Times of League

7/28/2019 Times of League

1/8

July - 2013

National Unity

Communal Amity

Cultural Identity

Social Justice

Rule of Law

Dignied Democracy Volume : 3 Issue - 7 Shaban 1433 July - 2013 Pages - 8 Monthly Price : Rs. 10/- Annual Subscription : Rs. 120/-

THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

Postal Registration No : TN/CNI GPO / 051 / 2012 to 2014

The Congress party alone iscapable of providing a stable Govt.at the centre, said the NationalGeneral Secretary and the State

He further said that had Muslimsretaliated for each and everycommunal riot India would have

been disintegrated long back.In his brief press meet he

answered questions on varioussubjects.

IUML concerns with the system

not with the individualIUML is concerned with the

system that should rule thiscountry and the party does not giveimportance to the individual. Any

party that is ready to subscribe tothe principles of Indian constitutionand declares its intention to rulethe country in accordance with

the principles enshrined in theconstitution upholding the principleof democracy, secularism andsocial justice is welcome. In thepresent political scenario Congress

party alone is capable of providinga stable government in at thecentre and the IUML remains as

- Prof.K.M.Khader Mohideen

Strong relation betweenIndia and Sri Lanka is essential

for the mutual benets of both

the countries, said the Sri Lankan

Minister and the Vice-President of

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Naseer

Ahamed in a reception hosted in

his favor by the IUML in the party

head quarter in Chennai on June

26, 2013.The Sri Lankan Minister for

Agriculture and Industries was

received by the party National

General Secretary Prof.K.M.Khader

Mohideen and other ofce bearers

of the party.In his welcome address

Prof.K.M.Khader Mohideen said

that Sri Lankan Muslims served as a

good model for the Indian Muslims

and both the countries maintained

good neighborly relation between

them. The long standing problems

between India and Sri Lanka weregetting solved

and all the problems would be

solved sooner with mutual trust

and understanding. Recently

Islam phobia had been created in

Sri Lanka and it was heartening

to see that the Muslim Ministers

in the Island were forthcoming in

their action to defuse the tension.

Muslims in Tamil Nadu, he saidwere ready to co-operate with

Sri Lankan Muslims in all possible

ways. He said though Muslims of

both the countries were separated

by the boundaries of their nations,

they were strongly tied by their

hearts.

The Sri Lankan Minister in his

reply stated that he was very much

moved by the love and affectionshowered on him by the members

of the party. He said as Prof.

Khader Mohideen was a guiding

factor to the Indian Muslims so

was Ravoof Hakeem, the President

of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress for

the Muslims of the Island Nation.

The Sri Lankan Muslim Congress

always strived hard to strengthen

the relation between India and

Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Muslim

Congress he said not only ght forthe rights of Muslims but for the

entire Tamil minority community.

He suggested that the Muslim

business community in Tamil

Nadu should seize the plenty of

business opportunities available in

the eastern Sri Lanka and he was

ready to help them in all possible

ways.

The party state General

Secretary K.A.M.Abubacker, Qaid-

e-Milleth International Peeravai

Co-ordinator M.Abdul Rehman

M.P. the party Treasurer M.S.A.Sha jehan and other ofce bearers

attended the function.

Strong Indo-Sri Lanka Relation Essential for Mutual Benet

President of IUML Prof. K.M. KaderMohideen stated in a Press meetprograme in Ramanadapuram

District in Tamil Nadu.Since Muslims adopt the forget

and forgive policy after everycommunal riot India remainsunited he strongly stated when a

correspondent asked him whetherhis party would forget and forgivethe mistakes of Modi and supporthim for the post of Prime Minister.

(Continued Page No.4)

- Sri Lankan Minister Naseer Ahamed

IUML Leader Prof. K.M. Kader Mohideen Congratulates

Mrs. Kani Mozhi on her winning Rajya Sabha Election.

The Congress party alone is capable of providing a stable Govt. at the centre


2/8

July - 2013

2THE TIMES OF LEAGUE

The National Investigation

Agency (NIA) has debunked the

Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad

theory on the 2006 Malegaon blasts

and said that the prime conspirator,

Shabbir Masiullah, was taken into

custody by the Mumbai crime

branch before the blasts occurred.

The NIA also said Zahid Majeed,

whom the ATS had named as one

of the accused who planted the

bombs, was not present on the spot

but was in Yavatmal during the time

of the blasts.

The ATS had arrested nine

Muslim youth for planting the

bombs and charged them under

attempt to murder and also invoked

the stringent Maharashtra Control

of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

While seven of the nine men were

released on bail after serving over

ve years in prison, two are still

incarcerated as they are accused in

the 7/11 Mumbai local train blasts

as well.

In its chargesheet, the NIA said

its investigations showed the entire

conspiracy was hatched and carried

out by Hindu terror operatives.

It said the four bombs used to

kill 31 people were assembled atSarvasampann Nagar in Indore

and transported to Malegaon in

state transport buses by Manohar

Narwaria, Ramchandra Kalsangara,

Dhan Singh and Rajendra

Chaudhary. Of the four, Kalsangara

alias Badal Yadav is absconding

The NIA said Manohar Narwaria

alias Sumer Thakur, Chaudhary,

Dhan Singh and Lokesh Sharma

along with Kalsangara, Sandeep

Dange and Amit Hakla had done

a reconnaissance of Malegaon

thrice.

They were making preparatoryacts to commit terrorist acts

by arranging and imparting

training in operating re arms

and assembling bombs at Bagli,

Devas (MP), in 2006 to a group

of persons, to commit terrorist

act at various Muslim religious

during June and July 2006. The

third recce of Malegaon was done

on September 1, 2006, the spot

was nalized and the accused

decided to plant four bombs. A

day before the blasts, Kalsangara,

Singh, Narwaria and Chaudhry

started from Indore with bombs instate transport buses and reached

Malegaon next morning. Four

bombs were kept in two metallic

boxes covered in two bags, the

chargesheet said.

Courtesy : The Times of India

Chennai - June 22, 2013

NIA junks cops Malegaon blast theoryWere Muslim Youths Framed by Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad?

accused.

The NIA, however, hasnt

invoked MCOCA against the

Hindu terror operatives, making

it easy for the accused to get bail.

places in India, the chargesheet

said.

The NIA said the bombs were

manufactured by Kalsangara,

Dhan Singh, Sharma and Hakla

With the West Bengal panchayatpolls slated to be held during

Ramadan, Muslim organisationsSunday took out a rally in the city

and submitted a memorandum

to the State Election Commission

(SEC) demanding the elections not

be held during their holy month.

Members from the Muslim

community irrespective of political

afliation gathered to make an

appeal to the (SEC) to ensure that

the panchayat elections are not

held in month of Ramadan, said

Mohammad Ayazul Haque, the

convenor of the rally.

According to a Supreme Courtorder, the panchayat polls are slated

for July 11, 15, 19, 22 and 25 while

Ramadan begins from the second

week of July.

Muslim groups oppose Bengal panchayat polls during Ramadan

Hundreds of people holding

posters and shouting slogans

marched to the SEC ofce wherethey submitted the memorandum

to SEC chief Mira Pande.

We met Pande but she

said that she was unable to do

anything as the polls were held

as per a directive of the Supreme

Court, added Haque.

Several other Muslim

organisations have threatened

to move the Supreme Court in

case the polls are held during

Ramadan.

We would urge the SEC to

ensure the elections are heldeither before the month of

Ramadan or after it. If they do

not consider our demands, we

will move to Supreme Court, said

Mohammad Qumaruzzam, general

secretary, All Bengal Minority

Youth Federation.Political parties, including the

Congress and Left Front, have

expressed their displeasure

over the scheduling the polls

during Ramadan and blamed the

Trinamool Congress government

for it.

Congress leader Abdul Mannan

even said Chief Minister Mamata

Banerjee should publicly apologise

for inconveniencing the Muslim

population.The state government though

had expressed it desire to approach

the apex court seeking the polls

are concluded before Ramadan.


3/8

July - 2013

THE TIMES OF LEAGUE3

Tamil Nadu IUML ExecutiveCommittee was held on June 26,

2013 under the president ship of

the party leader Prof.K.M.Khader

Mohideen in the party Head

Quarter in Chennai. The following

resolutions were passed by the

Committee. The meeting passed a

resolution expressing condolence

to the Uttrakhand ood victims and

for the demise of The Tamil daily

Thinathanthi Director S.P.Sivanthi

Adithanar, Dr.Se Mu, Hameed

Abdul Khader ,former president

of Sathak Trust and poet NagooreSaleem..The meeting passed the

following resolutions.

Ramzan Service

Decided to instruct all the wings

of the party to expedite their work

to get rice from the govt. for iftiyar

preparation, to colllect tra rice,

to conduct iftiyar party, and to

distribute zakat and charity to the

deserving Muslims.

Islamic Marriage Panchayats

Enlightenment Conference

The Committee condemned the

deliberate act of Mrs.Badar Sayed

in ling a suit in Madras High Court

against The Kazi Act with the

ulterior motive of encouraging the

introduction of common civil code.

The party solicits the co-operation

of muslim women from the

IUML TN State Executive Committee Meetingeducationa institutions to defeat

the nefarious design of Mrs.Badar

Sayed and to protect and upholdthe principles of Shariath. Decided

to conduct state wide conferences

to enlighten the Muslims on the

Islamic Marriage laws.

Mohalla Jamaath

Conference

Mohalla jammath is the pivot

decisions taken by the MSF in its

meeting on June 23, 2013 and

decided to submit an appeal to allthe district collectors pressing the

following demands. 1To provide

education loan in the beginning

of the every academic year. 2.To

waive the interest to the education

loan. 3. To set up minority student

hostels in all the major cities in the

South Chennai was constituted .

Three months period was xed to

complete the work .The following members attended

the meeting.

State General Secretary K.A.M.

Mohammed Abubacker, State

Treasurer M.S.A. Shajakhan, Quaid-

e-Millath International Peravai

Co-ordinator M. Abdul Rahman

M.P., State Vice Presidents Salem

Kader Hussain, Dr. A.K. Mohideen,

Adirai S.S.P. Nasurudeen, State

Secretaries Nellai Majeeth, Kayal

Mahaboob, H. Abdul Basith,

Thirupur M.A. Sathar, Advocate

Geevagiritharan, Aduthurai A.M.

Shajahan, Asst. Secretaries :

Millath S.B. Mohammed Ismail,

Vaniyampadi Mohammed, Naeem

Apanoor Jafarullah, S.A. Ibrahim

Mackey and Ofce Bearers of

Various Wings : K.M. Nijamudeen,

Palapatti M.K. Mohammed Youns,

Syed Pattani, Kizer Mohamed,

Sheik Dawood, Sulthan Mohideen,

Methapillai Maraikayar, Metha

Nagar Abdul Rahim, Bilal Hussain,Nellai M.S. Thurapsha, Villupuram

Haji S.M. Ameer Abbas, North

Chennai M. Jainullabudin, A.H.

Ismail, South Chennai Poovai

M.S. Musthafa, Hyder Ali Khan,

Thiruvannamalai peer Mohamed,

Kancheepuram M.S. Abdul Wahab

and Sheik Dawood.

for the unity and integrity of

the Muslim community. Hence

resolved to strengthen the Mohalla

Jamaat with the co-operation and

guidance of learned Ulemas and

by setting up the baithul maal,

and Shariah in each and every

mohallas. The committee decided

to organize a State level Mohalla

Jamaath Confernce in Chennai.

MSF Work shop

The committee accepted all the

state.4.To grant permission to the

Muslim students to perform their

Friday congregational paryer.The

Committee granted permission

to MSF to conduct Work Shop on

August,31 and Sept.1, 2013 in

Nidur in Nagai district Tamil Nadu.

Strengthening the party in

Chennai

In order to strengthen the

party in Chennai two separate

committees each for North and

Mohalla Jamath pivot for Muslim Unity

The Indian Union MuslimLeague (IUML) called anemergency meeting and criticised

state Congress president Ramesh

Chennithala for his anti-IUML

remarks.

Chennithala earlier Saturday

said that the IUML was a party

that would always extract more

and more from the Congress

and would eventually become a

liability for the party. IUML is

the second-biggest constituent

of the Congress-led ruling United

Democratic Front (UDF) and also

the government in Kerala.

IUML leader and Lok Sabha

member E.T. Mohammed Basheer

said after the meeting: The United

Democratic Front (UDF) is one

for all and the Congress has the

responsibility to keep it going. The

Congress can decide if it needs to

go ahead. We will make our stand

clear shortly.

To mollify the IUML, Chennithala

issued a clarication soon after his

statement.

He said he had only aired whatformer Kerala Pradesh Congress

Committee president C.K.

Govindan Nair had stated many

years ago.

Not pleased with the events, the

IUML has called another meeting

of its leaders to take stock of the

situation and assess Chennithalas

statements.

Sources in the IUML said

that Ahmed Patel, secretary to

Congress president Sonia Gandhi,

has asked IUML chief Panakad

Hyderali Shiyab Thangal not to

take any hard decisions.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister

Oommen Chandy, who is facing the

heat after one of his staffers was

Muslim League slams Chennithala for remarkssent to judicial custody for having

links with a con-couple, said themedia had twisted Chennithalas

statement.

The IUML is an integral part

of the UDF and the Congress will

never do anything to afict pain on

its allies, Chandy said.

Chennithala fell out with the

IUML ever since they poured cold

water on his eagerness to become

deputy chief minister.

However, he seems to have

some support from the Congress.

State Power Minister and Congress

leader Aryadan Mohammed, who

has a long-standing strife with

the IUML, said: It is now that

you (Chennithala) are the real

president of the Congress.

Ramesh Chennithala


4/8

July - 2013


a partner in the congress led UPAgovernment. In the state of TamilNadu IUML continued to remain inthe DMK led alliance.

Alliance with DMK historicalThe alliance with DMK is not

just an electoral understanding

but it is a historical alliance basedon the close proximity of principlesbetween the Dravidian partyand Islam. IUML does not liketo dictate which party should orshould not be included in the DMKalliance. However the party willoppose if any party with similarnomenclature of IUML is includedin the DMK alliance.

Law and order problem in TamilNadu

The law and order problem inTamil Nadu could not be tackledby the police alone. People should

be taught the values of life andfear of God should be instilledin the minds of people. Muslimsduring their Friday sermons in theMosques are taught the dangersof alcoholism, drugs and areadvised to adhere to the principlesof morality and virtues in life.

Katcha thievu problemThe IUML former MP , late

Madurai Shariff was a pioneerin solving the Katcha thieveproblem. He collected variousdatas regarding the katcha thieve

from the government departmentsand submitted to the centralgovernment for action. His effortshelped the government to takethe necessary initiatives on katchathieve.

Condolence to Uttrakhandood victims

IUML expresses its condolenceto the bereaved families ofUttarkhand ood victims. Theparty blames the Utterkhandgovernment for its failure to provideadequate facilities to thepilgrims.

The party President E. Ahamedhas announced Rs.100000 to thePrime Ministers relief fund.

Rameswaram safer

pilgrim centre

Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu isthe safer pilgrim centre and thestate government should take allinitiatives to provide adequatefacilities to the Rameswarampilgrims. Two more rail servicesfrom Chennai and Madurai shouldbe provided to cope up the pilgrimsrush to Rameswaram.

The Ramanathapuram districtpresident Varusai Mohamed,district asst.secretary Mohamedyacoob and The Times of LeagueAsst. editor K.T.Kizer Mohamedwere present in the Press meet.

(Continued from Page 1) IUML U.P. State Executive decides

to complete the State Organisational

Elections in October 2013

IUML Membership campaign on full swing in the State of Punjab

The U.P. State Executive met

at Meerut on 9.6.2013 in theresidence of Janab Iqbal Ahamed

Advocate.

Moulana Kansar Hayat Khan,

the State President presided over

the meeting. Dr. Mateen Khan,

the General Secetary welcomed

the gathereing Janab Khorram

Anis Omer, the National Secretary

was present in the meeting as the

Central observer.

The meeting was attended by

the following members.

1. Iqbal Ahmed Advocate

2. S. Shakeel Mian3. Mohd Ilyas (Sate Vice President)

4. Ishrat Husain Advocate (State

Secretary)

5. Mohd Uwais Advocate (State

Secretary)

6. Nawab Masoom Alam (State

Secretary)

7. Mohd Ateeq (State Secretary)

8. Dr. Mukhtar Rana (Distt.

President Aligharh)

9. Hamid Ali (City President

Aligarh)

10. Mohd Arif Rehber (Agra)

11. Vakeel Ahmed (Najibabad)

13. Zameer Hasan (Najibabad)

14. Mohd Wajid (Loni, Ghiziabad)

15. Irfan Ansari (President Loni,

Ghaziabad)

16. Mohd Israr (City President

Moradabad)

17. Jamal Alam (City Gen. Secretary

Moradabd)

18. Mohd Farhan Khan

(Moradabad)

19. Mohd Rizwan Khan Advocate

(MYL Moradabad)

20. Molana Muqeem Qureshi(Distt. President Sambhal)

21. Dr. Kaleem Ashraf (Distt. Gen.

Secretary Sambhal)

22. Zia Ashraf (City President

Sambhal)

23. Haz Naim (City President

Meerut)

24. Mohd. Qasim (City Gen.

Secretary Meerut)

25. Mohd Zubair (MYL Meerut)

26. Shakeel Ahmad (Aligarh)

27. S.M. Tafseer (Aligarh)

28. Maulana Dilshad (Aligarh)

29. Riaz Ali (Agra)30. Sa-adat Ali (Agra)

The meeting decided to expedite

the organisational work.

The membership compaign

will be completed before 30th

September 2013.The primary and district units

elections shall be completed in

October 2013.

The State Ofce bearers

elections should be conducted

immediately after all the districts

elections are over.

A committee of the following

was constituted to monitor the

organisational elections.

Janab Mohamed Uvais

(Convenor)

Janab Ishrat Husain (Moradabad)

Janab Mohamed Ilyas (Bynor)

Janab Dr. Mukhtar Rana (Aligarh)

Janab Nawab Masoom Alam

(Agra)

5th Anniversay of Banathwallah Observed in Gulbargha,

Karnataka State


5/8

July - 2013


Effort Never Fails

Copy of the letter written by M. Abdul Rahman

MP to the Prime Minister appealing for the release

of two indian prisioners in Kuwait.

Reply by The Joint Secretary (Gulf)

stating the suspension of the death

sentence of Indian Prisioners

M. Abdul Rahman MP.,

Addresses the MSF

meeting in the party

Head Quarters on June

23,2013

IUML Karnataka

State ExecutiveMeeting

Karnataka State IUMLExecutive met under

the presidentship of

Janab M.S. Inamdar on

29.6.2013 at Fakhare Hall

Kotwal Galli, Belgaum.

The State Ofce bearers

along with special

invitees participated inthe meeting.

The State General

Secretary Dastagir I.

Agha wlecomed the

Executive Members and

gave a brief report of

the party activites during

the period after the last

Executive Meeting.

The meeting condoled

the heavy loss of lives

of the pilgrims due tothe Himalayan Tsunami

in Uttarkhand. It

appreciated the army for

the rescue and relief work

done on a warfooting.

It was decided that the

party organisational

work should be started

from the grassroot level

and that the State ofce

bearers election should

be completed within two

months time.

Signature Campaign by Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) for reservation of Muslims in

Central & State Government Services as per population, held at Al Noor Masjid, Batla House,

New Delhi on 28.06.2013.

Mr. Khorrum Anis Omer, Delhi State President & National Secretary, Dr. M.S. Ahmed, Delhi

State Gen. Secretary, Mr. Javed Ahmed, Delhi State Secretary, Mr. Imran Aijaz, South Delhi

District Convenor, Mr. Asif Ansari, Youth League Convener, Mr. Asif Iqbal, Mr. Modassirul Haq,

Mr. Asar Alam, Mr. Mohd. Uzair, Mr. Rashid are seen in the picture.

Omani-India Parliamentary Friendship Group Chairman H.E. Mr. AbdullahSalim Nasser Al Makhiani calls on Honble MOS External Affairs,

Mr. E. Ahamed in New Delhi.


6/8

July - 2013


The Month of Ramadan

Ramadan, the ninth month of the

Islamic lunar calendar, may be 29

or 30 days long. An Islamic month

begins with the sighting of the new

crescent in the western horizon,

immediately after sunset. Muslimslook toward the western horizon for

the new moon on the 29th day of

Shaban, the eighth month. If the

new moon is sighted, Ramadan has

begun with the sunset but fasting

begins with the next dawn. If the

new moon is not sighted on this

29th day, Muslims complete 30 days

of Shaban and Ramadan begins the

following day.

The Signicance ofRamadan and Fasting

Allah says in the Quran:

O you who believe! Fasting isprescribed for you, even as it was

prescribed for those before you, that

you may attain God-consciousness.

(2:183)

In the month of Ramadan the

Quran was revealed, a book of

guidance with proofs of guidance

distinguishing right from wrong.

Therefore whoever of you is present

in that month let him fast. But

who is ill or on a journey shall fast

a similar number of days later on.

Allah desires your well-being, not

your discomfort. He desires you tofast the whole month so that you

may magnify Him and render thanks

to Him for giving you His guidance.

(2:185)

Accordingly, the month of

Ramadan is called the month of

the Quran. Therefore, Muslims

have tradition of reciting Quran

frequently in this month.

Sawm or Fasting

Sawm means a fast that begins

with dawn and ends with sunset.

Muslims rise before dawn, eat

Sahur (pre-dawn meal) Eating anddrinking stops at dawn. During the

day no eating, drinking or sexual

activity is allowed. In addition, a

Muslim must adhere to the moral

code of Islam very strictly as failure

violates the requirements of fasting.

Fasting in the month of Ramadan

is one of the deeds of worship

required of all Muslims who have

attained puberty. Women who are

having their menstrual period or

who have not fully recovered from

childbirth postpone the fast until

they are completely out of theirspecial conditions. In addition, those

who are ill or in travel may choose

to postpone their fast.

Muslims fast because Allah

Ramadan and Fastingby Dr. M. Amir Ali, Ph.D.

has commanded them to do so.

However, they may also think about

the benets of fasting which may

include developing control over

hunger, thirst and sexual urges,

training to be a good moral person

and testing sincerity to the Creator.During the fast, Muslims may conduct

their business as usual. However, in

the Muslim countries working hours

are shortened by a couple of hours

a day and the hours are changed to

make the work comfortable.

The fast is broken immediately

after sunset usually by eating

dates and drinking water or juice.

However, any lawful food or drink

may be used to break the fast. This is

followed by the Maghrib salah (after

sunset prayer) which is followed by

a complete meal. After a brief rest,

Muslims go to the mosque to offer

the Isha salah (night prayer) and

then a special night prayer, called

taraweeh.

Taraweeh

This nightly congregational salah

(prayer) is performed after the

Isha salah. Traditionally, a Haz

of the Quran, a person who has

memorized the whole Quran (in

Arabic), leads the prayer. He recites

the Quran in small portions, in

proper sequence, every night and

completes the recitation of thewhole Quran before the end of the

month of Ramadan. Every Muslim

who attends such prayers regularly

gets the opportunity of listening to

the whole Quran in a month. If a

Haz of the Quran is not available,

the Muslim who has memorized the

most in a group leads the prayer

and recites according to his ability.

In the absence of a Haz some

Muslims hold the Quran in the hand

during their salah and read from

it. Many Islamic scholars cite the

sunnah(way) of the Prophet(S) thathe always prayed during the night

alone in his apartment whether

it was Ramadan or not and same

was the habit of many of his great

companions.

Ramadan Generosity

The month of Ramadan brings

many blessings multiplied manifold

for those who do good. During this

month people are more generous,

more cordial, more friendly and

more ready than other times of the

year to do good work. The poor and

the needy receive food, clothingand money from the well-to-do in

the community. Many people go to

the mosque in the neighborhood for

fast-breaking and meals. People in

the neighborhood send fruit, food

and drinks to the mosque the

atmosphere is that of a friendly pot

luck dinner every evening of the

month.Well-known philanthropists of the

Muslim community nd themselves

surrounded by the needy people

and Islamic workers for donations.

Zakat, a wealth purifying tax, and

donations are given at this time of

the year since many Muslims wish

to take the opportunity of multiplied

rewards from Allah.

Laylat al-Qadr

This is the night of the Qadr. The

term Al-Qadr has been frequently

translated as the power. A better

translation may be the value orthe decree because Allah says

the value of this night is better than

one thousand months, a lifetime of

over eighty-three years. Allah sends

His decrees in this night. This is the

night when the Quran was revealed.

Allah says in the Quran:

We have indeed revealed this

(the Quran) in the Night of Value

(or Measure). And what will explain

to you what the Night of Value is?

The Night of Value is better than

a thousand months. Therein come

down angels and the Spirit (theangel Gabriel) by Allahs permission

with all decrees. (That night is)

Peace until the rising of the dawn.

(97:1-5)

The Night of Value is a gift to

mankind from Allah. However, it is

not clear which night is Laylat al-

Qadr. Some reports by companions

of the Prophet(S) allude it to be the

27th night of the month of Ramadan,

but many more sayings point to any

of the odd date nights during the

last third of the month of Ramadan.

According to authentic teachings ofthe Prophet Muhammad(S), Muslims

are advised to spend the 21st,

23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th nights

of Ramadan in worship and doing

good works to assure ndingLaylat

al-Qadr. A portion of the Muslims

stay up all night in prayers and good

works, however, the Prophet(S) and

his companions used to sleep at

least one-third of the night.

In Muslim countries, the 27th

of Ramadan is a holiday to enable

people to rest during the day after

all night of worship. Schools areclosed from the 27th of Ramadan

through the 2nd of Shawwal (5 to 6

days) to combineLaylat al-Qadr and

Eid al-Fitr observances.

Itekaf or Seclusion

The practice of the Prophet

Muhammad(S) was to spend the

last ten days and nights of Ramadan

in the masjid (mosque). Following

his practice, it is considered a

community duty that some people

go in Itekaf (seclusion) in a

neighborhood masjid. The people

in Itekaf spend their time in various

forms of dhikr (remembrance of

Allah), such as doing extra salah,

recitation and study of the Quran,

study of the Hadith, repetition of

some phrases of praise and glory

to Allah, exhorting each other to be

good through obeying Allah and His

Messenger(S). Since people in Itekaf

are not permitted to go outside themasjid except for emergencies, they

sleep in the masjid and use available

facilities of the masjid.

The food for the people in Itekaf

is provided either by their own

families or people in the community.

Itekaf is terminated, generally, at

the declaration of sighting of the

moon or the end of the month of

Ramadan. For busy people a shorter

version of Itekaf is allowed, such as

one night, one day or a few days.

Sadaqat al-Fitr

In general, any material helpextended to the poor, needy and to

those who ask and are deserving

is called Sadaqah. Sadaqat al-Fitr,

which is also calledZakat al-Fitr, is the

obligatory material help extended

to the poor of the society before

the Eid prayers, preferably to be

given early enough for the poor to

prepare for the celebration. In North

America, the estimated amount is

$5 to $8 to be given on behalf of

each member of the donors family,

including infants.

Eid al-FitrThe end of the fasting month is

celebrated on the rst of Shawwal,

the 10th month, which follows

Ramadan. Traditionally, on the 29th

of Ramadan after sunset, people go

out in the open looking for a new

crescent in the western horizon

where the sun sets. If the crescent

is sighted, the end of Ramadan and

Eid are declared. If the crescent is

not sighted, Ramadan is extended

by one day.

On the day of Eid, people take

a bath or shower in the earlymorning, eat breakfast, wear

their best clothes, apply perfume

(See Page No. 8)


7/8

July - 2013


Few days back, an important work took me to Sikkim, the small Statethat nestles between the peaks of the eastern Himalaya. While staying

at the capital city Gangtok I came across a small majid close by the

city bus-stand. Near the masjid I met two bearded Muslims running a

big paan shop. I talked to one of the Muslims at the paan shop, namedMohd. Rauf, to know more about the Muslims in the State. Rauf said he

came to Gangtok from Bihar in the early 70s in search of livelihood. He

was later joined by his brother, who also works at the paan shop.

I inquired about the settlement of Muslims in Gangtok and other parts

of Sikkim. He informed me that there is no indigenous Muslim population

in the State. All the Muslims in Sikkim came from outside, mainly from

Bihar, UP and West Bengal in search of work. Around 80 per cent of the

Muslims are from Bihar, while the rest are from West Bengal and UP.

There are around ten thousand Muslims in the capital city. There are

also Muslims in Rangpo, Ranipool, Rinnak, Rangili, Jothang, Namchi,

Gyalshing, Mangan, Simtam, etc. In all, there must be around twenty

thousand Muslims in Sikkim. As the State Government does not allow

outsiders to buy land here the Muslims and in fact all the outsiders stay

in rented houses. I have also been staying in a rented apartment with

my brother all these years, Rauf said.

Majority of the Muslim population are temporary migrant workers.Many of these Muslims engage in construction works. The rich local

population engages skilled constructor workers and manual labourers

for the construction of their residential buildings. The State Government

too engages these people for building roads, ofce building, dams,

Muslims in SikkimBy Dr. Syed Ahmed

Muslims here in Gangtok. However, there are quite a large number of

Tibetan Muslims in Kalimpong. They are all wealthy businessmen. There

are another 8 more masjids in different parts of Sikkim. There are also

prayer houses for other religions too. There is a Gurudwara at Deorali

near Gangtok town.

I came here to work as Imam few years back. I get ve thousandrupees per month. The masjid is managed by public subscription. We

have organized a body called Anjuman-e-Islamia, Gangtok, to manage

the masjid and the Muslims here. It is a registered body. The jurisdiction

of the Anjuman is xed from Tadong to Vajra, Balwakhani and Chandmari

to by-pass. There is no madrasa here. The Muslims have realized the

need of having a madrasa. We have started the construction of the

madrasa building here in the masjid complex, the Imam added.

constructing roads on the hills, etc. Many Muslims also do petty business.

They open small shops. Some Muslims are popular here as tailors. A few

early Muslim settlers are working as Government employees, mainly as

teachers and policemen. Some have also married the local women,

Rauf added.

Later I entered the masjid complex and talked to the Imam, Maulana

Asgar Ali, who hails from Madhubani in Bihar. The Imam further informed,

There is only one masjid in Gangtok. This area is called Apar Arithang.

There are around six to seven thousand Muslims here. The masjid was

constructed in 1942-43. It was then constructed with wood. It is said

that a wealthy Tibetian Muslim from Ladakh, named Sabila Sardar had

acquired the land for the masjid from the local ruler. The descendants

of Sabila Sardar still live in Gangtok. One of his grandsons named Saeed

is running a big shop at the MG Road. There are very few Tibetan

Sikkim is renowned for its scenic beauty, rich ora and fauna and

ethnically varied population. The State with an area of 7096 sq. km. has

a population of just around 6 lakh. The 8586 meters high Kanchenjunga,

the third highest mountain in the world, dominates the skyline of Eastern

Sikkim. Sikkim has more than seventy Buddhist monasteries, the oldest

dating back to the 1700s. The State has 660 species of orchids. And it is

famous for the mask dance performed by Lamas in Gompas.

Majority of the States population are of Nepali ethnic origin. Thenative Sikkimese consist of the Bhutias, migrated from the Kham district

of Tibet in the 14th century, and the Lepchas, who probably entered

Sikkim from Tibet well before the 8th century and brought Lamaistic

Buddhism. Migrant resident communities include Biharis, Bengalis andMarwaris.

Hinduism is the States major religion (61%), followed by Buddhism

(28%) and

Christians (7%).

The minority

r e l i g i o u s

co mmu n i t i e s ,

consisting of

Muslims, Sikhs

and Jains form

almost two per

cent of the States

population.

Courtesy :

Two Circles

Net.The author at the masjid

Md. Rauf and his brother at the paan shop

The masjid at Gangtok


8/8

The Times of League - English Monthly - R.Dis. No. 1765/10 publ ished by Mohamed Ismail on behalf of Muslim League Publication Trust, published at 36, Maraikayar Lebbai

Street, Mannady, Chennai - 600 001 and printed by K.A.M. Muhammed Abubacker at Madras Media Press No, 36, Maraikayar Lebbai Street, Mannady, Chennai - 600 001.

Editor : Prof. K.M. Kader Mohideen,


Published : 4th of Every Month.

and proceed to the place of Eid

congregation while pronouncing

takbeerat, saying, Allah is the

Greatest, there is no deity but Allah

and all praise belongs to Allah.

Muslims pronounce takbeerat in

their homes, in the street and at

the place of congregation while

waiting for the leader, the Imam.

It was the practice of the Prophet

Muhammad(S) to hold Eid prayer

congregations in open grounds.

Following the practice of the

Prophet(S) Muslims are advised to

hold Eid prayers in open grounds.

In the Muslim countries with warm

climate there are designated Eid

prayer grounds. However, in North

America Muslims rent halls at

convention centers or major hotels.

The Imam rises at the appointed

time, leads the prayers and delivers

khutbah (sermon). At the end of the

sermon, people supplicate, greet,

embrace and congratulate each

other for the successful completion

of Ramadan and ask Allah for the

acceptance of their efforts in His

obedience.

During the day, people visit each

other and children may receive

gifts. In some countries, people go

for picnics and other gatherings. In

addition, special Eid celebrations

may be arranged at work or in social

settings. Essentially, Eid is a day of

thanks to Allah, and also a gatheringof family and friends.

Umrah or Minor Hajj inRamadan

There is a report from Prophet

Muhammad(S) saying that

performing Umrah in the month of

Ramadan is equal to performing a

major or complete Hajj. Hajj is a

pilgrimage to Makkah. Hajj is the

enactment of some of the trials and

tribulations of Prophet Abraham(A),

his wife Hajirah (Hagar) and his

oldest son, Ismail(A) (Ishmael). Hajjincludes the sacrice of Ishmael,

represented by the sacrice of an

animal, such as a ram, goat, sheep,

cow or a camel. Complete Hajj lasts

for ve days but Umrah is completed

in a couple of hours. Umrah is only

a small part of the Hajj. Umrah may

be performed anytime during the

year but it has special signicance

in Ramadan. Hajj is performed only

during the 8th and 13th days of

Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth month of

the Islamic calendar.

(Continue from Page No. 6)

E. Ahamed, Minister of State for External Affairs

Whirlwind tour of Middle East

E. Ahamed meets the Palestinian President Muhammed Abbas

E. Ahamed with the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

His Royal Highness Prince Saud Al Faisal

E. Ahamed Minister of State for External Affairs

Exchanging an Agreement for Educational Exchange

Programme between Indian and Lebanon with H.E.

Professor Hassan Diab, Minister of

Education & Higher Education.

Documents

Times of League