Holi Mubarak: How the Urdu newspaper celebrates Holi on the front page

See the front page of the Urdu newspaper on the left.

The masthead is quite colourful. It reflects the mood of the day.

Holi is the festival of colours, and the top part of the paper, is tastefully designed, with the message, 'Holi Mubarak'. The Sunday edition too has multiple photographs, with reports about traditions of Holi in different regions.

Apart from photographs, there are articles too on Holi, in other Urdu newspapers. An overwhelming majority of readers of these Urdu newspapers are Muslims. This is true for most papers, except, those in Punjab, Delhi and J&K.

Many national English newspapers don't bother to wish readers on Eid-ul-Fitr of Eid-uz-Zuha, despite the fact that they have substantial Muslim readers. In the case of vernacular papers too, you find it quite common.

In states, where due to hawkers' pressures, papers are shut on Id, they do mention about 'chhutti', that the paper won't be printed on the day. However, these things matter a lot. We have a shared culture and it is our tradition to be inclusive.

That's what Indian-ness is all about. Isn't it. Now three links on the Holi day for you. Spare a few minutes. I am sure, most of you would be astonished.

1. Holi as Eid-e-Gulabi [Pink Eid] in an Urdu Nazm that places Prophet Muhammad in a distinct Indian cultural milieu. Abida Parveen renders it in 'Raqs-e-Bismil' album. "Hori hor rahi hai Ahmad jiyo ke dwaar....Hazrat Ali ka rang bano hai, Hasan Husain khilaar....."Listen at this LINK

2. How Sufis, Mughal kings and Muslims on the street play Holi. Read, 'Holi, a shared colourful heritage of Hindus, Muslims ' at this LINK

3. Listen this amazing 'Thumri' (sung by Sardari Begum) that was penned by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah [Awadh].  LINK

Rights of Orphans In Islam

Parents are one of the greatest blessings of Allah swt. Loosing any one or both of them is such a loss that its beyond count. When parents, leave, all the love and kindness in the world leaves. Or at least the orphans think so. It is because parents are shade in the hardships, in difficulties and in hard times. When this kind shade is gone, only the scorching heat of reality remains. And the orphans have to live in it.

It is because of this that islam has put so much emphasis on kindness with orphans. Our beloved prophet Muhammad pbuh himself was an orphan. He (pbuh) lost his parents. After his parents, his grandfather took the responsibility to raise him. His grandfather was very nice to him. And after his departure, his( pbuh) uncle took his responsibility. Our beloved prophet Muhammad pbuh used to be very nice to orphans and he also emphasized greatly to be good with them. Let us see what Quran says about orphans.

[002:177] Piety is not (a ritual requiring) that you turn your faces towards the East or the West (during �salat�). Rather, pious is he who believes (firmly) in Allah, the last day, the angels, the scriptures, and the prophets. (Pious is he, who) spends his wealth (in charity) out of love for Him on his kinsfolk, the orphans, the poor, and the wayfarer. (Pious is the one who) gives (help) to those who ask (for help), and (spends money) to free slaves. And (pious are those who) establish �salat�, pay the �zakat�, and fulfill the pledges made by them. Those who endure and display fortitude during poverty and adversity, and during times of crises. Such are the people who are sincere! Such are the pious ones! 

Here Allah swt has linked piety with being good and nice to others. He swt has specifically mentioned orphans in this verse. Thus, one who offers salah regularly but never cars for poor, needy and orphans, his piety is not real. This shows how much importance has been given to treating orphans good by Allah swt.  In the following verse, Allah swt say;

[002:215] They ask you as to what (and on whom) should they spend. Say, �Whatever good you do (and the money you spare) should (first) be for your parents and the near ones, and (then) for the orphans, the needy and the wayfarers. Indeed, Allah knows well whatever good you do!�

Thus, after spending on family and kin, comes the number of orphans. This also shows how much is it important to be good and nice towards orphans. In another verse, Allah swt say;

[002:220] (You may ponder) about (the transient nature of) this life, and (the permanence of) the life-to-come! They ask you about the orphans. Say, �The best (conduct) is to better (their conduct and condition). If you allow your affairs (and assets) to mingle, then of course they are your brethren. Allah knows well the one who (spoils and) covets, and also the one who improves (and reforms). He could have imposed a hardship on you. Indeed, Allah is the most Powerful and the Wisest. 

This beautiful verse further clarifies the status of orphans in Islam. Islam puts so much importance towards orphans because they loose the two ultimate sources of care and love, their parents. So, islam asks us to feel their pain, feel their fears and loneliness. Islam tells us feel about them the same way we feel about our families. Just imagine for a minute that you have no parents, or your children are left alone, what will your heart say? It will cry.

You cannot bear to loose your parents or to leave your children alone in this world. If you can feel this, you should know that orphans need our care and our love the most. Of course, we should love every one for the sake of Allah swt. A penny we spend for the sake of Allah swt, He promises to return us 10 times more of it in this world and seventy times in the hereafter. The same measure, or probably more,goes for love and care. 

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Police excesses in Mumbra: Midnight raid, illegal detention, humiliation in the garb of 'search operation' shocks residents in Maharashtra town

Around 300 policemen stormed into Rashid Compound in Mumbra (near Mumbai), entering houses, detaining elderly citizens, youths and even the minors.

They were all brought out, forcibly taken towards the police vans and herded to the police station.

Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) Amit Kale led this operation that has sent shock waves in the entire Mumbra settlement, and causing anger among Muslims.

There are 11 buildings in the Rashid Compound. All of them were targeted for this 'midnight search operation'.

It was not about policemen entering one or two houses to catch suspects, with warrant. People were woken up in the midst of the night, without telling reason to women folk, the police dragged the male members away.

The senior citizens, schoolboys and prominent persons including poet Obaid Azam Azmi were also forcibly taken away, for no fault of theirs. The victims have recounted the harassment faced at the hands of policemen, to newspapers.

Inquilab reports that women in the bedrooms were woken up during this 'house search' operation. Azmi told the policemen that his father was an MLA, yet, there wasn't any respite. Local residents alleged that many policemen were drunk.

The incident stunned the residents and the news of the mass detentions spread like wildfire. People began gathering outside the police station. Local NCP MLA Jitendra Avhad and members of the social organisations began gathering on the spot.

Seeing the situation was now getting out of hand, the police later released 80 persons. Residents said that it was saddening to see the mistreatment of such magnitude and the manner in which people were taken away like criminals and made to sit on the floor in police station, an eyewitness was quoted in the newspaper.

This incident had occurred on the night of Wednesday and Thursday. The reports in newspapers quote residents as saying that policemen were armed with cutters to break the doors. Over a dozen police vehicles had entered the locality in this swoop.

The reason was that police had to catch certain chain-snatcher. This report tells how '80 Muslims were held to catch a chain snatcher'.

There was no criminal found among those detained. The police highhandedness has been widely condemned.

On Thursday, meetings were held at different places. A formal complaint was also made to home minister. This has happened in a Congress-ruled state.

Though an inquiry has been promised, the highhandedness and the totally unjustifiable action, once again shows the mindset and the biases of sections among the Maharashtra police.

Report in Urdu Times, says that while officials in the raid had said that they had orders from top, senior officials said that they hadn't given any such order to conduct the midnight swoop.

Mumbra is located in Thane district, but falls under Greater Mumbai. It has a population of nearly 10 lakh [1 million now]. The place has a strong Muslim population. In fact, minorities account for 70% of the population  here. Jitendra Avhad is the NCP legislator from here.

The police commissioner has also promised that inquiry would be completed in eight days, say newspaper reports. One hopes that the police officials will conduct an impartial inquiry and take action against policemen responsible for such excesses.

MUMBAI POLICE SAY IT WAS ROUTINE CHECKING DRIVE

Shamelessly, it was termed a routine checking drive! Where on earth, cops enter homes at 2 am, herd people out, parade them, force them into van, take to police station, made them sit on floor and then for no fault of theirs, and then say it is 'routine checking drive'.

The officer Amit Kale hasn't been suspended as yet. There has been no action so far against other policemen who were part of the team. The officials claim that an inquiry has been instituted. Let's see if it is just a delaying tactic or they will take action.

ROLE OF MEDIA: INDIFFERENT TOWARDS VIOLATION OF CIVIL, DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS

The English and Hindi newspaper almost completely ignored the incident, despite the gravity of the biased action. There is clear bias against Mumbra at the root of this post-midnight swoop. Indian Express followed the news and printed it on its front page.

But for most other papers, it was just no news. TV channels that get into hyper active mode at minor incidents, didn't take up the case. It was an incident over which the Maharashtra government and Mumbai police ought to be questioned, so that corrective measures are taken. 

The best to women....

"The most perfect of men in belief are they who are best in character. The best in character are they who are best to women."

The Prophet Muhammed, upon him be peace. (Al-Tirmidhi)

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Inspirational!!!

Islamic Nikah Quotes

Nikah is one of the most beautiful thing which opens the halal path and closes the haram path for men and women. This is why its a great virtue In Islam to do Nikah (wedding). This is a great Sunnah of our beloved Rasool S.A.W.

I am sharing some heart touching Nikah Quotes:

Imitating Kufar

The imitation of kufar is a very wide subject. This cannot be enclosed within small boundaries. Many a times people think that even talking like kuffar is imitation and it is forbidden. Let us first see what does our religion say about imitating kufar.

Beloved prophet Muhammad pbuh said Narrated by Abu Dawood (4031)

�Whoever imitates a people is one of them.� 

So, whoever follows kufar is one of them. Now, mostly people mistake this hadith and virtually stop doing anything which they find out is related to kuffar. But scholars have clarified the misconception in great detail. According to scholars, the imitation or following kufar include, food, style, clothing, speech etc. But what it does not include is the custom. For example, the people living in west wear pants and suits. This is their life style. So Muslims also wear the same type of clothing. It is no more an imitation because it is a common dressing of almost all people across the globe. So one cannot quit wearing pants or suit because it is kufar's dress. According to the history, trousers or modern day pants were not designed by kufars but it is a dress of muslims. Allahu alam.

But the clothing which is exclusively indicative of a particular non muslim society should not be worn because it will depict an imitation. For example, the dress worn by monks, dress worn in churches or dress worn by hindu pandits etc. such dressing is exclusively indicative of a particular non muslim group which makes the wearer of it one of them.

Similarly, there is food. Some food is specifically eaten by non muslims. But muslims can eat all that is halal. But even from the halal food, the food which is made by kufar, or made to celebrate some festival which is not islamic etc is not halal. And any such food eaten or made would be an imitation of kufar.

The styles, in clothing or hair or make up which is totally un islamic, is also imitation. For example, the modern day spike sin hair, or hair cut which leaves some hair on head, or beard which is not proper is all un islamic because it is done by kufar. The spikes hair style used to be made by the pagans. Allahu alam.

About imitating kufar, Shaikh Muhammad ibn Uthymeen said;

�Imitation of the kuffaar may be in appearance, clothing, food and other things because it is a general word which refers to a person doing something that is done exclusively by the kuffaar, in such a way that whoever sees him would think that he is one of the kuffaar. This is the guideline. But if the thing has become widespread among both Muslims and kaafirs, then this imitation is permissible, even if it was originally taken from the kuffaar, so long as it is not haraam in and of itself, such as wearing silk.�

Majmoo� Duroos wa Fataawa al-Haram al-Makki (3/367).

Thus, everything cannot be generalised to imitation of kufar, similarly, everything cannot be done in the name of modernism or cultural-ism which is not part of islam. There is another aspect to it as well as pointed out by the scholars. And that is that some things that used to be done by kuffar at a particular time period remained their exclusively, but now, with the passage of time, some practices have gone world wide. But still, whatever act coincides with islamic principles, we should not do it. And whatever is just part of culture which does not affect islam in any way, there is no harm in it. And Allah knows all the bets.