Mobile ring tones. Big business. After polyphonic tunes, music, all variety of the strangest possible sounds could Islamic tunes (Azaan, Nasheeds....) be far behind. But wait there are some people who did not take this lightly. Especially when Quran recitation was used as ring tones...
Here is the news item
Clerics oppose use of Quran verses as ringtones (AP)
Lucknow: Muslim clerics at a leading seminary in India have asked people not to use verses from the Quran as ringtones for their mobile phones, saying the practice was un-Islamic.
Clerics at the Dar-ul Uloom seminary in the northern Indian town of Deoband issued an edict banning the use of Quran verses or Muslim call to prayers as ringtones, saying doing so violates Islamic law. Quran verses "are not meant for entertainment", seminary official Mohammad Asumin Qazmi said yesterday. "Anyone who persists in using these should be ostracised from society," Qazmi said over telephone from Saharanpur, a city 450km northwest of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh state. Mufti Badru-Hasan, a leading cleric in Lucknow, said he supported a ban on such ringtones. "One should hear the complete verse of the Quran with a pious mind and in silence. If it is used as a ringtone, a person is bound to switch on the mobile, thus truncating the verse halfway," he said. "This is an un-Islamic act." Ringtones with Quran verses or the call to prayers are popular among Muslims in Uttar Pradesh. They are most commonly used by people in their mid-40s and 50s, said Mukesh Sinha, a mobile phone company executive. Many users consider the religious tunes a reminder of their faith.
Bank manager Faiz Siddaqui uses Quran verses as a ringtone. "Whenever my phone rings, I hear these verses that stress the values of hard work and honesty, and I feel closer to my religion," Siddaqui said.
Lucknow: Muslim clerics at a leading seminary in India have asked people not to use verses from the Quran as ringtones for their mobile phones, saying the practice was un-Islamic.
Clerics at the Dar-ul Uloom seminary in the northern Indian town of Deoband issued an edict banning the use of Quran verses or Muslim call to prayers as ringtones, saying doing so violates Islamic law. Quran verses "are not meant for entertainment", seminary official Mohammad Asumin Qazmi said yesterday. "Anyone who persists in using these should be ostracised from society," Qazmi said over telephone from Saharanpur, a city 450km northwest of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh state. Mufti Badru-Hasan, a leading cleric in Lucknow, said he supported a ban on such ringtones. "One should hear the complete verse of the Quran with a pious mind and in silence. If it is used as a ringtone, a person is bound to switch on the mobile, thus truncating the verse halfway," he said. "This is an un-Islamic act." Ringtones with Quran verses or the call to prayers are popular among Muslims in Uttar Pradesh. They are most commonly used by people in their mid-40s and 50s, said Mukesh Sinha, a mobile phone company executive. Many users consider the religious tunes a reminder of their faith.
Bank manager Faiz Siddaqui uses Quran verses as a ringtone. "Whenever my phone rings, I hear these verses that stress the values of hard work and honesty, and I feel closer to my religion," Siddaqui said.
Posted by Arshad
on Sunday, November 19, 2006. 
I came across a news item in which school children from the age of 5 were to be imparted sex education (explicit) to raise awareness regarding Aids/drugs. While the need to raise awareness regarding these social evils and diseases cannot be overemphasized, we disagree with some of the methods employed for the same.
Sex education is a difficult topic to handle for most parents and teachers. So what is Islam's take on it. There is an excellent article by Malik Mujahid Saheb (may Allah reward him), in which he gives tips to parents about sex education and another one in which he urges parents to get involved. May Allah guide us all Amin !
Posted by Arshad
on Thursday, November 16, 2006.
A new law was passed in India to offer protection to women against domestic violence. The old law was amended giving sweeping powers to judges to issue protection orders when required.
Women welcomed it but men were skeptical as they envisaged misuse. Latest reports point out that women have started using the law even as it created discomfort to some.
Women welcomed it but men were skeptical as they envisaged misuse. Latest reports point out that women have started using the law even as it created discomfort to some.
What is Islam's stand on domestic violence and how does it tackle it? There is a comprehensive section on that wonderful site www.islamonline.net (may Allah reward them) that deals with some of the issues related to domestic abuse.
Islam gives that delicate balance (which is so difficult to find in other Deens) between women's rights and mens' reponsibilities. May Allah guide us all! Amin !
Posted by Arshad
on .
There has been a lot of hue and cry about the passing of a law WPA(Womens Protection Act) in Pakistan that amended the prevalent Hudood Ordinance( HO). The message coming out through the media was that the religious (Islamic) parties were opposing the amended new law, meant to protect the rights of women and save them from being exploited and oppressed. It was once again the bearded Mullahs versus the vanguards of human rights. 
We need to separate the wheat from the chaff and get to the bottom of the whole issue. I asked myself some basic questions, which I shall InshaAllah answer after careful study and consultation. Meanwhile you are free to comment on them....
We need to separate the wheat from the chaff and get to the bottom of the whole issue. I asked myself some basic questions, which I shall InshaAllah answer after careful study and consultation. Meanwhile you are free to comment on them....- What does Islam say about sex outside marriage?
- What is Islam’s stand on consensual sex (promiscuity / zina bil raza) and rape (zina bil jabr…..) does it consider it in different light as regards accusation, providing evidence……?
- What is the punishment for rape / zina if proved?
- Is there any difference in punishment for married and unmarried convicts?
- What will be the punishment for lewd behavior (they have not committed the act) ? Answers to the above 5 questions can be found by reading footnote number 2 of the second ayat of Surah Nur from Tafheem ul Quran (the Tafseer of Quran by Maulana Abul A'la Maududi)
- Are raped women asked to bring 4 witnesses in Islam? Answer
- Are raped women punished in Islam? Answer
- What is Hudood Ordinance Pakistan? Click here to read it
- Why was the Hudood Ordinance being opposed? The main objections to the ordinance were 1) women who alleged and then failed to prove rape charges were deemed to have confessed to zina (fornication) and were often jailed using HO 2) Often when women remarried, after being divorced, the first husband would using HO and claiming no divorce took place would file false fornication charges against ex-wife and second husband to harass them.
- What amendments were recently proposed to the Hudood Ordinance through WPA ? To answer this question in brief i quote BBC news item "Until now rape cases were dealt with in Sharia courts. Victims had to have four male witnesses to the crime - if not they faced prosecution for adultery. Now civil courts will be able to try rape cases"
- Why do the religious parties oppose the amendments?
- Will the new rape law (after amending the Hudood Ordinance) promote free sex as suggested by a religious leader of Pakistan?
(16/11/2006) To be completed......
I finally got an excellent answer to all the questions I posed.....Please read this link
(16/01/2007)
Posted by Arshad
on .
This editorial appeared in the November issue of Radiance viewsweekly
Unfortunately, by and large, the West’s attitude towards Islam is negative. It appears that it has found, after the downfall of Communism, a new opponent to fight with. Islamophobia is ever increasing: controversies are being created, deliberate provocations are being made, insults on Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are being hurled and Muslims are being presented as the greatest danger to world peace and future of civilization.
Another aspect of this precarious situation is the imposition of obedient kings, obliging presidents and subservient rulers on the Muslim countries by the West. They are suppressing both democracy and Islamic yearning of their people to please their Western mentors. The West swears by human rights and democracy but promotes dictators and tyrants like Saddam Hussein to serve its interests. Take the case of Saddam: when he was no longer needed, the story of weapons of mass destruction was invented and Iraq was destroyed beyond recognition. So much so that up to now, according to recent revelations of British magazine Lancet, not less than 655,000 civilians have lost their lives there. This massacre of the innocents would put even Hitler and Stalin to shame.
Ever increasing attacks on Islam and Muslims have led some people to frustration while some are leaning towards extremist thinking. But Islam's chequered history gives no room for frustration or any extremist reaction. The Ummah has successfully weathered many storms both physical and ideological.
The year 1099 witnessed the capture of Jerusalem and massacre of Muslims, and Jews as well in the hands of Crusaders. But within hundred years, Salahuddin re-conquered Jerusalem and restored its dignity and re-established peace. Greater was the scale of widespread destruction wrought by Mongol hordes in the fist half of 13th century throughout Muslim world, which culminated in the destruction of Baghdad in 1258. It did not take long for the Ummah to regain its lost glory and the Mongols who so badly devastated Muslim lands were themselves conquered by the lofty principles of Islam. So would the Ummah withstand the present onslaughts, rediscover its ideological strength and spring back to a new vitality. Portents indicate that Islam, in spite of all negative propaganda is catching the imagination of large sections of humanity.
Our agenda should be rejuvenation of Ummah and reconstruction of humanity on the basis of divine guidance contained in the Holy Quran and Sunnah of His Last Prophet. We reject the theory of clash of civilizations and endorse the confluence of civilizations, spirit of cooperation and unity of mankind. We are friends of all and enemies of none. We support good wherever it may be and reject evil with whomsoever it may be. Let us at the end of this holy month of Ramadhan resolve to work for this holy cause. No allegation of Islamofascism would weaken our resolve and no amount of intimidation would shake the Ummah. Firm faith and utmost struggle is the key to achieving this goal for the Ummah and the entire humanity. So Allah, help us.
Islamic Resurgence – the tide cannot be stopped!
In spite of the fact that Muslim Ummah is passing through a critical period in the present day world, there is a clear trend that Islam has become important and is playing a very important role in shaping the future of humanity. The anti-Islam propaganda has, in a way, helped people in seeking more knowledge about Islam. From the East to the West in every city and country, in every newspaper and TV programme Islam is the big question. More and more people are seeking solace in the shade of this Divine religion of peace, prosperity and salvation.
Unfortunately, by and large, the West’s attitude towards Islam is negative. It appears that it has found, after the downfall of Communism, a new opponent to fight with. Islamophobia is ever increasing: controversies are being created, deliberate provocations are being made, insults on Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are being hurled and Muslims are being presented as the greatest danger to world peace and future of civilization.
Another aspect of this precarious situation is the imposition of obedient kings, obliging presidents and subservient rulers on the Muslim countries by the West. They are suppressing both democracy and Islamic yearning of their people to please their Western mentors. The West swears by human rights and democracy but promotes dictators and tyrants like Saddam Hussein to serve its interests. Take the case of Saddam: when he was no longer needed, the story of weapons of mass destruction was invented and Iraq was destroyed beyond recognition. So much so that up to now, according to recent revelations of British magazine Lancet, not less than 655,000 civilians have lost their lives there. This massacre of the innocents would put even Hitler and Stalin to shame.
Ever increasing attacks on Islam and Muslims have led some people to frustration while some are leaning towards extremist thinking. But Islam's chequered history gives no room for frustration or any extremist reaction. The Ummah has successfully weathered many storms both physical and ideological.
The year 1099 witnessed the capture of Jerusalem and massacre of Muslims, and Jews as well in the hands of Crusaders. But within hundred years, Salahuddin re-conquered Jerusalem and restored its dignity and re-established peace. Greater was the scale of widespread destruction wrought by Mongol hordes in the fist half of 13th century throughout Muslim world, which culminated in the destruction of Baghdad in 1258. It did not take long for the Ummah to regain its lost glory and the Mongols who so badly devastated Muslim lands were themselves conquered by the lofty principles of Islam. So would the Ummah withstand the present onslaughts, rediscover its ideological strength and spring back to a new vitality. Portents indicate that Islam, in spite of all negative propaganda is catching the imagination of large sections of humanity.
Our agenda should be rejuvenation of Ummah and reconstruction of humanity on the basis of divine guidance contained in the Holy Quran and Sunnah of His Last Prophet. We reject the theory of clash of civilizations and endorse the confluence of civilizations, spirit of cooperation and unity of mankind. We are friends of all and enemies of none. We support good wherever it may be and reject evil with whomsoever it may be. Let us at the end of this holy month of Ramadhan resolve to work for this holy cause. No allegation of Islamofascism would weaken our resolve and no amount of intimidation would shake the Ummah. Firm faith and utmost struggle is the key to achieving this goal for the Ummah and the entire humanity. So Allah, help us.
Posted by Arshad
on Saturday, November 04, 2006.
Here is a link to an interesting piece of information.
Have been a little busy, hope to add new posts soon InshaAllah .....
Have been a little busy, hope to add new posts soon InshaAllah .....
Posted by Arshad
on Wednesday, November 01, 2006.
