Sunday, January 6, 2013

WHO HOLDS THE TORCH FOR INDIA'S VEGETARIANISM? BRAHMANISM OR JAINISM? BOTH MINORITIES!!!

WHO HOLDS THE TORCH FOR INDIA'S VEGETARIANISM? BRAHMANISM OR JAINISM? BOTH MINORITIES!!!
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From: An Indian Muslim's Blog: News, Views & Urdu Poetry Website <indscribe@rediffmail.com>
Date: Sun, Jan 6, 2013 at 6:49 AM
Subject: An Indian Muslim's Blog: News & Urdu poetry website: Daily Articles and Views about Indian Muslims




An Indian Muslim's Blog: News & Urdu poetry website: Daily Articles and Views about Indian Muslims




Posted: 05 Jan 2013 01:41 PM PST
By Indscribe

I was travelling in a North-bound train, perched on the side upper berth when I witnessed this interesting spectacle in the compartment.

Often during journeys, one or two people due to their talkative nature, change the atmosphere of the 'coupe' and then everyone gets friendly. So was the case here.

There was a couple, in late 30s, who hailed from Bihar, on the lower seats in front of me along with their children. There was another family--Mr and Mrs Maheshwari with their kids. Apart from them, two other men, one of them was Mr Agarwal from Bhilai (Chhattisgarh). Another was Mr Garg who was basically from Indore.

Mr Agarwal brought out a pack of cards and soon he was playing cards with Mr Garg and another person from a nearby seat who came there. He was cracking jokes also. The children were also getting interested, and were keenly watching the three 'uncles' play 'taash'.

From 4 pm when I boarded the train, till 8 pm, they had all got friendly with each other. The kids were loving this new 'uncle' [Mr Agarwal] who could show them all sorts of 'jadus' [tricks with cards] and tell them jokes apart from recalling funny anecdotes about his family including his nephews and nieces.

All of them had become a big middle-class family, who had discussed everything under the sun in these four hours. They were quite aware about each other--the jobs, the places where they lived and whose parents or in-laws stayed where in India.

You eat 'Non-Veg'....

It was at around 8.30 pm when the family [Bihar origin] decided that the kids should have their dinner. The Tiffin was brought out. Mrs Pandey opened the boxes one after the other. As the aroma wafted in the compartment, Mr Agarwal asked, 'Non-veg hai kya'.

At that moment, the chirpy Mrs Pandey seemed to have lost all her confidence. Mr Agarwal was surprised, 'Aap log non-veg khate hain'. Poor Mrs Pandey was embarrassed though Mr Agarwal was so mild. Now Mr Garg also jumped into the fray, 'You people are Pundits, na!'

Mrs Pandey was totally on back foot now. She was fumbling for words. 'Bachchon ko khila dete hain' [we let the children eat it]. The guys said, "no we don't have any objection but...". Mrs Pandey had now put the lids back on the dibbas. "I will send the children to the XYZ's seat [perhaps a relative or acquaintance travelling in same bogey] in the other end of the compartment'.

"No, no you don't need to do that", Garg sahab said, touching his nose. Koi problem nahi hai. We are not used to anyone eating non-veg.

"We don't even eat eggs. My wife in fact doesn't touch onion or garlic", he added. All the fun had ended by now.

Mrs Pandey murmured: We make it for kids. She seemed really sorry for existence. "We don't eat regularly now.

Actually we are from Bihar na, Brahmins eat mutton in Bihar", she said. Her husband who was squirming, said something about the days every week when they keep fast.

Vegetarian Virtues

Mr Maheshwari, who wasn't talking much, suddenly joined the conversation. "Once my brother's friends had come and cooked mutton on our 'chauka' in our absence. You know, she [pointing at his wife] had got the entire cooking platform washed so many times. She didn't step in until we had the kitchen white washed again", he said with pride.

My God, it was going too far now. Politically speaking, a 'vegetarian majority' here was psychologically crushing a minority non-vegetarian family which had allowed itself to be bullied. It was like, 'We thought you were just like us, how come you be so different'.

One felt like intervening but then they were all so close just a while ago that interference would haved seemed odd. The Pandey couple was silent. But Mrs Pandey's behaviour and mannerism suggested that she was 'apology personified'.

Being Brahmins [highest is caste ladder; the other three families were Vaisyas and veggies], they were supposed to carry the vegetarian values but here, they were caught 'red-handed' and that too when passengers all around [coupe's on either side] were listening to this conversation.

Apologetic about Eating Habits

"Arrey bhai, bachchon ko khane do", said one of the veggie brigade. The discussion on Indian values and how non-vegetarian food [taamsik] leads to corruption of not just soul but also body, took off. Even Mr and Mrs Pandey were supporting the virtues of vegetarianism.

They said how because of their upbringing in Mithila region, they had this habit, but that they no longer cherished mutton or chicken. Mrs Pandey suggested that even the kids were not too fond of it and will perhaps shun it once they are old enough.

It was sad to see the two kids [bhai-behen] go towards the window, sit and eat without talking. The elders' conversation continued about how people in Rajasthan and Gujarat have 'saatvik' food and that it is so tasty. The wonders of desi spices and the miracles the 'maida' and 'besan' can do, were discussed.

From 'baati' to 'baafla', we heard about all unique vegetarian delicacies. And how celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan don't eat non-vegetarian food. If the couple had any plans to eat the food brought along by them, they couldn't dare to think of it. The ordered the 'thaali' and had it along with others. After all, they had claimed that the non-vegetarian food in the Tiffin was for kids.

Call it 'Food Fascism' or just a funny episode!

Though it was a pretense. Perhaps, the veggie brigade also knew it. None of them asked the couple that they  should eat the non-veg food.

The Bihar couple was clearly under massive moral pressure and feeling guilty. No one had blamed them. They should have spoken for themselves.

Had they taken a stand and said that food habits had got nothing to do with religion or given examples and said that 'Look, its our choice what we eat', the situation wouldn't have taken such a turn.

They could have said how Brahmins originally in the Vedic era ate mutton but later under the influence of Jainism or due to other factors, quit it.

But they did nothing of that sort. They sounded apologetic. Perhaps, because they really felt that being Brahmins they should have protected the 'tradition', which all the Bania families around them were doing with such conviction.

The manner in which they got cornered was a bit sad. It took a while before the topic of conversation changed. But it couldn't get as lively as in the earlier phase. However, as the journey was coming to an end, they all noted each others phone numbers and promised that if they visited each others cities, they would make a call.

The kids said goodbye to the uncles. Perhaps, they will remember them for a long time. Often people get friendly during train journeys but the promises to call or meet are forgotten once they get off the train. But this episode will surely stay with me for quite sometime.

Is there any moral to draw from this incident?
(C) INDSCRIBE Any post on this blog must not be reprinted or republished on any other website or blog. If, at all, you are publishing any excerpt or part of the article, please give proper credit and link to anindianmuslim.com

Guidelines of Islam to protect honor of women - The Quran Foundation

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Guidelines of Islam to protect honor of women
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Islam is not just a true religion but also a social order that enables individuals to attain the cherished goal of material happiness and welfare in the world and to prepare them for the next world
through righteousness and virtuous deeds.Islam removes the possible causes which may breed corruption. It strikes hard at the root of evil and suggests measures which may bring about peaceful,
�happy and harmonious relations among the Muslims.It puts restraint to such impelling forces which might play a disastrous role in degenerating the mind of young men and women.
As 23 year old Delhi girl who was assualted last week clings on to threads of life , this incident has outraged the entire country and rightly so.
�Thousands of people are erupting in protests resulting in a huge wave of pressure on the Government to take take solid, substantial action on the issue once and for all.
As the ugly details of the rape and brutal assault on the 23 year old survivor come to light, people have taken to the streets and forced our political leaders to take immediate action and various ways are being suggested to prevent such incidents.We take a peek into ancient wisdom and try to find out how Islam deals with the issue of protecting honor of women.
Islam has given multi pronged solution to this issue.We take a look at just a few of them given below:
-Islam Commands� women to dress modestly to prevent them from lustful glances
-Men are commanded to respect women just like they want women of their household to be respected
-A Woman is commanded not to go alone on a long journey and should have male relative as escort
-Orderliness in society is brought through promotion of institution of marriage
-capital punishment to� people guilty of outraging the modesty of women
-The punishment is� given publicly to induce fear of law in the hearts of would be criminals
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Islam Commands� women to dress modestly to prevent them from lustful glances
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The Qur'an instructs Muslim women to observe veil.The Arabic word for "veiling" is hijab. Lexically it means "cover".The hijab cuts off the ill thoughts and the greed of the sick hearts
.The clothing must hang loosely and not be so tight and fitting as to show the shape of the woman’s body. The garment should be thick and opaque so as not to display the skin colour and form of the body beneath it.
Its mentioned in the Qur'an:
"O children of Adam, we have provided you with garments to cover your bodies, as well as for luxury. But the best garment is the garment of righteousness. These are some of Allah’s signs, that they may take heed."
►[Holy Quran ,Chapter 7:Verse�26]
O Prophet! Say to your wives, your daughters and the women of believers that (while going out) they should draw their veils as coverings over them....►[Holy Qur'an , Chapter 33:Verse 59]
Its mentioned in Hadith:
Yahya related to me from Malik from Muslim ibn Abi Maryam from Abu Salih that Hazrat Abu Hurayra said,
"Women who are naked even though they are wearing clothes, go astray and make others go astray, and they will not enter the Garden nor will they experience its fragrance, and its fragrance can be experienced
from as far as the distance travelled in five hundred years."►{Narrated by Imam Malik in Al-Muwatta, Book on Dress,Hadith #7}
Hazrat Ayesha reported that Hazrat Asma came to the Holy Prophet(Peace be upon him) wearing very fine clothes. The Prophet(Peace be upon him) turned his face and said:
“O Asma! When a woman attains the puberty, no part of her body should be exposed to others except face and palms.”���►{Narrated by Abu Dawood}
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Men are commanded to respect women just like they� would want women of their household to be respected
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Men are commanded to respect women just like they� would want women of their household to be respected.Here is a incident from life of Prophet Muhammad(Peace be upon him).
One day, a young man (apparently Julaybib) asked Allah’s Messenger(Peace be upon him) for permission to fornicate, since he could not restrain himself. Those who were present reacted in various ways.
Some scoffed at him, others pulled his robe, and still others readied themselves to hit him. But the compassionate Prophet(peace be upon him) drew him near and engaged him in conversation.
�He began by asking him:“Would you let someone do this with your mother?”
�to which the young man replied:�“My mother and father be your ransom,O God’s Messenger, I don’t agree with that.”
The Prophet(peace be upon him) said:“Naturally, no one agrees that his mother should be a party in such a disgraceful act.”
He then continued asking Julaybib the same question, but substituting daughter, wife, sister, and aunt for mother.
Every time Julaybib replied that he would not agree to such an act. By the end of this conversation, Julaybib had lost all desire to fornicate.
But Allah’s Messenger(Peace be upon him) concluded this “spiritual operation” with a supplication.
�Placing his hand on Julaybib’s chest, he prayed:�“O God, forgive him, purify his heart, and maintain his chastity.”
�Julaybib became a model of chastity. Some time later he married through the intermediation of Allah’s Messenger(peace be upon him)...►{Ibn Hanbal, 5:256-57}
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Islam brings orderliness in society by promoting the institution of marriage
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Islam brings orderliness in society by promoting the institution of marriage. Marriage is a� door from the doors of righteousness for the person with the correct intention.
Allah Ta’ala also states:
“And enjoin in marriage those among you who are not married, and your deserving slaves and bondwomen...”►(Surah Noor Verse 32)
It is stated in a Hadith:“Those among you who are able to marry, should marry...”►(Bukhari Shareef Hadith 5065, Muslim Shareef Hadith 3464)
Parents have been advised� is to marry off children once they reach a suitable age.
Hazrat Abu Sa’eed and Ibne Abbas Ä narrate that
RasoolAllah(Peace be upon him) said, “Whoever has children should give them a good name, teach them manners and
once they have reached puberty should arrange for their marriage.
If a child is not married (at a suitable age) and as a result of that he commits sins (adultery) then the sin will be on the father.►(Mishkaat-ul-Masabih,Hadith 3138)
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A Woman is commanded not to go alone on a long journey and should have a male relative as an escort
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A Woman is commanded not to go alone on a long journey and should have a male relative as an escort for security.
It is related from Ibn 'Abbas that he heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say,�"A man should not be alone with a woman, nor should a woman travel except with a dhu mahram.(i.e. her husband or a person whom she cannot marry in any case for ever; e.g. her father, brother, etc.)."
A man stood up and said,�"Messenger of Allah, I have been written down for such-and-such an expedition and my wife has gone out on hajj."
He said.�"Go and make hajj with your wife."�►{Sahih Bukhari ,Kitab Al-Jihad, Hadith 2844}
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Capital punishment to the one who outrages modesty of a woman
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In Islam,Capital punishment to the one who outrages modesty of a woman.
Stoning for adultery is mass-transmitted from the Prophet, upon him peace, both as verbal injunction (Hadith "The child belongs to the household where he is born and the adulterer gets stones") and actual deed (stoning of Maa`iz ibn Maalik, Allah be well-pleased with him) cf. al-Kattani, Nazm al-Mutanathir (p. 105-106 §181-182).
Abdul Jabbar ibn Wail ibn Hujr reported on the authority of his father�that a� modesty of a woman was outraged in the Prophet(peace be upon him)’s times.
He let her off, but appointed hadd(capital punishment) on the man who had assaulted her..►{Sunan Tirmidhi,BOOK OF HUDUD,Hadith #1483}
The punishment is� given publicly to induce fear of law in the hearts of ,would be criminals.
May Almighty Allah make the society realise the wisdom behind Divine laws revealed to mankind to get rid of the crime prevelant in society ..Ameen!

--
Jazakum Allah Khair
The
Qur'an Foundation.