Category Archives: Leaders

Allama Hameed Uddin Farahi’s philosophy: Beyond tradition and towards truth

Leaders, ,

INDIA :

There are three ways of connecting with the greats, as they themselves tell us. First, dangle by their bootlaces and go just a little further than they did. Second, stand on their shoulders and see farther. Third, use their shoulders as a springboard and leap ahead. Allama Hameed ud Deen Farahi chose the third path and didn’t stop there; he went far beyond.

Farahi was a seeker, unmindful of the commotion around him. He ventured into uncharted territories, undeterred by fear. This is what made him extraordinary.

When Iqbal discussed Muslim political power in the Indian subcontinent, Muhammed Pickthal held a differing view. Pickthal believed that Muslim society was too degenerated and required all efforts for its recovery. For him, any struggle for political power in such a decayed state was unwise. Farahi, with the calm focus of his personality, carved another path: the path of knowledge. For Farahi, everything else stemmed from this pursuit.

This does not mean others were unaware of the need to restructure knowledge. Leaders like Sir Syed, Shibli, Iqbal, Abul Kalam, and other Muslim intellectuals recognized the importance of reviving Muslim knowledge. However, Farahi stood apart. While others were deeply engaged with the history and sciences of the Muslim world, Farahi placed the Quran at the very center of Muslim knowledge. He focused exclusively on the Quran, making everything else secondary.
Although many of us profess the Quran’s supremacy in an emotive sense, we often compromise its sovereignty in various ways. Through tradition, history, jurisprudence, mysticism, philosophy, and the ever-looming image of empire, we carve tunnels into the Quran. Farahi, however, stripped his mind of these distractions and approached the Quran through its own lens. He deciphered its language and found it coherent. This was a monumental discovery. But what does this coherence mean?

Charles Mackay’s masterpiece Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds offers an intriguing perspective on human tendencies. He illustrates how we “love the marvellous” and “disbelieve the truth” through an exchange between a sailor and his mother. The sailor tells his mother, “As we were sailing over the Line, we saw a fish rise out of the sea and fly over our ship.” The mother, incredulous, replies, “What a liar you are!” A simple fact of marine life seemed utterly untrue to her.

Sensing her skepticism, the son adds: “We saw even more wonderful things than that.” The mother, intrigued but still dubious, responds, “Let us hear them, and tell the truth, John, if you can.” The son continues, “As we were sailing up the Red Sea, our captain decided he wanted fish for dinner. So, we cast our nets, and on the very first haul, we brought up a golden chariot wheel, inlaid with diamonds.” This piques the mother’s curiosity. “What did the captain say about it?” she asks. The son replies, “He said it was one of Pharaoh’s chariot wheels, lying in the Red Sea ever since that wicked king was drowned while pursuing the Israelites.” This fantastical tale satisfies the mother, who exclaims, “Tell me such stories as that, and I’ll believe you; but never talk to me of such things as flying fish!”

Mackay concludes that in a contest between the “wondrously false” and the “wondrously true,” the false often wins. When Farahi’s ideas are applied and his discoveries are brought to light, even reasonable minds recoil. His work disrupts entrenched ideas, much like the flying fish, which many deny while embracing the chariot wheel. Spectacular dullness frequently eclipses spectacular brilliance.

In today’s world, where Islam and power politics are wildly entangled, applying Farahi’s insights is doubly challenging. A closed, stagnant mind may merely dismiss the flying fish. However, a mind intoxicated by power and frenzy may go further and destroy it. General acknowledgments of Farahi’s greatness are easy and often met with applause. But when one begins to question deeply held ideas and ideals, decency is often forgotten.

Here, Farahi’s character may be as vital as his knowledge. Those who knew him observed that it was hard to decide which was greater: his knowledge or his piety. His saintly heart was fused with a philosopher’s mind.

When Farahi proposed the coherence of the Quranic text, even Shibli, initially unconvinced, eventually came around. Through further discussions, Shibli recognized the idea’s merit. In one of his letters to Farahi, he wrote: “From now onwards, I will study the Quran with attention to the order in the verses and get back to you.” This humility, especially from someone who once taught Farahi, is remarkable. It takes both a perceptive mind to judge greatness and an unbiased heart to acknowledge it. Shibli realized that the flying fish in the Red Sea was indeed real.

Shibli later wrote to Hamid: “I have thoughtfully read your commentary on Surah Abi Lahab and parts of your work Jumahratul Balagah. I congratulate you. All Muslims must be grateful to you for this.” Shibli didn’t mind the old ideas being displaced in light of Farahi’s discoveries. True seekers carry no idols. They only bear a cross on which biases and disguised reverences are crucified.

In the pursuit of truth, losing cherished ideas does not matter. What matters is the truth itself. This pursuit brings humility, and the knowledge gained on this path nourishes and revitalizes, like rain on parched land, fostering growth rather than igniting fires.

Today, those inciting violence in the name of Islam are fueled by delusions perpetuated by preachers and demagogues, stories akin to Pharaoh’s chariot in the Red Sea. This collective madness includes Kashmir, where we are complicit. Farahi would have no interest in catering to our delusions. He would simply assert that there was a flying fish in the Red Sea and no more.

source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Opinion> Religion / by Ramiz Bhat / March 05th, 2025

A reception to remember: Tiruchi-born tech entrepreneur’s memorable evening as a guest of the POTUS

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Tiruchi, TAMIL NADU / Algharetta (Georgia) U.S.A :

VDart founder Sidd Ahmed on attending the first Lunar New Year gathering at the White House.

Sidd Ahmed, founder of VDart Group, seen at the first ever Lunar New Year reception hosted by the Bidens at the White House in Washington DC on January 26, 2023. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The first ever Lunar New Year reception hosted by the US White House in Washington DC was a memorable occasion for Tiruchi-born Asian-American tech entrepreneur Sidd Ahmed, who was one of the 100 invitees to the formal event held on January 26.

“I’m still a little overwhelmed, because getting an invitation from the President of the United States is a big thing for an ordinary citizen,” says Ahmed over a phone interview. “The programme was meant to celebrate the New Year traditions of people from the Asian-American Pacific-Islander (AAPI) communities. This was one of the ethnic festive celebrations hosted by the White House in recent years, to emphasise the nation’s multiculturalism,” he says.

Ahmed, who founded the VDart Group, a global digital talent management and consultancy based in the US city of Alpharetta, Georgia in 2007, was a rare Indian face among the elite gathering dominated by guests from Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese and Filipino lineage.

“A majority of the invitees were non-profits [non-governmental organisations]. I represented the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), a non-profit that connects minorities [people of African American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian Pacific, or Asian Indian ethnicity] with US corporations,” says Ahmed.

Dream come true

Along with NMSDC CEO and president Ying McGuire, Ahmed was invited as the head of VDart, one of the best-performing companies of the council’s 13,000 member firms. The company has had a significant corporate presence in Tiruchi since 2010.

“Visiting the White House and simply being in the proximity of President Joe Biden is a huge thing. It was a like a dream come true, listening to President Biden speak and interact with the guests. Imagine an ordinary man coming from Tiruchi like me going to the White House. There may have been many more companies and far more well-read people than me there, but it was such a huge honour,” says Ahmed.

Though a mass shooting incident during a Lunar New Year celebration in California a few days before the White House reception had cast a pall on the nation, the US administration decided to go ahead with the event as planned. “President Joe Biden and the First Lady Jill Biden wanted to show the country’s resilience,” says Ahmed.

He later attended a deferred Lunar New Year celebration hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris at her official residence on January 31.

The guests were free to click innumerable pictures in the grand reception rooms of the White House’s ground floor, once they had completed the mandatory security checks. “The Secret Service and US Marines manning the areas were really polite and hospitable that day, and made the evening more enjoyable,” says Ahmed.

While the excitement has still to die down at home, especially among his relatives in Tiruchi, Ahmed says his mother asked the most pertinent questions. “My family was super excited about the whole thing. But only Mom asked, ’What did the President say?’ and ‘Does he look the same in real life as on TV?’” he laughs.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style / by Nahla Nainar / February 22nd, 2023

Meet Sir Hamid Patel, first British Muslim Education Chair in UK

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Bharuch, GUJARAT / London, UNITED KINGDOM :

Sir Hamid Patel, also known as Mufti Hamid Patel, has been appointed as Interim Chair of Ofsted Board in the United Kingdom

London :  

Sir Hamid Patel, also known as Mufti Hamid Patel, has been appointed as Interim Chair of Ofsted Board, short for Office for Standards in Education, in the United Kingdom.

The Ofsted Board oversee the curiculum and teaching practices in all British schools. Hamid Patel has been a member of the Ofsted Board since 2019

The Indian origin British educational and thought leader has been appointed as Education Chair in UK following the exit of Dame Christine Ryan.

Mufti Hamid will hold this position until a substantive Chair is appointed, which will take no longer than five months.

Who is Hamid Patel?

Hamid Patel was born and grown up in Britain. His parents hailed from Bharuch in Gujarat and had migrated to Britain about half a century ago, in late 70s. He comes from a family of 5 – three girls and two boys.

Sir Mufti Hamid Patel left school in Blackburn at 16, without himself excelling academically.

A qualifed Mufti and Islamic Scholar, Sir Hamid’s career began as a teacher, though he wanted to become a footballer. In 2010, he became the Chief Executive of Star Academies, formerly known as Tauheedul Education Trust.

Under his leadership, the trust expanded to manage over 34 schools, primarily serving communities in areas with high levels of social deprivation. Many of its schools are rated outstanding by Ofsted and rank high in performance tables.

In 2024, three Star Academy schools were in the top 10 Schools of UK for Progress 8. In 2023, five Star schools were in the top 10 in England for their GCSE performance.

The trust’s Tauheedul Girls’ School in Blackburn was named State Faith Secondary School of the Year 2025 by The Sunday Times.

The Olive School in Bolton ranked sixth highest among primary schools in the North West, while other top-performing schools include The Olive School in Small Heath, The Olive School in Blackburn, and Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy in Birmingham.

While ‘secular’ schools such as Michaela Community School get positive right-wing media coverage, observers have noted that Muslim-run schools — which outnumber other types of schools in the national top ten — fail to get any recognition.

Other Positions Hamid Patel hold

Sir Hamid Patel CBE also served as Vice Chair of the National Institute of Teaching, which promotes standards, innovation, and quality in education.

He is also Chair of the Education Honours Committee and the Confederation of School Trusts driving excellence and collaboration across the sector.

In addition, as an Honorary Professor of Education at Birmingham University, he connects academic research with implementation in schools.

In his early days of career, Sir Hamid also worked with taxi drivers of Asian origin to help them in getting permits and other such work.

Sir Hamid was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.) in 2015 for education services, and he was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2021.

Hamid Patel’s appointment as Ofsted Board Chair, though interim, is hailed. But, the right wing is fuming.

“We’re very lucky to have Sir Hamid on our board – and we’re grateful he’s stepping into this role. He runs some of the best schools in the country, is a brilliant system leader and a very good man”, Rory Gribbell, Director of Strategy and Engagement at Ofsted, wrote.

[With inputs from Islam Channel and BBC Radio]

source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> United Kingdom / by ummid.com news network / March 17th, 2025

‘Seethakathi’ who put Kilakarai at the centre of south Indian trade

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Kilakarai (Ramanathapuram District) , TAMIL NADU :

Legends abound in Tamil folklore about the ‘merchant prince’ Shaikh Abdul Qadir, popularly known as Seethakathi. He was one of the earliest regional traders to do business with the Dutch and the British in the 17th Century. A generous patron of the arts, he supported poets Umaru Pulavar, Padikasu Thambiran, Kandasamy Pulavar, and others.

Cultural confluence: The prayer hall of the Grand Jumma Masjid, which is central to the landscape of Kilakarai. It was built in the 17th Century in the Dravidian style of architecture.  | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In Tamil, Seethakathi is a byword for philanthropy. The adage ‘Seththum kodai kodutthan Seethakathi’ (Even in death, Seethakathi donated generously) is often used to refer to a person’s exemplary munificence. But who was Seethakathi, or rather, Shaikh Abdul Qadir, who also sported the title, Vijaya Raghunatha Periyathambi Marakkayar, endowed by Kilavan Sethupathi?

Legends abound in Tamil folkloric narratives about this ‘merchant prince’ of the coastal town of Kilakarai, in the present day Ramanathapuram district, whose name is variously spelled as ‘Seydakadi’ or ‘Sidakkali’. Actual evidence of his enterprise and influence, however, has survived only in a handful of records and inscriptions of the late 17th Century.

In memoriam

Kilakarai continues to commemorate its famous son. The main thoroughfare here is called ‘Vallal Seethakathi Salai’, and a grand memorial arch in his name on the outskirts welcomes visitors. An annual ‘Seethakathi Vizha’ is organised with panegyric poems and speeches in his honour.

Central to Kilakarai’s landscape, though, is the Grand Jumma Masjid, built in the Dravidian style of architecture, where Seethakathi is interred.

The mosque, said to have been commissioned by Seethakathi or built during his lifetime in the 17th Century over two decades, also houses the graves of his elder brother ‘Pattathu Maraikkar’ Mohamed Abdul Qadir, and the domed mausoleum of the saint-scholar Shaikh Sadaqatullah (known locally as Sadaqatullah Appa), to whom Seethakathi was close, both as disciple and friend. Seethakathi also commissioned the grave of his younger brother Sheikh Ibrahim Marakkayar in Vethalai.

“This mosque has 110 pillars made with stone quarried from the seashore in Valinokkam village. Its style is typical of southern Indian buildings of its time, and is of great interest to researchers because of its unique structure. All the pillars are embellished with floral patterns, and some of them are naturally embedded with seashells,” A.M.M. Kader Bux Hussain Siddiqi Makhdoomi, the town Qazi and ‘Mutawalli’ (administrator) of the Grand Jumma Mosque, told The Hindu.

Blending with locals

According to research by S.M. Hussain Nainar (1899-1963), who was a professor of Arabic, Urdu and Persian at the University of Madras and Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Arabs and Persians had been trading with the Indian peninsula even before the advent of Islam. Over time, the Arab traders settled along the coast of southern India, and with the coming of Islam, became assimilated with the local population. Most Tamil-speaking Muslims in these regions have Arab ancestry.

Islam’s influence in the Deccan has been noted from the end of the 13th Century, but it peaked only after the mid-17th Century, in the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb (1658-1707).

Born to Malla Sahib Periya Thambi Marakkayar and Syed Ahmed Nachiyar, as the second of three sons, Seethakathi hailed from Selvarkulam. The Marakkayars (an abbreviated form of Marakala Rayar) were one of the five early Tamil Muslim communities (the others being Sonakar, Labbai, Turki and Rowther) mentioned in historical texts.

The Marakkayar community was known for its maritime trade, and Seethakathi made his fortune in dealing with pepper, rice, pearls and handloom textiles, among other commodities.

Seethakathi was a close friend of Vijaya Raghunatha Thevar, or Kilavan Sethupathi, a loyal vassal of Chokkanatha Nayak, who helped Thirumalai Nayak in his war against the Mysore army.

Sethupathi cut off ties with Madurai in 1792 and built the Ramalinga Vilasam palace to fortify his position in the region. The palace, set in the middle of a moated campus, has a stone tablet that bears Seethakathi’s name.

The title, ‘Vijaya Raghunatha Periya Thambi’, denoted the affection and trust that Seethakathi enjoyed of his royal friend.

Mughal ‘khalifa’ in Bengal

It is also said Shaikh Sadaqatullah’s mention of Seethakathi’s generosity and character to Emperor Aurangzeb resulted in the ‘merchant prince’ being sent to Bengal as the Mughal ‘khalifa’ (regent). However, Seethakathi decided to resign after a while, as the new environment did not suit him.

Seethakathi’s acumen helped him become one of the earliest regional traders to do business with the Dutch and the British in the 17th Century. He is known to have maintained ventures from the Coromandel Coast to Sri Lanka (Ceylon). The British made contact with Seethakathi in the mid-17th Century.

Nainar’s 1953 book Seethakathi Vallal refers to the correspondence, in 1686-1690, between Seethakathi and the British East India Company’s agents William Gyfford and Elihu Yale negotiating trade in pepper and rice. The Dutch, too, interacted with Seethakathi, first as business rivals, and then as collaborators.

Patron of arts

Seethakathi was a generous patron of the arts, with poets like Umaru Pulavar, Padikasu Thambiran and Kandasamy Pulavar among the many supported by him.

Umaru Pulavar wrote the Seera Puranam, a 5,000-stanza verse biography of Prophet Muhammad in Tamil. Nainar’s book also contains two extant literary works about him: Seethakathi Nondi Nadagam (a Tamil mono-drama) and Thirumana Vaazhthu (felicitation written for Seethakathi’s wedding).

“Over time, many myths have become attached to Seethakathi. As archival documents show, he was a successful businessman and ‘rental farmer’ for the powers of the day. More systematic research of old records would help to highlight the role of Tamil Muslims like Seethakathi in Indian history,” said J. Raja Mohamed, historian and former curator of Pudukottai Government Museum.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Tamil Nadu> In Focus / by Nahla Nainar / October 27th, 2023

Dubai: Firoz Merchant donates Rs 2.25 cr for prisoners’ release, patients

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Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA / Dubai, U.A.E :

Firoz Merchant (Left) donating the cheque to Khalid Al Olama, Secretary General of the Dubai Charity Association

New Delhi :

Mumbai-born Indian businessman Firoz Merchant has donated AED 1 million (approximately Rs 2.25 crore) to the Dubai Charity Association to support kidney patients and release prisoners. 

Firoz, a philanthropist is the founder and chairman of Dubai’s Pure Gold Group. The donation will be used for dialysis at the Dubai Charity Association and his initiative of paying the fines of prisoners who have served their terms in jails and have been languishing as they cannot pay the fines imposed on them. 

Khalid Al Olama, Member and Secretary General of the Dubai Charity Association, posted the story about Merchant’s charity on Instagram. He thanked Feroz and said it would be of great help to the kidney patients. 

He said, “This donation is not just a financial contribution. It is a symbol of Pure Gold Group’s social responsibility and commitment to community welfare. We are proud of this Group’s collaboration. We are grateful for its continued support for humanitarian work in the UAE. This collaboration allows us to expand healthcare services and help more patients.” 

After donating to the Dubai Charity Association, Firoz Merchant said, “I would like to thank the Dubai Charity Association for their continued dedication to humanitarian causes. I believe that everyone has a fundamental right to access the best medical care in the world. I am happy that I could contribute to this community service.” 

Firoz Merchant’s social work has made a big difference in the lives of many poor and vulnerable people. Firoz’s ‘Forgotten Society’ initiative has freed more than 20,000 prisoners in the UAE since 2008. For this, he waived the prisoners’ debts and arranged for them to fly back to their countries. In 2024, he gave crores of rupees to free 900 prisoners before Ramadan.

In 2017, he announced to provide an annual sum of US$130,790 to repatriate prisoners from the UAE to their home countries. Feroze is fulfilling his social responsibility by helping the needy in society. Mumbai-born Firoz Merchant is well known for his jewelry business and above all human service in the UAE. Each year before Ramazan, he gets prisoners who are languishing in jails after serving their terms but unable to pay the fines imposed by the Courts on them freed from the UAE’s jails.

Firoz set up ‘The Forgotten Society’ in 2008. Each years the society hands over a cewrtain amount to the UAE government as the cumulative fine amount for the release of prisoners

Merchant had to drop out of school due to financial difficulties and he moved to UAE where he worked and gradually established his business.

Firoz Merchant says he does this to ensure that the prisoners can return to their homes before Ramazan. ‘The Forgotten Society’ arranges tickets for the air travel of prisoners. Firoz Merchant, 66, is the owner ‘Pure Gold Jewellers which he set up in Dubai in 1989. He claims to live up to the name of his business and sell only quality jewelry to his customers.

Firoz Merchant says after becoming a brand and enjoying a monopoly on the jewelry market of Dubai and later Abu Dhabi, he wants to expand globally with his new design jewelry. 

All the exquisite gold-diamond designer jewelry of ‘Pure Gold Jewellers’ is available for sale online. 

While selling designer jewelry, one day Firoz Merchant thought of ​​freeing the prisoners lodged in various jails who don’t have a relative and resources to pay the fine imposed on them by the court as part of the punishment.

Due to his charity, 700 prisoners were released in 2019 and 900 the next year. Till a year ago his initiative has helped more than 20,000 prisoners.

Merchant says his deed is a message of humility, humanity, forgiveness, and kindness during Ramzan.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Awaz The Voice / March 12th, 2025

3 events in 1979 changed Islamic world, led to extremism, says author Iqbal Hasnain

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UTTAR PRADESH / NEW DELHI :

Padma Shri awardee Iqbal Syed Hasnain’s ‘Fault Lines in the Faith: How Events of 1979 Shaped the Islamic World’ was the topic of an animated discussion at Delhi’s IIC earlier this month.

The ‘Fault Lines in the Faith’ book discussion at IIC | Photo: Heena Fatima | thePrint

New Delhi: 

A series of three momentous events irrevocably changed the social, religious, and political fabric of the Islamic world. And they all took place in 1979. This is the central argument of Padma Shri awardee Iqbal Syed Hasnain’s book Fault Lines in the Faith, which became the topic of a lively discussion among academics and history buffs at Delhi’s India International Centre on an early February evening.

Presiding over the panel discussion in IIC’s conference room, Hasnain, who is also an eminent glaciologist, elaborated on the three “fault lines” that sent shockwaves far beyond their immediate contexts.

First, the Islamic Revolution in Iran cleaved the Muslim world along sectarian lines with the establishment of the first Shia state. Second, the siege of Mecca ignited the conservative Sahwa (Islamic awakening) movement in Saudi Arabia, blending Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist ideologies. And third, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan led to the birth of violent extremist groups like al-Qaeda and its offshoots.

“All these three pivotal points led to the surge of fundamentalist or Islamist jihad,” said Hasnain. He added that what began as a “normal struggle between invading forces and local communities” warped from nationalism to a violent ideological shift with devastating repercussions.

Iqbal S Hasnain | Photo: Twitter/@Rupa_Books

Hasnain further elaborated on the global impact of these events by sharing personal anecdotes from his time studying in the UK. He said he encountered strong anti-Western sentiment among students from Middle Eastern countries during his glaciology programme at the University of Manchester in the 1990s. 

During Friday prayers in a large hall, he said, student speakers often delivered khutbahs (sermons) against Western culture and American exploitation of their regions, with some even advocating for jihad. As American involvement in the Middle East increased, especially with the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq in the early 2000s, this hostility intensified.

pix: amazon.in

During the book discussion, audience members raised questions about Hasnain’s narrative. One participant, Sumanjeet Choudhary, a retired corporate executive, inquired why there wasn’t more opposition to jihadist activities despite Islam’s rich history and the presence of prominent leaders.

Hasnain countered this view with the example of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, who has urged Moroccans worldwide to embrace tolerance and reject Islamist extremism.

“King Mohammed VI came out and he stopped the funding [of madrasas] from Saudi Arabia. He changed the whole narrative in the madrasas,” Hasnain said. He acknowledged, however, that while there is an ongoing debate within Muslim communities and their leadership about how to address extremism, it is “not very visible”.

Ripple effects

Hasnain’s book traces the rise of anti-pluralism, misogyny, and severe intolerance within the Arab world. The 1979 Shia Islamic Revolution in Iran, he said, shook the Sunni Arab world. In response, Saudi Arabia, fearing a Shiite revival, actively promoted puritanical Wahhabi Salafism, a strand of Islam that’s deeply hostile not only to Shias but also to Sunni Sufis. He, however, implicates the West as well. In February 1989, after nearly a decade of occupation, the Soviet army left Afghanistan, leaving behind a fractured nation, where tribal warlords and mujahideen groups engaged in an intense tussle for power. The US, having lost interest, “abandoned” the region, he added, leaving a vacuum for the likes of Osama bin Laden to fill.

Ultimately, Hasnain argues that the events of 1979 triggered a chain reaction, including 9/11, the US invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and the rise of al-Qaeda and ISIS. In 2021, in what seems like an eerie echo of the past, the US withdrew its troops from Afghanistan, leaving it with no democratic foundation and back in the grip of the Taliban.

When a participant asked about the impact of the 1979 events on India, Hasnain answered that the after-effects “were not limited to West Asia”, with radicalisation spreading to all corners of the world. “In India, to some extent, it was [mitigated] because India practiced a more moderate form of Islam , Hanafi Sufi Islam, which emphasised trade,” he added.

However, as more Indians went to work in Saudi Arabia, they were influenced by Salafi ideology, Hasnain said. For instance, those who’d grown up celebrating Eid-e-Milad (Prophet Muhammad’s birthday) stopped doing so after stints in Saudi Arabia, where Wahhabis do not observe such festivities.

One of the panel’s members was former Indian ambassador to Qatar KP Fabian. Chiming in, he said that it was important tomonitor developments in Muslim-majority countries, given India’s sizeable Muslim population. There may be political borders but “ideas come without a visa”, he pointed out, and vigilance is essential. He also claimed that Arab countries are keeping an eye on India’s Muslims. “They are watching us,” Fabian said. “They are also discreet.”

(Edited by Asavari Singh)

source: http://www.theprint.in / The Print / Home> Features> Around Town / by Heena Fatima / pix of book edited – source amazon.in / February 29th, 2024

Dehlvi’s book ‘Ishq Sufiyana’ released at WBF in Delhi

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NEW DELHI :

On the concluding day of the World Book Fair 2025, held in at Bharat Mandapam / Pragati Maidan New Delhi from February 1 to February 9, the book “Ishq Sufiyana: untold stories of divine love” by young writer and intellectual Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi was officially launched.

Ishq Sufiyana: Untold Stories of Divine Love / by Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi / image:  blueroseone.com

The book launch ceremony took place at Stall No. 12 in Hall No. 6, with several distinguished personalities in attendance.

Notable figures present at the event included Kamlesh Sharma, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth and former Indian Ambassador to the United Nations (New York and Geneva), Padma Shri Professor Iqbal Hasnain, former Vice-Chancellor of Calicut University, Professor Madhu Khanna, former Director of the Department of Comparative Religions and Spirituality, Jamia Millia Islamia, Dr. Shahid Rasool, Dean of Academics at the Central University of Kashmir, Dr. Anita Benjamin, Founding Director of the Rashtriya Christian Mahasangh, Farooq Wani, Chief Editor of the daily Brighter Kashmir, Syed Abid Gowhar, renowned broadcaster and journalist from Jammu & Kashmir, Tasleema Akhtar, human rights activist, Tahmeena Rizvi, researcher, Dr. Rachika Arora, Syed Affan Yasawi, among others.

During this vibrant event, all the distinguished guests shared their thoughts about the book and its author. Ishq Sufiyana is a unique blend of reality and imagination. It creatively presents the real-life stories of thirty renowned Sufi saints of India.


The book among other Sufi intellects also highlights four revered saints and spiritual figures from the Kashmir Valley, Mir Syed Ali Hamdani (RA), Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (Nund Rishi) (RA), Sheikh Hamza Makhdum (RA) and Lal Ded (Lalla Arifa)


Additionally, Ishq Sufiyana includes a collection of narratives based on Sufism, ethics, and spirituality, many of which have been previously published in various newspapers and journals. The book aims to inspire seekers of all religions and spiritual traditions to dive into the ocean of divine love. The values and teachings of the personalities featured in the book remain relevant today, helping individuals grasp the depths of divine love that transcend worldly boundaries.


Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi is a well-known Sufi scholar, researcher, critic, speaker, and author based in Delhi. He is fluent in Urdu, Arabic, and Persian and is a trained scholar in Indo-Islamic traditions. He has received in-depth education and training in various spiritual orders, particularly the Naqshbandi, Qadiri, and Chishti Sufi traditions.


He has also undergone spiritual training and initiation under Turkish-origin Naqshbandi Sufi Sheikh Ashraf Effendi (Founder of Sufi Land, Germany). Pir Zia Inayat Khan (Global Head of the Inayati Chishti Sufi Order), American Sufi guide Pir Shabda Khan (Director, Sufism International, USA). He has studied under several esteemed Sufi scholars and spiritual elders in India. Recently, he was invited as a scholar-in-residence at the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship (Philadelphia) and the Awliya Council of North America (New York, USA).

He has also served as an advisor on Islamic affairs for the National Security Council Secretariat, New Delhi.

Moreover, he has participated as a permanent representative of UN-affiliated NGOs at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

The author is also an independent writer, poet, translator, and commentator.

source: http://www.brighterkashmir.com / Brighter Kashmir / Home> Breaking News / by Abid Gowhar / image of publication edited by blueroseone.com / February 12th, 2025

Tales Of The Dead: Chronicling History Through Patna’s Cemeteries

Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, Royal Families, PreIndependence -Descendants (wef. Jan 02nd,2022), Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Patna, BIHAR :

Cemeteries representing Patna’s chronicle of history and heritage are dying a slow death

Unkept Legacy: The grave of Shahzada Karim Shah, the great-grandson of Tipu Sultan.

Like every other city, Patna also owes, to an extent, its cultural and literary existence to the courtesans who blended with the local society and provided it with a new dimension. One among them was Allah Jilai, who had settled in Patna from Allahabad. She was considered a gorgeous woman and sported a honey-dipped voice which had an arresting power. While visiting Calcutta, she developed a terminal illness. She was barely 24 when she died in 1918 and was buried in the Pakki Dargah Muslim graveyard. Her tombstone with 12 lines of Urdu couplets helped in figuring out her biographical information. Had there been no tombstone one would have never known her existence in Patna and the services that she rendered to the city.

Patna, other than being the capital of Bihar, served as a home to multiple cultures, identities, art forms and families. Today, the city has almost lost the reminders of its glorious past. But a few graves still stand as reminiscent of a bygone era. These tombs, or time capsules, where hundreds of stories remain buried, are largely deserted, ignored and unknown.

Bihar is home to more than 9,272 graveyards, according to the government’s estimate. The Bihar government planned to fence these cemeteries, and in 2022-2023, a total of Rs 93.74 crore was approved for this purpose, while an additional amount of Rs 1.25 crore was set aside for the same. According to Bihar Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, the fencing of about 7,647 graveyards has been completed, and the remaining will be done shortly.

In addition to the 9,272 cemeteries, Bihar also has a sizable number of privately-owned graveyards maintained by the families of former nobles, aristocrats, zamindars, jagirdars and nawabs. Thus, the overall number of burial grounds in Bihar would be close to 10,000. Moreover, several Christian cemeteries are located in Patna.

Further east on Ashok Rajpath, one can find the Gurhatta cemetery which chronicles the gruesome massacre of the British prisoners at the house of Haji Ahmad Ali in 1763 at the command of Mir Qasim, the nawab of Bengal.

The tomb of Mir Mohammad Naseer, the father of the first Nawab of Awadh Photo: Ali Fraz Rezvi

Padri Ki Haveli is the final resting place of people from Armenia, Portugal, France, Persia, Italy and the UK. In a sense, this place is a symbol of international harmony. Here, one can find a Jewish grave next to a Chinese, and a Greenlander adjacent to a Mozambican.

Near Patna Ghat Railway Station is the Danish Kothi—established in 1775—signifying the presence of Denmark in Patna in the past. It was the house of Jorgen Hendrich Berner (1735-1790), Chief of the Danish Factory in Patna, who was buried on the premises as demonstrated by his tombstone. There are at least three more tombs here which are bereft of inscriptions. Later, the Kothi became the residence of the station master of Patna Ghat, and is at present, the office of the store in-charge of railway electrification.

The Lost Glamour

While Zohra Bai, the queen of thumri, remains buried within the campus of Rauza Masjid at Maharaj Ganj, Haider Jaan, Najban, Ramzu, and Chhottan were also the tawaifs (courtesans) whose presence had made Patna a lively place.

These courtesans participated in religious activities as well, and the existence of the Imambara at Chowk is a living example of their dedication towards such pious endeavours.

As we move towards the eastern corner of the city, another story lies buried in the deadlands of Begumpur.

Father of a Persecuted Son

Popularly known as Nawab Shaheed Ka Maqbara among the locals, is the tomb of Ihteram-ud-Daula Nawab Zain-ud-Deen Ahmad Khan Bahadur Haibat Jung, the father of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula of Bengal. Nawab Haibat Jung successfully defended Patna during the Maratha attacks but was later murdered by the Afghan rebels. His wife and children were imprisoned when he was killed.

The tomb of this martyr lies deserted in Begumpur, guarded by Dashrath Gope Yadav who comes at dawn and leaves by dusk. “The tomb, mosque and the several acres of land belong to the State Waqf Board which is least interested in the property unless there’s a chance to sell,” says Dashrath, as he cleans the interiors of the tomb. The place also had an Imambara which used to host majlises during the month of Muharram in the presence of Raja Ram Narain, the then deputy governor of Bihar.

Padri Ki Haveli is the final resting place of people from Armenia, Portugal, France, Persia, italy and the UK. it is a symbol of international harmony.

Dashrath has devoted 45 years of his life to this tomb of Nawab Shaheed. “This place had a dense jungle and I cleared it all on my own. No one from the Waqf Board or the caretakers helped me. There was no roof at this tomb, so I went around begging in the streets of Patna so that there could be a roof at the grave,” he says.

Affectionately, he calls Nawab Haibat Jung as Data Sahib—a term usually used for Sufis. Dashrath believes that he is at peace and his children are married because of the blessings of Nawab Haibat Jung.

This is not the only case of a burial place turning into a mazar. While he is aware of Nawab Haibat Jung and the history, another tomb in the city’s centre has been converted into a Sufi shrine by the people unaware of the person buried inside.

Nawab Munir-ud-Daula Raza Quli Khan Bahadur Nadir Jung, a minister of Mughal emperor Shah Alam, was the founder of the Patna Bhiknapahari and Bhagalpuri families. He was instrumental in obtaining a grant from the emperor for the East India Company and assisting the reappointment of Shuja-ud-Daula to the Vizarat. He remained in charge of Korah and Allahabad until a little before his death in Benares on October 11, 1773. Later, his corpse was transported to Patna, where he was laid to rest.

His tomb, embracing a Persian inscription of eight lines, is located west of the Government Hospital in Patna. The vicinity is collectively known as Bawli. The grave is located on a raised platform of about four feet from the ground level and enclosed by intricate lattice designs of stone.

Surprisingly, his grave has lately attained the status of a Sufi shrine where devotees of all faiths converge to venerate him. His followers used to organise a majlis (a religious discourse to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussan, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad) at his shrine during Muharram. It is imperative to observe how the mausoleum of an astute politician is providing spiritual respite to everyone and is acting as a melting pot of different cultural, religious and ethnic affiliations, thereby bridging the communal and sectarian divides.

The Awadh Connection

Mir Mohammad Naseer Nishapuri was the father of the first Nawab of Awadh, Mir Mohammad Amin. Being a descendant of the Seventh Shiite Imam, Musa Kazim—a progeny of Prophet Mohammad—he was considered among the nobles. He along with his eldest son, Mir Mohammad Baqar, reached India in the reign of Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah and settled in Patna, where he was provided with subsistence allowance by Murshid Quli Khan, the governor of Bengal, at the recommendation of his son-in-law, Shuja Khan, who also had his roots in Persia.

When his son, also named Mir Mohammad Amin (Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk), came to Patna in 1708-09, his father had already passed away and was buried in a cemetery. Subsequently, both brothers, Mir Mohammad Amin and Mohammad Baqar, in search of employment, set out for Delhi in the beginning of 1709.

The tomb of Nishapuri is located to the north of Patna City Railway Station. It borders the Kachchhi Bagh Cemetery and the nearest landmark is the now-defunct Pradeep Lamp Factory. It lies in a roofless rectangular enclosure, supported by ornamental arches and turrets of small heights. There are remains of flower motifs on the walls. The intricate stone lattice work on the arches has disappeared and the horizontal beams supporting the enclosure have also fallen at places due to the absence of proper maintenance. There is a garage in the vicinity which is using the site as its dumping ground, thereby causing further damage to it. Moreover, the overgrowth of trees and shrubs is also playing its notorious role to damage the place. This neglected heritage, which should have been a symbol of Patna’s glorious past and its royal association with Awadh, is counting its final days.

Several tombs are scattered across the city of Patna; some are fortunate to bear a name or a tombstone while the others remain deserted and ignored.

When Safdar Jung visited Patna in 1742 to support Ali Vardi Khan to push the Marathas out, he paid a visit to the grave of his maternal ancestor and recited the Quranic verses or Fatiha to his soul. It was at his instance the walled enclosure and latched screen (carved jaalis) were built around the burial place.

The aforesaid site had an attached Imambara where Muharram majlis were held, but nothing remains now. The disappearance of such heritage is swiftly obliterating the past of the city and disconnecting the cultural thread which joins several eras.

The Prince of Mysore

Among all the legendary personalities buried in the city, there exists a chapter of Mysore’s history in an unimaginable grave at Meetanghat, Patna. In the compound of Khanqah Bargah-e-Ishq Takiya Shareef—where rests the great Sufi mystic and poet of the 18th century, Shah Rukn-ud-Din Ishq Azimabadi—exists the burial place of Shahzada Karim Shah, the great-grandson of Tipu Sultan.

He was a man of mystic inclination and was thus affiliated to the Khanqah of Hazrat Ishq Azimabadi, through his pir, Syed Shah Khwaja Amjad Hussain Saheb. He died in Patna in 1915, and Shamshad, a poet, composed a Persian inscription of 10 lines for his tombstone.

He was a man of mystic inclination and was thus affiliated to the Khanqah of Hazrat Ishq Azimabadi, through his pir, Syed Shah Khwaja Amjad Hussain Saheb. He died in Patna in 1915, and Shamshad, a poet, composed a Persian inscription of 10 lines for his tombstone.

There exists as a cemetery of history in Bihar—the grave of Shahzada Mirza Zubair-ud-Deen Bahadur Gorgani, the grandson of the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, at Darbhanga or the tomb of Yusuf Shah Chak, the Sultan of Kashmir who reigned from 1578 to 1586, and was exiled by the Mughal Emp­e­ror Akbar. He along with his family members now rest in Biswak, Nalanda. Furthermore, Mahmud Shah, the fourth king of the Hussain Shahi dynasty of Bengal, died in 1538 AD in Kahalgaon (previously spelled Colgong), Bhagalpur, and was buried there. Similarly, Hussain Shah, the last king of the Sharqi dynasty of Jaunpur, took refuge at Kahalgaon and died there, and Sher Shah Suri, the foun­der of the Sur dynasty, lies buried in Sasaram. Sadly, Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is busy presenting a model of development upon the ruins of Patna’s heritage, while these graves representing the chronicle of history are dying a slow death.

Syed Faizan Raza is the area representative of the British Association For Cemeteries In South Asia

Ali Fraz Rezvi is an independent journalist, theatre artist and a student of preventive conservation

source: http://www.outlookindia.com / Outlook / Home> National / by Syed Faizan Raza and Ali Fraz Rizvi / Novmber 04th, 2023

Mangaluru: Former Deputy Mayor Mohammed Kunjathbail dies of heart attack

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, , , , ,

Mangaluru, KARNATAKA :

Mohammed Kunjathbail

Mangaluru: 

Former Deputy Mayor of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) Mohammed Kunjathbail, known for his contributions as social activist, died following a heart attack on Saturday morning. He was 60.

His body is kept at his house in Kunjathbail for people to pay respects.

Kunjathbail, who was a bachelor, had been elected to the Corporation three times and was an active member of the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee. He had also contributed to the works of the All India Beary Sahitya Parishat.

Muneer Katipalla, social activist and convener of the Toll Gate Virodhi Horata Samithi, expressed shock and sorrow at the demise of Kunjathbail. “The Samiti has lost a prominent leader with the untimely death of Kunjathbail, who always worked for the welfare of the people. He also remained untainted till the end, given that he never faced any corruption charges,” Katipalla said.

source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / March 08th, 2025

Karnataka Brothers Honored with President’s Award

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Karnataka (under research project), Leaders, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Vijayapura / Bengaluru , KARNATAKA :

Bengaluru: 

In a historic moment, Hamza Hussain and Altaf Hussain, two brothers serving in Karnataka’s law enforcement, have been honored with the President’s Award for Meritorious Service on India’s 76th Republic Day.

Hamza Hussain, Superintendent of Police (S.P.) Commandant, 12th Battalion, KSRP, Tumkur, has been recognized for his leadership in critical police operations and public safety. His brother, Altaf Hussain, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) at Wilson Garden Police Station, Bangalore, has played a vital role in crime prevention and community policing.

The award, one of the highest honors in Indian law enforcement, acknowledges their dedication, integrity, and commitment to justice. Their achievement is a proud moment for Karnataka and the nation, inspiring future generations of police officers.

The brothers expressed their gratitude, stating, “This award is a tribute to all officers who tirelessly serve the nation. We dedicate it to our department, colleagues, and family for their unwavering support.”

Their recognition on Republic Day underscores their exceptional service in upholding law and order, marking a milestone in Karnataka’s police history.

source: http://www.islamicvoice.com / Islamic Voice / Home> Cover Story / Vol. 37-03, No. 448 March 2025