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Needed an Islamic Reformation

 

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Creator: Max Slaven 
Copyright: Street Level Photoworks


This morning broke with two messages about Muslims in India. The first was Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar’s article in the Times of India and the other was a WhatsApp message. Both reveal an acute concern of non-Muslims about the backwardness of Muslims in India and the problems engendered by that backwardness.

Aiyar’s article is an open letter to Asaduddin Owaisi who recently lamented the pathetic condition of Indian Muslims vis-à-vis education. Aiyar rightly argues that the Muslims must help themselves in this matter as the Christians did long ago. “Instead of depending on the state,” Aiyar writes, “Christians have long created their own educational institutions of excellence.” Even today, when Ram Raj is enforcing itself on the nation, Christian educational institutions remain in high demand among non-Christians. “Hindus and Muslims pull all possible strings to get into them,” says Aiyar.

The Muslim community in India is capable of running their own educational institutions like the Christians. There are a few institutions of eminence like the Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Milia Islamia, and Osmania. Aiyar also mentions the good work done by Kerala’s Muslim Educational Society which runs many schools and colleges efficiently.

Why can’t the Muslims in India use their abundant wealth lying in the Waqf Boards as well as the generosity of the country’s affluent Muslims who are generous with their zakat donations for setting up good modern schools and colleges instead of primitive madrasas? Why not start with 200 top-class schools right away, Aiyar asks.

I’m with Aiyar heart and soul in this. Religions in India spend a lot of money on absurd things like ostentatious places of worship and propaganda. Why not spend that money on educating the children of the believers?

The WhatsApp message that came in a cliquish group to which I happen to belong raises concerns about the controversial love jihad that is apparently converting a lot of non-Muslims in Kerala using trickery and fraudulence. The message has chilling statistics too. I checked the veracity of the message and found that much of the statistics was exaggerated and was rejected long ago by the National Investigation Agency. Nevertheless, love jihad is a reality. Unsuspecting young girls fall prey to the traps laid by certain malevolent forces with strong religious backing. Many such girls end up in terrorist groups like the IS.

The first thing that the Muslims should stop is this fraudulence if they wish to bring any sort of progress and development to their community. Bring education instead. Too much religion is of no use to anyone. It has never done any good at any time to any people. History can show you that without any doubt. Religion is like any other intoxicant: good within limits and toxic beyond the limits.

Comments

  1. The Moon's BOYFRIEND August 30, 2020 at 11:58 AM

    A friend of mine still tells me that jihad simply means the struggle for knowledge, I just don't know why some people give different meanings to it and use them like arrows.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalAugust 30, 2020 at 1:34 PM

      Jihad has 3 different meanings one of which self-improvement. That's the 1st, in fact. 2nd is community improvement. 3rd is what the terrorists claim to do: improve others.

      Delete
    2. The Moon's BOYFRIEND August 30, 2020 at 2:31 PM

      So, in their eyes anyone who aren't interested to come to their side are sinners!!

      Delete
    3. Tomichan MatheikalAugust 30, 2020 at 2:49 PM

      Isn't that what most religions do? Hinduism was an exception. Modi has succeeded in degrading that religion too.

      Delete
  2. जितेन्द्र माथुरAugust 31, 2020 at 7:29 AM

    Religion beyond the limits is, to be plain and straight, lethal. I echo your thoughts as I have also maintained the same kind of thoughts for long and discussed with my Muslim friends.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalAugust 31, 2020 at 9:44 AM

      I have a lot of Muslim students. I find that the boys are more progressive than girls though the latter score more marks in exams. The girls seem to love the hijab and orher restrictions imposed on them!

      Delete
    2. Stay Home Stay SafeAugust 31, 2020 at 9:47 PM

      i am a muslim i think they should first ban all those hijabs.

      Delete
    3. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 1, 2020 at 5:34 AM

      Any reform in religion can only come from within. Good to see you make this suggestion.

      Delete
    4. Stay Home Stay SafeSeptember 1, 2020 at 10:46 PM

      there are a lot of stereotypes, but now they are getting educated

      Delete
    5. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 2, 2020 at 8:06 AM

      Stereotypes are as ubiquitous as the air we breathe. But I also observe carefully beyond stereotypes. I question stereotypes. I check facts before I raise issues. The plain truth is that Muslims tend to be parochial and ultra-conservative. They don't take as much interest in education as other communities. They tend to turn a blind eye to the progress all around and stick to their ghettos and the ghetto mentality.

      Delete

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