Bouquets and Brickbats

Practically all of the comments from politicians, commentators and activists have tended to centre the “Cartoon Controversy” in the limited context of “freedom of expression,” or the “impending clash between the West and Islam”. Undoubtedly the above are extremely relevant to the debate, but to my mind this debate avoided the anti-imperialist upsurge of the Muslim masses in context of the cartoons that were an affront and an insult to Prophet Muhammad, (Pbuh), Islam and Muslims. The cartoons should not be looked upon in isolation, but as part of the strategy of the dubious and hypocritical Bush’s “Global War on Terror”. The American-Zionist Imperialist strategy is to spread Islamophobia to control Global opinion so as to advance their conquest of Muslim countries especially in the oil-rich areas of the Middle East and Central Asia. The cartoon controversy has also brought forth the role of Muslim democrats and liberals as mass organisers and has served to create a democratic space, especially within those societies that are ruled by brutal dictators and monarchs, albeit propped up by America.

Feroze H. Mithiborwala, ferozearachne@gmail.com

The article, “Khalid ibn Walid’s (RA) narration of the Hadith with questions and answers (Islamic Voice, Feb 2006) was enlightening and excellent. I kept reading it again and again. Those wonderful questions and answers related to this world, the day of judgement and the life hereafter are so practical and useful in our daily lives. Not just this, I kept on telling my near and dear ones about this Hadith. It is my request to publish a Hadith in every issue.


gmirshadulhaque@yahoo.co.in

This is with reference to the article, “Meaning of Alif Laam Meem”, (Islamic Voice, Feb 2006) by the eminent scholar, Dr.Zakir Naik. There has been a profound and deep mystery behind these codes since Almighty Allah has revealed the glorious Quran and none has been able to completely and correctly break these codes. The correct, exact meaning of these codes lies only with Allah, perhaps with a genuine purpose. I am pondering over the logic and attempt made by Dr.Zakir Naik to explain these codes.


afre_aafr@rediffmail.com

This is with reference to the Inter-religious Dialogue on the Concept of God in Hinduism and Islam, between Dr Zakir Naik and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, held in Bangalore recently. Dr. Fathi Osman, a distinguished Islamic scholar, says in his book, Sharia in Contemporary Society - The Dynamics of Change in the Islamic Law: “Islamists (Islamic ideologists or activists) are often mistakenly thought to present Islam as a theological message which aims to convert non-Muslims to Islam and they themselves may contribute to the confusion through their approach and tone in presenting Islam and in dealing with other religions and their followers. The eternal message of Islam to the world is a call for social change, not theological conversion. Submission to God as the essence of religion is something that can be felt by any human being, and the only judge for it is God. The message of social call is directed to all, whether or not they are interested in conversion. It may happen, as it has happened in history, that whenever a genuine social change takes place, some of the beneficiaries embrace Islam by their own choice and free will”. Hence I request the organisers of this event to hold discussions on “Humanity in the light of scriptures” or “Co-existence in the light of scriptures” in future that would call for a better society and a better world.


abdul_alim@hotmail.com

As a Dalit-Bahujan student reader of Islamic Voice, I extend my moral support to the noble mission of the publication. Dalit, tribal, and Muslim unity is very important today. I interact with many Muslim students. The plight of Muslims in North India is pathetic due to the low literacy rate. Your paper needs to address the issues and problems faced by Muslims in the North. Poverty and ignorance are the root causes behind the educational and intellectual backwardness among Muslims today.

Like many readers, I also take interest about the articles in Islamic Voice. But I also believe that the aesthetic appeal of the publication also matters, apart from the contents inside. So my suggestion is to make the paper even more attractive by increasing the size of the paper in length and breadth. The size could be that of a Daily newspaper when it is folded, or rather bring down the size like English magazines-maybe, India Today or Frontline. This could enhance the appearance of Islamic Voice and make it look more classy and sophisticated.

This is with reference to the letter-“Subsidy-Let the Hajis Decide” and the report, “ Prince of Arcot opposes Hajj Subsidy,” (Islamic Voice, Jan 2006).


The reported statement of the Prince of Arcot that the “government’s subsidy for Hajj pilgrims in not correct according to the tenets of Islam”, is right. But the question is whether the union government is really providing the subsidy to the Hajj pilgrims. Is there a formal budget allotted for this? Who gets the subsidy, in what form and how much for each pilgrim? The low air fare given by the airlines to the pilgrims is not a subsidy. They do it for the sake of competition. The propaganda of subsidy to Hajj pilgrims is misleading.

“The Coffee Trail” article (Islamic Voice-Feb 2006), did not include the facts about the introduction of coffee in India from Yemen by a Muslim saint. As per records, Arabica coffee was introduced into India some time during 1600 A.D by a Muslim pilgrim, Baba Buden (Hazrath Dada Hayath Khalander). He is said to have brought seven seeds from Yemen while travelling back to India from Makkah after his pilgrimage. The legend says that when he was passing through Yemen, he saw wild plants with fruits on them. This was being chewed by the local goats and he surprisingly found them behaving very strangely after consuming these fruits. So he plucked the fruits, as many as he could to bring them to his country and when he reached his destination, the hills in Chikmagalur district of the present Karnataka (the hills were later called Baba Buden Hills), he could find only seven seeds in his baggage. Amused by the goat’s behaviour as seen by him in Yemen, he planted the seven seeds at his abode and raised the plants on the hills which later came to be recognised as coffee plants. Coffee plants gradually came up in the backyards and gardens of the neighbouring villages in the present Attigundi area of the Baba Buden Hills. It is from these gardens that coffee seedlings were introduced to Nalaknad in Coorg which subsequently gave rise to the luxuriant Coorg Plantations of today.