Islam and Vedanta or the Advaita

Muslims believe that the Almighty has sent prophets and books to all corners of the Earth to civilize the humans and teach them the Tawheed which is the oneness of  God. While trying to view Hinduism in this context we find that many Quranic stories like those of Nooh, Lut, Abraham and Moses are also found in Hindu traditions, although the names of characters are different. The Vedantic concept of Advaita is similar to Tawheed which is the primary and most important part of Islam .

  Advaita meaning without a second is derived from Upanishdas. The philosophy of advaita states that There is only one supreme being and he is the only truth everything else is a part of the supreme reality or that Brahmaan and is illusion (Maya). The Tradition of Wahdatul Wajood in Islam states that the existence of the Sublime Being of the Almighty is compulsory and whatever else exists, is the manifestation of Allah and the spiritual part of Allah. Thus, in reality, there is only one single existence (i.e. Allah). The only difference lies in the concept that in Advaita the creator and the creation are same i.e. The Universe or Brahmaan whereas in Islam the creator and creation are different, Allah is the creator of the Universe. However, this difference is also evident in the Theories of Shankaracharya who believes in the former and the Ramanujam who insisted that God and man are different existence or being and not one.These are, however, minor differences and in fact should be welcomed as these invite discussion and research and thus increase the interest of Scholars as well as common people.  

In practice though, these differences are overwhelmed by the belief in one God who is Omnipotent and Omnipresent in his wisdom. The modern master of Vedanta Swami Vivekananda observed “ I believe it (Advaita and Vedanta) is the religion of the future enlightened humanity...I am firmly persuaded that without the help of practical Islam, theories of Vedantism, however fine and wonderful they maybe, are entirely valueless to the vast mass of mankind...For our own motherland a junction of the two great systems, Hinduism and Islam - Vedanta brain and Islam body - is the only hope...” and “our experience is that if ever the followers of any religion approach to this (Advaita) in an appreciable degree in the plane of practical work-a-day life-it may be quite unconscious generally of the deeper meaning and the underlying principle of such conduct, which the Hindus as a rule so clearly perceive - it is those of Islam and Islam alone....”. 

Those performing Yoga will appreciate that the effect Asanas of Yoga produce to rejuvenate the body and mind can also be produced by the movement of a person practicing Salat (Namaz) five times a day as all the joints of body are stretched and person focuses himself as if he is seeing the God as a universe or as a point and thus his body and noistrils are cleaned by Wadu and soul by the meditation. However, it doesn't mean that anyone of these can replace the other because the specific needs of the two are different.

Many great Muslim Scholars and Poets like Ibn Al Arabi, Ghazali, Rumi, Iqbal and others have given theories which directly or indirectly confirm the Advaita so we have two great religions which are so similar in their approach and theory yet as distinct in practice as Islam and Hinduism. All the great reformers of modern times like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Dayananda Saraswati, Vivekananda etc. tried to bridge this gap by telling people to shun Idol Workship.  

Yasser Iqbal Kidwai

Syeda Hamed a member of planning commision and an expert on Islam plays the role of Qazi at a wedding in Lucknow. This is the first occasion since a long time when a women Qazi gets the Nikah solemnised. The response of local leaders and clerics has been positive and the leading cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad encouraged the idea saying that it is perfectly fine for a women to be a Qazi if she posses the same knowledge as her male counterpart. Another interesting facet is that the Qazi is a Shia whereas the couple are Sunni, this is also not unacceptable as the Muslims always have the choice of switching the School of thought.

Women used to play the role of Mufti, Qazi and General at the time of Prophet Muhammed but in recent times their has been a decline of some sort in their position.

WELCOME ADDRESS - Chicago, Sept 11, 1893

Sisters and Brothers of America,

It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions, and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.

My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honor of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration. I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: "As the different streams having their sources in different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee."

The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: "Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me." Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.

CONCLUDING ADDRESS - Chicago, Sept 27, 1893The World's Parliament of Religions has become an accomplished fact, and the merciful Father has helped those who laboured to bring it into existence, and crowned with success their most unselfish labour.

My thanks to those noble souls whose large hearts and love of truth first dreamed this wonderful dream and then realized it. My thanks to the shower of liberal sentiments that has overflowed this platform. My thanks to this enlightened audience for their uniform kindness to me and for their appreciation of every thought that tends to smooth the friction of religions. A few jarring notes were heard from time to time in this harmony. My special thanks to them, for they have, by their striking contrast, made general harmony the sweeter.

Much has been said of the common ground of religious unity. I am not going just now to venture my own theory. But if any one here hopes that this unity will come by the triumph of any one of the religions and the destruction of the others, to him I say, "Brother, yours is an impossible hope." Do I wish that the Christian would become Hindu? God forbid. Do I wish that the Hindu or Buddhist would become Christian? God forbid.

The seed is put in the ground, and earth and air and water are placed around it. Does the seed become the earth, or the air, or the water? No. It becomes a plant. It develops after the law of its own growth, assimilates the air, the earth, and the water, converts them into plant substance, and grows into a plant.

Similar is the case with religion. The Christian is not to become a Hindu or a Buddhist, nor a Hindu or a Buddhist to become a Christian. But each must assimilate the spirit of the others and yet preserve his individuality and grow according to his own law of growth.

If the Parliament of Religions has shown anything to the world, it is this: It has proved to the world that holiness, purity and charity are not the exclusive possessions of any church in the world, and that every system has produced men and women of the most exalted character. In the face of this evidence, if anybody dreams of the exclusive survival of his own religion and the destruction of the others, I pity him from the bottom of my heart, and point out to him that upon the banner of every religion will soon be written in spite of resistance: "Help and not fight," "Assimilation and not Destruction," "Harmony and Peace and not Dissension." 

Mantra for successful personal and professional life. 1) "Learn from the mistakes of others... you can't
Live long enough to make them all yourselves!! "

2)"A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are screwed first."
3)"Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous."
4)"The biggest guru-mantra is: Never share your secrets with anybody. It will destroy you."
5)"There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth."
6)" Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions - Why am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead."
7)"As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it."
8)"The world's biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman."
9)"Once you start a working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest."
10)"The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction."
11)"God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your temple."
12) "A man is great by deeds, not by birth."
13) "Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give you any happiness."
14) "Treat your kids like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends."
15) "Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person."
16) "Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth."
************ ******** ****
Some Inspiring Quotes

1) Never expect things to happen...
Struggle and make them happen.
never expect yourself to be given a good value create a value of your own
2) If a drop of water falls in lake there is no identity. But if it falls on a leaf of lotus it shines like a pearl. So choose the best place where you would shine..
3) Falling down is not defeat...defeat is when your refuse to get up...
4) Ship is always safe at shore... but is not built for it
5) When your successful your well wishers know who you are when you are unsuccessful you know who your well wishers are
6) It is great confidence in a friend to tell him your faults; greater to tell him/her
7) To the world you might be one person, But to some one you just might be the world
8) "Even the word 'IMPOSSIBLE' says 'I M POSSIBLE' "
9) Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort in your life makes all the difference.
Never take some one for granted, Hold every person Close to your Heart because you might wake up one day and realize that you have lost a diamond while you were too busy collecting stones 

Riyaz Ahmad

Greatest Religious controversies

Prophet’s Cartoons

Denmark’s  newspaper Jyllands-Posten published an article entitled "Muhammed’s ansigt" ("The face of Muhammad") on 30 September 2005. The article consisted of twelve cartoons, some of them depicting Prophet Muhammad in most derogatory form. This sparked off a world wide protest, several newspapers in mainland Europe responded by republishing the cartoons. The republishing of cartoons further aggravated the situation; Muslim masses came out on streets seeking the head of Cartoonists, our own U.P minister Haji Yakoob promised a reward of 51 crores for anyone who killed the ‘cartoonist’. Danish embassies were attacked and Europeans beaten some 150 people were killed in the protests, mostly of police action.Those responsible for the controversy remained adamant throughout and refused to apologize. They had created the mischief completely knowing the fact that depiction of prophet in any image, painting or idol is completely prohibited under Islam and Muslims would not accept anything like that.

Dera-Sikh Controversy

Dera Sacha Sauda, a sikh cult in Sirsa Haryana claiming to have more than one crore followers, became the centre of a storm in Punjab and Haryana, which has refused to die out even today. Sant Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh the head of Dera on 16 may 2007, dressed himself similar to Guru Gobind Singh and distributed the Amrit to his supporters in the same way the Guru had done while founding the Khalsa Panth, this ignited a sharp reaction from Sikh leaders. Sikhs roused in protests mainly in Punjab and Haryana, Dera supporters responded too and there was head on collision between the two, causing loss of life and property. Sant first refused to bend but later on due to political pressure, issued a well crafted regret statement addressing the Guru himself. The Sikh leaders, however, denounced the statement as tricky. The controversy is still a serious cause of tension in the area and the recent clashes in Mumbai, Bhatinda and Dabwali have taken the lives of two more innocents. In this case also, it is unlikely that Sant didn’t know that it is not permitted to imitate the Guru.

Sinister Designs

Since, the people triggering the controversies were not ignorant of the consequences of their action; there is a great possibility that these were designed to meet a wider aim. While the exact motive can’t be established, in the first case it could be the part of agenda of those afraid of Islam’s ever increasing influence on the European Society and leaving no stone unturned to defame it. The later controversy could be the brain child of those trying to polarize the votes in the region.

Are the protests justified?

The protests are definitely required to create an awareness that the use of freedom of speech and action to hurt others sentiments is not acceptable, the extent of the protests should, however, be checked to take care that you are not implementing the designs of those against whom you are protesting.  The violence not only reduces the sympathy but creates an irritation among the others who tend to believe that you are intolerant; exactly what the adversaries have planned for you. Moreover, The Prophet and the Guru were the people of highest grace who laid stress on forgiveness and piety and would never have liked their people to be involved in something which would result in blood shed of the innocents. 

Yasser Iqbal Kidwai    

Whenever their is a bomb blast or a suicide bombing anywhere in the world the most likely perpetrators are Muslim youth. Photographs of young men in between their mid-twenties and thirties with small beard or a stubble carrying checked head scarf are a common sight on televisions and newspapers covering news of bombings. What does this indicate ? To any common observer this is a clear indication that the religion which is followed by some 1 billion people and which means peace and submission before the will of God, is the one responsible for all the acts of Terrorism in the world today.

The Terrorism is an act of using mass voilence to create an atmosphere of terror against a country or a select group of people so that they sucumb and the goals are met. If you judge the events taking place around the world according to this defination, impartially, your views are going to change a little. You will suddenly notice that those claimimg to be waging a war against terrorism are themselves involved in this gruesome act. Or you may say that their is war going on around the world between the two parties and none of them is ethical. In General, the ill treatment of Palestinians and Iraqis by the hands of Western Powers have made some of the muslims to believe that they are their enemies and so they have made groups to fight a kind of Gorilla war against them. However it is not sanctioned under Islam. 

Keeping in view the context of the discussion let us find out the relevent teachings of the Quran. Islam like any other religion calls on its followers to wage, a Jihad (see notes), a war against those causing injury, expelling muslims from their homes and not allowing them to practice peacefully but warns them to not to exceed limits (Quran al baqarah verse 190).  It never preaches to declare a war against people following other faiths in fact it tells them to respect them. " God doesn't forbid you from respecting those who have not raged a war against you on account of your religion..." (Quran 60: 8,9). Keeping good relations with ones neighbour is one of the most stressed teaching and that the neighbour can be a muslim or a non muslim. As far as Jihad is concerned Quran says "No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another"  ( Quran al qamar verse 38) means no one should be punished for the crime of his near one, leave alone targetting a whole community for those who have waged a war against the muslims. Furthermore, it is mentioned in holy Quran (al maidah verse 32) that Killing an innocent human being is like killing whole humanity and saving a human being is like saving the humanity. Quran and prophet Muhammed told the muslims that  retalliation is a sin and that God is pleased with those who forgive. Prophet at the time of wars would repeatedly remind the armies to not to harm the women, children and elderly. Islam tells the Non Muslims    " To you be your way and to me mine" " Let their be no compulsion in religion"  ( Quran Al baqarah verse 256)

Question also arises as to who will decide that it is correct time to wage a Jihad. It is an established and elected body representing the Muslims which can decide upon the matters like this, an example is the P.L.O or any other elected government and so any fringe group cannot issue a fatwa to start Jihad even in the times of crisis.

Thus from above mentioned teachings of Quran and Prophet it can be said that killing of masses is not permitted in Islam. Car Bombings, attack over buildings, torture, kidnapping and suicide bombings are not permissible in Islam even in the case of Jihad. Or you can say that a holy war or Jihad can't be waged for narrow political gains and it doesn't authorise killing in the way the terrorists are doing. People like Zawahiri and Bin Laden are not educated in Islam so they neither have the qualification nor the intent and so they easily misinterpret certain verses of Quran which told the muslims of that period to fight against the infidels who had made it difficult for muslims to practice their faith. 

Jihad is defensive and not a weapon to be used to propagate Islam, if that had been a case their would n't be a single non-muslim living in Spain where the muslims ruled for 800 years and rather muslims form just about 2% of the Spain's population. Indonesia the country with highest number of muslims in the world never saw muslim armies on their lands, all the converts were the result of Sufism.

Darul Uloom Deoband the largest Institution of Islamic Studies in India and the second largest in the world on 25th febuary 2008 issued a declaration, in the presence of Islamic Scholars of all the School of Thoughts, denouncing all the forms of terrorism and killing in the name of Islam and declared that people participating in such acts can't  call themselves muslims.  

(Note:Jihad- According to Interpretation of Official Quran, by Custodian of two Holy Mosques, any pain staking effort sacrificing ones greed, person, property or life for leading a virtuous life according to will of God is called Jihad. Mere brutal fighting is opposed to the whole sprit of Jihad, while the sincere scholar's pen or preachers voice or wealthy man's contribution may be the most valueable forms of Jihad.)  

Yasser Iqbal Kidwai                                                                                                     

Constantine I or Constantine the Great  is widely believed as the First Christian Emperor. Traditionally, Romans followed the policy of execution against the Christians. Constantine, coming to power 300 years after the birth of Jesus, announced the policy of tolerance towards Christianity in the Edict of Milan, shortly after becoming ruler, which stopped killing and harassment of the Christians and returned confiscated Church property. It is believed that Constantine anticipated that Christianity was spreading at a fast rate and the Roman Empire would fall into a deeper conflict if it didn’t recognize it. He was also not an undisputed ruler and was threatened continuously by other nobles so he required a group of people who remained dedicated and loyal to him in the most adverse situations; he identified the Christians for this role. Romans by this time must have also realized that Christians were not the traitors as blamed by the Jews and posed no direct threat to Empire. Christians at that time followed the policy of pacifism, not participating in warfare and seeking peaceful resolution of conflicts. Constantine immediately changed the negative approach of earlier Roman Kings who believed that Abstaining from joining the Roman armies, when directed, was a denial to the authority.

Soon, Christianity replaced Traditional Roman Practices, to become the official religion and thus clergy were given high status and there were large scale conversions.The Capital city was changed to Constantinople and it became an important seat of Christian learning. Pagan symbols were replaced but wherever pagans were powerful they were not exactly removed and rather were absorbed into Christianity.

However, Constantine was not so kind for all his subjects. He led an army to kill Donatists Christians, who believed that  who so ever bowed before Romans and compromised do not deserve to be taken into the fold again. He was against them for obvious reasons.

He also called the Council of Nicaea against Arians, the followers of Arius, who don’t believe in the concept of Trinity and thus do not believe that Jesus was divine enough to be called a part of God. He is said to have threatened the priests against voting in favour of Arius. However, later he repented and invited back the Arius and was baptized by an Arian priest, his son was also an Arian. His rule also affected Jews who were banned from keeping Christian slaves. Conversions of Christians to Judaism were also prohibited and thus the propagation of Judaism was effectively stopped. Jews’ religious freedoms were curtailed to a large extent.

It is an undeniable fact that Constantine was a very important factor in propagation of Christianity as a major religion. However he had a major impact on the Christian theology also; he transformed a religion of simple God fearing people into one which had a priestly class separate from common believers. Before this Christianity was growing inspite of Roman threats, Christians were fearless and there was no difference between a priest and a common man. However, now many influential Romans in pursuit of Power became Christians. Christians earlier used to follow the policy of non violence and sought peaceful resolution of problems but now  under Constantine they started to build up as an army and persecuted even their fellow Christians, the Donatists. Author of Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown, writes that Constantine while promoting Christianity brought into it many customs of the Roman Pagan religion. One of them was the theory that Jesus was the son of the God and not a common Prophet.

Constantine according to him told the priests to compile the Bible and used only those Gospels which suited him.

Yasser Iqbal Kidwai

Secularism- Difference between Indian and Western concepts.

Secularism is the policy of Non-Discrimination on the basis of faith and religious belief. The west’s idea of secularism is one in which there is no interference of religion in the secular matters like governance and similarly a person is either religious or secular. For a person or organization to be called secular, it must not have anything to do with the religion. In India, we have a slightly different meaning; we do not forbid our government to have any sort of contact with the religion. The government here can openly provide subsidies for pilgrimages like in case of Hajj and Kailash Mansarovar yatra and yet it maintains its status of a secular Government. There is a very thin line between discrimination and help/ Upliftment and we are capa our people and society. We, Indians are basically religious people and so it is present in every walk of oble of maintaining that. We can call people with large tilaks or turbans or beards to be secular.

 The difference in the concept lies in the nature ofur life. We never take a step without mentioning the name of God, any new venture, release of a movie, Purchase of a vehicle; nothing can materialize without the name of God mentioned in thanks and prayers thus it is practically not possible for us to carry a west like rigid stand on secularism. Secularism in India is a way of living; we need not be nonbelievers or non practicing to be secular minded. We also need not believe in divinity of others Gods, prophets, holy men to be able to respect them. A Hindu may not believe that the Jesus was the son of the God but still he will love and respect him similarly a Muslim may not believe that the God himself came down to earth in the form of human but still he will respect Lord Krishna. It is not uncommon to see Hindus securing the shoes of their Muslim brethren while the later are observing their Eid prayers and Muslims participating to make Durga Puja festivities in their locality a success.

We do not require to be taught or disciplined to be secular, it is in our blood and our great history is a testimony. Apart from a one or two rulers it is full of Kings like Ashoka, Sher Sher Shah, Akbar and Shivaji who were all religious to the core and yet liberal and tolerant. It was a common sight of soldiers belonging to one community fighting for the King of another and that too against the king of their own. Large number of Muslims faught for Guru Gobind Singh or Shivaji against the Mughals, who in turn had valiant Rajputs with them. Writers and philosophers are the mirror of a society, while Muslims like Ras khan, Rahim, Jaysi and Kabir praised Hindu Gods, Guru Granth Sahib is full of chants for Farid and others and Mahatma Gandhi and Vivekananda never shied to show their admiration for Prophet Muhammad and Jesus. We are spiritual and yet Secular, We therefore need not be restrained by law to be able to respect others feelings, it is part and parcel of our lives. Our Culture and civilization is thus the reason why we Indians can be followed throughout the world on this front.

Yasser Iqbal Kidwai

Women’s Rights in Islam

"O ye who believe!  Ye are forbidden to inherit women against their will.  Nor should ye treat them with harshness, that ye may take away part of the dower [money given by the husband to the wife for the marriage contract] ye have given them, except where they have been guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity.  If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye dislike a thing (any one of their habits), and God brings about through it a great deal of good (many good habits so don’t make an issue of that particular quality which you don’t like but to other qualities).  (Quran, 4:19)" It is not be an exaggeration to say that Quran and the prophet Muhammad were the first to provide a well documented and comprehensive set of rights for women. An example is that a woman can’t be married by her parents without her consent and she has the right to see and talk to her husband before marriage in the presence of elders. Now the question arises:

Why are the rights and freedoms given in Islam not exactly similar to those offered in modern, western world? 

 Before understanding the role and rights of women we must understand that while all the religions tell us about the Do’s and Don’ts, Islam is the only one which also guides us of achieving these. An example of this is that while we all know that it is wrong to commit adultery, Islam helps us to avoid conditions in which adultery can take place. It tells us that a young man and women, Na-mehram (unrelated to each other), when alone are joined by Satan. Means this has been prohibited to prevent adultery and so you can identify why the freedoms are not exactly similar.

Female Infanticide and foeticide

Right to life of a female infant or foetus is protected under Islam. Holy Quran says "And when the female (infant) buried alive -  questioned, for what crime she was killed." (Qur'an 81:8-9).  On the judgment day the females who were killed will be asked and they will accuse their parents/ father for the heinous crime and they who believe that they have escaped the killing will then be taken to task. There are 3 more places in which Quran prohibits this crime.Demographic studies point out the fact that this is also one of the reasons why Muslims have high growth rate yet have the best sex ratio. 

EDUCATION

Prophet Muhammad makes it compulsory for all Muslims to educate their children whether girl or boy. This is what he says about a slave girl “He who has a slave-girl and teaches her good manners and improves her education and then manumits and marries her, will get a double reward” Bukhari Volume 3, Book 46, Number 723.

 Right to property or inheritance in Islam

Islam provides women of the right to inheritance. This right is automatic and does not require a will in their favour and the inheritance thus received is not only from Father but also from husband and son. "Unto men (of the family) belongs a share of that which Parents and near kindred leave, and unto women a share of that which parents and near kindred leave, whether it be a little or much - a determinate share." ((Qur'an 4:7). The share of a women from his father however is half of what her brother gets, this is because the men have an additional responsibility of taking care of the family while the share of women can’t be taken for this purpose.

Right to work

Women are allowed to work in those arenas where there are no issues pertaining to their safety. Even Prophet Muhammad’s wife Khadija was a trader. However, it is clearly stated that it is the responsibility of a women to nurture, educate and develop good habits among their children and so if a women thinks that she can perform both jobs together there is no problem.

Purdah

All the religions tell their women to dress decently and most of them tell them to cover their heads and sometimes faces also (Nuns cover their heads and age old Hindu custom of purdah is still prevalent). Islam tells women to dress modestly not to wear tight clothes, cover their body sufficiently so that only face hands and ankles are visible. No Quranic revelation tells them to wear the black garment called burqa from head to toe. Head can be covered by a hijab (scarf) or simply a dupatta. This revelation defines clearly “O prophet , tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent (Of face, hands and ankles) and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or sisters' sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed (Quran 24:31)

Women allowed in the mosque

Women are allowed to pray with men in mosque, however since the believers are required to give all their attention and concentration to God while praying it is required that women don’t stand shoulder to shoulder with men, which will definitely divert the attention. For this 3 separate rows of men women and children should be their. Prophet muhammed says "When a woman asks authorization from one of you to go the mosque, let him grant it to her."
Women for this reason only don’t lead a prayer (It is not mentioned anywhere that women can’t lead prayer), however they can lead a prayer in their home. Recently a women in Boston led a prayer of Eid al fitr and their was no opposition. 

Rape

A recent incident from an Indian village saw a rape victim  being traumatized by the village panchayat and told that she leave her husband since she is raped by her father in law(Imrana case). Rape is described as one of the most heinous crimes and the victim even does not require providing any proof of that (all other crimes are required to be proved sufficiently, according to Muslim law, before the criminal gets the punishment other then this one in which the charge by a women against a man is enough). The victim is to be rehabilitated, Sheikh Al-Qaradawi and most other Scholars of Islam believe that young Muslim men should hasten to marry women who fall as rape victims, so as to reduce their suffering and console them, to compensate them for the loss of the most precious thing that they possess. The rapist should be killed by stoning so that others can see and take lesson.

Polygamy

Their is no major religion which puts a restriction over no. of wives only Islam tells the muslims that they can marry only upto four. This should be noted that they are not told to marry more than one wife but are told not to marry more tan four. They however are instructed to take due care that all of them get equal attention, care and rights over property etc. The Polygamy was especially necessary at the time of warfare when a large number of women were widowed. Prophet muhammed himself married widows and only one of his wives was unmarried also his second marrige took place when he was over 50 and it had become necessary to provide an example to his people that they should not shy away from supporting the widows and their children.

Dowry

Quran and Islam has only one meaning of Dowry, It is the sum a husbands gives or promises to her wife at the time of marrige. This is also called maher and now a days it runs into lacs of rupees and is a great security for women in the case of divorce or split.

Right to Divorce

Islam provides its women a right to take separation from their husbands in case of a failed marrige, it is called Khula.

If Islam is such a noble religion, why are their so many atrocities on women in Afghanistan and else where ?

Reason is not the religion but the followers. People still follow their tribal and traditional practices even after getting clear instructions from Quran and Prophet. Their is a famous phrase “Allah to maaf kardega lekin bande nahi (Allah will forgive but not the believers)”. Problem arises when self styled mullahs educated in the most backward environment without practically any books take control of the proceedings while the scholars and Muftis of Islamic theology remain seated comfortably in their A/C rooms of the mosques.

Yasser Iqbal Kidwai

Their is an oft repeated phase put across by the scholars in one form or the other:

Shun the world and search for peace!

Look, what you what you disowned in the process, your very self.

The world as it is today, since its inception has seen innumerable geographical, demographical and idealogical makeovers. But, one issue which even today fuels the thoughts of religious scholars, political ideologues, spiritual preachers alike is the attainment of peace. This is one prized possesion, which entails far more envy than cash registers, which come a good second.

An individual appraisal might lead to different parameters and standards defining peace. Quite often, the young lot of every generation relate it, with living the prevailing culture to the fullest. Persons egged on by career upswing see the word coming in their ambitions taking the desired profile. For the elderlies, it is a forgone issue with the time ticking by and desperation creeping in. Each of such pursuant will have to revise the definition once they are past that particular phase. Peace is not a bequeathed property which can be categorised as per your interests and ambitions. It has to be earned.

Earned not just for academic purpose but one has to wage a battle against ones own self. The self which has been battered and left unattended in the past by our own deeds. And if it has been said, then rightly so, that one need not relinquish the world to see the face of peace. If somebody experiences delight and everybody does so, in the stillness of a lake, or sun feasting mountain ranges or the unexplored ravines, it is definitely justified. But the problem arises when one equates these pleasantries with peace. For, it is a very temporal allurement.

The moment your awestruck gaze is introduced to the continued nature of this process, you loose interest. It no longer remains a phenomenon. Unless you are devoid of any senses i.e. an insane person who GOD willing is at peace with himself, you are bound to do some introspection. A talk that can lift you above this haze. The repercussions might be slightly harsh in the beginning but one will have to move on with a gaurded conduct. A conduct which brings respect for the elders and youngsters, which smiles on every rebuttal, which justifies patience and perseverance, which is guided by truth and last but not the least provide a reason for every soul to be happy.

Qazi saad