From community to sects, sub-sects: Now a Shia TV Channel ?

QTV, now known as ARY

Just got to know that the Shia community in India is planning to start a television channel of its own. I am not very much impressed.

Already the cable-wallahs have little bandwidth to show fresh channels and given the fact that Shias are a minority within a minority it will be even difficult to get it viewd.

Except in Hyderabad, Lucknow and parts of Kashmir where else would peope able to force the cable-wallah to show it.

Meanwhile, I have yet to hear about any sub-sect launching its own channel. I mean I find Hindu channel, local small-time Jain religious channels, Christian channels but not of sub-sects. In fact, some Hindu religious channels show the programmes of Jains and Sikhs also.


It would be better if Q TV [now ARY] allots sometime to the Shia brothers as well. But I don't think any of the side would like it. This [Shia channel] is the plan of the recently floated All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB). 


The other day an elderly gentleman was telling me that how Q TV is 'corrupting' the Muslims in India with its Barelvi overdose [qawwalis and similar things that irritate this man who probably finds all this un-Islamic] though indulges in a hundred other 'bidah' himself.

But nobody wants reconciliation, everyone seems so rigid that only their personal interpretation and understanding of faith, sect or sub-sect is correct and the rest are all--astray. Long ago I had decided not to discuss and disssect religion and religious practices.

There is quote or saying that it is a great fallacy that talking out things help rather they aggravate. So let us have all sorts of religious TV channels representing all thoughts. I already watch none except Pogo [the kids' channel] and often the corrupting Fashion TV FTV.

The practice of Triple Talaq among Indian Muslims: Is Talaaq = Mazaaq?

Initially titled 'Talaq', but later released as Nikaah*

In Islam, marriage is a contract as per which a man has the right to divorce his wife in extreme situations.

Also, a woman can seek Khula'a and get out of the wedlock. But the abuse of the religious sanction of talaaq is aquiring bizarre proportions lately.

A man gave talaaq to his wife on cell phone, another just sent an SMS message with talaq written thrice in it and the third person uttered the word thrice either in a drunken state or in his sleep.

All these incidents were reported recently. In the last incident, it was the wife who sought the advice of neighbouring women for opinion and from there the news spread.

Despite the fact that even pronouncing talaaq thrice in one sitting should be counted as just one, the local residents insist the marriage is 'haraam' and the poor family is suffering and husband, wife living separately. Their kids are the worst sufferers.

When I was a teenager, I felt that the practice of talaaq is too much vilified by other communities. After all, it was also a facility. You had the option to get out of a bad marriage, if there is abuse or other issues. There was no bondage for entire life [or even afterlife].

But now I feel anguished at such abuse of a religious practice. So what should be done? The Ulema are silent at this blatant misuse of a 'right' or say option to separate. Should we expect something from umbrella organisations like AIMPLB that have 201 members belonging to all Muslim sects.

But they are silent. The demand for a law to stop the misuse should come from within the Muslims else it will be deemed a 'madakhlat' or intervention in Muslim affairs. Shouldn't Muslim society see the need and do something to ensure that the sacrosanct contract of marriage does not get so abused. 

It is a fact that the fear of triple talaaq hangs on the head of women like a sword. At least, it should be decided that triple talaq is one sitting be held as single pronouncement and the next pronouncements should come after the proper duration. [Though this is the way in several Muslim countries as per Shariat].

But we have not yet managed to get a consensus on this. More than media criticism or the sullying image of Muslims, one should genuinely feel concerned. And a system to adhere to the proper adehrence of the process to give talaaq is needed for the Muslim society as a whole.

Politicians aren't supposed to do that. Muslim intellectuals and leaders who are progressive are few and lose touch with the poor masses. We have given up on Ulema, some of whom are just happy getting Rajya Sabha seats like the Madani family that heads the influential Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind. Blogging and giving vent to our frustration wouldn't help.

I know a girl, who was married to a youth living in USA. The NRI came and married and returned alone with the promise of taking her later. However, he never took her. The girl's parents made umpteen pleas and sent messages but he stopped responing or taking calls.

He sent a written note of divorce one day as he had later married in US and had earlier come to India and married under his parental pressure. Now what is that? Such criminal carelessness with which talaaq is given must have shaken us but we don't seem perturbed, why?

Time for the Muslim society to stand up. Evolve a consensus and do something to stop this malpractice. Devise an internal mechanism and then approach government to get the needed changes in the Muslim Personal Law passed.

The Muslim society must decide whether they have to take the marriage seriously or at least in the name or observign religious tenets strictly. Redeem the institution of marriage. Otherwise it will be nothing but Mazaaq [Joke].

Read another post 'Triple Talaq And Deoband Turns into a Fatwa Factory' that was written much later on this blog.

[*The Salma Agha-starrer Nikaah was a Bollywood movie that had created awareness about the prevalence of the malpractice of triple talaq in Indian Muslim society. The BR Chopra movie had Raj Bbbar play the lead role.]

Nida Fazli's Urdu ghazal: Poetry praising the mother

NIDA FAZLI

Nida Fazli is a renowned Urdu poet and lyricist, who has penned numerous songs for Bollywood movies. I have written a separate post on this blog about Nida Fazli and his contribution to literature.


You can also read his verses in Urdu, Hindi and English scripts at the website BestGhazals.Net here. But right now, here is an emotional poem titled Maa.n [Mother]. 


I hope you would like it. 



Besan ki sondhi roti pe khatti chatni jaisee maaN
Yaad aati hai chauka besan phukni jaisi maaN

Baan ki khurri khaat ke oopar har aahat par kaan dhare
Aadhi soi aadhi jaagi thaki dopahri jaisi maaN

Chiriyon ki chahkar goonje Radha Mohan Ali Ali
Murghe ki aawaz se jagtee ghar ki kundi jaisi maaN

Beewi, beti, bahan, padosan thodi see sab mein
Din bhar ek rassi ke oopar chalti natni see maaN

Baant ke apna chehra matha aankhein jaane kahaN gayee
Phate purane ek album mein chanchal shokh ladki jaisi maaN

Nida Fazli


Read Nida Fazli's poetry at this link. 

Nothing 'Shahi' about the Imam or his conduct

'Shahi Imam' Ahmad Bukhari has embarrassed many of us with his conduct. Even if a journalist had made a comment, such verbal abuse coming out of Bukhari is unacceptable.

It was more upsetting as the unsavoury incident occurred near PM's office in front of the national media.

Just when it seemed that Bukhari was turning into a responsible person and the image of the Shahi Imam, as created by his father who did tremendous damage to Muslims through his 'fatwas' at the time of elections, was poised for a positive change, the ugly side came up.

I have seen journalists ask much tougher [and harsher] questions and people replying without getting angry. Journalists [representing society] speak for the people and thus often make the public figures [including politicans] uncomfortable.

But Bukhari and his supporters rather than keeping silent or just ignoring the question, instead went after the journalist in an uncivilised manner. Time to stop calling him Shahi Imam. There is no such post and nothing regal or royal about him. Imams in all mosques are equal and respectable because they lead prayers and that's all.

And now Bukhari says that he will float a political party.What a joke! Does he have any idea of his influence. Parties may think that he has an influence. Even in the Jama Masjid area let alone Delhi, he does not have a strong following. I am sure except his household no body is going to vote for his candidates. 

If he stays mum, he will do lot good for Muslims in India.

RSS chief doesn't know, Indian Muslims respect Lord Rama, Lord Krishna and all major figures of Hinduism for ages

Now, RSS Chief Sudarshan has asked Muslims to give respect to Krishna and treat him as a paighambars [one among the messengers of God].

This is a strange wish. Firstly, all people must follow own religion and also respect others' religions.

No one should disrespect other religions and faiths. In fact, Islam teaches Muslims to never put down the holy figures of other religions.

I feel you need to know more about the culture of this country, which is too vast.

Any Hindu or Muslim should follow own religion and there is no need to interfere in others' faith.

Still, Muslims always treat Rama and Krishna respectfully. As a child my father always used to chide me if I said Krishna or Rama.

He always asked me to say Krishna Ji and Ramchandra Ji. Unlike just Rama or Krishna as many of my Hindu friends used to say.

This concept of 'waza-daari' and the mutual respect of culture was part of Oudh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and all over Northern India including Bengal.

KS Sudarshan may not be aware of it as he hails from a different region. It is not just cultural reason or because we are living in India among Hindus, but also as per our religious beliefs, our neighbours and other faiths' religious figures are not to be disrespected.

The Holy Quran says that Allah sent messengers to all lands, to all people and amongst all religions. How is it possible that  he didn't send them to India? Does RSS have an idea about the culture that existed for centuries in India.

In fact, Muslim poets used to write poetry praising Krishnaji and Hindus wrote 'na'at' in praise of Prophet Muhammad. This was not for sake of any social responsibility or show off. But for one's inner self, beliefs and the true feeling of respect towards the great and reverential figures. 

The right-wing fellows would never appreciate this because I dout they read Hasrat Mohani's verses or Mohsin Kakorvi's 'Simt kashi chala jaanib-e-mathura baadal...' which are in Urdu.

In India, many ordinary Hindus continue to observe Muharram despite the rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric. So what if you consider going to Dargah as a 'Muslim practice, Hindus continue to go to Sufi saints' graves, though even sections of Muslims now avoid going to mazaars. 

Hate never succeeds in real sense. The RSS has a huge cadre. They should try to reach out to Muslims. Why don't they go to Muslims, meet Muslims, increase the level of interaction with the minorities? Learn about Islam and Muslims with an open mind. 

This would be a real step towards integration. Those with right-wing allegiance-- Hindutva groups use harsh language for Islam. You talk about ghettoisation but ever raise voice about the fact that section of Jains and Gujarati Hindus [housing societies] stop Muslims from buying flat in their areas?