By Syed Akbar
For those who equate Muslims with terrorism, the photo exhibition by
internationally renowned photographer Peter Sanders is an eye opener.
Peter Sanders the other day took Hyderabadis on a journey through the
Great Britain giving a vivid photographic description of the lifestyle of
Muslims living in the West.
As they say a picture speaks a thousand words, the exclusive Sanders
photographs at "The Art of Integration Exhibition: Islam in Britain's
Green and Pleasant Lands" organised recently in Hyderabad, "spoke"
on behalf of 1.6 million British Muslims loud and clear that "Muslims
are not terrorists and British Muslims are as much British as others
living in Britain".
Peter Sanders, who has carved out a niche for himself in the Islamic
world with his classic photographs on Muslim lifestyles and
monuments around the globe, points out that there's no clash of
civilisations and there's no war between the West and Muslims. And
his photographs proved his point. The photographs are extremely and
extraordinarily beautiful and many Hyderabadis had for the first time
gone through a first hand assessment of Muslims and Islam in the UK.
"For many years I wanted to photograph Islam in the UK, but to be
honest, I was not inspired by what I saw. Then I began to meet second
and third generation British Muslims, many of them young,
professional and artistic, young people who did not have the fears and
concerns of previous generations. Within them was a confidence that to
be British and Muslim was not a problem," observes Peter Sanders.
Every photograph put up at the exhibition, organised jointly by the
British High Commission, New Delhi, and the Journalists for Peace and
Justice, Hyderabad, made it clear that terrorism does not equate to
Islam or any other faith or human value.
"Key Islamic influencers need to counter the extremists' narrative.
Mainstream message must be made more understandable, available and
attractive to meet the challenge of delegitimising extremism and terror.
Terrorists' malignant misinterpretations of Islam are rejected by
Muslims throughout the UK and abroad," says Fazil Hussain Parvez,
one of the organisers.
A notable feature of the exhibition is that the photographs challenged a
number of misconceptions, for instance, about the tendencies of some
communities not to integrate into their adopted homeland.
Peter Sanders began his career in the mid-1960s covering London's
seminal rock and roll scene, capturing now legendary music icons in a
collection that is considered a classic by collectors. Towards the end of
the 1970s, Sanders' attention turned inward which set him on a spiritual
search that took him to India and led him in the end to the Muslim
world.
"My photography has always been an extension of my life," says
Sanders, who converted to Islam before his journey to Mecca in early
1970s. "Photography is a wonderful process - a gift from God - that has
allowed me to learn so much about myself and the world around me.
It's like chasing a moment, trying to capture a beautiful bird in flight."
The exhibition begins with the Muslim roots in British soil depicting
archaeological finds that trace back to over 1000 years. The discovery
of a ninth century brooch bearing the "Basamala" an Islamic inscription
meaning "In the name of God - the most Merciful, the most
Beneficent", in south-east Ireland and of eighth century coins from the
reign of King Offa stamped with the Muslim declaration of faith, offer
glimpses of this little know Muslim history of Britain.
Peter Sanders then takes the visitors through the first mosque in the UK
(December 25, 1889), British Muslim personalities including pop
singer-turned charity activist Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam), scholar Martin
Lings (Abu Bakr Siraj al-Din) and fashion designer Alia Khan, Muslim
charities before winding up with Islamic finance institutions and
Islamia schools.
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: The US administration on Saturday sought to allay
the fears of the Muslim community by sending a clear cut message that
the USA is not against Muslims or Islam.
US under-secretary of State for political affairs Nicholas Burns hosted
lunch to prominent Muslim elders of Hyderabad at the historic Nizam
Club as part of the world-wide US exercise to build bridges with
Muslims.
The relations between the USA and the Muslim world have
turned bitter after the September 11 terrorist attacks and the invasion of
Afghanistan and Iraq by American-led forces.
Senior Muslim leaders including eminent jurist Justice Sardar Ali
Khan, Jamia Nizamia rector Syed Akbar Nizamuddin, former minister
Bashiruddin Babukhan, Information Minister Muhammad Ali Shabber,
Munsif Urdu daily chief editor Khan Lateef Khan and Siasat Urdu
daily chief editor Zahid Ali Khan attended the dinner.
The Muslim leaders posed an array of questions to the US
undersecretary wanting to know when the US will attack Iran and what
is the fate of the Iraq Commission report. Khan Lateef Khan and others
made it clear that Muslims are not against the people of America but
against the policies of the US government.
Nicholas enquired about the socio-economic status of Muslims in
South India vis-a-vis north India.
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, Nov 2: It is going to be a "cool" Haj for over two million
Muslims from the around the world when they gather in the Islamic holy city
of Mecca in Saudi Arabia this December.
The Haj 2006-II season spreads over December and January, which are the
coldest months of the year in Mecca and Madina. And the Haj season is
falling in December after a gap of 33 years. Islamic calendar being a lunar
one, Muslim festivals fall in different seasons in different years with a
periodic cycle spanning over one-third of century.
Haj authorities in Saudi Arabia as also the Indian consulate-general in Jeddah
have advised intending pilgrims to carry warm woollen clothes. Around 1.5
lakh Muslims from India perform Haj every year and they usually carry light-
coloured or white clothes to beat the scorching heat of the desert cities. But
this time around with the Haj season falling in December and spilling over to
January, they may have to wear extra clothing to keep them warm.
"Haj-1426-II will fall in December 06-January 07. These are the cold months
and hence you would need to use warm woollen clothing like sweaters and
blankets. Rooms in Makkah and Madina and the tents in Mina are all air-
conditioned and hence you may feel cold, especially during the night. Please
note that there are no heating arrangements at any of these places," a travel
advisory issued by the Consul-General of India in Jeddah pointed out.
The common health complaints from Indian Hajis have thus far been
dehydration, sunstroke, stomach upset, scraped thighs and blisters on the feet.
This season there may not be such complaints because of relatively cooler
days and cold nights.
Haj seasons (excepting those in January and December) have always been the
best example of the scientific effect of high temperatures on pilgrims or a
huge gathering of humanity. Temperatures in Mecca typically range between
30 degrees and 50 degrees C. This time average maximum temperature is
likely to be around 31.2 to 33.4 degrees C with the average minimum
temperature forecast at 20.1 to 21.1 degrees C.
In a research study published by the American Scientist some time ago, it
was stated that since pilgrims are tightly packed together in suffocatingly
small spaces during the Haj, their body temperatures climb rapidly. This
often had led to sunstroke deaths.
The American Scientist research study also pointed out that when
temperatures are cooler (as in the Haj season this year), there can be a better
chance of survival for at-risk groups such as the elderly during the coldest
months. In case of gradual temperature increase in colder months because of
body heat from millions of people around, one can expect a decline in
mortality from cardiovascular and pulmonary disease.
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: 8: In a revolutionary decision, the Andhra Pradesh State
Wakf Board has handed over the control of 11 prime Wakf properties to an
all women panel in the city.
The five-member womencommittee under the presidentship of Salma Jalees
was constituted on May 23. On Thursday the Board handed over the
management of 11 Wakf properties to the committee.
The women members will protect, manage and develop these Wakf
properties spread across twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. This is
the first time that women are controlling Muslim endowment properties in
the country.
The committee has been entrusted with the job of paying seven per cent
Wakf Fund to the Board. It will spend 10 per cent on maintenance of the
institutions and the remaining 83 per cent will be spent on welfare activities.
Till now these 11 institutions were under the direct management of the Wakf
Board.
The Muslim clergy in the city has reacted sharply to the Board's decision. In
an oral fatwa, Moulana Mufti Abdul Moghni of Sabeelus Salam, an
influential religious institution of higher learning, described the move as
irreligious and against the spirit of the Wakf Act. Moulana Syed Shah
Badruddin Al-Qadri Al-Jeelani, chief patron of Sunni Ulema Board also
described the appointment as un-Islamic.
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: Yakub Habeebuddin Tucy, a city-based descendent of last Moghal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar has knocked at the doors of Supreme Court seeking temporary injunction order permitting him to preside over the Urs celebrations of Shahjahan and Mumtaj Mahal at their tombs in the Taj.
The Urs falls on January 25 and 26 next year and Habeebuddin Tucy claims that only the family members of the Moghal emperors have the right to preside over the religious ceremony. So far, the Archaeological Survey of India has been celebrating the Urs.
Habeebuddin shot into national limelight a few months ago when he filed a case in Allahabad High Court seeking direction to the Central government that the Taj Mahal belonged to him by virtue of his lineage to the Moghal emperors.
"The ASI has the jurisdiction over only the protection part of the Taj Mahal. It has no right to interfere in religious ceremonies. As legal descendants of the Moghal emperors, only we have the right to supervise over the religious ceremonies," Habeebuddin observed.
Habeebuddin's advocate M Irshad Hanif told this correspondent from Delhi on telephone that the Supreme Court had registered their petition. It may come up for hearing next week. "Our contention is that there should be a Taj Act on the lines of the Rajghat Samadhi Act 1951, Dargah Khwaja Sahib Act 1955 and Rampur Raza Library Act 1975. In all these Acts, the descendants have been given permission to supervise over the religious ceremonies though the protection and maintenance part vests with ASI, Central government and Wakf Board," he said.
Hanif said they had prayed for declaration of the Taj Mahal as a Wakf property and permission to Yakub Tucy to be the incharge of the Urs. "We are not asking for the mutavalliship. We are just seeking supervision over the religious functions," he clarified.
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: The Islamic Academy For Comparative Religion has
launched a mission in the city to create awareness in the Muslim youth on the
importance of blood donation and promotion of communal harmony.
The Academy has created a computerised database of blood donors to
provide blood to needy patients in and around the city. It wants to enrol as
many as 5000 volunteers to begin with and create a mega bank of blood
donors in the long run.
"There is a general misconception in the Muslim community that one should
not donate blood. This is wrong. Donation of blood to save the life a person
is very much a part of Islamic practice as the Holy Quran says that saving one
human life is like saving the whole of mankind," observes Academy
president Mohammed Asifuddin.
A round-the-clock control room has been set up for enrolment of volunteers
and appeals for blood. This will be a continuous and on-site help for all who
need blood. This help will be free and available for all irrespective of caste,
creed, age or gender, he said.
"Once a call is received the nearest volunteer with the matching blood details
will drop in at the spot in minutes to donate blood. The donors will be
carefully picked up after a comprehensive scrutiny of all personal health
records. The volunteers will be in the age group of 18-35 years. Each
volunteer will be permitted to donate blood only twice a year," he said.
The Academy will promote the concept of blood donation through sermons
in mosques, madarasas and other Islamic institutions.
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh State government has decided to engage the
services of eminent legal experts FS Nariman and K Parasaran to argue on its
behalf against the AP High Court's judgment on reservations for Muslims in
government jobs and educational institutions.
The State BC Commission is holding a meeting in a couple of days to decide
whether to implead separately in Supreme Court on the Muslim quota since
the High Court has found fault with the way the commission prepared the
report recommending five per cent reservations for the principal minority
community.
The State government has sought clarification from the High Court on the
four weeks time given by it for filing of special leave petition in Supreme
Court. Officials want to know whether the four week period starts on the day
of delivery of the judgment or from the day of handing over of the judgment
copies to the government.
Officials of BC and minorities welfare department are now busy studying
various judgements on reservations and reports submitted by earlier BC
commissions including the Anantaramulu and Muralidhar commissions. They
are also gathering vital data on the economic backwardness of Muslims in
Andhra Pradesh so that the government could put up a strong fight in the
apex court.
The High Court has struck down the State government's order on five per
cent quota for Muslims holding the BC Commission's report as inadequate.
By Syed AkbarHyderabad: The Muslim community in Andhra Pradesh is now in search of GenX religious leadership to guide it through the challenges being thrown in by the fast changing world.The Muslim religious leaders in the State have let down the community on more than one occasion with their old ideas, most of them impracticable in this modern day society. The average age of top Muslim religious scholars is 60 years and some of the Moulanas cannot walk without support. And they have been at the helm of religious affairs for as long as two to three decades, literally blocking the growth of young leaders.In the absence of second-rung leadership there are instances of madrasas and religious institutions suffering heavily following the death of the chief promoter. A few institutions have been closed down causing untold hardship to students."Some of the Ulema in the State had grown to such a stature that they had become institutions by themselves. And when they died the institutions they had nourished for decades also suffered slow death. This would have been avoided had there been a second-rung young leadership," observes Moulana Abdul Kareem who is in his early 20s.With the old Ulema refusing to make way for the GenX, an attempt is being made by a group of Muslim social and religious activists to create what they call the "Third Muslim Force" in the State. They want to take on the old Muslim political leadership on one hand and the old religious leadership on the other, through the proposed TMF movement. A series of meetings have been planned and six of them have been completed. "Be it politics or religion, we have been seeing the same old faces at least for the past 20 years. It's high time they stepped down and encourage young leaders to occupy high positions in religious institutions and madrasas. We have made a beginning with like-minded Muslim leaders in the State to create an alternative force to old Muslim politicians and old Muslim Ulema," says State IUML general secretary Abdul Sattar Mujahed.Social activist Mubhashiruddin Khurram squarely blames the Ulema for the lack of second-rung religious leadership in the State. "Most of these Ulema send their children and grand-children to English medium schools and consequently they do not find anyone in their family to don the mantle after them. Moreover, they do not trust outsiders. This makes things complicated for them. They continue to run the show as long as they live and the moment they die the institutions suffer. This bad," he observes.Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind State president Hafiz Peerzada Shabbir Ali advocates the system of "Majlis-e-Shura" (consultative committee) in all the religious institutions in the State to encourage a blend of old and young leadership in the community. He points out that eminent Muslim institutions in north India including the Nadwatul Ulema and Darul Uloom Deoband follow the tradition of Shura with 21 members. "Why not this practice be followed in Andhra Pradesh? We generally do not allow young leaders to occupy top positions because they easily become emotional. They do not think with heart. What we need is a blend of old and new leadership for a balanced direction to the community," Shabbir argues.However, All-India Personal Law Board general secretary Abdul Rahim Qureshi does not agree that there's a generation gap in the Muslim religious leadership in the State. "You find many young Muslim scholars in madarasas. If some of them have turned old while serving the institutions, we cannot blame them," says he.The notable Muslim organisations in Hyderabad with old guards at the helm of affairs include Tameer-e-Millat, Amarat-e-Millat-e-Islamia, Jamia Nizamia, Sunni Ulema Board and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. There had been no change in the top leadership for many years.Eminent institutions like An-Noor (Moulana Taqiuddin), Idare Islami (Moulana Akbar Qasmi) and Sabeelus Salam (Moulana Rizwanul Qasmi) fell in deep trouble after the demise of their founders. The change in leadership has not been smooth in the case of Sabeelus Salam with different claimants to its vast property."Yes, the generation gap is being felt by young and educated people in the community. Many of the old Ulema do not know what's happening in this new world. One has to take pains to explain to them terminology like AIDS, condoms or new methods in family planning while obtaining fatwas," says educationist B Moinuddin, recalling his experience with one of the old scholars.
By Syed Akbar
