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Chintito

The Misuse of Islam

Chintito

Our religion advocates for us to remember always the Creator, including in our utmost distress and difficulties, and have faith in the Almighty. Therein lies the true test of our imaan, devotion and piety. And yet the political leader of one party (misusing Islam) went on record last week saying that they could utter Naraye Takbir after 1975's 7 November. (Janakantha, 8 November 2009)

Without going into the politics of the day when freedom fighters, such as one of the finest Bangalee officers Major (later Col) ATM Haider, were killed, one is amazed at the utterance of the political leader of one party (misusing Islam) because, assuming he and his folks (spreading folk tales about their role during our War of Liberation in 1971 when newspapers of the era tell otherwise, the fact, the truth) were indeed in distress and difficulties, he should have had complete faith in Allah subhanu wa ta'ala and come out on the street and shouted Allahu Akbar.

There is no evidence (written, pictorial, print, electronic, human memory) that the situation in early November 1975 was extremely dangerous for any Muslim, because muazzeens called the Adhan, devotees went to masjids, burials took place with full funerary rituals, akika of children were held, and kazis solemnised marriages when the bride and the respective groom uttered kobul without any duress. However, repeated military putsches were going on at the time and people chose to stay indoors to avoid any untoward accident or incident, which is the faraz of any intelligent person.
But, again assuming that it was a terrible time for a Razakar, then the beloved leader of thousands of Rokons, who look up to him for exemplary courage and truth, could have uttered the takbir in the confines of his house. That too is permitted in our religion. But, one need not wait for a situation to fully come in his so-called favour to remember Him. That is lack of faith. And to be on record, the said leader cannot show us any evidence (written, pictorial, print, electronic, human memory) that he came out on the street on 7 November and shouted the takbir.

Tch! Tch! How much longer shall they misuse the religion! And how much longer shall the Muslims of Bangladesh show patience towards these derailed politicians misusing the religion Islam, the religion of peace and tranquillity.

Allahu Akbar, La Ilaha Illallah and such pious verses are embedded in the heart of every true Muslim. They are not tattered, nor torn by political upheaval, change of government, Paltan Maidan speeches. I think some bhandos, dressed as maulanas, overestimate their effect on our religious belief, and commitment. The effect is naught.

Not one bhando ever mentions that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of Bangladesh, and the greatest Bangalee ever (by a BBC public poll), in his historical speech on 7 March 1971, concluded his statement given in Bangla, '(We) shall ultimately free this country' with the word InshaAllah. Is not that the virtue of a good Muslim? Was Islam under threat under the leadership of pro-liberation forces led by Bangabandhu? Is it under any threat now? Nay, these are but the weakening ploys of the killers and abetters of the crimes committed in 1971.

Otherwise, if they, garbed in Muslim attire, were true to Islam, they would have expressed gratitude for Bangaban-dhu's deeds in the path of Allah. Unfortunately, not one anti-liberation politician has ever mentioned that it was Bangabandhu, the Father of the Nation, who established the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh on 28 March 1975. Today the foundation has six Divisional and 58 District offices all over Bangladesh, and it has seven Imam Training Academy Centres and 29 Islamic Mission Centres. Surely Allah (swt) shall reward Bangabandhu for his humble contribution to Islam.

Not one enemy of this country ever mentions that in 1974 Bangabandhu led Bangladesh to the meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), an association of all Islamic states promoting Muslim solidarity in economic, social, and political affairs.

Let is conclude with extracts from a news appearing in the Financial Times Saturday 14 February 2009:
'Islamic Foundation has re-introduced three books on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, reports BSS. The books -- Jatir Janak (Father of the Nation) Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Mohan Neta (Great Leader) Bangabandhu and Hridoy Jure (In our heart) Bangabandhu were banned by the past four-party alliance government, a press release of the foundation said in the city Friday.

It said the books edited by Dr Shahadat Hossain, Nasrin Mustafa and Khaleq Bin Joyen Uddin respectively were withdrawn from all libraries of Islamic Foundation through a letter on March 29, 2003.

The decision of the re-introduction of the books was taken unanimously at the monthly coordination meeting of Islamic Foundation. It also decided to publish research books and biographies related to Islami Tahzeeb-Tamuddun of Bangabandhu.

It was possible on the part of a devout Muslim and courageous personality like Bangabandhu to establish such an organisation at that time with government fund, the release said.

Writers and intellectuals have been requested to submit scripts on the life and works of Bangabandhu to the publication department of the Foundation, it said.'

I rest my case.

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