In Search of the Moderate Muslim

Bina:447

People irritate each other in various ways.

Some by shoving down latest fads & fashions,Cars & houses AND then look down upon those who are either not or refuse to be part of such cattle ranch[this,the ``creed`` of consumerism & those who follow are fanatics & the promoters-- the `mullas` of this religion]

In a similar way there are other ``Creeds`` too where the `tyrants` & ``terrorists`` gloat about their `way of life` and consider those not blindly following such creed as quaint,exotic,weird,crazy,fanatic ...blah blah blah.

In my humble(or daring)opinion the greatest curse upon mankind today is ``progress`` & ``advancement`` and then the insistence that the greatest exploiter of resources per unit time be called civilised & `successful`.Such a society is surely devilish by design & satanic in in defining success.

Laughter without happiness,Discomfort in prosperity,Distrust amid frienship etc etc.No prosperity or acievement is worthwhile if it can make one so completely `independant` that the need to `help` & `look after` and `be friends with` becomes a chore rather than a need or desire.



Sign on a door when exiting:

``All visitors make us happy---------some by coming,some by going``.

For Jay:

About Cheraman Perumal & the masjid:

It takes us back to the 5th century when Prophet Mohammed sent his disciples to the rest of the world. 13 followers under the leadership of Malik Bin Dinar took off to the peninsular Indian coast and reached Kudangaloor (then `Musiris`) which was a famous port on the Spice Route.

The then ruler of Kodungaloor, Sri Cheraman Perumal, warmly received these travelers. He offered them houses and encouraged inter - caste marriages with the lower castes, which the king was sympathetic about.

The first mosque in India was built at Kodungaloor and was called Cheraman Masjid. This mosque even today has typical features of a temple. Later, Cheraman Perumal also became a follower of Islam and he went to Mecca.

A brutal caste system existed in Kerala way back in the 5th century where people were divided into 4 castes, viz. Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and the Sudras. Brahmins were considered holy disciples of God; Kshatriyas; the rules and Vaishyas as well as Sudras formed the laborers of the system. Vaishyas and the Sudras were not allowed any freedom in the state and they were not even allowed to wear tops in front of the landlords. And the Christian and the Muslim evangelistic were a blessing to this working class.



Many from the Vaishya and Sudra community followed Malik Bin Dinar and Cheraman Perumal. Slowly the Muslim community flourished. Unbelievingly they received enough support from the rulers of the era. These fresh converts and their generation held many offices in the kingdom of Hindu Rulers especially because of their skills in war front and business.

Trade Monopoly of Malabar Muslims

The Muslims essentially monopolized trade for the simple reason that most of it was carried out through sea. According to Hindu mythology, one is not supposed to cross the sea and this kept the majority away from trading relations with the rest of the world. There had to be a mediator who could cross waters. This led to the economic development of Malabar. Ports like Kozhikode, Beypore, Kodungallor and Cranganore were in their peak performance at this era. Produced from the entire South India found their way abroad through these ports. The community flourished. Muslims remained the prime middlemen on the Spice Route between the 11th and the 14th century. During this time the Mappila population grew rapidly with the happy and fantastic acceptance of large families and early marriages.

The British rule and trade restrictions marked a decline in trade as well as the lives of the people. Despite past glory, Malabar, now remains economically and educationally stagnant as compared to the rest of Kerala. It had been classified as a backward area by the government until recently. Marine and timber products contribute the major share to enonomy.

Zafar #426

``Mansarovar Parikrama subsidy!!``

Are you sure? How much is this subsidy?

These days it seems the definition of a moderate Muslim is one who is pro-Western. I think the most moderate Muslims I`ve ever seen are the ones who pay utmost attention to their own din but make no attempts to tell anyone else how to do it.

rjanjua #423 ``I think ``islam khatray may hay`` & ``islam aik mukamal zabta hayat hay`` are the most popular slogans of these nutcases. Someone ought to tell these idiots that the ``Almighty`` and His message does`nt need any protection.``

The mullahs in Pakistan would do well to read these words every morning and every evening until they get the concept in their heads.

Hatred and fear are two sides of the same coin - insecurity. And insecurity comes from a man who does not have faith in himself, in his fellow human beings, and in God Himself. And mullahs proclaim this insecurity over the loudspeaker when they can (``islam khatray main hay``, ``islam aik mukamal zabatai hayat hai``).

Aamir:

``However ,i disagree with you that 84 riot was not directed against Sikhs by Hindus.It was wrong not even if there was no hatred for sikhs.To punish someone else for others crime is never right anywhere EVER.``

I think I agree with you on this one. One thing that MUST BE KEPT IN MIND is that the 1984 riots were not conducted by the Hindu parties. No, the so called ``Hindu`` parties are not the guilty ones. The riots were conducted by the so called ``SECULAR`` Congress. The failure of the Indian state to convict even one individual is a blot on every Indian citizen.

BTW, I know you have often been confused about my turban. Suffice to say I am clean-shaven.

Sigalph:

``nd the killers of Sopore.``

Who is Sopore? Are you referring to the town in Kahmir? Who was killed there?

Zafar:

PS Haj subsidy, Mansarovar Parikrama subsidy, what’s the difference? And what`s your point?

Dude, are the Hindus allowed subsidies for religious pilgrimages as well? Is the Mansoravar or any other Hindu pilgrimage subsidzed?

Romair #416:

Interestingly, your post is equally applicable to the concept of Brahminism in Hinduism. There too, power was acquired by the Brahmin, purely on the basis of religious knowledge, and then extended into the temporal realm.

The Sikhs recognized the cancer of Brahminism, and made sure that theirs was an egalitarian society. There have also been constant reform movements, the last in the late 19th, early century, when the Mahants (basically Hindus who had taken up the role of Sikh Priesthood) were cleared out of the Gurudwaras.

{Reply #: 435

sigalph235

Lets get rid of this Shariat nonsense. To you your shariat to me mine.}



I am still reeling & trying to recover from the profoundness of the above statement.It does reflect the higher foreign(always means english:not chinese,Japanese,arabic)education you have managed to imbibe.

re: Babu # 436

Those problems, if any, should be resolved at the local level, along with the cooperation of progressive Bangladeshis. Whether your report is true or not, such broadcasts serve to sensationalize religious issues, and create resentment where resentment may not be entirely justified. No one is helped in the process.

Regards.

EK

Re: sigalph

``Thank you fot the support. Between the naqshbandi-urstruly Jamaat and the vipul-gowardhan-maheshG Dal, I sometimes feel like a small, small, minority.``

I`ve always made the distinction between institutionalized bigotry as seen in Pakistan (and Arab states) and incident-based bigotry that happens in all countries, including India, Bangladesh, and even the US...,subtle but big difference.

``BTW, Saxenaji, I`ll tell you that although I`m an unabashed GOPer, this MArk Green fellow looks very attractive as Mayor.``

Just when we agreed on something you had to say this...Bloomberg all the way...lesser of two evils...I`m still horrified at Rudy leaving...I don`t trust these other clowns...

I have no issues with the GOP other than its obsession with religion and constant need to shove puritanism down the country`s throat...

---

Thousands flee Bangladesh to escape attacks



HABRA: Thousands of Hindus from Bangladesh are crossing over to India, to escape from large-scale attacks on minorities in that country.

``The true picture is not known to the outside world. It is a free for all so far it goes to torturing minority Hindus. Women and property are the prime targets - hundreds of Hindu women are hospitalised, many were killed after being raped,`` Bidhu Bhusan Das, one of the migrants from Barishal, who fled leaving behind his relatives, said.

The local municipality pretends ignorance as do the police and the administration, but the migrants are moving in daily via Hakimpur, Bongaon (Petrapole) borders and dispersing to districts like Bardhaman and Midnapore - even to far-off places like the Andamans via Kolkata.

``It is a war against the Hindus. Awami League could not protect us, even worse, they are now joining hands with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party cadres with the sole aim to butcher Hindu minorities,`` a group of migrants from Barishal and Bhola districts of Bangladesh, who have taken shelter in this town, 12 km from the Hakimpur border, said.

The situation after the October 1 elections, the migrants said, ``are worse than that in 1992``, when the Babri Masjid demolition in India led to communal tension in the neighbouring country.

Das, who himself was targeted for his close association with a local Awami League leader, had sought help from a Muslim friend the day the election results were declared, but was refused as ``those who shelter Hindus, will not be spared... The ruling party cadres have formed assault groups, who intrude into residences of minorities in the late hours, torture women, loot valuables, and slash tongues of the livestock.``

``These assailants come later with a tape recorder to record our voice and instruct us to recite that we are fine,`` a panic-stricken Sefali Roy, who fled with her three young daughter under the cover of darkness, said.

Many of these migrants from Barishal, Bhola and Patuakhali come to the border onboard the Chakladar bus service, a private transport company. They gather near border points at Petrapol, Gede, Panchpota, Hakimpur on pre-decided dates, mostly on Tuesday.

Local touts, who cannot generally enter the localities, are helping them to cross the border.

As per the claims of the migrants and Habra Bangladeshi Udbastu Samity, a non-government organisation, over 1,500 people from across the border were now in Habra alone, while a huge number have dispersed to other places.

Habra municipality chairperson and local Trinamul Congress MLA Tapati Datta, however, said, ``We have heard that some people have come, but there is no official report, neither from the police nor from locals``.

The locals, particularly those residing at colonies in Banipur, Bholapara, Hirapol, were sympathetic towards the migrants.

In fact, many of them, who settled down in India after the 1971 riots in Bangladesh, actually got prior information about the arrival of the groups.

Another 400 were expected shortly, said Bimal Majumder, who runs an association of refugees.

Sources at the Habra police station said, ``It is primarily the responsiblity of the BSF to detect and detain the migrants.``

The Habra police reportedly apprehended 82 people last week and the Gaighata police station 80 others.

Asked if the infiltration problem was posing a threat, police sources said, ``infiltration in these areas is a regular feature all through the year, it may take serious proportions as per reports of atrocities on minorities there``.

The authorities of the municipality, which set up over 30 relief camps for flood victims last year, said, ``We will make similar arrangements for the migrants if the government issues orders``.

Nripen Sarkar, who managed to escape two days after the polls, said, ``it is difficult even to flee as they keep vigil on your movements``.

``Hindus are not allowed to withdraw money from banks or sell property. You need permission from a BNP minister to sell your land. Any Muslim who buys a Hindu`s land is punished,`` another migrant Priya Mohan Roy said.

Terming the BNP regime as `Taliban raj`, Roy said, ``Hindus have to compulsorily take part in rallies brought out in support of Osama Bin Laden``.

Describing his horrific experiences, Sarkar said, ``Even the little boys used to scare us by shouting slogans like `Ekta ekta Hindu dhar, Hindu Dhare tiffin kor` (catch the hindus, and have them for tiffin)``.

The Bangladesh police will not register any case brought by minorities. Moreover, any Hindu, who had earlier filed a case against a Muslim, had to pay fine for past mistakes.

The Hindus did not want to hold the Durga puja festival. ``The BNP cadres insisted that we do organise the puja, so that they can show the world that everything is fine in Bangladesh``, Priya Mohan said.

``Even now, over a lakh of Hindus are on the run, hiding in the forest area in Gounadi. The worst incidents of torture on women took place at Lalmon police station area. Many of them are missing... Just visit the hospitals and you can see for yourself,`` the migrants said.

They also said ``after the polls, at least 16 journalists were attacked by BNP supporters. Two of them died. You won`t know what is going on inside``.

re hamza afaqui #418

Dude, are there any people with normal, regular, qualifications on this Sharia Board? Seems everyone mentioned on that site is a product of the largesse of Saudi-financed make-believe education and phony investment companies!

Nothing against them, but if there are Muslims to look upto in the professional world, I`d much rather look at people like the late Fazlur Rahman Khan(architect Sears Tower and John Hancock) and Muhammad Sacirbey (top stock broker, former Bosnian Ambassador) and Fareed Zakaria (scholar par excellence).

Lets get rid of this Shariat nonsense. To you your shariat to me mine.

I have often felt Asif came to take religion seriously later in life, not from childhood. Just a feeling, heartfelt apologies to Asif if not. The reason I say it is, IMO childhood on, the variety of life generally has time to lend proper perspective to lines in religious books.

Jay 432

The Perumal masjid still exists somewhere in Kerala.I have a picture of it from a magazine.

It is said to be the first masjid in India.I`ll try to locate the story that was printed alongwith that picture---and I did read it but now cannot recall much.It was a fascinating story;only that I remember.

The culture,humanity,and general demeanour of the South Indian rulers has been praised immensely by that great traveller & chronicler Ibn Batuta(1200 0r so?)of Tunisia.He made it a point to contrast it to the tyranny of the Sultan of Delhi.

The genial nature of the South Indians can still be easily discerned & appreciated by those who do not mistake softness for timidness.

Sometimes I think that the aborgines anywhere in the world are the most cultured & civilised people.It is precisely the ``progressiveness`` and ``advancement`` which has the germ of aggression & hence boorishness dormant in it.

Maybe I`m totally wrong & just a romantic.