T Azeez Luthfullah

Then I vowed to write more and more and more!!

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:20:00 +0000

I had a hectic day yesterday.

Attended the unit presidents and circle incharges of Chennai and delivered a power point presentation on 'Planning, communication and people for plans"

It was a satisfying day and spent well. But, it ended with a sad note.

I would not forget the evening for days to come. At the end of the day Ameer-e-Halqa pointed out a basic flaw in my article published in the latest issue of Samarasam.

Oh! It was horrible. It never occured to me that those lines could be interpreted in 'that' way too. I realised the power of pen then. I had no intention of writing such stuff. What I thought was it would open the eyes of the people and expose the hypocrecy of the Western leaders. It never occured to me that it would end up the other way.

Anyhow What could I do?

Then I came across the following lines.

Don't be afraid to fail. Don't waste energy trying to cover up failure. Learn from your failures and go on to the next challenge. It's OK to fail. If you're not failing, you're not growing.

I felt comfortable. I prayed to Allah. I vowed to give sadaqa. I vowed to write more. Write more and more and more correct, and perfect and flawless articles. Insha Allah.
Pray for me.

Shut down Sach ka Saamna!!

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:04:00 +0000

It is most idiotic, outrageous, blatantly vulgar TV programme ever telecasted in India.
The promos to the programme scream "Waqt aagaya hai Sachaayi ka agnipariksha dene ka"
If the purpose is to highlight the truth, nobody would oppose it.
But what this nonsense programme wants to unveil is not truth, but vulgarity.

The format of the programme goes like this. There is this Rajeev Khandelwal, a failed actor from Bollywood. An actor without a single hit is a flopped actor. He is the anchor of the show. No wonder the Three Khans of the Bollywood should have rejected the chance as the programme lacks respect of the Indian sensibilities.

This failed actor asks questions to the participant. The questions are very, very, very personal, sexy and vulgar.

The participant answers them and then he undergoes the polygraph test to guage whether he has spoken the truth or not. If it is true, he could face the next question. And the cycle of vulgar question, answer, polygraph test and result goes on.

A cash award is awarded at each and every step. One go on winning and go upto Rs One Crore.

God damn such programmes. God damn such participants.

The questions go like this:
* Have you ever stolen bedsheets from a hotel?
* Have you ever had physical relationships with female relatives?

A woman was asked in the presence of her husband whether she would have physical contact with another person. Though she said no, the polygraph test said the answer was wrong.

Star plus people are commercial minded people. All they want is money, money, and money. Money would pour only when the TRP ratings go up.

Boycott this channel.
Boycott this programme.
Condemn this nonsense.

Tail piece :
An appeal to Rajeev Khandewal and his bosses.

If at all your thirst to know the truth is genuine, I have a suggestion to you.

Bring Narendra Modi and make him sit in the hot seat. Ask him the gory details of Gujarat Genocide 2002. And put him under polygraph test.

Bring Manmohan Singh and tie him in the hot seat. Ask him the details of his meeting with George Bush. Ask him the real reason behind the sacking of petroleum Minister Manishankar Aiyar. Ask him whether India - US Deal is helpful to India or not? Then put him under the polygraph test.

Bring the luv purush(?!) L K Advani and hold him tight in the hot seat. Ask him whether he was happy when the Babri Masjid in 1992? Ask him whether he clapped his hands when innocent Muslims were butchered in Gujarat in 2002? Ask him whether he was sincere when he wrote those lines about Jinnah? Ask him. Ask him. Then put him under the polygraph test.

The nation would adore you.

Conference fever grips the state!!

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:34:00 +0000

The Tamilnadu Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has planned to hold its state conferene in Trichy on 30th and 31st of January 2010, Insha Allah.

The ground work has already started. The cadre of the Jamaat has plunged into the conference activities and the state machinery has been fixed in top gear.

A thirteen member committee with the undisputable I Kareemullah as convenor has been set up. The committee works in war footing. It has so far conducted more than a dozen brain storming sessions.

The cadre is affected with the conference fever and the work is in full swing.

The mood of the cadre is upbeat and each and every one is eagerly anticipating the dawn of the historic Saturday ie 30th January 2010. It was evident in the cadre convention held in Coimbatore, last Sunday. More than 350 diehard activists connected with the tahreek attended this historic meet. At the end of the day when the Amee-e-Halqa asked the cadre, ''Tell me the number of the delegates which you plan to bring to Trichy?" The cadre thundered, ''More than 2500" When asked the lady Islamists politely said, "Not less than five thousand!"
That's it. The spirit of the lady karkuns say it all.

Amidst this scenario, the state chief of JIH Tamil Nadu has written a open letter to the cadre motivating them to work indefatiguably. He has put forward seven point agenda before the cadre.
They are as follows: 1) Have Ikhlas in all your endeavours. 2) Have faith in the theme of the conference. 3) Build strong rapport with Allah 4) Strive to cultivate good public relations. Reach out to the public with the message of the conference 5) Beautify you character. Moral strength is the main thing. 6) Make Hijrath from laziness to hard work. Make Hijrah from ignorance to knowledge.Shun away the shortcomings. Embrace virtues. 7) Compete with each other in conference activities.
And lastly he has urged the cadre to wage Jihad against nafs.
The gif images of the original letter written in Tamil are given below. Click the image to enlarge it and read.

இது தான் ஜமாத்தே இஸ்லாமி ஹிந்த்!!

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:51:00 +0000

Markazi Majlis-e-Numaindgaan is the top most governing body of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. It comprises of 120 members. It elects the Ameer-e-Jamaat - all India President - of the Jamaat. Usually it meets once in two years. It is the most powerful body of Jamaat. It is the one which elects Markazi Majlis-e-Shoora - Central consultative council. It has the power to suspend and dismiss the Ameer-e-Jamaat and the Majlis-e-Shoora.
Recently the Majlis had its session in Bangalore. Moulana Parvaz Rahmani, who is also the editor of Dawat sehroza attended it. As he has been elected to the Majlis for the first it was his first experience. Being a writer and that too a writer par excellence, he has penned his first hand experience in a short article.
It was a marvellous piece. As usual I translated it in Tamil and shared it with my friends. I have titled it as இது தான் ஜமாத்தே இஸ்லாமி ஹிந்த்!! Yehi hai Jamaat-e-Islami Hind!! To read it click the gif image below.

Mutton, eggs and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind!!!

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:08:00 +0000

Once there was a sheep in a dusty town.
It was living happily in its own world.

One day an hen came jogging towards the sheep.

The following conversation took place between them:
"Hi! May Peace be upon you"
"Hi! May Peace be upon you"
"How do you do?"
"I am fine by the grace of Allah! How do you do?"
Soon they became close friends.

One day the clever hen proposed an idea.
As it was a brilliant idea, the sheep concurred with the hen.
What was the idea?
The hen had said: "We have become close friends. Why not we start a hotel?"
The sheep sheepishly agreed to the proposal and they started the ground work to start the hotel.
One day the sheep asked the hen: "What would be the name of our proposed hotel?"
The hen said cooly: "I have already thought it out. The name of our future hotel would be MUTTON And EGGS!!"
The sheep was very clever. He immediately understood the game. He withdrew from the hotel project saying,"While I would be committed, you would be merely involved"

This is the story often told to highlight the difference between commitment and involvement.
In Islam and Islamic movement like Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, commitment to the cause is expected from the cadre.

Ibrahim (AS) with his declaration "Surely my prayer, all my acts of worship, and my living and my dying are only for Allah, the Lord of the whole Universe" (Quran 6: 162) has set the parameters for the scale of commitment.

In other words we do not have pass marks or high marks or first class or second class as far as commitment is concerned. You ought to get 100 percent or perish. It has made very clear in the hadith, "One cannot become a believer unless his love and his hate, his giving and refusing, his friendship and his enmity evolve on the basis of Allah and His Prophet"

Where do we stand now?
Are we committed to the cause of Islam?
Are we merely involved in the process?

We do participate in the weekly meetings. We do sit in the front row in the important gatherings. We do circulate Islamic books with our friends and relatives. We do promote our magazines and journals from Dawat sehroza to Samarasam Tamil Fortnightly to Radiance views weekly. We do actively take part in nation wide campaigns and caravans. We do read Quran and Hadith and nisabi kitabs. We do give gifts to others. We do this. We do that. We can go on bragging our activities. But is it sufficient? Have you ever analysed a basic question? Whether we do all this things when we find time or we do give prime importance?

The present Ameer-e-Halqa used to say about a karkun (let's call him Mr X): "If you cut Mr X to bits and pieces, each and every bit would scream Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamaat-e-Islami"
And surely that is commitment, you would say.
But I would like to add a correction. "If your body is cut to pieces, each and every bit and piece should scream Allah, Allah."
Just like Syedna Bilal(RA) used to say "Ahad! Ahad!"

That is commitment.

Also read : Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and the black belt!!
and : Three dimensions of a personality!

Imran is new Chennai Chief!!

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Fri, 08 May 2009 10:36:00 +0000

It is official now.
I could say it is the most exciting, exhilarating and heartening news of the year. Rather it could be said as the most exciting news of the Meeqath! (Meeqath is the urdu word for the word term. It usually comprises of four years, in this case from April 2007 to March 2011)
Br Imran Latheef Sait has been appointed by the Ameer-e-Jamaat Moulana Jalaluddin Umari as the Nazim-e-Ilaqa of Chennai city. This was done on the basis of the recommendation of State Shura.
Br Imran Latheef Sait would be refered as மாநகரத் தலைவர் and as City President.

I know Br Imran for the past twenty three years. He is full of vigour, passion and zeal. He is the most reliable hand; whatever task you give, he would finish it off in style. It would appear that he accomplishes everything in an effortless way. But he is the most committed hard worker. He is very humble and never projects himself. He is well versed in Quran and is deeply attached with it. Infact he runs two, three Quran classes every week. Scores of men and women have learned to understand Quran from him.

He is very disciplined, punctual in Namaz.
He is very fond of cultivating friendships across the various cross sections of the society. He has friends everywhere. He speaks flawless English and beautiful Urdu.
He has business acumen and management skills.
He is still young and always remain active and robust.
He is attached with the tahreek right from his childhood.

He is a team man. He is pious, God-fearing and full of humility. He is hardworking, dedicated and known for his meticulous plans. He had served as Divisional Organisor of Madras for two terms during his SIO days. He had been the Divisional organisor for Puducherry division some years ago. He had also served as the Member of State Shura too. He has close rapports with ICSA and interfaith movement for communal harmony people. Besides he is the treasurer of Islamic Foundation Trust for the past couple of years. He played a leading role in providing newly constructed 38 houses to the hapless victims of sea erosion of the village Kottaikuppam near Puducherry. He was the moving spirit behind this mega project undertaken by TNRC (Tamil Nadu Relief Committee).

I am very very happy that such a talented and dedicated karkun with varied interests bubbling with enthusiasm and vigour has been selected for the job. I hope that the forthcoming days would be fantastic, action-packed and simply satisfying. We have great Expectations.
May God bless him. May God help him. May God give him strength and vision to execute the work. Aameen

Read : Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and the Black belt!!

UPSC : Sufiyah Farooqui tops the Muslim list!

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Thu, 07 May 2009 12:18:00 +0000

Sufiyah Faruqui along with her parents. She is from Bhopal.

01 - 20 - SUFIYAH FARUQUI
02 - 26 - SARFARAZ AHMAD
03 - 51 - SHAID IQBAL
04 - 75 - TAMBOLI AYYAJ FAKIRBHAI
05 - 90 - SADRE ALAM
06 - 94 - ABU MATHEN GEORGE
07 - 120 - KOYA PRAVEEN
08 - 128 - MASOOM ALI SARWAR
09 - 134 - IMTIAZ ISMAIL PARRAY
10 - 139 - AYESHA RANI A
11 - 169 - ZIAUL HAQUE
12 - 244 - ASHIQUZZAMAN
13 - 257 - BASIR AHMED
14 - 303 - SABIHA RIZVI
15 - 304 - ANEES AHMAD ANSARI
16 - 353 -PATTAN IMTIYAZ KHAN
17 - 382 - MASHHOOD UR REHMAN FAROOQUI
18 - 393 - SHAHNAWAZ UL RAHMAN
19 - 398 - CHAN BASHA M
20 - 453 - AKHTAR HUSSAIN ANSARI
21 - 460 - KAZI SUHAIL ANEESAHMED
22 - 499 - TARIQ MABOOD
23 - 502 - GEELANI BASHA K S M
24 - 523 - R GULZAR BEGUM
25 - 540 - MOHD SHAHID ALAM
26 - 546 - MOHD FAIZAN NAYYAR
27 - 582 - MAHFOOZUR REHMAN
28 - 595 - MD SADIQUE ALAM
29 - 603 - MD SALIK PARWAIZ
30 - 606 - MD FAIZUL HAQUE
31 - 619 - MOHAMMED YUSUF QURESHI
32 - 664 - ABDUL HAKEEM M

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’.
First of all let me congratulate them.

Hats off to Sister Sufiyah Farooqui who stands first among the successful canditates. All other thirty one brothers and a sister deserve congratulations.

Next, the details. The total number of canditates passed this year is 792. The total number of Muslim canditates is 32. ie 4.04%

The percentage of successful Muslim canditates continues to be 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 sixteen years. It never reached the three digits. It never reached fifty. I always end up frustrated, disappointed and disheartened.

Questions, piercing, penetrating, intimidating questions boggle my mind. They rob my peace of mind. To be honest, I cannot find answers. Now I want to share them with you. Whether it will rob your peace of mind or not, I don't care. I want to relieve them. I would be happy if some of you could answer them.

The questions are as follows:

What is the reason behind this stale performence?
Why is this pathetic, insipid and faded performence repeated year after year?
Who is responsible for this lacuna?
What are the shortcomings?
What are the deficiencies?
Don't we have enough graduates?
Do our youth lack ambition?
Who prevents them? Who debars them? Nobody.
Then what bothers them? What is the remedy?
Where lies the solution?
If our youth are not aware of UPSC, whose responsibility is it anyway, to guide, counsel and motivate them?
What is the role of SIO and Tahreek in this context? Where do they stand?

Read : A success story of a Muslim IAS topper

Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi and some soul searching questions!

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Wed, 06 May 2009 11:07:00 +0000

Almighty Allah says: (Surely Allah enjoins justice, kindness and doing of good, to kith and kin, and forbids all that is shameful, evil and oppressive. He exhorts you so that you may be mindful.) (An-Nahl 16:90)

This verse is known as the most comprehensive verse of the Qur’an. It summarizes basic Islamic principles and values: `adl (justice) and ihsan (compassion). These should be the over-riding principles for everything that we say and everything that we do, individually or collectively.

Ethics and the Secular Laws

In the secular legal systems, the law and ethics are not necessarily inter-related. People sometimes fulfill laws but they are not necessarily ethical people. Sheldon Amos in his book The Science of Law says: “A man may be a bad husband, a bad father, a bad guardian without coming into conflict with rules of a single law.” Laws are best understood formally as a system of orders, commands, and rules enforced by some authority. Laws are fulfilled by outward compliance of the rules, even when someone hates those rules and the authority that has given those rules.

The Nature of Shari`ah

Shari`ah is the law of Allah. It is different from laws in the common sense of the word. Shari`ah is the law that is based on ethics. Its basic values are permanent and universal. Shari`ah deals with the outward and inward. The rules of Shari`ah cannot be fulfilled without sincerity, true intention, love, and respect of the law and the Law-Giver, Allah.

The Purpose of Shari`ah

The purpose of Shari`ah is to make good persons and a good society. Its whole objective is ethical and moral. Shari`ah establishes what is good and beautiful. If something is not moral (good and beautiful), it is not part of the Shari`ah. It is also impossible to fulfill the Shari`ah without becoming a good person. A society that establishes the Shari`ah must become a good and beautiful society. It is impossible to have a society compliant to Shari`ah and have injustice, ugliness, and evil in it. It is also impossible to have a good Muslim who is unjust, unfair, unfaithful, and immoral.

Ibn Al-Qayyim in his famous book of fiqh says: “The Shari`ah is founded and based on wisdom and the benefit of people in this life and in the eternal life. Shari`ah is altogether justice, mercy, benefits, and wisdom. Any rule that departs from justice to oppression, from mercy to its opposite, from benefit to harm, and from wisdom to uselessness, is not from the Shari`ah, even if it is included in Shari`ah by interpretation.”

Objectives or Basic Values (Maqasid) of Shari`ah

Scholars say that the Shari`ah has basic values or objectives. They identify them as follows:

1. `Adl and qist - justice and equity

2. Huquq - rights and obligations

3. Shura - consultation

4. Masalih - public interest

5. Falah - success (in this world and in the Hereafter)

The purpose of Shari`ah

The purpose of Shari`ah is to protect and promote:

1. Din - Religion

2. Nafs - Life

3. Nasl - Progeny or Family

4. `Aql - Intellect

5. Mal - Property or wealth

These basic values are further divided into: darurat (necessities), hajat (needs) and tahsinat (complementary ease or felicity).

When we practice the rules of Shari`ah we must keep in mind the objectives of Shari`ah. Very often we follow the rules but we ignore and overlook the spirit and real purpose of the rules.

1. For example the Qur’an speaks about taharah (purification), ghusl (purificatory bath) and wudu’ (ablution). We take these rules and apply them, but we do not take the objective of cleanliness very seriously.

2. We pray in jama`ah (congregation), but we have not learned the system of organization from our salah.

3. We give zakah, but we have not been able to establish a system of social justice.

4. We go to Hajj, but we have not been able to develop a unified Ummah, a community that transcends nationalistic divisions.

5. We recite the Qur’an many times, but we do not try to understand its meaning and message.

6. We talk of the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) but mostly related to some appearances. We pay little attention to Prophet’s character of love, kindness, honesty, truthfulness, sincerity, fulfilling the promises, etc.

Our Responsibility

It is our responsibility to know the rules of Allah and put them into practice with sincerity. But before anything we should ask ourselves: Are we really practicing justice? Are we really fair to others, to our spouses, to our relatives, to our neighbors, employees, employers, to Muslims, to other human beings, to animals, to anything and everything? Are we really compassionate people? Are we really increasing in compassion or are we becoming angry, hateful, arrogant, or complacent about ourselves? We must improve ourselves in justice and compassion. If we do not have `adl and ihsan or rahmah (mercy), then we are not practicing the Shari`ah. Similarly, if we think that we are following the law of Allah but the result is injustice and lack of compassion, then it means that we have not properly understood the law of Allah or we are not interpreting it right.

Excerpts from the khutbah given by
Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi,
President of the Fiqh Council of North America,
and former President of the Islamic Society of North America,
at the Islamic Society of Orange County, California, USA
on 14 Rajab 1424/12 September 2003:

Dr Mansoor Durrani had sent me this priceless piece of speech.
Jazakallah, Dr Mansoor Durrani Sahib!

The story of a dayee with a smiling face and sparkling eyes!

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 08:42:00 +0000

This post is about Br Abdul Muheeth Siddiqui.
I have known Abdul Muheeth for the past twenty years. He is from Nizamabad and was attached with SIO there.

He used to visit Jamaat Office way back in late 1980s when I was serving as Office Secretary. He was doing some business and used to make frequent trips to Srivilliputhur. On his way to Srivilliputhur, he would always make it a point to stay in Jamaat Office (Chennai) for a day or two.

He was a very soft spoken youth and always remained calm and composed. But I distinctly remember the spark in his eyes. He was very passionate in doing Islamic Dawah and his passion reflected in his sparkling eyes. He would always bring some brothers, friends with him.

As days rolled on, his visits became less frequent and due to various developments the chance of meeting him got dimmer and dimmer. But, time and again, in a flash, his smiling face would emerge from nowhere in my mind and I used to cherish his fond memories. And I used to inquire about him whenever I meet some tahreeki brother from Andhra Pradesh.

Br. Muheeth, as it turned up, was very active in Jamaat activities. His circle of friends was very wide. He had just two motives. One, to reform the Muslim Youth and mould them into good Da'ees. Two, to convey the message of Islam to non-Muslim Youth.

Then one Thursday evening came a shocker. I was browsing the Sehroza Dawat when my eyes captured the headings and I could not believe it.

It was an obituary on Br. Abdul Muheeth!
Inna lillahi va inna ilaihi rajeewoon.

The obituary was written by a SIO friend. He has shed light on some aspects of the deceased brother. They are worth sharing:

Br. Abdul Muheeth had the knack of making friendships easily; He was seen invariably amidst a bunch of friends and well-wishers.

He had a tender heart which would melt in no time. The Prophet of Islam has taught us a beautiful way to win others: Give Gifts, Say Salam. Br. Muqeeth didn't stop himself with mentioning this beautiful gem of an advice in his speeches. He practised it.

Feeding the hungry is his favourite amal-e-salih. During Ramazan his house would become a hostel. More than ten to twelve students would be staying in his house. And his mother would never get tired making elaborate arrangements of Sahr and Iftar for these youth of various backgrounds.
He used to give scholarships to many students.

Abdul Muheeth Siddiqui is no more today. He passed away few months back when he was returning from Hyderabad in a car accident.
Thousands of well wishders and friends thronged to attend his Janaza prayer. Hundreds of non-Muslims came with a heavy heart and gazed the proceedings.

May Allah forgive him and grant him exalted place in Jannat.

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Khair-e-Ummah and the black belt!!

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:59:00 +0000

Last Sunday when I was working in my office, an young lad came to see me. He was bubbling with enthusiasm, vigour and passion. His face showed it all. "I've applied for the Rukunniyat - membership of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. I hope that I would join the Iyakkam - movement formally by the end of the year." I looked at him intently and tried to find something which was missing.
Then I narrated him the story of the black belt. It was a story which should be told million times. The story goes like this:
Once there was a martial artist. He got trained in Karate from a guru. After many years of rigorous training and practise , he approached his guru with a fond hope that the Guru would award him a Black Belt. But he was told that he had to pass one more test.
"What is the significance of the Black Belt?" asked the Guru. "If you can answer this question correctly, I shall give you the Black Belt."
The young martial artist smiled confidently and replied. "It's the reward for my hard work!"
To his surprise, the Guru shook his head disapprovingly and said, "You are not ready for the Black Belt. You may return after one year."
A year later, the martial artist approached his Guru. Guru asked the same question. Though the artist was puzzled, he answered, "It's a symbol of distinction..... the highest achievement in our art"
The Guru didn't give him the Black Belt. He told him to come with the correct answer next year.
The following year the young artist returned to the Guru. As usual the Guru asked, "Have you understood the importance of the Black Belt?"
"Yes, Master," replied the artist. "I've realized that it is not the end but the beginning of a never-ending journey of discipline, hardwork and the pursuit of excellence"
"Here's your Black Belt" said the Guru, smiling happily. "You have finally understood its true significance."
Similar is the case of Rukunniyat - membership in the Jamaat. Rukunniyat is not an honour. It is the beginning of a never-ending journey of discipline, hardwork, commitment and the pursuit of excellence. Similarly the responsibilities of Ameer-e-Muqami, Nazim-e-Ilaqa, Ameer-e-Halqa are not symbol of honour. Rather they are the beginning of a never-ending journey of discipline, hardwork and the pursuit of excellence.
That is the reason, why posts, offices are not celebrated in the Jamaat circles. I distinctly remember the day when Mr X broke and started crying profusely when he was informed that he was the one who was chosen for the job. Our history is replete with full of such instances. Moulana Naeem Siddiqui in his "Tahreek-e-Islami ki ibtitaayi daur" has grasped the spirit more vividly.
Tail piece : Have you noticed it? The Khair-e-Ummah thought is being put forward by everybody. Tablighi people, Tariqa parties, Muslim leaguers and everybody quote the verse and declare tha the Muslim Ummah is the Khair-e-Ummah. Nobody talks about the tag attached to it. The immense responsibility of enjoining virtues and forbidding evils. Does the message of the black belt story fit here?
Also read : Mutton, eggs and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind!
: A memorable evening with Moulana Farooq Khan Sahib!

Interview : Dr M. Rafat on "Islamic Movement in India in Modern Times"

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:06:00 +0000

Dr Muhammad Rafat

Recently Dr. Muhammad Rafat, Ameer-e-Halqa of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind JIH Delhi has given an interview to Janab Parvaz Rahmani, Editor Dawat. Dr.Rafat is from Uttar Pradesh and has been attached with the JIH for the past three, four decades. He is also a member of Markazi Majlis-e-Shoora and Markazi Majlis-e-Numaindgan of JIH. He has doctorate in Physics and teaches to engineering students in Jamia Millia Islamiya Delhi. He is very articulate and soft spoken man.

In his aforesaid interview he has shed light on the present scenario of the Islamic Movement in India. The interview is simply superb. It is very crispy, enlightening and thought provoking. I could not resist the temptation to translate in Tamil and share it with my Tamil knowing friends.
I have met him a couple of times. He is very humble, polite and as they say in Tamil he would never அதிர்ந்து பேச மாட்டார்.
He is a very knowledgeble person and well read man. Earlier I had translated one of his beautiful essay on 1857 and the status of Muslims then.
Herewith I have attached the gif images of the same.
Kindly share it with other brothers. Please write me your views and impressions if time permits.

Dawat sehroza! is online!

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:19:00 +0000

Alhumdulillah!
All praise be to Allah.

Dawat sehroza is on line. It is pleasing,heartening and amazing to see Dawat on line. I don't know what to say. I am typing these lines with tears in my eyes. This is the long pending dream. This is the happiest day in my life.

Happy to see my favourite khabr-o-Nazr in the net. Jazakallah. I pray for all those who are behind this noble venture. May Allah bestow them with the best in both the worlds. Aameen.

I could not recall when I first came across Dawat. But it became a companion in no time.

In those days, when I was in Tirupattur, a bustling town with dusty streets, Dawat is the window through which I learnt everything. Without any visa or any formalities I visited various countries with the help of Dawat. I got acquainted the names of various luminaries, stalwarts of the Jamaat through Dawat.

How addicted had I become of this bundle of paper..!
I would be frequenting the residence of Janab Muhammad Shafee who was the sole agent of Dawat. I used to procure the copies of Dawat from him.

Shafee bhai is a very busy man. He is a beedi worker as well as an owner of a Beedi company. Besides he was the Nazim of Halqa-e-Karkunan. He had also started an elementary school catering to the needs of the very poor and downtrodden.

Above all he is also a Dayee. He is a man with wheels. He would always be found wandering here and there, with a bag full of magazines, books, pamphlets, stickers and what not!

He had this knack of reading the faces! The karkunan of the Jamaat of those days had this ability. On seeing me he would understand everything. His hands would invariably go into his bag and come out with a copy of Dawat. Sometimes he would blush and mumble something
which would be so incomprehensible that made me think! I would catch the key words and search them in Dawat.

Then God brought me to the city of unknown ie Chennai. That is another story which could be shared some other day.

T Azeez Luthfullah, Chennai

A memorable evening in Delhi...!

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:29:00 +0000

I want to share with you an insight which I got from Moulana Muhammad Farooq Khan.

Moulana Muhammad Farooq Khan is the member of Majlis-e-Numaindgan (central council of representatives) of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. He is one of the old vanguards of the Tahreek-e-Islami and resides in Delhi. He has written a lot of books in Urdu and Hindi. He is well versed in both the languages. He has translated Quran in Hindi. But his magnum opus is Kalam-e-Nubuwat, a collection of Ahadith in five, six volumes. He could be easily termed as the living legend in the field of Islamic literature. As I have been reading his books for the past two decades, I feel very close to him. For me, not a day passes without reading Kalam-e-Nubuwat. Besides I have been translating his works in Tamil. Chehal Hadhis has been published as Nabi mozhi Narpadhu.
I have met him on two occasions. Once when he delivered a lecture in an all India SIO meet. Next in his room in the second storey of an non-descript building in Old Delhi. I had made up my mind to meet him when I boarded the train in Chennai. By the grace of Allah, we got ourself free at the last day. My colleagues wanted to roam the historic places in Delhi. I cajoled them and virtually dragged them to the room of Moulana Farooq Khan Sahib. It was a brief meeting but It was a memorable evening. Moulana was sitting amidst books.
What he said could be summed up as the following:

There are three essential needs which mould a personality. Without fulfilling this needs one cannot become a wholesome personality.
The three needs are as follows.
First, You ought to have some thing to do.
One cannot remain idle. It is not human nature to remain idle. Man has to do something. Idle mind is devil's workshop. Men do various things. Men get engaged in various occupations to keep themselves occupied. The list of trades, professions, crafts, jobs and careers never ends. But the best thing to do is to do dawah. The best career option is to get engaged in Dawah.
Second, You ought to have some thing to love.
One cannot live with profession, job or business alone. Day in and day out you do a lot of things. But that is not sufficient to nourish your inner soul. Your heart longs to love and to be loved. Naturally men love. Their love knows no bounds. Men love their wives, their sweet little children, their apparels, their face, their language, their organisation, their country, their matinee idol and the list goes on. But the best of them is the love towards God. Love of God is the supreme thing in life. It is the ultimate. You have to research and find out whom does God love? And strive to become one. Besides you should love your Creator more than anything and everything in this mundane life.
Third, You ought to have some thing to hope.
Man exists because of his hope. He may do a lot of things. He may love his job. He may be passionate about many things. But still he needs some thing to hope. Why does he work? Why does he go to faraway lands? Why does he do so many things? Because of Hope. Because of hope that one day he would get a beautiful palace overlooking the sea shore. Of hope that he would be driving in the latest model of car. Of hope that his offsprings would get decent education. The list of hopes and dreams is simply endless.
But the best thing to hope is hope of falah in the Hereafter.
I still remember the day when Moulana Farooq Khan Sahib conveyed this message in his own style; in his own choice of sweetest, chaste words in Urdu. Br Shabeer Ahmed, present Ameer-e-Halqa and Br Muhammad Yahya of AIITA were with me. I remember the haste with which I jostled down the words in an old diary.

Moulana gave me the diary as I asked him paper to take notes. The diary with notes is with me. I will share with you the other notes when next time, Insha Allah.

A.R.Rahman, Oscar and an open letter

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:55:00 +0000

Sirajul Hasan has done it.
I always believed, hoped and expected that he alone could do it.
Siraj Bhai, Siraj Sahib, Sirajul Hasan as he is affectionately called by everybody is the chief editor of Samarasam Tamil Fortnightly.
He is a prolific writer in Tamil and master player of words. Over the years he has developed his own style of conveying his thoughts. It could be described as simply endearing. He is in the field for the past three decades. He was groomed by late Moulana M. A. Jameel Ahmed. He has written three books and a collection of short stories. He is the most soft spoken man in the earth. But he is very shrewd in equal measure. Measure your words when you speak with him.
Now what has he done?

He has written an open letter to A. R. Rahman, the music wizard of Chennai. He has lauded ARR for his achievement. He has expressed his joy, pleasure in his own way. A.R Rahman had declared "Yella pugazhum Allahvukke" (All glory be to Allah!!) at the dias of Oscar arena.
Sirajul Hasan has lauded this spontaneous reaction of the Music maestro. Then he explains the significance of Alhumdulillah...!
Slowly and steadily he has woven the web and highlighted the drastic consequences of Shirk-Inai vaippu.
A.R. Rahman is known to be very particular in offering Namaz in time. Sirajul Hasan mentions this and praises the enthusiasm shown by ARR in offering Namaz. Then he goes on elaborating the significance and importance of the ultimate success - the success in Hereafter.
The final appeal from Siraj is what makes your heart melt.
His words are:

isai vazhiyil payaniththu immaiyin sigarangalai ththottu vitteergal
ini-
irai vazhiyil payaniththu marumaiyin vetrigalai pera muyalungal.

It could be roughly translated as "You have reached the zenith of glory in the path of Music.
Next, in future, Please try to get success in Hereafter"

Oh! I miss Br P. H. Shafeeq Ahmed, the lanky lad from the dusty town of Tirupattur. He is also a gifted writer. Shafeeq writes in English.
More than a decade ago, Ace director Manirathinam produced a stupendously stupid film "Roja" depicting Muslims in a very bad light. At that time too Sirajul Hasan wrote an open letter to Mani Rathinam. The finishing lines of that letter are still embedded in my mind "Today what you have in your hands is a stone..! I pray and hope that a day will come when the stone would be replaced by a flower"
Br Shafeeq translated the letter in English and it was published in Radiance Views weekly, Delhi.
I wish I had Shafeeq at my side. He would have translated the piece in English in no time.
As my hands are full I could not do it by myself. If somebody reading this, wishes to translate in English, he is most welcome.

A blessing to the Tsunami victims!!

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 09:17:00 +0000

SAFE HOMES: Collector R.Palanisamy handing over the keys of permanent houses built by TNRC at Chinna Kottakuppam in Villupuram district on Saturday. He is flanked by H. Abdur Raqeeb, Gen. Secy IFT and K. Dhanraj, MP

A blessing to the Tsunami victims!!
A report by T Azeez Luthfullah

The Tamil Nadu Relief Committee (TNRC) handed over 38 houses to the victims of Tsunami in the village Kottaikuppam near Puducherry today.
Mr A Shabbir Ahmed president JIH presided over the simple ceremony arranged in connection with the noble occasion. Dr. R. Palaniswamy I.A.S, Villupauram District Collector handed over the keys of the newly constructed houses to the victims. Mr. H. Abdur Raqeeb, General Secretary, Islamic Foundation Trust(IFT) and member CAC JIH felicitated the organisors and lauded their efforts. He said that the beneficiaries should have a resolve to educate all their children. He hoped a model colony would emerge shedding light of hope and wisdom to the whole of the Kottaikuppam as well as the state. Mr. P. Danraj local MP and Mrs Banumathi Jayamoorthy, local Panchayat Chief congratulated the people behind the mission and pledged all kind of helps to their similar efforts. Mr. Ahmed Meeran a self made man and a committed philanthropist from Chennai and Moulavi Faizur Rahman Madani, Principal, Women's Arabic College, Kottaikuppam also spoke at the occasion.

The TNRC had purchased 1.1 acre and constructed the houses, each measuring 325 sq.ft., at a total cost of Rs 1.25 crore.The habitation has been named as “Samarasam” (harmony/equality). The beneficiaries are fish vendors and petty shopkeepers.
The community hall would be utilised for imparting adult education, giving free tuition to students and counselling for livelihood measures.

TNRC owes its existence to Tsunami, the mass killer. Yes, TNRC was formed when killer waves attacked the shores of Tamil Nadu some years back. TNRC immediately sprung into action and established 100 temporary shelters in lightening speed in Nagapattinam, which was the worst affected town in Tamil Nadu. It also provided Relief Kits comprising of rice, foodgrains, bucket, utensils, soaps, blankets, mattresses etc to 7000 families. When the focus of the world deviated from Tsunami, TNRC continued its mission and got itself engaged in rehabilitation work. Under its innovative and progressive livelihood scheme 500 families were provided with assistance both in cash and kind. TNRC gave top class fibre boats with high power engine and world class fishing nets to sixteen families in Pulicat, a fishing village near Chennai. The smiles on the faces of the boat owners of Pulicat is the everlasting testimony of the pioneering efforts of TNRC. Similarly TNRC established a dairy farm with fifteen fat cows in pudupattinam as a part of its rehabilitation shemes. Keeping the future generations in mind TNRC diversified its efforts and provided educational aid and School kits to 2000 students. The greatest achievement of TNRC stands in the form of Samarasam Nagar in Nagore where it built 100 beautiful houses. Each and every house had been constructed in 400 sq. feet area in a 1300 sq. feet plot. It comprises a drawing room, a hall, a bed room, kitchen, toilet and bathroom with stair case to the terrace. A spacious verandah and sit out is an added attraction.The Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage department (TWAD) has constructed an elegant overhead tank with a capacity of 30,000litres of drinking water and has provided a street pipe for every fifteen (15) houses. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) has provided prompt domestic connection and has also erected twenty eight street lamp posts.

The cluster of houses presents a glorious spectacle with the line up of similar looking, beautifully crafted and neatly painted glittering houses dotting the lines. The newly formed colony has been provided with a park and a play ground for the children with all the required facilities too. The colony has been named aptly Samarasam Nagar. Samarasam means peace and harmony.

Now TNRC has added another colourful feather to its crown by distributing 38 houses in Kottaikuppam..! Let us laud their effort and pray for them!!

This is the farewell kiss, you dog!! (George Bush!)

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:51:00 +0000

The mass murderer of the 21st century ducks to evade from the "shoe"!!
Poor chap! Missed the kiss!!

The hero of the century, Muntadar al-Zeidi, throws a shoe on the face of the Terrorist!!

"It is the farewell kiss, you dog"

Alhumdulillah..! All praise be to Allah..!
Today I feel immensely pleased and my heart is full of joy. I just don't know what to say!
Today my eyes have seen a spectacular scene..! I don't know for how long I have been yearning to see such a glorious, hilarious and exhilarating scene..!
Now that I have seen it, Iam very much satisfied. I eagerly wait for the day, when I would say my grand children "I had seen it, with these eyes!" with pride and joy.
Oh..! What a scene it was..!
Oh..! What a lovely, utterly butterly scene it was...!

It happened in a small hall. Some thirty, forty people had assembled there. Two gentlemen were standing in front of them, shoulder to shoulder. Presumably it was a press conference and one of the two gentlemen - an old, week and meek man - was uttering some non-sense. All those who are seated there must be press people and they were frantically taking notes.

Just then, it happened! The operation lasted eight to ten seconds. But it was dramatic! and heroic! One of the press persons suddenly got up and said "It is the farewell kiss, you dog" and hurled a pair of shoes one after other. The old, weak and meek man ducked and saved himself from the impact of the shoes. But, it definitely shattered him. You could see it in his eyes. The fear of death was there in his eyes. How swiftly he ACTED! The whole hall was stunned. The Police, cops, sleuths, agents everybody were stunned. They were on their foot only after the second shoe was thrown.

I enjoyed every second of it. I will cherish the scene.
Do you know why?
First, it happened in Iraq.
Second, the old, meek and weak man has a name which is spelled as B..U..S..H. Yeah! He is none other than George W Bush, the mass murderer of the twenty first century.
As his days are being numbered, he wanted to pay a farewell visit to Iraq. It was also orchestrated in a secret manner. And he got what he deserved.

And Salams to that unknown Iraqi press man! Mr Iraqi, May God bless you.

I know, I know you also want to see them.
See it by clicking here!, here!, here! and here.
I could not upload them in youtube. If some of you could do it, I would be happy.

Caravan for Peace and Justice

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:19:00 +0000

Caravan for Peace and Justice

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Tamil Nadu & Puducherry

A brief and concise report

T. Azeez Luthfullah

The Mission

To create awakening among the general masses about the need and significance of establishing Peace and Justice in this country. And also to highlight the gross injustice meted to the Muslim Community in the name of bomb blasts and the witch-hunt being carried out in Media. And also to ensure confidence among the much aggrieved Muslim masses.

The Task

To carry out a caravan for peace and justice throughout the state of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. To reach out the masses with the message of Peace and Justice throughout the nook and corner of the State.

To establish rapport with the cross section of the Media, officials of the Police & the bureaucracy.

To build close contacts with the Peace activists, social activists, religious heads, Hindu Heads of mutts, temples and Christian Missionaries.

The Tools

A fully airconditioned 14 seater van decorated with the message of Peace and Justice on all sides. It will criss cross the State spreading the message of Peace and Justice everywhere.
One lakh and ten thousand folders disseminating the message of Peace and Justice.
Three hundred copies of PRESS STATEMENT in Tamil exhorting powerfully the message of Peace and Justice.
One hundred placards made up of solid iron material depicting the soothing message of peace and Justice.
Fifty flags embedded with the message of Peace and Justice.
Lots and lots of locally prepared hand bills and print outs and colourful posters.

The Route

The caravan for peace and justice started its odyssey in Kanniyakumari on 9th Nov 2008 and reached Chennai on 22 Nov 2008 after visiting Nagerkoil, Thirunelveli, Kadaiyanallur, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Tanjore, Kumbakonam, Trichirapalli, Karur, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Kaveripattinam, Tirupattur, Vaniyambadi, Ambur, Vellore, Porur and scores of other places. It visited Puducherry on 23 Nov 2008.

The Response

Alhumdulillah! The response was overwhelming and exhilirating. Men and women, Muslims and non-Muslims, Officials and laymen, politicians and housewives, dalits and pundits, young and old, students and professors - each and every segment of the society whole-heartedly and warmly embraced the message of the caravan for peace and justice.

It was evident at the sea shores of Kanniyakumari a place at which the mighty waves of Indian Ocean, Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal converge, which is known as the southern most tip of the country viz Kumari Munai where the caravan started its odyssey with the noblest mission of spreading message of Peace and Justice.

It was visible at the heart of the State viz Karur where hundreds of brethren from other communities outnumbered the Muslims in receiving the caravan.

It was there at the entrance of the capital of the State viz Chennai when vast multitudes of men and women, arkaan and karkunaan, purdah clad ladies with tiny tots assembled at Porur. It was raining, raining and raining. But the incessant rain didn't dampen them and they - fully drenched in rain - raised slogans demanding peace and justice. It was heartening, heartrending and mellowing to watch the lovers of peace and justice garland the delegates of the caravan one after another.

And above all it was evident in Dharmapuri, when a poor farmer who came to the town for some other purpose after listening the speeches, silently approached the organisors and handed over a token amount of Rs 10/- as his contribution towards establishing peace and justice in this country.

And the point to be noted is that except Chennai, Jamaat is very weak in all the other three places. We do not have circles in Kanniyakumari and Porur. The circles in Karur and Dharmapuri are at their nascent stage. Inspite of that the response to our call for peace and justice is overwhelming. Alhumdulillah!

The Spectacle

The most memorable spectacle of the whole odyssey of the caravan is the reception accorded to it in front of the historic Victoria memorial near Chennai Central Railway station. It could be said as the climax of the whole journey. Mr. A. Shabbeer Ahmed, State President JIH held high a dove and let it fly over the sky as a gesture of promoting peace and Justice in the State amidst the thundering applause of the multitudes of people assembled at the historic occasion. Mr.S.N. Sikkander, the convenor of the caravan and State Secretary JIH gave a memorable speech. "The nation is proud that its tricolour flag is flying high over the moon. But, what is the use of Chandrayan if our society is divided and fragmented? These divisions and collisions always bring disrepute to the country. This was evident when Our PM was confronted with a heartrending question from the French Prez Nicholas Sarkozy. "Why are the Christians being massacred in India?" our Sardarji was compelled to mumble "I am ashamed of it!". So, let us be united, he exhorted.

The Impact

At national level the PM and Congress supremo have started singing different tunes. While the congress supremo has stressed that religion should not be mixed with terrorism, the PM has advised his police force to regain the faith of the people.

Jokes apart, the real impact of the campaign is the awareness it has created among the masses about the delicate issue of peace and justice. This surge among the masses towards the noble cause was evident every where.

It was there in Krishnagiri, where the Holy Fathers and nuns welcomed the caravan in their church. They garlanded each and every delegates with garlands made up of Jasmine and rose petals. They spoke about the need to work together and communal harmony.

It was evident in Vellore when the administrators of the Sri Sri Jalagandeswarar Temple situated in the historic fort of Vellore gave warm reception to the delegates of the Caravan in the 140 year old historic Shanmuga Adigal Sabai Temple.

It was there to see when the DSP of Dharmapuri district, Mr. Murugesan after hearing the speeches of the delegates of the caravan in Kaveripattinam, a sleepy town at the banks of Ponnaiyaru river asked the organisors to conduct such meetings more and more.

Above all the touching, heartening words were uttered by Mr. Jagan, the videographer who covered the caravan meetings for five consecutive days. When asked about his impressions, the young lad said unabashedly, "Nanum ungalodu vandhu vidugirane, Sir!" (I want to JOIN with you people, Sir!)

To view the procession at Chennai click here.

I got it from Ishtiyaque Nadeem. Thank you, Nadeem!

For more details of the caravan, click here,and here, and here
and Read : ‘Caravan of Peace and Justice’ reaches Tiruchi
and Read : Caravan for peace and Justice
and Read : Caravans of peace reach city
and Read : Terror has no religion... and no region

Lab pe aati hai dua

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:40:00 +0000

lab pe aatii hai duaa banke tamannaa merii

zindagii shammaa kii surat ho Khudaayaa merii

ho mere dam se yuuN hii mere watan kii ziinat

jis tarah phuul se hotii hai chaman kii ziinat

zindagii ho merii parawaane kii surat yaa rab

ilm kii shammaa se ho mujhako mohabbat yaa rab

ho meraa kaam Gariibon kii himaayat karanaa

dardmandon se zaiifon se mohabbat karanaa

mere allaah buraaii se bachaanaa mujhako

nek jo raah ho us raah pe chalaanaa mujhako

this is the poem which has been lingering in my mind for the past few days. It is beautiful. It is mesmerising. It is enchanting. It melts your soul.
The voice of Chitra Jagjit Singh makes it more empowering.
To hear it click here.

The Economic Theory of Ibn Khaldun and the Rise and Fall of Nations

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:59:00 +0000

I stumbled upon this thought provoking, inspiring article written by Dr Salim Karatas. Excerpts:

INTRODUCTION

Ibn Khaldun (d. 1406/808) was a fourteenth century, Tunisian born Muslim thinker who wrote on many subject including on the rise and fall of nations in his Muqaddima: an Introduction to History. His writings on economics, economic surplus and economic oriented policies are as relevant today as they were during his very own time.

IBN KHALDUN ON ECONOMICS

Ibn Khaldun was the first to systematically analyze the functioning of an economy, the importance of technology, specialization and foreign trade in economic surplus and the role of government and its stabilization policies to increase output and employment. Ibn Khaldun, moreover, dealt with the problem of optimum taxation, minimum government services, incentives, institutional framework, law and order, expectations, production, and the theory of value. Ibn Khaldun again is the first economist with economic surplus at hand, who has given a biological interpretation of the rise and fall of the nations. His coherent general economic theory constitutes the framework for his history.

IBN KHALDUN ON THE STATE

Since the State has important functions in the social, political and economic life of a nation, the role and the nature of the state has to be clarified for the well-being of society. For Ibn Khaldun, the role of the State is to establish law and order conducive for economic activities. Moreover, the enforcement of property rights, the protection of trade routes and the security of peace are necessary for any civilized society to engage in trade and production. The economic surplus could increase in a situation where governmental policies favor economic activities. Government should take a minimum amount of surplus through taxation in order to provide minimum services and necessary public works. For Ibn Khaldun, optimum taxation occurs when governments do not discourage production and trade through taxation.

For Ibn Khaldun, the State has to take the responsibility to change the expectations of the entrepreneurs by implementing the public works to generate employment and confidence. As a part of the stabilization policy, the State should build roads, trade centers, and other activities that encourage production and trade. But "the direct interference of the State in economic activity by engaging in commerce," would cause the decline of the State and the economic activities. The interference of the State in commerce, by itself, will increase bureaucracy and mercenary army. As a result of governmental interference in commercial and economic affairs, the entrepreneurs would be prevented to trade and invest and make profits in their enterprises.

Ibn Khaldun wrote that over-taxation would occur when the demands bureaucracy and mercenary armies would expand beyond "normal" economic surplus. He stated the fact that the larger the bureaucracy and the mercenary armies, the greater over-taxation would be, and the greater burden on economic surplus would be realized. He did not think it proper to increase excess demand through enlarging bureaucracy and the mercenary armies.

Greater production and maximum efficiency can be obtained with trade and specialization through profit-seeking entrepreneurs who bear the consequences of their actions in terms of gains and losses. The entrepreneurs are the ones who have incentives for efficiency and specialization as long as they perceive profits. The bureaucrats, on the other hand, do not have the same incentives for the expansion of trade and specialization in production.

IBN KHALDUN ON SPECIALIZATION AND ECONOMIC SURPLUS

Ibn Khaldun has dealt with economics, sociology, political science and other subjects in order to understand the behavior of man and his history. He indicated the fact that specialization is the major source of economic surplus, almost three centuries before Adam Smith. For Ibn Khaldun, when there is an environment conducive for specialization, the entrepreneur is encouraged to commit himself for further trade and production. Indeed, specialization would occur in a place in which a person is able to get the benefit of his efforts.

Given law and order, for him, specialization is a function of population, trade, production and minimum taxation. On specialization, this is what he says:

"Each particular kind of craft needs persons to be in charge of it and skilled in it. The more numerous the various subdivisions of a craft are, the larger the number of the people who (have to) practice that craft. The particular group (practicing that craft) is colored by it. As the days follow one upon the other, and one professional coloring comes after the other, the crafts-coloring men become experienced in their various crafts and skilled in the knowledge of them. Long periods of time and the repetition of similar (experiences) add to establishing the crafts and to causing them to be firmly rooted."

For Ibn Khaldun, specialization meant the coordination of different functions of factors of production where, "what is obtained through the cooperation of a group, of human beings satisfies the need of a number many times greater (than themselves)."

Later, on the same subject, Adam Smith had this to say: "Thus, generally, to the value of the materials which he works upon, that of his own maintenance, and of his master's profit." However, more succinctly, Ibn Khaldun states the economic rationale behind specialization (and coordination) with this sentence "the combined labor produces more than the needs and necessitates of the workers." On the same subject, he states the fact that "through cooperation, the needs of a number of persons, many times greater than their own (number) can be satisfied." For Ibn Khaldun, providing coordination and cooperation of factors of production is a function that has to be performed by entrepreneurs according to market forces.

Ibn Khaldun considers both the workers and the entrepreneurs as respected members of the society who try to maximize the return for their activities in the form of wages and profits. For him, the profit is the primary motive of economic endeavor, since the expectation of profit leads to the expansion of production. Moreover, "Commerce means the attempt to make a profit by increasing capital, through buying goods at a low price and selling them at a high price." In other words, "the truth about commerce" is to "buy cheap and sell dear."

For Ibn Khaldun, it is clear that "the profit human beings make is the value realized from their labor," but this value, the price of labor, is determined by the law of supply and demand. These points were missed by Karl Marx and his ardent followers.

For Ibn Khaldun, the coordination, cooperation and direction of factors of production in increasing economic surplus is a productive and costly process which is undertaken by entrepreneurs who try hard to make a gain for their economic activities. They spend time, energy and capital to search for goods and services "to buy cheap and sell dear," in order 'to make profit." As a result, Ibn Khaldun praised the initiative of entrepreneurs for their productive activities in coordinating and directing of factors of production. Then, they very rightly deserved profit from their risky undertakings. Karl Marx, Ricardo and others went astray on this point as well.

IBN KHALDUN ON SUPPLY AND DEMAND

Ibn Khaldun, again centuries ahead of his time, postulated that prices of goods and services are determined by supply and demand. When a good is scarce and in demand, its price is high. The merchant will buy the goods "where they are cheap" and plentiful and "selling them at a high price" where they are scarce and in demand. Naturally, when a good is plentiful, its price is low: "the inhabitants of a city have more food than they need. Consequently, the price of food is low, as a rule, except when misfortunes occur due to celestial conditions that may affect (the supply of) food." Moreover, Ibn Khaldun demonstrated the concept of long-run cost of production in the Marshallian sense.

IBN KHALDUN ON MONETARY POLICY

Ibn Khaldun defends a stable monetary policy. He is against the policies of the authorities to play with the value of currency. He fears that the authorities may be tempted to debauch with the value of money in order to build palaces and finance mercenary armies. This process will cause inflation and the population will lose confidence in the currency. These developments are considered to be unjust. As a supreme policy for the society, the protection of purchasing power of money has to be implemented as a matter of justice. To do that, he proposed an independent monetary agency under the authority of Chief Justice, a "God-fearing man" to prevent the rulers "fearlessly" from tampering with the value of money and debauching the currency.

Upon this idea of Ibn Khaldun, American Federal Reserve Board, Bank of England and West Germany's Bundesbank have been following relatively independent monetary policies aiming to keep inflation down and provide a stable currency for their respective economies.

IBN KHALDUN ON FIXED PRICES

Ibn Khaldun was not only against state involvement in commercial and agricultural activities, he was also against government involvement in fixing the prices of goods and services. When the government employs force "by buying things up at a cheapest possible price", the ruler "will be able to force the seller to lower his price" and "forces the merchants or farmers who deal in these particular products to buy from him." The rulers "undertake to buy agricultural products and goods from their owners who come to them, at prices fixed by themselves as they see fit. Then, they resell these things to the subjects under their control, at the proper times, at prices fixed by themselves."

IBN KHALDUN ON PROPERTY RIGHTS

After the 1960s, some economists, especially in the United States have started to deal with property rights and its impact on economic development. Ibn Khaldun, on the other hand, centuries ago had dealt firmly with this issue. The protection and the enforcement of property rights had to be defended as a matter of justice for the survival of civilization.

For him, "when the incentive to acquire and obtain property is gone, people no longer make efforts to acquire any. The extent and degree to which property rights are infringed upon determines the extent and degree to which the efforts of the subjects to acquire property slacken."

Ibn Khaldun predicts the decline of economic activities when the property rights are not protected and enforced with the following statements:

"When attacks (on property) are extensive and general, extending to all means of making a livelihood, business inactivity, too, becomes (general), because the general extent of (such attacks upon property) means a general destruction of the incentive (to do business). If the attacks upon property are but light, the stoppage of gainful activity is correspondingly slight."

Ibn Khaldun sees a clear connection between property rights and justice. For him, "men persist only with the help of the property. The only way to property is through cultivation. The only way to cultivation is through justice. Justice is a balance set up among mankind."

Whenever, the violation of property rights occurs, it means the commitment of an injustice act. For Ibn Khaldun, "people who collect unjustified taxes commit an injustice. Those who infringe upon property (rights) commit an injustice. Those who take away property commit an injustice. Those who deny people their rights commit an injustice. Those who, in general, take property by force, commit an injustice," and "injustice ruins civilization."

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, Ibn Khaldun is one of the few successful theoreticians, who has analyzed the behavior of human beings and of society as an integrated whole in their totality as part of greater humanity in the rise and fall of civilization paralleled to the rise and fall of economic surplus, respectively. For him, the cycle of the civilization has reached its end with the destruction of superstructure. At the beginning, "the desire for a luxurious mode of life had inspired men to perform heroic deeds, fights, to overcome difficulties, and to build - Now-men fight again, but not for the hopes that they had once entertained. Motivated by the fear of hunger, they fight for mere existence, and like the primordial man who fought out of the same motive, they display the beast in man and return to the life of beasts."

You can download the pdf version of this article by clicking here.

The only difference is a heart that doesn’t beat

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:23:00 +0000

Look at this photograph!
It conveys lots of messages! lots of news! lots of shades and colours!
This is the photograph of the inmates of an Old age home in Bangalore.
What does it convey?
ONE : Death is imminent. It may come at any time, even in sleep. Nobody can conquer death. No force on earth could delay it. Nobody can escape from it.
TWO : It also blatantly exposes the darker side of the society. Who is that old lady? Definitely she is not without sons, daughters, son-in-laws and daughter-in-laws. But, look how her end came? At Old Age Home! This trend of sending the parents to Old Aged Homes is alarming. The mushrooming of such homes and their increasing numbers is distressing. This trend has shattered the long cherished ethos of the society.
THREE : The deceased should have passed away in sleep. As the stiffened legs and folded hands of her indicates the state at which all came to an end.
FOUR : The heartrending part of this end is that it was not noticed by anybody. The warden or supervisor of the Home and other inmates of the home might have thought she is still asleep. The stiffened legs indicate that nobody noticed the end when it came.
FIVE : If somebody was there at the moment of death, he or she would have straightened the hands, legs and closed the eye-lids. It is possible to straighten them, immediately after the death. But once the dead body gets stiffened it is impossible to straighten them.
SIX : The offsprings of the deceased should have declined to take the body and perform the last rites. They should have asked the Old Aged Home to take care of it. Or they might have given the wrong address and contact numbers. Or they might have been in some far away land, unable to return. Hence the caretakers of the Old Aged Home themselves should have wrapped the dead body.
SEVEN : After wrapping up, they might be waiting for the mortuary van or vehicle to carry it to the cemetry.
EIGHT : The whole Old Aged Home would have been engulfed with pity, grief and sorrow. Look at the lady in the adjucent bird. She has faced death! Could she sleep?
NINE : Each and every inmate of the home might have recalled each and every actions, words of the deceased.
TEN : The walls are unclean; The floor is unwashed; The beds are without bedspreads. It must be an Old Aged Home catering to the needs of the middle class people.
ELEVEN : It is upto your imagination.
This photograph was taken by Selvaprakash L of DNA. He has been awarded with the India Press Photo Award of the Ramnath Goenka Foundation. It was shot on 13 May 2007. Selvaprakash is from Nellai and is just over 30. He is one of the first batch of students who got their Mass communication degree from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. He started his career as a photograph in Dinamalar. To know more about him, click here.
I got it from here. Thank you, churumuri!!

Note : An interesting point to be noted is that the trend of sending parents to the Old Aged Home is not found in Muslim societies. When we, at Samarasam Tamil Fortnightly visited such an Home and conversed with the activist involved, he shared his pleasant surprise. "There are so many old Age Homes in the city; but we could not find a single Muslim in any of the homes"
This is not surprising. Islam stresses every Muslim male and female to take care of their parents.
Quran says :

Be good to your parents: and should both or any one of them attain old age with you, do not say to them even "fie" neither chide them, but speak to them with respect, and be humble and tender to them and say, "Lord, show mercy to them as they nurtured me when I was small." Your Lord is best aware of what is in your hearts, If you are righteous, He will indeed forgive those who relent and revert (to serving Allah)

(Holy Quran 17 : 23-24)

Train from Pakistan!

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:07:00 +0000

This photograph was taken on Nov. 2 by Khalid Tanveer of the Associated Press. It is a train coming back from Multan after a religious congregation.
What a spectacle..! Subhanallah!

Some rare photos of Moulana Abul A'la Moududi

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:49:00 +0000

These are the some rare photographs of Moulana Abul A'la Moududi.
If my memory is right, I got these beautiful snaps from Shabbeer Sahib of Dindugal. Jazakallah, Shabbir bhai!
Moulana Abul A'la Moududi is a legend. He has made everlasting impacts in my psyche and life. The details could be shared some other time.

Oh..! those were the days..!

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:23:00 +0000

Today the Imam Sahib recited the famous verses Waseeqal lazeena... verses in Fajr prayer. I enjoyed each and every word of them. After a long time my heart was filled with joy to the brim. When I returned from the masjid my heart was overwhelmed with the nostalgic thoughts.
I recalled those days when I was new to this city called Chennai. Moulana Ejaz Ahmed Aslam Sahib was at the helm of affairs then. He was also very fond of these verses. He used to recite them in Isha prayer. His voice and style was unique. I miss his Qirat. Nowadays he visits Chennai rarely and briefly. He was a tremendous leader. Hearing Quran from him makes you cry. On those days, when we were very few people in Jamaat Office -Moulana M A Jameel Sahib, Qutb Sahib, Zafar Sahib, S. N. Sikkander Sahib, Aleem Sahib- once he recited these verses in Isha prayer. Oh..! What a experience it was..! I felt myself marching towards Jannat with its doors wide open with these gentlemen..! I could not control my tears then and now also as I type these lines. Pray for me brothers.
The power of these verses is unimaginable.
Iam giving here the English translation of the same.

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.

(After the judgement has been passed) the unbelievers shall be driven in companies to Hell so that when they arrive there, its gates shall be thrown open and its keepers shall say to them: "Did Messengers from among yourselves not come to you, rehearsing to you Signs of your Lord and warning you against your meeting of this Day?" They will say: "Yes indeed; but the sentence of chastisement was bound to be executed against the unbelievers." It will be said: "Enter the gates of Hell. Herein shall you abide." How evil is the abode of vainglorious!

And those who eschewed disobeying their Lord shall be driven in companies to Paradise so that when they arrive there its gates will have already been thrown open and its keepers shall say to them: "Peace be upon you; you have done well. So enter. Herein you shall abide." They will say: "All thanks and praise be to Allah who has made His promise to us come true, and Who gave us the earth to inherit. We may now dwell in Paradise wherever we please." How excellent is the reward of those who laboured!

You shall see the angels surrounding the Throne, glorifying their Lord with His praise, and judgement will have been made among them with fairness, and it will be proclaimed: "All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the whole Universe."
Al-Zumar 39: 71-75

A poem, a girl and a success story

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 03:16:00 +0000

I want to share with you a poem.
Brother Muniruddin Sheriff introduced me to the spirit of THIS poem.
Who wrote it? When it was written? I don't know. But it has been my favourite for the past two decades. I can recite it by heart.
It is a wonderful poem. It may not be brilliant than Allama Iqbal's fiery, inspiring poems. But still I like it. As I said I heard it from Muniruddin Sheriff. You would love his voice. It smacks lots of confidence and never say die attitude. In those days SIO's zonal office functioned in peiamet's kattur sadayappan street's office. Oh..! those were the most romantic, hectic, hilarious days. The story of those days could be told some other time.
Now back to the poem. Come on recite with me. You would love the spirit.

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you are trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
When you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life's race is full of twists and turns,
As everyone of us finally learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won, had he stuck it out,
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow
You may succeed if you give it a go.

Success is failure, turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
You can never tell how the race will end,
A victory may lie just around the next bend.
So stay the course when you're hardest hit;
It's when things seem worse that you must not quit.

I have been reciting this poem off and on for the past twenty years. I have always loved to share this with my friends. Seldom I have come across persons who are not quitters.
But last fortnight I met a terrific personality who personifies this poem. When I first met her and conversed with her the lines of this poem kept on hovering over my mind. She is Mariyam Farzhana Shadiq. Her father is Muhammad Sadiq. Her mother is Fathima Sadiq. Her brother is Muhammad Hussain Sadiq. What has Mariyam achieved? She stands tall among the winners of the UPSC exam this year. She has got 30th rank among the 734 winners. Out of 734, twenty seven brothers and sisters were Muslims. Mariyam is the first among Muslims.

The success story of Mariyam starts from a trip she made to Yezhilagam - the collector's office in Chennai.
It was a trip she made some fifteen years back. She accompanied her father, who went there for some work.
It was her maiden visit to any Government Office. She was just twelve years old and was studying in seventh standard in the famous church park convent. She was simply bowled over by the charm generated by the district collector. The way he generated awe among the staff there, the sudden change in the office atmosphere upon his arrival, the expectations twinkling in the eyes of the waiting public, the glow in the face of a waiting widow with a petition clutched tightly in her hand - every thing made a lasting impact in her.
That was the day when she resolved to become a collector. Whether she was in school or chatting with friends the scenes from the Govt office kept on replaying in her mind.
She kept this desire alive. She lived with this desire. She modified herself. She vowed to accomplish her goal: நான் கலெக்டர் ஆவேன்
To say it in her words என்ன ஆக வேண்டும் என யோசிப்பதற்குள் it was decided!
This dream became her sole purpose of her life. She worked hard to realise this dream. She discarded going to movies..! Infact for the past fifteen years she has not seen a single movie. She worked hard and passed the higher secondary exams with flying colours. She got admitted to Stella Mary's College and passed the BCom with first class. She joined MCom in SIET college and passed with distinction. Then she left to Delhi to join vajiram ravi coaching institute for IAS aspirants there. She cleared the preliminary exams but failed in Mains. She didn't lose heart.
Pressure was there. The relatives were giving suggestions. Alliance options were piling up. But she didn't budge. She vowed to continue her struggle. Her father was on her side giving her support and motivating her.
She returned to Chennai and joined the Jai Ganesh Coaching Academy for IAS aspirants there. She worked indefatigably. Now she cleared both preliminary and mains, but failed in interview. She didn't let it go. She didn't quit. She didn't lose her heart. She worked hard with renewed vigour. She kept herself saying :"Winners never quit; Quitters never win. And I want to be a winner"
Ultimately this year she tasted success! She got 30th rank!
When asked about the secret of her success, Mariyam simply said : 'All praise be to Allah" Her father echoes the spirit. It is simply heartening.
And above all, here is a good news which will make you exhilarate with joy. Mariyam had embraced Islam some years before. Her father, mother and brother too have embraced Islam. Alhumdulillah!

And also read : There is no full stop in India!

Oops... what a contrast..!

luthfullah@gmail.com (T Azeez Luthfullah) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:05:00 +0000

First I want to clarify one thing. Iam not against ladies (No. No. Iam not saying this with the fear of my wife lurking in the corner of my mind. Believe me.) Iam not against ladies getting involved in the struggle to establish Deen. I have always welcomed their participation. I always envisaged their equal engagement in this struggle. Iam not the one who opposes the growing brigades of Mujahidas - purdah clad women demonstrating for noble cause. Iam not averse to the thought of ladies giving lectures, Quranic discourses, Hadith classes etc. I have always dreamed of young muminas tackling the burning issues of purdah, polygamy, feminism etc in the media on their own. Even the two short stories which I wrote in Samarasam were heroine oriented. I have grown up reading the works of Zeenat Kauser, Safia Iqbal etc. My favourite memoirs written by jail bird is the book written by Zainab alghazzali. I wrote a moving obituary of Zainab alghazzali with words and tears. And the list goes on..
Still I want to share a nagging thought... a thought which is drowning me nowadays. What will happen if Lady islamists outnumber gent islamists?
Oh! Don't laugh!
Recently I had been to a historic city to attend a tarbiyah meet. The total number of the participants was seventy. Of them more than fifty were ladies! When I finished my lecture and when the house was thrown open to questions, ladies raised more questions than men..! They asked me about some additional details of a hadith. It showed their passion to learn. They asked me about an historic incident which I mentioned. It showed their eagerness to be informed. One sister asked me to teach her a dua so that she could overcome the reluctance, she faces whenever she is affected by ill-health. As I stuttered, I could not recollect a dua which could help you overcome your fever or cold or head-ache, another sister from the gathering stood up and recited a beautiful dua. "Haneefaji taught us this dua" she beamed with happiness. It showed their willingness and commitment. Whereas the gents remained mute spectators. They were numb. There is no passion. There is no..... Oh leave it.
In the afternoon session a symposium was held. Three sisters and a brother participated. The sisters were very bold, eloquent, and forthright. Their choice of words, their way of presentation, their narration was very good. They structured their speech well. They were energetic in delivering the speech. They simply captured the audience. They had style and substance. Where as the lone male speaker failed miserably. It was pathetic to watch him. He mumbled and fumbled. He had no eye contact with the audience.
And next day I attended another tarbiyah meet in another metropolitan city. Here the audience were different. It was not a routine cadre meet. But it was a meet of circle incharges. ie men and women who matter a lot in our tahreek. In the morning session we had routine lectures by responsible persons. The afternoon session started with a bang. yes really with a bang. What will you say to an excellent, splendid Dars-e-hadith sprinkled with inspiring anectodes and moving exclamations. It was given by a lady. The most striking part of her dars-e-hadith was that she related to our day to day happenings and iced with soul searching questions. That made her dars more effective than the speeches made by established speakers. When the house was thrown open for questions it was the ladies who were the first to raise questions. They asked remedy for a crisis they faced in their area. They asked clarifications. They asked guidances. All their questions were practical, relevant and innocent. It showed that they are field workers and all their questions were work related. But the questions raised by the brothers were not upto the mark. They centered around interpersonal relationship, petty squabbles, grievances, remarks, pulambals etc etc. Only one brother put forward a noteworthy question. It so happened that he was just a week old Nazim..!
The difference in the nature of the questions put forward by the ladies and those by the gentlemen was starking, alarming and terrifying.
Hmmmm......These two incidents were the reason for my fear What will happen if Lady islamists outnumber gent islamists?
Now what do you say?
No problem. leave it yaar.