Holy Ramadan -- Learning from adversities

Holy Ramadan -- Learning  from adversities
By- AHMED NOOR
 
 It is said the best education we can ever receive is from the University of Adversity.  Adversity can shape man and make strong.  Noted  philosopher William Samule Johnson said “He knows not his own strength who hath not met adversity” and another  thinker and poet  Saadi said “A man is insensible to the relish of prosperity 'til he has tasted adversity”.  It means comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.
Fasting is a forms of adversity in which observers undergo hunger and  thirst. Noted Islamic writer Tariq Ramadan said  “Fasting is, first and foremost, an exercise for identifying and managing adversity in all its forms. 
As saying goes-  A hungry people listens not to reason, not cares for justice, nor is bent by any prayers. A hungry man can’t see right or wrong. Hungry man is angry man, he sees only food. 
During the Ramadan, Muslims  go through a good training of patience, calm  and keep away  evils and  undesired emotions. They accustom their stomach to patience by not eating anything through they are hungry. They do not drink even a sip of water though their throats dry.
One who observer refrain from angry, backbiting and evil speak.
   Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said “If one of you is observing Saum (fast), he should avoid saying words that contain sexual matters, and quarreling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, ‘I am observing Saum (fast). He said  “The strong person is not the one who can wrestle someone else down. The strong person is the one who can control himself when he is angry.”  
 The patience is  shown until the end of Ramadan will bring the comfort of surrendering to God. Ramadan is an opportunity, a way to train ourselves in spirit and body, to show our love and commitment for God. Fasting teaches us the secrets of reconciliation, of transcending our weakness and our human contradictions: there can be no freedom without discipline, no true peace without struggle and resistance. 
Maulana Mawdudi emphasized that fasting for a full month every year trains a person individually, and the Muslim community as a whole, in piety and self restraint.
 

Dev projects in Jalna are boon for entire region

Power of Giving.--- Holy of Ramadan witness noble traits giving and sharing.

Fasting is an intellectual awakening.

 AHMED NOOR

It is said full stomach never brings good thoughts. Thus fasting-- Muslims observe during the month of Ramadan, keep away from evil action and evil thought. One who observe fast, he or she keeps  emotion under control. Fasting develops spirituality which  is an elevated state of intellectual awakening. Spirituality activates that intellectual process which is necessary for the development of one’s personality.

Thinkers and philosophers have expressed that  fasting is not mere keep body purify but mind. Luqman the wise, explains to his son,” when the stomach is full, the intellect begins to sleep. Wisdom becomes mute and the parts of the body restrain from acts of righteousness’

Islamic philosopher  Imam Ghzali said ‘He who buries his head deep into a nosebag full of food cannot hope to see the invisible world’.

It is a unique month of self-analysis, and discover own weakness and potential.Noted writer Taqiq Tamadan said  “Instead of looking outside of ourselves and counting potential enemies, fasting summons us to turn our glance inward, and to take the measure of our greatest challenge: the self, the ego, in our own eyes and as others see us.”

As Mahatma Gandhi said ‘The light of the world will illuminate within you when you fast and purify yourself.  Jalauddin Rumi said ‘Fasting blinds the body in order to open the eyes of your soul’

Hunger is one the most powerful urges that we experience. Many, through over- or under-eating or consumption of unhealthy foods, abuse this urge. Thus, when a person purposefully denies something to their own self that it craves, they are elevating their mind above their body, and their reason and will above their carnal passions. "A fasting person empties his stomach of all the material things: to fill his soul with peace and blessings, to fill his heart with love and sympathy, to fill his spirit with piety and Faith, to fill his mind with wisdom and resolution," says H.  Abdalati.

2017

The Salafists

                                The  Salafists

By- AHMED NOOR

Ahle-Hadith or Salafism has attracted  attention in present days due to many reasons. In India, the movement of Ahle-Hadith is  attracting   the young generation, while Sunni Muslims   and followers of Deoband and Barveli* seminaries are at loggerheads with  the Salafists for their rigid thoughts.

   Salafism derives from the term the pious forefathers (al-salaf al-salih), the first three generations of Muslims who had the first-hand experience of the rise of Islam. Followers of  Salafism claim that they are best and puritan and oppose Barveli thoughts  and Sufi. They have also some difference with Wahhabism*  which springs Tablique Jamaate and Jamaate Islami. Although  Salafi ideology   has   some extent affinities  with the Wahhabism, they have some differences. As a rule, all Wahhabis are Salafists, but not all Salafists are Wahhabis.

  Salafists   practice Quran and Hadith (traditions of Prophet Muhammad) and  do not believe in taqleed or association. The  Sunnis have  beliefs in compliance with the four schools of thoughts of Sunni jurisprudence whereas Salafis follow only when their ruling is supported by Quran and Sunnah. As a result,  a division  is seen  in practice of   Salah (prayer) and fiqh (jurisprudence).

  Salafists claim  that  they exist with the inception of Islam. However  the  fundamental  of Salafism are rooted in the writing of Ibn Taymiyya*.  Because of sticking   their thoughts, Salafists are  an aggressive attitude towards the Sunni belief and they openly oppose the customs of Sunnis.   They argue that any other sources of guidance the Quran, the Sunna and consensus of the companions will lead Muslims away from the straight  path because  they do not represent the original revelation of the  prophetic model.  They said  the  Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) predicated that Muslims would from other sources, resulting in sectarianism and deviancy. To avoid this, he advised his followers to remain focused on his Sunna and the Qur’an to ensure the purity of Islam: “I am leaving you two things and you will never go astray as long as you cling to them. They are the Book of Allah and my Sunna.”Due to their historical proximity to the  prophet, it is thought that the faith and practice of the  al-salaf al-salih was exemplary, and it is this that the modern  Salafists seek to capture  in their own lives.  Like Wahhabis, they   strongly   condemn  Barveli thoughts or  Sufi Islam as they think, the Sufis Islam   has  corrupted  Islam.  According to them to visit Sufi mausoleums and to pray and invoke intercession (shafa’at) is totally against Qur’an and Islamic teachings.  The Salafists found that Muslims have not understood and implemented the true Islam, deviating from the path of original teachings of the Qur'an and the Prophet Sunnah as seen in their practice of associating the one God with others (shirk) and veneration of the saints and their tombs. In their view, Muslims had lost the true knowledge of Islam and so that they were considered to have been guilty of ignoring and polluting the pure Islam.

 In India, to  protect the purity of Islam,  Salafists   refrain from any political tendency and activities. For them, educating Muslims the true Islamic teachings through da'wah (preaching) is privileged over political activities including those aimed at establishing an Islamic state, the doctrine of  Abul Ala al-Mawdudi of Jamaat Islami  and Sayyed Qutub of Egypt. The doctrine  that governance and sovereignty only belong to the one Allah as the only creator, sustainer, and ruler of the universe. This doctrine has implications that since Allah is the only one who has authority to regulate the universe and human, those Muslims and Muslims rulers who do not implement the laws of God are considered in opposition against His authority and sovereignty and can be declared as unbelievers. Salafists  argue that political activities can cause, conflicts and divisions within the Muslim World.They assert that the doctrine of tawhid al-hakimiyyah (sovereignty only belong to the one Allah)can incite a revolutionary  spirit that encourages Muslims to rebel against their ruler. This obsession with maintaining and propagating a pure understanding of Islam has produced a strong tendency toward isolationism.

According to the Web sites of the  Salafis,  in India, they are 25-30 million. It has 21 branches and 200 branches at district levels and 40 branches are in local levels.  Salafis ulemas  attract Muslims particularly youths  through their speeches and literature.

However, opponents of Salafis  accused  Salafists of   creating  bigotry  and making colonized mosques which further create more divisions in the Muslims. ‘The Salafis supposed ‘greed’ in demanding that ‘all Muslims follow only their school of thought’ says the Sunni ulemas. The tussle among them is seen in many mosques  as they try to wrest control of the administration. It gives them the power to spread their ideology from the mosques.

 Salafis movement is  making an impact in most of the countries. However, it is not a homogenous  movement   and has contradictory tendencies which have sprung up in different countries.

Notes

Barelvi is a term used for the movement following the sunni hanafi school of jurisprudence originating in Bareilly,Utter Pradesh.The movement has to do with the practices and Sufism of Classic Islamic Mystics, it is often referred to as a Sufi movement. The movement was in existence (as is today) under the banner of Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jammat.

Deobandi  are strong proponents of the doctrine of Taqlid. In other words, they believe that a Muslim must adhere to one of the four schools of Sunni Islamic Law.

  The Four Schools-  The vast majority of Muslims give this right of independent reasoning to only four ancient Muslim theologians and jurists who lived in the first three centuries of Islam.Imam Abu Hanifa of Kufa,Imam Malik bin Anas of Medinah Imam Muhammad al-Shafi of Medinah,Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal of Baghdad.

Wahhabism is named after an eighteenth-century preacher and scholar, Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab(1703–1792). He started a revivalist movement in the remote, sparsely populated region of  Najad advocating a purging of practices such as the popular "cult of saints", and  shrine and tomb visitation, widespread among Muslims, but which he considered idolatry , impurities and innovations in Islam

 Taqi ad-Din Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah  known as Ibn Taymiyyah (22 January 1263 – 26 September 1328) was a Islamic scholar, theologian and logician.

References

1 -Anatomy of the Salafi Movement-Quintan Wiktorowicz

2-Jihadi-Salafi views of the Islamic State By Joas Wagemakers

3-Salafi Ritual Purity by Richard Gauvain

3-Global Salafism: Islam’s New Religious Movement

Author : Roel Meijer Publisher : Columbia University Press

4- From Wahhabis to Salafis- David Commins

5-Sufis and Salafis in the  contemporary age.-Lioyd Ridgeon.

6) Salafism and Sufisim- is there real conflict- Asgar Ali Engineer. 

Deep Shikha’ an UNICEF project change lives of girls in Jalna dist. 
By-AHMED NOOR
Jalna, Aug 23:
With the support of UNICEF, five Non-Government Organisations have 
undertaken a project ‘Deep Shikha’ to change the lives of 
adolescent girls, teach them their rights, about health and life 
skills. Scores of girls have been prevented by volunteers of the 
UNICEF and have brought back to schools. Child marriage – marrying 
before the legal age at 18 years for girls and 21 years for boys- is 
widespread in the state. Jalna district is no exception. Child brides 
are often forced to drop out of schools, are subject to the risks of 
early pregnancy and are more likely to be exposed to violence and 
isolation. A media co-coordinator of the UNICEF, Vandana Khare 
said the UNICEF has been carrying project Deep Shikha for last 
three years. The project has been working on 6000 girls in the 
district. Thousands girls have changed their lives and getting 
education who have been dropped out due to many reasons. A block 
coordinator ofJafrabad tehsil, Anil Sahane said girls who opposed 
their early marriages, became part of the UNICEF and working for 
change their lives. Vanita Mapari who had been in nine class, her 
parents arranged marriage with a distant relative. Vanita opposed 
the marriage and desire to continue education. Upon hearing that 
Vanita’s parents were arranging an early marriage, members of the 
UNICEF visited and met Vanita and parents convinced them to wait 
until Vanita is both physically and emotionally ready for marriage. 
Now Vanita is studying in BA and has ambitious to join the police 
force. Vanita has became volunteer of the UNICEF and working in 
it.She said under Deep Shikha, girls are learning that marrying 
before they are ready puts them at a higher risk of early 
childbearing, domestic violence and abuse, and economic dependence. 
There are many story stories in rural parts of Jafrabad Seema Gufne 
of Sawarkheda, Jayshree Bhise of Deulzari villages and many girls 
in rural parts of the district who had opposed the marriages and 
now pursing higher education thanks to the UNICEF.Jafrabad tehisl 
is the lowest in terms of Human Development Index. Bad roads and 
absence of state transport bus are major hurdle for girls.There is 
a high school at Sipra village where girls from adjoining villages 
come to the school. Due to absence of state transport bus the girls 
gave up high schooling. Girls had to walk five or six km. A village 
boy, Sarjirao Bhople said we students had staged 17 andolans 
for running the state transport bus. Now a state transport bus runs 
which connects many villages and drop rate of girls from school has 
been decreased. 

    Drought hit Jalna dist recorded surplus rain fall this year.

                                       
                                                By-AHMED NOOR

This year,  the   rain God   has shown mercy in Jalna district which  r faced the worst drought condition in the state. The district recorded  surplus rain  fall 153  mm rain fall.  According to the revenue  the  average rain fall  of the district 634 mm , this year the till October 18, the district recorded 787.56 mm. The last year district had  faced the worst drought condition; which was recorded 321, less than 50 percent.  
  Partur  tehsil     has recorded highest rain fall of this season-964 mm., followed by  Jafrabad - 955 mm. However  the Ghanswangi tehsil  has lowest rain fall in the district- 533mm. The Jalna tehsil  has  822 mm. Other  tehsil  Badnapur -618, Bhokardan- 783.75. Mantha- 860, Ambad- 759 mm rain fall was recorded till October 18.  
If we look the figure of rain fall  during last 10 year, the district had registered  highest rain fall in 2010 which was - 839 mm, and lowest rain fall in 2012- 321 mm.   In 2004- 589, 2005- 661, 3006- 763. 2007-578, 2008- 546, 2009- 534,2010- 839,2011-544, 2012 -321  and 2013 -787 mm rain fall recorded. 
 The water reservoirs of small and medium projects have received good rain fall. The water reservoir of Jalna, Partur, Mantha, Bhokardan and Jafrabad are brimming. The Ghanewadi water reservoir which is main sources of drinking water to the town,  is overflowing. The reservoir has reached 17 feet water.   Five months back, when  was reeling under  water scarcity,  traders and members of  business community had undertaken of clearing silt from Ghanewadi. A huge of silt was cleared, which helped in retaining good rain fall.
  Shirpur pattern check dams  have also  been constructed in the town which bore fruitful result. The check dams in the town  retained sufficient rain water which  increased  ground level water. As result bore wells  of the town have sufficient  water. More over  most of residents have adopted rain harvesting   at their homes and percolated rain water in their bore wells.