Letters

The opinion of Netherland’s Astrid Essad (Denial of Burial, Bouquets and Brickbats, IV Jan 2009) is exasperating. The decision of the Indian Muslim council is right, but the reasons given by them could have been substantial and more positive, absence of which will give credence to the theory which some people in India sermonize that “all terrorists are Muslims even though all Muslims are not terrorists”. Notwithstanding, the un-Islamic conduct of these terrorists, we do not even know if they were Muslims at all even in their belief. They could well be hired mercenaries of any religious belief and even atheists. At one time it was even suspected that they were of European origin. By asserting that the terrorists deserved a good Islamic burial, the Netherlander has put his foot in his mouth. He seems to be convinced that they were indeed Muslims.

I was very pleased to read ‘Manual for Social harmony for Muslims’ by Maqbool Ahmed Siraj in Islamic Voice, December 2008. It is a wake up call for all of us to follow and build bridges with others in the society. I only wish enough tolerance towards others is drilled in our mindset and a message of love and understanding is injected into us to change our attitude to learn to live in peace and harmony. Congrats for the brilliant piece!

The article by Maqbool Ahmed Siraj in Islamic Voice, December 2008, titled “Manual for Social Harmony” is very important and serves as guidance to Muslims to maintain cordial and pleasant relations with members of the society in general. Luckily we are following some of the things Mr Siraj has suggested. For example, on both Eids, we invite prominent citizens, politicians, local administrative officers to the Idgah, making suitable separate enclosure for them to sit. After prayers, we offer them snacks. On Diwali, Muslims greet them. We welcome the new government officers and pay adieu to the transferred officers. I will attempt to translate Mr Siraj’s article in Urdu to convey his valuable suggestions to people here in Jodhpur and around. Congratulations and a bouquet of roses for Mr Siraj.

The UN’s Western members have been dealing with the situation in Gaza as a humanitarian crisis rather than an Israeli occupation. They deny Palestinians their right of self- defence and offer them, instead, humanitarian aid in return for their complete surrender to the Israeli occupation. The UN Security Council ignored the fact that the Israeli army is attacking Palestinian civilians within their own cities on Palestinian land. The Israeli army is a well equipped, well trained, and state sponsored murdering organisation. It is not fighting another army in Gaza. It is murdering virtually unarmed civilians who do not possess any fighter planes, tanks or the most sophisticated weapons. This is not a war between two armies. This is mere murder and a real holocaust created by none other than Israel.

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan’s article, “ Muslims have lost their Wisdom,” Islamic Voice, January 2009 made distasteful reading. I am at a loss to understand what kind of wisdom he was speaking about, a wisdom to allow the aliens to capture one’s country and accept such illegal occupation as the will of God? According to his logic, the Muslims in Afghanistan should have accepted the occupation of their country by the erstwhile Soviet Union as their fate. Likewise, the Palestinians should have accepted the occupation of their land by Israel as the decision of God! The Maulana should know that progress does not take place in a vacuum, progress is synonymous to economic and political liberation. What kind of toleration is he speaking about when the sons of soil live in refugee camps and the usurpers let loose all kinds of repression? It would have been wiser if the Maulana had given his sermon of non-violence to the ex-President of US, Bush. Then the political situation in the world would have been different.

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