Where are the Questioning Minds?

But my feeling is that as far as the latter type is concerned, that honor will soon (if it hasn`t already done so) belong to Europe and only possibly, at some point in time, to Canada.

Azra Rashid

You have asked quite timely question to question Quran/Islam or not? Well, first of all, what my true understanding of Islam / Quran is ,``It is the duty of all humans (I am not saying Muslims,b/c Quran is for all humans) to ask questions after reading Quranic verses from your own mind, explore the answer to all questions, always ask deeply spirited questions which are unanswered, true Islam/Quran encourages you to ask questions. Any true Muslim will not be threatened upon questions asked, rather, will answer them with the best possible way through exploration by Quran and by your or their minds. Quran focuses on exploring the whole universe, learning more and more knowledge, the only way to reach GOD(Al-mighty). God has made humans inquisitive(curious). God is also inquisitive to create this universe to be explored by us, the humans. God is the greatest teacher of all, and if, a good teacher loves his/her students to ask questions, to be curious, how come God, the great teacher shuts us to ask questions?

We ask big questions from each other to enter a conversation to explore ourselves, our religions, ethics, cultures. Religion is for us, and is closer to our nature, then how come any religion can prevent us from asking any type of question. So, my take is Islam never ever stops you from questioning. It is some pseudoIslamic fanatics, who shuts God`s will to barr your curious nature to take you away from true Quranic ways. They are the ones, who astray you from understanding real spirit of religion, the core of Quran is to explore nature to explore God. I can guarantee, if, you ask questions from God, God will answer all questions in one way or the other through any medium, either by relaying in your mind or in to other`s mind or you can find answer in Quran by your own interpretations. Usually we ask questions like, why evil? Why good things happen to bad? Why bad things happen to good and blah, blah, blah.

School is not much about what you learn, it is how to learn? Religion or say Quran is a universety in it self, God is dean and chancellor of that university, who helps humans how to learn about life and how to explore this universe by tempting humans nature to give us clues.Any question you asked humbly is answered in Quran about deepness of God and life. If, we ask big or small questions to search to quench our thirst, to explore, t hey will be answered sooner or later, if, we keep on asking questions humbly, helping you learn how to learn is the only motive of Quran. We keep on asking, we keep on getting answers, but, eventually we fail, b/c there will be still a mystery , which is beyond humanly power of understanding. This is the point, where humans are left unanswered and will always be, Well, this is also God`s way. But, still we ask b/c God loves to be asked. Quran`s goal is to explore all these answers yourself.

Now, conclusion:-Right from Real Quran`s point of view to ask questions. Wrong, not to ask!

YLH
[... Dr Naik on the other hand has concentrated on proving that Hindus are wrong to be vegetarians...]

Dr Naik who?????

Ye Gods! What has happened to Chowk!?! The level of bilge that it is putting out is almost beyond comprehension! Doesn`t anyone read these things before they are published?

I think YLH has shown what a waste of bandwith this article is. I especially liked the bit about blaming the British for the evils of modern day Islam and Pakistani society. I sometimes feel sorry for the poor Gora Saabs: always getting blamed for something or the other by the usual crowd of gibbering idiots.

Can we start a petition to remove this and Saima Shah`s article from Chowk?

#19 by mohar11 on February 3, 2006 12:42pm PT

The world famous in Pakistan Dr Naik...like the world famous in Pakistan Seervai..

The following is from the BBC news web-site. I would like to know what people think about this issue. Please keep abuse and non-respectful words away......

``Munira Mirza is a commentator on multicultural issues and Islamophobia

British newspapers should publish the images. Muslims should be able to see them and judge them for themselves, that`s why we have freedom of speech.

Many Muslims want the same freedoms as everyone else to debate, criticise and challenge their religion.

They want to be able to say: ``Hey we`re not children, we can handle criticism, we don`t need special protection - we`re equal.``

Many don`t want to be treated as a special group, seen as worthy of more protection from criticism than other groups because of their apparent victim status.

There are a lot of British Muslims who I`m sure would not be offended by the cartoons. There are, of course, many who are upset and hurt, but that`s the point of living in a free society.

No matter the price, the principle of freedom must be defended. Unless we stand up for freedom of speech, we are unable to engage freely and hold belief systems - of all kinds - to account.

In Denmark, there are counter-demonstrations by moderate Muslims saying they don`t want the images banned.

This idea that all Muslims have to hold the line against Islamophobia is just nonsense. We should not play the games of extremists and nor should we play into the very patronising assumptions of the British political elite about what Muslims are capable of listening to. ``

Thank you,
Anil Kapuria

#19 Mohar
Dr. Naik

Re: # 9

Very intersting, meeting a `namehram` without a `burka`, Dr. Israr might have welcomed the opportunity to refresh his study of anatomy. His approach is all anatomical. Having been once a medical student he is interested more in bones, the hard ware, than in human soul.

Sitting in Cannada, no doubt Azra has made some serious mistakes about some historical facts, but on the whole thematically it is a timely and good attempt.

Dear Azra
“WHERE ARE THE QUESTIONING MINDS”- you ask! Answer, Maulanaas have put a lock on them 47-24. You have proved it.
“… who do not know, Maulana is a title of respect, technically reserved for Muslim scholars who are knowledgable about Islam and have studied under a scholar …”.
The above is a myopic South Asian understanding of the word imposed on the ignorant for their own aggrandisement; for Maula=Absolute Master, protector etc and Naa= ours

Hence you have, along with others accepted Israr Ahmad as your absolute Master.
In your supplications( Duaa) when you ask and praise HIM“ ……FOR YOU ARE OUR MAULANAA”, God forbid that you are thinking of Israr Ahmad. and asking him to protect you ! (“Indeed but only God is your Maula” Qura’n 2-150 etc)

“Maulana believes that a woman should only be given primary education and employed in a small scale home grown industry”.
“ OH! GOD MAKE INCREASE IN MY KNOWLEDGE Qura’n 20-114” is a genderless supplication that your SCHOLAR has obviously not read. Their religion is an industry, the good book says!
If one wants to know the meaning of ‘scholars’ (Ulamaa) read for yourself the verse 25-28.
Remember the majority are Sunnis that is-- jo sun sun kay aalim banay (include all other factins too)!
Rashid

A Questioning Mind is here ................


Question: Mocking Prophet is a deadly Sin but Mocking Mary is not - Why ?
Question: Why there is so much furore on the Cartoons published in Danish NewsPapers?

See

http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/287

My dear Azra -- you wrote a moving article that touches the heart for its innocense and its craving to breathe fresh air away from the suffocative influence of an Islamic clergy of clergy less Islam.

Maulana Israr has no Israr -- in plain english he is a male chauvinist pig bent upon enslaving and keeping the muslim women folk enslaved -- four of them -- tied to the four legs of his fundamentalist charpoy

and .....under house arrest for life....

.....this is the basis of his life and existence -- this is his livelihood and his life`s mission -- how to preserve the Muslim woman in bondage -- and how to deny her the sun the sky and the wings to fly high and be free and be herself.......

you have found the Israre Khudi for your womanhood by yourself -- you don`t need that Maulana No-Israr -- be free don`t feel guilty and never look back for that women-tormentor Maulana Baykaar.......ever again.

great piece.....more power to your pen

``Where are the questioning minds?`` Everywhere. On Chowk, and outside of it.

So let`s not become too critical.

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Arjunm...

Do this exercise. Ask any Indian Lawyer who Seervai is ... he is not Pakistani as you mistakenly assume and every lawyer in India holds him as a great authority on constitutional law..

Mohar11...

With all due respect to arjunm... Dr Naik is not a Pakistani... he is an idiot as well as an Indian.

Mohar11

Naik is an Indian, probably from Bombay, and a telling example of India`s secularism gone completely cuckoo.