Bouquets and Brickbats

I read a very interesting Op-Ed by Maqbool Ahmed Siraj titled ‘Challenge of Conservatism’ in the August 2006 issue of Islamic Voice. I respect the author a lot for his credentials as a well-wisher of the community. However his views on the supposed Muslim resistance to new technology are highly disputable.


He cites the inability of an aalim to fill out a railway reservation form as illustrative of the low self-esteem of Madrasa graduates. The aalim who failed to fill out the railway reservation form is an isolated case. The archaic Madrasas are a thing of the past and every Madrasa now endeavours to impart basic secular education with their core curriculum. The opposition to diversion of Zakat funds is understandable as it is the only major source of income for funding community Madrasas.


I do not understand his fixation for all Muslims to celebrating Eid on the same day when there are clear cut instructions on how the moon is to be sighted and Eid day to be finalised.


He laments the closing of two Muslim institutes of hotel management upon the opinion of Muslim scholars who ruled that learning how to serve liquor and cook pork is un-Islamic. He wants Muslims to learn from the Jews and the Jains on how to manage hotel management institutes. I am at a loss of words to contest his erroneous grieving over the institutes’ closure, but pointing out the need to learn from the Jews and Jains really hurts, when it comes from the likes of Mr. Siraj.  


To accuse the Ummah of failing to come to grips with technology, pluralism and democracy does not hold water and is suitably demonstrated every year in the magnificent staging of the Hajj: where we have nearly three million Muslims of every nation, hue and colour join together and performing all the rituals in an absolute show of strength and unity and using the latest technologies to conduct such a massive public exercise.




Arshad Shaikh on email
Maqbool Ahmed Siraj Replies:

The respondent has clearly missed the essence of the piece titled ‘Challenge of Conservatism’. Except for a handful of the madrasas which have begun to induct modern sciences in the curriculum, the vast number of them revel in teaching the same dars nizami which has outlived its utility. Madrasas proliferate in every nook and corner of the country with no controlling or coordinating body. They accept no superior authority. There are no affiliating boards or universities, financial organisations like the UGC, exam controllers, academic councils, syllabus review mechanism, or accrediting council like NAAC. No wonder then why madrasas produce hundreds of unrecognised graduates who find no avenue to earn their livelihood other than starting new ones of the same type and channelise zakat, sadaqa and sacrificial skins. How futile is then the claim of the respondent that Muslims accept pluralism, democracy, authority, governance et al?


Eids and festivals are meant to bring about unity and solidarity. Due to the archaic method of determining visibility of moon, the people in the same city today celebrate Eidul Fitr on two, and some cases three different days. The movement of celestial bodies is today well documented and understood in much greater details. The Prophet (Pbuh) had only insisted on visibility of the crescent. It is well within the capacity of the Muslims (if they are guided by the scientific temper) to arrive at a common date within a specified region.


It is gratifying to note that you recognise that the decision of the two institutions to close down their hotel management colleges was erroneous. But why should it hurt you if one suggests that Muslims should learn from Jews and Jains. Didn’t the holy Prophet (Pbuh) ask the prisoners of the battle of Badr to teach two Muslims to win their release? Were they not non-believers? Didn’t he ask the Muslims to go even to China to seek knowledge? Didn’t he copy the technique of war from the Persians to avert direct confrontation in the battle of trenches (Khandaq)?


Finally, let me use your own argument on Hajj against the point you have raised. Alhamdulillah the pilgrimage has been rendered easier because of the technology we import from the West. The sensor-operated taps, escalators, aircraft that ferry us to the holy places, buses, the microphones that take the azan and the sermons of Arafat to the vast multitudes, the high-rise fountains that splash water in the event of fire, the floodlights that light up all the maidans, the coin operated phones and the mobiles that enable severed relatives to reunite are all Western inventions. But have we contributed anything of that sort to ease the life of the humanity as a whole? It is where perhaps you missed the essence of the piece. We take pride in the induction of the Western technology in our lives and by extension in the Hajj. Imagine the pilgrimage without them. We would have been still riding the horses to fulfil that life’s ambition without communicating with our near and dear ones for over six months. But just talk about using zakat funds for learning secular sciences in schools, there will be an avalanche of angry outpourings.

This is in response to the article, “Challenge of Conservatism” in Islamic Voice, August 2006 by Maqbool Ahmed Siraj. His write-up is utmost necessary and relevant at this juncture, when there is a hot debate springing up in the Muslim community whether clerics are confused and caught in the quagmire of Religious Ideology of religion , in contrast with Scientific Development.


He has boldly mentioned about the archaic madrasas, sucking a major part of Muslim charity and telling the students about misconceived notion of Solar system, when the men of many countries have successfully landed on the Moon and carry space research for their advancement . The need of the hour is to open our eyes and use our brains to move forward along with scientific developments. The article depicts the intention of a large percentage of Muslims in the state to accept new inventions and developments, but who are helpless and unable to speak out against the few who have assumed the mantle of leadership of the community.


It is a good sign that Muslims in the country have finally decided to accept the reality that education is the pillar to development and various seminars are being held by inviting learned members of judiciary, scholars and successful businessmen of the community. The writer has excellently summed up the fact that backwardness has immersed the community leading to its complete marginalisation. Let science and technology be a part of all members of the community to fight backwardness.



Email: rk_ganesh2000@yahoo.co.in

The August 2006 issue of Islamic Voice had good articles like ‘Terrorism cannot be Blamed on Islam’ by M.Hanif Lakdawala and also the article’ Overcoming Negative Emotions.’ On negative emotions, I wish to quote a story I had read in a short Islamic book: “There was a holy saint. Once Satan tried all possible ways to entice this saint to indulge in evil, but in vain. When all of his efforts failed, Satan came in his real form and asked the saint the secret of how he (the saint) eluded the Satan’s ‘full and persistent’ efforts to entice the saint in committing evil. The saint knowing Satan’s nature well said,” First you tell me ‘how and when’ you provoke, entice, and lead man astray?” Satan said: I lead man astray during two events:when man is extremely angry, and when man is in a quest of quenching and satiating his sexual lust. During these two moments, Satan takes man under his ‘full control’. The saint said: “Positively I will be aware of these two situations and avoid the same.” However, the Satan persisted and insisted to know the secret of how the saint had escaped his spell! The saint replied: “Whenever I had an intuition that I am falling under your (Satan’s) spell, I sought refuge in Allah (to escape from your provocation)”.


Email: afreen.khannum@gmail.com

In the August 2006 issue of Islamic Voice, I was looking forward to seeing an article/editorial or at least a mention to a news item which should be a cause of concern to all Muslims. A young man from Bangalore working in a BPO, presumably a Muslim, as can be judged from his name, committed a breach of contract with his employer and collected some vital and confidential client information which amounts to stealing. Islamic Voice cannot be a mute spectator to such happenings, especially when it publishes articles like “lawful earning.” Such acts of stray individuals should be condemned. In today’s job scenario, an opportunity in BPO or an IT company is the best means of making a substantially high level of lawful or “Halal” earning. Islamic Voice should encourage youngsters to prefer these jobs instead of simply trumpeting how we are ignored in government jobs knowing fully well the level of corruption that goes on there and how difficult it is for anyone who cares for lawful earning to survive in such an environment. Muslim youngsters especially from middle class families should value this as a God-sent opportunity and seek to work in such organisations. Once in, be more diligent and loyal in comparison to other employees. This would perhaps be the best way of acknowledging Allah’s kindness and mercy on us.


Please also recall, quite recently, some men of our community were in the forefront to enlighten us as to how Islamic, rather un-Islamic, is the women’s tennis dress! Where are these scholars now when the sense of priority would dictate that they should be more concerned and vociferous with our youth indulging in the aforesaid un-Islamic acts as they affect a larger section of our community? Won’t they like to tell the world the punishment Islam prescribes to one who steals or breaches a contract?


Email: dr.a.ahmed@sify.com