RE: [mukto-mona] On the Sculpture Issue (To: Mr. S.A. Hannan)

Dear Mr.Zaman,

Islam was a simple religion for the 7^th century pagan Arabs. Prophet Mohammed had reasons to put some strict conditions to transform them to a monolithic religion. Those conditions were logical and understandable in the prevailing social conditions of his times. But when this faith was shipped to India and conversions started among the low caste Hindus the task was not easy due to a very powerful indigenous culture. The over enthusiastic local Islamic missionaries had to create unsurpassable barriers to keep the fresh converts into their new faith. They created many new religious rules which are not necessarily a part of Islam. Islam does not approve idolatry and therefore anything that resembles a slightest idolatry trend had to be prohibited. On the other hand it became necessary to create a wall of separation by many others so called Islamic edicts to sustain this separation. For example 'huludhoni" which is still a practice among the Arabs is strictly prohibited among the Indian Muslims. The reason is simple. Since huludhoni is a practice among the Hindus, Muslims are prohibited to do this. The other important factor which works very effectively in Islam is fear. This Fear Factor is so powerful in Islam that many highly educated Muslims are also not free from it. A 7^th century prerequisite is still imperative in this faith.

 

In many discussions and discourses I saw many Muslims shy away from any kind of intellectual discussion about Islam. The precondition that if you do not subscribe to some essential blind conditions you are not a Muslim. People like Mr.S.A.Hannan and others will not budge from this point of view. There are other contradictions too. They claim that Allah is the fountain of all knowledge. But they will not agree to the fact that in the business of knowledge blind faith is not an acceptable commodity. They do not respond if you ask them if there was an Islamic seminary in China when Mohammed told his followers to go to China to seek knowledge. If you vigorously insist for answers they will say that they do not want to lose their iman by indulging in this kind of discussions.

 

Akbar Hussain

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To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
From:
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:36:05 +0000
Subject: [mukto-mona] On the Sculpture Issue (To: Mr. S.A. Hannan)

Dear Mr. Hannan:
 
As we all know, recently there has been a lot of controversy and furor over the sculpture issue.  As I indicated in another post, I strongly disagree with you on this issue.  I want to ask you some questions to learn more about the rationale behind your position.  I know many people on this forum often ask you questions, most of them rhetorical, and often in a disrespectful and uncivil tone.  Sometimes, but a lot less frequently, you also have responded in kind to such questions.  I want you to know that I am not asking you questions in that spirit.  I just want to have a civil dialog on the subject.
 
First, I want to set down some terminology.  In the remainder of this post, unless otherwise specified, "idol" will mean a piece of sculpture intended to be an image of a god/godddess, used in an act of worship of such a god/goddess.  The word "statue" will mean a piece of sculpture that is NOT the image of a god/goddess,and has no religious significance.
 
Here are the questions:
 
1. In the Arabic language, are there separate words for "statue" and "idol" as explained above or is the same word  used to represent both?
 
2. If there are separate Arabic words for the two English words above, which one is used in the Holy Quran to forbid its making or use?  Is it one or the other or both? 
 
If the same Arabic word is used for both, do you think it is reasonable to assume that the word "idol" (as defined above) is meant, because of its association with polytheism?  In other words, the word "statue" (as defined above) is NOT meant in that prohibition.
 
3. I have the same question about the use of the two words in the hadith literature and in the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh).  For example, has there been any instance of anyone making, possessing or carrying a non-religious statue, which was then criticized or forbidden by the Prophet (pbuh)? 
 
4. Has there been any instance of building non-religious statues since the time of the Prophet (pbuh)?  If yes, what was the reaction of the contemporary Ulema?
 
5. We know that there are a lot of statues in Egypt.  Has the local Ulema or any Ulema from any part of the Arab world denounced or criticized the building or continual presence of these statues in public places or asked for their demolition?
 
6. We also know that there were lots of statues of Saddam Hossein in Iraq prior to their demolition in 2003 after the war.  Did the Ulema in Iraq or from any part of the Arab world protest the erection of these statues and ask for their demolition?
 
7. What are your views on photographs, painting and other images of human beings, when they do not have any religious use or significance?  Do you think that the same prohibition that applies (in your opinion) to sculpture should apply to such works?  If your answer is yes or no, please explain or discuss your answer.
 
Again, these are not rhetorical questions or questions intended to win an argument.  I am just trying to understand your reasoning.
 
With regards,
 
M. Harun uz Zaman
 
 

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