ISLAM CORNERED AND AT CROSS ROADS

Dr K Prabhakar Rao

PART II

A large number of Muslim intellectuals have issued categorical statements condemning terrorism and violence. It may also be noted that many Muslim nations have associated with America in battling the terrorist regimes. Actions against Afghanistan and Iraq by America and Britain could not have been successful without the help of the Islamic Middle East countries. In this context, the famous ultimatum of President George Bush before the recent war on Iraq can be quoted. He stated “ In this war against Terrorist regime either you are with me or with them”. It is also possible that some of the Islamic nations have no options in the light of such statements by the President of most powerful United States and they were brow beaten and stayed with President George W Bush. The fact is that sizeable numbers of Islamic states have supported actions against terrorist regimes either oput of American fear or were genuine. Pakistan that was responsible for Talibanising Afghanistan had no option except to toe the line of United States in their fight against Talibans and AlQaeda.
Muslims must realize that terrorist actions a, Lashkar- E- Jhoogvi, Shoora-E- Farqoon, Hamas etc. Islam is a peace loving religion as confirmed from time to time by various scholars and the Holy Quran itself. It is high time Isla ts are thinking that they are fighting for Islam and Allah. As a matter of fact, they have sullied m disassociates itself with these Jihadi Outfits by issuing Fatwa. These terrorist Jihadi outfits in fact are doing immense damage to the faith of Islam. Unfortunately, these misguided outfi the name of Islam to such an extent that the faith is being looked- at with great suspicion by the world. It is high time as suggested by Dr THH Chaudhry of India, a noted scholar, to form an Anti Jihadi Security Force comprising of Muslims to battle the Terrorists to put an end to the Un- Islamic acts and thereby retrieve the good name of Islam (7).
Before putting entire blame on Islam as a religion encouraging violence and holding it responsible for the present global turmoil, it is also necessary to consider the viewpoint of other side too.
Muslims are of view that four centuries of colonialism by western powers has resulted in the present situation. Ottoman Empire Collapsed after World War I (1915-1918) and entire Middle East was colonized by UK and France. Turkey evolved as a democratic country on Western style. Highly exploitive trading terms, undisguised looting, transferring enormous amounts of wealth of the native countries to the Western nations and extending European hegemony are the root causes. The colonialists consolidated economic, political and cultural dominance in these countries and this is the greatest cause for the present friction between some of the Middle East nations and Western powers ( 8). Although Western powers claim that moderating and democratizing the Muslim nations is the order of the day, Muslims feel that the nations have been subjected to dictatorial regimes, resulted in death of scores of people and humiliation to many. The myth of colonialism as a process for modernization is blown up. The colonial legacy has left the Muslim masses with a legacy so entrenched that the people there find it hard to extricate themselves from the legal and economic bondage. The dependence was so much that self-rule has become impossible to realize and remained as a dream although Western powers granted independence to these colonies. In this connection, it is worth noting the statement of Dr J W Smith, Director of research of California based Institute for Economic Democracy. He has observed that through the devastating historical process, western civilization has been responsible for violently killing 12 to 15 million people since World War II and further causing the deaths of 100s of millions of people as their economies were destroyed or the countries were denied the right to restructure to care for their people. One hundred and fifty thousand to 300,000 of these were tortured and killed by death squads set up by western intelligence agencies primarily the CIA ( 9). The invisible presence of World Banks, the International Monetary fund etc have resulted in multinational imperialism. Palestine occupations, Dictatorships and Us presence in Saudi Arabia all are the result of outputs of imperialism.
Scholars have observed that Muslims failed to live by Islam and were thus enslaved. They have touched depth of humiliation as a result of non-adherence to their faith. If they were colonized and enslaved in the past over centuries, it was due to their own weakness of faith and following others way of life and going astray from the values of Islam. The emergence of violent elements in Islam today are the result of Muslims going astray from Islam and the never ending adventures of colonialists in the Muslim world. Westerners should leave Muslims alone and give an opportunity for self-rule. At present, there is no single agency that could speak for entire Muslim community. Earlier Caliph was the Head of Muslim community and this was abolished in 1924. Some claim that by introducing the Institution of Caliph (Khalifa) there would be single agency that could speak for Muslims and this could result in better understanding of Muslims with others. However revival of Caliphate would be disastrous to the world as the aspect of Jihad would become more dynamic under one legal authority.
Muslims are also highly critical of the views of Pope Benedict XVI while speaking to 20 member delegation of German Muslim leaders on 20 Aug 2005 in Cologne. The Pope urged them to help defeat terrorism which he said aims at poisoning ties between Christians and Muslims. Reacting to Pope’s address, Dr Abdul Haq Ansari, Ameer, Jamatt-e-Islami Hind expressed regret that Pope conveniently forgot to mention the actual reasons behind the eruption of violence. Dr Abdul Haq Ansari asked the Pope to advice his followers to stop State terrorism and ask them to respect sovereignty of nations and maintain human rights. Acknowledging that Christians too had killed in the name of religion referring to the crusades, the Pope said both Muslims and Christians should learn from past conflicts. Pope also said that many atrocities were committed in the name of religion. . But, Muslims were sore that Pope failed to mention the present crusaders such as America, Britain and allied forces. Dr Ansari opined that Christian States occupied Palestine 50 years ago and are still killing scores of Muslims and forcing many to leave the land. If Christian States pressurized Israel to vacate occupied lands of Palestine 20-30 years ago, the bloodshed could have been averted, Dr Ansari claimed. He appealed to Pope to rise over his position and support truth and justice and save the sanctity of his position. Dr Ansari expressed hope that the Pope would instruct the Christian States to follow a policy of reconciliation and give up the brutal policy of suppression against the Muslim States that would bring prosperity to the whole world (10).
Richard Itani came down heavily upon Pope Benedict’s comments to German Muslim leaders and claimed that he had double standards and suggested that the root cause for the violence rests elsewhere (11). He cited the acts of violence by a protestant in Oklahoma City in 1995 that destroyed Murrah Federal building killing 168 people and causing injuries to 800 people. More than 300 buildings were damaged. Erst Cardinal Ratzinger did not call the Protestants to look into their hearts and cleans them of hatred that begets hatred and leads to barbarism. It is not only Muslims living in past as most western critics believe. Christian and Jewish societies are also unable to come out of the 16-19 th century mindset that led to brutal colonization of Muslim States one after the other. Christian cultures are no way highly developed than Muslim culture except that the technological advances resulted in comfortable living in their societies. But resulted in moral degradation. This led to their belief that their lives are more valuable than the others.
Thus it is seen that Muslim intelligentsia are of the opinion that the present conflicts of violence are the outcome of past colonial rules and the brutal policy of western powers for domination, exploitation and economic suppression apart from the unjust occupation of Muslim lands by the Jews abetted by the Christian powers. Unless the Western powers relinquish their policy of expansionism and economic dominance, there cannot be any improvement.
On the other hand, Islam faces allegations that women are exploited and suppressed although Quran has sanctioned equal rights to men and women (12). But men are more socially, politically and economically. Talibans completely banned education for women and some societies insist on wearing veil from head to toe where as some are tolerant and limit to wearing scarves over their heads. Saudi Arabia prohibits driving and voting by women. Iran is after couples that go about clasping their hands in public. The fundamentalists threaten women who raise voice against these aspects and the governments persecute such women. Irshad Manji, Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Taslima Nasreen are some of the examples that protested against exploitation and suppression of women in Islamic societies. None of them are staying in their countries and have spread their lands to tolerant countries. Often the Suras from Holy Quran are quoted that recommend beating of women. They claim that the trouble with Islam is obsession with faith and absence of reasoning. In Pakistan, families particularly in the tribal belt are killing innumerable women (at least two per day) in honor killings. In Mali and Mauritania little boys are seduced into slavery by Muslim hustlers. In Sudan, slavery happens by Islamic Militia. In Yemen and Jordan, Christians on work have been shot at point blank range.
Most Muslims treat Holy Quran as a document to imitate than interpret suffocating the capacity to think. Holy Quran declared and exhorted men to honor mothers who bore them and God ever has been watching over them. But in practice, women are killed in honor killings and suppressed as claimed.
One of the most frequently quoted verses against Islam is about striking of women. In the same chapter few lines away, it has been proclaimed that men have authority over women as God has made one superior to others because they (men) spend their wealth to maintain them (women). Good women are obedient. As for those, from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them, for sake them in beds apart and beat them if he gets feeling of insecurity (4:34).
Prophet Mohammed (Peace be on him) never used force against his wives and whenever he was disturbed, kept himself at a distance for some time and that solved the problem. Several times, he said
“Could any of you beat his wife as he would beat a slave and then lie with her in the evening”. He said ‘Never beat Gods handmaidens”.
Sura 4:34 states, “follow admonition, Talk out the problem, Leave them apart in bed, and use force (if inevitable)”. But this is not a command to beat at slightest pretext. Probably, the practice in Arab society during those days of Prophet Mohammed (Peace be on Him) would have been so. Striking is a last resort when the wife is guilty of obvious immoral conduct. If at all it has to be resorted to, the act should not cause pain; it should be a simple nudge. Islam always recommends compromise, non-violence and no harsh treatment is warranted forcing women into submission. Amicable settlement is what required (13). Another verse quoted for discrimination of women as critically quoted by Irshan Manji is, “Women are your fields, and it says, Go then into your fields when you please. Do good works and fear God”. “Huh! Go into your woman when you please and yet do good? Are women partners or property?”, Asks Irshad Manji. She further questions, “Partners, insists Jamal Badani a renowned Quranic scholar. He assures me that this sexually enlightened verse serves as a definition of fore play. Like fields, women need tender and caring love. The farm seed is worthless unless the land is fertile that gives it’s growth. What about, whenever you please? Which paradigm Allah advocates? Adam and eve as equal or woman was land to be ploughed at will?” (14). Taslima Nasreen of Bagladesh too raised voice of protest about the suppression of women in Muslim society and she was persecuted and hounded out of the country. Her books have been banned in Bangladesh and some in India too where sizeable Muslim population exists (15). It is a common practice that whenever certain issues in protest against a religion and established practices are raised, the religious heads raise hue and cry to intimidate the persons. Governments too do not want to buy problems in countries like India and Bangladesh. Such books are usually banned to appease the sections and buy peace. The freedom of expressions in these countries is not on the lines of Western countries, which are much, more developed and open to discussions.
Another criticism leveled against Islam is the institution of plural marriages. Coming to the aspect of plural marriages, these were permitted by Islam to cater for stability of society. Many men were getting killed in the battles and women were left uncared and provided when Islam was being established by the Prophet (Peace be on Him). There was no security for them. The children were to be protected and given care and love. (16) Therefore it was sanctioned as:
“Marry women who pleases you, two, three or four, but if you fear you wont be equitable, then marry one”(4:3)
Polygamy is not new in ancient societies. King Solomon had dozens of wives and concubines. In Islam, first wife can seek divorce if she is not willing to share her husband with other woman. This clause can be added during marriage contract. All wives must have equal status in terms of house, possessions and wealth (17). Most of the Indian rulers in Hindu society had many wives and scores of concubines too. Mormon sect in Christians practiced polygamy and the practice was banned in 1890. However the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints (FLDS) that was a breakaway group from mainstream Mormon Church practices polygamy (18). No society was free of this vice and they were never questioned. In India after gaining independence in 1947, the Sharada act came in to force strictly. However illegal marriages are in plenty. Christian western society is plagued by adultery, pre marital sex and permissiveness under the guise of modernization and progress. But Quran does not order men to marry many more. It only caters for provision and allows for possibility. Mohammed (peace be on him) married again only after the death of his elderly distinguished wife whom he loved most dearly and respected her. He married widows and desperate women needing support and care. Another accusation against the Prophet is that he was pedophile. His young bride Aisha was betrothed to him when she was a child, probably 9 years and her father Abu Bakr was the most ardent follower of the Prophet. Such practices were not uncommon in those days among Arabs. She grew up to be a most distinguished lady in the history of Islam. Abu Bakr became Caliph I after the death of the Prophet that finally led to the split of Muslims into Sunni and Shia sects (19). In ancient days, most of the rulers belonging to other religions throughout the world married many wives mostly out of lust, to get male off spring while at times they resorted to such marriages for developing political stability with various clans in the kingdom. It was an accepted practice.
Irshan Manji states quoting Saudi Arabian King that democratic system does not suit the reign in his kingdom. The election has no place In Islam’s creed. The king feels what is bad for Saudi Arabia is also bad for Islam. Is colonization by desert Saudi Arabia the problem? Islam isn’t explicit on all matters as Muslims tend to be told. Why there are detours in practice if Islam is a straight path? As per her finding, intimidation has replaced faith in Islam (20). In the words of Dr Sarraj (Eyad) at Gaza home in July 03 and founder of Gaza Community Mental Health Programme “I know we have lot of psychopathology. It is a male dominated society. There is no role for women. There is freedom of expression. There is heavy atmosphere of intimidation. This a tribal structure in which dissent is treason. We have not yet developed a state of citizenry within all Arab countries in which people are equal before law. This is very serious”. Late Yasser Arafat, the Supremo of Palestine, arrested the gentleman (21). The desert culture and personality haunts Islam still as per Irshad Manji. The honor killings of women being practiced in Pakistan and rape of women to compensate a dishonored clan even if the clan’s honor was not violated by her but by some one else are the results of practice of combined religious and non religious traditions that have roots in tribal culture.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali has also questioned persecution and discrimination of women in Islam. She claims that Islam has only one moral source and that is Prophet Mohammed. He has to be followed. As per her claim, the sexual morality has been mostly derived from the Arab traditions of the time. Any one who explores any other sources of morality other than the Prophet (Peace be on him) and scriptures faces death and women who withdraw from the virgin cage are dubbed as mere whores. If nothing is wrong with Muslims, why many are fleeing? Ayaan Hirsi Ali claims that out of top 10 countries from which people are migrating nine were primarily Muslims (22). When there is no balance between religion and reason, the results are poverty, violence, political instability economical malaise and human suffering. Reactionary regimes of Middle East have convinced west to fight fanatic Islam. These regimes that keep themselves in power are secondary causes of suppression of women.
Often it is claimed that the institution of marriage with respect to clause of divorce is not fair for the Muslim women and has been misused by the male members of the society and women are exploited (23). Marriage between male and female in Islam is not a sacrament but a civil contract or pledge through which the partners regulate their mutual relations. The bond is not made in heavens, but made right on the earth. The bond can be dissolved under certain conditions. Although for religious duties both sexes are equal, Women are exempted from such duties when they are pregnant, menstruating and during childbirth. From beginning, Islam has recognized women to have autonomous legal rights that facilitate them to acquire, maintain, cultivate land and sell property. The consent of the woman must be obtained for any transaction in personal presence unless she is a minor or has appointed an attorney for such transactions. Islam does not regard sex as evil and considers as an innocent, good and the pursuit of knowledge as paramount duty. Islam does not consider that eve had tempted Adam. The Holy Quran tells us that Adam and Eve disobeyed God and touched a certain tree and had to be expelled from the paradise. The scripture does not say that the disobedience was sexual and explains that the act was out of forgetfulness.
We had already beforehand, taken the covenant of Adam, but he forgot: and we found on his part no firm resolve (Sura 20:115)
As a matter of fact, Islam considers Sex as essential like food, water and sleep. It is created by the God and not guilt and is innocent. Islam has prohibited celibacy for the sake of God and sexual gratification of men and women is considered as a matter of piety, virtue and felicity. However as the woman is a legal personality and not an object of pleasure, her consent is a must for any sexual affair. Islam counsels Muslims to enjoy sex but with responsibility. Islam has not left man and woman relations to fancy of individuals and strict set of rules have been framed for maintaining social order in the society. The institution of marriage is pious and is considered as a great responsibility in the society and any sexual acts outside the Institution of marriage are vehemently condemned and culprits are punished in an exemplary way. Similar injunctions are there in all religions and marriage between a man and woman is considered as the pious and sacred relation for the stability of the society. The only difference is that in non-Islamic societies, the religious code or laws are not applied to the criminal proceedings and Uniform civil code is applied while in most of the Islamic societies, Shariat is being applied. There is only one country such as Turkey in the world that has adopted democracy on western style and it has become an eyesore to the fundamentalist regimes and asking for its head.
As stated earlier, a Muslim marriage is a civil contract and consequently has certain following essential provisions of a contract. These are:
There must be two adults agreeing to marry each other. A minor may be given in marriage by her or his parents. But, upon reaching adult hood (varies slightly from community to community) he or she has full right to consummate or reject the marriage contract. If the marriage has already been consummated, the partner has all the right to dissolve the contract after reaching adulthood.
The contract must contain requirements of two dowries both to be paid to the female by the male. The first one consists of jewellery, cloths, and various gifts that are to be given to the bride before consummation of marriage and these cannot be taken away from her without her consent. The second provision is the payment to be made to the lady, in case the husband divorces her. This is like an insurance cover to the lady for any irresponsible behavior by the male at a later date.
There must be two witnesses out of which one must be a male and the contents of contract are attested by the witnesses. The contract is made public and then only it is valid. It is expected that commitments made in the presence of elders and peers are likely to be kept.
The contract may contain some other provisions without violating the law. It may specify the way and style of life to be led. The marriage could be monogamous and would be automatically stands terminated if the male marries again. The contract cannot provide for mutual co-operation and abetment of any illegal, anti social activities, crimes, and treason that under any case no law would permit. Thus, it is seen that Islam lays down strict code for marriage for a stable society.
Islam permits divorce by the male by solemn repudiation. The law requires that the repudiations should be made three times to be effective. After the first two repudiations the couple should try to resolve the dispute through counseling, elderly advice and arbitration by near and dear to restore normalcy. Once the third repudiation is made the divorce is final although Islam believes that the act of divorce is hateful. However Islam has made provisions to prevent the misuse of the act of repudiation by the males. The male cannot remarry his divorced wife unless she has married again and has been divorced. Such marriages are greatest humiliations for both the members.
A wife can obtain divorce from her husband through a court and she has to convince the court and establish the reasons for her request. She could seek divorce on grounds of contagious disease, impotence, cruelty, adultery, neglect, prolonged absence and inability to support. The decision of the court is final.
Although Islam permits polygamy, the marriage contract can add a clause of monogamy at the request of the woman. The plural marriages are to be exception and have been sanctioned to meet certain provisions for the welfare of orphaned children and destitute widowed women. It is however unfortunate that many Muslim males misuse the provisions and use it to satisfy their lust. It is also alleged that the provision is being misused by the Muslims to improve their population strength in countries where they are in minority. India is a living example where Hindus claim that Muslims are misusing the provision to multiply their strength. Prophet Mohammed (Peace be on him) remarried after the death of his first wife. He married a destitute widow with five children, widow of a slave and an old matron as an effort to reconcile with her relatives. The sanction of plural marriages in Islam is basically meant for the welfare of society where women are in majority and in the days when many males got killed in wars and women were left unprotected. The provision is required to be used most judiciously by the males. It is a fact that in every religion certain provisions sanctioned in good faith are some times misused and this is the human nature in all religions, races, sects and nations. Islam cannot be singled out.
The sacred provisions however have been misused in some cases. There are many instances of occurrence of aged and sick Arab Sheikhs arriving in Hyderabad city (where sizeable Muslims live) in Andhra Pradesh in India from the Middle East countries and getting betrothed to the young girls who are the victims of poverty and lack of education. The local unscrupulous clergy and agents connive to marry off these helpless brides to the aged and unscrupulous Muslim Sheikhs for a consideration. Most of the times, the girl’s date of birth is tampered and false documents are created. There are many occasions when the Sheikhs after satisfying their lust in some local hotels leave the brides to their fate and vanish never to be heard of. These are the peculiar problems faced by the Muslim society for which the main reason is extreme poverty of the parents, lack of education and inability to adopt family planning citing the religious provisions. On the other hand, some of the poor girls married off to the Sheikhs and sent to Middle East countries undergo grave difficulties and their fate is anybody’s guess. The helpless situation due to poverty is further made complex with a new type of social problem in the community created by the Arab Sheikhs. On Aug 1, 2005 an aging Sheikh of foreign origin, married two young girls in a combined ceremony and as per the religious provisions, the act was acceptable (24). However the next morning, the two young girls reportedly eloped with their boy friends and the girl’s parents started a search based on the complaint of the Sheikh. The Arab son –in-law probably overjoyed at the developments also vanished into thin air that did not bother to distinguish between permissible and desirable. The persons such as the Sheikhs and other persons such as agents with dubious character have misused the provision of plural marriage in Islam that was sanctioned for a noble cause of the society in large. Thus, women are found exploited in the society and the situation is rather grave. It is also true that such incidences involving Islam get more coverage in the press and get highlighted like in India while most of the mishaps in Hindu society go un- noticed.
Islam considers the provisions of Holy Quran are final and no debates on these are accepted. They are of firm opinion that God’s revelations in the form of the scripture that are nearly 1400 years old are equally applicable not only for today but also eternally. Exploitation of women is there in all religions and societies. Scores of Hindu brides get killed in dowry deaths and the culprits invariably get Scot-free. Hindu society was plagued by child marriages where infant brides were given away to old men for consideration and this was highly prevalent in Andhra Pradesh. Child marriages are performed even now in some parts of India that go unnoticed. Exploitation of Hindu widows was wide spread in the Hindu society and is no way better even now in certain regions and groups. Thus, Islam is not the only institution that is suffering from the evil of exploitation of women. There is a requirement of soul searching by those who indulge in plural marriages in Islam and adhere to teachings of Holy Quran and it’s divine provisions. Holy Quran in no uncertain terms has declared and exhorted all men to honor and respect women who bore them.
Islam thus today faces serious allegations from west and other non Muslim countries that it promotes violence in the society, and that youth are motivated by certain verses from the Quran that martyrs who die in the cause of Allah and faith directly ascend to paradise to enjoy all the comforts eternally. This has given rise to suicide bombings by the misguided youth who fail to understand that Holy Quran strictly condemns suicide. There is no doubt that Islam propagates peace and the scripture is clear on the aspect. The failures are on the human side and religion cannot be blamed for these failures. Unfortunately, the verses are not interpreted correctly in reference to context and certain sections of Muslims are carried away by the fundamentalist interpretations of the scripture by some clergy and are resorting to acts of terrorism, mayhem and murder in the name of religion that has sullied the pious name of the religion. Thus Islam stands at the cross roads in the world and it is time that all Muslim nations free themselves from the influence of such fundamentalists and strive towards harmony and peace in the world. It is high time the Sufi preaching and proclamations are revived and spread. The campaign of hate only would invite equivalent and bitter retaliation from opposite side, and lead to self-destruction apart from causing untold suffering to innocents and danger to the survival of human race on the planet.

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9. Ibid, PP 19

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11.Richard Itani, Pope Rat in Cologne, Radiance Views weekly, Published by Board of Islamic Publications, New Delhi, India, Vol XL, No 18, Date 11-178 Sept 2005, PP 22-23 1.

12.Hesham A Hassa Balla and Kabir Helmenski, Forward by Akbar Ahmed, The beliefnet guide to Islam, Three leaves press, Double day, New York, ISBN –0-385-51454-9, 2006, USA, PP 155

13.Ibid, PP 161,162

14. Irshad Manji, The trouble with Islam, St Martins, griffin, New york, ISBN 0-312-32700-5, 2003, PP 133-136

15. Taslima Nasreen, Lajja, LGF, ISBN 2253139246, 1996, Amar Meyebela ISBN 1-58642-051-8, Ko(Speak up), 2003, Dwikhandita, 2003, Amazon. Com

16. Hesham A Hassa Balla and Kabir Helmenski, Forward by Abu Bakr, The benefit guide to Islam, Three leaves press, New York, USA, ISBN 0-385-51454-9, 2006, PP 158

17. Ibid, PP 158,159

18. Andrew Murr, The Polygamist’s life. Newsweek, ISSN 0028-9604, volume CXVIII, No.11. Sept 11. 2006, PP 25

19. Hesham A Hassa Balla and Kabir Helmenski, Forward by Abu Bakr, The benefit guide to Islam, Three leaves press, New York, USA, ISBN 0-385-51454-9, 2006, PP 160

20. Irshad Manji, The trouble with Islam, St Martins, griffin, New york, ISBN 0-312-32700-5, 2003, PP 133-136

21. Ibid, PP 137

22. Ayan Hirsi Ali, Caged Virgin, Free Press, 1230 Avenue, New York, London, ISBN 0-743-29501-3, 2004, PP 11

23. Ismail Faruqi, Islam, Argus communications, Niles, Illinois 60648, 1979, PP45-50

24. Ausuf, Noblest of the Noble, Radiance views weekly, Published by Board of Islamic Publications, New Delhi, India, Vol XL NO 18, Date 11—17 Sept 2005, PP 32