a multiple reward from Allah when you spend and acknowledge that Allah cares for all and knows everything.

• Expenditure should be in the way of Allah and not in the way of your ego or your status.

• There should be no reminders of generosity, neither to the people nor to the beneficiaries.

• There should be no injury of any sort upon the beneficiaries

• In order to protect your charity from being nullified, the weakness of the beneficiaries should be tolerated and responded by kind words and forgiveness otherwise your charity will be counted as a show off • Charity should be 10

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to please Allah and for benefit our own souls

• Charity should be given from Tayyab i.e. good things halal and good quality. Avoid donating clothes which are torn off, something that you yourself would not prefer to take it if given

• Don’t be afraid in giving but be generous because shaytan frighten your from poverty and instructs you to commit shameless things • If you are inspired to give charity then know that it is a hikmah i.e. wisdom from Allah • You can disclose your charity if you want to encourage others to be generous • You may keep it secret

• Give charity with a hope that it will be a kaffara expiation for some of your sins

• Being charitable is a quality gifted by Allah and hope that you will get back more for what you have spent in Allah’s way • Give to those who are ashamed to ask or beg before people and they appear to be rich, because of their modesty

Spend at night as well as day because emergency can arrive at any time of day so don’t delay your charity if the opportunity arrives at night too.

… From “Beyond Education” collection – NissarNadiadwala’s Editorial for Young Muslims

Election 2014

An Appeal for Self Introspection in the context of Loksabha Elections

I By V. K. Tripathi I

rural areas and at highest rank in per capita debt. The way lands have been given to Tatas, Ambanis and Friends, Adanis, the Becharjee SIR was imposed and prime I wish to reach out to your hearts with respect accused of Muzaffarnagar riots were felicitated, add to forthcoming Loksabha elections. I know many of further to worries. you have liking for Narendra Modi. I respect your There are political formations that have the feelings. Yet I believe you would do great service to remnants of the legacy of freedom movement, drive your beloved leader if you decouple your liking from their support from the masses and do not venture your desire to putting him at the helm of political cultural chauvinism. They may have some bad elepower. ments but also have people of integrity and ability.

I know political power is not supreme as it is Let the latter be drawn to take up peoples’ agenda. grossly undermined by the authority of the market Democracy and development will not run through forces. Yet it provides a channel of hope for the charming leaders but through strengthening demomasses to out do the ill effects of market economy, cratic institutions and through the assertiveness of e.g., widening economic inequality, misappropriathe masses on basic issues. Some issues are: tion of resources, marginalization of farmers, 1) Divestment of power of elected bodies, from skewed real estate, worsening condition of education Gram Panchayat to Parliament, among all their of the masses, pro-elite and sectarian bias of the members rather than the pradhans (chiefs). media and so on. Religious prejudice is another 2) Liberation of media, a prominent pillar of alarming thing that is growing with widening middle democracy, from corporate control. class. Riots and genocides are its occasional mani3) Bringing masses into the mainstream of festations but it is a continuous poisoning of minds economy, by providing up-gradation of technical that shuts sensitivity and promotes arrogance, humil- skills, investment capital and avenues for marketing iation, ghettoization and polarization and makes it a of products. powerful political tool. The biggest network in the 4) Creation of education commission that would country, the RSS, with a mighty cadre of a few milassess and implement educational needs of the lion and strong support base among the elite, is cred- masses, needs of the teachers, accessibility of higher/ ited with building sectarian storms. It is imperative technical education to the masses. that the person, who drives his strength from this or- 5) Upholding people-centric foreign policy that ganization and these classes and owns his popularity has evolved from the freedom movement and has to media and internet, can’t stand to these chalstood the test of time. The euphoria created over borlenges. The danger is that in his garb, these classes der skirmishes, to gain political mileage over domesand cadres will gain supremacy and assert their autic rivals, must be countered. thority.

6) Comprehensive Plan that treats corruption, Gujarat governance hardly instills any confidence. hoarding, and unlimited profit as one and counters Besides its failure in curbing the 2002 violence, Gu- them. jarat Govt. failed to remove fears from the minds of May I urge teaching and student fraternity to the victims, who were forced to withdraw cases reach out to localities in small groups, assess the against the rioters through out Gujarat, and to reschooling facilities, scope for improvement, accessimove sense of élan from the minds of the perpetrability of technical / college education and bring out a tors and their supporters. The state did not allow the report. It will help us make people beware of sectarian and exploitative elements and present to progresimplementation of Center’s Minority Pre-Matric sive parties a charter of action on education.

Scholarship scheme in the state for five years, depriving 89000 under privileged children of their V. K. Tripathi basic rights. CAG tells that very third child in GuSadbhav Mission, tripathivipin@yahoo.co.in, Ph. jarat is underweight due to malnutrition and calorie 9717309263 intake below national average. The state stands at 12th position in Composite Development Index in 28 states, 6th in unequal distribution of income in 11

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Reaching a Watershed Politics

W

I By Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam I

hatever the result of this Lok Sabha election, this much is sure that the country has finally reached a watershed where established democratic procedures are openly being rejected in favour of a business administration model of governance, which is not in evidence anywhere else in the democratic world.

Magazines and magazine sections of newspapers have discussed whether Narendra Modi would be the prime minister who prefers to work like a CEO. The CEO model seems to be the preference of quite a few of them as if the country is a private firm owned

by Ambani-Adani-Reddy Inc.

Naturally, this is going to be the most inappropriate way of looking at things. These people argue that this is the best way of getting things done, making things work. In fact, fascism is the best way of making things work. Benito Mussolini made trains run on time in Italy. An Indian version of Mussolini would certainly do the same in India.

Such an Indian Mussolini would have full support of the corporate sector as other fascists in history always enjoyed the support of big business. Such people do not have patience for standard democratic procedures, traditions and institutions. All they want is quick money and quick fixes.

This is what the intellectual Martha Nussbaum calls the “IIT mindset that feeds directly into the fascist discourse.” So, come Modi and things will start moving, sorting themselves out, automatically. But, at what cost to India, its constitutional order, its democratic procedures, the rule-of-law, fair play?

We must give a thought to it.

The Sangh never believed in the Indian Constitution, nor had any respect for the national flag. It always wanted a bhagwa(saffron) Constitution and a saffron flag. For decades after Independence RSS offices flew the bhagwa flag even on Independence Day and Republic Day, never the national tricolour.

Already there is talk of changing the Constitution.

Already secularism is being rejected as a non-sensical, useless encumbrance. What kind of a future is in 12

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store for us?

We have been seeing articles and editorials in major newspapers on whether Modi will follow the collegial framework of a council of ministers, the collectivity of a cabinet, consultations with Legislatures, Constitutional bodies and state chief ministers, or will just go solo, making all or most of his decisions.

His admirers call the solo actor style the CEO way, while the rest of us know it as the fascist way.

People generally have reason enough to believe that he would appoint the crime-tainted Amit Shah as India’s home minister. This, as a wit suggested, would be like making Dracula the manager of a blood bank. Shah, who is charged with crimes against humanity, is out on bail only because of the superior legal acumen of Ram Jethmalani, is doing the same hate politics in UP as he did in Gujarat Just imagine. Where we are going as a country.

Shah has especially targeted Western UP for communal violence against Muslims, inciting its supporters to “avenge” the imaginary wrongs done by Muslims to Hindus.

Modi Raj, if we are condemned to live under it, is not likely to be humane and fair. Even a senior Sanghi like Atal Behari Vajpayee, as prime minister of India, thought that Modi did not observe raj dharma, the righteous conduct of a ruler. We do not expect that he will suddenly have a change of heart.

A bitterly polarising person in the seat of the prime minister is not a good omen for the country.

Source: http://www.iosworld.org/

Cover Story

My Journey to Freedom

By Sumayyah Joan

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I

Cover Story

t will be three years since I stood before two Muslim sisters and declared openly my belief in God (Allah) and His Messenger, Peace be upon him, and thus freeing and liberating myself from my former self-imposed bondage. Stepping out of the darkness of disbelief into the light of Islam, it’s funny that I found such freedom in the very thing that was keeping me from Islam in the first place the hijab.

Even though I get the wide gamut of strange stares, points and comments, this covering makes me feel honored, safe and cherished.

Since the heyday of the feminist movement, there has been an increasing amount of scrutiny placed on the dress and status of Muslim women.

According to these “liberated” women, the hijab not only covers the head, but also covers the mind, will and intellect. They say that our dress code is outdated and oppressive, and it stops us from being productive human beings. They speak out of ignorance when they say that our hijab does not belong in these modern times, when due to the constant decrease in moral values in the world today, circumstances make the hijab even more necessary.

The word hijab comes from the Arabic word “haFrom the dawn of civilization, flowing dresses and jaba” meaning to hide from view or to conceal. headscarves have always been associated with “GodWomen who don’t reveal their liness” or “God consciousbeauty in this society and give ness”. Even the Christian What the Hijab is... in to this oppressive system, pictorial representation of the are looked upon as invisible, earlier prophets and their without sexuality and backwomenfolk bear familiar • An act of Obedience to ward. likeness to the dress ordained The Creator. for Muslim men and women Because I’m often mistaken (e.g.

Mary). This tradition of • An Act of Honour& for a nun, or terrorist, I feel modesty is reflected in the Dignity. the reactions to the hijab for Qur’an (7:26), wherein Allah • An act of Belief & Faith. many women, is the truest test says: of being a Muslim.

“O Children of Adam! We • An act of Modesty.

(God) have bestowed cloth• An act of Purity.

But in reality, the hijab is ing upon you to cover your• An act of Bashfulness. easy! selves and as an adornment (for beauty); and the clothing • An act of Righteousness.

In instructing us to wear the of righteousness – that is • A Shield. hijab, Allah has given Muslim best.”Qur’an 7:26 women what they can bear of injunctions and obligations. For Allah says: Allah enjoined hijab on the Muslim woman to pro“And we do not lay on any soul a burden except to tect her from harm. the extent of its ability, and with Us (God) is a Book He knows His creation, and knows that when women which speaks the truth…”Qur’an 23:62 make a dazzling display of themselves, with immodest clothes, perfumed bodies and made-up faces, it Unfortunately, Satan and his cohorts are calling the serves to increase the sexual deviance of the overall Muslim woman to enslave her to the creation, and to society. Many of those who are misguided however, forget about her servitude to her Creator. Chastity, would have us think that the hijab is a portable modesty and piety are deceptively marked as shack- prison that restricts our minds, lives and hearts. It is les on personal freedom. none of these things, and in order not to fall victim to their plots, we must begin to understand what the Allah Ta'ala warns the believers that they should not hijab truly is- a source of liberation, dignity and prolet Satan deceive them, as he deceived their parents, tection.

Adam and Eve. Under the guises of fashion, culture, and modernism, Satan has succeeded and is succeed- “Indeed, the men who submit and the women who ing to lead the Muslim woman –and all women- into submit, the believing men and the believing women, the obedient men and the obedient women, the truthimmodesty. ful men and the truthful women, the patient men and 14

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Cover Story

the patient women, the humble men and the humble women, the charitable men and the charitable women, the fasting men and the fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who remember - Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a mighty reward.” [Qur’an 33:35] Source: www.islaaminfo.co.za

NOT

What the Hijab is

• It is NOT something new. Muslim women follow the example of righteous women in the past such as Mary, the mother of Jesus.

• It is NOT a symbol of oppression.

• It is NOT required in non-public places where there are only muslim females and close male relatives.

• It is NOT a means to restrict a woman’s freedom to express her views and opinion, or to have an education and a career.

• It is NOT an act of defiance, confrontation or protest to non-Muslims.

• It is NOT a portable prison.

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Har

Mirch

Seraj Akram

- UP me muslim ke vote ki taqsim se BJP ko fayeda hone ka imkaan, afsos is halat me bhi Muslims ko haqiqat ka adrak nahi ho pa raha hai.

- Kya muslims ko sirf itezar karna chahie ke BJP sarkar me aa rahi he ke nahi, aur aane ke baad kya karegi, ya RSS ki tanzimi taqat ko dekhte hue tanzeemi taqat barhane ki zarurat hai.

- Kuch log chand rupion ki khatir gharion se milkar qaum ka nuqsan karte hain, kya yah sirf usi insaan ki galti he ya pure samaj ki jo har kisi ke liye behtari ki koshis na karke unko is hal par chhor dete hain jahan koi bhi inko istemal kar sake.

- Kaha jata hai ki muslims ko aksar aasteen ke sanp se hi nuqsan uthana parta he, to kya sochne ka maqam nahi ke aakhir Muslim me hi aasteen ke sanp itne kyon hote hian, kya iska talluq deendari ke fuqdan ke sath sath ghurbat ke hone se bhi hai.

- Agar BJP ki sarkar aa bhi gayi to kya sirf BJP par sirf tanqid karne se qaum ka bhla ho jayega ya dono qaum ke beech durion ko kam karne ki koshis shrou honi chahie.

Social

Engineering a Waqf for Adahi: Awqaf New Zealand

T

Zakat April 15, 2014 he visiting card said it all. Written on it in bold was “Islamic Economy Award 2013”. I was going to meet a man with a creative mind and lots of dynamism. I was going to meet Mr Husain Benyounis, Secretary General, Awqaf New Zealand, an organization that was conferred an award by none other than HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai at the Global Islamic Economy Summit 2013 as the world’s best Waqf. The integrity and credibility of the Award was managed independently by Thomson Reuters, audited by Deloitte, and adjudicated by an esteemed Judges’ panel based on formal, established criteria. As the portal dedicated to the award asserts: Winning an Islamic Economy Award is a prestigious honour. These inaugural Award winners have set the benchmark for leadership in the Islamic economy and will receive media and industry recognition both regionally and globally.

The Award is given in fourteen key Islamic economy categories including waqf. A winner of the award would have demonstrated significant business and social impact using the Islamic economic ethos, and have inspired a new generation of leaders.

So what is the inspiring story behind Awqaf New Zealand?

And what is its future action plan? The uniqueness of Awqaf NZ experiment is best summarized as “turning wasted charitable resources into awqaf revenues”. Established in 2011, Awqaf NZ had signed four MOUs within the first six 16

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months of its operation, the most significant being the one with the Awqaf& Minors Affairs Foundation (AMAF), Government of Dubai, UAE. The organization was exhibited at several international relief events in Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait and Washington DC. According to MrBenyounis the organization enjoys great locational advantages, operating from New Zealand which is ranked first for protecting investors and second for ease of doing business (according to World Bank); ranked first as the least corrupt country (according to Corruption Perceptions Index) and is the world’s largest halal lamb meat exporter. It sees opportunity in the fact that the Muslim community in the West alone needs five million sheep per year for its adahi and qurbani. Existing mechanisms that perform adahi and qurbani on behalf of such individuals seek to distribute the meat among poor communities, but often involve huge waste of other by-products of the animal. Awqaf NZ seeks to do this business in a different way by establishing a close working relationship with an endowment farm called Smedly Station and turn the wasted by-products into revenue earning products (e.g. made of wool, leather etc). As a waqf that works on the basis of voluntarism, it injects such revenue back into the waqf fund making it grow. Given the sheer size of the need of Muslims, which is an opportunity

With Mr Husain Benyounis, Secretary General, Awqaf New Zealand

Social

for Awqaf NZ, it is looking forward to expansion of operations at a fast pace and on a massive scale. It plans to establish awqaf farms to supply such large number of animals every year and meet the resource requirements through issue of waqf certificates.

Awqaf NZ has already helped replicate its business model in several countries in the form ofAwqaf USA, Awqaf Canada, Awqaf UK, Awqaf France in addition to Awqaf Australia and Awqaf Fiji. “All of these Awqaforganisations are a replication of Awqaf NZ, so they share the identical aims and objectives” MrBanyounis says.

Apart from the business model of Awqaf NZ that makes enormous sense, what strikes one is the push to take this waqf from local to global level. It is working on a model to establish the World AwqafQard Fund Services (WAQF-S), an international waqf bank for the purpose. Seeking to establish awqaf farms to supply 5 million sheep a year, the body would issue awqafsukuk/ certificates for raising the required financial resources. Each one of these sukuk, unlike the return-generating investment sukuk for investors (e.g. musharaka bonds issued by MUIS to finance the development of properties in Singapore), will be redeemable after a maturity and

will essentially create a new “temporary” cash waqf by the sukuk-buyer (waqif). Being in the nature of sukuk, these could even be structured as transferable after regular intervals. For instance, even while the sukuk has a long maturity of 15-20 years, it could be made transferable (through buy-back by the awqaf organization) at shorter intervals of say, one year.

This would imply that the waqif is making a temporary but “irreversible” waqf for the finite time period, thus expanding the reach of the sukuk to donors with varying intentions and capabilities.

The funds raised by WAQF-S can then be given as Qard Al Hassan for the member Awqaforganisations.

Awqaf NZ believes that the fund base of the international body can experience steady growth with incomes earned from by-products being injected back into the corpuse. Further, it believes that a small part of such income is adequate to cover the administrative and operational costs of the international body.

Awqaf NZ is currently working with the government of New Zealand, charities, public trusts, the halal industry and the farming industry in multiple countries to develop the model. http://sadaqa.in/2014/04/15/engineering-a-waqf-foradahi-awqaf-new-zealand/

1.

“ISLAM AS I UNDERSTAND (English and Urdu)

pletely and call “all” as hearsay!! But, you did compile (or pick from those compiled by those you consider as your enemies) “authentic ahadith” yourself!!

Hypocrisy emanating from Dr. Shabbir’sbooks/ messages, exposed by his own words

This little book is power packed with Qur’anic verses and authentic sayings of the exalted Prophet.”

From where did you get these “authentic sayings”, Dr. Shabbir?

2.

“A SELECTION OF AHADITH

(Sayings attributed to the exalted Prophet that pass the Criterion of Qur’an. English and Urdu together).

These sayings were committed to writing centuries after his demise, and all of them are based on hearsay.”

After your “long” research, Dr. Shabbir, you could not find out that many ahadith that collectors found were existing as written records!! You must have come across referenced material on such ahadith, but accepting them does not serve your purpose, so you would ignore them com17

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You claim “We have chosen only those sayings that are in complete harmony with this Criterion.”

Did Bukhari, Muslim, and similar of those collectors you curse today not do the same (chose those sayings that they could authenticate as per strict criteria set by them, and which did not violate the essence of Quran)? Those revered collectors of ahadith never cursed, abused, and maligned the character of other collectors, because their eiman was in better harmony with Quran than yours.

What commandment of Quran allows you to demonize the character of those who indulged in similar research as you are indulging in. Your main contention in your hate-messages against them is that they made such an attempt 2/3 hundred years after the prohpet’s time. What about

your own time-line? Is it not height of hypocrisy, Dr. Shabbir, that centuries later you compile “authentic ahadith” yourself?

Dr. Shabbir, in group messages boasting of yourown books, like this: “Extensively researched and generously referenced, the book effectively demolishes the widely accepted “norms” and reveals the truth in a convincing style. Spellbinding!”

And this: “This is a most beautiful book, pleasing to the eye and challenging the mind. A swift, scintillating intellectual journey …”

And this: “Father Of The Nation by Shabbir Ahmed, M.D. is the most popular biography of this great man.”

Dr. Shabbir, the translator and interpreter of Quran forgot (ignored deliberately) the following and similar ayah: Self-praise (boasting of one’s own writings – which Islamic attribute from Quran allows you this, Dr. Shabbir? Verily, Allah does not like such as are proud and Boastful. (Quran, Chapter #4, Verse #36)

3. “So, this is the Salaat or Namaaz of Hadith. Can you pray at all according to Hadith? If you claim Hadith tells you the method of Namaaz, then, which one is the greater riddle – Hadith or your thinking?”

So, what is your method of namaaz, Dr. Shabbir?

And your method of salaat? And, where did you deduce the methodologies from, Dr. Shabbir? You can deduce the methodologies 1400 years after the prophet, and we must trust you, while the people who went around the globe collecting the information 2 or 3 hundreds after the prophet must be condemned for doing so!! What a height of hypocrisy, Dr. Shabbir!!

4. ["Hadithe Muhammad" is FRAUD. It is Hadith according to Bukhari et al]

Your forefather, Bukhari, was fraud because he did exactly the same thing as you are doing today!! Exploring the truth, defying the information available during his time, and venturing into a mission to find the truth, from those who could be trusted, trying to authenticate them through unbroken chains, testing them with Quran as the fundamental of faith; did Bukhari, Muslim, and their cult not do the same, Dr. Shabbir?You are 18

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using far more conjecture, emotional drama, than any proper structured research. You claim to be right doing the same thing as the respected collectors - although, your effort does not travel beyond the anti-Islam pages on internet;and you claim that all your forefathers before you, who travelled this earth centuries before you were frauds!! How could there be two parameters for the same mission, Dr. Shabbir!!What a height of hypocrisy, Dr. Shabbir!!

You term "Hadithe Muhammad" as FRAUD!!

Trillions of shame upon you, Dr. Shabbir for the derogatory terms used for hadith of Muhammad, SallallahoAlaiheWasallam. When you tell us about ahadith in your own book, they must be believed as REALLY TRUE, REALLY AUTHENTIC, etc. When they come from your forefathers who tried to use far better parameters to authenticate them, you term them as FRAUDS!! Your words actually do nothing more than exposing HYPOCRICYembedded in them – your claim of intellectual brilliance actually authenticates HYPOCRICY far more than anything else.

If your campaign to malign all those who helped Islam reach the masses, helped them understand the meaning of their existence in this world, meaning of peace, love and humanity, is for financial benefits, declare this to us, and we would ignore all your messages, trash them, rather than react to your nonsense. Otherwise, fear Allah, and don’t exploit the minor differences of opinions to generate fitnahfollowed byinternecine wars.

International

Engineering a Waqf for Microfinance: The Fa’elKhair Program

S

Microfinance, Waqf April 11, 2014

he was a donor with a difference. A single donation of SAR500 million or USD130 million was large enough to be conspicuous. What was unique about this donation however, was that the donor did not wish to be named; in the tradition of a giver “whose left hand does not know what the right hand spends” (Bukhari 24:11). The donor placed the amount with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) with an express intention that the same would be used for the benefit of victims of cyclones and natural calamities in Bangladesh. The outcome of this was the Fa’elKhair (The Philanthropist) Program.

The benevolent act was motivated by the urgent need to help the victims of cyclone SIDR, which devastated the southwestern coast of Bangladesh in November 2007, resulting in loss of life and considerable damage in 30 of the 64 districts of the country. In seeking a long-term solution to the problem – cyclones being a recurring phenomenon in the country – the project aimed to construct several hundred school-cum-cyclone shelters in the coastal belt of Bangladesh as well as to provide urgent relief and support to the affected farmers, fishermen and small businesses. IDB as manager of the Waqf signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in May 2008 with the Government of Bangladesh. According to the MOU, IDB would implement the program and the Government of Bangladesh would provide all necessary assistance and support to IDB to ensure the successful implementation of the program. In order to maximize utilization of the funds, the government of Bangladesh provided the program with a complete waiver of taxes and duties. The Fa’elKhair Program has two main components:

• The Fa’elKhair project with a corpus of USD110 million involved the construction of schoolcum-cyclone shelters.

• The Fa’elKhair microfinance program with a corpus of USD20 million, which aims to rehabilitate and restore livelihoods of cyclone victims was registered as the Fa’elKhairWaqf under the provisions of Waqf Ordinance 1962.

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Provision of Schools-cum-Shelters The school-cum-cyclone shelters are supposed to serve as protective shelters during calamities. The buildings are also to serve as school buildings during normal times. This would maximize asset utilization and save maintenance costs. The designs of the buildings were carefully chosen after being adjudged the best in an International design competition organized by IDB in 2009 that emphasized its alternative use during normal times and calamities as well as conformity to Islamic culture while achieving efficiency through making best use of locally available resources. An international jury comprising of four competent architects chose two designs as winners out of a total of 77 designs: (1) killa type, and (2) shelter-on-stilt type.

Killa: This is to be used when (i) surge height does not exceed 1.8m and (ii) there is enough area for the artificial hill to be raised. Its capacity as school is 240 students divided in six classrooms in addition to a teachers’ room (ten teachers per room). Its capacity as shelter is 2000 persons (500 households) and 500 heads of cattle. It has two stories with a gross internal area of 715m2.

Stilt: This is to be used when (i) surge height exceeds the maximum height of 1.8m while still below 6m and/or (ii) the available area were too small for the artificial hill to be raised. Its capacity as school is 240 students divided in six classrooms in addition to a teachers’ room (ten teachers per room). Its capacity as shelter is 2000 persons (500 households) and 400 heads of cattle. It has three stories with a gross internal area of 1,150m2.

The coastal area vulnerable to natural calamities is divided into four zones 1-4 with 54 sites, 37 sites, 32 sites and 22 sites respectively for construction of the school-cum-shelters. By end 2013, a few have already entered the final stages of construction.

Microfinance This component of FKP with US$ 20 million funds was initially aimed at providing urgent relief to the victims of the SIDR cyclone in the form of agricultural inputs and support for small businesses. In order to implement the program, the IDB signed three-year (extendable) agreements with four NGOs

International

– Islami Bank Foundation (IBF), Muslim Aid, Voluntary Organaization for Social Development (VOSD) and BRAC – that would implement the program. The microfinance intervention would involve provision of interest-free (qard) microloans as well as training to the cyclone victims in order to help them make up for their losses and live a decent life.

When the agreement period of three years is over, NGOs are to return the funds by depositing them into the Fa’elKhairWaqf account in Bangladesh. The Committee of Mutawallis would then decide on further renewal of agreements with the partner-NGOs. The NGOs continue to implement this program with the exception of BRAC, which chose not extend its contract.

The Islami Bank Foundation (IBF) operating from 28 unit offices in the SIDR affected 12 districts of Bangladesh has received two tranches of US$ 4.5 million each from IDB (total of BDT 615.309 million). Up to June 2012 IBF has disbursed BDT 2,961 million to 49,287 beneficiaries in 23 Upazillas of 12 districts with an overall recovery rate of 99.70%.

Muslim Aid operating from 13 unit offices covering 449 villages in 13 Upazillas in 6 districts. It has received USD 3 million (BDT 205.103 million) from IDB. Up to June 2012, it has disbursed BDT 1,269 million to 26,730 beneficiaries with a loan recovery rate of 99.74%.

VOSD operating from 12 branch offices in four SIDR affected districts also received USD 3 million (BDT 205.103 million) from IDB. Up to June 2012, VOSD disbursed BDT 1,167 million to 70,749 SIDR affected beneficiaries with a loan recovery of 99.33%.

BRAC operating from 27 Unit Offices covering 1,080 villages of 27 Upazillas in 7 districts received US$ 5 million from IDB. As of June 2012, BRAC disbursed BDT 888 million to 53,61 beneficiaries with a recovery rate of 100%.

The NGOs together recruited and trained some 774 staffs and are operating through 80 field offices in the areas most impacted by the cyclone. Up to January 2014, qard amounting to BDT 8 billion (roughly US$ 105 million) has been disbursed to 192,821 beneficiaries. This implies that the principal fund of the program (amounting to US$ 20 million) has been recycled 573%. Qard repayment rate was as high as 99.75%. In addition, 196,710 beneficiaries were trained through 6,338 training courses on agricul20

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ture, cattle rearing, and fishing and fish farming.

In 2012 the NGOs cooperating with IDB to implement the activities of the FaelKhairWaqf were instructed to start implementing their exit plan by repatriating one third of the Program funds back to the Fa’elKhairWaqf. It was then up to the Committee of Mutawallis to decide how to use the repatriated funds. The repatriated funds have been put in Islamic investment avenues generating returns in the range of ten percent per annum that could now be used to cover the administrative costs of the Fa’elKhair Rehabilitation Program.

The Fa’elKhair program provides an excellent example of how a benevolent cash donation could be used to engineer a waqf. It is also a rare example of how high administrative costs of a poverty alleviation program (with finance as well as skill enhancement inputs) may be absorbed by returns generated on a waqf dedicated to the poverty alleviation objective.

That conventional microfinance involves high costs for the beneficiary making it unaffordable to the ultra-poor is an empirical fact. This is of course, sought to be justified on the ground that microfinance involves high administrative and operational costs. Nowhere is this phenomenon more objectively documented than in Bangladesh, which is often referred to as the “university of microfinance”. Islamic economists have sought to offer a solution to this problem by suggesting an integration of zakah and/or waqf with microfinance. A cash waqf with returns dedicated to absorb fully or partly the costs of financial and non-financial services (similar to finance-plus or finance-multiplied model of BRAC) may be able to ensure that loans are offered at zero or low costs making them riba-free as well as affordable to the poorest of the poor. Fa’elKhairWaqf offers a real-life exposition of this solution to poverty and destitution offered by Islamic economics.

Islam

UNDERSTANDING OF SHARIAT (ISLAMIC LAWS)

Q

E.g., Quran, Sunnah and Ijma (consensus of) Sahaba Part II

I By Gheyas S Mahfoz Hashmi I

uran first came in a form of a book at the hand of 1st Caliph Abu Baker (R) following the advice of 2nd Caliph Omar (R). It was then arranged by 3rd Caliph Uthman bin Affan (R).

Seven copies of Quran were made and distributed to the different parts of the Islamic world. So, the present Quran is called “MushafUthmani”. Allah has given the Quran in such a language that it can be recited in minimum of seven readings/letters. The seven TabeyeenQurra (Readers) are : Abdullah Aldari, Nafe, Ibn Omar, Abu Omar, Hamza, Aasim, Kisayi. The last three are from Kufa. The recitation of Aasim is predominately being followed in the Islamic world.

There are 114 chapters in the Quran. 90 chapters are predominately said to have ascended in Makkah and 18 in Medinah. There is difference in ascertaining 6 chapters (# 22, 55,76,97,98 & 99) about its being Makki or Madani. For easy reference, the Makki and Madani chapters are given as below:

Chapter 1 Chapter 2-5 Chapter 6-56 Chapter 57-66

: 1 Makki : 4 Madani : 48 Makki except47, 48 & 49 : 10 Madani

Chapter 67-114

: 47 Makki except 110

The subject matter of the Quran revolves around MAN (human beings), and it approaches those aspects of his life which lead to his real success or failure. The central theme that runs through the Quran is an exposition on Reality, with the agenda of inviting mankind to the Right Path.

Its purpose is not simply to instruct or even to convert to something new, but to mold and transform man in accordance with his innate being. As such, the Quran proceeds simultaneously, in its own unique style, to inform, to reorient and then to motivate and mobilize men and women to fulfill their mission in life. It invites man to use his intellect, to think and reflect, and to attain to faith.

It declares that Reality is the same that was revealed

by Allah Almighty to Adam and to all His Messengers after him. The aim and objective of the revelation is to invite man to the Right Way and to present clearly the Guidance which he has lost because of his negligence or has perverted by his wickedness.

So, Madani Chapters are about one 3rd of the Quran.

It is difficult part of the Quran in terms of its comprehension as it mostly deals with Ahkam (legal consequences).

The following books on commentary of The Quran are famous:-

1. Tafseer Ibn Jarir (30 volumes) 2. Tafseer Ibn Kathir 3. Tafseer Al-Qurtabi 4. TafseerKabir 5. Tafseer Al-Bahr Al-Muhit 6. Ahkam-ul- Quran 7. TafseerAddurAlmanthour 8. TafseerMazhari 9.Rohulma’ani (30 volumes)

: by Allama Abu Ja’farTibri (D310H) : by Ibn Kathir, Shafa’i(D774H) : by AllamahQurtubi, Maliki(D671H) : by Imam FakhruddinRazi (D606H) : by Allama Abu HayyanAndlusi (D754H) : by Imam A. JassasRazi, Hanafi(D370H) : by AllamaJalaluddinSyoti (D910H) : by AllamaThanaullahPanipathi (D1225H) : by Allama Mahmoud Aalousi (D1270H)

Some recent famous books on Quran interpretation (also in English version) are: 1.

Tafsir-e-Usmani : by MoulanaMahmoudulhassan&Shabbir A Usmani 2.

Tafhim-ul- Quran : by MoulanaMoudodi 3.

Maariful Quran : by Mufti Mohammad ShafiUsmani

Note: Reading of such Tafseer should be avoided which was interpreted on particular line of thinking.

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Islam The Quran gives us core and basic definitions. For details we need to refer to the traditions of our Prophet (S). For example, we understand from The Quran that the Prayer (Salah) is obligatory in time.

Details like numbers of prayers, time frame, methods to perform Salah (Prayer), etc., are found in our Prophet (S) traditions known as Hadith and also we can get it confirmed from the traditions of his companions.

It is the job of the distinguished scholars, not the general public, to interpret The Quran with the support of Hadith, traditions of Sahaba and then their own caliber. Our prophet was assigned by Allah Almighty to recite Quran on public, to purify them, to teach them Quran and wisdom (Joma/2). For unqualified person our Prophet (S) says, “One who has say in The Quran from his own thinking is mistaken even if he says correct.” (Nisayi, Abudawood).

Before reading the Quran a man should know that it is not a book but an address of Allah to the mankind.

That is to say Quran is an address of Allah Almighty through Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)). It is useful to know that the Quran was sent in the style of speech and that it was transferred from language of speaking into written form. For this reason, the style of Quran is full of such addresses as say, O humankind, O believers, O disbelievers, O people of the book, O prophet, they ask you, say It is because the Quran addresses the Prophet that the addresses in the verses are in the masculine. A topic is repeated in same manner or different.

If anybody wants to see here the quality of book he will not find it. He should not be confused if he sees any verses not in order or continuity of the subject. Quran is a unique book, quite different from books one usually reads. It is not a book on “religion” in the sense this word is generally understood. Some subjects here are repeated in different ways and one topic follows the other without any apparent connection. It was not revealed as a complete book at one and the same time; nor did Allah handed over a written copy of 22

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it to Mohammad (pbuh). It was revealed little by little, sometime a verse and sometime a complete Sura (chapter). Although Quran has universal message to mankind it has connection with the situation prevailing that time. So, learning of background of revelation is must to well understand the Quran.

Allah (ST), after creating the human race, has not left them without any direction in their lives. If the loving Creator has provided them with what they need for their physical existence, growth, and protection (e.g., air, sustenance and shelter), He has also provided them with what they need for their moral and spiritual existence, development, and security.

The Quran is with this provision to mankind - divine guidance in the widest sense of the word.

No one can know with certainty about the unseen and incomprehensible Realities (such as God and His attributes, man's purpose and mission of life on the earth, his life after death, etc.) alone through instinct, habit, intuition, reason, or experience. No one can have the unquestionable knowledge of the ultimate values to which human behavior should conform. Mythology, philosophy, history, etc., the sources of guidance developed by mortal man himself have their own limitations, are subjective, may be ethno-centric or age-bound, and can be grossly misleading. Man has to depend on and trust what his Creator has informed him about and prescribed for him. Divine guidance thus is an essential human need.

To be continued ….. (hgheyas@albatool.com.sa)

How Women Were Lured Out of the Home in the USA History

Part-2

I By Areebabint Khalid I

T

(Part-1 of this article appeared in April 2014 issue of BaKhabar)

Post World War II

he 1950s marked an era of prosperity in the lives of American families. Men returned from war and needed jobs. Once again, the government and media got together to steer the opinion of the public. This time, however, they encouraged women to return home, which shows that the women were brought out not for their freedom but because workers were needed.

But this effort was not as successful and was abandoned quickly. First, women from lower economic ranks had to remain in the workforce because of economic necessity. And second, there came the rise of consumer culture.

The baby boom took place during the 1950s as well.

Women who returned home dedicated their lives once again to their children. But around the same time an important change had come in the American life. This was the spread of the television. By 1960, 90% of the population owned at least one set. Families would gather around the screen for entertainment. In the early days, everything including commercials was watched with great interest.

Most middle-class families could not afford the goods the television declared necessary to maintain or enhance quality of life with one paycheck alone.

Many women returned to work in order to live according to "the American standard of living," whatever that meant to them.

The number of American women in the workforce from 1940 to 1950 increased by nine percent. From 1930 to 1940 there had only been a three percent increase.

Effects

As mothers returned to work, the television became the most important caretaker of a child. Children in the 1950s spent most of their non-sleeping hours in front of the television screen.

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In 1940, less than 8.6% of mothers with children under eighteen worked. By 1987, 60.2% of women with children under eighteen were working.

As wives assumed larger roles in their family's financial support, they felt justified in demanding that husbands perform more childcare and housework.

Across the years, divorce rates doubled reaching a level where at least 1 out of 2 marriages was expected to end in divorce. Marriage rates and birthrates declined. The number of single parent families rapidly increased. People grew unhappy with their lives, when compared to the lives of people on television.

Women working affected the society in many different ways. The first and most important of these was that children with working mothers were left alone without the care of a mother. As the number of working women increased, the number of children growing up unsupervised increased, and with this increased crime among teens.

Since most women placed their career ahead of family life, family life was greatly affected since unmarried women were generally able to make more money than married ones. For example, according to a study by a Harvard economist, women physicians who were unmarried and had no children earned thirteen percent more per year than those who were married and fifteen percent more than those with children.

Today

The majority of women still work at the lower levels of the economic pyramid. Most are employed in clerical positions, factory work, retail sales, or service jobs. Around 50% of the workforce is female.

While about 78% of all cashiers and 99% of all secretaries today are female, only 31% of managers and administrators are female. Equality in the workplace has been a mirage but it has conned millions of women into leaving their homes and destroying the family structure.

It was only when economic or political factors made

History

it necessary to get more workers that women were called to work. The Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, and the World Wars, all the major events which increased the proportion of women workers, were times when the capitalists required more workers in order to be successful in their plans and so they used women.

The move of women from home to the public workforce has been gradual. First poor women went. Then unmarried women. Then married women without children. Then married women without young children And then, all women.

The same thing can be seen to be happening in developing countries around the world, as the West spreads its propaganda of freedom for women to work. The results of this move will probably be the same too.

Asma (RA) bintYazidAnsarî came to Nabî and said: "O, Nabî of Allâh! You are dearer to me than my parents. The Muslim women have deputed me as their representative to talk to you on their behalf. Verily you are the Nabî of Allâh for both men and women. We stay for most part of our time within the four walls of our houses. We fulfill our duties as wives, bearing children for them and looking after their homes. And not withstanding all this, men excel us in rewards for things which we are unable to do. They perform their daily salât and weekly Jumu'ah in the masjid, visit the sick, attend the Janâza, perform Hajj after Hajj and participate in Jihad. We look after their property, bring up their children and weave cloth for them. Do we not share their rewards with them?"

Nabî addressing the Sahâbâh (RA) sitting around him, said: "Did you ever hear a lady asking a better question?" The Sahâbâh (RA) replied: "O, Nabî of Allâh! We never thought that a woman could ever ask such a question.

Nabî addressing Asma said: "Listen attentively, and then go and tell the ladies who have sent you that when a woman seeks the pleasure of her husband and carries out her domestic functions to his satisfaction, she receives the same reward as the men get for all their services to Allâh."

Source: www.islaaminfo.co.za 24

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15 Points of Advice for Those Intending to Perform ‘Umrah

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

The following 15 points have been summarized from some beneficial advice given to an ‘Umrah group recently. Listen to the more detailed original recording here (including an evidence-based discussion of each point).

1. Be sincere to Allaah and purify your intentions. ‘Umrah like any other act of worship is required to be done sincerely for Allaah alone.

2. Sincerity cannot be attained except by shunning riyaa’ (showing off), so do not take pictures of yourself (‘Umrah selfies) in the middle of an act of worship.

3. ‘Umrah is an opportunity to connect to your Lord, so do not change it into a social media event and ruin your act of worship by ‘humble-bragging’ (using apparently humble language to actually show off where you are or what your accomplishing).

4. Be devout in following the Messenger (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) in performing the rituals of ‘Umrah.

5. Have knowledge of what the Messenger (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) did on ‘Umrah and in his life in general, since there is no way to accomplish the previous point of advice (truly following him) except to have knowledge of what he taught us.

6. Know the virtues of an accepted ‘Umrah, and how it expiates sins.

7. Refrain from harming people in any way. There is no harming and no reciprocation of harm in Islaam, especially whilst in ihraam.

8. Obey the people in charge of the Muslims, respecting and honouring the guidelines and protocols during the journey.

9. Travel for ‘Umrah (and all other journeys) in a group of three or more people.

10. Women must not travel alone (without a male relative), nor may they travel as a group of women (wrongfully assuming that the group takes the place of male relatives).

11. There should be an ameer (leader) for any travelling group.

You must obey theameer (in all affairs related to the trip).

12. Make a lot of supplications throughout your journey.

13. Make ‘Umrah as often as you can, but avoid multiple ‘Umrahs in one trip.

14. Hurry home (after ‘Umrah) and take care of the affairs of your family and your responsibilities.

15. Stick to the correct beliefs, perform righteous deeds, and advise each other to be patient and steadfast upon the truth.

Written by: Moosaa Richardson (adapted from a summary of this lecture by Aboo Zakee ‘Umar al-Irlundee, may Allaah bless him) Source: http://www.bakkah.net/en/15-points-of-advice-forthose-intending-to-perform-umrah.htm

Zeroing on the Earth Hour Environment

I

I By Sameen Ahmed Khan I

Introduction:

n recent years with rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles, the environment has become a serious concern. Climate Change is a major issue.

Several movements were started to safeguard the environment. Outreach and public awareness is a definite focus of all such initiatives. Earth Hour is one such initiative. It started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia as a lights-off event by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Earth Hour is the world’s largest grass-roots environmental movement towards action on climate change; and it involves a simple action: switching off the lights for one hour every year in March. Earth Hour 2014 was observed across the globe on 29 March 2014. The most widely used time is 8:30PM to 9:30PM. Over the few years the movement has spread to all the continents with the observance in some ten thousand cities.

Earth Hour is a global initiative aimed at highlighting environmental sustainability and promoting the rational use of electricity. Earth Hour is WWF's global campaign inspiring governments, businesses, communities and individuals to take a stand against Climate Change. It is that one crucial hour uniting the world and building synergies through the collective action of switching off non-essential lights in celebration of life and our planet. With Each passing year, Earth Hour is becoming more than just an hour, more than just an action: it is becoming a movement and a platform. Earth Hour has inspired concrete changes in the environmental policies in several countries.

Earth Hour in India:

When India first joined the Earth Hour movement in 2009, 5 million Indians across 56 cities showed their support by switching off non-essential lights and saving approximately 1,000 MW of power in one hour.

The figures have only grown in the following years.

This year too, Earth Hour was observed across various cities in India. Lights of illuminated monuments such as Gateway of India and Chhatrapathi Shivaji Terminus railway station in Mumbai; India Gate in New Delhi; the Howrah Bridge in Kolkata; and the presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi plunged into darkness during the Earth Hour. Hotels and corporate houses also took part in the movement by switching off the lights.

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Islam and Environment:

Islam expresses great concern for the environment. A number of verses in the Quran and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) have addressed the issue of the environment. Islam encourages people to protect the earth and all life on it, and to maintain the balance in nature as created by Allah.

Islam’s solution to environmental problems lies in man’s adaptation of its guidance. Allah has stated that He made all the material objects on earth for man’s use, not for his abuse. In Islam the utilization of these resources is the right and privilege of all people and all species. Hence, every person should take every precaution to ensure the interests and rights of all others since they are equal partners on earth. And this partnership is over the generations. It is a joint responsibility in which each generation uses and makes the best use of nature, according to its need, without disrupting or adversely affecting the interests of future generations. Thereby there is a restriction on possible abuse or misuse of natural resources by a particular generation. Each generation is entitled to benefit from the natural resources but is not entitled to “own” the natural resources in the absolute sense. Extravagance in using water is forbidden; this applies to private use as well as public, and whether the water is scarce or abundant. It is related that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said “not to waste water even if one is by a flowing river”

Environmental awareness and protection of natural resource is an integral part of Islamic beliefs. There is something that we can all do and should try to do.

First is to practice the three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle. We can increase awareness of about our duty of care for the whole of creation amongst our family and peers. We need to be conscious about the care of the environment in all spheres of our life. Otherwise the events like the Earth Hour would not fully serve the purpose.

Bibliography 1.Earth Hour, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Hour 2.World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), http://www.wwf.org/ 3.India Earth Hour, http://earthhour.wwfindia.org/ Sameen Ahmed Khan (rohelakhan@yahoo.com, http://SameenAhmedKhan.webs.com/) Engineering Department, Salalah College of Technology (SCOT) Salalah, Sultanate of Oman

Politics

Beef, Pink Revolution and identity Politics

T

I By Ram Puniyani I

his time around (2014) the practitioners of sectarian politics had projected as if they will harp only on the issues related to development and Governance. But that surely is for sayings sake. While propaganda of development of Gujarat, strong leader, good governance is on the forefront, there is a lurking doubt that many a people may be by now realizing that the story of so called development cannot be defended beyond a point as so many studies and reports have shown the contrary facts.

Authoritarian and dictatorial leader is not a strong leader, one is clear about that as strong leader is one who is inclusive and takes others along. So back to the fundamentals of communal politics, the issues related to ‘identity and faith’ are being subtly propped up.

Attacking the UPA II government for increase in the export of meat and beef (3rd April 2014) NarendraModi mocked at UPA II by saying that cattle are being killed for the sake of ‘pink revolution’, which hints towards the meat business, export of meat, beef. In our country eating beef is very sensitive religious issue. It emerges that now despite this being a sensitive issue; on the ground of commerce it comes to our notice that India has become the biggest beef exporter in the world, beating Brazil. This is as per the latest meat exports figures from the Ministry of Food Processing. The data shows that India exported 1.89 million tons of beef in 2012-2013, which is a 50 per cent increase over five years’ ago, “Officially, the slaughter of cows is banned and beef production is actually buffalo meat. Here too, the slaughter is restricted to males and unproductive females,’’ explains the Department of Animal Husbandry official.

As such beef has been a part of India’s dietary traditions. In Vedic times the sacrifice of cows in the yagnas (rituals around fire) was a central feature. It is with the rise of agriculture that the restrictions were brought on the sacrifice of cows as cattle wealth was core to the development of agriculture. Swami Vivekananda, while speaking to a large gathering in USA said: “You will be astonished if I tell you that, according to old ceremonials, he is not a good Hindu who does not eat beef. On certain occasions he must sacrifice a bull and eat it.”

[Vivekananda speaking at the Shakespeare Club, 26

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Pasadena, California, USA (2 February 1900) on the theme of ‘Buddhistic India’, cited in Swami Vivekananda, The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol 3 (Calcutta: Advaita Ashram, 1997), p. 536.]

This is corroborated by other research works sponsored by the Ramakrishna Mission established by Swami Vivekananda himself. One of these reads: “The Vedic Aryans, including the Brahmanas, ate fish, meat and even beef. A distinguished guest was honoured with beef served at a meal. Although the Vedic Aryans ate beef, milch cows were not killed.

One of the words that designated cow was aghnya (what shall not be killed). But a guest was a goghna (one for whom a cow is killed). It is only bulls, barren cows and calves that were killed.”

[C. Kunhan Raja, ‘Vedic Culture’, cited in the series, Suniti Kumar Chatterji and others (eds.), The Cultural Heritage of India, Vol 1 (Calcutta: The Ramakrishna Mission, 1993), 217.] The pioneering research of Historian D.N.Jha also tells us that beef was the part of India’s dietary tradition. Same is corroborated

by Dr. PandurangWaman Kane in his multi Volume, “BharatiyaDharmgranthonkaItihas’ (History of Indian Scriptures) where he quotes from Vedas, Atho Annam Vyagau (Cow is veritably a food) Cow came to become a holy animal with the rise of agricultural society for the obvious reasons of need for bulls in agriculture. It got associated with the religious sentiments. Contrary to the propaganda that it was Muslim kings who brought beef eating practices in India, the fact is that Muslim kings in deference to the feelings of the Hindu majority went on to put curbs on cow slaughter. Babar’s will to his son Humayun (Exhibit in National Museum) point to this fact. It says

“Son, this Nation Hindusthan has different Religions. Thank Allah for giving us this Kingdom. We should remove all the differences from our heart and do justice to each community according to its customs. Avoid cow-slaughter to win over the hearts of the people of this land and to incorporate the people in the matters of administration…” (Translated from the original- National Museum)

The propaganda that Muslims brought beef eating to India has no substance at all. As a matter of fact it

Politics

was British who systematized it and appointed Khatiks (butchers) in their barracks for cow slaughter to supply beef for the army. With rise of the politics in the name of religion due to British policy of ‘divide and rule’, cow and pig were made instruments of instigating communal violence to polarize the communities along religious lines. Many a communal violence did break out in the name of cow slaughter or pig in a mosque. Earlier too the demand for cow slaughter ban has been raised and now it is banned in most of the states barring Kerala and West Bengal. So currently there are strict rules about cow slaughter and what is called beef is essentially buffalo meat. In recent times the murder of dalits in Gohana on the charge that they killed cow for its hide is too fresh in our memory. The killing of dalits was legitimized by a VHP leader saying cow is too holy for anything else to be considered.

As such beef has been part of Indian dietary practices amongst many communities especially amongst dalits and Adivasis all over, more so in Southern India. In the face of rising price of mutton, it is a rich source of protein for the poor; some do take to it for its taste. Recently when I was on a group tour to Eastern Europe, one Hindu family, which was part of our group, by and large was opting for beef as the main dish for their lunch or dinner.

The issue now is that should we have our dietary choices or not? The subtle hint that the UPA II is promoting the ‘Pink Revolution’ is a blatant communal use of the issue. The BJP spokespersons on TV channels are claiming that it is due to the promotion of this export that our milk production and agriculture is suffering. Whatever be other flaws of the current policies, one thing is sure that our milk production is on ascendance. Agriculture is suffering but not due to shortage of cattle. Such claimants need to do their home work and learn that by and large it is the poor, low caste who rear the cattle and they can’t bear the burden of old animals which can no more give the milk. The natural cycle of food and economics is dictating the present scenario, and communalizing it is unwarranted. We need to put our agricultural economy on the wheels of progress, rearing animals is an activity very close to agricultural economy, such a blatant communalizing the issue is counterproductive to our values as a democratic society. …. Response only to ram.puniyani@gmail.com 27

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Reward for Helping Others

Ibn Abbas narrated, Once I was in a state of itikaaf in the Prophet's Mosque (Medina). A certain person came to me and sat down. I said to him, 'O so and so, you look sad'. He said, 'Yes of course, o fraternal brother of the Prophet. So-and-so has his due on me, and by the one who lies in eternal peace in the grave (i.e.

Prophet Muhammad), I am not able to pay the debt' I said, 'Should I not talk to him about your debt?' He said, 'You can do so if you like' There upon I put my shoes on and went out of the mosque. The person asked him, 'Have you forgotten the state you were in (i.e. itikaaf)?' I replied, 'Not at all, but I have heard rom the one who lies in eternal peace in the grave [saying this his eyes became filled with tears], said: "One who moves to fulfill any need of his brother, and makes effort for it, will find it better than itikaaf of ten years; and one who performs itikaaf for one day for the pleasure of Allah, he will create a distance of three ditches between him and the hell and each ditch has a width which lies between East and West, or between the heaven and earth."

Source: Al Targhib Vol II p 272.

Islam

Should Zakat Management be Centralized in India?

I By Mohammed Obaidullah, Jeddah I

There are clear indications that zakat collections have been growing in many parts of the globe. The growth has been particularly spectacular in some Muslim countries that have made the payment of zakat mandatory, such as, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. Additionally, collection of zakat is entirely in the hands of the state. For instance, Saudi Arabia’s zakat revenues during 2014 is expected to be around USD4 billion (they currently stand at about USD 3.7 billion). Zakat and tax revenues in the kingdom have been increasing at a rate of 20 percent per year through the last five years. Malaysia reported zakat collections at about USD550 million in 2011 and these have increased by 27 times over the previous two decades. In contrast, Indonesia reported total zakah collections at USD232 million in 2012 and these have increased by 32 times over the previous decade. Indonesia, of course, permits private institutional collectors under the overall supervision of the state agency BAZNAS. Pakistan offers another interesting contrast by making zakat collection free-forall (state, private institutional as well as individual collectors). Even after making zakat on financial assets mandatory and to be deducted at source, the state collected merely USD105 million in 2011 (increased by 40 per cent over 3 years). At the same time unofficial estimates put the total collection at about USD 2 billion clearly indicating either gross inefficiency or trust-deficit with the state collection agency.

Close observers and zakat officials attribute the surge in collections to different factors. In Saudi Arabia, it is the firm hand of the state that now requires mandatory electronic filing for all zakat declarations. In Malaysia, the state owned Islamic religious councils have the sole authority for zakat collections. However, officials admit that enforcement is very weak. Major reasons for this are: absence of database of those liable to pay zakat, unwillingness of zakat officer to list down those who fail to pay zakat, shortage of staff and inadequate authority to zakat officers to investigate any failure and the like. The steep growth in zakat collections however, seems to have come about due to large-scale corporatization with banks and FIs acting as agents of the state religious council for zakat collection. On 28

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the other hand, the high growth witnessed in Indonesia seems to have come about because of a very proactive and rational legal and regulatory framework.

Are there any lessons here to be learnt for the Muslims of India? Unlike awqaf, India does not see a role for the state (e.g. Ministry of Minorities Affairs) in management of zakat. Private individuals and institutions are free to collect and distribute zakat. Indeed it is believed that a major part of zakat is collected by Madaris or Islamic religious schools. A sample-based study undertaken in 2007 estimates total zakat collected in India to be USD1.5 billion. It is indeed a sad realization for any observer that the Indian Muslim community - second largest in the world – has no clue regarding the operationalization of zakat, the single-most important economic institution. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the cost of collection of zakat as a percentage of total zakat collection in India (with a large private army of individual zakat collectors) is perhaps among the largest in the world. While any role for the state in the management of zakat will perhaps be an unwelcome proposition for the community leaders, one may realistically argue in favour of creating a private national umbrella organization by the community to collect and disburse zakat efficiently. It will undoubtedly be in a position to employ modern tools and strategies for mobilizing zakat (e.g. use of ICT, collection and payment platforms, corporate agents, use of mass media for public education and awareness regarding zakat obligations, imparting skills to zakat collectors and professionals and many other measures that have delivered good results elsewhere). The umbrella organization or network of organizations will enjoy far greater credibility by adopting transparent methods of collection and distribution (e.g. giving due respect to the wishes of the muzakki or zakat payers). The sooner the community decides to shun the status-quo and give serious thought to improving its zakat management systems, the better it is for the well-being of the community in-shaAllah.

http://sadaqa.in/2014/02/20/should-zakat-collections-be-centralized-in-india/

Ten Easy Phrases to Gain Jannah I By: Abu Sabaaya I

Ten different phrases that are short, easy, and light, but will give you what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and what no mind has imagined.

1 - "Whoever says: 'Glorified is Allah, the Most Great, and praised is He' [Subhan Allah al'Adhim wa bi-Hamdih] will have a date palm planted for him in Paradise." ['Sahih al-Jami'' #5531]

2 - "Whoever is stricken with sadness, grief, sickness or hardship and says: 'Allah is my Lord, without any partners' [Allahu Rabbi, la sharika lah], then it will be removed from him." ['Sahih al-Jami'' #6040]

3 - "Whoever ate something, then said: 'Praise be to Allah who has fed me this food and provided it for me, without any strength or power on my part' [al-Hamdu lillah aladhi at'amani hadha wa Razaqnih bi ghayr hawlin minni wa la quwwa] is forgiven his past and future sins. And whoever wears a garment and says: 'Praise be to Allah who has clothed me with this garment and provided it for me without any strength or power on my part' [al-Hamdu lillah aladhi kasani hadha at-thawb wa Razaqnih bi ghayr hawlin minni wa la quwwa] is forgiven his past and future sins." ['Sahih al-Jami'' #6086]

4 - "Whoever enters the marketplace and says: 'There is none worthy of worship except Allah who has no partners, for Him is the Dominion, and for Him is all Praise, He brings life and He causes death, and He is Alive and does not die, in His Hand is all good, and He is able to do all things,' [La ilaha ill-Allah, Wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-Mulk, wa lahul-Hamd, yuhyiyy wa yumit, wa Huwa Hayyun la yamut, bi YadihilKhayr wa Huwa 'ala kulli shay'in Qadir] then Allah will write one million good deeds for him, and will wipe away one million of his bad deeds, and will raise him one million levels and will build a home for him in Paradise." ['Sahih alJami'' #6231] 29

Bakhabar : May 2014

5 - "Whoever controls his anger when he is able to act upon it, then Allah will call him to come in front of all of the Creation so that he would let him choose from the Hur al-'Ayn and marry from them whomever he pleases." ['Sahih al-Jami'' #6518]

6 - "Whoever asks Allah for Paradise three times: [Allahumma inni as'aluk al-Jannah], then Paradise will say: "O Allah! Enter him into Paradise!"

And whoever seeks protection with Allah from the Fire three times [Allahumma najjini min anNar], the Fire will say: "O Allah! Protect him from the Fire!"" [Reported by at-Tirmidhi, and it is authentic] 7 - "Whoever seeks forgiveness for the believing men and the believing women, Allah writes for him - for every believing man and woman - a good deed." [Reported by at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and Ahmad, and it is authentic]

8 - 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud said: "Whoever reads 'al-Mulk' (chapter 67 of the Qur'an) every night, Allah will protect him from the torment of the grave. At the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), we used to call it al-mani'ah (that which protects). In the Book of Allah, it is a chapter which - whoever recites it every night has done very well." ['Sahih at-Targhib watTarhib' #1475]

9 - "Whoever asks Allah sincerely for martyrdom: [Allahumma inni as'aluk ash-shahadah], Allah will cause him to reach the status of the martyrs even if he dies in his bed." ['Sahih alBukhari' #1909]

10 - "No one witnesses that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and that I am Allah's Messenger - truthfully, from his heart - except that Allah makes the Fire of Hell forbidden to touch him." [Reported by Muslim, Ahmad, and al-Bayhaqi]

*Source: Ideal Muslimah http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=I M1402-5693

The Fire Within

It is a major cause of suspicions, malice, enmity and hatred. It often leads to gossip, slander, character assassination and even murder. It is the fire within… the fire called JEALOUSY. It was the first sin committed on earth when the son of Hazrath Aadam (AlaihisSalaam), Qabil, became jealous over his brother Habil. It eventually lead him to murder Habil. Therefore, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has severely warned against this malady of the heart which destroys the fabric of society.

HOPE HE HAS AN ACCIDENT

Hasad (jealousy) occurs when one sees another person bestowed with some bounty and desires that the person should be deprived of it. For instance, one sees someone who has more wealth, beauty, intelligence or any other such bounty and begins to “burn” within his heart over the person who has been blessed. He then wishes that the blessing be snatched away from him in some way. He hopes that the person has an accident, or that someone should rob him of his wealth, etc. Much worse than this is to desire that a person be deprived from any bounty of Deen.

For instance a person is pious, or he is blessed with the Qur’an in his heart or the knowledge of Deen, or he has been blessed with making some efforts for Deen. Upon witnessing these blessings upon him one now desires that they should be snatched away from him. This is a grave crime.

OBJECTION AGAINST ALLAH TA’ALA

To desire that somebody be deprived of the blessings which Allah Ta’ala has bestowed upon him is tantamount to a direct objection against Allah Ta’ala. The jealous person is actually objecting against Allah Ta’ala, that the person who was granted that blessing was not deserving of it, so why was it given to him?

It should rather have been given to the objector! The severity of this crime is thus evident.

Hence Rasulullah (sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is reported to have said: “Hasad destroys one’s good deeds just as fire consumes wood.” In another narration it is described as something that “shaves off” one’s good deeds.

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Bakhabar : May 2014

MISERABLE

Hasad does not only destroy one’s Hereafter. The immediate punishment in this world is that the jealous person is constantly ‘burning” from within. He simply cannot see the next person happy, hence he is always miserable. Happiness remains far away from him. Hasad is therefore among the most foolish crimes to commit. One destroys his happiness in this world and his rewards in the hereafter, yet he gains nothing in return. One desires the destruction of another person but in the process only brings destruction to oneself.

Having realised that hasad is a serious disease, one should treat this malady with utmost urgency.

Among the ways of removing hasad from the heart are the following:

- Ponder over the harm you are doing to yourself and the utter foolishness of your action. The only thing that you will achieve is misery. Your evil desire is not going to change anything except to make you burn from within and to destroy your good deeds.

- Praise the person you are jealous over in front of others. Do this even though you have to force yourself to do it.

- Make dua for the person you are jealous of as much as possible. Ask Allah Ta’ala to protect the person’s bounties for him, increase it and grant him barakah therein.

- Make salaam to him often

- Occasionally give him some gift.

Insha Allah by adopting the above remedies, the terrible evil of jealousy will be cleaned from one’s heart. One will also find happiness in this world and one’s good deeds will not be destroyed.

-------------------------------------To Listen to a Lecture on Malice and Jealousy by Moulana Sulaiman Moola Click HERE (It is the 5th lecture on the webpage) Website: www.islaaminfo.co.za

P

Merits of Prostration in Prayer

I By By Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali I

He, when he prostrates himself in prayer, so that is the time to make many supplications." (Muslim)

rophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Whenever a Muslim performs a prostration for God's sake, God raises him one degree and absolves him of one offence." (Muslim)

God, Exalted is He, said in the Quran what means

It is related that a man once said to God's Messenger (peace be upon him): "Pray to God that He may include me among those who enjoy your intercession, and that He may grant me your companionship in Paradise."

God, Great and Glorious is He, also said: [Do not approach the Prayer when you are intoxicated, until you know what you are saying.] (AnNisaa' 4:43)

"The servant is never closer to God, Exalted is He, than when he is prostrating himself in worship."

(Muslim)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: "Help me by making frequent prostration." (Muslim)

This is the meaning of the words of God, Great and Glorious is He,

[Prostrate yourself and draw near.] (Al-`Alaq 96:19) God also says in the Quran what means:

[Their foreheads show the mark left by prostration.]

(Al-Fath 48:29)

Some say this refers to the dust that sticks to the brow during the act of prostration, while others say it is the light of humility, shining forth from within.

The latter view is more correct.

According to yet others, it is the radiance that will shine on their faces on the Day of Resurrection, as a result of their ablution.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

If a human being prostrates himself at an appropriate point in his recitation of the Ouran, the devil withdraws, weeping as he says: "Alas! This man was bidden to prostrate himself and he has obeyed, so Paradise is his. I was also commanded to make prostration, but I disobeyed and so Hell is my lot. (Muslim) "The servant is nearest to God, Great and Glorious is 31

Bakhabar : May 2014

Humble Adoration in Prayer

[And perform the Prayer in remembrance of Me.] (Ta-Ha 20:14) [Do not be one of those who are neglectful.] (AlA`raf 7:205)

Some say that "intoxicated" means inebriated by many anxieties, while others say it means drunk on the love of this world. According to some scholars, the meaning is obviously condemning worldly attachment, since the words "until you know what you are saying" explain the underlying reason.

Many are those who pray without having drunk wine, yet do not know what they are saying in their prayers.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If a man performs two cycles of Prayer without the distraction of any worldly thought, all his previous sins will be forgiven." (Al-Bukhari)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said, "Prayer is nothing but submissiveness, humility, supplication, sighing and remorse, holding out your hands and saying: "O God! O God!" Otherwise it is abortive." ( At-Tirmidhi)

This advice was given to someone by the Prophet (peace be upon him): "When you pray, pray like a person who is saying farewell," that is, saying farewell to himself, to his passions and to his life, before setting off on the journey to his Lord.

God, Exalted is He, says:

[O Man, you labor towards your Lord laboriously, and you shall meet Him.] (Al-Inshiqaq 84:6)

‫ف‬ϟ΍ϭ‫ف‬ϧΎϬ̯Ω٫΍έ‫ف‬ϫΩϧ΍(AbuYahya̶ϳΣϳϭΑ΍ ) Ի ̶ϬΑ ΩϭΟΎΑ ‫؏ ̯ف‬ϭηηϭ̯ έΩϗ α΍ ̶̯ ؏ϭ̳ϭϟ ̶Α٫Ϋϣ ϡ٫ ‫ف ̯؟‬ϳ΋Ύϣέϓ ‫؟‬ϳ ΩΎΗγ΍µµ ̮ϳ΍ ϝ΍ϭγ ‫؟‬ϳ Ν΁ ؏ϳϣ αϠΟϣ ̶̯ ϑέΎϋ ˬ¶¶ˮ ‫ف‬٫ ̶٫έ ΎΟ ‫ف‬ϫ֐Α ؏ϭϳ̯ ̶΋΍έΑ ΎϬ̰ϳΩ ϭ̯ ϝ΋Ύγ έυϧ ̮ϳ΍ ‫ف‬ϧ ϑέΎϋ ‫ل‬ΎϬΗ ΎϳΎϬՌ΍ ‫ف‬ϧ ΕϳλΧη ϝΎόϓ έ̡ έϭρ ̶Α٫Ϋϣ ΎϬ̩ϭ̡ ؏ϳϣ ‫ف‬Ο٬ϟ ‫ف‬ϣϳϫΩ ‫ف‬΋ϭ٫ ‫ف‬Η΍έ̰γϣ έϭ΍ ‫ف‬ϳ̯ ϑϗϭΗ Ύ̯ ‫ف‬Σϣϟ ̮ϳ΍ ‫ف‬ϧ ΏΣΎλ ϥ΍ ˬ¶¶ˮ ‫ف‬٫ Ύϳ̯ ΎϋΩ ̵֐Α ‫ف‬γ Ώγ ̶̯ ̟΁µµ ΏϟΎϏ ϥϳΩ Ύ̯ ௌ ؏ϳϣ ϡϟΎϋ ϝ̯ ‫ف ل‬΋ΎΟ Պϣ ̶΋΍έΑ ‫ف‬γ ΎϳϧΩ ̵έΎγµµ ΎϳΩ Ώ΍ϭΟ έϳϐΑ ¶¶ ‫ف ل‬΋ΎΟϭ٫ ΫϓΎϧ ϡϼγ΍ ؏ϳϣ ̮Ϡϣ ‫ـ‬έΎϣ٫ ‫ف ل‬΋ΎΟϭ٫ ϭΗ Ύϳ΁ ‫؟‬ϧ Ώ΍ϭΟ ̮Η έϳΩ ‫̶ل‬΋̳ ΎϬ̩ ̶ηϭϣΎΧ ؏ϳϣ αϠΟϣ ‫ل‬ΎϳϟΎ̰ϬΟ έγ ‫ف‬ϧ ϑέΎϋ ̶̯ ϑέΎϋ ‫̰ف ̯؟‬γ ‫؟‬ϧ Ϭ̰ϳΩ ‫ف ل‬ϬΗ ‫ف‬ϬՌϳΑ έϭΩ ϩϭ έ̴ϣ ‫ل‬ϻΩΑ ϭϠ٬̡ ‫ف‬ϧ ϝ΋Ύγ έΎ̯ έΧ΁ ϭ̯ έΩΎ̩ ίϳΑΩ α΍ ̶̯ ̶ηϭϣΎΧ ‫؏ ل‬ϳ٫ ‫ف‬٫έ ̮ϠϬ̩ ؏ϭγϧ΁ ‫ف‬γ ؏ϭϬ̰ϧ΁ ‫ل‬ϻ΍վ ֐ϭΗ ‫ف‬ϧ ί΍ϭ΁ ̶̯ ϑέΎϋ ؏ϳ٬ϧ ̶ϟϭ̳ ̶̯ ϕϭΩϧΑ Εϳ΍Ω٫ έ̴ϣ ‫؏ل‬ϳ٫ ‫ف‬Ηϭ٫ ‫ـ‬έγϭΩ ‫؟‬ϧΎηϧ Ύ̯ ؏ϭ̳ϭϟ ̶Α٫Ϋϣ ϡ٫µµ ‫ف‬γ ϝΩ ϭΟ ‫ف‬٫ ̶Ηϭ٫ ̶ϧηϭέ ‫؟‬ϳ ‫فل‬΋ΎΟ ΎϳΎϧΑ ‫؟‬ϧΎηϧ ϭ̯ ؏ϭέγϭΩ ‫ف‬γ αΟ ̶Ηϭ٫ ϡ٫ έ̴ϣ ‫فل‬٫ ̶Ηέ̯ έϭϧϣ ϭ̯ ΩϭΟϭ ‫ف‬ϧ̡΍ ‫ـ‬έΎϣ٫ ‫ف‬Ϡ٬̡ ‫ف‬γ Ώγέϭ΍ ‫ف‬٫ ̶ΗՌϭϬ̡ έϭρ ̶ϣγέ ̶ϬΑ̯ ‫ف ل‬Η̴ϧΎϣ ؏ϳ٬ϧ ‫ف‬ϳϟ ‫ف‬ϧ̡΍ ‫ف‬γ Ώέ ‫ف‬ϧ̡΍ ϭ̯ ̶ϧηϭέ α΍ ̶ϬΑ̯ ‫̶ ̯ف‬ϧηϭέ α΍ ‫ف ̯؟‬ΗΎϧΑ ؏ϳ٬ϧ ̶γϳ΍ Ε΍ΩΎϋ έϭ΍ ΕϳλΧη ̶ϧ̡΍ ϭΗ Ύϳϟ ̲ϧΎϣ έ̡ έϳγ΍ ‫ ̯ف‬Ε΍έϭλΗ έϭ΍ ΕΎϳέυϧ ˬ ؏ϭ٫ϭέ̳ ˬΕΎΑλόΗ ‫ف‬ϧ̡΍ ϡ٫‫؏ ل‬ϳέ٬ϬՌ ϖΣΗγϣ Εϳ΍Ω٫ ‫ف‬ϧ ϡ٫ ‫؟‬ϧ ϭγ ‫؏ ل‬ϳ٫ ‫ف‬Η٫Ύ̩ ΎϧγϧϭϬՌ έ̡ ؏ϭέγϭΩ ϭ̯ ̶Ϭϧ΍ έϭ΍ ؏ϳ٫ ‫ف‬Ηϭ٫ ؏ϳ٫ ϭΗ έΑϣϐϳ̡ ϡ٫ ‫ل‬ΎϳΎϧΑ ϝΑΎϗ ‫ف ̯ف‬ϧΎ̡ Εϳ΍Ω٫ ϭ̯ ΩϭΧ ‫؟‬ϧ ΎϳΎϧΑ ΩλϘϣ Ύϧ̡΍ ϭ̯ ‫ف‬ϧΎ̡ ΍έϳϫΩϧ΍ έΩϧ΍ ‫ـ‬έΎϣ٫ ‫ف‬ϳϟ α΍ ‫ـ ل‬Ω έΎΗ΍ ‫̴ف‬ϧΎϣ ϥΑ Εϳ΍Ω٫ έ̡ ϡ٫ ̭Ύ̡ ௌ ‫؏ ̯؟‬ϳ٬ϧ ‫؏ ل‬ϳ٫ ‫ف‬ΗՌϧΎΑ ؏ϳϣ ؏ϭέγϭΩ ϡ٫ ϭ̯ ؏ϭέϳϫΩϧ΍ ̶Ϭϧ΍ έϭ΍ ‫ف‬٫ ΎΗ٫έ ̵έΎϣ٫ ‫ف ̯؟‬ϳ٫Ύ̩ Ύϧέ̯ ؏ϳ٬ϧ ‫؟‬ϳ ϝ΍ϭγ ؏ϳϣ٫ ‫؏ ل‬ϳ٫ ‫ف‬ϟ΍ϭ ‫ف‬ϧΎϬ̯Ω ϩ΍έ ‫ف‬ϫΩϧ΍ ϡ٫ ΍έΎϣ٫ ‫ف ̯؟‬ϳ٫Ύ̩ Ύϧϭ٫ ‫؟‬ϳ ϝ΍ϭγ ‫̶ل‬Ηϭ٫ ؏ϳ٬ϧ ϡΗΧ ؏ϭϳ̯ ̶΋΍έΑ ΩϭΟϭΎΑ ‫؏ ̯ف‬ϭηηϭ̯ ̶̯ Εϳ΍Ω٫ ‫̴؟‬Ο έ٫ Ύϳ̳ ϭ٫ έϭΩ ‫؟‬ϳ ίϭέ αΟ ‫̰؟‬ϧϭϳ̯ ‫ل‬Ύ̳ ϭ٫ έϭΩ ‫ف‬γϳ̯ ϥ̡ ΎϫΩϧ΍ ¶¶‫ف ̶̳ل‬΋ΎΟ ϝϳϬ̡ ̶ϧηϭέ

http://www.inzaar.o __._,_.___

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