Bouquets and Brickbats

The article, “Motivation Theories and Muslim Business,” by M. Hanif Lakdawala in the January 2006 issue of Islamic Voice was very timely. Small entrepreneurs will benefit by reading such thought provoking articles. A large chunk of Muslims are poor and not in a position to meet all family responsibilities such as providing health care and education. It becomes the responsibility of the capable ones in the community to maximise their income (of course by lawful means) to help their less fortunate brethren. For a Muslim, this need to generate more wealth should be enough motivation to work hard and innovate. Thinking is the first step towards innovation. Our entrepreneurs should not only work hard (which also does not appear common), but also become thinking individuals. Apart from acquiring knowledge from books by Management Gurus like Peter Drucker or Sam Peters, we should also look within Islam for examples. Hazrat Abdul Rehman bin Ouf (RA), according to me, is the best role model for an entrepreneur. When he migrated to Madinah, he refused to take any help, financial or otherwise, from the Ansar who were always ready to help the muhajirin. In contrast, today we beg for charity in the form of subsidies or concessions. Articles on such entrepreneurs of our community coupled with the latest management techniques, by scholars like Hanif Lakdawala are always welcome.

Email: dr.a.ahmed@sify.com

With reference to your editorial in Islamic Voice of December 2005, as a learned Editor, it does not suit well for you to comment on what Sania Mirza said about protected pre-marital sex. She does not represent Islam and her views are her personal. An individual has every right to hold his or her own views and this right cannot be snatched in a democratic country like India. You must not play the role of a moral guardian.

This is with reference to the article,” What Do Muslims Believe about Mary and Jesus (Pbuh),” in December 2005 issue of Islamic Voice, by Prof .John .L.Esposito and also the write-up, “The Muslims Christians link” by Ibrahim Hooper. I would like to add that Christians call Jesus (Pbuh) as Son of God, or the Holy Father. There is a verse in the Quran: ”He (Allah) begets not nor is begotten”. So the question of Jesus (Pbuh) as the Son of God does not arise. Then Christians say Jesus (Pbuh) was crucified. The Quran says: “Neither was he crucified nor he died on the cross.” This is exactly where Christians differ from Muslims.

Email: Afree_aafr@rediffmail.com

The American hegemony is reaching alarming heights .After gaining control over Afghanistan and Iraq, it is now planning to invade Iran. Bush is again misleading the world towards Iranian nuclear experiments. India being an Asian country should oppose the evil designs of America. The United States is becoming more arrogant. It is our moral and ethical obligation towards Iran and other weak nations.

Email: drmaqdoomi@rediffmail.com

We have bid goodbye to 2005, but who can forget the enormous disasters that have devastated the world by all the natural forces. It seems like something has gone terribly wrong and nature has joined forces to unleash vengeance on man. Still perhaps, it is just a reminder that we have taken the mercy of God for granted. Human beings, as the highest form of creation naturally bear a greater responsibility not only to their fellow beings, but to all creation. Sadly, however, today the reality is quite to the contrary and still we expect God’s mercy to fall on us. One must not forget that there is also another side to God’s benevolence and mercy. And that is the fear of God which alone can protect us from all kinds of evil. Fear of God is the beginning of all wisdom and this should be the essence of the holistic endeavour of people in the New Year.

The article-“Motivation Theories and Muslim Business,” by M. Hanif Lakdawala in Islamic Voice, January 2006, issue was very interesting. Being a budding first generation entrepreneur in India, even though I finished my MBA and also have more than a decade of experience in various Indian industries, I find it extremely tough to grow my business. Added to this, there are no institutions specifically catering to Muslim entrepreneurs in India in terms of Venture Capital, Mentoring and Support. Entrepreneurship has a very important place in Islam, but today’s youth seem to be interested in working only in MNC or IT companies, be it India or abroad. Hope the situation will change in the near future and we will have many aspiring youngsters willing to take the risk of starting their own business or industry. But for this to happen, we will need to have the right kind of support.

Email: mail.gani@gmail.com

Mosques are sacred places for worship. But sadly these days, mosques are divided into sects too. So sermons in mosques focus on which Muslim sect is better. This is indeed pathetic. The Friday sermons have turned into debates where criticising the community has become the order of the day.

I am troubled by a problem. The Imam of the Jama Masjid in the area where I live here in Panchkhela in West Bengal has been following a certain practice. Before the Azaan for the Friday prayers, he calls the people to come to the Masjid over the microphone saying,” today is Friday, the sacred day, leave all your worldly affairs and come to the Masjid.” Now some scholars and other Imams have declared that this type of call is not within the purview of Islam.Rather than asking another Islamic scholar about this and getting all the more confused, I request readers of Islamic Voice to send me their views on this.

Serajul Islam
Panchkhela. P.O. Plassey
Nadia-West Bengal, Pin: 741156

The Times of India (27th Dec 2005) published the news about India’s First Sex Education School in Kolkata. Govind Kumar Sharma has finally got license from the left-run Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) to open his Sex Education School on Hazara Road. The school will have a close-circuit camera to ensure that no “nuisance or mischievous activities” take place inside. The KMC had rejected this project a year earlier. But the current Mayor, Bikash Bhattacharya said, “in a country where Kamasutra was written so many years ago, how can sex education be a taboo or controversial?” I am in favour of this project as youngsters can get a straightforward and clear picture through proper education.