Helping Google Find Sensibility

Regarding the latest attack on the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, Google has certainly acted as if Muslims do not matter. It has arrogantly refused to remove the offending content from the YouTube site that it owns. The offensive video, the reactions to it and the reactions to reactions have generated lot of heated debates.

Could it have been avoided?
Many have observed that the offensive video remained un-noticed for fifty-five days. Then curiosity traffic increased the hit count from five thousand to five million in a couple of days. Obviously ignoring it would have been a better option. That is true, as far as it goes. In the initial stage the best option was to ignore it. However those who profit from such offensive material also know this. They tried to get negative publicity in Rushdie affair, they tried it now and they will try it again. They will rub it in your face until there is a reaction. And when that happens, just wishing that there had been no reaction is not going to help us solve the problem.

What Makes Google Tick?
The question arises, why Google must rub it in our face? Google would not allow the freedom to insult to its own employees in its offices that it says we must learn to live with. Why? Why can’t it see reason? The answer lies in its very nature. It is a corporation---impersonal and amoral. You cannot plead with it on the basis of morality, decency, or sensibility. It does not understand the language of right and wrong or good and evil. It could not care less about the Prophets. It only cares about its profits. Right and wrong translate into profit and loss in its world. It would enforce a code of behavior and decorum in its offices because that is needed for ensuring productivity. It upholds the exact opposite on its sites because that is good for business. If it can increase its profits by inflicting pain on us it will gladly do that. If it sees that doing so reduces its profits, it will “find” that inflicting pain is wrong and insulting the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is immoral.

And it has been very successful.

Last year Google had revenues of nearly $40 billion. Ninety-six percent of these came from ads. And its claim to fame in the advertizing world is that it has revolutionized advertizing by providing targeted ads: Ads that are delivered to each viewer based on the personal preferences and interests of that viewer. Both the AdWords and AdSense programs that it uses are based on information about the users that it gathers and stores through their use of its free services.

It has a huge database about everyone who uses it and it uses that database to generate money. Every time you search for something using it, it learns something about your interests. It knows how to translate that information into hard cash because it can find the right buyers for that information. Every time you click on a Google ad, you are simply sending a check to Google as ad revenues are on a per click basis. It may be a fraction of a cent per click. But trillions of clicks turn into billions of dollars. In other words every time you use it you are financially supporting it and nurturing its arrogance.

It is our clicks that make Google tick.
Therein lies the secret to making it see reason. If most of us stop using Google even for one week, it will see such a huge shrinking of its revenue stream that it would find sensibility and decency faster than its fastest searches. It would immediately stop any and all insulting content if that happened.

Google Ads
A second but related area of our concern should be the otherwise responsible and serious websites that allow Google ads. When a web site agrees to allow Google to display ads on it, it gives them a blank space over which they can write the message they want. Google gets money from the ad sponsors for these directed ads and passes a fraction of that money to the site owner. For that fraction many “Islamic” sites are selling their iman. One can find a site hosting a lecture on Qur’an and Hadith and on the same page a Google ad displays a semi nude picture. Sometimes this blurring of the boundaries of the sacred and the profane is justified by the owners by issuing a disclaimer that they are not responsible for the ads. In most cases even the disclaimer is not there. As an example Pakistani Newspapers like Jang and Ummat frequently have obscene ads consisting of pictures of nude and semi nude women on their sites.

That such scandalous behavior has become acceptable is an indication of the toll that our blind submission to the Internet revolution has taken on us. For thinking people this should be cause for much reflection and soul searching. This calls for a new level of media activism that has been totally missing from the Muslim world. Isn’t it time that someone convinced the owners of such sites to stop allowing such ads?

Is It Futile?
There are those for whom all this talk is futile. In Google they see just an innocent search engine not a cold calculating advertizing giant that is also serving a cultural agenda, about which we may have some concerns. In the Internet and the media revolution they see only wonders.

It is part of a larger malaise in our attitudes about technology that we have been seeing for the past couple of centuries. In the 19th century the British introduced science and technology in the subcontinent through exhibitions for the public. The idea was not to educate but to impress. It was presented as magic. At an exhibition in Calcutta in the early 1800s the visitors were reported to make such comments as “Bap rey bap (Oh My!)…How fantastic.” 

It seems we have not stopped saying “Bap rey bap… How fantastic.”

Once we come out of this spell, we may realize that technology both gives and takes away. And the resulting bargain will be in our favor only if we are actively negotiating with it instead of passively submitting to it. A cell phone magically can connect you to another person on the other part of the globe without any visible link. Yet it also disconnects you from your immediate surroundings. We see that in the horrible acts of insolence when people even in the Haram making tawaf are talking over their cell phones.

Once we determine that technology should be our servant and not our master, our attitudes about it will change dramatically. And so will our attitudes about the technology leaders. We may then realize that Google’s declared goal is to “change the world.” Can anyone in their right mind advocate that we should just be a passive spectator as they go about changing our world?

Of course in the latest episode Google is betting that our love for the convenience it offers is greater than our love for the Prophet and our sense of honor. And not even convenience but only addiction. For there are a dozen search engines like Bing out there that we could use without sacrificing anything.

It is only through our determined individual and collective efforts that we can convince the likes of Google, Facebook, and others to agree to a code of ethics that assures freedom from insults for everyone--- which is the only way to ensure peace in the global village.

Khalid Baig in Albalaqh. Here

அந்த ஐந்து கேள்விகள்

வாழ்நாளை நீ வாழ்ந்த வழியைச் சொல்லு
வளம் சேர்த்த வழிகளினைச் சொல்லி நில்லு
சூழ்ந்த செல்வம் செலவான வழியைச் சொல்லு
சுக இளமைக் காலத்தின் வாழ்வைச் சொல்லு
தேர்வான உன் அறிவால் மனித வாழ்வில்
தேர்ந்தெடுத்து நீ செய்த செயல்கள் சொல்லு
ஒர்ந்து இதனைச் சொல்லாமல் இறைவன் அவன்
உயர் நீதி மன்றம் விட்டு விலகொணாது

Here

இவர் தான் முஹம்மத்!!

ஒரு திரைப்படம் இன்று உலகத்தையே உலுக்கிவிட்டிருக்கின்றது.
உலகெங்கும் 800க்கும் மேற்பட்ட நகரங்களில் கண்டன ஆர்ப்பாட்டங்கள் நடந்திருக்கின்றன. இந்த நாள் வரை ஐம்பது பேர் உயிரிழந்திருக்கின்றார்கள்.

எல்லாமே யாருக்காக? எல்லாமே எதற்காக?

முஹம்மத் நபிக்காகத்தான் இத்தனை ஆர்ப்பாட்டங்களும் கொந்தளிப்புகளும்.

முஹம்மத் நபி என்றால் யார்? என்ன அது, 1400 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பு அரேபியாவில் வாழ்ந்த வாழ்க்கை வழிகாட்டியா? இத்துணை நூற்றாண்டு-கள் உருண்டோடி விட்ட பிறகுமா, மக்கள் அவரை மறக்காது இருக்கின்றார்கள்? இத்துணை ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பிறகுமா மக்கள் அவருக்காக தங்களின் உயிரையே கொடுக்கின்றார்கள்?

யார்தான் அவர்? எப்படிப்பட்டவர் அவர்? அவர் செய்த சாதனைகள் என்ன? அவர் சந்தித்த சோதனைகள் என்ன? போன்ற கேள்விகள் இன்று உலகெங்கும் மக்கள் மத்தியில் உரத்துக் கேட்கப்படுகின்றன. உங்களுக்குள்ளும் இந்தக் கேள்விகள் எழுந்திருக்கலாம்.

அந்தக் கேள்விகளுக்கு விடைதான் இந்த மடக்கோலை.

யார் முஹம்மத் (ஸல்)?

இறைவனிடமிருந்து இத்தரணியில் வாழ்ந்த, வாழ்கின்ற, வாழப் போகின்ற உலக மக்கள் அனைவருக்காகவும் அருளப்பட்ட இறைத்தூதர்தாம் முஹம்மத் நபி(ஸல்). மனித குல மாணிக்கமாக, அகிலங்களுக்கெல்லாம் அருட்கொடையாக வாழ்ந்து சென்றவர்தாம் அண்ணல் நபிகளார்(ஸல்).

‘பணம், குலம், அழகு ஆகியவற்றைப் பார்த்து மணம் முடிக்காதீர்கள். மார்க்கத்தைப் பார்த்தே பெண்ணை மணம் முடித்துக் கொள்ளுங்கள்’ எனச் சொல்லி அமைதியான மணவாழ்வுக்கு அடித்தளம் அமைத்துக் கொடுத்தவர்.

‘அரபி அல்லாதவரை விட அரபியோ, அரபியை விட அரபி அல்லாத-வரோ சிறந்தவர் அன்று. உங்களில் எவர் இறையச்சம் மிக்கவரோ அவரே உங்களில் சிறந்தவர்’ என்றும், ‘பிறரைக் கீழே வீழ்த்திவிடுபவன் பலசாலி அல்ல. கோபம் வரும்போது தன்னை அடக்கிக் கொள்பவனே பலசாலி’ என்றும், ‘பொறாமை நற்செயல்களை அழித்துவிடும்’ என்றும் ஏராளமான நல்லுரைகளைச் சொல்லி அமைதியான சமூகத்திற்குப் பாதை அமைத்துக் கொடுத்தவர்.

‘மோசடி செய்பவன் என்னைச் சேர்ந்தவன் அல்லன்’ என்றும் ‘உழைப்-பாளியின் வியர்வை உலரும் முன் அவருக்குரிய கூலியை கொடுத்து-விடுங்கள்’ என்றும் கூறி, தூய்மையான பொருளாதார நடைமுறைகளுக்கு வித்திட்டவர்.

‘சமூகத்தின் தலைவன் சமூகத்தினரின் தொண்டனாவான்’ என்றும் ‘பதவியை விரும்புகின்றவர்களுக்கு பொறுப்புகளைத் தராதீர்’ என்றும் தீர்க்கமான கட்டளைகளைத் தந்து உன்னதமான அரசியல் வாழ்வுக்கு வழிகாட்டியவர்.

உயர்குலப் பெண் திருட்டுக் குற்றத்துக்கு ஆளாகி தண்டனை-யும் விதிக்கப்பட்ட நிலையில் அவளுக்காக தோழர்கள் பரிந்து பேசியபோது ‘ஆளுக்கொரு நீதியைக் கடைப்பிடித்த சமூகங்கள் அழிந்து போனது உங்களுக்குத் தெரியவில்லையா? என் மகள் பாத்திமாவே தவறிழைத்தாலும் அவளையும் தண்டிப்பேன்’ எனச் சூளுரைத்து நீதிக்கு உறுதியளித்தவர்.

என அண்ணல் நபிகளாரின் சிறப்புகளைச் சொல்லிக் கொண்டே போகலாம்.
அவரைக் குறித்து இறைவனே ஒரே வரியில் அறிமுகப்படுத்தி-யிருக்கின்றான்.

மேலும், திண்ணமாக நற்குணத்தின் மிக உன்னதமான நிலையில் நீர் இருக்கின்றீர்.             (திருக்குர்ஆன் 68 : 4)

உண்மை. முற்றிலும் உண்மை. அண்ணல் நபிகளார்(ஸல்) அழகிய குணங்களைக் கொண்டவராகத்தான் இருந்தார். இதற்கு அவருடன் வாழ்ந்த அவரின் மனைவியரும், தோழர்களுமே சான்றளித்திருக்கின்-றார்கள்.
அவற்றின் விவரம் வருமாறு:

அண்ணல் நபிகளாருடன் இருபத்தைந்து ஆண்டுகள் இல்லற வாழ்வு நடத்தியவர் அன்னை கதீஜா(ரலி). முதன்முதலாக இறைவ-னிடமிருந்து வசனங்கள் அருளப்பட்ட போது பயந்து வியர்த்து விதிர்த்து வந்த அண்ணல் நபிகளாரைப் பார்த்து அன்னையார்(ரலி) சொன்ன வாசகங்களைப் பாருங்கள்:
“இறைவன் மீது ஆணையாக! இறைவன் உங்களை எந்தக்-காலத்-திலும் வேதனையில் ஆழ்த்த மாட்டான். நீங்கள் உறவுகளை மதித்தும், அவர்களின் தேவைகளை நிறைவேற்றியும் வாழ்கின்றீர்-கள். கடனாளிகளின் கடன் சுமையைப் போக்குகின்றீர்கள். ஏழைகளுக்கும் எளியவர்களுக்கும் தேவையுள்ளவர்களுக்கும் உதவுகின்றீர்கள். விருந்தினர்களை உபசரிக்கின்றீர்கள். உண்மைக்கும் சத்தியத்திற்கும் தோள் கொடுக்கின்றீர்கள். துன்பத்தில் உழல்கின்ற மக்களின் துயர் துடைக்கின்றீர்கள்.”

அண்ணல் நபிகளாரின் இன்னொரு மனைவி அன்னை ஆயிஷா(ரலி). அண்ணல் நபிகளாரின் மரணம் வரை அவருடன் இருந்தவர். அவர்கள் சொல்வதைக் கேளுங்கள்.  “அண்ணல் நபிகளார்(ஸல்) எவரையும் எந்தக் காலத்திலும் திட்டியதில்லை. தனக்குத் தீங்கிழைத்தவர்களை மன்னித்து அவர்களுக்கும் நன்மையையே செய்து வந்திருக்கின்றார். சொந்த விவகாரங்களில் எவரையும் பழிக்குப் பழி வாங்கியதில்லை. எந்தவொரு முஸ்லிமையும் அவர் சபித்ததில்லை. எந்தவொரு பணியாளரையும் பணிப்பெண்ணையும் கை நீட்டி அடித்ததில்லை.”

அண்ணல் நபிகளாருடன் 23 ஆண்டுகள் இறைவழியில் இணைந்து பாடுபட்ட உற்ற தோழர்தாம் அலீ பின் அபூதாலிப் (ரலி). அண்ணல் நபிகளாருடன் பயணத்திலும் போரிலும் வணக்க வழிபாட்டிலும் ஆலோசனைக் கூட்டத்திலும் இணைபிரியா நண்பராக வாழ்ந்தவர்தாம் அலீ பின் அபூதாலிப்(ரலி). அவர் கூறுகின்றார்: ‘அண்ணல் நபிகளார்(ஸல்) மென்மையானவர். இளகிய மனம் கொண்டவர். எந்தக்காலத்திலும் கடுமையாக நடந்துகொண்டதில்லை. மிகவும் பரந்த மனம் கொண்டவர். ஓங்கிப் பேசமாட்டார். எந்தக் காலத்திலும் அவருடைய நாவிலிருந்து கெட்ட வார்த்தைகள் வந்ததில்லை. எவருடைய குறையையும் துருவித் துருவி ஆராய்ந்ததில்லை. வீண் விவாதம், அதிக பேச்சு, பயனற்ற பொழுதுபோக்கு ஆகிய மூன்றிலிருந்தும் அறவே விலகியிருந்தார்.”

அண்ணல் நபிகளாரின் தோழர்களில் ஒருவர் அனஸ் பின் மாலிக் (ரலி). அண்ணல் நபிகளாரின் பணியாளராய் பல்லாண்டுகள் இருந்தவர்.
அவர் கூறுகின்றார்: ‘நான் அண்ணல் நபிகளாரின் பணியாளராகப் பத்து ஆண்டுகள் சேவையாற்றியிருக்கின்றேன். அவர் ஒரு நாள் கூட என்னைப் பார்த்து ‘சே..’ என்று கூட சொன்னதில்லை. அவர் சொன்ன வேலையைச் செய்ய மறந்துவிட்டாலும், அல்லது செய்யத் தவறிவிட்டாலும்கூட அவர் என்னைப் பார்த்து ‘ஏன் இப்படி நடந்து கொண்டாய்?’ என ஒரு வார்த்தை கேட்டது கிடையாது.’

அண்ணல் நபிகளாரின் அழைப்பை எதிர்ப்பதில் முன்னணியில் நின்ற அபூசுப்யான் ரோமப் பேரரசரிடம் அண்ணல் நபிகளாரைக் குறித்துச் சொன்னதாவது: ‘முஹம்மத் பொய் சொல்லி நான் பார்த்ததில்லை. அவர் எந்தக்காலத்திலும் கொடுத்த வாக்குறுதியை மீறியதில்லை. ஒப்பந்தத்தை உடைத்ததில்லை.’
 
இந்தச் சான்றுகள் தருகின்ற செய்தி என்ன?

இன்னொன்றையும் கேளுங்கள். அண்ணல் நபிகளார்(ஸல்) தம் வாழ்நாள் முழுவதிலும் ஒருவரைக் கூட கட்டாயப்படுத்தி மதமாற்றம் செய்ததாக வரலாறு கிடையாது.

கைதிகளாகப் பிடிபட்டவர்கள், அடிமைகள், பணியாளர்கள், ஏழைகள் ஆகிய பலவீனமான மக்களிடமும் அவர் இஸ்லாத்தைத் திணித்ததில்லை. அண்ணல் நபிகளாரை வளர்த்துப் பாதுகாப்பு அளித்த அவருடைய பெரிய தந்தை அபூதாலிப் இறுதிவரை இஸ்லாத்தை ஏற்காமலேயே மரணித்தார்.

அவருடைய நெருங்கிய உறவினர்களில் பலர் இஸ்லாமியப் பிரச்சாரம் தொடங்கிப் பல ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பின்னர்தான் இஸ்லாத்தைத் தழுவினார்கள். இஸ்லாத்தில் இணைந்தவர்கள் தங்கள் பிள்ளைகளைக் கட்டாயப்படுத்தி இஸ்லாத்தில் இணைக்க அண்ணலாரிடம் அனுமதி கோரிய போது அதனை மறுத்தார்.

அதுமட்டுமல்ல, மக்கா நகரம் அண்ணலாரால் வெற்றி கொள்ளப்பட்டபோது, தமக்கும் தம் குடும்பத்தினருக்கும் துன்பங்கள் அளித்த மக்காவாசிகளை மனப்பூர்வமாக மன்னித்த மாண்பாளர் அவர்.

பகைவரையும் மன்னித்த அந்தப் பண்பாளரைப் பற்றி,
மென்மைக்கு அடையாளமாய் வாழ்ந்த அந்த உத்தமரைப் பற்றி,
இளகிய மனமும் ஒழுக்கசீலமும் படைத்த அந்த மாமனிதரைப் பற்றி,
கனிவும் கருணையும் கொண்ட,
வாழ்நாளில் எவரையும் பழி வாங்காத அந்த உயர்ந்த தலைவரைப் பற்றி இன்னும் இன்னும் தெரிந்து கொள்ள வேண்டுமே என உங்கள் மனம் பரபரக்கின்றதா?

தொடர்பு கொள்ளுங்கள்:

ஜமாஅத்தே இஸ்லாமி ஹிந்த்
தமிழ்நாடு & புதுச்சேரி
138, பெரம்பூர் நெடுஞ்சாலை, சென்னை - 600 012
Phone : 044 -2662 1101, Fax : 2662 0682
Tel : 044 -2662 1101, Fax : 2662 0682
Email : jihtnzone@gmail.com,  Website : www.jihtn.org

Annadurai on Islam

Here

Muhammad the benefactor of humanity

Here

மாற்றங்களை ஏற்படுத்திய மாநபி (ஸல்)

Here

Jamaat to launch massive campaign on the life and teachings of Prophet of Islam

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Tamil Nadu has decided to launch a high profile, high voltage massive state wide campaign for introducing the life and teachings of the Prophet of Islam. 

Dates are 5th October, 2012 to 14th October, 2012. 

A committee has been formed under the stewardship of Br I Kareemullah. It comprises of Br S N Sikkander, Br K M Siraj Ahmed, Br Mohiyuddin, Br K Jalaludeen, Br T Azeez Luthffullah, Br T Yousuf Basha, Br Sirajul Hasan and Br V S Muhammad Ameen alongwith Brs Abu Tahir and Br Noorul Hasan (representatives of SIO)

The committee has chalked out a 14 point programme for the Units and circle and a 20 point programme for the activities at zonal level.

Samarasam would bring out a special issue on the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad. It has also been decided to conduct a zonal Essay Competition for the college as well as higher secondary school students. 

Besides various activities such as press conferences, VIP meets, corner meetings, Hall meetings, Symposium, Ulema meet, and exclusive programme for non-Muslims would be carried out in massive scale throughout the nook and corner of the state. 

Jamaat has planned to distribute the book "The Prophet of Islam" by Prof Ramakrishna Rao and also its tamil version "Manuda Vasantham". Please send us the suggestions as also pray for the success of the campaign.

Reaction to Innocence of Muslims: "Know this man"

Here is a documentary film on the life and teachings of the Prophet of Islam. It has been uploaded a year before. But for those who are eager to acquaint themselves with the noble personality of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) it would be as refreshing as rain in a lazy Sunday afternoon.
 

Here

Reaction to "Innocence of Muslims" movie : DVDs on Prophet Muhammad in 30 languages

Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo has launched a campaign to introduce Prophet Mohammed to the world by distributing DVD’s in 30 languages, explaining the message of Islam and the life of the Prophet.


At the same time, Dr. Abdul-Rahman Al-Barr, member of the Brotherhood’s Guidance Bureau, has appealed on Muslim producers to use their artistic talents to create productions of the highest standards of quality, in all languages, to highlight aspects of greatness in the Messenger of God, to introduce him to the peoples of the whole world, and to use those productions to compete at international art festivals of all kinds.


"We must introduce the Prophet in an appropriately positive manner. When defending the Prophet, we must begin by understanding his life and his personality. Those who do not quite appreciate Prophet Mohammed must learn about him first, before talking about him. We should inform people about the Prophet, instead of pushing them away from him, from Islam."

Here

Tips to counter "Innocence of Muslims" movie

The dirty film by name "Innocence of Muslims" has enraged the Muslims all over the world. The following is a useful discussion on this issue.
Hats off to the youth behind this initiative.

Freedom of Expression or Freedom to Blaspheme?

FREEDOM of expression must not be confused with freedom from the consequences of expression. Exercising freedom and abusing it are not the same. The latter forfeits the former. Just because we are free to express ourselves, it doesn’t free us from the responsibility for what we express. We are responsible for what we say and do and for the consequences thereof and so must consider carefully what we want to express. This is the basis of what we call civilized socially responsible behavior. 

How to protest against the dirty film on the Prophet of Islam?

"I don't want to hear it"
I screamed when my friend started to describe what he has seen in the blasphemous film.
I had to repeat the same when another friend started to do the same.
I had to advice another friend who had posted the link to the dirty film to remove the link.
....

For me the best way to tackle the sinister designs of USA and Israel is to completely ignore the film. Don't talk about the dirty film. Don't hear about the dirty film.
Be calm. Register your anguish and agony to the Americans. Let the Americans know that we are hurt - deeply hurt - by the calculated, cunning and evil move by some of their co-citizens.

And the best way to counter this menace is to introduce the life and message of Prophet of Islam to others. That is the need of the hour.
Here is the best way to respond to the nefarious designs of USA and Israel. I have been avoiding coco-cola and pepsi cola for the past twelve years. Do it if you can.

Jamaat chief condemns the dirty film on the Prophet of Islam

Jamaat chief urges the Indian Government to block the URL of the dirty picture denigrating the Prophet of Islam

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Tamil Nadu chief A Shabbir Ahmed has strongly condemned the heinous, most outrageous and abominable video film denigrating the last Prophet of Islam. He expressed his agony and anguish over the sinister motives of the film maker. Inspite of the fact that the Prophet of Islam is revered and respected by billions of Muslims worldwide, the film maker has ventured to make such an ugly film on him. This betrays his evil intentions, he said. He urged the US government to take action against the film maker and all those involved in the dirty film and put all of them behind the bars.

The Jamaat leader appealed to the Indian government to block the dirty picture from the internet, before it spreads like wild fire and inflames passions. This would go a long way to maintain communal harmony, he said. He further demanded a complete ban of the dirty film. He has appealed all the peace loving, like minded and noble hearted souls to join together to curb this menace. He appealed them to urge the Indian Government to take effective steps in this regard.

The Jamaat leader lauded the Muslim community world wide for their more mature, peaceful protests against the dirty film. There may have been some stray incidents of violence in Libya and some other places, but, the protests have by and large been entirely peaceful. He urged the Muslim community to maintain the trend and express their distress and pain to the American community in a peaceful and disciplined manner. He also underlined the importance of conveying the true message of the Prophet of Islam to the world community.

இறைத்தூதரைக் இழிவுபடுத்தி அமெரிக்காவில் எடுக்கப்பட்டிருக்கின்ற கேவலமான வெறுக்கத்தக்க, அருவருப்பான திரைப்படத்தை தமிழக ஜமாஅத்தே இஸ்லாமி ஹிந்த் தலைவர் ஏ. ஷப்பீர் அஹ்மத் கடுமையாகக் கண்டித்துள்ளார்.

 ஏ. ஷப்பீர் அஹ்மத் வெளியிட்டுள்ள பத்திரிகை அறிக்கை பின்வருமாறு:  

உலகம் முழுவதும் கோடிக்கணக்கான முஸ்லிம்களால் உயிரினும் மேலாய் மதிக்கப்படுகின்ற ஒப்பற்ற தலைவர்தாம் அண்ணல் நபிகளார்(ஸல்) என்பது எல்லோரும் அறிந்த ஒன்று. இது தெரிந்த நிலையிலும் அமெரிக்க படத் தயாரிப்-பாளர் அண்ணல் நபிகளாரை இழிவுபடுத்துகின்ற விதத்தில் கேடுகெட்ட படத்தைத் தயாரித்திருக்கின்றார். இது அவருடைய தீய நோக்கத்தை வெளிப்படுத்துகின்றது என்றும் ஷப்பீர் அஹ்மத் தெரிவித்தார்.

இந்த கேடுகெட்ட படத்தைத் தயாரித்த தயாரிப்பாளர் மீதும் அவருக்குத் துணை நின்ற பிறர் மீதும் அவருக்குப் பின்புலத்தில் இயங்குகின்றவர்கள் மீதும் கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கும் படியும் படத்தயாரிப்பில் ஈடுபட்ட அனைவரையும் கைது செய்து சிறையில் அடைக்கும்படியும் அவர் அமெரிக்க அரசாங்கத்தைக் கேட்டுக்-கொண்டார்.

இந்தக் கேடுகெட்ட படம் இணையத்தின் ஊடே காட்டுத் தீ போல் பரவி மக்களின் உணர்வுகளைக் கிளர்ந்தெழச் செய்து பெரும் பாதிப்பை ஏற்படுத்து-வதற்குள்ளாக இதனை வெளியிட்டுள்ள இணையத்தளங்கள் அனைத்தையும் முடக்கிவிடுமாறு ஜமாஅத் தலைவர் இந்திய அரசைக் கேட்டுக்கொண்டுள்ளார். நாட்டில் சமூக நல்லிணக்கம் செழித்தோங்குவதற்கு அரசின் இந்த நடவடிக்கை பெரிதும் துணை நிற்கும் என்றும் அவர் கருத்து தெரிவித்தார்.

அது மட்டுமல்லாமல் இந்தக் கேடுகெட்ட படத்தை முற்றாக, முழுவதுமாகத் தடை செய்யும்படியும் அவர் இந்திய அரசைக் கேட்டுக்கொண்டுள்ளார். இந்த விஷயத்தில் தக்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கும்படி ஒன்றுபட்டு ஒருமித்த குரலில் விண்ணப்பிக்குமாறு அவர் நாட்டின் அனைத்துத் தரப்பு மக்களையும் சமூக ஆர்வலர்களையும் அமைதியை விரும்புகின்ற நல்லுள்ளங்களையும் கேட்டுக் கொண்டுள்ளார்.

இந்தக் கேடுகெட்ட படத்திற்கு எதிராக அமைதியான முறையில் உலகம் முழுவதும் எதிர்ப்பும் கண்டனமும் தெரிவித்து வருகின்ற உலக முஸ்லிம்களை அவர் பாராட்டினார். லிபியா உள்ளிட்ட சில இடங்களில் நடந்த சிற்சில வன் நிகழ்வுகளைத் தவிர்த்துவிட்டுப் பார்த்தால் உலகம் முழுவதும் அமைதியான முறையில்தான் ஆர்ப்பாட்டங்களும் கண்டன ஊர்வலங்களும் நடந்துள்ளன. அமைதியான முறையில் எதிர்ப்பைத் தெரிவிக்கின்ற தங்களின் இந்த வழிமுறை-யைத் தொடருமாறு அவர் முஸ்லிம்களைக் கேட்டுக்கொண்டார். அதே சமயம் அண்ணல் நபிகளாரின் ஆளுமையை உலக மக்களுக்கு அறிமுகப்படுத்த வேண்டிய அவசியத்தையும் அவர் வலியுறுத்தினார்.

More. Here

Women Visiting Graves

For a good understanding of the Sunnah, it is important to reconcile sahih (authentic) hadiths that appear contradictory in that, at first glance, their textual meanings are at variance. It is necessary to combine some of them with others, and place each in its correct place, so that they harmonize and do not differ, so that they complement and do not contradict. We do not do so for weakly supported texts except as a voluntary service or act where there is no requirement or duty to do that.

For example, the hadith of Abu Hurayrah: "God's Messenger condemned women visitors to the graves". Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Ibn Majah narrated it, also al-Tirmidhi who called in hasan and sahih, and Ibn Hibban narrated it in his Sahih. Supporting that is what has come in other hadiths prohibiting women following funeral processions, from the import of which is derived the prohibition of women visiting the graves.

In opposition to these hadiths, there are others from which one understands the permissibility for women, as for men, of visiting graves. Among them is his (peace be upon him) saying: "I had forbidden you to visit graves, but [now I say] visit them." [Hakim]"Visit the graves, for indeed they remind of death." [Muslim] Women are included in the general permission to visit graves, and in the need of everyone to be reminded of death. Also among these hadiths is what Muslim narrated (and al-Nasai and Ibn Hanbal) from Aishah. She asked: "How shall I address them? (she meant 'when I visit the graves'). He said: 'Say: Peace be upon the people of the homes of the believers and the Muslims; and God have mercy on the early-comers among us and the late-comers. And indeed we, if God wills, are catching up with you.'" Another example is what the two Shaikhs (Bukhari and Muslim) have narrated from Anas, that "the Prophet passed by a woman weeping at a grave. So he said: 'Fear God and be patient.'..." Now, he forbade her anxiety, but he did not forbid her visiting the grave. Another example is narrated by al-Hakim from Fatimah, the daughter of God's Messenger, that she used to visit the grave of her uncle, Hamzah, every Friday, and she prayed and wept near it.

Moreover, these hadiths demonstrating the permissibility of women visiting graves are more sahih and more common than the hadiths demonstrating the prohibition of it. So combining and reconciling them is possible, in this way: one can interpret the 'condemnation' mentioned in the hadith as warning against wailing, and the like which may apply to both men and women. If reconciling two (or more) hadiths contradictory in outward sense is not possible, then one may resort to preference between them.

Compiled From:
"Approaching the Sunnah: Comprehension & Controversy" - Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, pp. 113-116

Honoring Orphans

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Make the orphan come close to you, and be nice to him, and wipe his head, and feed him from your food. That will cause your heart to be soft, and your needs to be fulfilled." [al-Tabarani]

Also Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “The most loved homes to God, Al-Mighty & Sublime, are homes in which the orphan is honored.”

According to Islamic law (shari’ah), Muslims have a responsibility to show benevolence and care for orphans.  Orphans according to the Islamic definition are those children, who are left with no protection from their fathers due to death.  Traditionally in the history of humanity, men have been the maintainers of their families not only monetarily but also in providing physical protection.  In this context, orphans are vulnerable and need aid and protection from the community even if their mothers are still living.

God says in the Qur’an (2:83):

[and be good] to the orphans and the very poor, speak kindly to men, make prayer, and give in charity.

In the sense that the key posture toward orphans should be kindness, orphans belong to the entire community, and everyone takes responsibility for their welfare. Perhaps this can be attributed to a deep spiritual morality that demands Muslims be charitable toward less fortunate others, but the state of being an orphan takes on an even more profound meaning in the Islamic religion.

Relating to Neighbours

Neighbours have rights, be they Muslims or non-Muslims. The Prophet of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "He is not a true Believer who eats his fill while his neighbour is hungry." (Bayhaqi.)

Thus, the quality of our Din (Faith) and fate in the Akhira (Hereafter) will also be determined by how well we fulfill your obligations towards our neighbours. In a hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, a man said:

"O Messenger of Allah, such and such woman has a reputation for engaging very much in Prayers, Fasting and Almsgiving, but she hurts her neighbours with her tongue quite often." He said, "She will go to Hell." Then he said, "O Messenger of Allah, such and such woman engages in only a little Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving and gives just a few pieces of cheese in charity, but she does not hurt her neighbours with her tongue." He said, "She will go to Paradise." (Ahmad, Bayhaqi.)

One class of neighbours is our relatives. Another class are those who are not our relatives and the third class of neighbours are those who sit with us, even for a few minutes. This third class of neighbours is a very wide group and includes those who sit by our side. If we are travelling in a taxi, bus, train or aeroplane the person who is sitting by our side is our neighbour. If we are in the office, our co-worker is our neighbour. If we are at school, our classmate is our neighbour. The Prophet gave a comprehensive account of our duties towards our neighbours when requested to do so by one of his Companions:

If he asks for a loan, you should give him a loan; if he wants your help, you should help him; if he be sick, you should go to see him; if he be needy you should try to fulfill his need; if he gets good news, you should congratulate him; if any calamity befalls him, it is your duty to console him; if he dies, you should attend his funeral; you should not raise your walls to such a height that they obstruct the ventilation of your neighbour's house, even if he is willing; do not tantalise your neighbour with the smell of your delicious food unless you send a portion of it to him; if you bring fruit into your house then send some to your neighbour; otherwise, keep it hidden from your neighbour, and you should also be careful that your children do not take some out, else the children of your neighbour may feel disappointed. (Tabarani)

Compiled From:
In the Early Hours" - Khurram Murad, p.125

Five deeds to heaven

Abu Dhar, states: 'I asked the Messenger of God [may God bless him and grant him peace] how the servant is delivered from the fire.' and he answered, 'By faith in God.'

'O Messenger of God, is there no deed with faith?'

He Answered, 'That you give in charity what God has put in your possession' - or 'That you give in charity what God has provided you with.'

'O Messenger of God, what if a person is poor and finds nothing to give?'

He said, 'Then let him enjoin justice and forbid wrongdoing.'

'And what if he is unable to enjoin justice and forbid wrongdoing?'

'Then let him assist some simple-minded person.'

'O Messenger of God, what if whatever he did would not help?'

'Then let him assist someone who has been wronged.'

'O Messenger of God, what if he were too weak and unable to help someone who has been wronged?'

'Do you not wish to leave your friend any good? Then let him restrain himself from harming others.'

'O Messenger of God, do you mean that someone will enter Heaven for doing thus?'

He replied, 'Anyone who manages but one of the things I have described will be taken by the hand into Heaven.'

[Bayhaqi, Suhuab al-Iman]

Compiled From:
"The Invocation of God" - Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, p. 37

Justness

The Prophet, peace be upon him, held one of his Companions, called Abu Lubabah, in great esteem, so much so that he had left him in charge of Medina when he had left for the first Badr expedition. Some time later, a young orphan came to Muhammad to complain that Abu Lubabah had taken from him a palm tree that had long been his. The Prophet summoned Abu Lubabah and asked him to explain. Investigations showed that the palm tree did belong to Abu Lubabah, and the Prophet judged in the latter's favour, greatly disappointing the young orphan. Muhammad privately asked Abu Lubabah, justice having now been rendered, to give the tree to the young orphan, for whom it was so important. Abu Lubabah adamantly refused: he had gone to such lengths to assert his right of ownership that to concede to this request was inconceivable. This obsession veiled his heart and compassion. Revelation was to recall, on both the individual and collective levels, the singular nature of the spiritual elevation that makes it possible to reach beyond the consciousness of justice, that demands right, to the excellence of the heart, that offers forgiveness or gives people more than their due: "God commands justice and excellence." [Quran 16:90]

It was not a question of giving up one's right (and Abu Lubabah had been justified in requiring it to be acknowledged); rather, it involved learning to sometimes reach beyond, for the sake of those reasons of the heart that teach the mind to forgive, to let go, and to give from oneself and from one's belongings, moved by shared humanity or love. The Prophet was saddened by the reaction of his Companion, whom he held in great esteem: he realized that Abu Lubabah's almost blind attachment to one of Islam's recommendations, justice, prevented him from reaching the superior level of justness of the heart: excellence, generosity, giving. Eventually, another Companion, Thabit ibn Dahdanah, who had witnessed the scene, offered Abu Lubabah an entire orchard in exchange for that single palm tree, which he then gave away to the young orphan. Muhammad rejoiced at that outcome and did not resent Abu Lubabah's attitude. He later entrusted Abu Lubabah with other missions.

Compiled From:
"In The Footsteps of The Prophet" - Tariq Ramadan, p. 133

Things are not always as they seem

Things are not always as they seem. Let us analyse this statement from an Islamic perspective.

Noah started making his ark in a desert. His friends made fun of him saying, ‘where is water?’ ‘Are you going to sail the ship in the desert?’ He had to tolerate their taunting remarks. Who won ultimately?

Musa’s mother threw her infant son in the river. Did he die?

Yusuf’s jealous and scheming brothers threw him in a well. Was that the end of Yusuf?

Ibrahim was thrown in the fire. Did the fire harm him?

When Imran’s wife delivered the baby-girl – Maryam, she regretted for not having delivered a baby boy. Was she right? Is not Maryam one among the four great women of the world? Did she not become the blessed mother of Prophet Isa!

When Musa left Egypt along with Bani Israeel, he lost his way in the cover of darkness and had to face Red Sea, and no way to ‘escape’! Who realised that very moment that the apparent danger to Musa and his followers would turn out to be the end of the mighty Phir’oun!

Abrahah, the Christian governor, left Yemen with a huge army of men and elephants, with the evil intention of demolishing Ka’bah. Did he achieve success?

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions left everything behind in Makkah and migrated to Madinah. Was it an acceptance of his ‘defeat’ at the hands of the pagan Arabs?

At the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah, the companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) were greatly upset because the Prophet agreed to all the terms of the Treaty dictated by the enemies of Truth and the terms were seemingly unfavourable to the Muslims. What happened later?

Abu Jandal was crying as he was captured during the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah and the enemies had put chains around him. He screamed: Help! Help!! None helped. It appeared as if the Prophet was pushing his companion into the jaws of death. Who had the last laugh?

Many such situations are found in the stories of the past nations. The start of the situation might indicate the end would be unpleasing. But if you read the complete story, you will realise that Allah has a plan which brings out a fruitful result.

At times in our life we are faced with certain difficulties, it might seem that it is a punishment being given out but it actually turns out to be a blessing from Allah. Our duty is to stay patient and realize that He is the All-Knowing! Patience, courage, and determination can be gained by reading the numerous inspiring stories mentioned in the Qur’an and Hadeeth.

Let’s have a brief explanation to the three incidents quoted above.

Prophet Nuh faced taunting remarks from his nation. But he did not become discouraged. He kept on following the orders of Allah. He and his followers were saved from Allah’s punishment. As for the disbelievers among his nation, they were punished because of their arrogance. We learn from his story the importance of following the orders of Allah, making Him our priority, ignoring the pressure put by those who have a blindfold on their eyes!

Musa’s mother had faith in Allah, which gave her the courage to put her new born baby in a river. As a result Allah kept her baby safe and returned him to his mother. He also granted her son Prophethood. It is very difficult for a mother to give up her baby. Who could dare to put one’s baby in a river? But this mother did that. Her deep faith in Allah made it easier for her to accept Allah’s decision.

After Yusuf was thrown in the well by his brothers it seemed he would not have survived. But the result turned out to be different. He was afraid but then he recalled his father’s love and affection. Yusuf prayed to Allah for help. He was not afraid anymore. This incident instilled in him patience and courage.

Yunus was swallowed by a fish, Musa was puzzled at the acts of Khizer, Ja’far ibn Abi Talib had to confront Negus, Ali ibn Abi Talib had to sleep on the bed of the Prophet, risking his life on the night of migration, Prophet Muhammad had to surrender to Allah’s will while he lost his sons and consequently had to face the taunting remarks of the Quraysh calling him ‘Abtar’!

Yet look at how they turned out for them in the end. So don’t despair!
Have patience especially during difficult times. Patience is a virtue and if conquered, its fruit will be sweet.

Remember after every difficulty there is ease. Allah does not want to hurt his beloved servants. All hard times teach a lesson or two. It makes one courageous to survive in the world. It teaches one to be fearless of everything except of Allah.

Muqeet in his best. Here

Ten principles of the Prophet of Islam

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the most successful man in the entire human history. Being the last Prophet of Islam, he not only set a good example for the whole mankind but also showed to them how to achieve success in this world. Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, a prominent Islamic scholar, has identified 10 successful principles taught by the Prophet.


“By studying the life of the Prophet we can derive those important principles of success,” he wrote in an article. “To begin from the possible” is one of those principles. The Prophet’s wife Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her) has explained this principle through a Hadith in which she said: “Whenever the Prophet had to choose between two options, he always opted for the easier one” (Al-Bukhari). To choose the easiest option means to begin from the possible, and one who begins from the possible will surely reach his goal.

To see advantage in disadvantage was the Prophet’s second important principle, says Khan. In the early days of Makkah, there were many problems and difficulties. But a verse in the Qur’an, “With every hardship there is ease, with every hardship there is ease,” (94:5-6) inspired Muslims. They learned from the verse that if there are some problems, there are also opportunities at the same time. “And the way to success is to ignore the problems and avail the opportunities,” Khan points out.

Changing the place of action was another principle, which is derived from the Hijrah. According to Khan, Hijrah was not just a migration from Makkah to Madinah but was a strategic move by the Prophet to find a more suitable place for Islamic work.

“Make a friend out of an enemy” was the fourth principle, which the Prophet learned from the Qur’an, which enjoined upon him the return of good for evil. The Qur’an then added, “You will see your direst enemy has become your closest friend” (41:34). “It means that a good deed in return for a bad deed has a conquering effect over your enemies,” Khan wrote in his article.

After the Battle of Badr, about 70 of the unbelievers were taken as prisoners of war and many of them were educated people. The Prophet announced that if any one of them would teach 10 Muslim children how to read and write he would be freed. This was the first school in the history of Islam in which all the students were Muslims and all the teachers were from the enemy rank. Here comes the fifth principle: Wring success out of failure.

The power of peace is stronger than the power of violence is the sixth principle. When Makkah was conquered, all of the Prophet’s direst opponents were brought before him. They were war criminals, in every sense of the word. But the Prophet did not order to kill them. He simply said: “Go, you are free.” The result of this kind behavior was miraculous. Most of them embraced Islam.

No to dichotomous thinking was another principle of the Prophet. “In the famous Muta battle, Khaled bin Waleed decided to withdraw Muslim forces from the battlefield because he discovered that the enemy was disproportionately outnumbered. When the Muslim forces reached Madinah, some commented “O Furrar” (deserters). The Prophet said “No. They are Kurrar” (men of advancement).” Those Madinah Muslims, who commented wrongly about their forces, were thinking dichotomously, either fighting or retreating. The Prophet said no. There is also a third option, and that is to avoid war and find a time to strengthen yourself to make a powerful comeback. History tells us that the Muslims, after three years of preparation, advanced toward Rome and won a resounding victory.

To bring the battle in one’s own favorable field was the Prophet’s eighth principle. Before the Hudaibiyya Treaty the unbelievers were determined to engage Muslims in fighting, because obviously they were in an advantageous position. But the Prophet, by accepting their conditions unilaterally, entered into a pact. It was a 10-year peace treaty. Until then, the meeting ground between Muslims and non-Muslims had been on the battlefield. Now the area of conflict became that of ideological debate. “Within two years, Islam emerged as victorious because of the simple reason of its ideological superiority,” the scholar said.

Gradualism instead of radicalism was the ninth principle, which is well-established by a Hadith reported by Al-Bukhari. Ayesha says that the first verses of the Qur’an were related mostly to heaven and hell. And then after a long time when the people’s hearts had softened, the specific commands to desist from adultery and drinking were revealed in the Qur’an. “This is a clear proof that for social changes, Islam advocates the evolutionary method, rather than the revolutionary method,” Khan explained.

To be pragmatic in controversial matters was another of the Prophet’s important principles, he said. During the writing of the Hudaibiyya Treaty, the Prophet dictated these words: “This is from Muhammad, the Messenger of God.” The Quraysh raised their objections over these words. The Prophet promptly changed the word and ordered to write simply Muhammad son of Abdullah. This pragmatic approach adopted by the Prophet brought peace and prosperity for Muslims and accelerated the propagation of Islam.

In Arab News. Here