On Friday morning, author of the famous and most resourceful Madinah Arabic Book, Shaikh Dr. V Abdur Raheem, passed away in Madinah, Saudi Arabia at the age of 90.
A master of the Arabic language, a world renowned Islamic Scholar, multi-linguist, author, teacher and translator he dedicated his life to extraordinary contributions to Arabic literature by helping millions learn the Arabic language in his over 50 years of experience.
Born in 1933 in Vaniyambadi, Tamil Nadu, he obtained his B.A in English from the University of Madras and M.A in Arabic from the Aligarh Muslim University, India in 1962. He also held a M.Phil. and a Ph.D. in Arabic Philology from Al-Azhar University, Egypt.
A recipient of the National Award from the President of India in 1997 for his services in teaching, he was a self made man who learnt Arabic from the scarcest resources available to him in his little town. His three-volume series, Madinah Arabic Book, a one of a kind in its field, is the official curriculum of the Madinah University, Saudi Arabia, and is also used widely in schools and universities across the world to teach students the Arabic language.
Former Professor of Arabic Language for 30 years at the International Islamic University of Madinah, he has taught Arabic Language at Islamic Universities around the world including at Omdurman in Sudan, Germany, Washington D.C and British Guyana. An expert on European Languages and their etymology, phonetic change and semantic development he was a former Director of the ‘Institute of Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language’, at the Islamic University of Madinah.
A close associate of the Islamic Foundation Trust (IFT), Chennai, majority of his books have been published by IFT.
Along with the Madinah Arabic Book series he has to his credit a host of other books too including ‘Let’s Begin to Read Arabic: A Beginners Guide to Learning the Arabic Language and the Qur’aan’, ‘AL-TIBYAAN – Easy way to Qur’aanic Reading’, ‘Arabic Course for Non-Native Speakers of Arabic: Originally Devised and Taught at Islaamic University, Madinah’, ‘From Esfahan To Madinah In Search of Truth: Salmaan al-Faarisi’s Hadiith’,‘Both These Lights Emanate from the Same Niche’ – Hadiith of Umm Salamah (raDiyAllaahu “anhaa).’ ‘Suurah al-Hujuraat – With Lexical and Grammatical Notes and DVDs’.
His passing is indeed a great loss to both the Muslim world and to Islamic literature.
source: http://www.thecognate.com / The Cognate / Home> News / by The Cognate News Desk / October 21st, 2023
Traveling is a major part of human life and it creates a major impact on the working class of society, especially working women’s face so many difficulties in travelling. Being independent is a point of pride for most people. The freedom to travel anywhere we want, regardless of access to public transit or close friends and family, is something that many of us take for granted. However, for those who are unable to drive, this independence can be limited, especially for women.
The founder and CEO of “Unicorn for women by women” Arma Sahar, who is a final year data science student, informed us about the story of the establishment and achievements of his startup.
the challenges that women can face when it comes to transportation. When she moved from Adilabad to Hyderabad, Arma found herself reliant on her brothers for rides, which could be frustrating for both her and them due to their busy schedules. She also didn’t feel comfortable traveling alone, especially in autos which can be expensive. To address these issues, Arma founded Unicorn, a bike ride service run entirely by women. The service allows women to feel safe and comfortable while traveling and also gives them the independence and confidence to get around on their own. But after validating in the market Arma realised that more than 80% of the Women population didn’t know how to ride so they picked up the job opportunities offered by Unicorn and later they asked the girls if you are okay to learn and then drive later at Unicorn.
That’s when they thought to start and focus on training and many other girls started showing interest in the training program as it was offered by women instructors and that’s when we realised that this is the need of the hour. But Arma’s vision for Unicorn goes beyond just providing a transportation service. She also wants to empower women by teaching them how to ride two-wheelers. To this end, Unicorn offers training programs to teach women how to ride, with the goal of giving them more freedom and mobility. “After completing our first batch, we discovered that women are very eager to learn how to ride a vehicle, and as a result of this eagerness, they were able to pick it up within a few days,” Arma said. “This made us the fastest training option in India, where we started teaching women only in 5 Days, without any prerequisites.”
Unicorn has already conducted several training batches in Mehdipatnam, Santosh Nagar, and Yakutpura and is now expanding to the Old City to reach more women in need of safe transportation. The company’s innovative solution is filling a crucial gap in the market and helping to make travel safer and more accessible for women in Hyderabad. But what sets Unicorn apart from other driving schools? Arma explains that the company is focused on empowering women, not just training them for their own benefit. This unique approach has already gained praise from many women in the city, and the company plans to continue growing and helping more women gain independence and confidence through transportation. “We strive to empower women, not just train them for their own benefit,” Arma said. To participate in the Unicorn training program, interested individuals must first register on the company’s website (www.myunicorn.in) and await confirmation. The company currently operates through its website and WhatsApp and assigns each participant to a cohort with a confirmation letter. With its innovative transportation solution and commitment to empowering women, Unicorn is changing the way women in Hyderabad travel and helping them achieve greater independence. But Unicorn’s support for women doesn’t stop there.
Arma explained that the company’s website also creates connections between women who are capable drivers and those who are seeking transportation services. This allows women to make money while driving, Unicorn offers them the opportunity to find work and earn more than 25,000 per month. “We offer total support to women at every stage of their lives, from learning to drive to becoming a lady partner at our firm and partners,” Arma said. “We provide them with the choice of flexible driving hours so they can combine this career with their daily activities. Simply put, we act as their pillars of support.” Unicorn’s commitment to supporting women at every stage of their lives sets it apart from other driving schools and transportation services. By providing training, work opportunities, and flexible schedules, the company is helping women to achieve independence and empowering them to take control of their own lives.
Arma’s initiative is really appreciable for making women self-reliable in driving that creates a major impact on women’s independence over driving bikes. Moreover it also makes them financially strengthened, The advantages of having women as a part of the workforce are manifold. On a micro level, working women become financially independent and will have greater control over their own lives. This encourages women to stand against physical and emotional abuse, enabling them to handle social issues and pressures on their own. The families of working women are also able to enjoy a higher quality of living due to additional income. At the macro level, greater participation of women in the workforce is good for the overall economy.
source: http://www.thehindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Education / by Abdul Sami / October 14th, 2023
Maktoob Media has won the 2023 Human Rights Religious Freedom Journalism Award in the category of Best Media Organization for covering human rights and religious freedom.
The jury selected Maktoob from a competitive shortlist of media organizations. Among the contenders were The Wire, The Newslaundry, and Khabar Lahariya.
The award was announced at the IAMC National Convention 2023 in Dallas, Texas, by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos.
Extraordinary and in-depth reporting covering the systematic targeting of religious minorities, the Hijab ban, and the weaponization of technology against Muslim women were among the stories that earned top honors at the award ceremony on Saturday, October 14.
“We believe this recognition is a testament to our work and commitment to tell stories that matter. We share the credit of this award with our staff, contributors and all the well-wishers. We dedicate this award to all journalists who speak truth to power no matter the consequences,” Maktoob said in a statement.
Maktoob’s regular contributor Meer Faisal won the title of Best Photo Story on Human Rights and Religious Freedom for his contributions featured in Maktoob and Al Jazeera English. The award committee recognized three photo stories published on Maktoob: “110-year-old madrasa and library set ablaze by Hindutva mob during Ram Navami rally in Bihar,” “Photos: Burnt by Hindutva mob and bulldozed by BJP govt; Muslim lives in Khargone,” and “Photos: Thousands of Muslim women pray during protests against eviction in Uttarakhand.”
Maktoob’s deputy editor, Shaheen Abdulla, jointly received the Best Text Reporting on Human Rights & Religious Freedom award for his report titled “No Country for Religious Converts,” which was published in The Wire.
Sneha Richhariya from IndiaSpend was also honored with the Best Text Reporting on Human Rights & Religious Freedom award.
The Best Video Story on Human Rights and Religious Freedom award was jointly awarded to Fatima Khan from The Quint and Naman Govil from Vice News.
The HRRF Young Journalist of the Year Award for 2023 was presented to Kashmiri journalist Aakash Hassan.
“We established these awards to shine a blazing spotlight on stories that often go unreported or underreported. In a year marked by relentless challenges, where media in India grapples with unprecedented pressures, HRRF’s 14-member international jury has selected winners who dare to speak truth to power. The resilience of these journalists and their unwavering dedication to the values of truth and justice resonate even louder in these turbulent times,” said RasheedAhmed, Executive Director of IAMC.
“Today, we celebrate the unwavering commitment of these exceptional journalists. Through their extraordinary dedication, they have illuminated the path to a more inclusive and harmonious world. These stories have not only won awards but have also won hearts, for they shed light on the issues that matter most to our shared humanity,” Ahmed added.
source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / Maktoob Media / Home> India / by Maktoob Staff / October 20th,2023
Purdadtoor Town (Kadapa District), ANDHRA PRADESH:
Dr Khadar Vali, the Millet man of India
Coarse grains or millets are ancient foods which contain key nutrients like vitamins, zinc, beta-carotene, and magnesium. These foods keep blood sugar under control and reduce obesity. If one eats healthy food one can simply avoid disease and medicines.
This is the message from India’s leading agronomist Dr. Khadar Vali, who is also called the Millet man of India.
Dr. Vali is an independent scientist and food expert. He has brought back five species of millet that had disappeared from the world. Today, at 66 years of age, Vali is one of the leading proponents of millet cultivation in the world. He has made world realize the importance of grains.
Millets are available not only in India but everywhere in the world. These are known by different names in each country. To date, people around the world have eaten 200 different types of whole grains.
It’s important to note that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets at the insistence of India.
Khadar Vali says that the cultivation of millets can solve problems of soil erosion and irrigation also. The food we eat creates an imbalance in blood glucose levels. It makes people sick. But all this can be avoided if we use coarse grains. If you eat millet, you never need medicine.
He says it’s a misconception that coarse grains are food for animals and birds. He says these are super foods that can prevent disease as these contain fiber that cleanses the body. These grains protect the human race and other species. Millets are food for the whole planet.
Fox millet or Bajra
Dr Khadar Vali hails from Purdadtoor town in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. He has been working for 20 years to revive Sridhanialu, an Indian concept about food habits that are in sync with the nature and the human body.
Earlier, he worked in a good position in the USA. Dr Vali is a post-graduate from the Regional Institute of Education, Mysore, and did his PhD on Steroids from the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bengaluru.
Vali did his postdoctoral research on a fellowship in Environmental Science from the United States. His research focused on the inactivation of deadly chemicals such as Agent Orange and dioxins. His research came at a time when food was becoming increasingly commercialized.
Around 1986-87, Dr. Khadar Vali raised the issue of food-related consequences in society when he came across a case of a girl who started menstruating at the age of 6. He decided to return to his country.
He returned to India in 1997 and worked hard to revive five different varieties of millets in Mysore that were rapidly disappearing. More than two decades later, India’s ‘Milletman’ Dr. Khadar Vali was awarded the Padma Shri on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day celebrations.
Dr. Khadar Vali says that millet has long been part of the mainstream diet but over the past 75 years, corporations marketing rice and wheat have Institutions subjected them to “systematic destruction”.
He has told the world about the benefits of coarse grains along with the negative effects of other grains from his long research on millet. Some points of his research are as follows. His research on food grains has led him to categorized them as negative, neutral, and positive.
Negative: These Grains cause diseases and include paddy rice and wheat. The fiber content of these grains is below 2 percent.
Neutral: Grains don’t cause new diseases, however, can’t help to cure health disorders and diseases. These are jawar, bajra, finger millet, proso millet, etc which carry fiber content from 3 to 6 percent.
Positive: Grains, which help to cure health diseases and disorders. These are Foxtail millets, Barnyard millets, Browntop millets, Little millets, and Kodo millets; which have fiber content from 8 to 12 percent. He named these millets Siri Dhanyaalu. Siri means wealth, which is indirectly health. .
Based on Dr. Khadar Vali’s research and findings, below are the diseases and disorders cured by the positive millets (Siri Dhanyaalu)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the name Shree Anna to coarse grains.
The year 2023 was declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Coarse Grains, after which the Grammy Award-winning Indian-American singer Fallo prepared a song, saluting the efforts of Prime Minister Modi.
In one of his tweets, Fallow mentioned the Prime Minister’s support in producing the song. This song has been prepared with the aim of promoting coarse grains and helping farmers to cultivate them and encouraging efforts to eradicate hunger from the world.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Mansooruddin Faridi / October 07th, 2023
Three years older than Hakim Ajmal Khan, one was reminded of him when Ajmal Khan’s great-granddaughter came for admission to Hamdard University last week, accompanied by her father.
While Ajmal Khan’s name lives on beyond his ancestral haveli, Sharif Manzil in Ballimaran, Hakim Nabina had no fixed abode and believed to have been born in the Walled City too, got most of his fame in South Delhi where he was brought by some dealers in Unani medicine.
Born in the same year as Rabindranath Tagore, he was 105 when Dr. S. A. Ali of Hamdard met him in 1965 to seek medication for a digestive problem. The hakim, who had probably been born blind or had lost his vision in childhood, felt the patient’s pulse and diagnosed that his heart and liver were in good trim but not his digestive system. “Did you by any chance eat arbi (yams)?” he enquired. Dr Ali confessed that he had in fact had a piece of the vegetable though he was not fond of it. The hakim told him to have light food in future and prescribed some medicine which cured his ailment.’
Syed Ausaf Ali, himself an octogenarian now, says Nabina lived at Hazrat Pattey Shah’s dargah, behind Humayun’s Tomb. What he prescribed was dispensed by dealers in Unani drugs. When someone complained that the charges were very high, he advised them not to go to the dispensers but take medicine from him directly.
Pattey Shah or the saint amid tree leaves was actually named Shamsuddin Ataullah and died in AD 1300 during the reign of Alauddin Khilji. He got the nickname because whenever Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya visited his khanqah or hospice, he would hide behind bushes and tree leaves, saying he was not worthy of coming face-to-face with the Auliya. This is what has been affirmed in Sadia Dehlvi’s book on the Dargahs of Delhi. It is said that the Shah belonged to the Chishti silsila or order of saints. “During the day he would light a fire and cover himself with its ashes, while at night he slept in a grave-like hollow (something emulated by the eccentric Spanish painter Salvador Dali, who spent his nights in a coffin). When he died Hazrat Nizamuddin led the funeral prayers as per the Shah’s last wish. Hakim Nabina seems to have developed a spiritual rapport with Pattey Shah and lived most of his long life at the latter’s shrine. When he died is not known but it was probably during Indira Gandhi’s first prime ministership, which would mean that he was nearly 110 years old at that time.
The hakim is not to be confused with Hafiz Nabina Doliwale, the blind mendicant who lived under a tree near the southern gate of the Jama Masjid. Nobody knew his real name also, except that he was one who could recite the Quran by heart (Hafiz), was blind (Nabina), wore no clothes and loved to travel free in a doli or palanquin. He and Hakim Nabina were both born in the same year (1860), when Bahadur Shah Zafar was passing his last days in Rangoon. But Hafiz Nabina died at the age of 87 much before the hakim sahib. Everybody in the city knew him and he also finds mention in Ahmed Ali’s “Twilight in Delhi” as he often visited the hero of the book, Mir Nihal. He was regarded as a majzoob (a man possessed), lost in himself and supposed to be in contact with the jinns, without much care for hygiene.
However Hakim Nabina, despite his mystical leanings, never gave the impression that he was a majzoob. His direct communion was with Pattey Shah and he passed his life in the service of those who came to him to be healed. That he could tell a patient what his illness was merely by touching him and pointing out, “Thou ailest here and here,” was a sign of his deep knowledge of human nature and anatomy and the Unani system of medication. Like Hafiz Nabina, he was a recluse but of a different sort who did not discard the ways of the world in matters of dress, behaviour and etiquette. Old-timers remember him as a worthy contemporary of Hakim Ajmal Khan, who had acquired the halo of Massiha (messiah) of the ailing populace!
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> /Down Memory Lane / June 22nd, 2014
Callisthenics performer, international karate referee, biker, calligrapher who don the headscarf by choice to share stage at YB Chavan auditorium on World Hijab Day
Packing a punch: Shaheen Akhtar, the first female karate referee in south Asia, with her students. (Right)
On Instagram, 19-year-old Haleema Momin calls herself ‘Hijabi Beast’. The athlete from Jogeshwari who performs callisthenics stands out not only for her choice of career but also her attire.
“People who don’t know about Islam assume that hijab is a sign of oppression. For me, the hijab brings a sense of security, strength and dignity. I get a lot of support and attention because of my hijab,” said Ms. Momin, who is trained in powerlifting and martial arts.
Extraordinary feats
The teenager, who works as a personal trainer, is all set to perform a range of moves like the headstand, handstand, superman push-ups and flips at YB Chavan auditorium on February 1, World Hijab Day. She will share stage with an international karate referee, a biker, a calligrapher and other women who wear the hijab by choice and take pride in it.
The first-of-its-kind event has been organised by the non-profit Al Hadi Organisation with the aim of shattering the popular belief that the hijab is an obligation and not a choice. “I started wearing the hijab at the age of 41. It was a sudden consciousness that dawned upon me and I became a hijabi,” said Mazgaon resident Shaheen Akhtar, a World Karate Federation referee and the first female karate referee in south Asia. Ms. Akhtar was lucky that in the same year, 2014, the World Karate Federation introduced the hijab as a part of the attire for referees. Her 26-year-old daughter, who holds an MBA and works with a multinational company, does not wear a hijab. She said, “My mother always told me that our religion calls for it, but never forced me to wear the hijab. I made my own choice and I will let my daughter make her own choice too.”
The event also aims at highlighting the bias against hijabis in schools, colleges and workplaces. “It took so many years for television channels to have hijabi anchors. Why?,” asked 29-year-old Fatema Zaidi Mirza, an anchor with Channel WIN (World Islamic Network) and one of the presenters at the February 1 event. Ms. Mirza will also share her own story of being asked to remove her headscarf while in school, which later resulted in her parents filing a court case. “Even today, there are so many schools that do not allow Muslim girls to wear the hijab and women are asked to remove it at many places,” she said.
Shabana Sadik Husein Pattawala, founder of Al Hadi Organisation, said the event will bring together women from all Muslim sects. She said, “The message we want to spread is that women can do wonders wearing a hijab, and wearing it does not hide their talent. The speakers and performers at the event will bear testimony to this fact.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mumbai / by Jyoti Shelar / January 29th, 2020
We, The Indian Muslims are proud to be citizens of this great country. We have been an architect of this land all through centuries since the days of dynastic rule. Whether it was construction of world class network of transport facilities like Grand Trunk Road linking major cities, founding new cities of highest standards for that age, huge monumental structures to attract the world, development of living standards and maintain cordial relationships between groups belonging to various religions, languages, castes and cultures, we pioneered justice and maintained the system.
With the passage of years, decades and turn of events, the foreign forces got attracted to it and slowly took over the rein of rule.
We were first to challenge and fight for country’s independence valiantly. Even our clergymen took to streets and fought, thousands laid down their lives. Colonel Balwan Singh Nagial, a third-generation Indian Army officer who retired in 2019 wrote in Times of India (April 23, 2022), thus: “Muslim leadership contributed enormously to divergent phases of the Indian struggle for independence. They (Muslims) played a larger-than-life role and made significant sacrifices in this struggle for independence.
From the last Mughal ruler Bahadur Shah Zafar to nawabs, princes, landlords of all sizes, clergy, ulema and the ordinary people, they all stood for the cause and took on enormous challenges and made supreme sacrifices.
When the INC was formed in 1885, the Muslims responded enthusiastically and supported all its efforts throughout the freedom struggle until India became free. The most enthusiastic support for the INC was from the Muslims of the conservative Ulama of Deoband. Earlier, the Ulama had participated in the 1857 uprising with heart and soul.
They made great sacrifices, and hundreds of them were sent to Andaman-Nicobar and many to Malta, an island to the south of Italy.
Muslim leaders who contributed to India’s struggle for independence were:
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Maulana Muhammad Ali, Maulana Shaukat Ali, Allama Iqbal, Muhammad Barkathulla, Bi Amma (mother of Ali brothers), Badarudeen Tyabji, Hakim Ajmal Khan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Dr M.A. Ansari, Dr Siafudeen Kichlu, Dr Basheer Ahmad, Syed Ameer Ali, Dr Syed Muhammad, Hasrat Mohani, Nawab Abdul Latheef, Altaf Hussain Hali, Syed Ahmad Sirhindi, Syed Ahmad Bareilly, Maulana Shibli Numani, Munshi Karamat Ali, Munshi Zakaullah.
Hindus and Muslims together fought the foreign forces shoulder to shoulder. A report by the ‘Milli Chronicle’ says that names of 95,300 freedom fighters are etched on the India Gate in Delhi, and remarkably, 61,945 of these names belong to Muslims, signifying that 65% of these brave individuals were Muslims. The significance of this statistic is eloquently captured by the renowned writer Mr. Kushwant Singh, who boldly declared that the story of Indian freedom is etched in the blood of Muslims, emphasizing their large contribution to the freedom struggle, considering their dis-proportionately smaller population percentage.
The annals of history are adorned with the stories of Muslim freedom fighters who put their lives on the line to liberate India from the shackles of British oppression. These individuals, driven by an unwavering determination to secure their homeland’s independence, demonstrated exceptional courage and resilience.
All through ages we find tall personalities like Sultan Haidar Ali, father of Tipu Sultan, (he pioneered the fight against British colonial forces); Tipu Sultan, son of Haider Ali; (he pioneered the use of iron-cased rockets); Ashfaqullah Khan,(noted for his daring attacks on British government trains); Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, the youngest President of the Indian National Congress,(who rallied Hindus and Muslims alike against British oppression); Maulana Hasrat Mohani, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, (a pivotal figure in the Khilafat movement); was jailed for 13 years by the British), Sirajud Daula, (the last Nawab of Bengal), Badruddin Tyabji (of Indian National Congress); his wife, Suraiya Tayabji, who designed the present Indian flag., Zain-ul-Abideen, an officer of the Indian National Army (INA), coined the iconic patriotic slogan “Jai Hind.”
While recounting the names of every Muslim freedom fighter may be an impossible feat, their contributions and sacrifices in the fight against British colonialism are immeasurable and undeniable. The fact that many chose to remain in India underscores their deep-rooted connection to the land. Despite attempts to distort history, India will forever be the cherished home of its Muslim citizens. We gave the independent India Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister, Dr. Rafi Ahmed Qidwai, Dr.Zakir Hussain (an Educationist and Vice President), and numerous figures as servants to the country in the form of politicians, officers, industrialists, entrepreneurs, researchers, technocrats etc. in every field.
Our very recent contribution to the nation’s public service has been the world famous Scientist/Technocrat and President Dr.A.P.J. Kalam. He set the highest, un-believable standard of honesty, transparency and clean image in public life. A glimpse into the life he spent in the Rashtrapati Bhavan as President gives a shocking information. The same is as under: Mr. P M Nair, (retired IAS officer, then Secretary to Dr. Abdul Kalam, the President writes in his book “Kalam Effect” that Dr. Kalam used to receive costly gifts whenever he went abroad (as it is part of custom & protocol) used to ask the gifts to be photographed and then catalogued and handed over to the archives. Afterwards, he never even looked at them. He did not take even a pencil from the gifts received when he left Rashtrapathi Bhavan. It was a regular practice for every President to host an Iftar party, a routine. Upon being reminded about it Dr. Kalam asked Mr. Nair why he should host a party to people who are already well fed. Instead he estimated and donated Rs.22 lac being the cost to a few selected orphanages in the form of food, dresses and blankets besides a cheque for Rs.1.lakh from his personal funds. Though himself a devout Muslim, he never organized Iftar parties in President’s house at Public expense. Once Dr. Kalam invited 50 of his relatives to come to Delhi and they all stayed in Rashtrapathi Bhavan. He organized a bus for them to go around the city which was paid for by him.
No official car was used. Their lodging and food bill which came to Rs.2 laks was paid by him as per his instructions. Dr. Kalam’s elder brother stayed with him in his room for the entire one week as Dr Kalam wanted his brother to stay with him. When they left, Dr. Kalam wanted to pay rent for that room also. Imagine the President of a country paying rent for the room in which he is staying. This was any way not agreed to by the staff who thought the honesty was getting too much to handle. When he was to leave Rashtrapathi Bhavan at the end of his tenure, every staff member went and met him and paid their respects. Mr. Nair went to him alone as his wife couldn’t as she was confined to bed due to fracture. Upon noticing her absence and knowing the reason Dr. Kalam visited his house and chatted with her for some time. The following property was left behind by Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam: 16 doctorates, 1 website, 1 twitter account, 1 email id, 2500 books, 1 Padmashri, 1 Padmabhushan, 1 Bharat Ratna, 1 flat (which he has donated), 6 pants & 4 shirts (DRDO uniforms), 3 suits (1 western, 2 Indian). He didn’t have any Car, jewelry, stocks, TV, AC, land or any bank balance. He had even donated the last 8 years’ pension towards the development of his village. He was a real patriot and true Indian Muslim. We are proud of him.
Our character building efforts continued even through the present 21st century in the country with unique results as records vouch. For example, the city of KAYALAPATTANAM (in Tamil Nadu) with 100% Muslim population goes. There is no Police Station, no cinema and no crime in the city because there had been no crime there for decades.
The present day situation in the country may appear to be disheartening and disappointing for some. The irresponsible attitude towards Muslims by some extremist groups in the country belonging to a certain ideology should be viewed as a momentary period. Their efforts to demoralize, degrade, deny civil rights are synonymous with their declared intentions. A great majority of country-men still believe and practice true Hinduism as had been for centuries in the past. True Hindus do not endorse hatred, support arson and distrust.
A long history of peaceful co-existence of Muslims and Hindus for centuries with mutual respect, rejoicing specially the occasion of festivals and long socio-economic ties in every nook and corner of the country is its evidence.
Our country has been an example of ‘Unity in diversity’ for the world for a long time. Nobody from either community can imagine a survival without another. The bond has been and will surely be strong as Steel. The ever increasing social evils like Corruption, nepotism, frauds, woman-bashing and vandalism like termites in the country have made the life of common man miserable.
Decline in the values like increased greediness, and wide spread of dishonesty, revenge, vindictiveness, and non-adherence to law need to be challenged and controlled. The ‘PLEDGE’ we used to read in our text books once in first page is long missing both from the book and in practice.
We the Indian Muslims, whether a common man, clergy, intellectual, and technocrat, worker or even those with any political group should realize that notwithstanding the company or area, we have a responsibility towards the country and duty-bound to work for our own community. We need to understand todays challenging scenario and strengthen its unity. We are the inheritors of a great legacy, and not followers of the ilk of this day. We Muslims should remember that we are ordained by the Almighty Allah to be united, behold his Commands; make efforts to spread virtuous deed and work eradicate evils. The entire country is looking forward for the honest.
As the phrase rightly goes, ‘Service to humanity is service to God’. Our population in the country according to 2011 census stands at about 200 million which constitutes 15%. We need to contain our extravagant life-style especially in matters of functions and festivals.
We should stop depending on politicians, their promises and focus on a self, collective effort. We need to move forward together in the fields of education, employment opportunities generating plans through mutual cooperation. For this purpose and as in the days of our Prophet, we should make our area Masjid a center for gathering, deliberation, planning, guidance and service as per law.Experts and experienced in relevant fields can be roped in for the purpose and the available resources can be put to work.
سبق پڑھ پھر صداقت کا، شجاعت کا، عدالت کا۔۔ لیا جائیگا تجھ سے کام، دنیا کی امامت کا۔۔
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Indian Muslim / by Syed Ilyas Basha / October 03rd, 2023
Mursalin’s act went viral on social media platforms and hundreds turned up at his residence to praise him.
Mursalin with members of his family (Photo | Special arrangement)
Kolkata :
When Class V student Mursalin left his Malda home on Thursday afternoon to fish in a ditch beside the railway tracks, all his concentration was focused on the water. But as he looked around for a few seconds, his attention shifted to a large crater under the railway track, which was caused by heavy rainfall in the north Bengal region in the past few days.
Seeing part of the track having no support beneath it, Mursalin sensed danger. On hearing the whistle of the speeding Silchar-bound Kanchanjungha Express as it was skipping the nearby Bhaluka Road railway station, the 11-year-old boy took off his red T-shirt and started waving it as fast as he could to draw the attention of the train driver.
Spotting the boy on the track waving his red T-shirt, the motorman applied the brakes and the train came to a halt. The driver examined the crater, sent an SOS and railway officials arrived. Repair work was carried out to fill up the crater and the train left.
Mursalin’s act went viral on social media platforms and hundreds turned up at his residence to praise him.
“It was drizzling and I crossed the railway track and came to the ditch for fishing. I was busy catching fish but after a few minutes, when I could not catch a single one, I just looked around. I saw the soil and stones under the railway track were washed away because of rain, I felt it could pose a threat to a train. At the same time, I heard the train’s whistle. I did not spare a moment. I took off my red T-shirt and started waving it standing on the railway track,” said the boy.
Mursalin’s mother Marzina Bibi said her son returned home and narrated what he did. “I feel proud of him. His act saved a train mishap. Railway officers also praised him,” she said.
Railway officers said the crater under the tracks had not been noticed. “After examining the crater, the railway officers from nearby Bhaluka Road station took steps to fill it up as early as possible. We appreciate the boy’s presence of mind and his bravery,” said a railway official.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Express News Service / September 27th, 2023
In a small suburb in the Islam-dominated Jamia in Delhi, Mohammed Ameen manages to live a life which breaks norms and is still happy. . .
Football, as a game, has broken a lot of barrier in terms of religion and war. It is a well-documented fact that the Nigerian Civil War was stopped to watch Pele and his team play in the 1960s. If the game could stop a war, one can imagine its power over the other earthly, trivial matters.
Khel Now Football caught up with Mohammed Ameen, who originates from Patna but is currently staying in Delhi. Ameen is a Maulana, a person associated with formal qualification following study at a madrassa or darul uloom. Ameen comes across as a noble Muslim, who would go about his work and would lead a sedentary life in a city job.
Astonishingly, Ameen breaks the cliché. The middle-aged man is a sports coordinator for CEQUIN, an NGO which works on a variety of issues affecting women and girls such as violence, leadership, economic empowerment and other social benefits. You must be wondering that why are we writing these stories; but there’s a common link: FOOTBALL.
Football Is My Religion I Jamia I Mohammed-The Maulana Coach
Ameen trains girls in and around his area and said, “I train both the junior and senior girls equally hard. I want to see the senior girls mature in a way that they can train the next line of girls in the years to come,” says Ameen, who earns meagerly.
“Football is a team game, and the girls forget their stress while playing,” adds the gaffer. “There energy on the pitch brings a change in the community and shows a new door to the girls in the area. I’m working in the Jamia area and there are various challenges in the work I’m trying to do.”
One of them, he says, is the fact that he’s a Maulana. “People in general and parents in particular usually say that I’m a Maulana and I teach girls to play football, which adds a poor connotation to the notion. I usually stay silent, and they get my answer.”
Talking on our special segment called ‘Football is my Religion’, Ameen concludes with a brilliant message. “Football is played all around the world by white, black, men and women equally. There is no religious division in the game, and it should be that way forever. It connects people like nothing else.”
source: http:www.khelnow.com / Khel Now / Home / by Punit Tripathi / April 17th, 2017
Imam Hussain was the grandson of the Messenger of Allah and Imam Zainul Abidin was his son. According to historical accounts in reliable texts the mother of Imam Zainul Abidin was a Sindhi woman. Imam Ibn Qutiba in Kitab al-Ma’arif, provided detailed information on this fact.
The Muslims refer to Imam Hussain descendants as Sayyid. Despite the fact that Sayyid’s were described as being half Indian by renowned Indian researcher Syed Sulaiman Nadvi in his book on Arab-Indian Relations. He claimed that Sayyids have always been half Indian, while other Muslims may or may not be half Indians.
This is possibly the reason why the Prophet Mohammad claimed in a hadith that he received cold breezes from India. (Mustadrak Al-Haakim Hadith 4053.) and Hazrat Ali also (RA) added,
قال علي بن أبي طالب: أطيب ريح في الأرض الهند، أهبط بها آدم
عليه الصلاة والسلام فعلق شجرها من ريح الجنة
India is the land of best wind, Saydana Adam was sent to India, where He also planted the fragrant Paradise plant.’ This close bond between India and The Prophet is not limited to this; in one of his hadiths, the Prophet said that Adam (peace be upon him) was sent to Indian region.
According to Syed Sulaiman Nadvi, when Hazrat Adam descended from the sky and was brought to India, which was described as paradise.
History is full of instances of such connections. Examples include Hazrat Uthman bin Abi Al-As Thaqafi, Hazrat Huqam bin Abi Al-As, Hazrat Mughira, Hazrat Rabi'ah bin Ziyad, Hazrat Abdullah Ansari, Hazrat Umair bin Usman, and Hazrat Asim bin Umar, among others, who travelled to India to spread Prophet Mohammad’s teachings.
Kitaab Ul Ma’arif and Arab-o-Hind Ke Ta’alluqaat
After Hazrat Umar was elected as a Caliph, a close friend of the Prophet, he asked a traveller about what he thought of India.
The traveller responded as follows
: بحر ھا در و جبلھا یا قوت و شجرھاعطر (he said Indian mountains are rubies, its rivers are pearls,and its trees are fragrances.)
According to a legend, there were many Indian settlers in the Arab region at the time the Prophet declared his Naboovat (Prophethood), and Indians were well settled there even at that time. Indian swords were famous in Arabia even prior to the time of the Prophet.
In addition to the sword, a variety of Indian commodities were discovered in Arabia, and they were there in such large quantities that Syed Sulaiman Nadvi noted that the port of Abla, which is close to Basra, received such a large quantity of Indian goods that the local Arabs thought Abla was a miniature version of India.
Teak wood, swords, cotton and silk cloth, lemons, oranges,bananas, cinnamon, cloves, rubies, pearls, and other items were among the exports from India to Arabia.
The writings of Qazi Athar Mubarakpuri, Syed Sulaiman Nadvi, Akbar Ali Khan Qadri, Gustave Le Bon, and others are testimonials of good relationship between Indians and Arabs during the time of the Prophet.
This is likely the reason that Ibn Qutiba, as opposed to other historians, claimed that Hazrat Zain Albidin’s mother was an Indian.Many Sufis in India during this time worked to spread the teachings of the God-sent Messenger and his Indian associates. They arrived in India made themselves at home and benefited from the lessons of the Sahaba.
The Hindu religious texts examined by Al-Bairuni in Kitab Al-Hind more than a thousand years ago reveal that they are remarkably similar to Islamic teachings.The religious practises of the people of India, according to a sizable group of Sufis and academics, are remarkably comparable to the Messenger of Allah’s description of Wehdat (oneness of god). For this reason, Islam is still the major faith in India today.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Sayyed Taleef Haider, New Delhi / September 29th, 2023
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