From the category archives:

Religion

Nawab Sikandar Begum’s Hajj Memoir

by Kashif

Sikandar Begum has the unique distinction of being the first Indian ruler to make the hajj journey. Even with their proclamation of love for Islam none of the Muslim rulers of India went for hajj because it was a long and dangerous travel. Nawab Sikandar Begum went for hajj with a party of about 1000 people of which were mostly women.

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Mohammad (PBUH) As Liberator

by Asghar Ali Engineer

Muslims also refer to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as Muhsin-e-Insaniyyat i.e. the benefactor of humanity but hardly care to know in what respect he became benefactor? We can call him a liberator of humanity if we follow his teachings not so much from tangled web of hadith but from Qur’an. Qur’an indeed was his real miracle.

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Begin Holi with a Bismillah

by Kashif

History books are full of kings and their battles and we forget people who were not involved in warfare. Much is yet to be written about Sufis and their contribution to India.
Bulleh Shah is a famous Sufi who continues to be popular because of his poetry. Below, I present a poem written by him on [...]

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Muslim Women And Change

by Asghar Ali Engineer

Media, which is interested in sensationalizing issues, refuses to highlight Muslim women’s achievements and continues to portray them as submissive to traditional authorities and meekly accepting their situation. This image of Muslim women has to change and reality, which is much more complex, has to be understood.

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Religion As I View It

by Asghar Ali Engineer

It has happened in the history of all religions that the founders’ Herculean efforts to create a new world are reduced to naught by those who convert religion into an immutable formal theology to retain their control over power.

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Wearing Burqa Will Now Be A Crime?

by Asghar Ali Engineer

This is for the first time that women would be penalized for wearing burqa. Earlier France had banned Muslim girls wearing hijab in schools. It argued that these religious symbols interfere with its commitment to secularism and its secular culture.

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Interview: Nasr Abu Zayd On A Humanistic Reading Of The Islamic Tradition

by Yoginder Sikand

Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd is a well-known Egyptian Islamic scholar. Controversies about his academic work led to a court decision of apostasy and the denial of the appointment. A hisbah trial started against him Islamist groups and he was declared a heretic (Murtadd) by an Egyptian court.

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Mewat Witnessing A Great Educational Revolution

by Yoginder Sikand

Despite its proximity to Delhi, Gurgaon and Jaipur, Mewat is one of the most impoverished regions in northern India. Lack of education in Meos was wide spread but now young Meos are striving for ‘modern’ education. Dozens of ‘modern’ schools run by Meos have mushroomed all over Mewat. Increasing number of girls are enrolling in these and in government-run schools and many ulema are on the forefront of promoting ‘modern’, in addition to religious education among the Meos.

Science, West And Islamic Origin Of Science

by Asghar Ali Engineer

Ilm (knowledge) must be taken in its most comprehensive sense and not be confined only to religious knowledge. The ‘Ulama should not mean only those who specialize in diniyat but all those who have expertise in modern secular sciences. The ‘Ulama who have no knowledge of modern sciences have no right to lead us. Only those who have knowledge of modern world along with that of Islam have right to show us the way.

Minarets Banned In Switzerland – A Challenge And An Opportunity

by Mohib Ahmad

Minarets are not a requirement for mosques but Muslims are and successful communities are built not upon symbols but individuals. Muslims should use this opportunity to build alliances, reach out to local communities and proactively engage in civic activities in addition to performing their religious duties. Only by addressing the fears that led to the passing of this odious ban can there be a meaningful resolution to this issue.

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