The Passion of The Pacifist

Asghar Ali Engineer presents a humane voice, one worth listening to. His fight against the obscurantism of the Bohris is inspiring.

However, Engineer makes the mistake of coming across as an Apologist for Islam, with his spurious definitions of words like Kafir. Anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of Islam knows that Kafir means a non Muslim, not somoene ``who does not believe in goodness``.

As educated people we must accept what is odious in our religious traditions.

The Qur`an, in no uncertain terms, declares that non believers (both Ahl al Kitab and idol worshipers) will be relegated to Hell if they hear the message of Islam, but then refuse to accept it. It its turn, The Gita condones the caste system and warns of the dire consequences of the breakdown of the caste system.

The Qur`an, like the Bible, Gita and other relgious documents is written by Man and is deeply flawed. The God of the Qur`an can be vindictive and angry and petty (witness the punihsment he metes out to Abu Lahab, or his constant exhortations to Man to obey and adore him). The Al-Lah of the Qur`an is very much a Tribal God with tribal characteristics, modeled as he is on the Jehova of the Old Testament (again, a Tribal God of the Hebrews who helps that tribe defeat and smash other tribes). The Krishna of the Gita can be contradictory and casteist and materialistic and he too gets involved in human affairs. There is only one religious document that rises above these personal and tribal conceptions of God, and that is the Upanishad, where as Engineer points out, God is Nirgun (without attribute), and Nirankar. You will never find the Upanishadic God ordering so and so to be punished in Hell or commanding that people should travel to Makkah once a year or saying that dissolution of caste will lead to the ruin of society. This is why the Upanishad has inspired philosophers from Dara to Schopenhauer to Emerson to Thoreau to Goethe to Lord Russell. Two thousand years after the composition of the Upanishads, the same themes found expression in the mystical poetry of Rumi and other Persians.

So, Engineer`s credibility is under question when he acts as an Apologist for Islam, rather than honestly confronting and accepting its faults.

Nevertheless, we must admire his moral courage, his vision and his tremendous integrity. It is sad to see some responders like Ras Siddiqi politicizing this interview by stating that the ``use`` of Engineer by the Indian Establishment bothers him (whatever this vague remark means). Engineer is the type of man who Indian Muslims badly need to rescue them from the grips of the likes of Imam Bukhari, the Syedna, and others.

Dr Ali Akbar Poonawala

MBBS, MD

Jammu, India

I could never forget such a distinct name; alas, the history I have. Dear Farzana, would it be possible to have a little lesson on the man.

Ram-Rahim

Forgive me for being rude but do you have a cucumber up the seventh planet. Little advice: it`s getting boring, real boring. This whole `Islam this Islam that, 6th Century this and that` does not achieve anything but rather qualifies you to be just another troublemaker.

Please stay away from such crap.

Take care and best wishes

Umer Murtaza

PS. Farzana, in my humble opinion, your best article.

Like freethinker, I`d also never heard of Asgharali Engineer before this interview. Thank you, Farzana, for introducing us to him.

Dr. Engineer seems to be a gentleman through and through. Though I do not agree with everything he says, I think it is important to have such people around who show a gentler, more tolerant face to the violence that is practised in the name of religion. Too much has passed for us to ignore these virtues for the lack of an appropriate label.

And never forget; the first word of the Quran revealed to man was Read, not Kill.

``Read: In the name of thy Lord Who createth,

Createth man from a clot.

Read: And thy Lord is the Most Bounteous,

Who teacheth by the pen,

Teacheth man that which he knew not.``

- Chapter 96 (al-Alaq), ayahs 1 - 5

Aamir

This brother Asgharali Engineer is too logical, modern and secular to boot; therefore a threat to 6th Century ‘true’ Islam. Hope a Mulla (‘Commander of Faithful’ may carry more weight) will issue a fatwa (and a large award, preferably in US dollars) to kill him.

Every one should have the right to express one`s views. If the method of expression is deliberately malicious, it should require censure. One doesn`t have to necessarily accept the traditional majority views when such views have a bearing on one`s individual beliefs. If one feels strongly enough, he may choose to repudiate such views in print. The traditionalists should understand that a difference of opinion can exist and it usually does. One should be tolerant enough to accommodate a differing view and should not resort to abusive, accusatory, or degrading and debasing criticism because majority of the people in the world also have a differing view.

It is a fact of life that the majority of the people in the world are not Muslims, nor are they Christians, Hindus or followers of any single religion. One may believe that one`s own religion is better than the others or even the best of all (otherwise why would one believe in it?) but one should refrain from cursing others who do not believe in that religion. There are atheists, agnostics, secularists, skeptics, so on and so forth, in the world just as there are the religionists. They are no less human beings simply because they chose to break away from the traditional way of thinking and belief. It is a much difficult thing to break away from a traditional religion in which one was born than to continue living in it. Such an act is accursed almost in every religion but one has to live with one`s conscience. One doesn`t break away without a reason. A person who chooses to come out of the box is a bold person. There are probably many people who do not honestly accept the traditional beliefs but do not express their views because of social pressure and fear of adverse incidents to themselves and their families.

I had never heard of Dr Asghar Ali`s name before (probably my ignorance) but I wish him well. I do not have to know a person`s background or personal life to discuss his published views. I prefer to critique one`s published views rather than his personal life or family background. And if I have nothing constructive to contribute, I should better keep quiet. Ras Siddiqui`s style of expression is a healthy way of criticizing.

Happy New Year to the Chowk readership

ref: Glen #11

``....being part of a country which after more than 1000 years of interaction with muslims have refused to accept it & still tries to change islam into its own acceptable version.Why dont we see a islamised version of hinduism in the form of reformed hindu rather than forcing muslims to give up non veg habit ,role of females ,spiritual inspiration from mecca etc.``

First of all, Hinduism has changed tremendously since it came into contact with Islam. We have been hard at work trying to incorporate its message of universal brotherhood into our religion. Also I don`t think the hindus have any deep conflict with Islam as regards the more spiritual, godly matters. Its the social customs that are a source of tension. I cannot understand why god should care what I eat, whether I shave or not, which direction I pray in or in what language, or whether the women wear bindis or cover themselves in burqas?

But tell me Glen,to reverse the question on you: has Islam changed at all to accomodate Hindu beliefs in the 1000 years or so of their co-existense? (The poor sufis who tried are now relegated to the fringes of Islamia, considered only borderline muslims) This could either be becoz hindusim has nothing to offer, or becoz muslims are afraid to take it. Which do you think?

-narain

PS: who is forcing muslims to become vegetarians? :)

I have always admired for Asghar Ali Engineer has had to say.

Glen 11 writes:

----

Why dont we see a islamised version of hinduism in the form of reformed hindu rather than

forcing muslims to give up non veg habit ,role of females ,spiritual inspiration from mecca etc.



I have no idea where you have picked up these

rumors. Fact: meat-oriented cuisine especially

with muslim influence is a huge hit in India

(hyderabadi, bhopali, lahori, ....) and is

consumed everywhere. It is generally considered more sophisticated than the local regional

cuisine. Perhaps you are confusing

some backward areas like Uttar Pradesh with

India. Even there the BJP will be toast after

the next election if other groups (UP is 18%

muslim, 14% dalit) can get their act together.

As for role of females, growing up in Calcutta,

I saw 100`s of women in the street wearing Burhka.

Some still do and nobody gives a damn about it.

Spritual inspiration from mecca..., hmmm, do you

mean wahabism or truly mecca. Cults like wahabism

are not in favor but I dont think people care much

about whether you pray facing mecca or banaras.

India is a large country with a lot of diversity.

The North and West of India have gotten closer

to a ``pakistani``-style hate-the-other culture

(thanks guys!) but the south and east are quite

different.

dear Farzana,

Thank you for a very thoughful and interesting interview. You asked all the right questions.

One of your most insightful questions was regarding the right of a (cultural) minority to retain its identity and how to deal with the resultant pressure to conform to the majority.

My own feeling is that when our constitution guarantees a citizen the ``right to life``, it gives him the right to create and maintain his own identity: religious, cultural, ethnic etc. becoz to ``live`` life is to live it the way you want to. Thus to DEMAND conformism is unconstitutional (not to say just plain wrong!). That is all very clear and black and white.

But living in society inevitably means compromising somewhat. The grey area is about where one draws the line. How much should one compromise? And if one is compromising, does this constitute domination by the majority?

For eg: supposing you think your religion demands wearing a burqua. But you are interviewing with a corporate firm in Mumbai, and you know that the westernized people there would be uncomfortable with it. They might not say anything to you directly, but you know that it reduces your chances of getting hired. Are you compromising your religion if you do not wear it? Are you justified in feeling angry with the interviewer for his views? Even simpler. Let`s say the normal way of greeting in India is a namaste. Are your rights being trampled if you are expected to say that instead of the traditional Salaam-aleikum?

Melting into the melting pot is always a very painful process. But who is to blame for it? Is it really such a bad thing? What should be saved? These are the harder questions that all minorities have to face.

-narain

Ras Siddiqui # 12

?Although I do not agree with the notion that he is a ``Islamic Scholar`` ?

Ras,

Could you explain why you think Dr Asgharali Engineer is not an ``Islamic Scholar`` and what in your opinion it takes to be an ``Islamic Scholar``.

Regards,

Faruk

I have been following the writings of AAE for quite a while now. I also know that he has been under a ``boycott`` from within the Bohra Community.

Although I do not agree with the notion that he is a ``Islamic Scholar`` but he does appear to be rational humanist and makes some reasonable arguments.

I do not know what his differences are with other Bohras in their practice of faith, but he does come across as someone to listen to.

And it does bring us to the question whether rigid dogma or freedom of religion is the answer for Muslims today. I am for the latter and choose to boycott irrational fanatics myself.

Thanks Farzana for introducing CHOWK readers to AAE. I do not agree with some of his views and his use by the Indian Establishment on occasion.

Ras

Urstruly # 3

Asgharali Engineer is a renowned Islamic scholar, Bohra reformist, and Human Rights activist. Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, who has been a Vice President of the PUCL (People`s Union for Civil Liberties )for a number of years, has dedicated his life for securing liberties granted by the Constitution of India but denied by the Bohra priesthood, Syedna to his followers. Syedna, who run a State within the State, is very intolerant of any opposition to his fiat.

He has wriiten a few books too. I think he wrote ?The women of Islam? and ?lifting the Veil? but I am not sure.

Regards,

Faruk

Its a sad out come of a restless soul(mr.Engineer) caught in the turmoil of conflicting loyalties to sub sect of Bohra to belonging to larger muslim ummah ,yet being minority to non muslim hegonomy .

It needs more than unusual resilience to make sense out of these conflicts .

Most of assertion of mr.Engineeer are OPINIONS rather than backed by religous text of any religion.As a tesimony of his agony & pain it is admirable but as a solution to Hindutva in india ,iam afraid muslims like Kashmiris ,who have yet to make there final discision will buy these conditions for being part of a country which after more than 1000 years of interaction with muslims have refused to accept it & still tries to change islam into its own acceptable version.Why dont we see a islamised version of hinduism in the form of reformed hindu rather than forcing muslims to give up non veg habit ,role of females ,spiritual inspiration from mecca etc.

Thanks Farzana for such a beautiful article.

I am proud and ashamed at the same time.

Thanks once again,

jntuece99

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I wont comment on the responses to date on Farzana`s interview. Their small-mindedness and

aggressive language speak for themselves.

Asghar Ali Engineer is a distinguished scholar

and social activist in India. He is a critic

of the right-wing extremists (Shiv Sena, Bajrang

Dal, Wahabi fundamentalism, fundus in the

Bohra community) of all kinds. Here are links to

some of his writings:

http://www.dawoodi-bohras.com/aboutus/asghar.htm

http://www.vedamsbooks.com/no14547.htm

http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu12ee/uu12ee0k.htm

http://www.secularindia.com/BJPandminorities.htm

http://www.addall.com/Browse/Detail/187938325X.html