READER'S COMMENTS

Grave Matter
Ullal Dargah
The Mango Man
No Mixing of Faiths
Mazar Worship
Share Business: Moral Hazards
Enlist on Search Engines
NGOs Directory
Book on Muslim Heroes
Use Simple English
Islamic Voice

It is painful to find the article titled “Shrine with a difference” in your magazine (September, 2000). Ever since its start, Islamic Voice has been highlighting the true principles of religion of Islam. The article is designed to mislead your readers as to the real nature of this Qabar worship. It is nothing but veiled attempt to provide justification for existence of this tomb of shirk.

Humanitarian service, however laudable, will yield no reward from Allah if it is done by grave worshippers.

I hope that such article which encourages or justifies grave worship will find no place in your Magazine in future.

P. Mustafa, Advocate,
Kannur-12.

Sir, Your newspaper has highlighted a Dargah's activities. Dargahs are places where shirk is committed. No moral teachings could be expected from any dargah. Even temples carry out welfare activities. Why not highlight them too?

Irfan Ahmed,
on e-mail.

Editor replies: The article 'Shrine with a difference' highlights socio-economic and educational schemes being run out of dargah funds. It is a development concept. The piece does not exhort the readers to visit the dargah or carry out meaningless ritual. Nor does it promote blind faith in supernatural powers of a saint. The difference lies in thousands of dargahs wasting precious resources and the one at Ullal promoting welfare of the community.

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Sir, This with reference to the report on the creative genius of Haji Kaleemullah Khan on Maleehabad. I cannot understand why talent of such a person goes unrecognised. Is it just because he is a Muslim?

Siddique Amin; Kurla,
Mumbai-400 070.

Sir, This is in response to the piece entitled "Earthy People, Unblemished Past" in August issue. Throughout the Islamic history, various sects came up promoting relations with other communities. They ended up making new sects. Siddiq Basaveshwara Anjuman is one among them. Islam is pure religion. There is no need to seek help from other religious books to explain Islam. It is better to stick to our own religion. Hidayath is in the hands of Allah.

Hadayathullah Mohammed;
Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

Sir, Islamic Voice disseminates values and virtues of uprightness. But, like other religious groups, I find a wide gap between theoretical aspects of Islam and response of its followers. In my opinion, people oppose Hindutva but fail to escape its shadow. This is reflected in Mazar (grave) worship by Muslims. I may be excused for this frank comment.

R. K. Yadav;
S.L.I.E.T., Longowal (Punjab).

Sir, In the reply to the question on shares investment in "our dialogue" (Sept. 2000) it is needed to be added that presently the share market is completely controlled and manipulated by speculators. The speculation is generally carried out through baseless rumours and hoardings.

The big bulls slowly unload those shares and start profit booking when small investors get attracted to the specific scrip. Besides, various companies show 'other income' as one of the source of income. This `other income' is earned mainly through investments in interest-based institutions. These facts must be taken into account while entering the share business.

M Naushad Ansari, Bangalore,
rubynaushad@eth.net

Sir, I have been a reader of the Islamic Voice for the last six years but saddened to note that you are not listed on any search engines of Yahoo etc. I believe you should occupy a prominent place in search engines on Indian Muslims. Similarly your site should provide more information about other Muslim sites in India.

Kabir;
kabir_kk@yahoo.com

I am preparing a directory of NGOs and other groups working in social welfare and relief work in Kashmir. I hope to publish this directory soon and make it available for general use. Persons associated with any such organisations could get in touch with me, giving me the following details in brief: name of the organisation; telephone number/ fax/email; postal address; year of founding; nature and scope of work; work done so far. My address is:

Dr. Y. Sikand, 4304 Oakwood Apts. IV,
8th Main, 1st Cross, Koramangala-III,
Bangalore-560034,
email: ysikand@hotmail.com

Sir, I am writing a book in Telugu on Muslim heroes of India's freedom struggle. It will carry life sketches of personalities from movement of fakirs and sanyasis to the IRA Revolt in 1946. I request the Islamic Voice readers to send me authentic material on the subject in their possession on the address below.

Syed Naseer Ahamed
11-252/a, Polkampadu, A.P- 522501.

Sir, I like the "Our Dialogue" column most. Often I find that Editorials are written in difficult English. Kindly use simple English in order to reach the common man.

Md. Daud Khan,
Deoria, U.P.

Sir, Islamic Voice is interesting and informative. Can't this be turned into a fortnightly. A month is a too long period to wait for this magazine.

Thanseer Ahamed,
on e-mail.