Why were Ahmadis killed in Lahore? 35 years of state persecution (part 1/3)

Why were Ahmadis killed in Lahore? 35 years of state persecution (part 3/3)

"A feminist nikahnama"

In the Name of Allah the Gracious, the Merciful.

In response to Rafia Zakaria's column published in Dawn.com it was imperative to have a response or a feedback from readers, since Dawn.com does not provide readers with comments on columns written in Dawn.

The article states the general situation Muslim women face during the negotiations of their marriage. It points to the fact that a girl / woman does not have a right to dictate her own terms and agreements and on the amount of Meher (a must paid dowry by groom to bride according to Islamic law). Instead, meaningless issues are discussed rather "long negotiations" are done on issues of wedding dress and numbers of guests.

Although this article is in response to a new delimma created by pseudo Islamic clerics whether a misyar marriage is legal in Islam. However, most of the pseudo Sunni clerics argue that Misyar Marriage is not a Sunni version of Sigeh or Muttah rather it is women's own choice to give up her rights to men. Man does not have to pay for woman's maintenance and it can be of his choice to whenever he can come and leave from her.

Similarly, Muttah or Sigeh marriage is a Shia version, whereas a temporary marriage where similar rights are given up and marriage can last for minutes to years, no maintenance required or followed up.

In other words, to by pass or shrug off the responsibilities that comes with marriage and are prescribed in the Holy Quran.

Although article has been written and stressed more on giving choice on women to negotiate her own terms of Meher, divorce and custody of children and in Ms. Zakaria's way would be an equality if someone wants to contract a Misyar or Sigeh/Muttah marriage.

Though well articulated but lacking actual substance and solutions to problems faced by Muslim women in general. Such issues arise in Muslim world when according to well known and recognized Hadith (sayings of the Prophe SAW) by most Muslim scholars, the hadith says, "There will nothing left of Islam but name and people will come to scholars to ask questions in matter of faith they will find Swine and Apes sitting instead..."

This sums up the situation which is Muslim world is facing by not accepting the true teachings of Islam as guided by the reformer of this age the Promised Messiah and the Mahdi Mriza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian.

Women's Status in Religion

In the Name of Allah the Gracious the Merciful

Women's status in society has been of oppressed, abused and neglected one in the history of mankind. In modern times grass roots feminist philosophy has risen to a point where every measure is judged through the yardstick of men vs women. It is unfortunate that this issue has been politicized so much that now we even argue on minute grammatical words as to why we say "mankind" and why not "womenkind" why we use "He" where we should include "He/She" to give equality to women. This absurd argument has taken to the extrems where if one does not incorporate to such norms and it just happened to be a male person he would be considered as "sexist".

Mankind (just to ensure to be grammatically correct not being "sexist" here) has evolutioned to 21st Century but we are still far behind in maturity of our minds. As a human being the purpose of our life is not to indulge in such petty arguments, rather it is, according to Islam (www.askislam.com), to make human beings spiritually strong enough that humans can reach and manifest God Almighty's different attributes to perfection. It is for this reason human beings were created. I chose Islam's version of life reason being other religious scriptures do not clearly identifies the purpose of life for human beings in this world on the other hand, Holy Quran, (www.alislam.org) does mention the purpose of creating human beings.

Coming back to Women's status in religion an article written by Mr. Nicholas Kristof in New York Times (http://bit.ly/65i0B9) has raised certain questions which I thought I would like to respond to his points which he pointed out in his article. Although I'm not a religious scholar, however, my analysis or understanding on religion is that a religion should never be made a scapegoat for crimes and inequalities perpetuated by people in the name of religion or Supremebeing i.e. Allah, God, Yehweh, Bhagwan etc. In Holy Quran as we read, "Say, Call upon Allah or call upon Rahman; by whichever name you call Him, His are the most beautiful names"(Ch.17 verse 111). In other words religion or God should never be blamed for human-beings shortcomings or perpetuated crimes and inequalities.

Islam is the only religion that has established the law of inheritance prior to Islam neither any religious scripture provided such law nor their was a custom/norm that women should inherit from their late husbands property or from their father's property. When Islam came into being people living in Arabia were uncivilized. In fact it was not only Arabia but at that time Romans and Iranian Empires who at that time thought to be 'civilized' nations did not have any formal law of inheritance. Women were captured or taken as one's property if a father dies and he left behind his wives the son would keep the ones he liked and others were either mistreated or given away for "donation" or a "trophy". The history of world is filled with such stories.

When Islam came it provided women with a higher status then before and secured the sanctity of a woman by making paradise lying in the feet of the mother for a child who would give respect and honor to his/her mother. Similarly, sanctity of a woman was secured by providing her the status of wife and Holy Quran says, "Men are garments for women and women are garments for men" which means that in a human civilization garments are used to hide indecent exposure as well as it is used for beautiful apperance. Similarly, husbands and wives are suppose to be enjyoing each others company as well as hiding each others weaknesses (see Holy Quran www.alislam.org).

Thus Islam provided women with status, dignity and respect which most of the cultures and religion did not practice to the standards of Islam. Compare to other religions as Mr. Kristof mentioned in his NY Times article, 'The New Testament quotes St. Paul (I Timothy 2) as saying that women “must be silent.” Deuteronomy declares that if a woman does not bleed on her wedding night, “the men of her town shall stone her to death.” An Orthodox Jewish prayer thanks God, “who hast not made me a woman.”' Islam does not discriminate women and in Holy Quran you will not find a single teaching that a woman must be silent, nor you will find a prayer thanking God for "not making me a woman" (see www.alislam.org).

Demonizing peaceful religion of Islam

In the name of Allah the Gracious the Merciful

After watching and then reading Franklin Graham's interview with CNN's anchorperson Campbell Brown, it

seems very obvious that Christian Clergy is out to demonize Islam with slightest chance they get. Franklin Brown and reverends like him whose earnings are based on Islam bashing will be jobless and will die in hunger and in miserable conditions if they do not earn their bread and butter by falsely accusing a peaceful religion and sowing the seeds of hatred among peace loving and liberal American people.

Although if it had only been for "earning" cheap publicity and securing "job security" in this tough economic

conditions for Mr. Graham and the likes of him, most of people would be careless for what they have to say. However, such accusations and spreading hatred against Islam is equivalent to terrorism and destroying the peace of our great country of United States for a true Muslim like me who practice or at least try to practice Islam in its pristine form has its first duty to be loyal to its country i.e. Long Live USA and expose such elements in society who are not only destroying the peace of this country but also of the world by every now and then issuing flammable and blatant lies. It is our duty to shun such bigots and thier bigotry otherwise peace is not achievable.

I think President Obama's statement that war is necessary to promote peace and at times there is no choice

goes true and we should be aware that a war with debate and reasoning should be waged against all extremist people be a christian or a Muslim.

Having said this I'll come back to peaceful Islamic teachings where in Holy Quran which is a Law giving book of

Islam states, "There should be no compulsion in religion. Surely, right has become distinct from wrong; so whosoever refuses to be led by those who transgress and believes in Allah, has surely grasped a strong handle which knows no breaking. And Allah is All Hearing-All Knowing" (2:257).

After reading this in chapter two of Holy Quran if someone who is out of his mind transgress why one should blame Islam for that matter? Only people with prejudice will blame Islam and its teaching and those who keep prejudice have no merits to stand for any office or be a leader of any denomination or beliefs as such people only lead people astray. Let me make one thing clear that such are peaceful teachings of Islam that no one fears to leave Islam once they join it. Utopian thinking and living in fools paradise certainly makes one lost its rationale but please do not try to fool 300 million rational people of United States.

Unfortunately religious clergy has let people to war and blame is gone to God / Allah and His given religion. Similar is the case in so called Islamic countries where religious clergy has hijacked a peaceful religion and blend it with their personal vested interests and re-brand it as "Islam" where teachings of Islam are far remote to their interpretations.

It is even sad to see people who tend to be reputable hold prejudice against Islam without even trying to learn or know about Islam. Their experience is only a first hand experience of a culture which is different from theirs and they ignorantly takes it as a religion. It is important specially in these times to we should act responsibly and try to promote peace, otherwise we are going to run into a big trouble where we cannot find ourselves out from it.

Islamophobia, Economic Crisis and Extremism

In the name of Allah the Gracious the Merciful

I call "Islamphobia" or "Islamophobia" not sure if these terms have previously been used or not but the fact remains there is a bitter hatred and unnecessary fear against a peaceful religion of Islam. If I may say Islam is the most misunderstood and most innocent of religions in modern times.

It is misunderstood by its followers who have no knowledge about their own religion rather they rely on pseudo Islamic scholars who themselves have never practiced Islam in its pristine form. Their interpretations of Islamic laws and their interpretations of the practice of the great Holy Prophet of Islam Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) reflects that these so called Islamic scholars and jurors who readily issues Fatwa ( or religious decree) neither have merits nor authority to lead Muslims or become the defenders of Islam.

These Islamic scholars not only have misunderstood their own religion but also misunderstood the practice of the Holy Prophet Muhammad(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his companions who upheld true teachings of Islam and professed and practiced as a true Muslim should have.

Islamphobia's credit goes partly to these bigot Mullas who intentionally or unintentionally destroying Islamic world with their ill interpretations of sacred, pious and peaceful teachings of Islam.

Islamophobia's credit partly also goes to the media pundits and the so called human rights and democratic champions who call themselves as modern civilized nations of the West. The prejudice carried in the West against Islam proves that such a peaceful religion wherein it allows its followers to ensure absolute justice be it your kith and kin and wherein it says 'there is no compulsion in religion'; is unfortunately misunderstood only to prejudice nor to education nor lack of awareness.

The combination of the two antagonists has caused numerous sufferings to innocent civilians around the world, whether in the name of routing out extremism (havenots) or in the name of attacking the occupying forces (haves). Billions of dollars have been spent and are being spending to protect the "innocent civilians" but ultimately the innocent civilians are the ones bearing the brunt at the hands of these two groups.

People in the US do want security and so do the people of the rest of the world including countries like Pakistan. The cost is ultimately being paid by the tax payers of these countries.