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Friday, December 3, 2010

Br Hamid Hussain is no more!

Hamid Hussain is seated here next to Ameer-e-Jamaat

Janab Syed Hamid Hussain is no more. Inna lillahi va inna ilaihi rajiwoon. 
He passed away in the wee hours of Friday morning in Bangalore after a brief illness. 

Janab Hamid Hussain Sahib (60) was suffering from cardiac complications and had been admitted to Acura Nursing Home in Bangalore three days ago. He is believed to have suffered multiple cardiac arrests and was also a diabetic. 


Hamid Sahib is a native of Sindhanoor in Raichur district and has been an active worker of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind since his college days. An MA graduate, Hamid Sahib also served as the first secretary of Students Islamic Organisation of India in Karnataka in 1982 and subsequently joined Jamaat and served it in various capacities.

He has been functioning as a state office bearer of the Jamaat since 1988. Except for a brief period, when he was the Muavin Ameer-e-Halqa, Hamid Sahib has served as the secretary of the Karnataka and Goa division of the JIH during the tenure of Maulana Mahmood  Ahmed Khan, Maulana Iqbal Mulla, Marhoom Ibrahim Sayeed Sahib and the present incumbent Br Abdullah Javed.

He has alwas been soft-spoken, dedicated and low-profile activist of the organization and had also attended the All India conference of Jamaat members in Delhi last month.
He had also visited Mangalore just a week ago on some organizational work. He is survived by wife, three sons and two daughters.  

A galaxy of Jamaat leaders, including Abdullah Javed Sahib have grieved his death and expressed condolences to his family.
I first met him in 1990 in JIH Karnataka state office. Since then I have met him seven or eight times on various occasions. Each and every time he used to hug me wholeheartedly and show his affection. He was from the first generation of the Tahreek. He is very very soft spoken.  I met him in Delhi Ijtema-e-arkan in Delhi. We stayed in New Markaz Building and Janab M P Basheer Ahmed Sahib was incharge of it. And the gentle, gentle and very gentle Syed Hamid Hussain Sahib was assisting him. His smiling face still lingers in my mind. May Allah shower His blessings upon him and bestow him a place in Jannah.

More here and  here 
And read Abdullah Javeed's inspiring piece on Marhoom Hamid Hussain Sahib in Zindginau. Here

Saturday, October 23, 2010

The world is looking for you!


The world is not looking for servants,—there are plenty of these,—but for masters, men who form their purposes and then carry them out, let the consequences be what they may.
-Woodrow Wilson
Ya rab Dil -e- Muslim ku woh zinda tamanna de
Jo Qalb ku garma de aur ruh ku tadpa de
-Allama Iqbal
On one occasion, when Aurangzeb (1618-1707), the last great Mughal emperor of India had just completed his prayers he again raised his hands in supplication, his eyes filling with tears. In this state he continued to pray in silence for a very long time.

All the while, his minister stood by his side.

When the emperor’s supplications finally came to an end, the minister, Sadullah addressed him thus “Your Majesty, the flag of your empire can be seen flying everywhere, right from Kashmir to the Deccan. Is there still some wish in your heart which has been left unfulfilled and because of which you are so grief-stricken?”

Aurangzeb remained silent for a while, then, his voice changed with emotion, he replied, Sadullah, marde khwaham.” (Sadullah, I need a man.)

Aurangzeb’s plan of action lacked nothing, and he had all the resources necessary for good government. Yet he failed to consolidate the Mughal rule, because he had no worthy successors to shoulder this responsibility.

If Aurangzeb had a team of true, sincere people, the course of history after his reign would have been very different from what it was, and what we see it as today.

The mission of Islam means searching among the crowd - among the multitudes who are loquacious in the name of God, for a man whom fear of God has left speechless.

Amongst those who are in pursuit of the world, it is looking for one who has stopped dead in his tracks for the sake of the Hereafter. Amongst those who revel in the name of God, it seeks those who are fighting for God’s cause. Amongst those who are bent on settling accounts with others, it awaits those souls who know how to reckon with themselves.

Such are the people of whom Islam has the greatest need. It is through such people, and such people alone, that Islam will once again be able to resume its position of intellectual ascendancy and political supremacy.
- Moulana Wahiduddin Khan

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Deve Gowda, Allama Iqbal and a photo

 

Here in this photo an overly reverential party worker does not hesitate to show Janata Dal (Secular) national president H.D. Deve Gowda‘s his diving skills at a meeting of the party in Chikamagalur on Tuesday.

Allama Iqbal said:

Yeh ek sajda jise tu giraan samajtha hai!
hazaar sajde se deta hai aadmi ku najaat
You find it very labourious to submit and surrender before God
It will liberate you from thousands of prostration
Those who do not fear God, fear EVERYBODY AND EVERYTHING. Those who fear God alone. fear nothing. They don’t have the need to bow before other humanbeings.

Cross posted in Luthfispace.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Do not ask....

 
N Ataullah Bhai sent me this gem of piece. The rough translation of it is as follows: 
"Always pray to God to bestow what is good for you. Do not ask something you like. It is quite possible that the thing which you deserve and rightfully yours is much much bigger than the thing which you like to have."
"உங்களுக்கு விருப்பமானதை அல்லாஹ்விடம் இறைஞ்சாதீர்கள். "எனக்கு நன்மையானதையே அருள்வாயாக" என்றே எப்போதும் அல்லாஹ்விடம் பிரார்த்தியுங்கள். உங்களுக்கு உரித்தானதை விட உங்களுக்கு விருப்பமான பொருள் மிக மிகச் சிறியதாக இருப்பதற்கு வாய்ப்பு இருக்கிறது."
Jazakallah, Ataullah Bhai.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind launches multi-lingual Dawah website


Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has launched a multi-lingual and multi purpose dawah website. It is full of videos of speeches, events and presentations. They have categorised in four groups viz Quran, General, Issues and Prophet Muhammad(Pbuh). The contents are in the languages Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Telugu, Malayalam, Urdu and English.

In a simple ceremony the Naib Ameer of the Jamaat Moulana Muhammad Jaffer Sahib inaugurated the website today in Indian Law Institute in New Delhi. Moulana Muhammad Iqbal Mulla Sahib welcomed the gathering and expressed his hope that this site fulfill a big demand in the world of internet. The chief guest of the evening Mr Zafar Islam Khan editor Milli Gazette highlighted the trends in the field of mass communications and lamented the negligent role being played by the Muslims in the field. He also gave useful tips to the organisors of the website.

Br Yavar Rahman and Br Absar ul Huq explained the various features of the website. In the end Br Jaleel Asghar proposed a vote of thanks.

UPDATES

Moulana Muhammad Jaffer Sahib in his presidential speech said, "What we see today is that the media is hell bent on playing a negative role. The media strives to scuttle the rise of Islam in all possible ways. This is the trend everywhere in the world. But, contrary to the expectations of the media persons Islam is spreading fast everywhere. The constitution of our nation has given each and every citizen the right to profess, practise and preach any religion of his choice. Each and every citizen has been given the right to express his views. But it does not mean that one has the right to indulge in slander against other community or persons employing sacrilegious and uncivilized methods. If you do not agree with others, you have freedom to express your views in a possitive way." The revered Moulana also stressed, "Today the media has grown leaps and bounds. All these technological advancements should be utilised in the cause of Islam"

To visit the site click here

Lessons to be learnt from the success stories of Janab C Abdul Hakeem Sahib and Moulana M A Jameel Ahmed Sahib


"Our forefathers like Mr. C. Abdul Hakeem Sahib who were not so much educated have done a lot for the educational upliftment of not only Muslims but also non-Muslims. But, unfortunately it is not the case with us – the present generation who are well educated and at the helm of affairs– in comparison with them, of course with some exceptions. It is our duty to recapture their spirit and zeal for the betterment of the community and country," said P. K. Shabbir Ahmed in a function organized by The Tamil Nadu Chapter of the Federation of Muslim Educational Institutions in India (FEMEII) held in Chennai.

When I read these words in a report of the event by V M Khaleelur Rahman in Two Circles I was pleasantly surprised. I have been contemplating in similar lines for the past few years. Especially after the demise of Moulana M. A. Jameel Ahmed, the General Secretary of Islamic Foundation Trust (IFT). Moulana Jameel Sahib too was not a graduate or to put in the words of P K Shabbir Sahib 'not so much educated'. But with his hardwork, vision and foresight he achieved much more than the brothers who have taken his mantle now. In terms of achievements and accomplishments his successors with higher educational qualifications and those at the helm of affairs stand miles and miles behind Moulana M A Jameel Ahmed Sahib.

Why is it so? What made Janab C Abdul Hakeem Sahib and Moulana M A Jameel Sahib click? Is it because 'old is gold'? We have to find an answer. Perhaps the answer lies in the following words of Allama Iqbal:
Kabhi aey, Naujawan Muslim! taddabur bhi kiya tu ney?
Wo kya gardon tha tu jis ka hai ik toota hua tara
Tujhey uss qaum nay pala hai aaghosh-e-mohabbat main
Kuchal dala tha jis nay paon main taaj-e-sir-e-dara
(Meanings: Taddabur = To think; Gardon = Sky (Simile, group of Prophet (PBUH) and his companions here); Qaum = Nation (Muslims here); Aaghosh-e-Mohabbat = Caring protection; Kuchal = Trample; Taj-e-sir-e-dara = Royal crown)
Janab P K Shabbir Ahmed is the most sober person I have ever met. He is cool, calm and committed activist with a mission. He is the moving spirit behind Organisation of Muslim Educational Institutions and Associations of Tamil Nadu OMEIT for the past few decades. He is a man of few words. But when he choses to talk he delivers words of wisdom.

Photo of P. K. Shabbir Ahmed : courtesy : Ko Shafee Ahmed

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Dr Abdullah (Periyar Dasan) in Dubai

 
Dr Abdullah reading அண்ணல் நபிகளார் வாழ்வினிலே.. a book published by IFT
Photo courtesy : The New Indian Express

The following is the preface to a thought provoking interview of Professor Periyar Abdullah (former Periyar Dasan). It was published in Sathya margam website. Br Jameel the UAE representative of Sathymargam and Br Ashraf have done a commendable job. The intervies is good, pleasing and thought provoking. Still, there is a feeling that yearns for something more. yeh dil mange more! The personality of Dr Abdullah is like that. You could not get satisfied. you yearn for more. Read the interview here

“என்ன … இப்புடி திடீர்னு …?”
தன் நண்பர்கள் சிலரின் வினாவுக்கு அண்மையில் உரியவராகிப் போனவர்.
நாடறிந்த நாத்திகர்; நாவன்மை மிக்கவர்; படைத்த கடவுளைப் பாரெங்கும் சுற்றி மறுத்து நின்றவர்; தத்துவ இயல் கற்றவர்-கற்பிக்கின்ற பேராசிரியரா இவர்? என வியக்க வைக்கும் எளிய தோற்றம்; இனிய பேச்சு; பேச்சினூடே இயல்பாக இழையோடும் நகைச்சுவை – முனைவர் அப்துல்லாஹ் எனும் முன்னாள் பெரியார்தாசன்.
இவர் இஸ்லாத்தைத் தம் வாழ்வியல் நெறியாக ஏற்றுக் கொண்டதைப் பற்றி, பெரியார் திராவிடர் கழகத்தின் இணைய தளத்தில் கடந்த 01.04.2010 நாளிட்டு, ஒரு கட்டுரை வெளியாகி இருந்தது. தலைப்பு : தோழர் பெரியார்தாசனின் கொள்கை மாற்றம்.அதே கட்டுரை, அதே தலைப்புடன் கீற்று இணைய இதழில் இருநாட்கள் கழித்து 03.04.2010இல் வெளிவந்திருந்தது.
அதில், “இப்போது பெரியார் சிந்தனைப் பள்ளியிலிருந்து தன்னை விடுவித்துக் கொண்டு, ஒரு மதவாதியாகத் தன்னை அடையாளப்படுத்திக் கொண்டிருப்பதால், பெரியார் இயக்கத் தோழர்கள் சிலர் நம்முடைய பெரியார்தாசன், இப்படிப் போய் விட்டாரே என்று ஆதங்கப் பட்டார்கள். அவரது கடந்த கால வரலாறுகளை உன்னிப்பாகக் கவனித்தவர்களுக்கு, இதில் வியப்பு ஏதும் இருக்காது” என்று பழைய பெரியார்தாசனை ‘உன்னிப்பாக’க் கவனித்து வந்த, ‘பெரியாரிஸ்ட்’ ஒருவர் குறிப்பிட்டிருந்தார்.
அந்தக் கட்டுரையில் குறிப்பிட்டிருந்தவற்றுள்,
  1. ஆத்திகராக இருந்து, தம் கவிதையைப் படிப்பதற்காகவே, ‘பெரியார்தாசன்’ ஆக மாறியது.
  2. பொதுவுடமைக்காரரான செஞ்சட்டை பஞ்சாட்சரம் நடத்தி வந்த, ‘பெரியார் சமதர்ம இயக்கம்’ எனும் அமைப்பில் சேர்ந்து கம்யூனிஸ்டாக மாறியது.
  3. புத்த மார்க்கத்தில் போய் சேர்ந்து கொண்டு, ‘சித்தார்த்தன்’ ஆக மாறியது.
  4. ‘தமிழ்ச் சான்றோர் பேரவை’ எனும் அமைப்பில் இருந்தபோது, ஆதி சங்கரரின் தத்துவத்தைப் புகழ்ந்து ‘நந்தன்’ இதழில் எழுதியது.
  5. தொலைக்காட்சியில் வெளியான தன்னம்பிக்கைக் கருத்தரங்கில் ‘கல்ராசி’ பற்றிப் பரப்புரை செய்தது.
  6. பெரியாரும் சிங்காரவேலரும் இணைந்து தொடங்கிய, ‘தமிழ்நாடு சுயமரியாதை சமதர்மக் கட்சி’யைத் தத்தெடுத்துக் கொண்டு, அதன் தலைவராக அறிவித்துக் கொண்டது.
  7. மேற்கண்ட எல்லாவற்றையும் துறந்து விட்டு, இப்போது இஸ்லாத்தை ஏற்றுக் கொண்டு முஸ்லிம் ஆக மாறிவிட்டிருப்பது.
ஆகிய ஏழு குற்றச்சாட்டுகளுக்கு அவரிடமே விளக்கம் கேட்பதற்கு ஒரு வாய்ப்புக் கிட்டியது.
கடந்த 07.05.2010இல் ஐக்கிய அரபு அமீரகங்களின் வணிகநகரான துபையில் நடைபெற்ற ‘பன்னாட்டு இஸ்லாமிய இலக்கியக் கழக’த்தின் அமீரக்கிளை அறிமுக விழாவில் ‘பெரியார்தாசன்’ என்று அறியப்பட்ட முனைவர் அப்துல்லாஹ் சிறப்புரையாற்றுவார் என்று குறிப்பிடப்பட்ட அழைப்பு வடிவில் அந்த அரிய வாய்ப்பு வந்தது.
அந்த நிகழ்வை ஏற்பாடு செய்திருந்த ஆட்சிமன்றக் குழுவின் துணைத் தலைவரும் அமீரகத் தமிழர்களின் அன்பரும் சமூக ஆர்வலருமான அன்புத் தம்பி குத்தாலம் அஷரஃப் அவர்களைத் தொடர்பு கொண்டு, “சத்தியமார்க்கம்.காம் தளத்துக்காக முனைவரோடு ஒரு பத்துநிமிட நேர்காணலுக்கு ஏற்பாடு செய்யமுடியுமா?” என்று கேட்டபோது, “இன்ஷா அல்லாஹ்” என்றார்.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

What is annoying me more is the growing influence of western culture, says Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind


There is a saying that 'Out of sight, out of mind'. That is why visiting each other, meeting friends is necessary to sustain friendship and relations. 

You meet a lot of people with varied backgrounds and tastes. Years pass by and you forget them. But sometimes you maintain a sweet memory of a long lost friend without meeting him for years together. Then one fine morning when you get a pleasing news about a long lost friend, how would you feel? Elated? Excited? Jubilant? Delighted? 

I felt so when I received an email with an interview given by Moulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari. It was sent by Br N. Ataullah. I was elated when I read the name of the interviewer. The words 'by Sharfuddin B.S, Kuwait.' glittered in RED.

Memories of meeting this brother lingered in my mind. I met him in Chennai then Madras at IIFSO meet twenty three years ago. We visited the Chennai Book fair. He was searching a book titled 'A Caravan of dreams' written by Idhris Shah. We had tea and butter biscuits in a restaurent. When we were waiting for tea, he did a startling act. He pulled a cigarette from a pack and started smoking. The poise, sityle, and the confidence with which he smoked was cahrming. Nowadays nobody smokes in SIO circle. We talked of current affairs. I don't remember the details. 

I have never met him again. But I have been following him over the years. Br Abdus Salam puttege was one of his friends who used to visit Chennai for printing Kannada Translation of Quran. Once Moulana M. A. Jameel Ahmed narrated an incident involving Br Sharfuddin Banagal (B is for Banagal). It was of a magnificent lecture delivered by Br Sharfuddin on Seerah at a non-Muslim gathering. I remember the joy with which Moulana M. A. Jameel Ahmed mentioned this incident. Br Sharfuddin was attached with Sanmarga kannada weekly. He was the Sub-Editor there. I preserved his visiting card for many years. Years later when I became sub-Editor of Samarasam Tamil Fortnightly I made my visiting card in a similar design. 

I could not meet him again. Twenty three years have passed. Now when I saw his write-up and photo with the Ameer-e-Jamaat, I was.... Oh! leave it yaar. Over to the interview.

Moulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari, a prominent Islamic Scholar acclaimed for his great works in Urdu Islamic literature, also leads Jamat-e –Islami Hind, as its All India President. Besides being an Islamic scholar, Moulana Jalaluddin, a septuagenarian leader has thorough comprehension of national and international issues that differentiates him from traditional Moulavis. He is bestowed with knowledge of a scholar, charisma of a leader, vision of a visionary, deliberations of a thinker and above all thorough comprehension of current affairs.   He was in Kuwait as a guest of ministry of Awkaf and Islamic Affairs and participated in IMA Youth Wing’s one-day conference organized under the patronage of Ministry of Awkaf and Islamic Affairs.

Here are the excerpts from his of interview with him taken at Le Meridian Hotel, Kuwait.


While India’s GDP is growing through economic reforms, why is the Jamaat opposing globalization and liberalization? Are you against progress ?
We are not against progress or any kind of development activities in India. However, we are against two things. Firstly, influence of western and particularly American culture to Indian society, which is being imported along with globalization and liberalization. Secondly, we oppose the scenario where benefits of development are reaped by very minute percentage i.e. 5% urban elite in India and fruits of development are not reaching the entire population. Even among the cities, only some cities are benefiting from the developments. You cannot see the glitters of development in cities like Patna and Kolkata, what you may see in Delhi and Mumbai.  The so-called development may bring glitter to only some cities. However in villages, which constitute majority of Indian geography, no influence of progress is noticed. Even today, it is sad to state that, in spite of big claims about progress and development more than 30% of people in India are living below poverty line. When we claim about higher growth rate of GDP, we forget that we are counting the common man along with TATAs, Birlas and Ambanis, and calculating the average. We support progress, which is directed towards the steady development of entire population of India.

More annoying is, the growing influence of western culture in India. As a result, extra marital sex and premarital sex in no more a taboo in our country among younger generation and doctors are now advocating safe sex rather than advising to refrain from such practices. When we talk about economic progress, we should not forget that this progress has brought enormous contrasts in our society. Several people are deprived of two meals per day, where as many million rupees are spent on fast food by urban elite. In many of our villages, people are deprived of clothing where as millions of rupees are being spent for cosmetics. Some are living in big bungalows while many cannot afford humble huts for themselves.  We are against this kind of contrasts in our society but not against progress. While west is suffering from the drawbacks of their own culture, we are welcoming it in our society without knowing the consequences.  If food, shelter and clothing are guaranteed to majority of the populace, we will whole-heartedly support such progress.

Can you outline how central and state governments have responded to Sachar Committee report ?
Sachar committee report is a big eye-opener for all, which reveals the truth that despite the hue and cry about Muslim appeasement, Muslims are among the most deprived communities in India. The report confirms that they are more backward than OBCs in many areas.  The government was bound to accept this fact since ‘Sachar Committee’ is a government appointed body. If such a committee would have been appointed by any other independent organization or a Muslim organization, the government would have probably rejected the report. Sachar committee report enumerates detailed data and irrefutable proofs explaining the status of Muslims in various fields in different states.

There was another report called ‘Ranganath Mishra’ commission report, which unfortunately was not tabled by the government in the parliament. This report also reveals similar facts identified by Sachar Committee report.  Muslims are demanding that the recommendations of Sachar Committee and Mishra Commission report have to be implemented.  According to government’s official statistics, Muslims constitute 14% of the population. Though actual percentage of Muslims is obviously much higher than government statistics, Muslims need to secure minimum and appropriate share of 14% in all aspects of life such as education and representation in legislative assemblies.  According to Mishra Commission report minorities should get 15% reservations in employment and education, out of which 10% reservation should be given to Muslims owing to their pathetic condition in India. Furthermore, the commission also recommends that if there is any leftover quota from the remaining 5% unutilized by other minorities, it also needs to be given to Muslims.

All major Muslim organizations including Jamate Islami Hind, Jamiatul Ulema Hind and Majlis Mushawarat unanimously demand that the recommendations of  the Sachar Committee and Mishra commission  reports have to be implemented.  However, government is lending a deaf ear to the plea of Muslims. Ironically, central government and none of the state governments have taken any step forward to implement Sachar committee recommendations. The BJP led state governments have rejected these recommendations saying that these are attempts to appease Muslims. Meanwhile state governments led by so-called secular parties also has not done anything to implement it other than rendering some lip services. In West Bengal, a state where Muslims are severely deprived, the government has announced that it will give 10% reservations to Muslims. Since assembly elections of West Bengal are round the corner, it is difficult to judge if the government is sincere in its announcement or if it is just an election gimmick. In West Bengal, where Muslims constitute almost 27% population, the  government now accepts that they have committed a mistake by sidelining Muslims during the  long span of communist rule in the state. Other than announcement in the wake of upcoming assembly elections, no practical steps have been taken to implement the report.   However, Andhra Pradesh government has announced 4% reservation to Muslims and in Karnataka there is some kind of reservation existing from the beginning. In Kerala, government has formed a committee to study the implementation of recommendations of Sachar Committee report. Apart from this, practical steps towards implementation of the Sachar committee and Mishra commission reports are not being seen anywhere in India.

How did Muslims themselves respond to the Sachar Committee report to do something for the community at non-governmental level ?
As far as Muslim organizations are concerned, all Muslims organizations have welcomed sachar committee report and are pressurizing the government to implement its recommendations.  However, there are no collective efforts from the Muslim organization towards implementation of Sachar and Mishra commission report. Muslim organizations are expressing their views through their own separate platforms. Needless to say, the Muslim organizations had been striving for the betterment of Muslims even before the submission of Sachar Committee report. Jamate Islami Hind also has established many schools, colleges and hospitals in different parts of India. It has also served employment generation. Many other Muslim organizations have also contributed toward the upliftment of the community. In Hyderabad for example Salahudddin Owasi has established many schools, colleges and contributed towards social work. Jamiatul Ulema Hind has established many Arabic Madraras and colleges. Vision 2016 is also part of the Jamat’s activities towards upliftment of the society in general, and Muslims in particular. Sachar committee report has reconfirmed the importance of such activities. Muslim community in India is a huge community and all these efforts rendered by Muslims are just small efforts compared to the size of the community and magnitude of the challenges they are facing. Muslim organizations joined together cannot produce the same thing what a concerned and responsible government can produce.
  
From reports, we understand that recently many innocent Muslim youth are targeted in the name of war on terror. What you say about this situation ?
American policy of war on terror initiated by erstwhile US government has influenced many countries including our own country. Thus, it is true that Muslims particularly many innocent Muslim youth were targeted in the name of war on terror. An atmosphere is created through media stereotypes where if any terrorist activities is reported, Muslims are blamed at the outset, without finding out the real culprits.  However during the recent past there have been several instances in India where many activists from non-Muslim outfits have been arrested for terrorist activities, with cases registered against them, and some of them are even behind the bars.  This has brought a slight change in the trend of out rightly blaming Muslims for any untoward incidents without finding the real culprits.
 
Reports about attacks against churches, moral policing by anti social elements and atmosphere of hatred show that communal elements are growing in India. What you think about this situation ?

It is true that there are communal elements in India and there are continued efforts by anti social elements to spread communalism. However, it is not true that communalism has grown much higher than ever. There were no major communal riots in India after the Gurjart riots, which is still famed as the biggest communal riot in India post partition. Previously Bihar was considered as a communally sensitive area. Bihar now is a riot free state, though there is poverty, corruption and many other problems which can be capitalized by anti social elements. During the rule of Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar there were no communal riots in Bihar. Earlier during the rule of congress, communal riots were common in Bihar. In Uttar Pradesh as well, which is again considered as the most sensitive state, there was no major communal riots reported in the recent past even during the rule of BJP, which was followed by the rule of Mulayam Singh and Mayawati. Recently there were some communal riots in Hyderabad. However, it did not spread to other parts of the state, unlike Gujarat riots which soon spread to the entire state. This does not mean that you can have a sigh of relief that communalism has faded away from India. Efforts are needed to promote the atmosphere of understanding and tolerance and communal elements need to be defeated.  Peace is a basic need of human beings, which is also an inevitable need of progress. Jamat and other organizations can only wish and advocate peace. However, government has more power to ensure and establish peace.
 
You have mentioned about Gujart riots. Do you think Narendra Modi, who is termed as architect of Gujarat riots will be convicted by the court ?
As you know, there are several cases against Narendar Modi and justice will take its own course. We do not have any other sources to know about the status of his case other than media. The Supreme Court of India has given many impartial judgments in the past, which strengthen one’s belief in judiciary. In any democracy, the Court is the final door to knock for seeking justice. Hence, one has to wait and see what happens.

What you think about women’s reservation bill presented recently by the ruling party ?
Women reservation bill is not beneficial to minorities, particularly Muslims. Majority of the Muslim organizations opposed this bill including Jamaate Islami Hind. Moreover, all other small and big political parties are against this bill except the Congress and the Communist party. BJP is has adopted a middle path in this regard. If this bill is passed, it will be a gateway to the so-called upper cast elites to strengthen their political might. Their women folk will also reach the parliament alongside their men. Women folks of backward communities are already less in number in politics. This bill is in no way beneficial to any backward communities. Muslim organizations including Jamaat e Islami Hind feel that a separate quota for Muslims and other backward communities has to be fixed in the women’s reservation. Otherwise, women’s reservation bill in its current form only serves the interests of the upper cast elite. According to Lalu Prasad Yadav, a political strongman with proven track record, “even we cannot reach parliament if this bill is implemented”. Jamate Islami Hind has visited many national level political leaders to express its dissatisfaction regarding the bill and we feel that many parties think on similar lines.

Is there any preparation by JIH to launch a political Party ?
Jamat Islami Hindi is an organization with a mission and we have no intension to become a political party. The Jamaat has its own area of work and has a long way to go. However, in the current political scenario of our country, the Jamaat feels that there is a need of a political party, which pursues value-based politics and serves the interests of the weaker sections.   Hence, Jamaat will support any movement to establish such a political party, which particularly addresses common problems of weaker sections in India, including Muslims.  The Jamaat will support such a party and feels that time is ripe for its establishment. Educational upliftment, employment generation, eradication of communal riots, over all social development could be some of its agenda.
 
Can you brief about the Vision 2016 project initiated by JIH ?
Through Vision 2016,  Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has initiated so many social service activities towards the betterment of downtrodden people, Muslims in particular, in areas where they are living under pathetic conditions. Many schools have been established in many parts of India. In Delhi, we have undertaken a big project of hospital construction. Scholarship programs for talented poor children have also been initiated. Interest free loans and monetary support are being given to many people to generate their own means of income and to come out of the clutches of poverty.
Through Vision 2016 project, relief activities have been initiated at a larger scale compared to our customary relief activities, towards people affected from natural calamities and riots. We also support marriage needs of poor families.  However, the outcome of entire project cannot be anticipated soon. It is like giving education to a child. Outcome of the education is apparent when the boy grows up, secures his own job and social status. It is a long process and any social change cannot be anticipated within a short time. You may have to wait for 10-15 years to see at least some better consequences of the project.
We are doing social service activities from the beginning, much before the presentation of Sachar Committee report. However vision 2016 is much focused and a large-scale project compared to the previous social service activities of JIH.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Shah Faisal is the third Muslim to lead the UPSC list


Shah Faesal is the first Kashmiri to top the UPSC list. But he is not the first Muslim to do so as claimed by this blog. Dr Adil pointed out this error. I did some research and came out with the following details.
In 1987 Br Aamir Subhani of Bihar created history when he became the IAS Topper. Before him another Brother to top the list is Br Javed Usmani. He must have achieved this feat in 1978. He has served the Aligarh Muslim University as Registrar and had been posted as Joint Secretary in PMO and was instrumental in getting the Sachar Report on minorities in place. Probably he is serving in the World Bank in Washington too. Syed Shahabuddin, ex-Member of Parliament and, presently, the President of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, was the first Muslim from Bihar to get second rank in civil services exam in 1958. That was then the highest rank a Muslim got since Independence. Besides a sister from Bihar Shahla Nigar secured second rank in 2001. Jaza Kallah, Dr Adil bhai. As pointed out earlier, Br Abubaker Siddique of Tamil Nadu secured second rank in 1990's.

But the basic point to be noted is that the percentage of successful Muslim IAS canditates has remained hovering around 2% to 4%. This situation is very pathetic. We cannot remain content with the occasional sweet victories of a Shah Faesal here and a Aamir Usmani there. What we are losing by this insipid state of affairs has been summed up by the legendary Dr Syed Hamid with the following words:
The percentage of successful Muslim candidates over past 17 years has varied between 1.38 per cent and 3.72 per cent. For the first six years, on an average it is 1.75 per cent, and for subsequent 11 years, it works out to 2.87 per cent. There has thus been a slight improvement in results over the last decade but viewed against the 12 per cent Muslim share in the country’s population, these are unsatisfactory. The poor performance deprives the Muslim community of a sense of participation of governance and management of their country. They are in the process denied a role in the existing adventure of national reconstruction and development. Read More
An analysis of IAS results
The importance of IAS in the state structure of the country cannot be underrated. Politicians may come and go but bureaucrats are there forever. On account of its instinct for survival, its rigid posture and rugged resistance to change, it is rightly known as the ‘steel frame’ of the country. Policy decisions are credited to the politicians as legislators, but in practice they are formulated and finalized by bureaucrats, drawn mainly from IAS cadre. 
From Saeed Suhravardy's analysis in Milli Gazette. Read More

Muslim representation in Civil Services - An Analysis
According to Sachar Committee Report, the proportion of Muslim graduates, during 2004-05 was 3.4 per cent. Among the 'General Hindus' it was found to be 15.3 per cent, among 'SC/ST Hindus' it was 2.2 per cent, among 'OBC Hindus' it was 4.4 per cent and among 'other minorities' it was 8.9 per cent. In short, roughly 7.7 per cent of non Muslims were found to be graduates as against 3.4 per cent among Muslims. (Page 67, Sachar Committee Report)
We don’t have detailed data on the above social sections. However, one can broadly conclude that this 7.7 per cent of non-Muslim graduates could corner 96 per cent and 97.5 per cent of seats in the Civil Services Examination in the year 2009 and 2010 respectively, leaving 4 per cent and 2.5 per cent for Muslims in the respective years. That means the ratio of success among non-Muslim graduates was more than twelve times of the ratio of graduates among them, whereas, for the Muslims it was almost at par.
From M Naushad Ansari's analysis in Two circles. Read More.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Shah Faisal became the first Kashmiri to stand first in the Civil Services Main Exams

 Shah Faisal's relatives hug each other and celebrate the occasion. Photo courtesy : The Hindu

01 - 001 - 025085 - SHAH FAISAL
02 - 055 - 080334 - MOHAMMED YUSUF QURESHI
03 - 074 - 271879 - MOHD SHAHID ALAM
04 - 080 - 275973 - YUNUS
05 - 118 - 095813 - AHMED IQBAL
06 - 124 - 044701 - RAYEES MOHAMMAD BHAT
07 - 135 - 272377 - MD SADIQUE ALAM
08 - 144 - 124046 - ABID KHAN
09 - 209 - 090920 - ABU IMRAN
10 - 249 - 093001 - ASHIQUZZAMAN
11 - 256 - 340881 - SHOWKAT AHMAD PARRAY
12 - 28 - 161562 - TAMANNA ALAM
13 - 325 - 034418 - ANSARI SUHAIL M SHAFI
14 - 331 - 082815 - MOHAMMED YUSUF QURESHI
15 - 341 - 079028 - SEEMA DHANKER
16 - 36  - 005619 - MIR UMAIR NABI
17 - 40  - 011141 - DANISH ASHRAF
18 - 45  - 009107 - FARAZ AHMED QURESHI
19 - 556 - 042017 - RIZVI SARAH AFZAL AHMED
20 - 569 - 026098 - AHMED MUYEEN FAROOQI
21 - 608 - 007497 - DAULAT KUMAR
22 - 610 - 025085 - K ASIF HAFEEZ
23 - 741 - 109040 - RIZWAN AHMED

http://www.upsc.gov.in/

This is the list of Muslim Canditates who have passed with flying colours in the written part of Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2008 held by the Union Public Service Commission in October-November, 2008 and the interviews for Personality Test held in March-April, 2009, and who have been recommended for appointment to Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Police Service and Central Services, Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’. A total number of 875 candidates have been recommended for appointment including 399 General (including 21 Physically Challenged candidates), 273 Other Backward Classes(including 09 Physically Challenged candidates), 127 Scheduled Castes and 76 Scheduled Tribes candidates.
First of all let me congratulate them.

Hats off to Brother Doctor Shah Faisal who stands first among the successful canditates. All other twenty two brothers and sisters deserve congratulations.

Next, the details. The total number of canditates passed this year is 875. The total number of Muslim canditates is 23. ie 2.63%

Last year it was 4.04% The percentage of successful Muslim canditates continues to hover around 3% to 5% for the past 20 years.

Whenever the UPSC results are announced I analyse and scan the list to find out the Muslim names. I have been doing it for the past seventeen years. It never reached the three digits. It never reached fifty. I always end up frustrated, disappointed and disheartened.

Questions, piercing, penetrating, intimidating questions used to boggle my mind. They used to rob my peace of mind. To be honest, I could not find answers. I had shared the questions last year. You can read them here Now I think I have got the answers. It is Shah Faisal.

 Dr Shah Faisal beaming with joy. Photo courtesy : The Hindu

Dr Shah Faisal has made the big difference this year. Hats off to this young doctor who seems to be clear headed and self motivated. This is the first time a Kashmiri has topped the list. Some seventeen years back Abubacker Siddique of Tamil Nadu secured second rank. Two years back a Muslim girl stood among the top ten.

A couple of years back Moulvi Waseemur Rahman created history when he became the first Moulvi to join the IAS, IPS brigade. Read success stories of Muslim aspirants here and here

Read Sufiyah Farooqui tops the Muslim list!
Read  A poem, a girl and a success story
Read UPSC, Muslims and Jains

UPDATES:

"Faisal has made every Kashmiri proud with his hard work and dedication."


He comes from a remote village in Kupwara district of strife-torn Kashmir and studied in a village school. Eight years ago, his father was gunned down by militants. But Dr Shah Faisal, a 26-year-old MBBS, has fought the odds and won. On Thursday, Faisal became the first Kashmiri ever to top the civil services exam.

"I don't have words to express how I feel, I am not able to speak. I just wish I was with my family. I am just waiting to hug my mother," Faisal, who came to the capital before the results to "get away from the stress of waiting", told TOI.

''I miss my father most today. He used to dote on me and taught me English and maths when I studied in school," he says.

In Srinagar, his mother Mubeena Begum, thrilled beyond words, says, "Faisal has made every Kashmiri proud with his hard work and dedication."

Faisal, who did his MBBS from Srinagar's Sher-i-Kashmir Medical College, says he was confident of qualifying but never imagined he would be right on top. Among his inspirations, Faisal counts an IPS officer from his state. "I was inspired by one Abdul Gani Mir of my area in Kupwara, who passed his IPS in 1994. I have been in touch with him since 2007, when I thought of sitting for the civil services exams," he says. Gani is currently DIG, CID in Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Faisal's younger brother Shah Nawaz is also a doctor while his younger sister Talat Shah is a library assistant.

Read the full text of interview given by Shah Faisal in TOI :  "Faisal has made every Kashmiri proud with his hard work and dedication."

The phones have not stopped ringing!

The Kashmir Valley erupted in a spontaneous celebration on Thursday after the news.

Seen as recognition of the Kashmiri talent, Faisal is the first Kashmiri Muslim to top the All India Services.
As Faesal was in Delhi, his temporary residence in Srinagar and ancestral home in Sogam village suddenly found themselves thrust in the limelight.“We never imagined that Faisal would achieve such a thing. The phones have not stopped ringing,” said family friend Abdul Majid Pir.

Faisal's mother Mubeena, a government school teacher, is overwhelmed. After the death of Faisal's father, a respected teacher in the area, the family, including a sister and a brother, shifted to Srinagar. “He was disturbed, but he went ahead and was selected,” said Mubeena, tears of joy sparkling in her eyes. “I did not put any restrictions on him and whatever he wanted to do, he went ahead and did it,” said the proud mother.

However, the incident did not affect Faesal's resolve to achieve his goal. People from all walks of life visited Faesal's home to congratulate his family for a feat that has “made every Kashmiri proud.”
In Sogam, people celebrated by bursting crackers.

The last Kashmiri to have qualified for the IAS was Asghar Hassan Samoon. Faesal has entered the elite services after a gap of 16 years. Two more Kashmiris qualified for the Civil Services this year, while one entered the IPS last year.

Read the full report in The Hindu here 

I have chosen the Indian Administrative Service already

Transforming a hurdle into a moment of opportunity, Dr. Shah Faisal coped with personal tragedy to become the first from the Kashmiri province to top the Union Public Service Commission 2009 examinations.
The untimely death of his father in 2002 days before his Pre-Medical Test did not deter Dr. Faesal from clearing the test or from becoming the first candidate from Kashmir in several years to be selected to the Indian Administrative Service through open merit.
Dr.Faisal who turns 27 on May 17 was only 19 when he lost his father.
As friends, well-wishers and the media on Thursday thronged the Hamdard Study Circle premises here where the doctor took coaching for the Civil Services examination, Dr. Faisal said: “I had only two choices — to be bogged down or to stand up and face the challenge.”
A festive atmosphere prevailed as Dr. Faisal, attired in brown formals, articulated himself in well thought out and measured words, surrounded by people eager to shake hands with him and feed him sweets.
Asked why he chose not to pursue medicine, he said: “I felt that I could not have made a change by being at a hospital and wanted to work with the government.” Appearing resolved about which service he wanted to get into, Dr. Faisal said: “I have chosen the Indian Administrative Service already.”
He would like to serve from Kashmir, as he was familiar with the environment and had a vision for it. However, he would not mind serving in any part of the country.
To read the full report in The Hindu  Faisal becomes first Kashmiri to top UPSC list

I hope I have inspired more Kashmiris to sit for civils interview of Shah Faesal to Hindustan Times.

The achievement of Dr Shah Faesal could be understood by the following facts:
 Total number of canditates applied for UPSC this year : 4,09,110
The number of canditates sat for preliminary examination : 1,93,091
Number of persons qualified for the main written test : 12,026
Number of canditates shortlisted for personality test : 2,432
Number of persons qualified for appointment of IAS, IPS, IFS and other services : 875 (680 men and 125 women)
Thus Dr Shah Faesal could be definitely called as what they say in Tamil லட்சத்தில் ஒருவன்! or in Urdu 'Lakhon main Ek!'

Shah Faisal with Dr Syed Hamid.

Read Two circles.net report and Listen Shah Faisal too! Here.

Shah Faisal on Civil Services : "Make it a mission and never take it as a job"


All India topper at UPSC civil services exam Dr Shah Faisal said that the Muslims in India should not worry about what others say of them. Instead, they should work on their own for the upliftment of the community.
 
"There is no reason to get upset if someone doubts your Indianness because you are a Muslim. There is no need for a certificate from anybody that you are an Indian", Faisal, who hails from Kashmir, said at a felicitation function held at Anujman Islam in Mumbai last night.
 
The function was organized by the Federation of Minorities and supported by host of other Muslim NGOs. Faisal, who did his MBBS from Srinagars Sher-i-Kashmir Medical College is the first Kashmiri to top this examination. "Practise any religion in your home or society but outside, do not ever forget that you are an Indian and learn to respect people from other religions," he added.
 
He also reiterated his appeal to Muslim students to chose Civil Services as mission. "Muslim candidates should opt for civil services not as a job but as a mission",
 
Encouraging the gathering to accept the challenges, he said that Muslims instead of waiting for anyone, should work for their empowerment themselves. "No one will come to help you. It is you who need to stand up for the upliftment of the community", Faisal said. "In pursuit of your goal, you will find people who will trouble you because you belong to a particular religion, caste, region but if you have the capability, then nobody can stop you from overcoming these hurdles and reach your goal", Faisal added.
 
He attributed his success to the provision of equality for all enshrined in the Indian constitution. "Indian constitution provides for giving equal rights to everyone irrespective of caste, religion, region and my success in the UPSC exam is a result of that,"

Stating that there was no better country than India, Faisal said, "We create controversies over pity things like caste, religion, region and language."
     

From a report in Ummid.com More Here

"Nothing can match the post of a district collector", says M Abubacker Siddique


"I've broken the jinx" exulted Shah Faesal. One of the main reasons for this jinx is that Muslims do not appear in sufficient numbers for these examinations. Explaining why, Dr Syed Hamid says: “Apart from the small middle class, most other Muslims live in bastis where the din and dust would never let a student study in equanimity. Segregation has become so acute that I don’t see things changing very soon.”

But not everyone believes there is reason to despair. M. Abubacker Siddique, for one, is a delighted man today. Back in 1994, this HSC alumnus achieved the brilliant feat of securing the 2nd rank in the UPSC examinations, setting a record that has only now been broken by Faesal. The IAS officer, who is now the private secretary to Union home minister P. Chidambaram, says, “Finally someone has broken the record!” Giving a glimpse of the strong bonds that exist between the institute and its alumni, he says, “I still go back to HSC, and I was on a mock board that interviewed Shah Faesal. Faesal and I, we are the absolute evidence to show that the system is fair.”

As Siddique sees it, low recruitment of Muslims into the civil services is a matter of perception: “Any community needs to know that there is a good chance of getting through and doing well. Once you can see that happen, your numbers will start rising.” Creating more Siddiques and Faesals is clearly vital to changing perceptions, and in order to do so, Siddique says, HSC needs to widen the pool. He says that it should actually move away from the rigorous process of putting applicants through tests and introduce a canvassing system to find bright students and motivate them into giving the UPSC exams a shot. In order to do so, Siddique believes, what needs to be stressed is not the power echelons of New Delhi, but the power they will have to change things at the grassroots. “As an IAS officer, no post can give you more satisfaction than that of a district collector. You get to see things as they happen, and you get to intervene. Nothing can match that.”


From an article by Shreevatsa Nivetia on Hamdard Study Circle in Outlook. More than 165 Muslims have made it to Civil services through Hamdard Study Circle.
To Read More click here.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Aliens, Stephen Hawking and Islam..!

 Stephen Hawking Image courtesy : The Hindu 

Do aliens exist? They do, but humans should try to avoid any contact with them — at least, that's what one of the world's leading physicists, Stephen Hawking, claims.

The suggestions, that the extraterrestrials are almost certain to exist, come in a new documentary series for the Discovery channel, in which Dr. Hawking will set out his latest thinking on some of the universe's greatest mysteries.

Alien life, he will suggest, is almost certain to exist in many other parts of the universe — not just in planets, but perhaps in the centre of stars or even floating in interplanetary space, T he Sunday Times reported.

His logic on aliens is unusually simple. The universe, he points out, has 100 billion galaxies, each containing hundreds of millions of stars. In such a big place, Earth is unlikely to be the only planet where life has evolved.
“To my mathematical brain, the numbers alone make thinking about aliens perfectly rational. The real challenge is to work out what aliens might actually be like,” the 68-year-old was quoted as saying.
The answer, Dr. Hawking suggests, is that most of it will be the equivalent of microbes or simple animals — the sort of life that has dominated Earth for most of its history.

From a news report in The Hindu. To read the full news click here.

What does Quran say about aliens?
Quran says: ''Among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the living things, which He has scattered in both:"(42 : 29)

Moulana Moududi has this to say on the verse:  "In both": In both the earth and the heavens. This is a clear pointer to the fact that life does not only exist on the earth but on other planets as well.
 
and  veteran scholar Leopold Muhammad Asad says, "The word dabbah denotes any sentient, corporeal being capable of spontaneous movement; it is contrasted here with the non-corporeal, spiritual beings designated as angels (Asad, Muhammad. The Message of the Qur'an. England: Book Foundation, 2003, 449).
 
and Abdullah Yusuf Ali comments, "It is reasonable to suppose that Life in some form or another is scattered through some of the millions of heavenly bodies scattered through space." (Ali, Abdullah Yusuf, The Qur'an: Text, Translation and Commentary, Ad-Dar Al-`Arabiah, Beirut, 1938, 1314).
 
Allah o akber!
Allah knows the best.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Dr Israr Ahmed is no more!


Veteran Islamic scholar, world renowned orator Dr Israr Ahmed is no more! Inna lillahi....

He had a huge following throughout the world and he is known for his mesmerising, captivating and soul stirring discourses on Quran.

Listen to his discourse on a Hadhis here  the duration is just two minutes!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind to take legal action against Praveen Swami!

Praveen Swami
It is heartening to note that the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is contemplating legal action against Praveen Swami and India's national newspaper The Hindu.  


In a letter written to the Editor of The Hindu English daily, Jamaat’s media coordinator Dr. S Q R Ilyas has said, “If this policy of maligning Muslim Organisations especially Jamaat e Islami Hind is continued, we will be left with no other alternative but to seek legal remedy”.
Read more
Read  Compelled to confess that I hate Praveen Swami

Monday, April 12, 2010

Periyar Dasan's conversion to Islam: Why India's national newspaper is silent?

Dr Abdullah reading அண்ணல் நபிகளார் வாழ்வினிலே.. a book published by IFT
Photo courtesy : The New Indian Express

Periyar Dasan's conversion to Islam is the defining moment of the decade as far as the Muslim community of Tamil Nadu is concerned. The homecoming of Dr Periyar Abdullah has evoked widespread interest among the Tamil speaking world. This blog has witnessed more than Twelve thousand hits after it published news of his conversion to Islam. And a major chunk of them have landed here by searching for ''Periyar Dasan", 'Professor Periyar Dasan', "Periyar Dasan's conversion to Islam", "Is Periyar Dasan a Muslim?". They came from every corner of the world. It shows the enormous number of following that Dr Abdullah Sahib enjoys.

The New Indian Express is the first English newspaper of Tamil Nadu to cover the news. Kumudam published an interview which was very short, crisp and informative. Makkal UrimaiSamarasam and others too published detailed interviews. Curiously, the national newspaper of Tamil Nadu ie The Hindu is silent.

M Rafi Ahmed of Coimbatore writes in The New Indian Express:


He is to Tamil Nadu what noted author Kamala Das was to India. 
Both were towering personalities in their respective areas — he an atheist and scholar, she a popular author and poet. While Kamal Das became Kamala Suraiya after adopting Islam, atheist Periyar Dasan got converted to Islam and became Abdulla. 

So how did Dasan turn a believer?

“It all started in the new millennium when my teacher Janardhan of the Rao Bahadur Calavala Cunnan Chetty (RBCC) school at Perambur in Chennai expressed a desire to meet four of his old students — Narayanan (Kalki Bhagavan), Deivasigamani (Tamilaruvi Manian), Periyar Dasan and Sirajudeen — who were classmates right from Class I to XI. All of us, except Sirajudeen whose whereabouts weren’t known, met up with our teacher. On quizzing a couple of religious heads at a mosque, we found out that Sirajudeen was neck deep into spiritual work at Abu Dhabi.”

The friends were delighted that they had traced their classmate and soon Sirajudeen managed to converse with his teacher and his old classmates through tele-conferencing. It was indeed a joyous moment, the meeting opening up a cache of school memories.
Subsequently, Sirajudeen kept in touch with Periyar Dasan.

In 2004, Periyar Dasan got an opportunity to visit Dubai and that’s when the he met his old classmate Sirajudeen, face-to-face this time! The two bonded very well and met every day till it was time for Periyar Dasan to return to India. 
During one such meeting, Sirajudeen hugged him and said that his friend shouldn’t die a non-believer. 
Mere words but to Periyar Dasan, those were like veritable gems of wisdom. 

After all, hadn’t a few words spoken by the Buddha transformed Angulimala or the wise counsel given by Narada changed Valmiki?After that Dasan, persevered to read the Holy Quran and the history of Prophet Mohammed. 
It dawned on him then that life without religion was incomplete. He then realised that God is one and his vocabulary expanded to include words like Qayamat (Judgement Day) and Marumai (life after death).It was only a matter of time before Periyar Dasan became Dr Abdulla.

The well-known atheist went to Mecca to perform Umra and after that embraced Islam through a Dawa center in Saudi Arabia. 

Dr Abdulla said that he had pacified his wife and prayed that she should be his wife in the next life as well. “My wife has fallen in line with my religious belief. I have decided to name her Fathima and we would be performing our Umra soon. As for my two sons, they are under no compulsion to convert,” he said.

To read the full article, Buddy’s words turned Periyar Dasan into Dr Abdullah
Read Periyar Dasan turns Abdullah 
Read நாத்திகத்திலிருந்து இஸ்லாத்திருக்கு... Dr Abdullah's interview to Samarasam which is the best.
Read  Seshachalam to Periyar Dasan to Abdullah a fascinating story of transformation of a slave of Periyar to slave of Periyar!
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