Eight books published by the K A Nizami Centre for Quranic Studies, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) addressing key themes on the history of South Asian Muslims, diverse responses to the scholarly contributions and rationalist traditions of Islamic scholarship were released today at the Vice Chancellor’s Office.
They are ‘Contemporary Islamic Scholarship in South Asia: An Assessment’, ‘Humanness of Prophets: The Quranic Prophetology’ and ‘Contribution of Dar-ul-Uloom Deoband to Tafasir’ by Dr Abdul Kader Choughley; ‘Dil Jo tha Zulmat Kadah, Ma’ah-e-Munawwar Hogaya’ by Dr Mohammad Haris Mansoor; ‘Qurani Ulum ka Irtiqa Ahd-i-Islami ke Hindustan Mein’ by Prof Zafarul Islam; ‘How to Promote the Study of Quran among Women’, edited by Dr Nazeer Ahmad Ab. Majeed and Dr Arshad Iqbal; ‘Tarjumani Rahmani’ by Prof A R Kidwai and ‘Allah ki Kitab ki Paanch Mangay’ by Prof Fazlur Rahman Gunnouri.
“These books will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about traditions in Islamic faith, offer a new understanding on the works of Islamic scholars, explore key Islamic events and provide an understanding of important traditions in Islamic philosophy and the intellectual movement that emerged from South Asian Islam”, said AMU Vice Chancellor, Prof Tariq Mansoor while releasing the books.
Prof A R Kidwai (Honorary Director, K A Nizami Centre for Quranic Studies) pointed out: “The K A Nizami Centre has published over 80 titles on Quran-related scholarship since 2013. Publications of the Centre represent contemporary literature on furthering Quranic understanding and research in Hindi, English and Urdu by authors from various disciplines including translations from various languages”.
source: http://www.amu.ac.in / Aligarh Muslim University / Home / by Public Relations Department / Aligarh, July 13th, 2022
Edavarakad Village (Vypin Island) Ernakulam District, KERALA :
Photo Courtesy: Muhammed Shahabas
Muslims of Edavanakad in Vypin island of Kerala have set a vibrant example of empowerment by building community institutions that provide education, and interest-free loans to local farmers.
Kerala :
Edavanakad is a village in Vypin Island of Ernakulam district in Kerala. Surrounded by the Arabian sea and Vembanadu lake, the main livelihoods of the people here is fishing and agriculture. Muslims, Ezhavas, Arayas, and Latin Christians constitute the major communities of the place. Traditionally engaged in fish trade and agriculture, Muslims have set examples of community empowerment through various institutions.
Empowerment through education Hidayathul Islam primary school was run by one Vadakkeveettil Muhammed Haji, where children are taught modern education and Islamic principles.
Currently, a school and a madrasa are being run from the village. “After their primary education, teenagers had to go to the outskirts of the town to obtain higher education. It was far for them. This became a big concern for the elders in the town, and they decided to do something about it,” said Mahin PM, a local activist.
Irshadul Muslimeen Sabha [IMS] was established in 1850 to administer the madrasa. Later in 1922, Hidayathul Islam Primary School also came under IMS. Thus, the school and madrasa system came under one body and devised a comprehensive syllabus to provide religious and secular education. In 1979 the school got the status of a high school, and by 2000, it became Hidayathul Islam Higher Secondary School [HIHSS].
Mahin, the editor of the school’s jubilee souvenir, believes HIHSS sets the best example in the state for an effective model of success in public education. “Students from different backward communities study here. The school has continuously maintained a 100% success rate in the examinations.” Mahin said.
He said that IMS was active during relief activities after the 2004 tsunami that hit the coastal community. “Muslim traders came forward to open the gates of institutions and competed to help the affected as much as possible. Those were days that reflected the place’s fraternity,” he recalled.
Effective redistribution of wealth Zakat, a form of almsgiving in Islam, is considered obligatory for Muslims. Muslims in Edavanakad used to give the zakat in a dispersed manner. Many didn’t participate in it because of a lack of awareness of its importance. “It was Ali Kunju Mash who changed this situation by establishing an institution to distribute the zakat,” said Mahin.
Kunju, who came to Hidayathul Islam school as its headmaster, wanted to structurize the zakat distribution system. With the help of two other people KM Abdulla and PA Muhammed, he founded Al-lajnathul Islamiyathu Li-baithulmaal [AIL] in 1983.
AIL is the state’s first centralized community wealth redistribution system. “After Ramadan, we open applications to provide support for self-employment using the remaining zakat share. We also offer monthly scholarships to students and a weekly ration for widows,” said a committee member.
Towards a moral economy The people of Edavakannad, primarily farmers and fishers, depended on loans with heavy interest rates from moneylenders. The fluctuations in produce resulted in them falling into a debt trap. Understanding the pressing need to provide an alternative, five youths Abdussamad MK, Mahin PM, Aboobacker, Illyas, Rasheed, and Umar Khayyoom decided to form an interest-free credit society. In 1999, they invited people from the community to a general body meeting and presented their Islamic microfinance scheme.
Abdussamad, one of the founders, narrated how they convinced people to pool one rupee daily. “In this way, Islamic Welfare Fund got formed, and we approved its first loan of 3000 rupees to buy a boat and fishing net,” he said.
“We don’t work like ordinary credit societies. We form our working capital by pooling small amounts from every member. There will be a collective responsibility, and it becomes everyone’s duty to ensure the repayment of loans,” Abdussamad said.
The financing schemes provided by IWF do not promote consumerism in any way. They approve loans to the needy only after conducting a detailed investigation into the case, and one of the members will have to stand as a guarantee.
IWF’s activities have grown into many areas now. “Our headquarters facilitates an entrance coaching centre for applicants from minority communities to public services (PSC), and the nodal centre of the PM Foundation provides necessary information regarding educational scholarships,” one of the board members said.
Basil Islam is an independent journalist and researcher based in South India. He tweets at @baasiie
source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> Lead Story / by Basil Islam, TwoCircles.net / July 14th, 2022
Frank Islam and his wife Debbie Driesman with Joe Biden.
Washington :
President Biden has appointed Dr. Frank Islam as a member of Commission on Presidential Scholars.
The Commission on Presidential Scholars is a group of eminent private citizens appointed by the President to select and honor the Presidential Scholars.
Commissioners are selected from across the country, representing the fields of education, medicine, law, social services, business, and other professions. The Commissioners make the final selection of the 161 Presidential Scholars. The Scholars demonstrate exceptional accomplishments in academics, the arts, career and technical education and an outstanding commitment to public service.
Dr. Frank Islam
Indian born Frank Islam is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader with a special commitment to civic, educational, and artistic causes.
He currently heads the FI Investment Group, a private investment holding company that he founded after he sold his information technology firm, the QSS Group, in 2007.
Islam serves and has served on numerous boards and advisory councils including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the U.N. Foundation, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the Woodrow Wilson Center. He has also served or serves on boards and councils at several universities including John Hopkins, American University, George Mason University, the University of Maryland, and Harvard University.
An AMU alumnus Islam has written two well-regarded books on the American condition: Working the Pivot Points: To Make America Work Again and Renewing the American Dream: A Citizen’s Guide for Restoring Our Competitive Advantage.
He blogs regularly on Medium and was a contributor to the Huffington Post for nearly a decade.
In 2018, Islam established the Frank Islam Institute for 21st Century Citizenship which maintains a website and publishes a monthly newsletter featuring articles and other material directed at addressing the civic engagement deficit and challenges to democracy in the U.S. and internationally.
Islam received his B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Education> Indian Muslim> Positive Story / by Muslim Mirror Network (headline edited) / July 16th, 2022
Yasir Khan, a farmer’s son, is now a personal fitness trainer, transformation expert, and fitness model in Dubai. Since childhood, he struggled with financial constraints and used to sell milk on the streets to make ends meet.
Picture Credit: Yasir Khan
I was born in a family of a farmer and a librarian in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. In the first 13 years of my life, I lived in a Madrasas over my father’s instruction because he didn’t have enough money working as a working farmer to give me a quality life at home. When I turned 14, I returned to my home in Bhopal, where the economic conditions were still bad. To make ends meet, I started selling milk on the streets through which I used to earn Rs 40 per day and worked at a bookstall.
My English was not good, and because of this reason, I would take out dictionary books from the bookstall to read and learn. It was the same place I first saw the Men’s Health magazine, which attracted me way too much. Since then, I have always had a dream to feature on the cover of this book because seeing a dream won’t cost a penny. Desperately, I wanted to check my potential, and then I shifted to Mumbai, where I sold tea to manage survival.
‘My Time Came’
A time came when I started working at a gym as a helper. Almost for four years, I worked as a helper and trained myself in my free time. Then I was promoted to the junior trainer post, which eventually motivated me to do much more. A year later, I was promoted to the head trainer post and trained myself enough to participate in any modelling shoot or competition. Around that time, I learned that Men’s Health magazine was looking for gym trainers to feature on its cover. I went to Delhi and auditioned for the cover page. It was a massive success as I was featured in the magazine. I kickstarted my career in fitness and modelling since then with consistent dedication and effort.
After a five-year continued effort, I earned a handsome amount of money and decided to shift to Dubai, UAE. It was a new place with new people around me. I opened a gym and struggled to get people on board. For the same, I used to distribute pamphlets and advertising bills on the corner of roads. After four months, I got my first client, and since then, my business has been unstoppable. I repaid all my parents’ debt and even gifted them a car, bringing immense happiness to their faces. It was a long journey but worth it.
source: http://www.thelogicalindian.com / The Logical Indian / Home / by Writer Ronit Kumar Singh, Madhya Pradesh / July 13th, 2022
This statement, made by Maulvi Sadr-Ud-Din, provides an insight into the treatment of Muslim Indian soldiers who had fought during World War One and died in hospitals in Britain. Sadr-Ud-Din, from the Shah Jahan Mosque at Woking, was charged with overseeing their burial in England.
What does the statement reveal?
From 1915, there were nine sites in the South of England set up specifically for the treatment of wounded Indian soldiers. This included the Dome Hospital in Brighton and the convalescent camp at Barton-on-Sea. These were hospitals of high standards with up-to-date medical facilities, as well as services dedicated to catering for every religious need.
The Maulvi’s statement, however, raises issues with the posthumous treatment of soldiers who died in these hospitals. He states that the bodies of Muslim soldiers were often sent to him with the wrong name; without flowers; or with no provision for a military demonstration at the grave. Although Sadr-Ud-Din had been allocated a plot of burial land at Woking on Horsell Common, he describes it being in a poor state and maintains that his requests for improvements have been ignored.
Sadr-Ud-Din warns of the ‘grave danger of allowing the impression to gain ground in India that England is not showing sufficient respect to the memories of her Indian heroes’. His concluding words hint at the unease in Indian-British relations at this time and, in particular, the growing nationalist movement which was campaigning against British rule. In response, the government – in a public-relations exercise – commissioned improvements to the burial site at Woking.
These improvements were led, in part, by the suggestions made in Sadr-Ud-Din’s statement. These included a permanent enclosure of the piece of land; making paths in order to distinguish between grave and ground; to employ members of staff in the everyday running of the cemetery; and to build three structures: a morgue, a waiting room and a gateway to not only simplify the burial process, but to also give the area precedence. The gateway, at Sadr-Ud-Din’s request, was designed ‘in Eastern-style […] as a Memorial to the fallen Indian soldiers.’
The majority of these requests were realised, although the morgue and waiting room were never built.
________
source:
Full title:Correspondence about Moulvi Sadruddin, Imam of the Woking Mosque, and the burial of Muslim soldiers in England.
source: http://www.bl.uk / British Library / Home> Collection Items / (This item I feature in ‘All South Asians in Britain Collections’ and ‘All World War One Collection Items’ / (date viewed July 09th, 2022)
Navabharat Night High School, considered the first night school in the country, has been serving society for last 8 decades.
Mangaluru :
As a high school boy, Khalid Mohammed used to often find illiterate people knocking on his doors to read letters for them. The visitors were mostly elderly and disadvantaged whose children had migrated from Mangaluru to Mumbai and elsewhere in search of greener pastures.
It was then that the young Khalid, motivated by Mahatma Gandhi’s call for adult education movement, decided to teach such people how to read and write. Mohammed, a tin maker in the neighbourhood who was also not educated, was generous enough to spare his courtyard for a few hours each day for the noble cause.
Five adults — Khader, Krishna, Kusappa, Rahiman and Mohammed himself — were the first students when the night school came into existence on March 15, 1943.
Buoyed by the good response, the next year Khalid started primary classes in a building opposite KRK Shet Building on BEM High School Road in Mangaluru and named it Noubahar Night School. Gradually, middle and high school classes were added. Later, during its golden jubilee celebration in 1992, the school managed to get its own three-storeyed building on Car Street.
Called Navabharat Night High School now, it is run by the Navabharat Education Society. Said to be the first night school in the country and the only one still functioning, it is celebrating 80 years of its existence this year. Khalid, who was an English teacher at Badriya High School for a while, later became the headmaster of the night school and continued in the same post till he passed away a few years ago. The school, which does not charge any fee from students, has seen a lot of transformation over the last eight decades.
During its initial years, the school got a stream of adults who did not know how to read or write. Later it started getting adults who had dropped out of schools due to financial constraints but wanted to complete their schooling to get a job or promotion. Those who study here write the SSLC examination by enrolling as private candidates.
The institution now has over 60 students, who are mostly children of labourers. Almost all these kids go to day schools, but also come to the night school as their parents are away at work in the evenings.
Dr Vaman Shenoy, president of the Navabharat Education Society, beams with pride when he says many students from here have gone on to become doctors, engineers, advocates and also are employed abroad. There was a time when the school used to brim with 250-300 students, who used to stand outside the doors and windows of classrooms to listen to lectures. Bicycles used to be parked on both sides of the narrow road in front of the school building in Bunder.
The school has not received any government grant since its inception and runs only on donations. “Our founder Khalid Mohammed’s son Dr AR Nazeer who is a professor at a university in Saudi Arabia, Dr Vinay Hegde of Nitte, Kind Foundation, Canara Foundation and others contribute to the cause,” said M Ramachandra, secretary of the Society. Ramachandra himself was a student at the school. He later became its manager before he became secretary. “I dropped out of school after Class 8 because of poverty. After a gap of five years, I joined the night school,” he says.
The free school has six teachers and two office staff. Dinesh Kumar, a clerk at Canara College, has been teaching at the night school for the last 25 years. “I wanted to contribute something for society and that is the reason I am here,” he says. He teaches at the school from 6 am to 8.30 pm. Varkady Ravi Alevoorya, the present headmaster, says they have not kept the count of the total number of students educated in the school, but it could be in thousands.
“The student strength has dwindled over the last few years as the government now lays a lot of stress on education and makes regular follow-ups on absentee students to bring them back. But we still keep our doors open as there may be people who still need our help,” he adds. The school has a computer centre and also teaches Yakshagana. Dr AR Naseer says the school belongs to the public and they need to take it forward.
“As a teenager, my father was drawn to Mahatma Gandhi’s adult education movement which led him to start this school. It was the first home for my father and he used to spend most of his time here,” he recalls.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Vincent D’Souza, Express News Service / June 26th, 2022
There’s no stopping Jumaila Haris, a 38-year-old mother of three who is on a path-breaking journey of exploring and teaching heavy vehicle driving, reports Vishnuprasad K P.
Malappuram :
At 38, Jumaila Haris is on a mission to explore a new path. Well, not just to find a way forward in her life. Rather something that would break barriers and inspire women to unshackle themselves.
A mother of three, she recently obtained a heavy vehicle licence. Her next target is driving tanker lorries. And she wants to help fellow women improve their driving skills. The Marakkara resident has already set that process in motion in her area.
“I used to commute on private buses during my school days. The one thing that amazed me was the manner in which the mighty vehicles were controlled by the drivers. I made up my mind then that I would drive these big vehicles one day,” Jumaila says.
However, she had to wait two decades before her dream could be realised. “Some women believe marriage ends their freedom to strive towards their goals. But if you find a supportive life partner, marriage is not going to be a barrier in pursuing your dreams,” she says.
Putting her knowledge to good use, Jumaila has started helping other women gain the confidence required to take control of the steeringwheel in any condition. “Many women obtain driving licences after picking up the skills from a driving school. However, they won’t be able to drive through narrow roads, hilly areas, and roads that are chock-a-block. After completing training, they give me some fees that they are capable of providing. I am planning to help more such women,” she says.
She is set to apply with the motor vehicles department to acquire a licence to drive tanker lorries. “Driving tanker lorries will help me improve my skills further,” she says.Jumaila married Onathukkattil Haris in 2000. For the past six years, she has also been working as a volunteer at the palliative care centre under CH Centre, Marakkara.
She obtained a four-wheeler licence in 2009. “My husband was working in the Gulf. So I had to manage the family affairs mostly by myself. My driving skills helped me in many ways as I could move around on my own. I was also able to take the elderly people in my family to hospitals. Also, I doubled as a driver of the palliative centre when the regular driver went on leave,” she says.
Jumaila has three daughters, Fathima Rinsha, Fathima Gazal and Ayisha.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Vishnuprasad KP, Express News Service / July 03rd, 2022
On World Book Day, the Maryam Mirza Mohilla (neighbourhood) library movement commemorated the occasion with zeal. Several book reading and distribution activities were held in city mosques and Urdu schools under the auspices of the Read & Lead Foundation.
The Foundation’s President, Mirza Abdul Qayyum Nadvi, announced the commencement of a “Book at Home, Book at Every Home” campaign at the event. He stated that the book-reading awareness campaign is only getting started because today’s young generation is losing interest in reading due to the introduction of new electronic gadgets, particularly smart phones
Urdu, Marathi, English books were distributed to the children members of Maulana Syed Abul Hassan Ali Nadvi Mohalla Library situated in Masjid Faiz Beri Bagh, Harsol area of Aurangabad.
It should be noted that for the past year in Aurangabad, 28 libraries have been working under the aegis of the Read & Lead Foundation in various sections of the city, slum mosques, Urdu schools, and neighbourhoods. More than 5,000 children are connected to these libraries.
It’s worth noting that eleven (11) of the 28 libraries are dedicated to children are located in mosques. Masjid Shadab Hina Nagar, Ahmadi Masjid, Shatabdi Nagar, Maulana Hasrat Mohani Mohalla Library, Misrarwadi, Qazi Iqbaluddin Mohalla Library, Bismillah Masjid, Madrasa Falah Darin Ghulam Mustafa, Sher Khan Pathan Mitra Mandal Library, Narey Village Mohalla Library and other places. In addition to this, Al-Huda Urdu High School Baijipura, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Mohalla Library Baijipura and other libraries celebrated World Book Day.
Maulana Sheikh Yusuf Nadvi, Imam of Masjid Faiz, where the Maulana Syed Abul Hassan Ali Nadvi Mohalla Library is located, stated that he would do everything in his power to ensure that the library benefits the children and women of the area as much as possible. After Friday prayers, he also declared the start of the door-to-door book drive.
Sheikh Nargis Fatima, Headmistress of Al-Huda Urdu High School, stated that her school’s students and instructors would be more active in the campaign and would offer all available assistance. Farhat Jahan, a school teacher, and other teachers took part in the presentation and offered their opinions..
Children’s monthly periodicals such as “Bachu ki Dunia,” “Umang,” “Taleemi inquilab,” “Majhi Marathi,” “Meri English Kitab,”,” “Gulzar Urdu,” and other books, magazines, and journals were distributed to members of the aforementioned libraries.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Positive Story / by Special Correspondent / April 26th, 2022
The contribution of Ghulam Ahmed to cricket in Hyderabad and India is extremely difficult to quantify in mere words.
He was a legendary player, inspirational leader, far thinking administrator and a very capable manager. Whichever role he played, he did so with a measure of excellence that was unmatchable. The Greek philosopher Aristotle once said: “Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort and intelligent execution. Choice, not chance, determines our destiny.” The words can be applied most aptly to the life and career of Ghulam Ahmed, one of Indian cricket’s most accomplished off spinners and administrators, whose 100th birth anniversary falls on 4th of July, 2022.
But any person who knows about the family from which Ghulam Ahmed emerged, will not be surprised by the fact that this gentleman cricketer achieved so much in his lifetime.
In a way, this illustrious family can be called the first family of Hyderabad sports. Others who are connected to the Razvi family are Pakistan’s former captain Asif Iqbal, India’s former captain Mohammed Azharuddin and tennis champion Sania Mirza. Since Sania’s husband is an ace Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik, he too is connected to this family by marriage. So that makes it two captains of India, two captains of Pakistan and a tennis Grand Slam winner in doubles and mixed doubles, all belonging to or connected to one family.
Ghulam Ahmed meets the queen
We all know about the famous off spinner’s exploits on the cricket field. But what was he like as a person? Was he a disciplinarian or was he indulgent? Was he a strict parent or a friendly person who could be addressed as Dad? After siasat.com spoke to several persons who knew him well, an interesting picture emerged.
Apparently Ghulam Ahmed was a person whose character and conduct were unblemished. It was his most outstanding trait. He was painstakingly honest and fair in his thought and judgement. If he made a decision, everyone would accept it because they knew his reputation for being impartial and equitable. As a parent he was not the old fashioned taskmaster. Instead he obtained the love, affection and friendship of all his children. As a person he stuck to his principles but did so with a measure of kindness and tact that earned the willing cooperation of his colleagues.
When Nari Contractor was injured
He hailed from a family wherein the male members had mostly served in the civil services. Ghulam Ahmed himself chose the same path. He was the chairman of the A.P. Public Service Commission and then also the Hyderabad Race Club. He handled sensitive issues with graceful prudence. He had a large group of friends and was well loved and respected by all. Often there would be large gatherings of his friends at his house. The men would play cards and sometimes go out on hunting trips which was a popular pastime among young men of those days.
Ghulam Ahmed studied at the famous Madrasa-E-Aliya and then at Nizam College. In his cricket career, his seniors were the well known brothers S.M. Hussain and S.M. Hadi. The latter was an all round sportsman who excelled at many sports while the former was a member of the Indian cricket team. When he was a raw beginner, he once sought permission to bowl against Hussain. After he was allowed to do so, he bowled the experienced batter with his very first delivery leaving Hussain highly impressed.
Later Ghulam Ahmed grew up and became a very renowned player himself. He grew to be very close to some of the most famous names of those days. They often dropped in at his house. Cricket administrators such as M.A. Chidambaram, M. Chinnaswamy and Kishan Rungta visited him regularly.
The legendary Lala Amarnath, Test cricketers C.D Gopinath, Hemu Adhikary and Polly Umrigar – all these people used to visit his house.
Later, Ghulam Ahmed also served as a cricket administrator both in Hyderabad as well as the BCCI.
Besides serving as the Secretary and Vice President of the BCCI, he was the Chairman of the BCCI selection committee which selected the Indian team that won the World Cup in 1983. He was also given honorary membership of the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
When Ghulam Ahmed passed away after a long and illustrious life, encomiums flowed in from all parts of the world.
This is what The Independent (UK) wrote: “His smooth action enabled him to bowl for long spells while his clever flighting and variations of pace, length and line brought him comparisons with Jim Laker. He made his debut at 17 for Hyderabad but the second world war interrupted his further progress so that he did not appear in Test cricket until 1948 when he was chosen for the third Test against West Indies in Calcutta. He captained India against New Zealand in 1955 and also twice against the West Indies in 1958-59.”
In Shakespeare’s play Caesar, the character of Mark Antony says about his dear departed friend: “Here was a Caesar! When comes such another?” Meaning that Rome will probably never have another outstanding and upright personality like Caesar. The same can be said of Ghulam Ahmed. Like Caesar, Ghulam Ahmed too can never be replaced. His 100th birth anniversary is an occasion to remember with pride and affection, the excellent achievements of the man who was the first cricketer from Hyderabad to lead the nation in the international cricket arena.
source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Sports / by Abhijit Sen Gupta / July 04th, 2022
