by admin | May 25, 2021 | Opinions
By M. Burhanuddin Qasmi,
Masjid is very important and both religiously and culturally an integral part of Islam. There are clear texts in Hadith where it is emphatically instructed that Muslim men must offer 5 daily prayers in masjid with congregations. This has been in practice ever since Islam existed in this world. If some individuals are not doing so then this is their personal default which does not change rules. Hadith, Fiqh and all Islamic sources are unequivocally stating that masjid is an integral part of Islam and Muslim society.
Islam is what is in the Qur’an and Sunnah of Prophet Mohammad (saws). There are several verses in the Qur’an which speak about importance and sanctity of a masjid in Islam. Here is one of the verses from the Qur’an:
“And who is more unjust than he who prevents (men) from the masjids of Allah, that His name should be remembered in them, and strives to ruin them? (As for) these, it was not proper for them that they should have entered them except in fear; they shall meet with disgrace in this world, and they shall have great chastisement in the hereafter.”
(Al-Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqara,Chapter 2, Verse 114).
The Prophet Mohammad (saws) said: “The congregational prayer exceeds that of individual prayer by twenty seven degrees. Whoever performs ablution properly then goes to the masjid, every step that he takes erases one of his bad deeds and elevates him a degree (in Paradise). If he enters the masjid and starts praying, the angles will implore Allah to forgive him and have mercy on him saying: ‘O Allah! Have mercy on him and forgive him.’ And one remains (receiving an equal reward as if he is still) in prayer as long as he is awaiting (the coming) prayer.” (Sahih Muslim)
Muslims should go to the masjid day and night and should love being there. A companion of the Prophet (saws) Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (ra) says: “No one would miss the prayer at the masjid except the ill and the hypocrites.” He also added that the Prophet (saws) taught us the means to guidance and one of these means is praying at the masjid.
The majority of jurists are of the opinion that praying in congregation at masjids is a stressed upon Sunnah.
If masjid is not the essential requirement for Salah (prayers) then mandir is also not an essential requirement for Puja or worship. The same should be true for all religions and all religious places. If pure places of worship are not included as integral part of any religion and not protected by articles 14, 15 and 25 of Indian Constitution, then what? Does it mean all masjids, mandirs, gurdwaras, churches and synagogues; all endowments and waqf properties are vulnerable that any government can confiscate them under land accusation act as and when it wills?
However, it is Islam alone which puts extraordinary importance on congregational prayers. Muslims pray five times a day and Juma (the Friday prayer) each week in a masjid only. Juma and Eid prayers cannot be done except in a masjid or an open ground in congregation. Then how masjid is not an integral part of Islam and Muslims – – my Lord!
The three judge bench’s majority judgment – 2/3, barring Justice Abdun Nazir in the Supreme Court of India on 27 Sept. 2018 with reference to Ismail Farooqi vs Union of India case’s outcome in 1994 is inconceivable. If under the land accusation law the Union of India can acquire certain land of a worship place from one group then how can the Government or any court allow the other group to perform worship in the same land before the title is cleared by a verdict ? If the outcome of 1994 case already had influenced the title suit judgment on Babri Masjid – Ram Janmabhoomi, on the basis of ‘aastha’ in the Lucknow Bench of Allahbad High Court in 2010, then what is the assurance that the same is not going to influence the upcoming judgment in the same case in the Apex Court in future?
We, as laymen, can ask these questions to ourselves only. However, upholding the spirit of justice, sanctity of law and saving the constitution of India are lying in courts’ wisdom. We as citizens of this country wish that equality for all and transparency in justice should prevail everywhere and forever!
(M. Burhanuddin Qasmi, Director, Markazul Ma’arif Education and Research Centre Patliputra Nagar, Oshiwara, Jogeshwari (W), Mumbai)
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News
David Cameron
Kolkata : Former British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday said terrorism should not be seen as a battle between the Christian countries of the West and the Islamic countries in the Middle East. It is all about identifying and wiping out a small section that believes in extremism.
Criticizing US President Donald Trump’s view on terrorism, he said it is more of an intellectual battle against those who believe in the “perverted view” of the Islamic religion.
“When at times I listen to President Trump, it seems he thinks of terrorism like a clash of civilizations between the Christian West and the religion of Islam, which I think is completely wrong,” said Cameron, also the former Conservative Party chief.
“What’s happening now-a-days is a civil war in the Islamic states between a vast majority willing to practice their religion peacefully and a very small minority that have taken up a radicalized and perverted view of the religion and turned it into a kind of belief.
“What we have to do is recognize those who are involved in this,” he pointed out while addressing the Annual General Meeting of the Indian Chamber of Commerce here.
Cameron said the terrorist problems have surfaced not just in the Middle East but also in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Britain in recent times, which shows “we are involved in a big intellectual fight”.
He said that in order to discourage the spread of radicalism among people, the success of multi ethnic nations like India and Britain should be celebrated.
“We should try to celebrate the multi cultural, multi religious, multi ethnic countries like India and Britain. We should also help those countries in wiping out the perverted practice of radicalism in the name of religion,” he said.
Talking about the spread of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, he said such forces need to be fought with fire to eliminate the extremists.
“Iraq is a state that has been finding support for the Islamic State that actively sends terrorists to other countries. Sometimes people are trained in Iraq and sent to the European countries while at other times they are just radicalized through social media.
“But a large section of their people are willing to break free from the grasp of this extremist group. We have to find a strategy to wipe out the extremist forces and work with the locals,” Cameron said.
He also said that the world will be a safer place if there is peace between Israel and Palestine but it will not ensure the end of terrorism.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Entrepreneurship, News, Social Entrepreneur, Startup Basics
Wedding backdrop created by tazia artisans. Mohammad Bilal Azhimuddin working to create decorations for a wedding.
By Archana Sharma,
Jaipur : For centuries, their creations have been used in sombre processions to commemorate and reconstruct the narrative of the 7th century Battle of Karbala in Islamic history. But now, these artists, mostly Shia Muslims, make Hindu wedding mandaps, replicating the design of the shrine of Prophet’s grandson Imam Hussain Ali, who was killed in that war.
Hundreds of couples in the country have exchanged wedding vows under these mandaps, representing the replicas of the complex, housing one of the oldest mosques in the world and a holy site of Shia Muslims in the Iraqi city of Karbala. These replicas, also called tazia, which otherwise Shia mourners use during their annual Muharram processions, are also used for decorating venues of birthday parties.
The art of tazia making arrived in India from Central Asia and is said to have flourished during Mughal rule. One of these artisans, Mohammad Bilal Azhimuddin, speaking to IANS, said they were in Mumbai recently to design a Hindu marriage mandap at the Hotel Grand Hyatt there.
“Our clients wanted us to design something exquisite, which we did,” he said, adding that caste and creed never comes into picture.
“Our designs have been used in Hindu weddings as well as in birthday parties of children. What clients love is the exquisite adorned minarets which have won millions of hearts and are making waves across the nation,” he said.
Many art connoisseurs have also decorated their residences, offices, theme parties and corporate events with tazia-inspired minarets and lamps, he added.
Basically, these artisans make tazias during Muharram processions. As this symbolises sorrow to their community, they never charge any price for it. “It is a service to God,” says Mohammad Bilal Azhimuddin, who learnt this craft from his father who was known as Azhimuddin Bhai (brother) in community circles.
Meanwhile, their socio-economic standards have witnessed a sudden rise as they started taking up commercial projects.
The fortunes of this tazia community changed when a leading designer of the country, Geetanjali Kaswaliwal, owner of globally reputed Anantaya which is committed to development of ideas using local crafts evolved over centuries, watched a tazia procession for the first time in Jaipur. Anantaya is known for showcasing Unesco award-winning luxury cutting-edge objects, furniture, textiles and accessories inspired by the culturally-rich artisanal world.
She was moved by the attractive presence of tazias on the streets. Soon after, when her husband’s firm, AKFD Studio, got the order for making markers for the entire city during the Jaipur Virasat Heritage Festival 2007, she thought of using tazia-inspired designs for the city.
“We wanted to make something sculptural for this event to ensure guests bask in the glory of cultural craft. We created a huge structure of tazia. The task was commissioned to tazia artisans who were adept with the artistry associated with it. The project was headed by Azhimuddin bhai. With nine kids, he was keen to work with us and hence we had their designs and skills which helped them earn name, fame and revenue also,” she told IANS.
It was more like a pure engagement with these artisans who created impressive spheres. Even the tazia artisans enjoyed doing something innovative, said Kaswaliwal.
Later, she brought tazia-inspired designs to her house while celebrating birthday parties of her daughters. Instead of plastic balloons, tazia artisans decorated the venue with handmade craft. The big balloons and lamps were quite authentic which caught the attention of all those present.
Kaswaliwal ensured this art was taken to the next level and asked the artisans to decorate the wedding mandap of her sister’s marriage solemnised in New Delhi in 2009.
“They did it with their heart and soul and the response was amazing. Everybody was talking of these designs and this is how their art gained wings and reached heights from where there was no looking back,” she added.
“No one in our family had any resistance anywhere when my sister’s wedding mandap was being designed by Muslim artisans. They loved their integrity and engagement with which they did the decor,” she recalled.
There is another positive side to the story. The designs crafted by tazia artisans is via paper and bamboo which gives a strong message of sustainability and ecological balance.
When asked about remuneration, Bilal said it’s the size of the mandap and party venue which defines their remuneration and the number of people also depends on the quantum of work.
“Seeing our work, we have received orders to design the Rajasthan Heritage Week Festival. Also, we did the design in 2009 when Art Institute of Chicago delegates were in India. We used bamboo-made sets which were praised a lot,” said Bilal.
“What we love is the fact that people of all castes and communities admire our work — and tell others about it. What else does a grassroots artisan want?” Bilal asked with a smile.
(The weekly feature series is part of a positive-journalism project of IANS and the Frank Islam Foundation. Archana Sharma can be contacted at archana.s@ians.in)
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News
New Delhi : The holy festival of Eid-ul-Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan will be celebrated on Saturday, the Markazi Hilal Committee declared on Thursday.
A comminique from the office of Shahi Imam Ahmed Bukhari said Eid will be celebrated on June 16 on the completion of 30 days of Ramadan as the new moon has not been sighted in India.
“New moon not sighted, Eid to be celebrated on Saturday,” the Markazi Hilal Committee declared in its meeting.
The day of Eid falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal depending upon the sighting of the moon the previous night.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Arabic, News
By Mohammed Shafeeq,
Hyderabad : Islamic art, especially calligraphy, can play a key role in ada’wah’, or inviting people to understand Islam and clearing misconceptions about it, feels Fareed A. Al-Ali, the head of Kuwait Islamic Arts Centre.
Drawing pictures of human beings is prohibited in Islam, but he believes the beauty of various Islamic arts, including calligraphy, is a powerful tool to attract people and invite them to understand the message of Islam.
Whenever Fareed goes to art exhibitions, people stand in queue to get their names written in his beautiful writing and they preserve it like autographs of a celebrity. Fareed’s writing of Allah’s names in different styles at an exhibition in Egypt attracted the attention of a French national.
“He wanted to know what is Allah and what is Islam. I referred him to Al-Azhar University, where he learnt about Islam and a year later embraced Islam,” Fareed told IANS.
The president of the Kuwait Islamic Arts Centre, who was recently on a visit to India, believes that art exhibitions and workshops are key to spreading the message of Islam and also in removing the misconceptions.
“The beauty of words can make the difference. When they see beautiful words of Quranic ayats (verses), they want to know the meaning and this make them go further and understand Quran,” said Fareed, who has demonstrated his calligraphy skills at the Jaipur Art Summit for the last two years.
The Kuwait Islamic Arts Centre, under the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, has been working for more than 11 years to promote Islamic arts like calligraphy and illumination. It organises workshops and exhibitions and conducts competitions in schools.
He pointed out that the Centre , apart from promoting Arabic calligraphy around the world, was also helping remove the misconceptions about Islam. “Everybody thinks Islam is terror and Islam is a problem… but through art we tell them it is not. We say Islam is peace.
“People in Europe, America and Japan respect Islamic art. We go to their countries and show this is Islam.”
The Centre, working in different ways to nourish calligraphy, focuses on children and publishes a lot of books to make them learn and discover Islam through activities like puzzles and colouring.
He is happy that many young people in Kuwait are taking to calligraphy. “There is huge demand. Many students are on waiting list. Several Kuwaitians take Ijaza (certificate) from renowned calligraphers. More women than men are learning calligraphy,” he said.
Fareed is happy over the efforts being made in India to revive Arabic calligraphy.
In December last year, he inaugurated the Arabic Calligraphy Centre in Hyderabad. This is the second centre opened by Muqtar Ahmed, who teaches calligraphy at the Institute of Indo-Islamic Art and Culture in Bengaluru.
He feels without depending on the government’s help to promote Arabic calligraphy, the rich among the Muslims community should come forward to contribute their mite.
“The rich should put their money in buying calligraphy works. They will also get good returns. A good work which is worth $1,000 today will have a value of $3,000 to 6,000 in 5-7 years. Such works fetch millions in international exhibitions,” he said.
He is of the view that the technology is not a threat to calligraphy. “In fact the digital technology helps calligraphers to come out with many innovative and beautiful designs and save time.”
(Mohammed Shafeeq can be contacted at m.shafeeq@ians.in)
—IANS
