Islamic clerics fume at 'Abdullah's anti-burqa' views
Submitted by admin4 on 9 February 2010 - 4:28pm
By IANS,
Lucknow : Leading Islamic clerics have taken strong exception to union minister Farooq Abdullah's reported views against Muslim women wearing the burqa.
Several maulanas in Lucknow and some well known scholars at the prominent Deoband school of Islamic thought have raised serious objections to former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Abdullah's reported remark at Ajmer Monday that the burqa was largely responsible for backwardness among Muslim women.
Maulana Khalid Rasheed, Lucknow's naib imam and head of the city's oldest Islamic seminary Firangi Mahal, told IANS: "Abdullah has always been rated as a highly respected politician, but that does not give him the licence to make irresponsible statements on religion.
"He has no business to question what was clearly laid down in the holy Quran, even if he has certain personal views."
Rasheed also strongly refuted Abdullah's argument that burqa was the biggest hurdle to the growth of Muslim women.
Senior mufti of Deoband's Darul-Uloom Waqf Ehsan Qasmi in a statement said: "Wearing of the burqa was laid down by Allah and no one has a right to question His will or make any comment on it."
"The statement issued by Farooq Abdullah is condemnable; anyone familiar with the history of Islam would know the contribution and achievements of women that have been spelt out in the holy Quran," the mufti said.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman of Lucknow's famous Tile-Wali-Masjid said: "A true Muslim is one who has sublime faith in the edicts of the holy book; and anyone deviating from the prescribed path cannot be a true Muslim."
He sought to ask Abdullah: "Does he mean to say that only uneducated Muslim women were burqa clad?"
Shaista Amber, the All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board chief who claims to be very progressive, has also advocated her views in favour of the burqa.
Likewise, leading Urdu poet Munawwar Rana who was widely hailed for his aggressive writings and forward looking views is also vehemently in favour of the burqa. "If Islam has prescribed it, then there cannot be two ways about it," he said.
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Let us be realisticand reasonable!
It may be recalled that Allah subhanawata'la has assured many times in His last revelation,Holy Quran,that He has made religion of Islam easy for its followers.Unlike the previous revelations of Allah ,which had been sent down for a particular people for a particular time only. the Holy Quran has been sent down as "reminder to the entire mankind" and will remain relevant and valid till the last day.
It is a perfected book and well explained by our Prophet(SAWS). Then, why controversies erupt now and then. It is because of the "fatwas" issued by the clergy.The Quran has laid down that those who judge must do so strictly in accordance with Allah's teachings and otherwise he will be deemed a "wrong-doer"!
The Quranic verse dealing with "burqa" is to be found in 33 : 59.The verse ends with these words : "Allah is ever forgiving and merciful"
Anticipating hurdles likely to be placed on it ,infuture, by the ruler or her husband, Allah has made it clear that despite her best intentions to follow that dictat sincerely, if the woman is precluded by circumstances, she can give it up and Allah is sure to forgive her.Yusuf Ali has made that comment.(Footnote # 3767).
Islam is passing through the most critical times in non_Muslim countries.
Under such circumstances our clergy should not stick to the letter of the law but be guided by the spirit behind it.
Burqa or No Burqa?
Burqa should be a thing of the past by now. It makes the wearer look ridiculous and subtly or overtly diminishes her capability to be an equal participant in the affairs of society. I too believe in a woman's right to choose her dress, but asserting one's right to wear a burqa sounds anachronistic.
Burqa revisited
Quote...
"Wearing of the burqa was laid down by Allah and no one has a right to question His will or make any comment on it."
Maulana Fazlur Rehman of Lucknow's famous Tile-Wali-Masjid said: "A true Muslim is one who has sublime faith in the edicts of the holy book; and anyone deviating from the prescribed path cannot be a true Muslim."
End of Quote...
I have a problem with these 2 things quoted above.
If it is Allah's will to have women wear Burqa, how come so many women from middle eastern countries like Turkey, Syria, Jordan do not wear burqa, not to mention many women from other countries. Are they defying Allah's will? So are they not condemned to death? Isn't this a gravest sin amounting to death penalty?
From 2 nd quote, they are not true muslim. Then what are they? Are they kafirs? How are they better than a Qadyani woman who wears burqa and follows Allah's will.
Change his name
Muslim backwardness is because of such self-serving leaders- in order to hide their weaknesses they place blame on practices like burqa. One may ask what has Mr. Abdullah done in all his political career to uplift Kashmiris/Muslims (apart from his own family)?
Some years back, we had the spectacle of Pervez Musharraf calling for a modern interpretation of the Qur'an- these secularized leaders thrive on giving media bytes to stay close to the corridors of power- best to ignore them and their silly comments.
It is still not too late for Mr. Abdullah- provided he starts living upto his name.
It is left to the women, so why the 'liberals' want it enforced
Liberty is not reserved for the people who think they are entitled to everything. If a lady intends to wear a burqa, who are we to oppose it as we call names to those who talk about scantly dressed people. Let the liberty be liberal and not hijacked by the a few who claim to be for liberty. As we are all for wearing scanty dresses, we should be liberal enough for a burqa clad women as well. If this is not allowed, liberty is non existent. Will the exclusion of burqa clad Muslim women, make India progessive. No my dear anti-burqa, it does not. These are in fact dangerous because they have military power to force people or atleast make their opponets to pay for their sin, sin being non-interfering.
I am a Muslim woman, in
I am a Muslim woman, in early twenties, and I did my B.Com(Accounts) while wearing burqa to college, and currently I am pursuing M.A.(economics). Somebody explain to me how has my burqa made me "backward" in any way? Rather I claim to have gained more knowledge, both Islamic and secular, after I came closer to Islam.
Why dont they just try to actually solve real issues of the masses than offend them without reason?
Farouques wife who is a non
Farouques wife who is a non muslim must have forced him to issue such a ridiculous statement.
What about Hindu girls LOVE JIHADED?
The Hindu girls LOVE JIHADED must be also making statement that fearing TRIPLE TALAQ by Muslim boys.PRAVEENA, a Hindu girl who was LOVE JIHADED by a MUSLIM boy on assurance that she will not be forcibly converted to ISLAM was forcibly converted to ISLAM by the MUSLIM BOY and his family. The girl committed suicide on 17 -12-2009.
Abdullah's burqa statement
If it is true that he is married to a nonmuslim that is she hasn't excepted Islam with her free will and Mr. Abdullah has married her, than that should be hilighted everywhere. This because a man cannot marry a non muslim (mushrik/kafir)and still be in the fold of Islam. Muslims will know he is baydeen and not expect him to be any different than the rest of the lot. Muslim only on his political passport. one more fake!
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