The Business and the Politics over Rapes

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Author: Nisaar Nadiadwala

Imagine a girl is raped while on the way to attend the call of nature. Were the rapists inspired by that sex appeal (sic) or were they highly charged up sex maniacs that they could grab anything that came on their way like hungry wolves? Reports say that the girls were alive when they were hanged after being raped.The disturbing question is : Then why did they hang them? Was it a sadist pleasure to see the victims struggling to save their shame and then struggle to save their lives. Or was it an announcement of a barbaric puffed up superiority complex that their crime can go unchallenged?

Badaun in UP became a place for political pilgrimage for two days with many Tom, Dick and Harry of Indian Politics going there to console the mourning parents of the two girls who were raped and hanged to death. As the voice of dismissing the state Government for its inability of protecting women's honour is growing louder, the UP government is now is more concerned about saving itself than its women. Some people are more interested on inflicting a harsher punishment on the UP government than on the rapists. One of the top leaders of UP Government retaliated by complaining that why the rapes in other states of India are not highlighted as of UP!

Just today we have another high power media blitz about anothe rape. A 35 year old lady in Meghalaya was molested and her head was blown off point blank for resisting rape. In the coming days more news of women beign raped will be highlighted in the Indian media and lots of debates will take place to uphold the honour of women, till the cheerleaders of football worldcup replace the agony of poor rape victims. After all the media has just returned from the battle of elections and gathered a lot of TRPs and money as spoils of war. Now to maintain the costumers till the worldcup football kicks off, they need sensations, and what can be a better sensation than such blood boiling news. Mourning too is now glamourised.

In the US, according to their statistics, more than 2000 women are raped every day but these news dont rock their media or Parliament, but they have written a lot on Indian rapes. The Guardian, The New York Pos, BBC and others have given a colourful coverage to the Badaun rape story. For them it is like " The Slum Lord Millionare " movie which gives Oscar winning entertainment by showing Indian slum kids jumping in human dung. What moral rights the Western news papers have to shout and scream about Indian rapes story when their own soldiers are involved in more gruesome sexual crimes in war-torn Middle east ?

Will the Indian parliament show courage to amend the law of punishing the rapists and upgrade it with a death penalty? Pressure of stiff punishment for the rapists is too high on the new Indian parliament, but what about the scores of members from various parties who have cases of rapes against them? So the news and noise will fade away once some other sensational story pops up. After all winning an election is one thing and running a nation is another thing. You can win elections by paying the media but you cannot you rule the country by paying the media. You need strong laws to protect your society and it should be applicable for all including the rapists of Muzzafarnagar and Gujarat.

Nisaar Nadiadwala can be responded at nisaar_yusuf@yahoo.com
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Increasing rapes and the real questions to be answered

By: Meraj Kazi

Rape cases in our country, especially in the metros like Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata, has convulsed the country into the grief, anger & self-loathing. What sort of people are we, living amidst the worst crimes committed? What kind of society have we made??

Does censorship to films help preserve a sense of decorum & decency? Isn’t there a vanishingly little evidence on our streets? Aren’t the politicians right in blaming the advertising, music videos & our already censorious culture? Isn’t it a link to violent rape fantasy in song lyrics, a novel or, indeed, a rape scene in film of unwatchable brutality? Is it really not the consequence of pop culture? Are we not supposed to question the sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, feminist, plain stupid assumptions of pop culture we consume? Are we not to blame the disgusting lyrics of Honey Singh or the nudity played out in our films, TV shows & advertisements? Doesn’t alcoholic intoxication lead to such acts?

Was Asaram Bapu really wrong when he said one hand cannot clap by itself? Was the clergy of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind really wrong to advocate the shutdown of co-educational institutes & dressing up of girls in a dignified & sober clothes? Was Mohan Bhagwat really insane when he asserted that more rapes happen in “India” as compared to in “Bharat”? Won’t men be provoked when they see women flaunting their bodies? Will men deny an invitation when someone offers them the fruit on a plate? Are girls not misusing all the freedom they are given in this world? Have men lost the sense of what is harassment, what is crime & what is uncivilized? How can we expect that the dry grass with petrol near it under scorching heat won’t catch fire?

Isn’t it decline of pieties among men & women? Have we lost the concept of accountability for our actions? Have we lost the concept of Hijaab of eyes & actions? Don’t we need tangential reforms in police actions, in judicial procedures? Isn’t it the reason that the women are being used & over-used?

Account & answer yourself the above questions on the basis of your intellect, without ignoring your inner instincts & values, and most importantly, without being a male chauvinist or a feminist

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Corporate World excuse me: Hijab is my way and my life

Friday, May 30, 2014

Author: Nida Khan

I wonder why people have issues with hijab. Why people are “developing” their mind and thinking hard on it. Why is it an issue for them? After all it’s my hijab, my freedom, my security and above all my feminity. Oh excuse me feminist, if you don’t like hijab it’s your choice but don’t dare to fight for our so called ‘freedom’ of your dictionary. Hijab is our right, it is obligatory in Islam and it is a part of our faith. It is a commandment from my Master.

Women are played by the society in the past as well as in the present. People used to degrade women and humiliate them in the past and same is going on in today’s world. Women are made as an object and women of today’s era is accepting it whole heartedly.

Corporate world is trained enough to play with the body and soul of the women and astonishingly today’s women have sold their most valuable brains to these corporate world – leading to removal of all the clothes. Shame on us. Shame on our femininity.

Behind the colorful screen of liberalization and rights, these corporate world is playing with women. In majority of the ads even though there is no need of a woman the advertisers push them into it anyhow. What woman has to do in the ad of men’s undergarment? What is the need to advertise a bikini? Women do not know to purchase it? But the corporate world pay so huge that today’s women have sold her body “legally”, and yet we hope to get respect in the society. Is it not hypocrisy?

Think logically these corporate world prefers woman; from receptionist to a news and T.V. show anchor; from secretary to Air Hostess. Many of the jobs require women to wear shorts and be ‘good’ looking. I don’t mind if any woman prefers to sell her body and display her secrets, but don’t ever come in our way to bother us. Don’t even to dare think we are degraded or oppressed. We don’t live in houses, we live in castles. Don’t try to underestimate us; we are trained, we are strong, we have Iman (Faith), we have everything. We rock the talk shows, we excel in education, we maintain our homes, we secure our castles, we take care of our husbands – they are our equal halves, we up-bring our children, we give them values, we build the society; more importantly, we get rewards from the one who created us – The Almighty.

Until and unless we take care of our husbands they won’t find peace, they need us to be with them, and they need peace. It is you – the corporate world – who have portrayed us to be degraded when we serve our husbands. We don’t believe you we believe in the Almighty who has created us. He has secured our rights and has given liberty too. My liberty is in in my Hijab… Excuse me corporate world, it’s my hijab… my identity.

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Du’a - an ultimate weapon of the believer.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Author: Meraj Kazi

In the direst time of our need and lost amidst the ocean, even an atheist raise the ultimate weapon blessed by Allah - the two palms of his hands seeking for help from the Almighty.

“Du’a turns away destiny & good deeds lengthen age.” (Tirmidhi)

Often the effect of this great weapon in our clutch is neglected & tends to be taken lightly. A hadeeth narrates, “Man should call upon Allah alone to provide for his needs, so much so that even if a shoe-lace is broken, he should pray to Allah to provide a shoe-lace, & if he needs salt, he should beseech Allah to send it to him.” (Tirmidhi)

The hadeeth explains that we need to ask Allah for each & everything as there is nothing tiny in Du’a. We shouldn’t turn to Allah only the day before exam, or a meeting or a great event or when everything else has failed, but even for a broken shoe-lace or salt, which is easily available at the end of the street. Thus connection with our Lord is always online with Du’a. There is nothing less or small or too silly in Du’a. Du’a can be performed any time, we can talk to Allah all the time, after-all He is All-Hearer.

Glory be to Allah, He created us, provided us with beautiful atmosphere to fulfill our needs, gave us guidance to prevent us from wandering, yet expects us to ask Him more, He loves those who ask over & is ashamed to return His asking-servant empty handed. “Verily your Lord is Generous & Shy. If His servant raises his hands in supplication, He becomes shy to return them empty handed.” (Tirmidhi)

“For whoever opened the door of Du’a, for him the doors of mercy are opened…” (Tirmidhi)

Allah’s love for His servants & the vastness of His kingdom is beautifully summarized in Ahadith.

“In the Court of Allah, there is no greater thing than Du’a.” (Ibn Majah)

Many consider Du’a to be an ‘extra’ act, to be performed only when needed, but Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) said “Du’a is Ibadah.”(Tirmidhi)

We label ‘worship’ only to those acts which we perform for Allah, like Salah, Zakaat, Hajj…etc. But asking Allah to fulfill our needs is also ‘worship’. And since its worship, we need to perform it around the clock as the very purpose of our existence is to worship Allah.

Let us utilize this ever available asset in our hand, which may turn a liability if not given its due right. Let us beseech Allah all the times, for we become one of His favourites. Let us raise our hands before our Lord; with the conviction that He will answer our prayer, to raise our position, status & ultimately to enter our final destination, Jannatul Firdous.

Du’a - the simple the word sounds, the complex is its power. It can change our destiny, something which is predestined can be altered with it.

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The teacher of Arabia: The teacher of mankind.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Author: Ayaz Farooqui

How many of our modern day degree holders realize that our best generation had graduated inside a mosque built up of mud bricks; that had palm leaves as its roof to shade the teacher of Arabia and his students against the sun and rain.

At the time when the Roman and the Persian empires were enjoying the luxuries and delights of this world; he, the teacher of Arabia and his students lived on empty stomach, walked and ran bare-footed, sat and slept on floor. They sacrificed themselves just to hold the "hand" of the Almighty, to acquire the Divine wisdom, to secure the knowledge that would assist them on this planet and in the world unseen.

This teacher of Arabia didn’t build any monumental structure, or any sizable mosque (had he wished, he could have done so), but he built their (his students’) belief "of steel" (not of mud or clay), their determination "of Iron" (not of dust), their courage "of unbreakable stones" (not of sand), their conviction "of concrete" (not of ashes), their morals incorruptible.

In contrary to this, we are getting educated in luxurious towers and buildings, via Smart Classes, in AC rooms. Our palaces Magnificent, houses grand, surroundings majestic, localities ostentatious, and the culture that binds us all is, salacious.

Of course, we do have mosques with impressive architecture, striking beauty, historic resemblance; with outstanding, illustrious designing and framework.

But there is scarcity, and absence of faith. There is a lack of the fire that was kindled by the teacher of Arabia. Our belief now is of mud, determination of dust, courage we posses is of sand, last but not the least our conviction and will power is reduced to ashes -as often as we hit by calamities- we crumble, fragment, and then we collapse. The teacher of Arabia and his students fulfilled their tasks, and satisfied their Master. What he left behind is a miraculously divine Book (Qur'an) and his legacy (his sayings and traditions). We cannot flourish or prosper unless we follow his footsteps. Indeed, he showed us the path of the ultimate success.

And he did remind us in his last sermon: I leave behind me two things, the Qur'an and my example (the sunnah), if you follow these you will never go astray.

Allah honored him, and declared "There has certainly been for you in the messenger of Allah an excellent pattern of conduct...” (Qur'an 33:21)

**The teacher of Arabia signifies Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who is, infact, the teacher, the ultimate example for humanity; and his students signifies his companions (may Allah be pleased with them).

The Authour can be contacted at: ayazzfarooqui[at]gmail.com 

Source: Youth Empowerment Society for Islam

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Smoking – A social epidemic!

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Ever-growing use of tobacco and related issues are a lethal threat that humanity faces today. As per the statistics published by world health organization, use of tobacco has caused more than 100 million deaths in 20th century. Currently 6 million deaths per year are attributed to use of tobacco and related diseases.

Eastern Mediterranean region of world health organization has published a book namely ‘Islamic ruling on Smoking’, which comprises the opinion of many Islamic scholars where they unanimously agree that the use of tobacco and smoking is prohibited in Islam. In their view, smoking is prohibited because of following reasons.

1) Use of tobacco is harmful to health and may eventually cause death. This ruins the health of the person who smokes and those who interacts with him alike. Islam has prohibited ruining oneself and others. Qura’n tells “…and kill not one another. Lo! Allah is ever Merciful unto you. (4:29). “Spend your wealth for the cause of Allah, and be not cast by your own hands to ruin; and do good. Lo! Allah loveth the beneficent.”(2:195)

2) Use of tobacco is definitely a form of squandering, an act which is banned in Islam. Qura’n tells “…But squander not (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift” (17:26). “…But waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters” (7:31). In a hadith reported by Muslim Allah disapproves squandering of the wealth. (riyadussaliheen Book 18, Hadith 1781).

3) Smoking is bad and impure. Allah has prohibited all such things. Qura’n tells “…for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure);..(7:157). Umm Salma (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that prophet (peace be upon him) prohibited from every intoxicant and anything which causes a lapse to the mind.(Abu Dawud).

4) The offensive odor caused by the use of tobacco classifies it as one of the evils.

This book can be downloaded from WHO website

Source: http://feelislam.com/2013/05/smoking/

Recommended Reading:  Smoking and Young Generation

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Tahajjud: The strength of a believer

Monday, May 27, 2013

Pin drop silence lingers all around. Hustle and bustle has faded out. In the tranquility of twilight, all have curled up under their blankets, slipped into deep sleep.

Getting quietly out of his cozy blanket, a believer makes ablution and silently, engrosses himself into a conversation with his Lord. Sun is still down, may be hours left to rise. Under the veil of night, he is immersed in prayers, long prostration, murmurings of sincere penitence… he opens up to his Merciful Lord. Imagine how delighted that heart would be at the dawn, seeing his new daybreak as a purified soul!

Tahajjud (long prayer in night) is a highly favored tradition of the Prophet (peace be upon him). It’s the golden opportunity to strengthen one’s faith, to meditate down your mind, and to expunge your sins. The supplications and the Qur’an we recite during Tahajjud help us keep our faith and piety un-perforated, grow roots of belief deeper and stand strong.

Prophet (peace be upon him) used to recommend Tahajjud highly. He used to elaborate on its benefits in the life here and hereafter. In early periods of prophethood, Tahajjud was given prime importance. “And during a part of the night, pray Tahajjud beyond what is incumbent on you; maybe your Lord will raise you to a position of great glory” (Qur’an 17:79). This and many Qur’anic verses were instructions to the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding Tahajjud.

Nothing beats Tahajjud when it comes to inner strength to a believer. The power and potential it provides is unimaginable and ineffable. Qur’an says that waking up from sleep in the midst of night helps to attain self-control and to better recite Qur’an.

Look at this hadeeth from our Prophet (peace be upon him): “Be vigilant in standing up [in prayer] at night for it was the practice of the pious before you. It is a means of gaining proximity to Allah Ta’ala, an expiation for transgressions and a barrier from sins.” [Tirmidhi].

For a caller to Islam, the moments of Tahajjud are a respite, and a strong rope to hold fast to. During Tahajjud, he gives his words and deeds a retrospect, shares his worries and concerns with Allah, eases the burden on his shoulder.

Only strong willed can wake up at a moment when mind and body refuses to leave cozy cushions of comfort, wandering in the dreamland of desires. In another reporting from Thabraani, Prophet (peace be upon him) says, “If one intents to offer Tahajjud, an Angel approaches him and tells : ‘its time up to wake up’. Pray and remember you Lord’. And the Satan comes and tells him, ‘Night is still young, sleep over for some more time. If you get up now for prayer, your eyes will turn red, you will grow weak, sleeplessness will eat up your vitality’. If this person follows Satan, he sleeps off without praying and the Satan urinates in his ears.”

My dear, for all this while, who were you following?

English rendering of article written by Abdul Wadud
Translated by Noufal PT

Source: http://feelislam.com/2013/05/tahajjud-nightprayer

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