Bouquets and Brickbats

I liked the article “Discover Islam in World Cup” in the July 2006 issue of Islamic Voice. The only thing that is most important and useful is preaching Islam. Except Islamic Voice, no other media has published this type of pleasant news where the World Assembly of Muslim Youth is silently doing Dawah among millions of people in non-Muslim countries.  I really appreciate the quality of service you are rendering to the media industry. I pray for your success.

Email: ahmedmaswood@rediffmail.com

Noor Mohammad’s efforts on, “Our Right to Question” (Islamic Voice, July 2006) are laudable. His approach to the Windsor Manor property, however, appears somewhat skewed and I beg to differ with him. The prime objective of running a hotel business is to provide lodging and boarding to the travelling public. Serving the type of food and drinks can only be in line with the demand. This is similar to civil aviation business. Transporting people from one place to another is the prime objective. Sale of liquor on board is only incidental. Even national airlines of pre-dominantly Muslim countries also serve liquor on board only for those who request for it. Many Europeans do not drink water after a meal. They drink only beer or wine. This is a part of their food habit. If serving of liquor on Wakf property is considered wrong even though it is not a source of income, then we can think of other, more unacceptable un-lslamic activities on this Wakf land. The restaurant at Sheraton Towers may be serving “Bacon and Eggs” for breakfast. Their staff, every year may be performing Ayudha Pooja. Many guests carry their family deities and perform idol worship every morning in their rooms. In a country where the majority is non-Muslim, it is not possible to avoid renting/leasing our properties to non-Muslims. This is the ground reality.


The tragedy that has struck this Wakf property as can be noted from the various media reports is that 1.66 lakh square feet of prime land has been leased out for a paltry sum of Rs. 6000 per month. It is logical to expect some foul play which is tantamount to devouring what justifiably belongs to the poor, widows and orphans of the community.The entire community should stand by Noor Mohammad in his endeavour to get this straightened out.

Email: dr.a.ahmed@sify.com

This is with reference to “Our Dialogue” in Islamic Voice, May 2006 issue. The question pertains to the “Footprints of Prophet Ibrahim.” Adil Salahi, the author has not given a responsible answer to this. He says the footprints of Prophet Ibrahim (Alaihisallam) are not real and does not resemble that of the human feet. This is far from reality. To put things in the right perspective, I wish to mention that the footprints of Prophet Ibrahim at Maqame Ibrahim in Haram Sharif is 100 per cent that of human feet and definitely that of Prophet Ibrahim.(Refer to verse no-96-97 of Surah Al-Imran). Prophet Muhammad’s (Pbuh) Hadith (Sahih Bukhari-Hadith No 343, quoted by Dr. Md. Ilias Abdul Ghani in the book, “ History of Mecca” in Urdu, says, “in Maqame Ibrahim, there is clear and open sign of Allah and is the living miracle, and centuries have passed by, but the sign of Prophet Ibrahim’s footprints remain intact on the stone”. The writer, Adil Salahi has described the two Rakats namaz at Maqame-Ibrahim after Tawaaf as Sunnat, whereas it is Wajib. He lacks religious knowledge.

After the serials blasts in the trains in Mumbai, a fear has gripped over Maharashtra. It is the duty of media - both the mainstream and the Muslim-run media to show restraint in coverage and adhere to the facts of this tragedy. Media sometimes over-reacts and at times does not react at all. We appeal for a balanced coverage.