Superstition in Malaysia?

An Asian newspaper has reported that in Malaysia the people are extremely superstitious, conservative and orthodox. To avoid any kind of suffering, trouble or evil effect, they take help of sorcery. If some strange events take place at a certain place, building or hospital, it is assumed to have happed due to evil spirits and the services of healers are sought to get rid of them. Formal events are held in this regard. This work is done on both public and government levels. These rituals are performed at the time of laying the foundation or inauguration of government projects. In this report, there are some references of the provinces which indicate that this kind of activities takes place under the very nose of provincial governments. The Statesman has published this report on 24 October with courtesy of an Asian newspaper, The Star. The newspaper says that though Malaysia is divided with to regard to religion, yet all are united in superstition. To avoid natural disasters, it is common in Malaysia to take help of sorcerers. According to the report, some people are tangled with debate on the name of ‘Allah’ and ‘God’.

Who might be these people?

On the accuracy of this report, Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Malaysian Embassy in New Delhi should illuminate, as the issue is associated with them. Malaysia is a Muslim-majority county, the Muslims over there as a whole, are enlightened and practising; their faith is sound. So it is hard to understand how they would have become this much superstitious and orthodox. The part of the report published with reference to government sources should be clarified at the government level itself. However, peoples belonging to the Mangolian race and Southeast Asia and other nationalities are populated there in sizable numbers. This report might be correct in relation to these peoples. If the Star reporter had witnessed the rituals performed here in our country to ward off natural disasters, diseases, evil spirits and effects, and to find treasures, for success in elections and cricket matches, he would have observed Malaysian scenes as something quite dull. Here even innocent children are sacrificed for protection against evil spirits, fulfilment of sexual desire and success in projects.

Injustice of rationalists

But one more aspect needs to be discussed here. In this Statesman report with reference to the Star, it is said that, those who believe in supernatural powers and evil spirits are not only the residents of Malaysia, the residents of America, Canada and even Britain are not lagging behind. The Huffington Post unveiled a survey that 45% of Americans believe in ghosts and life after death. And it is this mental imbalance of the so-called enlightened and rationalists, which stops a class of humans from reaching to the truth of religion. To them, even believing in death after life is an orthodox belief and superstition. This discussion raises its head, from time to time, in our country also. Recently, a man, who was actively working against the people believing in superstition and sorcery, was killed in Mumbai. Even at that time English commentators had placed the perception of death after life in conservatism. The scholars and philosophers of other philosophies and religions know what they think about them, but Muslim scholars must try to differentiate between the two before the countrymen.

27/11/2013 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by:Miss Khalida Hussain

A Sigh of Relief in Muzaffar Nagar

November 18 was very important for some victims of violence in Muzaffarnagar, when more than eight hundred fifty people belonging to 72 families were given permanent shelter. This work of giving consolation and solace to these families was carried out by the Jamiat Ulema of Maulana Syed Arshad Madani. Hindi and English newspapers gave no special importance to such a big event; however Urdu dailies published this news with the photographs and much fanfare, under bold headlines.  This Jamiat is working very well in this field. Apart from helping the families implicated in false cases of terrorism, it has been fighting cases for them, for which it deserves praise of the community. In the prevailing situation it is not usual to provide permanent housing for at least eight to nine hundred people out of 25 thousand victims of Muzaffarnagar. Maulana Arshad Madani and his colleagues definitely deserve appreciation for the work - but before congratulating the Maulana, we need to ask a question on one more aspect of this situation. Can this kind of effort help even a bit in solving the basic problem? And after all what kind of massage is it conveying?

One objective of riots

Yes, this is the main issue, which must be considered with farsightedness, not only by Jamiat Ulama but by the whole community leadership also. The first question in this context is why these systematic and planned anti-Muslim riots are being enacted? The answer is that, apart from other objectives, the aim of the rioters is to evict the rural Muslim populations from their aboriginal lands and to capture them. This fact was pinpointed at the time when the same Jamiat had devised the same solution to the problem of Bodoland Muslim riot victims in Assam. Bodoland rioters also want the Muslims to leave the land and go somewhere else, and the work of building separate shelters for Muslims was surely helpful in achieving the objectives of the wrongdoers. Now with this move at Muzaffarnagar, the massage is being conveyed that the rioters will thus keep killing and destroying properties, and Muslim organisations will thus keep rehabilitating the victims, and in this way the country's rural Muslim populations will be rendered to refugees in their own country. That is, planners of the riots are happy that their arrows are targeting in the right direction. Muslim leadership itself is proving helpful to them. What a nicer and easier thing would be for them.

Critical aspect of the situation

The most serious aspect of the situation is that our own government administration is at work in this criminal conspiracy. In Muzaffarnagar, the rioters have done their part of work, now the bureaucrats are doing the remaining work. They want that the people who have went out of riot-affected areas do not go back there in any case, voluntarily surrender their properties, evacuate the refugee camps also and get settled elsewhere after accepting the amount of five lakh. These government officials have prepared a document for affidavit and are getting it signed by the victims, forcefully. This affidavit is the masterpiece of government’s oppression and excesses, and of the murder of law and justice. (See The Indian Express, 19 November). That is, the case of Muzaffarnagar is not as easy and simple as is being understood. For this Muslim leadership will have to work by sacrificing their personal desires and sectorial ambitions, keeping faith only in God and the Day of Judgment as there is no other choice . This work needs unity and concord. Do help the victims, build housings for them, but only as temporary relief; the real problem is their rehabilitation to their ancestral and original lands.

25/11/2013 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by:Miss Khalida Hussain

Two Reports on Patna Blasts

Two fresh reports have come in the context of bomb blasts at B.J.P rally in the capital of Bihar, Patna, on 27 October. First report is that on 17 November the Central Investigation Agency (NIA) has released the photographs and other details of the accused of Bodh Gaya and Patna blasts and announced a prize of 5-10 lakhs for those who will give any clue about the accused. The other report is from Bhagalpur. On 17 November itself, while addressing the media reporters at Circuit House there, the Agricultural Minister of Bihar, Narendra Singh, said in very explicit words that it was the BJP that stage-managed the blasts at Patna rally just to make the rally successful and to popularise Modi. The State Minister used harsh language against the BJP and its leaders and said that they are the descendants of Ghandhiji’s killers, RSS. (Inquilab Urdu daily, 18 Nov) The first report is not unexpected, because investigating agencies of both Gaya and Patna blasts had already decided their direction of investigation at the first sound of the explosion (rather it can be said with firm belief that even before the sound was heard); characters of the blasts were already developed; there was no question of investigation on any other line.

Statement not surprising

Yes, Bihar Minister's statement is certainly unexpected, but not at all surprising; it would be called a bold statement. Although this statement, like Patna blast, is also political yet sometimes the fact gets revealed in political rhetoric. It could also be possible that by doing political calculation, the State Minister Narendra Singh withdraws his statement or subjects it to window-dressing, but it will not change the reality. Though in the political mental wave, he did express the voice of his conscience. And this is the fact, to which every normal-diet-taking person is aware of. Although Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had also read the reality behind Patna blasts yet due to his fear of BJP attack, he felt compelled to call it a general terrorist attack. However, he expressed his real feeling by saying later that “BJP has benefited with the blasts”. One thing more is being said that the Indian Mujahedeen is doing blasts in the country with the help of RSS and BJP. But this is not true in these words. It should be called that a central agency has created a fake group named Indian Mujahedeen to give benefit to the Sangh Parivar, because the agency is sympathetic to the parivar's ideology.

Identifying the basic fact

This entire episode is indicative of a fundamental reality – having implicated Muslims in in cases of bombings and violence, arresting Muslim youth regularly and thereby demonising and terrorising Muslim citizens, destroying the careers of arrested youth and uprooting their families, incapacitating  them in the surrounding environment, this all is happening under a particular political agenda. Although Muslim organisations and leaders are continuously protesting against this persecution, citing the Constitution and the laws, demanding evidence from the police and agencies, yet impact of all this is not in sight. Police and agencies are doing what they want. Political agenda is being followed as usual. Recently three persons were detained without any evidence at Raipur, only on far-fetched suspicion and the Muslim leadership was seen helpless on this persecution. Does this situation not ask the Muslim leadership to change its strategy and methodology, to rise above personal and factional interests, to refer the issue of protection of their institutions to Allah and to keep undaunted faith in getting reward afterlife by surrendering their wish of having been rewarded for good deeds in this world?

22/11/2013 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by:Miss Khalida Hussain

‘75 years ago’

Many daily newspapers of different languages reprint in their current editions twenty, fifty, seventy-five or a century old news item or editorial of the same date, through which the scenario of that period comes into light in some way or the other. The Hindi newspaper ‘Hindustan’ of North Indian also does this. In its 14 November issue, it reprinted a news item headlined  ‘Tribute to Kamal Ataturk’ in its column ‘75 years ago’: “New Delhi 14 Nov: Today, after the Question Hour  in the assembly, Bhola Bhai Desai, said while presenting  condolence on the death of  Kamal Ataturk, that “it is right that the demise of Kamal Pasha is not at all related to India but still it is such a kind of event on which the assembly should express its opinion. Kamal Ataturk showed the courage through which he broke all the conventions which had been obstacles in the way of Turkey’s development. In one single day he abolished the Arabic script and hijab and created equality between man and woman. During his 15 years rule he established such a system, in which nobody can create disorganisation”. Later on the speaker passed the resolution and adjourned the assembly in respect of the deceased.

By this small news

With this small news of 75 years ago, the whole scenario of political situations prevailing in the Indian subcontinent in the 1920s, which is stored in history books and archives of newspapers, came before the eyes. That was the period of British rule. The freedom struggle was in the final phase. The above mentioned assembly was established by the Britishers which used to do coordinate between the British government and Indians. Despite the apparent conflict with the British government, the majority of Indian leaders, like the Indian National Congress, was under the influence of British politics and culture. Having abolished the Osmania Caliphate of Turkey in 1923, the British monarchy displayed importantly its conspiracies and ungratefulness in installing pro-west Ataturk Kamal Pasha over there. It is obvious that the death of Kamal Pasha was so woeful for British India, but on the other side there was great satisfaction also, that during his regime Pasha threw the hijab off the faces of Muslim women, banned the Arabic script, and on the model of western social life, sowed the lethal seed of free mixing of men and women in Turkey. His biggest ‘achievement’ was that by abolishing the Caliphate he not only put an end to the rule of Islamic Shari’ah in Turkey but became the cause of discouragement for other Muslim countries as well.

Why was the tribute deemed necessary?

Therefore, despite the fact that ‘the demise of Kamal Pasha is not at all related to India’, paying tribute to Pasha was considered necessary. Obviously, the British government had to do this, but Indian National Congress also did not want to lag behind, because Indian National Congress had been working under the influence of Hindu Mahasabha in many affairs and Turkey, Islamic Caliphate and Muslim community were among them. The R.S.S had also come into existence in the period close to 1923 – it becomes clear (nay fresh in mind) that the roots of anti-Islam mind-set found palpably in today’s political and some administrative sections are very deep, and their proximity with western thought and ideology is equally ancient. To see women unveiled, to make them shameless after having stood them in the line of men, and the mentality of putting further pressure on them for making money, is also against to the Indian traditions, but under the enmity of Islamic Shair’ah it had been welcomed before 75 years ago and even today it is much more under the American system mimesis. Therefore, those who are wishing to create positive and constructive changes in Indian society on the basis of Divine accountability must study the history of country’s past in depth. 

 19/11/2013 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by:Miss Khalida Hussain

These our scholars

Many scholars who are sympathisers of Muslim Brotherhood say about Egypt that instead of struggling with the military, the Brotherhood should have adopted the path of reconciliation. President Morsi should have acknowledged the superiority of military and withdrawn himself from power. That is, after the intervention of military, the Brotherhood should have settled in homes and as before left Egypt at the mercy of army. This was the vision before these scholars. As the Brotherhood did not do so, to these scholars all the responsibility of the bloodshed which killed many people and left many others injured in military operations, lies on Muslim Brotherhood and their Freedom and Justice Party. Like the opponents of Brotherhood, these people also believe that the Brotherhood should have adopted the path of national reconciliation and won the confidence of other groups and parties besides the Opposition. Getting into the shoes of the enemies of Brotherhood, they also say that the Brotherhood should have withdrawn their Islamist agenda and followed the common ‘secular’ agenda. In the style of common commentators, who are not familiar with the condition prevailing in Egypt, these scholars also say that Morsi and his government got a whole year but in this duration he did nothing to improve Egypt’s economic and administrative conditions, rather destroyed Egypt.

Had they been those scholars

Had these scholars been those who do have sufficient knowledge of Islam and Islamic Shari’ah but are unaware of Islamic movement, especially of the history of Muslim Brotherhood, its constitution, manifesto and performances, it would not have been surprising. But it is strange that these inappropriate and irresponsible comments are also from the pens of scholars who are basically associated with the Islamic movement. Such a write-up has come from the pen of an Islamic scholar and intellectual who also publishes a quarterly from Aligarh. He has written all this in its April-June issue. He has also commented on Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, as an example of and for comparison with Muslim Brotherhood. He has justified whatever treatment the secular Awami League government is meting out to the Jamaat over there. Not only this, he has levelled serious allegations against the Jamaat there which the Sheikh Hasina government and the anti-Islam commentators of India have been levelling. To these Islamic scholars, the Islamic movements in Egypt and Bangladesh are totally imprudent, indiscreet and lack political acumen. About those who are raising their voice against Egypt’s persecution, he has written: “Now when the Egyptian President Morsi has been sacked, it has created uproar in the neighbouring country Pakistan and in the print media of Jamaat-e-Islami in India, and the army and the opposition over there are being subjected to fierce criticism. As if it were a sin to protest against persecution.

But here are the facts

While analysing one’s ideas and thoughts, one’s intention, knowledge and understanding should not subjected to doubt; especially when it is in the context of thought and philosophy of an Islamic scholar and intellectual. On the write-up under discussion, at least it can be said that it has been written without any knowledge; otherwise the comment would have been something else. For the reminder of that commentator and many other sincere writers like him, some facts are presented here: (1) Since the very first day, the Muslim Brotherhood has worked with utmost farsightedness and great caution. They stayed behind during the Arab Spring but they are definitely guilty of taking part in elections and did come out with flying colours in all five stages of election and referendum with popular public support while Egyptian army and external forces made their efforts at every step and at a very large scale to defeat them. (2) By giving representation to political opponents, Christians and women, they decided their way of action. (3) Like Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, they did not totally sever relations with America and Israel; however they did try to limit their interference in Egypt. (4) By changing the western policy on Suez Canal, they tried to bring it all in the interest of Egypt. (5) Without begging aid from America and the Gulf, they took a number of concrete measures to strengthen Egypt economically. (6) And we do not know whether or not the commentator is aware of the fact that sacking of President Morsi was celebrated in Israel, America breathed a sigh of satisfaction at the success of its plot, and the wealthy rulers in the Gulf having welcomed this persecution warmly opened their treasuries to help the persecutors.

16/11/2013 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by:Miss Khalida Hussain

Dhaka, New Delhi, Washington

These days our government is very much concerned about the political situation in Bangladesh. The concern was there already but now it has increased due to the US position. This concern was based on the assumption that 'Radical Islam' is getting strengthened over there in the joint leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, which has created the chance of Bangladesh emerging as the centre of “Islamic terrorism” in the region. And this concern of our government is despite that the Awami League dispensation there has left no stone unturned in crushing Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and other Islam-loving circles. But the sources of Indian government probably know that they might have succeeded in giving some harm to the Jamaat system but could not break the impact and public support of the Jamaat. Now the US stand has further worried New Delhi. According to a report, the foreign office of U.S. gives preference to B.N.P/Jamaat alliance over Awami League, due to the economic performance of this alliance. While the Indian government is standing like a rock at the back of Awami League and wants to see it succeed in the next  election.

The basis of the report

And the basis of this report of the Times of India (1 November) is that US ambassador in Dhaka Dan Mozena recently held long meetings with foreign ministry officials in New Delhi. No formal report of the meetings was published but the Times reporter has drawn some conclusions therefrom. One is that the leaning of America is towards B.N.P/Jamaat alliance. Secondly, America is not happy with the relations of Shaikh Hasina government with Mohammad Yunus of Grameen Bank and war crimes tribunals. On the assumption of Indian government that if the B.N.P/Jamaat alliance comes to power then ‘Radical Islam’ will be further strengthened in Bangladesh, America says that after coming to power this alliance would understand the basic realities of the country and public requirements and would give up ‘Radical Islam’. But the government of India is not satisfied with the idea. It has also become worried about the stability of Burma. India is of the view that Rohingya Muslims live in Burma in great numbers and now they are creating problems over there. They are joining Al-Qaida and Lashkar-e-Taiba. In fact, our government is in worried that the sphere of radical Islamic politics will spread over to North-East India and even to the Poznan province of China.

The Actual cause of trouble

It looks strange that America gives preference to B.N.P/Jamaat alliance over Awami League – but for the now, it should  be seen why the ruling class of India is troubled by  the idea of Islamic collective life in Bangladesh. If there is a rule is established there on Islamic principles or Islamic rulings are made base for certain issues, what harm it would incur to our country? But the fact is that this question is based on their ignorance. The matter is not that easy. This is related to the country's ruling class, which is suffering with traditional racism and born arrogance and has eternal enmity with the True Religion. This class practically runs the government. Big government functionaries work with the mindset of this class. The people of this class themselves are also on the government. They fear if the establishment of Islamic equality succeeds somewhere in the neighbourhood then their social system here will collapse. Their close friendship with Israel has made this class more active. (In this case the United States has its own policy). Are there not some people from among the country's Muslim and non-Muslim scholars who, for the greater cause of the country, can hold out the political system from the grip of this class?

08/11/2013 khabar-O-Nazar by Parwaaz Rahmani, sehrozaDAWAT, translated by:Miss Khalida Hussain