English Articles

The eighth round of parliamentarian elections took place. Although, the disqualification of some well known and outstanding candidates had disappointed a great number of people, prominent personalities and political groups but a significant segment of them finally decided to go for vote. It was the case with the Sunnite community of Iran too.

Cultural, Social and Religious Magazine (Quarterly) 
DARULOOM, ZAHEDAN
(Islamic Learning and Research Endowment)
Year:9, Issue: 32-33, Winter-Spring 2008

Chief Editor: Khuda Rahm Lack Zaaee Bahadori
Editor: Muhammad Qasem Bani Kamal (Qasemi)
Deputy Editor: Haahi Gamshadzahi Far
Executive Editor: Sanaullah Shahnawaz
in collaboration with Council of Writers
English abstracts by: Abdol Moghset Bani Kamal
Circulation: 14000
Address: PO. Box: 98135-1561
Email: nedayeislam@gmail.com

————————————————————————————–

New Parliamentarians: Challenges and Opportunities

Editorial

The eighth round of parliamentarian elections took place. Although, the disqualification of some well known and outstanding candidates had disappointed a great number of people, prominent personalities and political groups but a significant segment of them finally decided to go for vote. It was the case with the Sunnite community of Iran too. As usual they participated to the elections and showed that they are keen and interested to the national pride and dignity of their country while willing to the rule of law and the removal of all sorts of discrimination. They affirmed that they want to have their due share in government and play role in security, economic and political decision making process of their country. 
 
As matter of fact, the parliamentarians are the trustees and defenders of the rights of all Iranians. The biggest tragedy for a parliamentarian perhaps is that s/he from the first day of entrance to parliament instead of protecting the rights of general citizens begins to serve his or her cronies; or to think how to recover from the financial losses that s/he has suffered during the election campaign. Absolutely, it will get them away from their main responsibility of protecting the rights of the people and following up their problems. Obviously, seeking help from the Almighty, having contacts with people, consulting with different layers of society, using the experience of predecessors, studying biography and political views of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), quadruple Caliphs, religious leaders and just rulers are key factors for all parliamentarians to be successful in undertaking their true job. 

It is to be cleared that the Sunnites do not want any special prerogative and do not have any extra-ordinary expectation. They are only asking for removal of discrimination and complete implementation of those articles of constitution that either have been ignored till yet or have not justly been implemented. However, the acceptance of the reality that the Sunnites have been under political, economic, social and cultural discrimination more than any other community or groups during the years in past, is the first and the most important step in the way of restoration of their constitutional rights. It is obvious that denial or justification of the existing discriminations against the Sunnites, or suppression and rejection of their legal and right demands neither materialize the pleasure of God nor solve any problem.

The Sunnite community of Iran with a population of one-forth of the country’s total population is the integral part of Iranian nation.  This community is an opportunity for the Islamic republic not a threat, hence, any attention and efforts to meet Sunnites’ demands would be a matter of pleasure of God and a factor of credibility for the establishment and the rulers both at national and international level. It would vitalize Islamic brotherhood and consolidate the Islamic republic. Therefore, following-up the problems of the people and paying attention to their expectation and meeting their demands are responsibilities laid upon the shoulder of all new parliamentarians. The Sunnite community has strong expectation that the new parliamentarians more than their predecessors would prove sincere in this regard.      

————————————————————————————–

The Holy Quran Regards Preaching of Islam as Criterion for being Superior

By: Muhammad Anwar Bozorg Zaadeh

The verse number 110 of surah  “Aal-e-Emran” considers the companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) superior over the rest of the Muslim Ummah and the Ummah over the earlier people respectively. It is because of their good offices to the duty of preaching Islam in the world and revitalizing the precept of prohibiting people from wrong doings and encouraging them for charitable acts in the Muslim society. That is why having only unadulterated faith and doing charitable acts are not the factors for ones superiority unless he or she becomes committed to the principle of preaching Islam once embraced it. In the same way, he or she should feel full responsibility to propagate correct faith and good acts throughout human society.
Obviously, the companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) besides preaching Islam were also committed to its three other important elements vis-à-vis a). education, b). worshiping and recalling Allah and, c). good manners, which were the complementary components of the preaching principal. Therefore, with their devotion to the above four principals as whole they had achieved the best and ideal form of piety at the era of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).  
Apart from the diverse opinion over its interpretation among the scholars of the early days as well as late comers, in the Hadith “Khair-ul- quroun e qarni” (My century is the best of all centuries) either we define the century in term of a generation or a cut of time or the acts of the people of the time, we come to one conclusion that is its superiority over earlier centuries. According to the adherents of the third opinion who define “The superiority of the century” in terms of acts, again all acts enjoy second importance after preaching.
Historically, the factor behind the strength of any religious system has had a direct linkage with the way it was preached. As soon as a prophet was passed away another prophet used to be emerged thus the process of preaching never stopped. After the end of prophecy, this duty of preaching Islam has completely been put upon the shoulder of Muslim Ummah; therefore, it is the factor for superiority.

————————————————————————————–

Father in the Eyes of Son:
A glance to the Life of Mullah Abdullah Ahmadyan, His Relics, Thoughts and Literary Works

By: Ahmad Ahmadyan
Lecturer at Islamic Free University –Mehabad

Dr. Mullah Abdullah Ahmadyan was one brilliant figures of the Sunnite community in Iran. He was a biological encyclopedia of Islamic knowledge and social science; and a role model for divine preachers. He had in his credit all those factors that are required for this type of personalities. 
Although what have remained from him for the Kurds and the Sunnites as whole, are very valuable in terms of scientific methodology, way of analysis and logic, all of them are a small part of his gigantic knowledge. About half of his books written in Arabic, Persian and Kurdish language are not published yet. In so many universities his books such as “Key to Hadithology”, “History of Hadith”, “The New Word”, “Explanation” etc are being used as text and reference book by the teachers, students and researchers in the subject of Islamic Learning, Islamic Philosophy and Haditholgy.
 
The late Amadyan was an eloquent orator and also had a witty nature. In a duration of 10 years more than one thousands sarcastic programs were produced by him and broadcasted from Mehabad station. In addition of these expertise he was a skilled artist having a big hand in Islamic and Iranian calligraphy. Another aspect of his multi-dimensional personality was his active role in journalism, where he wrote and published more than 200 research papers and articles on different topics ranging from history and literature to criticism and social science. 

————————————————————————————–
In Memory of Justice Khair Muhammad Hassan Zahi

By: Abdul Samad Hassan Zahi

Justice Khair Muhammad Hassan Zahi was one of the most effective personalities in term of promoting and developing education and culture in Zahedan City and the entire province of Balochistan. He was the person who for the first time laid down the foundation of Mosques, Madrassahs and schools in the new born city of Dozdap ( Zahedan ) and developed religious related activities over there.
 
Justice Khair Muhammad was burn in 1245 Hejra in the tribal area of Zahedan City in a wealthy family. After learning the Holy Quaran he departed to India for higher education.  He spent more than 10 years in different areas of Sindh. He then left for Qandehar of Afghanistan and completed his education in that city.   After 25 years he returned to Dozdap.

————————————————————————————–
A Word with Germans

Discourse: Syed Abul Hassan Nadvi
Translated by: Abdol Moghset Bani Kamal

The article is actually the text of a speech delivered by Syed Abul Hassan Nadvi at Berlin Engineering University on October27, 1964. Although, more than forty years have passed since delivering of the speech and tremendous changes have taken place during this period, but most of Nodvi’s analysis and views still worth to be studied. The speech contains good points to be used by today’s Muslim intellectuals in initiating dialogue with West without being impressed with latter’s surface glamorization.

Late Nadvi eulogizes the German nation for its role in development of modern science and also goes through the ideas of some of German philosophers such as Martin Luther, Goethe and Kant. He then talks on the national characteristics of German nation. According to him the Germans are revolutionary and dynamic in nature. However, he criticizes them for not using their talents to establish and initiate a better system for Europe and the entire world. Analyzing the causes of World War I and World War II, he reveals that both of them were fought for the sake of power, thus the Germans failed to canalize their potential for any ideological and moral purpose while it was expected that they would become the pioneer of a global movement for restoration of human values.

Coming to the mistakes that Germany committed, Nadvi says: “Despite of all bad behavior that the West had had towards this great nation, Germany remained loyal to it, and did not dare to choose a different path and work for a better system”, “Had Germany taken this daring and revolutionary step, all of its previous revolution in the filed of economic, politics etc would have seemed childish hobbies” He puts.

Late Nadvi points out a big contradiction in Europe and says that the Europeans in their social life are encouraging for materialism and hedonism while their spiritual leadership is with a religion that calls for monasticism. Finally, Molana Nadvi blames crusade wars, church-men, missionaries and some writers for presenting a bad face of Islam in Europe. 

————————————————————————————–

Pakistan

By: Abdul Ghafoor Dorani

After the demise of Alamgir Ourangzeb in 1707/1119, the great Mongolian empire started declining. Perceiving the situation Shah Waliollah with his strong and deep insight and perspicacity sketched out some important guidelines and course of action for the future of Islamic society. At the time of Shah Abdul Aziz_ the son and successor of Shah Waliollah, the influence of British in India was increased. On the other hand, the executive power of Muslim rulers shrunk. In those circumstances Shah Abdul Aziz issued a religious verdict according to that India was declared as a non-Muslim country and the land of infidels. The verdict gave legitimacy to anti-British activities. The followers of Shah Abdul Aziz initiated various struggles for freedom of India from colonial Britain. A number of these efforts are highlighted below:
 
– Movement of Syed Ahamad Shaheed in 1831
– Active participation of his (Shah Abdul Aziz) followers to the War of Independence  in 1857
– Movement of Molana Muhammad Qasem and the establishment of Daar- ul- Ulum Divoband
– Movement of Sheikh-ul-Hend and its continuation by Sheikh-ul- Islam Molana Hussain Ahmad Madani_ the then president of Jamiat e Ulamaa e Hind_ till final independence of India in 1947

Meanwhile, due to increasing pressure from the Hindu Majority, a group of Muslims began thinking on the establishment of a sovereign independent Muslim state. Later on, All India Muslim League during a get-together in March 1940 in Lahore passed a resolution and demanded partition of India on the basis of Two Nation Theory. According to this theory the Muslim Majority provinces of India were to be separated and form a country under the name of Pakistan. The resolution was famed as Pakistan Accord. Jamiat e Ulemaa e Hend and the Muslim members of Congress Party opposed the resolution and regarding it: “Message of death for the Muslim minorities of the Hindu majority provinces”.

After the establishment of Pakistan, the religious scholars who had played pivotal role in creation of the country were practically sidelined. Muhammad Ali Jennah took oath as first Governor- General of Pakistan. He and his successors could not safeguard Pakistan’s territorial integrity and fulfill the wishes and desires of the people. The Islamic laws (Shari’a) were never implemented; Bangladesh got independence from Pakistan and the Kashmir issue is going on till today.  Power is being exchanged between political parties and the army; and the country’s enemies are fueling sectarian and ethnic violence. Terrorism, blood-shedding and economic predicaments have hardened the lives of the citizens; and the intelligence services of both India and Pakistan are active to create more crises for each other.

————————————————————————————–

Qadianism

By: Dr Ubaidullah Badpa

Qadian is the name of a village located in Punjab province of India. It is a famous village being the birth place of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani who claimed prophethood last century and today it is the power-house of his followers’ religious activities. The followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahamd are called Qadiani and the religion which he preached to, is known as Qadianiat.

The belief to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as Last of the Prophets, rejects the appearance of any prophet after him except the Jesus who would step in at the last moments of this world. That is why any one who claim prophethood is not acceptable to the Islamic society and Mirza Qdiani is one of them. If we look at the history of false claimants of prophethood, we would find different causes that led to the expansion of their ideas among the masses:

– Negligence to the belief and principle of “Seal of Prophethood”.
– In order to develop disputes among the Muslims, the infidels through their agents resort to creation of different sects in Islam.
– Nationalism is another important factor. It causes that those who claim prophethood, gain quick popularity and some simple-mind people and even intellectuals inspired by nationalistic sentiments accept their claims and become their followers.
– Increasing frustration within the Islamic society and the people’s hope and wait for a reformer who is to be certified by the Almighty God. Or, paying attention and having confidence to foretellers, dream, bibliomancy etc.