ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 11

32 Pages Rs. 25 Bengaluru English MonthlyFebruary 2018 Vol. 31-02 No. 374 Jumadul Awwal / Jumadul Aakhir 1439 H

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

King Faisal International Prizes 2018

Faisal Prize for Indonesian Academic Five researchers and scientists from Malaysia, Jordan, Tunisia, the US and the UK have been named winners of the King Faisal International Prize (KFIP)for the year 2018, as the 40th edition of the renowned award recognized their distinguished contributions towards humanity. The King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam has been awarded to Prof Irwandi Jaswir of Indonesia. Jaswir was recognized for his contribution to the establishment of ‘Halal Science’ pertaining to food, his research in that area and the development of new methods for analyzing substances used in the manufacturing of ‘Halal Food Alternatives’. Jaswir collaborated to develop new methods for quick detection of non-Halal substances in food. A notable example being the ‘Portable Electronic Nose’ which detects within a few seconds the presence of alcohol or lard (pork/porcine-derived fat) in foods. Irwandi and his research team have produced a mobile kit for detecting non-halal materials in food, cosmetics and consumer goods to protect the interests of Muslim consumers. The kit can identify and detect the presence of alcohol and porcine-based fats in food and beverages within a few seconds. Page 12

Call from Telengana Wakf Board Observe Austerity in Marriages, No Lavish Dinners

Activists, Ulema, Police Officers issue a call for boycott of marriages where dowry is exchanged and band is played. Ceremonies must conclude by 12 midnight.

Hyderabad: A meeting of religious heads, Muslim scholars, Qazis and police authorities passed resolutions appealing to the

Muslim community to perform marriages in a simple manner. The meeting, convened by the Telangana State Wakf Board chairman Mohammed Saleem, was attended by Hyderabad Police Commissioner, V.V. Srinivas Rao, Mufti Khaleel Ahmed, Qubool Pasha Shattari, Hameed Mohammed Khan of Jamat-e-Islami, Moulana Jaffer Pasha and other religious scholars.It was resolved that no one should demand dowry. ‘Nikah’ should be performed in ‘Masjid’ preferably by Isha prayers, so that the dinner can start immediately after ‘Nikah’ and the entire function should be completed by 12 midnight in all aspects. A call for boycott has been given for marriage functions

having orchestra programme, dancers, band or dancing with arms, lavish dinners and those which are held till late night.

It is proposed that the Qazis will not perform Nikah after 9 pm. Management of all functions halls will display the notice that the power supply will be disconnected by 12 midnight and so the entire function should be completed before 12 am and the parties shall vacate the function hall by then.The dinner should be simple and consist of only Biryani, curry, curd and one sweet. There should be no display of any type of arms at functions. In case of any such arms’ display during the baraat, it may be reported to the police authorities immediately and a case under Arms Act will be booked against the concerned persons.The meeting was held with a view to curb the practice of

lavish marriages which was causing trouble to the poor and middle-class Muslims. Just to show off their false prestige by hosting lavish dinners, poor and middle-class Muslims were pushed in a debt trap. Many wedding functions were commencing after 10 pm and going on till 3-4 am which was causing problems for everyone.The Police Commissioner, however, said that it would be easier for the police authorities to implement this system, if the State Government issues guidelines in this regard. n

The meeting, convened by the Telangana State Wakf Board chairman Mohammed Saleem, was attended by Hyderabad Police Commissioner, V.V. Srinivas Rao, Mufti Khaleel Ahmed,

Qubool Pasha Shattari, Hameed Mohammed Khan of Jamat-e-Islami,

Moulana Jaffer Pasha and other religious scholars.

Prof. Irwandi Jaswir

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 2Advertisement

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MIA to Support EntrepreneurshipThe Muslim Industrialists Association has unveiled

programmes to support 100 entrepreneurs.

By A Staff Writer Bengaluru: The Muslim Industrialists Association (MIA)

here has initiated a programme to handhold a hundred entrepreneurs in order that they could develop their business or industry to a capacity of earning a lakh of rupees a month. This was revealed here in a press conference by Mr. M. A. Khan, President of the Association

which has a membership of over 250 industrialists in Bengaluru and Karnataka. Khan told the media-persons that they are supporting

100 students in order to realize their dream of getting admissions into IITs and other premier institutes of science and technology. The Association has entered into partnership with 15 colleges across Karnataka for grooming, coaching and guidance of students. Joint

Secretary Adil Rahman informed that the Association helps the entrepreneurs and startups to register their firms, procure finance and market their products and services. He said the MIA will henceforth organize visits to industries for school students from

5th to 10th standard to enable them to widen their perspective and broaden their thinking horizon.The Association has been conducting periodical workshops and seminars on various subjects like personality development, lean management, digital marketing,

neuro-linguistic programming for the overall development of its members in both business and systems.Secretary Mir Abdul Hafeez pointed out that due to the efforts of MIA, around 50 youth were

Digitization of Records at Jamia Health Centre

New Delhi: In line with the Central Government’s directive, Jamia Millia Islamia’s 98-year old, Dr M. A. Ansari Health Centre has embarked on an ambitious programme of digitizing its services including medical records of its 19,000 students as well as its present and former faculty members, staff and other employees. The digitization software has been designed by Mr. Asif Shah, a student of the university who is the CEO of the company, Stetho Software, as a

goodwill gesture and at no cost to JMI. Launching the digitization process at an impressive function, JMI Vice-Chancellor, Prof Talat Ahmad said that he was particularly pleased that JMI’s own student had taken such an initiative. “It shows that our students are not only innovative, but are philanthropically-inclined to serve the institution too.” With this move, approximately 29,000 medical records will be available to the Health Centre’s doctors at the click of a button.

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Students should Study Scriptures of Different Religions: Maneka Gandhi

School students must be taught from six major religious texts – including the Gita, Quran and Bible – to inculcate tolerance for different faiths, Union women and child development (WCD) minister Maneka Gandhi has said. “These days, there is a lot of religion-based tension. One of the reasons is that children don’t know enough of other religions, and operate on blind

hatred. Teaching from scriptures of major religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Islam will help dispel religious stereotypes that students develop at a young age,” Gandhi said.The Union minister, who raised the matter at the Central Advisory Board of Education meeting, now plans to ask the human resource development

(HRD) ministry to conduct classes on the six religious scriptures at least twice a week. “How many of us have read our religious scriptures? I have read the Quran. How many of us know that Prophet Mohammed was anti-war? We were taught moral science during our school days, but it is not done anymore,” Gandhi said.(Extracted from http://www.hindustantimes.com)

Nasheman Urdu Weekly Celebrates 57th AnniversaryBengaluru: Nasheman, Urdu weekly from Bengaluru with a record of consistent publication has completed 57 years since its inception. Known for its fearless comments, the weekly was founded by Mr. Usman Asad. It is now edited by his son Mr. Rizwan Asad.Nasheman is considered to be one of the leading weekly journals in Urdu language and carries commentaries and opinion pieces on recent issues and events. With a pan-India circulation, it reaches nook and corners of India and read by a large number of Urdu-reading people everywhere. It also launched its website in English language. In a press release Rizwan Asad said it will celebrate its 57th anniversary on January 27 (as we are going to press). The ceremony will be presided by Ms. Nowhera

Shaikh, CEO of Heera Group of Companies who will give away the ‘Nasheman Heera Awards’ to people who have excelled in the field of media, social service and entrepreneurship. n

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Digitization of Records...

MIA to Support Entrepreneurship ...

Dr. Irshad Husain Naqvi, Chief Medical Officer of the Health Centre said that this is in keeping with the guidelines of the National Health Policy, 2017, to digitize all health services-public and private. Describing the digitization process as “an important milestone” for the Health Centre, he said that this will help in keeping track of medical and treatment records as also in analyzing the statistics of the prevalent and impending diseases so as to serve the JMI community better.The Health Centre which has 16 full-time and part-time doctors, treats nearly 480 patients per day and is open from 9 am to 10 pm daily including on all holidays. Asif Shah said that it was a matter

of tremendous satisfaction to him that he is able to give back to the institution that has given him knowledge. He thanked the Vice Chancellor for giving him the opportunity to undertake this important task which he said will go a long way in making JMI ‘s Health Centre digitally proficient.The software developed by Shah’s company will provide a digital matrix of all diseases, their treatment processes, a list of medicines and new research and innovations in the field of medicine along with other relevant information. Significantly, patients can also see their medical records on their mobile phones to be used, even in other healthcare centres. n

able to set up their own industrial units in the recent years. He said the Association supports ITI certificate, Diploma-holders and BE graduates to undergo a short-term skill development training

at the units managed by the MIA members and help them bridge the gap between their academic learning and the prevalent real technology in practice.(For more information contact:

Muslim Industrialists Association, 332-Darus Salam Building, Queens Road, Bangalore-1, Ph: 98800-08744, 90369-85451, secretary@miaindia.net, website: miaindia.net)

Rizwan Asad

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Private Museums Open in Madinah Madinah: Since the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) began issuing licenses to private museums, several have opened in Madinah. In Dar Al-Madinah Museum, visitors and researchers can learn about the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Islamic civilization and Madinah’s urban culture. It is “the first and largest specialized museum of the history and cultural heritage of Madinah and the landmarks of the prophet’s life,” Hassan Taher, executive director, says.

The museum, which has four main halls, publishes specialized periodicals on Madinah’s history

and landmarks, and holds seminars and forums in this field. The hall on the Prophet’s

life includes a collection of rare paintings and images of Madinah, and unique collections

from Islamic history. Another hall contains an open courtyard where visitors can enjoy nature and Madinah’s ancient architecture. The museum has “a highly skilled, informed cadre capable of communicating with the public based on documented sources and real scientific references,” Taher says. The team includes speakers

of seven languages, including Arabic, English, Turkish and Urdu. n

Two Scientists Get Iran’s Mustafa PrizeThe science and technology award, which is being handed out for the second time this year, is given to Muslim researchers and scientists, as well as non-Muslim scientists residing in Muslim countries.

Iran has awarded the 2017 Mustafa Prize to two computer science experts, Turkey’s Sami Erol Gelenbe and Iran’s Mohammad Amin Shokrollahi. The Mustafa Prize was established by the Iranian government in 2015 to recognize leading researchers and scientists of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states, as well as Muslim researchers from around the world. Sami Erol Gelenbe was was born on 22 August 1945 in Istanbul,

Turkey. He is a descendant of the 18th-century Ottoman mathematician, Ismail Efendi Gelenbevi, who is credited with the introduction of logarithms in Turkey. In 1962, he graduated from Ankara Koleji and in 1966 from the Middle East Technical University. He is now at the Imperial College London. Gelenbe had a passion for fundamental research on the mathematical foundations for computer and communication systems, which lead to building better

systems and improving their usage and performance. Mohammad Amin Shokrollahi was born in Iran in 1964. He received his German Diploma and his MSc in Mathematics at the University of Karlsruhe in 1988. He obtained his Ph.D degree at the University of Bonn, Germany, in 1991. Shokrollahi is now professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland. The work of Shokrollahi has led to

breakthroughs in data transmission over packet-based networks that have resulted in global communications standards for mobile broadcasting, satellite data transmission, and Internet TV. The Mustafa Prize seeks to encourage education and research and is set to play a pioneering role in developing regional relations between science and technology institutions in OIC member countries. (Reported by Sameen Ahmed Khan)Turkish-French Sami Erol Gelenbe, right, and

Iranian Mohammad Amin Shokrollahi, two computer science experts, hold their awards during the biennial $500,000 Mustafa Prize ceremony at Vahdat Hall in

Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Conference Highlights Muslim Contribution to

Science

The College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates organized a three-day event, “Third International Conference on

Arabs’ and Muslims’ History of Sciences”, recently, under the theme, “The Arabic & Islamic Scientific Heritage: Innovation,

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World Science Forum 2017 in JordanMembers adopted a unanimous declaration in which they pledged to make

sustained efforts to preserve and promote the potential of science.

By Sameen Ahmed Khan

The Eighth World Science Forum (WSF), the world’s largest biennial science event on global science policy, was held at Dead Sea, Jordan, during 7-11 November 2017 (http://worldscienceforum.org/). As Dead Sea is 430m below sea level, it is the Earth’s lowest point on land! This year’s WSF attracted 3,000 attendees from 140 countries, including scientists, policymakers, Noble Laureates and academics and investors. This year’s banner for the WSF was “Science for Peace”. Speaking

from the lowest point on earth, leaders (Kings, Presidents, Princesses and Ministers) called for the nations of the world to work with the scientific community to address the challenges confronted by the humanity today. The WSF 2017 was held under the patronage of King Abdullah ibn Al Hussein of Jordan and his cousin, Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, Chair of WSF 2017 and President

of the Royal Scientific Society. Welcoming the audience to the event, King Abdullah expressed his hope that Jordan will act as an accelerator of global scientific collaboration, opportunity, and peace. In a speech at the opening of the forum, Hungarian President János Áder said “the region is extremely rich in historical lessons. In the 21st-century societies, adequate energy supplies are also vital for social harmony. Without energy, it would be impossible to operate all the industrial, transportation,

security and health infrastructure that we have created in recent decades. Depleted energy supplies could lead to social collapse and war.” The World Science Forum series was inspired by the success of the meeting “World Conference on Science for the Twenty-First Century: a New Commitment”, held during 26 June to 1 July 1999 in Budapest, Hungary, and convened by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Author with the Agricultural Scientist, Prof. Adnan Badran, who served as the Deputy Director General of UNESCO and Prime

Minister of Jordan in 2005.

Saudi Arabia Accused of Human Rights Abuses in YemenA UN report on human rights abuses related to foreign intervention in Yemen, details the extensive civilian casualties inflicted by the Saudi-led coalition's air attacks. The

United Nations panel examined 10 air attacks in 2017 that killed 157 people, and found that the targets included a migrant boat, a night market, five residential buildings, a motel, a vehicle and government forces. The panel said it requested information from the Saudi-led coalition for the rationale behind such attacks, but did not receive a response. The attacks were carried out by

precision-guided munitions, so it is likely these were the intended targets, the report points out. The report cited a "widespread and systematic" pattern of "arbitrary arrests, deprivation of liberty and

enforced disappearances". It was particularly scathing about UAE camps, where it says, torture has been taking place. "The report talks about beatings, electrocutions, constrained suspension, and it talks about something called the cage which is confinement in a cage in the

sunlight and the denial of medical treatment," James Bays said.The report is also critical of Iran's role in the conflict, focusing specifically on supporting Houthi rebels.Since the beginning of Yemen's war, more than 10,000 people have been killed, according to the UN. A majority of the more than 5,000 civilian deaths were caused by the Saudi-led coalition. n

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 8WOmen’s vOiCeKabul University

Afghanistan’s First Batch of Women Studies

Scholars GraduateThe first batch of Women Studies graduates in Afghanistan received their degrees at Kabul University recently. Kabul University is the first university

of Afghanistan to offer a Masters degree in Women and Gender Studies, teaching feminist theories, media, civil society and

conflict resolution in its two-year programme. The programme is funded by South Korea and run by the United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP). Among the 22 students graduating this year, were seven male students. The programme testifies to a considerable change since the years of the Taliban regime when female issues were taboo and women were largely confined to their homes and banned from education. Even now,

after the toppling of the Taliban, women remain second-class citizens in the largely patriarchal country. n

Students of Gender and Women's Studies wait to receive diplomas. Photo: UNDP / Ajmal

Sherzai / 2017

Jankidevi Bajaj Award Conferred on

Shamshad BegumMumbai: The 25th IMC Ladies Wing Jankidevi Bajaj Puraskar 2017, was conferred on the renowned social worker from Chhattisgarh, Shamshad Begum, at a function here recently. Begum is the founder-president of the NGO Sahyogi Jankalyan Samiti

Gunderdehi of Chhattisgarh and was selected for the award for her outstanding contribution towards Rural Entrepreneurship. The honour was presented by Vinita Bali, former CEO and Managing Director of Britannia Industries Ltd and Chairperson of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). The award has been instituted by the Bajaj Group,

representing one of India’s leading business families and has been conferred for the past 25 years to an Indian woman who has made a significant contribution towards rural business entrepreneurship. The award ceremony included a panel discussion on “Vision for

Rural India” in which leading personalities, including this year’s awardee, Shamshad Begum participated. The award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 7 lakh was introduced in 1993 by then IMC Ladies Wing President (Mrs) Kiran Bajaj, in memory of the late Gandhian and Padma Vibhushan, (Mrs) Jankidevi Bajaj, wife of the legendary Jamnalal Bajaj. n

Nus GhaniFirst UK Muslim Woman Minister

Addresses House of CommonsLondon: The first female Muslim minister, parliamentarian in the United Kingdom, Nus Ghani spoke from the British Parliament dispatch box.Soon after her first speech in the House of Commons, she tweeted that: “Made my debut as @transportgovuk Minister and made a bit of history as the first female Muslim Minister to speak from the House of Commons dispatch box.” She addressed the House of Commons as a junior

minister in the Department for transport. In her statement, she said that “The roles are both exciting and challenging opportunities. Transport is a subject on which I have campaigned passionately since being elected as the MP for Wealden. Alongside my ministerial duties, I will continue to be a strong voice for Wealden and deliver for my constituents.” Nus Ghani became the first Conservative party Muslim

woman candidate in 2015, to be elected to Parliament. After her election in June 2017, she took her oath of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II in Urdu. She said at that time that: “My motivation is simple. My parents are incredibly proud that I have been elected to serve as MP, and I wanted to honour my mother by speaking in a language she could understand”.

(L to R) Felicitation of the awardee - Mrs. Radhika Nath, €“ Chairperson, Jankidevi Bajaj Puraskar Committee; Mrs. Nayantara Jain ,“ President, IMC Ladies Wing; Ms. Vinita Bali, Chief Guest; Mrs. Shamshad Begum Awardee; Dr. Justice C S

Dharmadhaikari “ Chairman, Panel of Judges

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 99 events

YOUtH vOiCe Youth and Spiritual ValuesWe need to live in the presence of God instead of wasting precious time

unnecessarily in the presence of ‘online friends’

By B. Hulmani

Many people are now so addicted to their mobile phones, it feels like they have lost a limb when they are without them, says a study. Some people feel so bereft without their iPhone or Blackberry that it evokes feelings similar to the "phantom limb" syndrome suffered by amputees.The study, by the University of Maryland, shows the growing reliance that the younger generation has on technology and how it has become central to their lives. Other technological inventions such as computers, MP3 players and televisions are also considered essential by many to get through their day. Many young people report mental and physical symptoms of distress and “employed the rhetoric of addiction, dependency and depression” when reporting their experiences of trying to go unplugged for a full day.

College Students“Students talked about how scary it was, how addicted they were,” said Professor Susan Moeller, who led the project. The study found few differences in the way students used and relied on digital technology in different countries, despite those countries’ huge differences in economic development, culture and political governance. It concluded that most college students, whether in ‘developed’ or ‘developing’ countries, are strikingly similar in how they use media—and in how 'addicted' they are to it.From the calculator to the computer, from mobile devices to the Internet, advances in technology are creating monumental changes in our lives, and, in turn, people’s practice of religion. The universal acceptance of mobile devices, like the iPhone and iPad, is

provoking profound social change. Without the traditional religious or spiritual upbringing, the youth of today forgo a key element of a meaningful life. Religion was never just about a Supreme Being, social gatherings and interaction of those with similar beliefs. Imbibing good values was also a critical part of the experience.

‘Smartphone Fasting’Religion today is losing the youth. But in what ways can Religion not lose its youth? There are ways in which attention can be diverted from ‘smartphones’ to spirituality. ‘Smartphone

Fasting’, that is abstaining from using ‘smartphones’ for a while, can be a way to overcome people's addiction to these contraptions. ‘Smartphone fasting’, whether one day a week or for a week or more at a stretch, is a pressing need for many of us. Fasting is a great model for this— saying ‘no’ to something good to say ‘yes’ to

something better, checking that we have not become addicted and enslaved to something and making space for God. Many of us will need to arrange for

physical separation from our phones. Some people will need to put their ‘smartphone’ in another room than their bedroom so it is not the first thing they look at in the morning. They can begin their day with remembering God, rather than immediately jumping to grab their phones or their laptop to check their emails.It is important that when you say ‘no’ to a practice to say ‘yes’ to another practice that can take its place. So, maybe while you give up email for a time, choose to write a letter with pen, ink, and paper instead. It is a wonderful way to say something that has a different kind of impact on others.Maybe we should use technology in such a way that we limit our technology consumption. We can use reminders to shut off our phones and remember God. Reminders can be used for reciting scripture and spending time with God. We need to live in the presence of God instead of wasting precious time unnecessarily in the presence of ‘online friends’. We must operate from a God-saturated and God-oriented worldview, and that should guide our approach to the gifts of technology, as indeed of every other thing. n

Religion today is losing the youth. But in what ways can Religion not lose its youth?

There are ways in which attention can

be diverted from ‘smartphones’ to

spirituality.

Jamaat e Islami Conclave in Bengaluru ‘Justice, Equality Prerequisites for Unity’Jurists, activists and scholars call for unity among faiths against communal forces.

By Sayyid Anwer Ibrahim

Bengaluru: “Justice should prevail at all costs. Justice and equality are prerequisites for the unity. Muslims have inhabited India for over a millennium and the world has been a witness to our treatment of them. A small section of vested interests have become powerful today and are hell-bent on maligning their image and projecting them as enemies of the nation. They are pursuing the agenda of controlling the entire economy through political power,” said Mr. Justice S. Rajendra Babu, former Chief Justice of India, while speaking at a symposium organised by the Jamaat e Islami Hind as part of a 4-day conclave at the Quddoos Sahib Eidgah in the city on January 18-21.

Justice and EqualityJustice Babu stressed the unity among Hindus and Muslims and held it as key to the integrity of the nation. “India failed to establish equality among people as caste system persists even today. Our Creator has given guidance through the Holy Quran to establish Justice and equality in the world. Islam established justice and equality before the modern world started thinking of it. We do not interfere in other religions, because our tenets bind us to guide the humanity justly and

to treat all humans as one family who descended from Adam and Eve. The objective of Islam is the welfare of the nation and the world,” he added.The symposium was themed as ‘Equality and Justice in India’. Addressing the gathering, Maulana Jalaluddin Umri, President of the Jamaat e Islami said, “We follow the word of Allah and the way of Prophet Muhammad. On this basis, all Muslims should unite and serve the humanity. We should follow the path of Allah and should not be afraid of the current challenges and threat. We should become more useful to the country by equipping ourselves with education and thinking. India is aspiring to become a world leader, which is not possible without providing justice to its minorities.”General Secretary of Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike, K. L. Ashok while speaking at a panel discussion said, “Attempts to divide India by the communal

forces will not succeed because the camaraderie and harmony is embedded in the very soul of India. The panel was diverse too including author and human rights activist Muhammad Aamir Khan, New Delhi (who was detained

for 14 years, and acquitted by the court), JIH National Vice president Sadathullah Hussaini, SIO National Secretary Thouseef Ahmad, Dr. H.V. Vasu from Karnataka Jana Shakti, and Congress MLC, Rizwan Arshad, MLC.

Morality and CharacterEarlier, addressing the ‘Journalists’ Session’, Maulana Umri said, “Those who are thinking of changing the Constitution of the country were

totally being misled by their leaders. It cannot be changed. Constitution is the binding force that keeps the country together; if Constitution is tampered with, there will be no other force that can unite India and keep its

sovereignty intact. Politics should be governed by the morality and character.”Jamaat Central Secretary, Waliullah Sayeedi speaking on the occasion said, “The Muslims of India are facing many problems. The

Government’s interference in Muslim’s Personal Law on the one hand and the vigilantes’ effort to curb the freedom to profess and practice the religion were ploys to entangle the 200 million Indian Muslims into routine issues of Madrassa, Masjid, Azaan and other sectarian issues. The growing cooperation between Israel and Indian communal forces is a threat. Majority of non-Muslim intellectuals have protested against bonhomie with a State that has least regard for the

international norms, peace and UN’s resolutions.”Civil Rights Activist Mrs. Teesta Setalvad's video message was also played to the audience wherein she condemned the atrocities on minorities and the growing lawlessness in the country. She urged all the peace-loving people to forge unity and promote peaceful coexistence. Rizwan Arshad, Congress MLC, asked the Muslims to reflect upon their own plight, as to what they have done collectively to redress their own grievances. He said, the Muslims were an unorganised lot. Collective priorities of the community must be the focus. The Dalits are progressing by setting their priorities right." He urged the community to prioritize issues, build institutions, and invest in human resources. The conclave hosted special sessions for teachers, doctors, women, girl students, youth, lawyers, journalists, professionals and its own cadres. Several thousand of women packed the improvised auditorium to listen to the Jamaat leaders. It also hosted a Mushaira, a literary session for writers, ulema and even auto-rickshaw drivers. A Light & Sound show on the History of Muslims left a deep impact on the audience. A book fair and a session for the differently-abled people too was part of the conclave. n

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 10

Letters

Dear ReadersWe thank you immensely for your continued support and encouragement all through these years and God willing for many more years.Your feedback is extremely important for us. We welcome your letters of appreciation or brickbats which we will take in the right spirit. Let us know which pages inspire you in Islamic Voice which, if any, you think we could improve or even do without. We welcome your suggestions for improvement.

Please email to workmailsedit@gmail.com or you may drop a post card to The Editor, Islamic Voice, No 3/1, Palmgrove

Road, Victoria Layout, Bangalore-560047

editOriAL

Very Thought-Provoking Article

Gaining Knowledge

The article “Debunking Myths - Centre of the Earth” is very thought-provoking. The writer has rightly said that “Islam does not need miracles to prove it's truthfulness”. I don't understand why people invent these theories. What if the claim is true? Will it increase our regard for the religion? Our submission to Allah is complete and unconditional, irrespective of whether scientific theories are true or false. Our faith will not decrease if the Kaaba is in a corner of the Earth. If the authors have invented these theories to glorify Allah and Kaaba, the effort is meaningless.

Because Allah is the creator of the whole of universe and you find unique features in His countless creations. The best attribute of the Kaaba is its acceptance as the qibla by Muslims. Wherever they are, they pray in the direction of the Kaaba. My humble request to all those people who are doing research is to do research on those matters which will benefit not only Muslims, but the rest of humanity as well.

ZamiruddinBangalorezamiruddin08@gmail.com

I am happy to read Islamic Voice every month. I gain immense knowledge from the editorials and essays. The paper comes

to our college library in Kannur.Please continue the good work! Nahimuddeen Puthur

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Conference on Arabs...Acculturation, and Coexistence.” The conference was held under the patronage of Shaykh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohamed Alqassmi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler of Sharjah and President of the University of Sharjah. Dr. Sultan has completed a PhD with distinction in History at Exeter University in 1985, and another in the Political Geography of the Gulf at Durham University in 1999. The conference offered valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange, networking and learning about the Arabs and Muslims scientific and scholar heritage and latest findings and

discoveries in the field. The conference had the following themes: Innovative Culture and its impact in building educational community if the Islamic Civilization. Scientific Research in Islamic Civilization. Reviving the Arabic and Islamic Heritage and connecting it with modern scholarly activities. History of Medicine and Health Sciences in Arabic and Islamic Civilizations. The three-day event examined and discussed more than 150 scientific papers, delivered by experts from over 20 countries. The University of Sharjah was established as a non-profit institution for higher education in October 1997. n

Indonesian Muslim Cleric Wins 2017 Human Rights Award

The Jar of LifeIt is up to oneself as to how he uses the time of life gifted to him.

It was Prof. Suleiman’s period. While entering the room, he threw a glance across the students and said, “Today I’ll be imparting an important lesson of life to all of you.”He had carried a large glass jar into the room. He placed it on the table and began to drop tiny tennis balls into it. He kept dropping the balls till it could take no more. He asked the students if the jar was full. The students replied in unison: “Yes, Sir!”Now, Prof. Suleiman pulled out a polythene bag from his briefcase filled with small pebbles. He began to drop the pebbles into the jar. While dropping them, he was shaking the jar and rotating it on its base. He kept doing this till the pebbles filled up the spaces between the tennis balls. He again asked the students if they felt the jar was full. The students again said: “Yes, Sir!”Now, Prof. Suleiman took out another bag from his briefcase, which contained sand. He began to pour the sand into the jar. The sand particles trickled into the pores and lodged themselves into the vacant spaces. Prof. Suleiman gently stoked the jar’s base

against the table to ensure that the sand particles got into every conceivable space between the balls and the pebbles. He again made the same query. “Is the jar filled to the capacity?”“Yes, Sir!”, said the students amidst peals of laughter.Now, Prof. Suleiman took out two bottles of juice from his bag. He began to pour the juice into the jar till the sand and the

pebbles absorbed a lot of it. Then, he turned to the students and said, “I’d like to tell you something very serious and important for your life.”He began to speak.“Take this jar as your life. The tennis balls are the most important of the tasks of your life—for example, education, livelihood, family, your spouse, job, health and security, and so on. The pebbles represent your wants and desires in life, such as home-help, a car, a cell-phone, a laptop etc. The sand that filled the vacant spaces stands for frivolities, such as pastimes, gossip, chit-chat over the phone and other things that fill the gaps between major assignments.”“Now suppose you had filled the jar with sand in the first instance, there would have been no space left for tennis balls and the pebbles. Or if you had chosen to fill the jar with pebbles first, there would have been no scope for balls but it may have taken considerable amount of sand.“The same rule applies to life. If you fill up your life with frivolous things or pursue things that are not significant, you would have no time to take up important tasks of life. If you desire a life that is immensely successful and serene, this is an important lesson. Now it is up to you to decide as to how you would like to fill up the jar of your life.”The students were listening to Prof. Suleiman in rapt attention. One of them raised his hand in the air to pose a query. “Sir! You explained to us what the balls, pebbles and the sand represent, but those juice bottles remain to be explained.”Prof. Suleiman smiled and said: “I was just wondering why no one raised this query.”He continued: “All that it means is that howsoever busy we might be with our daily chores of life and even if we have achieved whatever success we want, we should retain some space and scope for maintaining the sweetness of relationship with others in our lives.”

(Transcribed from Urdu by Maqbool Ahmed Siraj)

A cleric from Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, has won the 2017 Yap Thiam Hien Award for his efforts in upholding human rights and promoting diversity through writing. Ahmad Mustofa Bisri, known as Gus Mus, is the first Muslim cleric to receive the award, which was established by the Jakarta-based Human Rights Study Center Foundation in 1992 to honor the late Yap Thiam Hien (1913-89), a noted lawyer and human rights defender in Indonesia.Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister, Susi Pudjiastuti presented the award to the 73-year-old leader of an Islamic Boarding School in Rembang, Central Java. Foundation director, Todung Mulya Lubis said Gus Mus had worked for human rights in terms of religious issues and for diversity and social harmony. Gus Mus

had shared with people his ideas through poems and never took part in any protests, he said. Father Antonius Benny Susetyo, secretary of the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace's national council, acknowledged that Gus Mus deserved the award."He is a figure who can become a bridge of peace," he said.

(Extracted from www.ucanews.com)

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 1111AFMI Conference at Jodhpur

Ministry to Confer Awards for Education Minister Mukhatar Abbas Naqvi announces special award for persons engaged in

promoting education among minorities at the AFMI conference at Jodhpur

By A Staff Writer

Jodhpur: The Ministry for Minority Welfare will honour people who have made outstanding contribution in the field of promoting education among minorities on October 15, 2018, the birth anniversary of late President of India Mr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi will give away the award to the persons being honoured. This was disclosed by Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on December 30, 2017 at the 26th conference of the American Federation of Muslim of Indian Origin (AFMI) held at the Maulana Azad University at Bujhawar village, 15 kms from Jodhpur. Inaugurating the 2-day conference of the AFMI, Mr. Naqvi said 70% of the funds allocated to his Ministry have been set aside for promotion of education among the minorities. He said the Ministry was targeting promotion of professional education among the minorities. He informed that 15 million students from

among the minorities received scholarships from the funds allocated for the Ministry during 2017 which is a new record. Mr. Naqvi inaugurated the new 3-modular laboratory of the Maulana Azad University at the occasion. Lauding the Maulana Azad University’s services, Mr.

Naqvi promised all the assistance from his Ministry. Mr. Ganjendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of State for Agriculture in the Union cabinet (also representing the Jodhpur Lok Sabha constituency) announced a Rs. 11 lakh contribution from his MPLAD Fund for the Marwar Muslim Education and Welfare Society which runs the University and a string of institutions.

Mr. Abdur Rahman Nakedar, Founder Trustee of AFMI, said the Federation has been awarding gold, silver and bronze medals to top six outstanding Muslim achievers in SSLC and PUC (plus Two) level in each state of India every year. Besides, three Muslim toppers from each

State are selected for scholarships annually.

In a special ceremony, the AFMI presented gold, silver and bronze medals to 128 Muslim achievers for the year 2016-17. These included Ameena Khatoon from Uttar Pradesh, Rukhaiya Jhubwala and Amtul of Madhya Pradesh, Shifa Saniya of Karnataka (scored 99.2% in 10th std exam), Munira Bi Vardaval (scored 95%) of Dungarpur, Nishat Khan of Jodhpur (95% in

10th), Sadaf and Ingeel Sayyed (93% each of Jodhpur) all in Rajasthan, and Mansha Zareen of Telengana. Important among the delegates in the conference were Mr. Baltej Singh Mann, acting Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities; Mr. Justice M. A.

Siddiqui, former chairman of the National Commission for Minority Education Institutions; Dr. Abdur Rahman Nakedar, founder of the AFMI; Dr. Iqbal Ahmed and Dr. Razia Ahmed (Ohio); Dr. Muhammad Khutbuddin (Indiana); Ayyub Khan (Toronto); Dr. Aslam Abdullah (Las Vegas); Dr. Hussain Nagamiya (Tampa-Florida); Dr. Javed Mirza (New York); Sahfi Lokhandawala (Michigan); Siraj Thakore (Toronto); Tayyab Poonawala (Birmingham); Dr. Habeeb Bhurawala (Sydney); Dr. Abdul

Hai (Patna); Dr. Fakhruddin (Hyderabad); Dr. Azeem Shervani (Bahraich); Nazim A. (Ajmer); Peerzada (Retd. IAS); Mr. Abdul Qaiyum Akhtar (Jaipur); Sayeed Ansari (District President of the Congress Party, Jodhpur); Mr. Abdul Aziz (President of the Marwar Muslim Education and Welfare Society); Shabbir Ahmed Khilji, Haji Abbadullah Qureshi, Fazulur Rahman, Sahukat Ansari, Nabir Khan, Mod. Ishaque, Zaki Ahmed, Nisar Khilji, Feroze Kazi, Dr. Imran Khan Pathan (Registrar, Maulana Azad University). Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, President of the Maulana Azad University was presented the Sir Syed Award for his distinguished services to the cause of Muslim Education. Dr. Qutubuddin is new AFMI Chief: Dr. Mohammad Qutubuddin, noted psychiatrist hailing from Hyderabad and currently based at Indiana, has been elected the new President of the AFMI. This was announced on December 31 at the conclusion of the 2-day conference held in Jodhpur. n

Ministry of Minority Welfare has dedicated 70% of its allocated

funds for promotion of the education among Minorities.

Qaum e Abbasiyan’s community organization has reached a

consensus to conduct marriages in a solemn manner without the fanfare

witnessed earlier.

Qaum e AbbasiyanAusterity Marks Mass Marriage

Forty two couples were united in wedlock in a solemn ceremony sans musical band and dances.

Jodhpur: Forty two couples of Abbasiya community here were united in a wedlock in a mass marriage in an austere ceremony here on January 14. All the members of the 15,000 strong community in the city attended the Nikah ceremony and dinner at the Madrassa Roshan Islamia Hall and

Abbasiya Samudaya Bhavan. The ceremony was held without the attendant rituals, music and dance and fanfare which entailed huge expenses earlier. The Rajasthan Government extended a monetary

assistance of Rs. 15,000 to each of the couple. Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ms. Vadundhara Raje Scindia sent a letter of appreciation for conducting marriages accompanied with solemn ceremony. Abbasiya Qaum (community) is a distinct social component of

Rajasthan’s Muslim community with around two lakh individuals. However, Jodhpur city has around 15,000 members. The people belonging to the community have been traditionally engaged in

stone-carving, transportation of heavy granite and marble stones on camel backs from mines to the construction sites, taxi-driving and selling vegetables. However, winds of change have brought about educational awareness within the community and nearly every child

is now enrolled in schools. Currently, the community within Jodhpur has four doctors, several teachers and a few government servants. Occupational mobility is being witnessed in other

sectors too as the members of the community have taken up taxi-driving and other occupations. The community had recently undertaken to avoid unnecessary rituals and to conduct the marriages in an austere way. Consequently, no firecrackers

were burst, nor any musical bands were engaged in the mass marriage. The Shekhawati-Goravati Jumla Punch, the community association of the Abbasis, had recently taken an unanimous decision to curtail unnecessary expenses and to hold the Nikah in a solemn manner in keeping with the

Islamic etiquette. The ceremony was attended by Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat who presented the Nikah deeds to the marrying couples. Mr. Feroze Khan Abbasi, Secretary of the Qaum e

Abbasiyan presided over the ceremony.

Among others who graced the ceremony were BJP member Anil Agrawal, Rajasthan Urdu Academy Chairman Md. Ameer Pathan, former Jodhpur

Development Authority Chairman Rajendra Singh Solanki, former Mayor Abdul Ghani Foujdar, State Minority Commission Chairman Saleem Khan, Scheduled Caste Commission Dr. Dhanpat Gurjar, former President of the Marwar Muslim Educational and Welfare Society, Shabbir Ahmed Khilji. n

COmmUnitY rOUndUP

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 12COmmUnitY rOUndUP

Muslim Group Supports Move to Control

Loudspeaker NoiseIndian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) supported the Allahabad High Court-prompted move by the Uttar Pradesh government to control noise pollution in the state. IMSD believes the use of loudspeakers in religious places and elsewhere during religious occasions is not an issue of faith. Often it is simply a matter of competitive religiosity between and within religions. IMSD supported the UP government’s directions to the district authorities to stop unauthorized use of loudspeakers

and public address systems, and to regulate the decibel level while granting permission. IMSD applauded the Muslims from Mallapuram (Kerala) who recently, proactively decided to curb noise pollution. A group of 17 mosques from the Vazhakkad locality came to an agreement whereby only the biggest mosque in the area, Valiya Juma Masjid, would use loudspeakers to give out the call to prayer five times a day. The other 16 mosques, it was agreed, would say the azaan without loudspeakers. n

IMRC Distributes Blankets among 5,400 Families across India

Following a sharp dip in temperature, Indian Muslim Relief & Charities (IMRC) and its implementation partner, Sahayata Trust in Hyderabad distributed blankets among 5400 families and warm clothes among 1000 individuals across various cities and villages in different states of India.In Uttar Pradesh, 200 blankets were distributed in Najeebabad, 500 in Aligarh, 300 in Saharanpur. In Bihar, 1000 blankets were distributed in Patna. In West Bengal, 300 blankets were distributed in Nadia district, 300

in Howrah, 200 in Kolkata and 200 in North Chaubees Pargana. In Jharkhand, 300 blankets

were distributed in Chatra and Palamu district. 100 blankets were distributed in Delhi slums, 300 in Haryana and Punjab and 1700 in the rural areas of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. In UP and Jharkhand, sweaters, shawls, and caps were also distributed among 1000 individuals. “The blankets and clothes were distributed among the poor and needy, mostly widows, who don’t have proper houses and have no proper bedding during the extreme cold,” said Wahid Nadvi, IMRC volunteer from Jharkhand.

(Extracted from twocircles.net)

Haj Subsidy AbolishedMuslim Organisations, Scholars

Welcome Centre’s DecisionBy Sajid Inamdar

Pune: The Centre’s decision to abolish the Haj subsidy, , has been welcomed by Muslim scholars and organisations in the city, who said the move was a “much-awaited” one.In the past, a section of the Muslim community had called the subsidy, worth almost Rs 700 crore every year, a ‘blot’, as the Quran states that members of the community should perform Haj only if they can afford to do so.Anees Chishti, educationist and Islamic scholar, and a special invitee on the board of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, said, “The decision to abolish the Haj subsidy is a good thing. While it was called a Haj subsidy, the pilgrims performing Haj didn’t get anything in hand. It was an arrangement to prevent Air India from suffering losses. The money went from one government organisation to another, since the money was being offered to the government-run airlines to offer discounted rates for flights operated by the national carrier.”Riyaz Qazi, chief of Pune Haj Committee and a former member of

the Maharashtra Haj Committee, said, “There was nothing in terms of a subsidy which came directly to a Haj pilgrim. It was a subsidy for Air India and was serving as a lifeline for it. Had the government followed the process of open global tender for air travel, it would have made the process more economical.”Shamshuddin Tamboli, president of the Muslim Satyashodhak Mandal, said the government was following the Supreme Court’s instructions in 2012, when the apex court had ordered that the Haj subsidy should be phased out over a 10-year period.“Even in 2012, Muslims had welcomed the decision because it is part of the religious duties of a Muslim to perform the pilgrimage, only if they can afford it. So, a subsidy was not desirable. I believe that in a secular country like India, there should be no place for religious subsidies and any other subsidy for pilgrimages should also be stopped. Instead, the money should go towards the development of the community, by spending it on education or health projects,” he said.

(http://indianexpress.com)

Indonesian Prof Irwandi Jaswir ...Prof Irwandi Jaswir was born on 20 December 1970 in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. He obtained his Bachelors degree in Food Technology and Human Nutrition in 1993 from Bogor Agricultural University in Indonesia, his Master of Science in Food Science and Biotechnology in 1996, as well as his PhD in Food Chemistry and Biochemistry in 2000 from the Universiti Putra in Malaysia. Currently, Jaswir is the Deputy Dean of the International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART, and Secretary of Council of Professors at the International Islamic University Malaysia. The prize for Islamic Studies (Topic: Critical Editions of Islamic Historical and Biographical Texts) has been awarded to Professor Bashar Awad of Jordan. The selection committee picked him for the award in recognition of his broad historical and geographical views in his editing studies which covered the works of Hadith and history of scholars as well as some of the famous Islamic figures. His works have set the foundations for rules and principles governing the practice of editing, which have brought this field closer to becoming a science based on precision, integrity and extensiveness. The prize for Arabic Language and Literature (Topic: Studies Dealing with Autobiography in Arabic Literature) is for Prof Chokri Mabkhout of Tunisia. The

panel named him for the prize in recognition of his originality in the treatment and analysis of Arab biographical themes. It also appreciated his ability in absorbing the theoretical background and investigating the artistic and intellectual values in biographical themes, as well as the variety of critical approaches he adopted in his studies and the sober and aesthetically outstanding language in his critical analyses. Born in 1962 in Tunisia, Mabkhout currently is the president of Manoubah University. The prize for Medicine (Topic: Immunotherapy for Cancer) is awarded to Professor James Patrick Allison of USA, for his outstanding contribution to the development of the field of immunotherapy of cancer. Prior to the work of Allison, there used to be three basic treatment options for cancer: (a) surgery, (b) radiation and (c) chemotherapy or some combination of those three. Now, we can claim to have a fourth option. Immunotherapy, also called biologic therapy, is a type of cancer treatment that boosts the body’s natural defences to fight the cancer. It uses substances made by the body or in a laboratory to improve or restore immune system function. White blood cells, also called leukocytes/leucocytes, are the cells of the immune system that

are involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders. James P. Allison was born on 7 August 1948 in Alice, Texas, USA. Now, he is the Director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. This year’s prize for Science is in the area of Mathematics. It has been awarded to Prof Sir John Macleod Ball of UK, for his fundamental and groundbreaking contributions to nonlinear partial differential equations, the calculus of variations, and dynamical systems. In these areas he developed revolutionary approaches that are widely used in mathematics today. John Ball was born on 19 May 1948 in Farnham, Surrey, UK. Now he is the Sedleian Professor of Natural Philosophy Director of the Oxford Centre for Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations Fellow of the Queen’s College. The prize consists of a certificate, hand-written in Diwani calligraphy, summarizing the laureate's work; a commemorative 24 carat, 200 gram gold medal, uniquely cast for each Prize; and a cash endowment of Saudi Riyal 750,000 (about US$200,000) to be shared equally. Reported by Sameen Ahmed Khan (Salalah, Sultanate of Oman) (rohelakhan@yahoo.com)

Page 1

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 1313 PeOPLe

Irfan Habib Bags Double Gold Medal at Jadavpur UniversityIrfan Habib, a student of Mathematics at Jadavpur University, has won two gold medals during his undergraduate at the 62nd Convocation of the University held on December 24, 2017. Irfan topped his Mathematics Department with 93% marks for his B.Sc. degree along with securing the highest marks in the entire Science Stream. Though his family members and teachers are excited at his achievement, Irfan has only continued his excellent work at the university and had secured the top position in the two previous years. The Convocation was held on the university

main campus at Jadavpur recently and was attended by former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee and the Governor of West Bengal, Keshri Nath Tripathi, Vice Chancellor Suranjan Das and many other University professors and administrators. Irfan is the son of Md. Saifuddin Ahmed, a senior madrasa teacher under Madhyamik

Siksha Kendra scheme, and belongs to Sonakur village of Haringhata block in West Bengal’s Nadia district. Irfan is currently pursuing M.sc in Mathematics at Jadavpur University.

(Extracted from twocircles.net)

Boxing Bronze Medal for Arshi Khanum Arshi Khanum 16, of Jodhpur won the bronze medal for India in Boxing (50 kg category) at

the International Junior Women's Boxing Competition held at Sombore, Serbia in Europe, held between January 8 and 15. She was

part of a 13-member boxing team from India. Several others too won medals for the country. Arshi

Khanum was trained by trainer Vinod Kumar Acharya. The citizens of Jodhpur took out a rally from the railway station to her residence on reaching the city on January 16 through the main thoroughfares of the city. It was led by Muncipal Councillor

Kismat Bano. Acharya said Arshi Khanum will represent Rajasthan at the 'Khel India' to be organised in Delhi. n

Jamia VC FetedProf. Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor of the Jamia Millia Islamia was felicitated for being conferred with the 7th Bhartiya Manava Adhikar Samman 2017 and the “Most Eminent Vice-Chancellor Award 2017,” recently at an impressive function organised by the Anglo Arabic School and Delhi College Old Boys’ Association in New Delhi.Speaking on the occasion , the Vice Chancellor, Prof Ahmad said that the awards and honours which he had received were attributable to the combined efforts of the faculty and staff of the university and not him alone. All these have synergised to take JMI at a higher level in the field of academic excellence. The award instituted by the All India Council of Human Rights, Liberties & Social Justice (AICHLS) was

bestowed on him last month.AICHLS is founded by Dr Anthony Raju, a Supreme Court of India advocate who is an internationally acclaimed

Human Rights defender, peace activist and social worker and is one of the country’s foremost voices of Human Rights. AICHLS has been added as a signatory to United Nation Global Compact which is the world’s largest corporate responsibility initiative with nearly 12,000 business and non-business participants in 140 countries. n

Selwa Hussain She Carries her Heart in a Backpack

‘Smartest Child’

Selwa Hussain (Picture: Craig Hibbert)

Selwa Hussain, 39, has become only the second-ever person in Britain to be given an artificial heart after a six-hour operation. A battery-powered pump and electric motor inside the 15lb bag pushes air through tubes to feed plastic chambers in Selwa’s chest. This pushes blood around her body. The mum-of-two, from Ilford, east London, was taken to Harefield Hospital, west London, in July after suffering heart failure. The backpack weighs 15lb and contains an electric motor, pump and batteries She was too ill for a heart transplant and her husband agreed she be given an artificial organ. Selwa’s diseased natural heart was removed by surgeons

and replaced with an artificial implant and the specialist unit on her back, at the hospital, famous across the world for its heart and lung centres. It costs £86,000 ($116,000) to make in the US.

‘I was so ill before and after the surgery that it has taken me all this time to get fit enough to come home,’ Selwa said. ‘Harefield have been absolutely magnificent. They came up with a solution that allowed me to stay alive to see the New Year in with my family. For that I am eternally grateful.’ Medics concluded Selwa’s sudden heart failure was caused by a condition called cardiomyopathy that can, in very rare cases, be triggered by pregnancy. The first person in the UK to have been given an artificial heart was a 50-year-old man in 2011. The surgery was performed at Papworth Hospital near St. Neots, Cambridgeshire. n

Abdur Rahman Hussain (13) of Egypt has been titled the “smartest child in the world” after he came in first at a global competition. The contest entitled ‘The Intelligent Mental Arithmetic International Competition’ was organized in Malaysia. Some 3,000 children belonging to more than 70 different countries in the world participated in the contest. The competition that judged problem-solving skills of all the contenders was based on a 4-page complex test to be solved in the least amount of time. Abdul Rehman answered 230 of the most mind-boggling arithmetic questions in a time span of mere eight minutes

and claimed the first spot in the competition. Abdul Rehman

attributed his achievement to all his teachers who had been training him for the competition since 2012. n

Father Antonius Benny SusetyoPriest Forges Close Ties with Indonesian Leaders

Catholic priest and social activist, Father Antonius Benny Susetyo has a close working relationship with the leader of M u s l i m - m a j o r i t y Indonesia. In June 2017, he was appointed by President Joko Widodo as an adviser to a loosely structured group promoting communal tolerance and understanding. Sectarian tensions had surfaced earlier in the year during an election campaign for the governorship of the capital Jakarta. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims joined protests against the then incumbent ethnic-Chinese Christian governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama. The advisory group that includes Father Susetyo looks for ways to implement Indonesia’s national Pancasila ideology stressing belief in one God and cultural pluralism. Father Susetyo began his involvement in social and

political activities while at the Widya Sasana School of Philosophy and Theology in Malang, East Java, his hometown. The late Bishop Herman Joseph Sahadat P a n d o y o p u t r o

mandated Father Susetyo to build a “true brotherhood” with Muslim leaders in the area. Father Susetyo co-founded the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace. The institute’s main goal is to fight against discrimination and intolerance, including in relation to religion, ethnicity and gender. n

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Darul Huda Islamic University to Start

Educational InstitutesTaking a cue from the good response received from various States, Darul Huda Islamic University is all set to spread its wings to Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. The university has mooted a comprehensive plan to start educational institutions in these states. Apart from Kerala, the university is now running educational institutions and empowerment programmes in Kerala, Assam, West Bengal, Seemandhra and Karnataka. According to vice-chancellor, Dr

Bahauddeen Muhammed Nadwi, Darul Huda has started taking the initial steps to materialize the new projects. The plan is to start a new off-campus at Bhiwandi in Maharashtra and Allahabad in Western Uttar Pradesh. In addition to these, educational institutions will come in Bihar and Jharkhand. “We have acquired adequate land for the projects and they will be implemented in cooperation with the local administration and agencies,” the vice-chancellor said.

(Extracted from twocircles.net)

MANUU Launches Online Learning ChannelHyderabad: Launching learning into cyberspace, Hyderabad-based Maulana Azad National Urdu University’s YouTube channel for higher education went live recently. The channel, an initiative of the university’s Instructional Media Centre (IMC), is expected to reach over 80,000 students who have enrolled in various courses which are in different stages of completion in the distance mode. University Vice-Chancellor M. Aslam Parvaiz underscored that while the large number of its students stand to benefit through the YouTube channel, the initiative would also

reach a larger number of Urdu speakers who are not students. “The books which we give in the form of study material is

insufficient these days as there is no teacher. This channel takes the teacher to the student’s

house,” Dr. Parvaiz said. The Urdu-speaking diaspora of the country in Europe and the USA too would benefit.Taking questions from the media on the frequency of generating content, he said that each department is given a schedule to record its videos. The IMC, he said, generates 30 such videos each month. “That is more than one per day. There is a good collection which already exists. This too will be made available,” he said. The IMC will also start making 3-D films soon. n

Uttarakhand Madrassas to Teach Sanskrit

Dehradun: The lower committee of Uttarakhand Madrassa Education Board (UMEB) has given its nod to a proposal seeking inclusion of Sanskrit and Computer Science as optional subjects in madrassas all over the state from the next academic session. At present, madrassas in the state offer Maths, Science, Ayush and Social Science as optional subjects. A six-member lower committee of the board cleared

the proposal for inclusion of Sanskrit and Computer Science as optional subjects, UMEB Deputy Registrar Akhlaq Ahmad told PTI. The proposal will now be moved to the upper committee of the board for its approval, he said. The approval to include Sanskrit in the syllabus comes days after the Madrassa Welfare Society of Uttarakhand approached the state government to include Sanskrit as one of the subjects in the syllabus. n

M. Aslam Parvaiz

Diploma in Unani Pharmacy at JamiaNew Delhi: In a first for a Central University, Jamia Millia Islamia has started a Diploma course in Unani Pharmacy and has also launched a Unani medicine laboratory and a mobile van dispensary in recognition of the services rendered to the field of Unani Medicine and

to the university by one of its founders, the renowned Hakim Ajmal Khan. Thirty-five students have been enrolled for the self-financed two-year diploma course which was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor, Prof Talat Ahmad in the presence of Dr. Anil Khurana, Director General, Central Council For Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Ministry of AYUSH, Prof Shahid Ashraf, Pro Vice-Chancellor JMI, Mr. Shoyeb Akram, Chairman, REX Charitable Trust, Prof Shareef Ahmad, Dean, Faculty of Natural

Sciences, Dr.S. A. Siddiqui, Programme Coordinator, Unani Pharmacy, JMI, Prof Mohammad Husain, Coordinator, Ph D Unani and Allied Sciences.and other senior members of the Science faculty and students. The mobile van dispensary will make Unani medicines available

to JMI employees and students at subsidised rates. The medicines will be supplied by Unani medicine manufacturer, REX industries. The company has also offered to equip the pharmacy laboratory of JMI as well as provide

annual training in packaging and manufacturing to students pursuing the diploma course. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Talat Ahmad said that the launch of the diploma course in Unani medicine is an apt tribute to the legacy of Hakim Ajmal Khan who was a founder of JMI and one of the biggest names in Unani medicine. This is an old system of medicine in which Hakims would not divulge the method of preparation and contents. As a result, he said, much information could not be passed

down to future generations. "We hope to collect prescriptions of hakims and collate them to use them with other allied sciences and give Unani Medicine a new lease of life".Mr. Shoyeb Akram, Chairman, REX industries gave a one-time stipend of Rs 10,000 to each student enrolled in the course besides offering cash awards of Rs 31,000, 21,000 and 11,000 to the first, second and third position holders respectively. n

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 1515 bOOk revieW

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Chronicling the Legendary DewanMirza Ismail served the people and potentates of erstwhile princely states

with devotion, with a keen eye on development.

Sir Mirza M. Ismail: A Great AdministratorBy B. Sheik AliDarul Umoor Research Centre, Srirangapatna, KarnatakaPages 322 Price Rs. 400

Sir Mirza M. Ismail: A Great Administrator by Prof. Sheik Ali chronicles the life and achievements of Dewan (a post equivalent to the status of chief minister), Sir Mirza Ismail of Mysore for 15 years (1926-1941). Ismail was a descendant of Mirza Ali Asker, a merchant of Iranian descent who had settled down in Bangalore. The family became close to the ruling family of Wodeyars of Mysore and sold them fine-breed of Persian horses and carpets. The family was gifted a large tract of land by the royal family in the heart of Bangalore.Mirza Ismail had his early education along with young prince Krishnaraja Wodeyar and seven others in a private tutorial organized as a special school within the precincts of the royal palace. Mr. P. Raghavendra Rao and Sir Stuart Fraser of the Bombay Civil Services were tutors at the school. Mirza later went on to study at the Central College in Bangalore and returned to Mysore to join as the private secretary of the Maharaja. Representing the finest traditions and traits of Indian and Persian culture, Mirza Ismail grew up in the hierarchy in the Mysore administration. Yet, it was too early for him to be appointed as the Dewan of Mysore when he was picked up by the Maharaja for the top post. The choice surprised many in the State as Mirza was a Muslim, of Iranian descent and a non-Kannadiga. Mentoring by Sir M. V.Mirza developed the skills of administration under British officers and mentors like Sir M. Visveswaraya, an engineer of high repute and one of his predecessors in the office of the Dewan. English education and training under able tutors enabled him to access a wide range of literatures from across the continents and absorb influences from the West. Having inherited grace and refinement from family traditions in ample measure and equipped with knowledge of modern finance, engineering, industry and economy, Mirza set about

fashioning an administration oriented towards popular weal. Peace, prosperity of the people and development of the State were his core concerns. He found in Krishnaraja Wodeyar a compassionate sovereign keen to aid and bless all that he initiated in order to take the State to modernity.

Changing TimesThose were fast-changing times. India was in the midst of the nationalist struggle for freedom. The Muslim League and its leader Mohammad Ali Jinnah communalized the atmosphere by raising the banner of a separate homeland for Muslims. The royal families were being watched by the colonial masters against any deviation from their diktats. Mirza Ismail, a Muslim Dewan of a preponderantly

Hindu principality, had to walk on the razor’s edge. On occasions, opponents hurled accusations of being communal, but the Maharaja and the general populace were convinced of his non-partisanship. Mirza was essentially a modernizer and single-mindedly pursued his dream of delivering civic amenities to the people of the

state. He brought in reforms like the Mysore Land Record of Rights Regulation (1927), streamlined the taxation system in the State by bringing in economist N. S. Subbarao; and, opened a Reserve Fund to meet special expenditure. IndustrialisationMirza took forward the movement towards industrialization of the State started by Sir. M. V. and was instrumental in setting up steel, cement, porcelain, silk, sandal and oil industries, expanded the electrification network to smaller towns and villages, took irrigation canals to interiors of the Cauvery basin, and set up the Central Industrial Workshop and Government Electric Factory and cottage industries. He established NIMHANS and Weavers Coop Society in Bangalore, appointed a Trade Commissioner in London to popularize Mysore products in Europe and provided to the pubic such amenities as electric lights, water supply, underground drainage and sewerage, clean bathing places, besides a school, a dispensary a reading room, a post office, a garden and a playground in many villages. The profits of the State Bank of Mysore rose from Rs. 3,000 in the first year of its operation, i.e., 1913, to Rs. 5 lakh in Mirza’s times. Deposits soared from Rs. 4.5 lakh to Rs. 250 lakh. The state administration won laurels from Mahatma Gandhi. Testing of NervesHis nerves were tested during the Binny Mills Strike, communal riots in Sultanpet in Bangalore and disturbances caused at Dharambuddhi tank in front of the City Railway station. He dealt with them with abundant tact and care. Turned DownThe detailed accounts of his failure in setting an automobile plant in Bangalore reflects the British policy of discouraging industries that would cut down imports. The blueprint for the plant was ready with investors keen to put in their money. India was importing cars from the United States. A car that cost Rs. 1,400 in Detroit would incur 60% additional cost on being delivered to a customer in India. But the proposal was turned down by the

British Resident Todhunter who wrote back: “The scheme seemed to have little prospect of ultimate success”. Crestfallen, Mirza Ismail resigned from the post in 1941. Dewan at JaipurMirza Ismail took over the reign of Dewanship of Jaipur State in 1942. He faced similar negative interventions from the political department of the colonial administration in Delhi. Industrialists like G. D. Birla

who were patronizing Gandhiji, Goenka and Badridas were facing similar hurdles in their plans to industrialise the erstwhile Rajputana (now Rajasthan). He however outmaneuvered the British and brought in several of these tycoons to set up industries in Jaipur. Many gardens, gateways, park in the city owe their existence to Mirza’s aesthetic touch. He invited several Christian missionaries to set up schools and hospitals in the city. He was instrumental in setting up the University of Rajputana and a medical college in the state and recruited eminent faculty members from among his contacts in Mysore. The Hindu Mahasabha accused him of demolishing temples, but he invited a delegation of their leaders and showed them the improvements done to some of the temples. The leaders were convinced and issued a statement refuting their allegations.

In Nizam’s ServiceHe quit the dewanship in Jaipur on being invited by the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1946. Jinnah knew Mirza Ismail’s opposition to Pakistan and tried to dissuade the Nizam. He even visited the Nizam to rescind his decision and was rebuffed. But the situation developing in Hyderabad was too hot to handle for him. The Razakars led by Qasim Rizvi were ruling the roost in the State and the Nizam was set against joining the Indian Union. Mirza Ismail had read the writings on the wall and tried his utmost to persuade him to sign the instrument of accession. But the Nizam had almost become a prisoner of the private militias of Rizvi. Mirza returned to Bangalore in May 1947 and sent in his resignation. Even till the Army Action on September 17, 1948 he constantly tried to negotiate a settlement between Delhi and the Nizam. But nothing worked and the Indian Army moved into the State. The author has very ably captured the ongoings in Hyderabad and etched to relief the nationalist side of Mirza’s persona. An enlightened individual, Mirza Ismail was among a rare breed of administrators who pursued the dictates of his conscience and development vision with complete integrity. He epitomized the secular vision that leaders of the struggle for nation’s independence were imbued with, even while keeping himself aligned to the potentate he was employed to serve. The author has successfully sketched his struggles with the times and forces shaping the destiny of India in the early half of the 20th century. A plethora of typos does leave a bad taste for the readers. But overall, the book is highly readable. n

Reviewed by

Maqbool Ahmed Siraj

Mirza Ismail was a visionary motivated with a missionary zeal to deliver the

subjects the fruits of modernity.

An enlightened individual, Mirza

Ismail was among a rare breed of

administrators who pursued the dictates

of his conscience and development

vision with complete integrity. and the International Council for

Science (ICSU), in co-operation with other partners. At the concluding session of the World Science Forum 2017, participants issued a global call to action for science and society to facilitate the role of science in addressing global challenges through science and evidence-informed policy. Members adopted a unanimous declaration in which they pledged to make sustained efforts to

preserve and promote scientific capacities and harness the potential of science, technology and innovation to promote equal opportunity based sustainable and peaceful development. (The writer can be reached at rohelakhan@yahoo.com Department of Mathematics and Sciences, College of Arts and Applied Sciences, Dhofar University, Salalah, Sultanate of Oman)

World Science Forum ...

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 16

Page 17

bOOk revieW

neW ArrivALs

A More Meaningful Understanding of ShariahKamali’s reflections provide helpful guidance geared to promoting gender

justice, establishing better relations between Muslims and others, and encouraging peace and justice for all.

Shariah Law: Questions and AnswersBy Mohammad Hashim KamaliPublished by Oneworld Publications, OxfordPages: 278Year: 2017Price: $ 19.99

Hashim Kamali is a prolific writer on issues related to Islam and is the founding CEO of the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies, Malaysia. In this new book of his, he reflects on a subject of considerable discussion—on what Muslims understand, in diverse ways, as the Shariah. This complex and complicated subject is often far from easy to fathom, but using an engaging question-and-answer method, Kamali is able to explain difficult issues in simple form, making the book easily accessible to the ‘ordinary’ reader, even those readers who have little or no prior knowledge of Muslim jurisprudence.

Sources of ShariahThe book is divided into 17 sections and highlights almost 200 questions related to Shariah and its diverse understandings. Some answers are elaborate, while others are brief, not more than a few pages, or even a few paragraphs, long. The opening sections of the book deal with various sources of Shariah and legal opinion, followed by sections related to various social

and political issues. Many Muslims seek what they regard as Shariah-based guidance from religious scholars for how to respond to different issues. Kamali does a good job in articulating a more creative and positive understandings of Muslim jurisprudence on several such matters, including issues that earlier Muslim jurists, centuries ago, did not have to deal with. For instance, some Muslims may seek religious guidance with regard to genetic engineering, artificial insemination, surrogate motherhood, and so on, and

Kamali seeks to suggest meaningful Shariah-based replies to these questions.

Contemporary SensibilitiesSimilarly interesting are some of Kamali’s responses, based on his reading of sources of Shariah, on other issues of present-day importance, such as constitutional

law and civil liberties, women’s rights, democracy, the separation of powers, and status of statutory legislation side-by-side with Shariah, forms of governance, and fundamental

rights and liberties. Some of Kamali’s perspectives depart from prescriptions of traditional Muslim fiqh or jurisprudence in some very creative and positive, according well with contemporary sensibilities and the requirements of a changing social context.Kamali responds to some pressing questions that are often raised in discussions about Shariah. Readers may

find that some of these answers of his offer a more meaningful understanding of Shariah. Much of the discussions about Shariah today relates to issues related to women’s rights, gender relations, Islam, governance and politics, relations between Muslims and others, and the status of non-Muslims according to Shariah. Muslims from different ideological perspectives may offer widely different understandings of these, reflecting their divergent understandings of what Shariah is. Readers may find that Kamali’s reflections on some of these issues provide helpful guidance geared to promoting gender justice, establishing better relations between Muslims and others, and encouraging peace and justice for all. As with every other book, not every reader will agree with everything that this book says. At the same, it is a useful contribution to a subject of considerable present-day discussion. n

Kamali does a good job in articulating

more creative and positive

understandings of Muslim jurisprudence on several matters.

Kannada Book on “Conspiracies of Sangh Parivar” Released

The book was released by noted Kannada author Mr. Marulsiddappa in Kannada Bhavan situated in the heart of the city.

Bengaluru: A Kannada book titled “Sanchugara Sangha Parivara” by noted author Vidudalai Rajendran was released in the Kannada Bhavan on Saturday (Jan. 20) morning amid huge applause by a large audience. The title can be translated as “Conspiracies by Sangh Parivar’. It was originally written in Tamil by Rajendran but has been translated into Kannada by Ms. Kalai Selvi, who writes both in Kannada and Tamil. The

300-page book is priced at Rs. 300 and has been published by Sirivara Prakashana in Bengaluru.The book was released by noted Kannada author Mr. Marulsiddappa in Kannada Bhavan situated in the heart of the city. Those who received the first copies included noted Kannada journalist Agni Sridhar, editor of the mass- circulated Kannada weekly “Agni” and Mr. B. K. Hariprasad, Rajya Sabha MP and Congress politician.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Hariprasad said the RSS is a rumour spreading society which is opposed to the Constitution and does not believe in equality of all in the society. He said they were able to gain roots in the Hindi heartland mainly because the north Indian states were not able to produce social reformers such as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Periyar Ramaswamy Naicker, Sri Narayana Guru, Basavanna

Reviewed by

Yusuf Khan

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 1717

Page 16

sOCietY & HUmAnitY

Helping the HelplessDr Faruk Hossain Gazi ‘s organization Naba Diganta, organises free medical

camps in the remote rural areas of Sandeshkhali locality, in West Bengal.

It is often found that the greatest of changes in our society starts off with just a thought. A good thought for a better society, especially by someone who is himself from the marginalized section of the society is always more effective than hundreds of conferences arranged in plush hotels.Meet one such man, Dr Faruk Hossain Gazi, from North 24 Parganas’ Sandeshkhali locality, a doctor by profession posted as Government Medical Officer at Dubrajpur Rural Hospital in West Bengal’s Birbhum district. Coming from a very poor family and having faced hardships throughout his academic life, his own life taught him the need for education and concern for health, which whetted his zeal for the establishment of an organisation, Naba Diganta, for the welfare of marginalised people of the society.Dr Gazi, the founder and the General Secretary of Naba Diganta, initiated this establishment by spending Rs 4.5 lakh from his own pocket. Naba Diganta works with the tagline ‘Helping the helpless’ and set out its journey with five members who are by profession doctors, organising free medical camps in the remote rural areas of Sandeshkhali locality. Nearly four years later, they have now a registered office at Dr Faruk’s village, Khas Sankdaha, and the number of volunteers are now

more than 5,000. From five members, now the organisation has 100 active members who

work in all the districts of Bengal. The volunteers of Naba Diganta include many personalities from many professions who are directly or indirectly helping Naba Diganta.

School for OrphansWhile organizing medical camps in rural areas, they realized the need for education for poor children and established a free school, Naba Diganta Mission School, for orphans and poor children. Started with 40 students from class one to class four, the school now has 200 students whose all expenditures are taken

care by the organisation.Within three years since its establishment, Naba Diganta

organized many medical camps and every week, more than 200 rural people are given free treatment. There are 40 volunteers, especially female graduates in Naba Diganta, who are trained in medical terms to check patients already checked by doctors on a daily basis and they work on a ‘Swasthyabroti Health Volunteers’ Project.

Reaching Out to Flood VictimsThe team of Naba Diganta also reached out to the flood victims of Bengal that ransacked thousands

of lives last year and the team organized medical camps in Malda, Medinipur, Howrah,

Uttar Dinajpur districts and distributed free medicines and clothes among the distressed people.

Blankets are also distributed among the street beggars and footpath dwellers every year. The team also looks for orphans, poorest of the poor children to give them education and save them from being child labourers and early marriage of minor females.Dr. Gazi says: “ I faced extreme poverty in my own life and the hardships that I had to bear with. So, from the very beginning of my life, I had a dream to stand by other children like me, in as many ways as possible. While staying at Al Ameen Mission, I got more inspiration from our Secretary, Nurul Islam through whom I came to know about the selfless activities of Ramakrishna Mission. Even my wife, who is a full-time social worker, inspired me a lot to execute that dream. Hence, the establishment of Naba Diganta took place”. (For more details about Dr. Gazi and his work, please see the article about him by Mirza Mosaraf Hossain in twocircles.net)

“While staying at Al Ameen Mission, I got more inspiration from our Secretary, Nurul Islam through whom I came to know about the selfless activities of Ramakrishna

Mission,” says Dr Gazi.

Conspiracies of Sangh Parivar ...(all from southern states) who wrote against the inequality. Hariprasad said RSS is opposed to reservation policy which has created a level playing field for the SCs, STs and the OBCs. “They are not ‘Deshabhaktas’ but were Duveshbhaktas (lovers of inequality and differences in the society)”, he remarked.Hariprasad said the media controlled by a few individuals was partisan in its approach. Rape of Nirbhaya was projected in order to create mass uproar against the Congress Government while the rape and murder of Dalit girl in Haryana (ruled by the BJP) is being suppressed.Journalist Agni Sridhar, who had gone through the text even before publication of the book, said the book redefines the Sangh Parivar and inspires a common Indian to reinvent tools to combat the fascists who are out to divide the society. Citing the attack on Dalits at Koregaon-Bhima, the RSS was working to suppress the Dalit and followers

of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. The parivar outfits are maligning Tipu Sultan who fought four wars against the British colonial rule. He said the people are free to have their dietary choices. He called for fighting against the culture which suppressed the scheduled castes, tribes, OBCs and the religious minorities. He urged immediate translation of the book into Urdu.

Mr. Vidudalai Rajendran, the Tamil author of the book, questioned the patriotic antecedent of the Sangh Parivar and said Muslims and Christians were indigenous people who converted to religions that offered the suppressed people liberty and equality in a religion and allowed them access to sanctum sanctorum

of mosques and churches.Noted Kannada author Dr. Marulsiddappa lamented that secularism was getting orphaned in India. He said our capacity to fight the fascist forces was on decline which should be a matter of concern. He complimented Vidudalai Rajendran and Kalai Selvi for bringing out the well-researched book and said there

was no greater Hindu and saint in India than Mahatma Gandhi, who was assassinated by a fanatic belonging to Sangh Parivar.Kannada translator Kalai Selvi questioned as to who opposed the implementation of Mandal Commission Report for 27% reservation for the Other Backward Classes

(OBCs) when they (the OBCs) were Hindus. Why should someone question as to what an individual is eating and whom he or she is marrying? She said she decided to release the book in Kannada Bhavan and dedicate it to the memory of Gauri Lankesh the day she was killed.

(Report by A Staff Writer)

Hasan KızılTurkish Man Creates Free

Life-Saving Prosthetic Limbs for Animals

Are wheelchairs are just for people? This young man is giving disabled animals a free rein to run and play again with the prosthetics he makes.A young Turkish man from the

Mardin province is working selflessly to give a new lease of life to disabled animals and help put them back on their feet. 22-year-old Hasan Kızıl has been building prosthetic and orthotic devices for animals for free with only his own means.He’s been on a mission to give disabled pets and other animals the opportunity for more mobile lives. Kızıl said he uses any material around, including washing machine pieces, aluminum pipes and bike wheels. Using unconventional materials and everyday items has clearly helped boost his creativity. For example, he has made a prosthetic leg out of a hose for a one-legged eagle, and even used cabinet casters for a turtle with no back legs.“No matter what animal it is, just

give me one week and I’ll design it [a prosthetic], build it and send it”, he says. But as much he likes a challenge, Kızıl says that he occasionally asks for help and advice from his vet friends in

Istanbul and Mardin. Kızıl describes watching the animals walk for the first time as a ‘beautiful’ and incredible moment. “At first they are scared of walking, but in five minutes they start running,” he says. Kızıl says he wants to develop bionic legs for animals who cannot use any of their four legs, making it a historic first in animal health. He plans to incorporate biosensor technology into his designs with the help of engineers. The young man said he missed the registration deadline for the nationwide university entrance exams last year because he found a wounded cat on the streets and took it to the vet for treatment. If he manages to get enough points, Kızıl said he wants to study veterinary science and medicine. n

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 18GUidAnCe

A Son’s Parting Message to His ParentsIf realizing God is the purpose of life, parents who fail to help their children

fulfill this purpose do them grave harm.

By R. Sherim

Riz’s parents had spared no sacrifice to ensure that their son received what they thought was the best possible education. They sent Riz to study at what was said to be the finest school in the country—which was also the country’s most expensive school. You and I may not agree with this logic, but the reason why this school was thought of as the best was because most of its students were from very rich and powerful families and because it provided what it claimed was an ‘excellent’, ‘international standard’ academic atmosphere and plenty of extra-curricular activities. Boys who passed out of the school almost inevitably went on to become heads of multinational corporations, top officials, leading politicians, and so on.

‘Top-Class’ UniversitiesAfter spending several years in this school, Riz’s parents arranged for him to go abroad for his higher education. Over the next ten years, Riz went from one ‘top-class’ university to another, doing various courses and earning many degrees. When their friends would ask them where Riz was, Riz’s parents very proudly tell them that he was now in, say, Japan, having just earned his second Ph.D. in Britain, and that he was planning now to go to Norway or Ireland or wherever it was for yet another degree. They loved telling their friends about how ‘successful’ their son had turned out to be, with all the ‘world-class’ institutions that he had studied in and all the many degrees he had earned.One day—this was when he had travelled to America to receive a prize for a book he had written—Riz suddenly developed sharp pain all over his body. He fell unconscious and was rushed to the nearest hospital. There, he was given emergency treatment.Shocked!When Riz regained consciousness, the doctor said to him, “I have something very serious to tell you. You may have just have a week or so to live. You have a very malignant form of cancer, and it has spread almost all over your body.”You can imagine how shocked Riz was on hearing this! He had never given serious thought to the fact that he would die one day, so engrossed was he in his academic pursuits and career plans. Later that day, the doctor came by

again. He sat by Riz’s bed and whispered, ‘My dear, I know you’ve earned many degrees and have many dreams of ‘making it big’ as they say. But none of that’s going to be of any help to you now. There is only one thing

that can.”“What is that doctor?’ asked Riz, his lips trembling.“Do you have a personal relationship with God? If you do, you’ll know that the only thing you should do now is to spend all the little time that you have left in the world in God’s company. You may think I am interfering in your life, but since you will soon be going back to God, where you’ll have to answer for your life, I must tell you this.”Riz was dumbstruck. He had, you see, made no space for God in his life all these many years. His parents hadn’t taught him anything about God at all, and nor had all the ‘best’ schools and colleges that they had sent him to. Probably the only time his parents mentioned the word ‘God’ was while scolding someone (as in “Oh God, I am fed up of you!”) or while expressing some strong negative emotion (as in “Oh God! I’m so tired!”, or “Oh God! I’ve overeaten again!” or “Oh God, this food is horrible!”).

Talking With GodRiz hesitated to answer, but after a while he mumbled embarrassedly,

“Doctor, to be honest, I’ve never ever talked with God. In fact, I don’t know how to. I’ve lived all my life as if God didn’t exist. For me, my education and career and having what they call a ‘good time’ was everything—my god as

it were. That’s how I was brought up, by my parents and in the schools I studied in.”“But it’s never too late, my dear,” the doctor replied. “God has always been in you and with you and all around you even if you never thought of Him. You can talk to Him right now if you like. Ask Him to hold your hand. Ask Him to forgive you for all the wrongs you’ve done. Ask Him to bless your passage from this world into the next. This is the only thing that you should be doing now—before it is too late. Once you breathe your last, it’ll be pointless repenting.”Saying this, the doctor left the room.Then, for the very first time in his life, Riz spoke with God. He sobbed like a little child, realizing, now with his death round the corner, how tragic it had been to have made place for everything but His Maker in his life.

Goal of Human LifeSoon, Riz’s tears of remorse were replaced with a deep peace. Riz knew he was going from the world very soon, but now he was joyful for he had found God—the

goal of human life—just before he was to depart. If he hadn’t, what an utter waste his life would have been, he thought. He realised how fortunate he was to have met the doctor at this point in his life, before it was too late!A day prior to his death, Riz wrote a letter to his parents. He told them about his illness and said that he was probably leaving the world very soon. He thanked them for all that they had done for him and for their care and concern. He ended the letter with these words:

In your love for me you gave me what you regarded as the best possible childhood and education. You sent me to what you thought were some of the best schools and universities, working very hard so that you could afford to. But there was one thing that you didn’t do—you didn’t teach me about God, our Creator, to whom we all have to return one day and answer for our lives. In fact, you never once mentioned God in our conversations. Nor was God talked about in the schools and universities you sent me to. If realizing God is the purpose of life, parents who fail to help their children fulfill this purpose do them grave harm even as they think they are doing the best for them.Beloved Mummy and Papa, I hope you recognize what you have done. Just as the kind

doctor I met told me about God right in time, maybe this letter (which will probably reach you after I have left this world) will lead you to turn back to God and make Him the centre of your life before it is too late for you. As I have come to realise, without awareness of God, one’s life is completely useless.Please share this letter with others so that they do not make the same mistake in bringing up their children. In that way, you can make amends for the mistakes you’ve made and become an instrument to help people connect with God and thereby fulfill the purpose of life.May God bless and guide you,Your loving son,Riz n

Islamic Voice inNews Stands of

BangaloreShivajinagar1. Mahboob Book Stall2. Prasad Book Stall

Frazer Town3. Adam Book Stall

Tilak Nagar4. Islamic Book Ware

City Market5. Islamic Book Centre

Wilson Garden6. Ashok Book Stall

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 1919

'Personality & Leadership Development Workshop based on Spiritual Quotient'

DISCOVER YOURSELF WORKSHOP SCHEDULEHuman Psychology based on Quran & Hadith

DYS WORKSHOP IN DARUL UMOOR SRIRANGAPATNAFor the Madrassa Students

Tipu Sultan Advanced Study & Research CentreDATES: 03, 04 & 05 FEBRUARY 2018

Contact Secretary General A. R. KamaruddinTel: 080-41248208/22212343

Email: dysworkshop@gmail.com

DYS WORKSHOP IN AKOLADATES: 11,12 & 13 FEBRUARY 2018

Organized by: JIH, MaharastraFor booking Contact: Dr Iqbal Ahmed : 9326562728Atique: 9371895051. Email: atique85@gmail.com

www.discoveryourself.in

nAtiOnAL AffAirs

India's richest 1% corner 73% of wealth generationThe richest 1% in India cornered 73% of the wealth generated in the country last year, reveals the same Oxfam survey which was released hours before the annual World Economic Forum meet began in Davos, Switzerland. Last year's survey+ had showed that India's richest 1% held a huge 58% of the country's total

wealth — higher than the global figure of about 50%.Sixty-seven crore Indians comprising the population's poorest half saw their wealth rise by just 1%. The situation appears even more grim globally, where 82% of the wealth generated last year worldwide went to the 1%, while 3.7 billion people that account for the poorest half of population saw no increase in their wealth. This year's survey also showed that the wealth of India's richest 1% increased by over Rs 20.9 lakh crore during 2017 — an amount equivalent to total budget of the central government in 2017-18.

"2017 saw an unprecedented increase in the number of billionaires, at a rate of one every two days. Billionaire wealth has risen by an average of 13% a year since 2010 -- six times faster than the wages of ordinary workers, which have risen by a yearly average of just 2%," it said.In India, it will take 941 years

for a minimum wage worker in rural India to earn what the top paid executive at a leading Indian garment firm earns in a year, the study found.In the US, it takes slightly over one working day for a CEO to earn what an ordinary worker makes in a year.It would take around 17.5 days for the best paid executive at a top Indian garment company to earn what a minimum wage worker in rural India will earn in their lifetime (presuming 50 years at work). About India, it said the country added 17 new billionaires last

year, taking the total number to 101. The Indian billionaires' wealth increased to over Rs 20.7 lakh crore — increasing during last year by Rs 4.89 lakh crore, an amount sufficient to finance 85% of the all states' budget on health and education.India's top 10% of population holds 73% of the wealth and 37% of India's billionaires have inherited family wealth. They control 51% of the total wealth of billionaires in the country.The survey also showed that women workers often find themselves at the bottom of the heap and nine out of 10 billionaires are men.In India, there are only four women billionaires and three of them inherited family wealth.

Why Wealth Concentrates?Excessive influence of big business over government

policy- making. Relentless corporate drive to minimize costs in order to maximize returns to shareholders.

What Could Be Done? Promote inclusive growth by encouraging labour-intensive sectors that will create more jobs.More Investments in Agriculture.Effective implementation of social protection schemes. Stringent Measures against tax evasion and avoidance. Impose higher tax on super-richRemove corporate tax breaks. Some favour 60% pay cut for CEOs.(The above facts have been extracted from Oxfam Report ‘Reward Work, Not Wealth’) For fuller version log on to: h t tps : / /www.oxfam.org /en /even-it/5-shocking-facts-about-extreme-global-inequality-and-how-even-it-davos

"The billionaire boom is not a sign of a thriving economy but a symptom of a failing economic

system. Those working hard, growing food for the country, building infrastructure, working in factories

are struggling to fund their child's education, buy medicines for family members and manage two

meals a day. The growing divide undermines democracy and promotes corruption and cronyism. It is alarming that the benefits of economic growth in India continue to concentrate in fewer hands.”

- Nisha Agrawal, CEO, Oxfam India

GLObAL AffAirsGlobal Wealth

Rich-Poor Gap WideningRichest 42 people own as much as world’s poorest 3.7 billion

The latest Oxfam Report says the gap between the rich and the poor is widening at an astronomical rate. Here are a few indices: Forty-two people hold as much wealth as the 3.7 billion who make up the poorest half of the world’s population. In 2016, 61 people

had held this much wealth while in 2009 it was possessed by 380 people.Billionaires were created at a record rate of one every two days over the past 12 months, at a time

when the bottom 50% of the world’s population had seen no increase in wealth. 82% of the global wealth generated in 2017 went to the most wealthy 1%.Booming global stock markets have been the main reason for the increase in wealth of those holding

financial assets during 2017. The founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, saw his wealth rise by $6bn (£4.3bn) in the first 10 days of 2017 as a result of a bull market on Wall Street, making him the

world’s richest man.The wealth of billionaires had risen by 13% a year on average in the decade from 2006 to 2015, with the increase of $762bn (£550bn) in 2017 enough to end extreme

poverty seven times over. It said nine out of 10 of the world’s 2,043 dollar billionaires were men.An Oxfam survey of 70,000 people in 10 countries, including the UK, showed support for action

to tackle inequality. Nearly two-thirds of people – 72% in the UK – said they want their government to urgently address the income gap between rich and poor in their country.In the UK, when asked what a typical British chief executive earned in comparison with an unskilled worker, people guessed 33 times as much. When asked what the ideal ratio should be, they said 7:1. Oxfam said that FTSE 100 bosses earned on average 120 times more than the average employee.An Oxfam survey of 70,000 people in 10 countries, including the UK, showed support for action to tackle inequality. Nearly two-thirds of people – 72% in the UK – said they want their government to urgently address the income gap between rich and poor in their country. n

“The concentration of extreme wealth at the top is not a sign of a thriving economy, but a

symptom of a system that is failing the millions of hardworking people on poverty wages who

make our clothes and grow our food.”

- Mark Goldring, Oxfam GB Chief Executive

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 20interfAitH HArmOnY

Langar Prepared and Served in Historic Mosque Premises

Following permission from the mosque in-charge, villagers from Ranwan and Batho in the Khamano sub-division of the district set up langar to serve

the congregation.

Fatehgarh Sahib (Punjab): In a goodwill gesture, Muslims in Fatehgarh Sahib have opened up the premises of historical Lal Masjid to the members of Sikh community to let them prepare and serve 'langar' (community kitchen) for Shahidi Jor Mela, a three-day event which observes martyrdom of the younger Sahibzaadas of Guru Gobind Singh. The mosque belongs to the later Mughal period and is attributed to Saifuddin, the grandson of Shaikh Ahmad Faruqi Sirhindi (1560-1623) also known as Mujaddid Alf Sani. The mosque was renovated by the Muslim community two years ago. Following permission from the mosque in-charge, villagers from Ranwan and Batho in the Khamano sub-division of the district set up langar there to serve the congregation. "The Muslim community has allowed using their land for preparing langar. We are preparing food and serving it to the visitors. The basement of the mosque is also

Langar being served to devotees on the premises of Lal Masjid in Fatehgarh Sahib during Shaheedi Jor Mela recently.

being used by us for storing food items. Gurdwaras of two villages have collectively organized the langar and villagers are taking turns to participate in the services of the community kitchen. We got permission from the in-charge of the mosque

here as Muslims were happy to share their land for our religious event," said Charanjit Singh Channi of Ranwan village. "Shaikh Sirhindi had also played a key role in the persecution and execution of the fifth Sikh master Guru Arjun Dev Ji. However, when Banda Singh

Bahadur took over the reins of Sirhind, he did not demolish the mosques. Similarly, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and other Sikh chieftains established their rule by defeating the subordinates of the Afghan invader Ahmad Shah Abdali, but did not harm the

mosques or other key places of the Muslims. The battles of Sikhs was not against the Muslims or Islam but was only with the rulers who were Mughals," said Paramvir Singh, professor at the department of Encyclopaedia in Sikhism, Punjabi University, Patiala. "We are glad to assist the Sikh community. They are allowed to use the land of the mosque for setting up the

community kitchen. People from different religions don't have animosity among them, but it's the rulers or politicians who want to keep them divided. In the past, battles of Sikhs were not against the Muslims but the then rulers," said, Syed Mohammad Sadiq Raza, in-charge of the mosque. n

Muslim Villagers Reach Out to Pandit Family

Muslims of the village have always helped the family and hoped that they will help the

children, who have been orphaned.

Muslims in Levdoora village in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district are in grief over the death of a Pandit woman, who left behind four children. As the news about death of Nancy Koul spread in the village, the villagers poured in large numbers to mourn the death and express solidarity with the children. Nancy Koul, 50, was employed in Jammu and Kashmir Bank early this year after the death of her husband as she had no source of income. Her husband Mahraj Krishan Koul was running a tea shop in Qazigund to earn a livelihood, but his death snatched the livelihood from the family. However, a local leader got Nancy employed in Jammu and Kashmir Bank as peon. Nancy has now left behind four children with no livelihood. The eldest daughter is Saroj Koul, who is 17 years old and was helping the family. Her second daughter, Meenakshi Koul is in the 10th Standard, son Sagar Koul in 9th standard and the youngest one, Sonu Koul is in LKG. Nancy Koul and her husband were married in 1990 when the Pandits left the Valley. The village

had 35 families and all migrated, but Koul’s decided to stay back. However, Muslims helped them and gave them full support and protection all these years. Over 3,000 people, mostly Muslims joined the last rites of Nancy. Pandit Sunil Raina thanked the Muslims for helping them in the cremation of Nancy. He said that Muslims of the village have always helped the family and hoped that they will help the children, who have been orphaned.Ateeqa Begum, an elderly neighour of Koul’s said that they will take care of the children. “Even if I have to beg from people, beg outside mosques or from the people, I will take care of these children. These are our own children and we will take their care as we do care for our children”, she said. Ateeqa said that they will not allow them to leave the village as it is the responsibility of the Muslims of the village to look after them. “We have decided that the village will adopt these children and will not allow any body to take them away from the village”, she said. n

Mohammed ImtiyazCloth Campaign for the

NeedyMuzaffarpur: Mohammed Imtiyaz resident of Chandwara, a post graduate from Jawaharlal Nehru University, had decided

to celebrate his first marriage anniversary, on November 18, 2017, with a difference. So he launched a campaign named ‘Unnoticed ka cloth campaign’. He kept cartons in mosques and temples and appealed to charitable persons to donate warm clothes for the needy. He received an overwhelming response from

kind-hearted people and a large number of warm and daily wear clothes were collected. Imtiyaz then distributed the

clothes among the poor, needy, widows, orphans and destitute people living on roads, footpaths and shelter houses. Imtiyaz said that that he and his wife, Nikhat Ahmed, wanted to make

their marriage anniversary a memorable one. There came an idea of ‘Unnoticed ka cloth campaign’. Imtiyaz had also helped flood victims with a similar campaign. Besides this, Imtiyaz is also running a campaign against dowry. He himself had performed a simple marriage. n

Dear Readers We wish to inform you that Islamic Voice takes no responsibility for the validity of the commercial or

matrimonial advertisements which are published in the paper. The information and content in the advertisements

has to be verified by the readers themselves if they are using the products and the services.

- Editor

Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN)Not even a single course proposal was submitted by Jamia Hamdard and MANUU under the Global Initiative Program.At least 187 different universities across India submitted hundreds of proposals to conduct different courses under the Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) in order to garner the best international experience into the educational system in the country and enable interaction of students and faculty with the best academic and industry experts from all over the world. But minority institutions like Maulana Azad National Urdu University and Jamia Hamdard surprisingly didn’t submit even a single proposal for conducting any course, reveals RTI.The Govt. of India had approved Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) in Higher Education in 2015 and launched it on November 30 the same year. The program was aimed at tapping the talent pool of scientists and entrepreneurs,

internationally to encourage their engagement with the institutes of Higher Education in India so as to augment the country’s existing academic resources, accelerate the pace of quality reform, and elevate India’s scientific and technological capacity to global excellence.According to an RTI reply which Twocircles.net filed with Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, which was designated as the National Coordinating Institute for GIAN, zero

proposals were submitted by Jamia Hamdard and Maulana Azad National Urdu University whereas Jamia Millia Islamia submitted 63 proposals out of which 35 were accepted and Aligarh Muslim University submitted 23 proposals out of which 17 were accepted. A total of 1,417 courses were approved after proposals were submitted by 187 universities across India, out of which 921 courses have been completed.(Extracted from twocircles.net)

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 2121 essAY

OPen sPACe

Science and Technology in IslamIslam’s holistic vision of a merger between science and ethics can make a

significant contribution to the creation of a revised epistemology of modern science.

By Mohammad Hashim Kamali

Islam is supportive of scientific research that brings benefit to humankind, but knowledge of science and technology that is harmful is discouraged. Questions have been asked on how Islam relates to science and technology. We respond to this from the perspective of Maqasid, which refers to the higher purpose of Shariah, and the benefits it seeks to realise for the people.Many have argued that the whole of Shariah is meant to promote human benefits, which are, however, beyond enumeration and too many to count. Muslim scholars have, therefore, identified certain types of Maqasid and classified them from different perspectives. Some of the Maqasid, especially in the Zaruriyaat (essential purposes) category, are taken from a general reading of the Quran and Sunnah, and are, therefore, textually based.

Investigation and IjtihadThere are five essential Maqasid of Shariah — protection of life, faith, intellect, property and lineage — and a sixth is added according to a variant reading. A minority opinion adds protection of honour to the list. Zaruriyaat is only one of several other classifications of the Maqasid, which need not be elaborated here, but only to say that all classes of Maqasid are not

scripturally grounded — some are also based on interpretation and Ijtihad (the effort put in an activity). Yet, it is believed that all of the rulings (Ahkam) of Shariah have their purposes, some of which have been identified in

the text and the rest may be discovered through investigation and Ijtihad.Islam is supportive of scientific research that brings benefit to humankind, but knowledge of science and technology that is predominantly harmful is discouraged. The Islamic view of technology and science is, thus, geared towards the purposes they advance. If science and technology can be used to facilitate better methods of truth discovery, while involving no violation of the Islamic principles, there is no question over their acceptance.For instance, if new methods

of fact finding, such as DNA analysis, can resolve confusion over paternity or identification of war dead, and those who die in a plane crash, this will serve in a better way, the Shariah objective of the preservation of lineage

(Nasab), and ties of love and compassion (Sillat Al-Rahim) in the family, who may need to know the facts of death of their loved ones. Similarly, if technology can determine the precise time and location for prayer and fasting in unknown places and outer space, this will be in line with the protection of religion, which is also one of the Zaruriyaat.Then again, if science can help find a better cure for lethal diseases, this will help to protect life, which is also one of the essential purposes of Shariah. Yet, if scientific research is pursued only to produce weapons of mass destruction

for hegemonic purposes, which also exacerbates hostility and conflict among people, this would violate Islamic principles with respect to preservation of life and the building of a safe and peaceful order on earth. It cannot,

therefore, be supported in the name of Islam or Shariah. The harm to people would be even greater if a country with meagre resources allocates vastly disproportionate amounts of their national wealth to belligerent purposes when peaceful approaches and policies would offer preferable options.

Human CloningGenetic engineering applications that are used to fundamentally alter human nature and constitution is broadly considered a violation and prohibited. Human cloning is one such interference. Whereas the normal child has 23 chromosomes from the mother and 23 from the father, a cloned child has twenty-three pairs of chromosomes from just one person. The Quran, on numerous occasions, refers to the natural way of human creation from male

and female, and entitles the child to the care of a mother and father. Human cloning is, thus, a violation of normal family life, which is one of the essential Maqasid.

Industrial PollutionIn a similar vein, propagation of misleading and heretical doctrines and those that entail terrorism and loss of innocent life in the name of religion or jihad violates the Maqasid, both of religion and life. Scientific evidence shows that the harmful effects of industrial pollution have reached alarmingly dangerous levels that threaten dire consequences for humans and other life forms on planet earth. Persistent violators and biggest carbon emitters should, therefore, be held accountable in line with the Hadith-cum-Islamic legal maxim: “Harm may neither be inflicted nor tolerated in (the name of) Islam.” When science and technology are informed by ethical norms, they help to advance a humane society and civilisation. Islam’s holistic vision of a merger between science and ethics can make a significant contribution to the creation of a revised epistemology of modern science.(Mohammad Hashim Kamali is founding CEO of the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia)

(Extracted from newageislam.com)

Islam is supportive of scientific research that brings benefit to humankind, but knowledge of science and technology that is

harmful is discouraged.

Freedom From Fear!What seemed like an impossible obstacle turned into a great chance for

Hiranya to remember God and to grow and become a more confident person!

By Hema

It was a tough period for Hiranya. Her maternal grandmother, who was her inspiration, friend, philosopher and guide, had left this world a month earlier. And then Hiranya had undergone surgery for her deformed fingers as per her granny’s request. She needed to wear a support brace for at least three months and take medicines, which made her drowsy and dizzy. This compounded the deep grief she had had with the departure of her granny.Hiranya’s granny had taught her many things, like stitching, cooking, speaking different languages and being independent. So, it was easy for Hiranya

to manage many things by herself now, despite the state of her fingers. But there was one thing that she thought she couldn’t do—she thought she just wouldn’t be able to lock the main door of her house, for which she could use just one hand of hers that worked. She feared that she might injure her area of surgery if she tried to do so. So, she sought the help of an aunt who lived next door to lock the door for her when she went out to work every morning. This went on for some days. One day, her aunt was in an irritated mood and began to grumble about the ‘burdensome chore’ of having to lock Hiranya’s door. This made Hiranya very sad. Her

grandmother had pampered her all these years even as she had taught her many things. Tears

started rolling down as she remembered her granny’s love for her.Just then, Hiranya’s granny’s sister spotted her and shouted out: “Why are you crying, child? Can’t you try to lock the door yourself? Why should you depend on someone else to do that?”Now, this was like adding salt to injury to Hiranya’s hurt. But just then Hiranya was led to think that this all had happened because perhaps God wanted her to learn some lessons of life in this manner—through her aunt’s irritation and her granny’s sister’s words.

Hiranya rushed towards the door, telling herself that she would

manage to lock it, come what may, even if it meant hurting her fingers in the process. To her great surprise, she succeeded in her act, which gave a great boost to her morale. She was thrilled that her granny’s sister’s remark had goaded her to realize how capable she was and thanked God profusely for this wonderful learning opportunity.What seemed like an impossible obstacle thus turned into a great chance for Hiranya to remember God and to learn, improve, grow and become a more confident person!That’s what the many challenges we face in life-on an everyday basis-actually are-opportunities! n

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 22QUrAn sPeAks tO YOU

nAtUre & envirOnment

Holy Quran

24: 39-42

Nature, Too, Praises Allah

In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent

As for the unbelievers, their deeds are like a mirage in the desert, which the thirsty traveller supposes to be water, but when he comes near to it, he finds

that it is nothing. But he finds that God (has always been present) with him, and that He will pay him

his account in full; for God is swift in reckoning. Or else, like the depths of darkness in a vast deep ocean,

made yet more dark by wave billowing over wave, with clouds above it all: Depths of darkness, layer upon layer, (so that) when one holds up his hand, he can hardly see it. Indeed the man from whom God withholds light shall find no light at all. Are you not aware that it is God whose limitless glory

all creatures that are in the heavens and earth extol, even the birds as they spread out their wings? Each

of them knows how to pray to Him and to glorify Him; and God has full knowledge of all that they do. To God belongs the dominion over the heavens and

the earth, and to God shall all return. (Light, Al-Noor: 24: 39-42)

The first two verses in this passage paint two scenes that are full of life, describing the situation the unbelievers find themselves in. In the first scene, is the surprise faced by the unbelievers when God gives them their account. It is a much greater surprise than that of a desert traveller being deluded by mirage and finding it to be nothing.In the second scene, layers of darkness gather on top of each other, to contrast with the false brightness of the mirage. The great fear is transmitted by the bottomless ocean engulfed in darkness, and waves upon waves moving in a never-ending motion. Above all those, dark clouds gather. Thus, layers of darkness amass, to the extent that if a person holds out his hand, he fails

to see it in the engulfing darkness that spreads an air of fear and panic.

Darkness Isolated from the Divine LightThis is all a description of unbelief, which is shown as darkness totally isolated from the divine light that radiates throughout the universe, a deep error that prevents people from seeing even the nearest signs of guidance, a fear that leaves no trace of security. For, "indeed the man from whom God withholds light shall find no light at all." God's light is guidance planted in people's hearts, giving them an informed insight, and a bond

between human nature and the laws that operate in the universe at large. It is the only true enlightenment. A person who is cut off from this light remains in darkness that cannot be removed, in fear with no security, in error without return. At the end he finds all his actions to be a mirage leading him to ruin. No action is valid unless based on faith, no guidance without faith, and no light unless it is God's light.

Glorification Echoed EverywhereThis is the scene of unbelief, error and darkness in human life. The scene of faith, guidance and light in the great universe follows it. It is a scene showing the entire universe with all that live in it, human and jinn, planets and stars, and all beings, whether animate or inanimate, sharing in God's glorification. We feel how awesome the scene is as we hear the glorification echoed

everywhere in the heavens and the earth: "Are you not aware that it is God whose limitless glory all creatures that are in the heavens and earth extol, even the birds as they spread out their wings? Each of them knows how to pray to Him and to glorify Him; and God has full knowledge of all that they do."Man does not live alone in this universe. All around him, to his

right and to his left, above him and underneath him, and in the expanse beyond, whether reached by his imagination or not, there are beings God has created with different natures, forms and shapes. All of them share in their belief in God, turn to Him and extol His praises. He "has full knowledge of all that they do."

Scene of BirdsThe Qur'an directs man to look around him: All is of God's making and all living things everywhere in the heavens and earth are His creatures, glorifying Him and singing His praises. The Qur'an also directs our full attention to something we see every day without stirring any feeling in us because of its familiarity: It is the scene of birds lifting up their legs and spreading out their wings as they fly. They also glorify God. "Each of them knows how to pray to Him and to

glorify Him." Only man neglects to glorify his Lord when he is the one who should be most aware of the importance of believing in God and glorifying Him.In this scene, the whole universe appears full of humility as it

turns to its Creator, singing His praises, addressing its prayers to Him. This it does by nature. Its obedience to God is represented in its laws, which operate, by

God's will. When man refines his senses, he sees this scene as reality, as though he hears the rhythm of God's glorification echoed throughout the universe. He shares with all creatures their prayers and appeals to God. Such was Muhammad, God's messenger, (peace be upon him). When he walked, he heard the gravel under his feet singing God's praises. Such was David: When he chanted his Psalms, the mountains and the birds chanted with him."To God belongs the dominion over the heavens and the earth, and to God shall all return." No one should turn anywhere other than to Him, and no refuge is to be sought except with Him. Meeting Him is inevitable. His punishment, if deserved, cannot be averted except through His grace. To Him all shall return. n

The Qur'an also directs our full

attention to something we see every day without stirring any feeling in us because of its familiarity: It is the

scene of birds lifting up their legs and

spreading out their wings as they fly. They also glorify

God.

God's light is guidance planted in people's hearts,

giving them an informed insight,

and a bond between human nature and

the laws that operate in the universe at

large. It is the only true enlightenment.

Bird Named after Salim AliAlmost 30 years after the demise of Dr. Salim Ali, the birdman of India, an international group of ornithologists named a newly discovered species after him, thus paying homage to the man who shaped generations of ornithologists and also contributed to the better understanding of birds. The Himalayan Forest

2017 UNESCO Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental Preservation

The National Parks Board of Singapore (NParks) has won the 2017 UNESCO Sultan Qaboos Environmental Preservation Prize, upon the recommendation of the jury of the UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Program Secretariat. The Prize consists of a diploma, a medal and a cash endowment of US$70,000 and is awarded in alternate years. It was established by a generous endowment by Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said of Oman. The award was presented by Dr Madeehabint Ahmed al Shaibaniyah, Minister of Education and chairperson of the Oman National Commission

for Education, Culture and Science on the first day of the eighth World Science Forum, which took place at the Dead Sea, Jordan, from 7-11 November 2017, under the auspices of UNESCO. The award is in recognition of NPark’s significant contribution to environmental preservation. In addition, it is promoting biodiversity in highly urbanised environments through the restoration of habitats and species, and for supporting the incorporation of biodiversity into all levels of the education system, as well as managing the World Heritage site of the Singapore

Botanical Gardens alongside 350 other parks and four natural reserves. The origins of the NParks can be traced to the exercise of tree-planting in the 1960s, which enjoyed the patronage of Lee Kuan Yew, then Prime Minister of Singapore. With significant achievements in greenery, the vision and mission of the NParks has evolved from a “Garden City” to a “City in a Garden”. Parks Board of Singapore strives to work beyond the greening of Singapore. The NParks has enabled the discovery of invertebrate species (such as insects, snails etc.). NParks was instrumental in both

legislation and administration of certain environment-related laws.

(Reported by Sameen Ahmed Khan)

Thrush, Zoothera salimalii, is the name of the species, which has been spotted in north eastern India and adjacent parts. The research team that identified the species included scientists from Sweden, India, China, the U.S., and Russia.Earlier, a bat species, Salim Ali’s

fruit bat that was first collected from Western Ghats region of Theni district, Tamil Nadu, was named after the legendary ornithologist. n

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 2323

sOUL tALk

HAditH iLLUminAtes OUr PAtH

HadithBeing Patient Earns Reward

When a person endures whatever happens to him

with patience and perseverance, his reward is much greater.

This is because, he combines the misfortune with

patience, which is in itself a virtue.

“Whatever befalls a Muslim of physical weakness or complaint or worry or distress or harm or even

a thorn in his finger, is used by Allah to erase some of his sins.”

(related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim and others)

Commentary By

Adil Salahi

The companions of Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) were able to develop a keep insight into Islam, its constitution and method of dealing with human life. The best among them were even able to attain a highly refined understanding of the basic Islamic concepts which made their judgement both accurate and mature. Let us consider the following Hadith which has been related by Ahmed and Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al Mufrad: “A man came to visit Abu Obaidah ibn Al-Jarrah when he was ill. He asked him: “How is the reward of the Ameer getting on? He said: Do you know what earns you a reward? The man said: What befalls us of things which we dislike. Abu Obaidah said: You earn a reward for what you spend or get to be spent on your behalf for Allah’s cause. (He then enumerated all articles of a horse’s equipment, even including the horse’s rein.) What you complain of physically, is credited to you by Allah in order to erase some of your past sins.”

Early Companions of the ProphetPerhaps it is important first to say a few words about Abu Obaidah who has made this distinction between what earns a reward and what erases past mistakes and sins. Abu Obaidah was one of the very early companions of the Prophet. His leadership qualities were manifest to the extent that Abu Bakr appointed him as one of the principal commanders of Muslim armies fighting in Syria and Palestine. At the time of Umar, he was appointed commander-in-chief of all Muslim armies fighting in Syria and Palestine. The Prophet gave him the title of “The trusted man of the Muslim nation.” Moreover, he was one of the ten of the Prophet’s companions who were given the happy news of assured admission into heaven.Abu Obaidah, however, felt that

he should correct his visitor. He pointed out to him that a handsome reward is earned by donating one’s money to further the cause of Allah. He enumerated every article of equipment for a horseman, no matter how cheap it might be. This example is only to be expected from an army commander. To him, the most important thing is to concentrate his soldiers’ attention on their duty of sacrifice. Physical complaints, pain and illness erase some of one’s past sins. Someone may suggest that it will eventually come to the same thing, since one’s reward is weighed up against one’s sins to determine his destiny in the hereafter. The fewer his sins are, the higher his position is in heaven. Again, the greater his reward, the better his position.

Illness and CalamitiesThe two will be weighed against each other and the side which is preponderant determines the outcome. Nevertheless, the distinction is real. When we examine the Prophet’s Hadith on this point, we find that illness or calamities which one may have to endure in life is a way by which sins are cleansed away. Abu Saeed Al-Khudri and Abu Hurairah, both companions of the Prophet, quote him as saying: “Whatever befalls a Muslim of physical weakness or complaint or worry or distress or harm or even a thorn in his finger, is used by Allah to erase some of his sins.” (related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim and others). Here the Prophet enumerates all prospects of misfortune, going down to having a thorn in one’s finger. All these would be used to forgive him some of his past sins. When he endures whatever happens to him with patience and perseverance, his reward is much greater. This is because he combines the misfortune with

patience, which is in itself a virtue.

As Part of LifeThis is indeed an aspect of Allah’s grace which many people tend to overlook. We are told by the Prophet that when illness and misfortune continue for some length of time, the person who

endures them may come on the day of judgement without a sin to account for. He would have been already forgiven. This is illustrated in the Hadith in which Abu Hurairah quotes the Prophet as saying: “Misfortune may

continue to befall a believer in his body, family or property until whatsoever.” (Related by Al-Bukhari in Al-Abad Al Mufrad, Ahmad and Al-Tirmithi).When we consider all these Hadiths, we are no longer surprised at the patience and fortitude shown by early Muslims in the face of calamities. They

treated whatever befell them as part of life and were happy to earn forgiveness of their past sins. This continues to be the attitude of those of us who know

what we stand to gain in return for enduring misfortune with patience. Again the companions of the Prophet provide us with a good example to follow.Huthaifah ibn Al-Yaman was a companion of the Prophet from the Ansar. He was appointed as a commander of a Muslim army fighting against the Persian Empire. He was badly hurt so his companions came to visit him just before dawn. He asked them: What hour is it? They said: Late night or near dawn. He said: I seek shelter with Allah against a morning of fire. He then asked them whether they brought a cloth for him to be wrapped in. When they answered in the affirmative, he said: Do not spend too much on such a cloth if I am to meet a happy end, my wrappings will be replaced by something better. If mine is the other type of destiny, I will lose these wrappings very quickly.” (Related by Al-Bukhari in AL-Adab Al-Mufrad).What we learn from this Hadith is that we should face up to any misfortune with courage and patience. n

A Different New Year’s Day!New Year’s Day, and any other day, for that matter can, instead of being

wasted on self-indulgence, be made an occasion for remembering God and for doing good to people in need.

By R. Sherim

Having a ‘whale of a time’ on New Year’s Eve was a big thing in the family in which I grew up. I cannot (and thankfully so!) remember exactly what they generally did on the occasion, but I think there must have been all-night partying—in an expensive hotel or in someone’s home or farmhouse. There, they and their friends probably would have danced to blaring music and binged on a huge variety of dishes. Some would have drunk themselves silly and gorged until they were sick. And when the clock struck twelve, marking entry into the new year, there would have been plenty of clapping, shrieking and hugging and wishing everyone around ‘Happy New Year!’ (whether this was just a ritual or was seriously meant I cannot say).

Having a ‘Great Time’As a child, I must have attended some of these parties because that’s what my parents thought was the done thing. Like many others of their background, they had been programmed, by the sort of ‘education’ they had received,

by the media that they consumed and by the seductive advertising of businesses that thrived on New Year’s sales, to believe that having ‘a great time’ partying on New Year’s Eve was what any sensible person should do on that day.Fortunately though, as I grew older and could decide at last some things for myself, I realised how ridiculous this was. I stopped attending New Year’s parties altogether. At the most, I would mark New Year’s Day by sms-ing or emailing greetings to a few friends.

More MeaningfulThis year, though, I did something different, I am happy to report. With two friends, I visited some places of worship—of different religious traditions. Maybe it was for the first time ever that I was marking the new year by thinking of God. To do this in an interfaith way made it even more meaningful.There was another novel thing that I did this time for New Year’s: I wished some of the cleaning staff in the apartments where I am presently located and gave them some money as a gift. Then, I

went with some friends to meet a child from an economically impoverished family who is suffering from cancer. We handed his father a sum of money that a generous well-wisher had given us for the boy. Later, we visited a hospital that caters, among others, to many poor people, where we gifted some materials that we had procured for them. Then, the next day, I arranged for some provisions to be sent to a home for the mentally-challenged.All of this made the advent of this year a very different one for me from all the other fifty-odd New Year’s Days that I’ve witnessed so far in this present life of mine. My intention in relating this is not to advertise the ‘good’ that I did on the occasion. Rather, I want to share with you about how New Year’s Day (and any other day, for that matter) can, instead of being wasted on self-indulgence, be made an occasion for remembering God and for doing good to people in need and being a means to brighten their lives. And if this is how we mark the first day of a new year, maybe we could try to spend the rest of the year in the same spirit, too! n

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 24mAtrimOniAL

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Page 27

insPirinG LessOns

By Nigar

I must confess I wasn’t ever half as excited about setting off to school when I was a child as I was on visiting the Gubbachi Learning Community on a sunny morning recently, along with a friend! It is tucked away in Kodathi , a peri-urban pocket in South-East Bangalore. The area has high levels of construction activity and is dotted with many migrant labour communities.As you step inside the Gubbachi Learning Centre, located near the Kodathi Government School, the first feeling you get is of fun and freedom for the children. There is a vast open space, plenty of shrubs, wild grass, many trees with birds chirping around and the blue sky up above you, unhindered by any tall buildings! The centre, housed in a little building, has brought love and learning into the lives of many children of migrant construction workers and their families.

Chirpy Enthusiastic TeamGubbachi Learning Community is a bridge school founded by a team of six who had completed their Masters in Education, Development or Women Studies and were aiming to translate their learnings into practice by working with in Government schools. Their interest in education and a larger concern for society brought together Joseph Deyone Jacobi, Manimakalai Raja , Nomita Sikand, Preethy Rao Patel , Rizwan Ahmed, and Somya Suri. This chirpy enthusiastic team reminded

me of the spirit of the five Enid Blyton kids who embark on an adventure to solve a mystery on Treasure Island! It is estimated that there are around

one lakh out-of-school children in Bangalore. A major portion of this population is children of migrant labour.“In October 2015, six of us got together to start our first bridge learning centre at the Kodathi

Government School, off Sarjapur Road. With our learning of what constitutes inclusive education and why it is important; and our experience from practise , we

were eager to hit the ground. We felt that this mix of experience, framework and commitment , would help us work through challenges as we moved along. With an MOU with the Karnataka Education Department, we

Children are given opportunities to

communicate with adults and peers around them in a

non-threatening way. For example, they are asked to sketch

whatever they like for an hour. Once done with their sketching,

they sit in a circle and share what they have drawn with the facilitator and peers.

Building Bricks of Love & LearningFounded by a team of six with a larger concern for society (alumni of Azim

Premji University /Montesorri ) , the Gubbachi Learning Community works to bridge the learning competencies of children of migrant labourers in Bangalore.

admitted 51 chil-dren and their younger siblings from neighbour-ing construction

sites—all ‘out of school’ at the time,” says Somya. These chil-dren are, typically, first genera-tion learners.

Multitude of Reasons“At Gubbachi, the first question

we had was why are children out of school? And during the survey, before we started our centre, we realized that out of a multitude of reasons, there were these three reasons which were immediate in the child's experience. Firstly, children need to stay back at home to take care of their younger siblings. Secondly, negative experiences during previous schooling stint. Thirdly, fear of parents of their children getting abducted on the way to school,” Somya continues. “As an intervention, we had to address these issues in order to bring children to the centre. The first step was to start a preschool centre, for the younger siblings of the school going children, adjacent to the main class room so that older children are at peace to engage in learning,” say Nomita and Preethy.

Teaching Methods of Alternate Schools“The curriculum at Gubbachi is designed to evolve, and strives at keeping the child’s interest, psychology and cultural background as priority. Best practices of the Nali-Kali curriculum ( multi-grade-multi-level classroom (or ungraded), learning paced for the child, and following a trajectory of learning), followed by government schools; and teaching methods of

Joseph Deyone

Preethy

Manikamalai

Rizwan Ahmed

Nomita Sikand

Somya

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 26GLObAL AffAirs

Imam Named to the Order of CanadaAlmost 60 years ago, Fuad Sahin looked at Canada and the principles it stood for and decided it was the place he wanted to live. That faith in his adoptive country has been a continuous thread for Sahin, who emigrated to Canada in 1958 and moved to Niagara in 1966. That faith was repaid in kind as 2018 dawned, with Sahin being named a member of the Order of Canada by Gov. Gen. Julie Payette. He earned his place in the prestigious Order of Canada, for his work within the Muslim community, as well as being the founder of the International Development and Relief Foundation. Sahin is one of the 125 appointments made to the Order by Payette on Dec. 29. Established in 1967, the Order of Canada, the country’s highest

civilian honours, recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. Sahin said

he is grateful for the reception he received when he arrived in the country in the late 1950s. He said Canada recognized human rights and was accepting of his religion. “They were so wonderful, they recognized my religion, my needs, they offered me all the

facilities I needed to practise my religion and that was wonderful, and the amount of respect they showed me was unbelievable,” he said. “I’m very grateful.” His work to help develop the Muslim community in Canada includes organizing various Muslim associations, building the first Niagara mosque in Niagara Falls in 1984, and continuing to educate future generations of Muslims. Currently, he is the imam of the Islamic Society of Niagara Peninsula. While he began his time in Canada as an interning resident in Kingston, Sahin has since become a known advocate for his religion. “I was invited to speak to different churches and schools and associations, to tell them what Islam is,” he said. n

Late Moroccan King Honoured for Protecting his Country’s Jews

King Mohammed V of Morocco was honoured posthumously recently for protecting his country’s 250,000 Jews during World War II. Kivunim: The Institute for World Jewish Studies presented the first Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.-Rabbi Abraham Heschel Award to the king’s granddaughter, Princess Lalla Hasna of Morocco, at B’nai Jeshurun synagogue in New York City. It was part of a three-day conference to mark the group’s 10th anniversary. The program ended with a joint concert of Jewish and Arabic music. During World War II, King Mohammed V kept the lives and property of the country’s Jews under his protection and did not subject them to the discriminatory laws set down by the pro-Nazi Vichy government in France; Morocco was then under French rule. Later, in response to anti-Jewish rhetoric in the wake of the creation of the State of Israel, Mohammed V warned Muslims not to hurt Moroccan

Jews, reminding them that Jews had always been protected in Morocco. Andre Azoulay, counselor to Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, said in a statement read on behalf of the country’s current king, Mohammed VI: “Today, we need, more than ever, to ponder the lessons and relevance of this part of history in order to stand up more forcefully to the deadly aberrations of those who are hijacking our cultures, our faiths and our civilizations. We are living at a time and in

a world in which the collective imagination of our societies is too often impaired, not to say poisoned, by regression and archaism. By capitalizing on the depth and resilience of the legacy left by my revered grandfather His Majesty Mohammed V, we can, together, set out to recover the lost expanses of reason and mutual respect which have vanished from

many parts of the world.” n

Morocco's Mohammed V, wearing white robes, walking with the country's Grand Vizier Si Mohammed El Mokri after he placed a

wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at the Arc De Triomphe during a visit to Paris, France around July 4, 1930. (AP Photo)

St Mary’s University Launches New Muslim Certificate in

Religious StudiesCardinal Vincent Nichols and two leading Muslim clerics joined together recently to launch a new Muslim Certificate in Religious

Studies at St Mary’s University, a Catholic institution in Twickenham in Britain. The new certificate will aim to support the religious literacy of teachers and enhance the contribution that religion can make to the formation of British values as referenced in the Professional Standards for Qualified Teacher Status. It will primarily be aimed at those teaching religious education in Muslim schools and will support a cohesive approach to teaching in line with the National Curriculum

and contemporary teaching practices. Imams Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra and Sayed Razawi have been in discussions to develop

the concept and the University is now working in consultation with academics from universities across the UK to develop the programme in more detail. The certificate will complement the University’s Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies.St Mary's has a long and distinguished history as a Catholic institution for the education of teachers. It was founded in 1850 by the Catholic Poor Schools Committee. n

German Academy Documents Arab and Islamic Heritage

The Saxon Academy of Sciences in Leipzig, Germany has launched a digital platform to document

millions of books and manuscripts from the Arab and wider Muslim world. The platform named “The Arab Library” was launched recently, providing researchers and academics access to rare and original historical texts. The project is scheduled to run until 2036, with the possibility of its work being extended if demand exists. A budget of €7.5 million ($9 million), funded by the German federal government and local authorities in various states, was

allocated to the initiative, which is being supervised by Dr Freena Kalim, a professor of Arabic

and Islamic Studies at Leipzig University. “This project is a huge tool to help scientists and researchers in the field of Arabic studies and Islamic sciences,” Kalim said in a statement. “Arab literature has been inherited for about

1,400 years, and the culture of books in the Arab-Islamic civilization is rich, vibrant, diverse and unlike any other.” The collection features literature, religious texts, encyclopedias, dictionaries, news briefings and books on poetry, travel and nature. Most of the library derives from the period between the 12th and 19th centuries, one that was classified as a phase of decline of the Arab-Islamic culture after its ‘golden age’ in Andalusia. n

Al Hamdulillah, We are providing

Umrah Visa ServicesAir Tickets and also other related Services Booking Open for Hajj 2018 Programmes.

Limited Seats. Contact Immediately

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 2727 fOLLOW-UPPage 25

Building Bricks of Love ..alternate schools are adopted and improvised to suit the requirement of these children. Also, a lot of thought goes into understanding the psychology of the children, given the troubled and deprived background they come from. The core guiding principle of Gubbachi (every child is unique and is valued) makes this process of evolving the curriculum

continuous. Gubbachi has a programme for children when they join the centre. It has mainly three parts: expressing oneself, introduction to numeracy and building vocabulary and phonemic awareness.Children are given opportunities to communicate with adults and peers around them in a non-threatening way. For example, they are asked to sketch whatever they like for an hour. Once done with their sketching, they sit in a circle and share what they have drawn with the facilitator and peers. Not judging the children for the drawing gives them a feeling of being accepted as they are, their expressions”, explains Joseph Deyone Jacobi on the Gubbachi blog. Identifying out-of-school children of migrant labourers and enrolling them in Gubbachi required detailed fieldwork, reflects Rizwan. Today,

another 110 children study in two Gub b achi learning centres, gaining access to skills such as Kannada, Maths and English in a fun-filled, caring environment and are being prepared for hopefully joining regular schools after a while.‘Gubbachi’ means sparrow in Kannada, and truly every kid in the Gubbachi Learning

Community is a precious sparrow! Visiting Gubbachi can be a great experience for you, just as it was for me! There’s much wisdom you can gain from the kids! You might even find yourself climbing trees with them, plucking tamarind off the branches or flying colourful kites! You can learn a lot from the children and staff at the centre, a place of great joy, as I discovered the other day!(Please see this beautiful video on the Gubbachi Learning Community: https://youtu.be/rm4y4_1awdc)Website: https:// gubbachilearningcommunity.org/Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/Gubbachi- Learning-Community- 1246046055409068/Email: info.gubbachi@gmail.comPostal Address: Gubbachi - Bridge Learning Centre , GHPS-Kodathi, Kodathi-Sulikunte Road, Kodathi, Off Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru.

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 28Life & reLAtiOnsHiPs

DYS WORKSHOP SCHEDULE ON PAGE 19

Learning to Keep Your Word!The Discover Yourself Workshop

was held In Abbas Khan P.U. College, Bengaluru on the 5,6 & 8th January, in

Mysore on the 12,13 & 14th January and in Mumbai on the 18th & 19th

January 2018 at the Rizvi College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Mumbai. Some of the participants share their

experiences about the Workshop.

� The workshop provides valuable keys and guides to clear the mind, and heart from unwanted waste and to be a good human being.

� Since I have studies some psychology, I knew a bit about myself. But the workshop gave me a platform to rediscover again 'ME' from an Islamic perspective.

� Thanks a lot for bringing my life from darkness to light. May Allah almighty show the path of righteousness.

� It really changed my life. I was hating some friends, I forgave them and hugged them and cried a lot. Now, I feel responsible and obey my parents and sisters.

� A new perspective to see life, to be non-judgmental and more of positivity towards life.

� My life before the workshop was entirely different. This workshop has changed my point of view. It has helped me to discover myself and submit to the Reality. This workshop is life changing.

� My whole thought process changed. Things that seemed extremely difficult to handle now seem to be easy. An eye opener for every Muslim.

� I got a clear path to connect to Almighty Allah.� Actually, I do not have words to explain, how this

workshop has changed me, so I keep attending it whenever it is in Mumbai. It helped me in really discovering myself.

� I was in the box and now I feel free from the trap of Satan.

the workshop. First time itself, I had found a marvelous change in me and was working every day on the shortcomings, the struggle was on. This workshop helped getting a deeper insight into the things happening in and around like a jigsaw puzzle and the pieces falling into its place. The process was all within, but changed everything. Alhamdulillah!!

SHABRIN: Before, I was not able to describe who I am? And today I can say I am responsible and accountable. I was living in the past and was wasting my present, now, I know how to utilize the present and make my future. I changed my bad habits and now I can treat every human being as a human being not like an object.

NAJMA: Before the workshop, my life was difficult to live and sadness was there in my life. I had forgotten all my responsibilities towards others. After the workshop, my life is changing and I am now responsible and forgiving to everyone in my life. Now my life has become a true life to live with happiness and joy, helping others and loving each other, because we all are human beings.

QURATH: Before the workshop, I was unable to judge myself, that where I am going wrong? But feeling good on the third day that" what I could not recognize for 17 years, I recognized in just two days." My mother is my only family, she was really happy that I apologized for my mistakes for the first time in really a good manner. It was very useful for me. Thank you so much sir. Now I am happy with what I am! And what I have!

NAUREEN: It helped me to know what actually Islam is? I was unaware of the internal beauty of Islam. Now, after attending this workshop, I literally feel haapy to be a Muslim. As a Muslim I was only aware of the external five pillars and after getting to know so many things I will implement them in my daily life to have inner peace. Thank you for conducting the workshop and bringing awareness about different concepts of Islam.

SARFARAZ: My life before the workshop was full of worries and tension. After attending the workshop, I felt free from worries because of the many tools learned in the workshop. I stopped judging others.

SHAREEF: It is rejuvenating.

NADIRA: I was short tempered, complaining, worrying about the past or the future. This is my fifth time, I am attending the workshop. Yes, the workshop has helped me to say 'IT's OK' or 'Let it Be'., because of which I do not get angry very soon. I have learnt to be in the present, stop blaming others, learnt to keep my word and have learnt to be a good listener. I learnt to forgive others who have wronged me. The benefits I got in my participation is happiness and peace within me. My family members are wondering how I have changed so much. After attending this workshop. I feel good.

KAVIYA: Before the workshop, I lacked confidence in life and was not able to control my mind. But after this valuable workshop, I got my confidence back, I got to know

all my abilities and also came to know who am I? Even my family members were surprised by seeing the changes in me. I felt after attending this workshop, "what lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us".

MARY: This workshop is very interesting. My life is completely changed. It changed my behavior, my speaking skills and everything in my life. I used to get angry when my mom used to scold me, but now I am avoiding my anger. I will never forget what I learned in this workshop.

DR JABEEN: I was learning Quran, for the last ten years and this workshop helped me to open my mind and showed me how to live Islam as a way of life. This is the second time I am attending

Felt the change in my life right away after attending for the first time, which was recharged after the second time. It helps to keep attending this workshop periodically.

KAMRAN: This is the second workshop. I am grateful to Allah that I had an opportunity to

attend the first session initially. Having attended it, I realized that the past was pinning me down. From the perspective, Dr Sadath Sir he taught us, I was able to let go of a lot of things and focus on things that matter. It is very much needed, should have more workshops often including at the Masjid level.

Workshop in Bangalore

Workshop in Bangalore

Workshop in Mysore

Workshop in Mumbai

Workshop in Mumbai

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 2929 Advertisement

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 30CHiLdren's COrner

Tale Time

“Give full measure, and cause no loss to others. Weigh with

correct scales: do not defraud people of what is rightfully theirs; and do not spread corruption in

the land.” (Quran 26: 181-183)

Dishonesty Doesn’t Pay

Little Shona and His Many Pets!

Reha was really very sad. It’s not nice to be cheated, is it?

By Sheesha

Reha had been saving up her pocket-money for several months. She wanted to welcome in the new year in a new way—by giving things to a charitable hospital that they might find useful. The hospital catered to many poor people.

When the first day of the new year arrived, Reha went to a shop near her home with a list of the things that she wanted to buy for the hospital. Reha explained to the shopkeeper, Mr. Tiz, that

these things were a donation for the hospital and asked if he could give her a good discount.

‘I’ll charge you less than half the

actual price’, Mr. Tiz said to her’ as he scribbled out a bill—which came to just about all the money that Reha had.

When Reha got home, her father was surprised to see her weighed down with the things she had bought. She excitedly told him what it was about.

‘That’s so sweet of you!’ Reha’s

father beamed. ‘Tell me, how much did you pay for all this, dear?’

‘Three thousand rupees, Papa. Mr. Tiz said

he’d charged me half the actual price when I told him that it was a donation for the hospital,’ Reha excitedly answered. ‘That’s so kind of him!’

‘No, no, my dear,’ said Reha’s father, closely inspecting the things that Reha had laid out on the table. ‘Far from giving you a discount, he’s actually

overcharged you! Even without a discount, it shouldn’t have cost you more than half of what you paid!’

‘Really Papa?’ exclaimed Reha, taken aback.

‘Yes, yes, child,’ Reha’s father continued. ‘And then, Mr. Tiz has given you some very poor quality things. Oh, this is really awful!’

Reha was really very sad. It’s not

nice to be cheated, is it?

Later that day, Reha and her father went to the hospital and gave them the things that Reha had bought.

The director of the hospital was very touched. ‘Such a wonderful way to bring in the new year!’ he told Reha. Turning to Reha’s

When Reha got home, her father

was surprised to see her weighed down with the things she

had bought. She excitedly told him what it was about.

Shona and his mother watched the birds and squirrels eating with great

delight. ‘How sweet they are Mumma!’ Shona cried out.

‘How innocent they look!’

father, he said ‘You have such a wonderful daughter! She’s got a lovely heart!’

*That wasn’t the end of the story. Reha’s father was very sad about what Mr. Tiz, the shopkeeper, had done. When he got back from the hospital, he sent a message through his phone to all the other residents of the locality, telling them what had happened. When they read the message, they were so upset that they stopped going to Mr. Tiz’s shop to buy things.

You can imagine what that did to Mr. Tiz! Soon, with no customers, his losses were far more than the money he had made by cheating Reha. He realised his mistake and was very remorseful. He put up a big board outside his shop, announcing:

“I’m really sorry for what I did. I promise never to cheat anyone again. Thank you Reha for teaching me that dishonesty doesn’t pay.” n

‘Mumma! So many children in my class have pets at home. I wish we could have one too’, Shona complained.

By Sheeshu Hee

Shona came back from school very upset.

‘What’s the matter dear?’ his mother asked. ‘You don’t seem your usual cheerful self.’

‘Mumma! So many children in my class have pets at home. I wish we could have one too’, Shona complained. ‘Roshan has a dog and a cat, and Leha has fish in an aquarium. Today, Rena brought a tortoise to school. I also want a pet Mumma. Please!’

Shona’s mother handed Shona his glass of milk and said, ‘It’s expensive to keep a pet, dear. We can’t afford it.’

Shona kept silent. He knew his mother was right. His father worked very hard as a gardener, and it was with great difficulty that the family managed their finances.

‘But wait! I’ve got a great idea!’ Shona’s mother suddenly

exclaimed. She rushed into the kitchen and came out with a loaf of bread and a handful of peanuts. ‘Come dear, let’s go up to the terrace!’, she said.

When they got to the terrace, Shona’s mother laid out bits of bread and the peanuts on a plate. She filled a bowl with water

and placed it nearby. ‘Now, let’s sit here and watch,’ she said excitedly.

In just a few minutes, a pair of pigeons flew in. They went straight for the bread and began to munch hungrily. After they departed, it was the turn of a team of mynahs. Then came a pack of

bright green parrots, who were followed by a majestic-looking raven. Soon, the bread was over!

Shortly afterwards, a family of bushy-tailed squirrels leapt out from a nearby tree and raced down to where the peanuts were. They looked like the chipmunks that

Shona had seen in a story-book!

Shona and his mother watched the birds and squirrels eating with great delight. ‘How sweet they are Mumma!’ Shona cried out. ‘How innocent they look!’

‘And so well-mannered too!’ Shona’s mother added. ‘They

don’t fight over food like we humans sometimes do!’

‘Mumma, how did they know there was food here?’ Shona asked his mother.

‘God has fixed where every creature will have its food, dear, and God directs everyone to exactly that place,’ Shona’s mother answered.

‘Mumma, could we please lay out food every day here for the birds and squirrels?’ Shona requested.

‘Oh, that’s such a wonderful idea!’ Shona’s mother beamed. ‘We may not be able to afford

to keep a pet at home but we can certainly keep some food on the terrace every day for visiting birds and squirrels. We can even put out our left-over food here, instead of throwing it into the bin. The creatures who’ll come by to eat can be our pets, and we can enjoy watching them! Who knows, if we’re lucky, we’ll even have monkeys, bandicoots and many kinds of insects stopping by for a meal once in a while! That way, we’ll have not just one pet but many, many different kinds of pets!’

‘Oh, that would be wonderful Mumma! Thank you so much!’ Shona exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around his mother and gave her a tight hug. n

ISLAMIC VOICE, February 2018 3131 Enhance Your Word Power Terms Related with Films, Film Production

(فلم سازی سے متعلق اصطالحات)

Biopic:A biographical film of the life of a famous personality or historical figure. ا�ی یسک وج )ملف رکے( ان ی �ب دااتسن یک زدنیگ

Blockbuster: Impactful film with huge financial success.

وہ) شخب انمعف ااہتنیئ وج ملف ر ث

)رپا�

Caricature: A character appearing ridiculously out of proportion because of one physical, psychological or moral trait that has been grossly or broadly exaggerated. (اخہک یکی ح�

�ضت

�(

Coogan’s Law: Landmark legislation in the late 1930s designed to protect a child actor's earnings, by depositing some of the minor's earnings in court-administered trust fundsیک) ادااکروں نسمک تحت ےک سج اقونن وہ اور وہ عمج می اھکےت ےک وکرٹ آدمین وہ اب ی

تدس رپ ےنچنہپ وک ت ض

ولب� نسِ ےک )اِن

Censorship: The process of determining what can or cannot be viewed by the public or depicted by the motion picture industry.

( ٹ ضاھچ� ٹ ض

اک� یک وماد ارتعاض ِ )اق�ب

Credits: This term refers to the text appearing on screen - composed of a list of technical personnel, cast, and production crew of a film; specifically, it refers to the list of names and functions of persons and corporations contributing and responsible for the artistic or intellectual content of a film,

ٹرےامتم) �بُ ےس ی ت

� یک ملف ےس راد

ضا� ضکل ٹک� � ا یق�ار،�ی ادااکر،ولگاکر،ومس�

می ادتبا یک ملف وج ات یض ت

� قلعتم ی �ہ اجیت داھکیئ رپ )رپدے

Documentary: Film depicting actual events or portraying personalities. (ملف ری

ض )داتسو�ی

Dubbing: Translation of film from one language to another either putting a new sound track or by providing subtext running in lower screen. بان ز� ا�ی یک )ملف لمع اک یلقتنم می بان ز� دورسی )ےس

Footage: Any length, portion or sequence of film (either shot or to be shot) measured in feet;

ٹف) وج وطالت یک ےصح یسک ےک ملف اجےئ ایپ �ض )می

Feature Film: Any film that exceeds 60 minutes and focuses on one topic.

وج( ملف وط�ی زادئ ےس وٹنمں است وہ رپ وموضع ا�ی )یسک

Potboiler: A film (or even novel) filled with violence.

ملف) ینبم رپ انمرظ دشتد )رپ

Premier: The first official public screening of a movie, marking the kick-off, opening or opening night.

وش) ااتتفیح اک )ملف

Remake: Refers to a later production (of a previous film), with different credits, script, and cast; a redone. ادااکروں) ا �ی ٹ ارکس�پ یئن یک وملفں رپاین

اسزی ملف اسھت )ےک

Startlet: A child actor. ادااکر) )نسمک

Stunt: A stunt performer that takes the place of an actor when the scene calls for a dangerous or risky action (car crash, fight, window jump, etc.). واال) اھبنےن رکدار رپرپرطخ ہگج یک ادااکر

باز � ب ت

)رک�

Tagline: A memorable line or phrase about a film.

ہلمج) اداگری �ی قلعتم ےس )ملف

Talkies: Films with a soundtrack, made after 1927 when this was technically possible. رشوع) یننب دعب وج7291 یک یں، فلم�

آواز با � ی

ئ.)وہ�

Villain: A character in a book, play, film, etc. who harms other people.

( ا�ی �ض )لھک

Voiceover: Refers to recorded dialogue, usually narration, that comes from an unseen, off-screen voice,

آواز) یک رصبم ب ئ

اغ� می .)ملف

Whodunit: Detective or mystery film. (ملف ینبم رپ

ث ی ت ض ت� یک رامئ �ب .)وکیئ