Islamic Voice A Monthly English Magazine

February 2005
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Open House

We Need Men of Character
A. G. Khan
Kota
Right education is the only and only source, which enlightens a person to become useful to himself and the society. In this regard Muslim community is far behind. The aim of right education is character building and the teachings of Islam are more than enough in this regard.


The causes of Disunity in the Muslim community today are not only poverty and lack of proper education, but also the division of Shia and Sunni and other sects along with different schools of thought. If we look to the working of a few known Islamic organizations, we find that the purpose of uniting Muslim community is not being achieved.


Muslim community can only be united by establishing a new organization at the world level for the very purpose and bring all the heads of present Islamic organisations and other Islamic scholars to join their heads together leaving behind their ego and personal status and ambition. Unless they understand the role of sacrifice, the aim of uniting this community world wide, cannot be achieved.
Proper arrangements are to be made for Islamic education along with general education at every place.


It may take some time, but the ray of hope to unite this community lies only in providing right education which means producing men of character on large scale.


Muslims are Truly Undemocratic
A.M. Rasool Mohideen
Chennai:
Muslims are not homogeneous in the sense that four broad classifications are unavoidable: orthodox, modern, educated and uneducated. To maintain equilibrium among all the four is risky and imaginary. The wide gap between the four should be minimised at least in the long run. Muslims are truly undemocratic. They never accept and digest democratic ideas. Muslims never honour social workers, intellects and coordinators who are the people constantly balancing the various factions in the society.


Muslims should follow the optimistic approach keeping in mind the centuries old history of human race. They must drop the aggressive attitudes instantaneously. Muslims should enroll more well wishers (Non -Muslims) for their sustenance. These are the orbits, which safeguard the interest of Muslims in the global arena. For the past 25 years after the boon of petroleum revenue, the resources available at hand are to be distributed and redistributed. Muslims should encourage cross border marriages and global business dealings. The Ummah is a misnomer at present.
Far Away from the Quran
Aaliya.I. Maniyar
Bijapur:
• Difference of opinions among Ulema of different sects.

• Muslim political leaders become puppets in the hands of non-Muslim leaders keeping away the Shariah.

• Difference of opinion among the family members .


Today the lives of most of the common people is in dark as they are moving away from the Quran. It is the duty of the head of the family to bring all the members closer to Allah.
Misguided by Past History
Hussain Rangwala
Mumbai:
The question is so important that every sect of Muslims and every individual Muslim should think very seriously on the subject.


I am not authorised to say much about the social life of various sects of Muslims. But according to my view, our social and religious matters should not mix together if we desire to progress towards brotherhood. All sects of Muslims belong and believe in Islam but they get separated on different religious matters and misguided on their own with past incidents of the Islamic history. No leader has been successful in instilling confidence among the Muslims today. We should make a Committee of different Muslim sects to discuss this issue.


Satan is the Culprit
K.S.Kaleemullah
Uniting Muslims is a very difficult task. However the gap of disunity among Muslims can be shortened. Satan is the greatest enemy of Muslims who tries to create confusion among Muslims. We should form an organisation of different leaders in each State in India with prominent citizens and leaders who can work towards bringing unity among Muslims.
Making Deen Very Liberal
Memon Abid Ali
Bangalore:
•Differences in rule of conduct - (Maslaq).

•Muslims are divided into different sects. - (Mazhab).

•Differences based on prejudices of language

•Due to the disunity among Ulemas, the Ummah is also divided.

•Ummah is divided into different classes (Firkhas) and each one thinks his class (Firkha) is the best.

•Ulema should be united.

•The Mosque has also been divided by people of different classes (Firkhas).

•Muslims of today go only to the Mosque where the Imam of their own class (firkhas) leads the prayer.

•Addition in the religious law of Allah - (Shariah).

•Making deen very liberal.

•Muslims have forgotten the truth spirit of Islam. •Muslims of today are ready to find small mistakes of one another.
Let's Go Back to the Sunnah
Mohamed Usman
Mysore:
Islam, which is the guidance from the Creator, always directs humanity to an appropriate, balanced and moderate path of living. There is a great spiritual famine that has taken hold of many parts of the world today. Mankind in general, is in a state of worry, anxiety and despair. There is a real need for a belief in God with an understanding, truth and righteousness, upright, moral solace, spiritual strength, chivalry, prowess and learning.


The whole of humanity is but one family, one nation and should ideally form one fraternity, the universal brotherhood of man. The Quran came forward to present to the world at large the principle of unity in religion. It advanced the view that even as the law of nature regulated and sustained the machinery of the universe, even so, there was a spiritual law of life to govern the life of man and that the law was one and the same for every one. The greatest error to which mankind fell was to forget and disregard the spiritual law of life and to divide mankind to rival camps. The primary aim of the spiritual law of life or the way of God then was to keep mankind united and not to serve as a force for disunity. The greatest tragedy of man that he turned the instrument of unity viz., religion into weapon of disunity.


The pilgrimage to Makkah, the gathering together of multitude worshippers of all races is the most spectacular expression, symbol and proof of unity and brotherhood of man. The concept and idea of the oneness of humanity is Islam’s unique contribution to human civilisation.


The message of Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) is a model of beauty, perfection, and consistency. It fits with human nature, addresses people’s minds and hearts, outlines a course for the elevation of human life and lays down a fine constitution and perfect code of justice. It also includes, answers for the needs of human nature and helps its development and advancement. If one abandones what the Prophet, says one is definitely going against the order.


We need to ponder over Quran and find ways and means to bring together Islamic scholars, eminent educationists, professors, scientists, engineers and many splintered organizations, NGOs, welfare associations in particular and the masses in general. In this endeavour our task is made easy by the existence of a few reputed and dedicated Muslim organisations such as the Jamaat-e-Islami and Tableeghi Jamaat.


In all my humanity I call upon the illustrious and enlightened Editors of (1) Islamic Voice, (2) IRF/Mumbai, Young Muslim Digest, (3) Daily Salar/ and such other media to appeal to all organizations to come together.


According to me, we all need to clean our hearts, forget our trivial problems and strictly abide by the Quran and the Sunnah-for only after we are good human beings can we become great Muslims.
Lack of Islamic Knowledge
Saif Siddique
Bangalore:
Unity can be hardly seen these days due to the busy schedule of a person or organisations as each and every person wants to achieve a lavish life, so there is less time to know the depth of our religion.


Hardly 30-40% of youngsters know about Islam, but they have also adopted themselves to others.
Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders so it is necessary for every parent to teach their children, basics of Islam.


Cry for Unity
Sheikh Haroon, Grand Sheikh
Birmingham, England:
“The brelvis cry for the love of the Prophet, The tablighis cry for dawah, The salafis cry about aqeedah, The ikhwan al muslimeen (Egypt) cry for jihad, The Tanzeem Al-Ikhwan Pakistan cry for zikr, The hizb ut tahrir cry for khilaafah, The shia cry for ‘Ali’ (ra), I cry for unity.”