Focus

The concrete structure of Islamic Voice has changed. But certainly not the ideals, intentions and the aims of the team. We will, by Allah’s grace retain the motivation behind the launch of Islamic Voice, 20 years ago and that is… to seek Allah’s Pleasure.


Time is like the flowing river. Years go by, and each year leaves behind it memories of the moments gone by.


It was exactly 20 years ago, the winter chill in India was fading out, giving way to a warm summer of January 1987. After a fairly long stay in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, A. W. Sadathullah Khan, a mechanical engineer had returned to Bangalore, India, with a mission in his heart and mind. While in India, he worked in very reputed public sector companies, his soul was for Islam completely. He had the zeal to contribute his best to the community and the society without expecting anything in return. He found that there was a vacuum for a social-religious magazine in English. Something had to be done about this. So began, his one-man crusade to give shape to his idea. Taking a loan of Rs 5000, he went about doing all the leg work right from coining the name for the publication… Islamic Voice, doing all the running around to get it registered, sitting through late nights putting together the matter. Check out the early issues beginning, January 1987 onwards, you will see the Arabic lessons, all scripted by him! Remember there was no internet then, all copy was typed, compiled and edited by him. Travelling miles together, he would rush to the printer in the wee hours of the morning on his two-wheeler. During this time, a major conference of Muslim groups was held in Bangalore. Taking this opportunity, Sadathullah Khan as the editor, bravely printed 8000 copies of Islamic Voice in 8 pages and the response was overwhelming. The first 500 subscribers of Islamic Voice were registered then and the growth began. It propagated the message of Islam among Muslims and non-Muslims. It also opened the doors for Muslim and non-Muslim writers to convey their thoughts on many issues bothering the community.


Twenty years ago, Bangalore was a “City of Gardens” and a “Pensioners Paradise.” Very calm and very green. Richmond Road was straight out of a picture postcard scene. Quaint cottages dotted the road, flyovers did not hide the blue sky and from the Islamic Voice office on Richmond Road, one got a breathtaking view of tongas leisurely passing by with the clip-clop of the horses serving as pleasant music, while the very small team worked through the deadlines till midnight until dawn.


With eight pages, Islamic Voice reached the homes of Muslims and non-Muslims. By Allah’s grace, it began to serve as a guideline for thous-ands of readers, on religion and develo-pments in the com-munity. The paper started covering issues on the com-munity too, with valuable inputs from Maqbool Ahmed Siraj.


Islamic Voice had its share of humps and bumps too. Communal disturbances in India set off sparks in Bangalore and the Islamic Voice office was set on fire. But this did not diffuse the spirit. The issue hit the stands on the dot and on time even then, by God’s grace.


A few years later, the Islamic Voice caravan moved to Palmgrove Road where the office shared space with Sadathullah Khan’s Victorian Villa Home. An occasional visit by a gang of monkeys on the rooftop served as an entertaining break and the charming squirrels with their bushy tails had a free entry and exit out of the Associate Editor’s cabin, much to her delight. Allah’s blessings, the encouragement by the readers and support of the advertisers helped Islamic Voice to become a household name soon.


Islamic Voice is certainly not alone in its path to progress. From 8 pages to 40 pages that includes 8 pages in colour glossy paper today, this growth has been steady and it is worthwhile to credit this to all the well-wishers, the readers, the writers, the subscribers, the advertisers and all those who did the leg-work right in the beginning to put the paper on a firm stand.


It is a blessing that the paper has stood on its own feet without any external support or donations. Readers have appreciated the paper and internationally, it is read on the Internet by millions of Muslims and non-Muslims. The credit goes to the writers whose unflinching support for years all along, has enhanced and uplifted the image of the paper.


While Maqbool Ahmed Siraj’s bold and thought-provoking editorials, insights and features has initiated positive thinking within the community, M.Hanif Lakdawala’s contemporary stories in Muslim Perspectives have added a classical dimension to the Islamic lifestyle. Delhi Diary from Andalib Akhter gives readers a peek into the Muslims and their status in the Capital and Yoginder Sikand’s travelogues on Kashmir and Pakistan reveal the lives of Muslims on tough terrains. Not to forget scores of freelancers scattered across the country who contribute notes and nuggets from their regions. Prose and poetry, often sent by women readers and writers is the soul of the paper. A million thanks to the loyal readers who send postcards with their bouquets and brickbats. Well-wishers from across the world send suggestions, articles and news sources which are valuable to the team and the paper. There are no words to convey the gratitude to the subscribers, some of whom have “grown up” with Islamic Voice. Many drop in at the office to tell how they started reading Islamic Voice when they were students. They have become parents now!


Growth and expansion cannot just remain in the mind. It has to take practical shape. Nature plays its role in unimaginable ways. It was one stormy rainy night that the roof of Sadathullah Khan’s Victorian Villa Home and the office shook. Cracks on the walls was an indication that it was time to rebuild the structure. So the Islamic Voice caravan packed books and bags, to work from a rented place in the same area in 2004.


Step by step, brick by brick, wall by wall, came up the brand new structure of Islamic Voice. Two years and three months later, the office now firmly stands in place on Palmgrove Road and is blessed with a friendly neighbourhood, the Bishop’s House on the left and a corporate company on the right.


The concrete structure of Islamic Voice has changed. But certainly not the ideals, intentions and the aims of the team. We will by Allah’s grace and mercy retain the motivation behind the launch of Islamic Voice, 20 years ago…. to seek Allah’s Pleasure.


“The mission of every Muslim should be to surrender to the Will of God and convey the message of Islam to mankind. Our profession can be anything like a doctor, engineer or a businessman, but our mission should be the same. We have never forced our subscription forms on people, never coerced them to read the paper, nor have ventured into publicity efforts, because we believe that everything has to be come straight from the heart and to please only the Almighty,” says Sadathullah Khan.


Your support is precious to us. As we turn 20, its time to keep growing and expanding. Time to keep our eyes open to new challenges, time to find ways to convey the message of Islam through Islamic Voice in a stronger style, time to keep pace with the latest technical know-how and use it for dawah, time to reinforce our efforts to propagate the message of peace, unity of the Ummah and strengthen the bonds of harmony between Muslims and people from different communities and religions across India and the world.


We will inshallah continue to focus on our mission with purity. Our interiors do look posh and plush. But our hearts remain down-to-earth. We will never forget the old days, the struggle and survival, we know hard work is the only road to success. More than anything, through Islamic Voice, we will strive to build bridges of harmony and peace in the lives of people.


We live in a digitized world. Communication too has been computerized.

People have become numbers…Dial 1 for operator, Dial 2 for Editorial, Dial 3 for subscription and Dial 4 for circulation and Dial 5 for advertisement. But we chose to break away from this impersonal style.


The team at Islamic Voice will continue to lend the personal touch to the subscribers, readers and everybody. Your calls and queries will be answered by the team in charge of each department.... be it subscription, advertising or editorial. We will not let the concrete structure harden our hearts. We will still stand up for you!


(“Turning Twenty” is dedicated to all our readers, subscribers, writers, freelancers, advertisers, well-wishers and all who have contributed their moral support. Allah Bless you All!)