Letters

Islam prohibits divisions and sectarianism. But today we see a lot of sects within Muslim society. In Karnataka Hanafi and Shafii people have different azan and prayer timings. In our town of Kottekar there are two mosques and the Asar prayer timings vary widely. I did not see this type of differences in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It will be appropriate if you could enlighten us on this subject.


Editor replies: You seem to be unduly disturbed at the differences between various sects of Muslims in matters of timing for Azan and Namaz. Differences should not lead to lack of unity and solidarity. In minor details of practices, the differences are bound to remain. Some people fold hands, some do not. Some people boldly pronounce ‘Ameen’ after surah Al-Fatiha is recited, others just murmur it. These do not amount to divisions. All such practices are perfectly acceptable to Allah. These do not even constitute a basis for considering the followers of practices other than ours deviants. All these practices have emanated from the various ways the Quran and the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) actions were interpreted by people who had company with him, or those who saw him for certain period of time or those who heard from people who had been in the Holy Prophet’s company. As you would travel through the Islamic world and interact with Muslim people, you would find wide diversity of thoughts, concepts, actions, rituals and practices. Every faith, ideology and cult develops variety as it expands and reaches new climes and times. Nothing remains pure. All this must be seen as diversity within Islam, rather than differences. No sect should try to downgrade the other or declare them heretic. Allah accepts all of them if carried out with virtuous intentions. You should not get disturbed with the manifestation of diversity.

Your editorial ‘Needed a Shift in priorities’ is a timely directive with a great sense of apprising and awakening. We need purposeful and scientific minds among the younger generation. Jettisoning acrimonious discussion over trivial matters, every parent must realise the importance of learning and erudition for the intellectual upliftment of the society. Instead of sitting hours together before the idiot box, the youth should interact with intellectuals which influence the community and the humanity in general.