Bouquets and Brickbats

I thank you immensely for enlightening me about Zam Zam water-”Zam Zam Water-scientific Research Findings”, Islamic Voice, Dec 2005. You have printed the word ’Potability’ as ‘Portability’. ‘Potable’ stands for water fit for drinking. But most intriguing and interesting is the fact that, the well since the time of Prophet Ibrahim (Pbuh) despite not being subjected to any kind of chemical treatment is free from all kinds of biological growth like algae, germs, etc and is still 100% safe for drinking!. Another miraculous fact is that since that era, the well has not been dried up. Indeed these are one of the many miracles of Almighty Allah, the Greatest. About the word Zam Zam, when I was a kid of about 10 years old, I attended a religious sermon on Eid day and the Imam explained that when Bibi Hajira (RA) saw the water springing up continuously, she panicked and said “Stop Stop”- which in Arabic stands for Zam Zam.’I presume this to be correct.


gmirshadulhaque@yahoo.co.in

This is with reference to the editorial in Islamic Voice, Nov 2005 issue- “In Step With Decency”, about the introduction of dress code and ban on fashion parades in a college in Chennai. This is laudable and other colleges and universities should emulate this. Currently, the college girls choose fashion as the criteria to look good. College is a centre for learning and the decorum should be maintained. A woman in a six yard saree covering even her head and a girl in salwar kameez will look more graceful than the tight western outfits-short tops, tight jeans and short skirts.. The fashion designers and television serials are propagating these revealing outfits and our youngsters are blindly following them.

This is with reference to the editorial in Islamic Voice, Nov 2005 issue- “In Step With Decency.” Prescribing a dress code for students is not the only way by which the students can improve their moral standards. In fact, knowledge of doing the right things that please the Almighty are also equally essential in life. Building up a sound mindset along with elegant, dignified and graceful dress sense will inculcate the positive values in a student.

I happened to read the November 2005 issue of Islamic Voice and really enjoyed it thoroughly. There were many interesting and thought-provoking topics in this. In Tamil, we say ‘adipozy’-really inspiring. The essay on IT revolution by M.A. Siraj, Quran Speaks To You and the Women in Islam, columns were truly intellectual. Dr Zakir Naik’s, “Similarities between Islam and Hinduism” is very useful as I am able to understand the Islamic views and understand the hearts of Muslim brothers and sisters. Though I am a Christian, I am happy to be with Muslims. For this, Islamic Voice is very useful to me. I appreciate the mission and pray for peace in the whole world.

The rape and murder of an employee of a Call Centre in Bangalore has triggered a nationwide alert. I hope the Call Centres now end the night shift system for women. I can sense the fear and terror that must have gripped the parents of girls working in Call Centres. The environment today is not secure for women or even for that matter men to venture out at 2 a.m. There has been no difference of opinion even in the media that the accused in this case has to face a death sentence. What baffles me is when a Muslim country follows the Islamic laws and includes death sentence or even follows the rule of chopping off the hands of a criminal who has committed theft, it is termed as barbaric. Ultimately, when crimes like this occur in our society, there seems no other better way to punish the accused, but death. It is time the rest of the world respects and understands the reason behind such punishments in Muslim countries, following strict laws.

The Gujarat local elections have produced a disturbing result. There are almost no Muslims in elected positions, right from panchayats and municipalities to Assembly and the Lok Sabha. They are completely cut off from the power process, as even the bureaucracy and the police hardly have any Muslims. Tragically, there are police officers who are obsessed with hunting Muslims as terrorists . Socio-economically, they are at the bottom of the Gujarat society. The religious divide is so deep, that Muslims are barred from most residential areas. They are forced into ghettos, with little facilities of water or waste disposal. Gujarat has achieved Guru Golwalkar’s utopia of Muslims, as untouchables. There is no Muslim Ambedkar to break these chains. They will have to do so on their own, through quality education, business and social reform.

Vadodara drbandukwala@yahoo.co.in

With reference to the article-“Guldasta-The Pak-India Connection” in the Islamic Voice, Nov 2005, I wish to congratulate Dr Mohammed Yunus Saleem, Dr S.S. Ramesh, Dr Diwakar and the staff of Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Heart Centre in Bangalore for their magnanimous gesture. A bouquet of roses-“Guldasta”, to the doctors for curing a little poor girl from Pakistan.

The media in West Bengal have no doubt shown commendable social responsibility, but are yet to show balanced coverage addressing the needs and aspirations of Muslims who are the second largest population in West Bengal. It has been seen that the coverage given to Muslim festivals like Eid-ul-Fitr and Bakrid is very pathetic. The publicity is very insignificant and this has disheartened the Muslims in the State. We have high hopes that the media in West Bengal, gives equal focus to even Muslim festivals as it is in the case with festivals of other communities and uphold the non-communal and non-partisan stand of the media.

wbminoritycouncil@rediffmail.com

The Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali has in a statement released in The Hindu last month, opposed the Hajj subsidy and termed it as not right as per the tenets of Islam. My basic question is if the government is providing the subsidy, it is fine, but it is upto the Haji to decide what he or she will do with the amount-if it is Rs 12,000 or whatever the sum is, if the taqwa of a Muslim is so strong, he or she should give away the subsidy amount in charity. The problem with our community is we only look for defects and disasters in whatever benefit comes our way, specially so when it is from the government. Why cannot we divert our thinking constructively? If all Hajis decide to give away the subsidy to a charitable fund, for the upliftment of the community and the society, then imagine the benefits arising out of this. So the choice of what a Haji wants to do with the subsidy is purely his decision based on his intention. Let the government continue doing its job.