You talk a lot about "authentic" Islam. By trying to be true to your "authentic" Islam, you are negating the diversity in the Muslim society. When you do this, you bring in a competitive environment. This can be so competitive that one group will try to annihilate other groups. That's unfortunately what we see in countries like Pakistan and Iraq.
Untouchability is illegal in India. Admittedly this sin has not been completely washed away from the minds of people. That's why we see empowerment of Dalits and social boycott of Dalits at the same time. Theories on origin of untouchability are contradictory. Factors other than religion may also be very important. If you look at the Indian social history, you will see that a lot of religious reformers defied casteism and untouchability. I think this defiance acted as one of the strengths for those who drafted the Indian constitution. We can say that this social ill slowly but surely going away.
My opinion is that shaking off the idea of "authentic" Islam will bring unity among the Muslims.
Just a thought.
Sent from my iPhone
In Muslim society there is unofficial classification into ashraf and atraf which, as far as I know, are based on ancestral roots.
>>>>>>>>> You are right about it. It is based on "Ancestral roots". However it does not have any place in Islamic teachings or history. "Cultural Muslims" may have entertained this idea in our sub-continent but Islamic scriptures speaks boldly against any form of racism.
Even at it's worst any form of "Asharaf/Atraf" controversy (As such concept is not accepted by Islam) is fundamentally different than caste system (Which is accepted by Hindu customs and scriptures).
But the kind of untouchability we see in the Indian society is unknown any other society.
>>>>>>>> You are right. Sadly few months ago I saw a report about a small town in Rajshahi where a tribal (Possibly garo) person was discriminated by a local Muslim man. It reminded me again the importance of educating our Muslim population about "Authentic Islam" (Against cultural Islam).
Islam is 100% against discrimination and Qurán is very clear about it.
Shalom!
-----Original Message-----
From: Subimal Chakrabarty <subimal@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Fri, Feb 14, 2014 5:17 pm
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Do Hindus respect their women? Any Mukto monas beating their wives and having multiple mistresses?
I am sure there has always been discrimination based on race and ancestral roots even within same religion. We have seen segregation in America which is now officially history. In Muslim society there is unofficial classification into ashraf and atraf which, as far as I know, are based on ancestral roots. But the kind of untouchability we see in the Indian society is unknown any other society.
Sent from my iPhoneIslam is riddled with castes. QR, being an impolite ignoramus as he is, chooses not to know it. The worst defender of caste-ism in Islam was Zia al din Barani, a contemporary of Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
Sent from my iPadWell, brother QR, let me try to educate you. First, I am sorry that I have ignored quite a few of your posts that had commented on my comments.Let me tell you now where you are wrong. For example, your position on my comment that you highlighted below are wrong. You do not have the power to dictate, (and I am not dictating either), but you should have no respect for any injustice, no matter from where it originated (Hinduism, Islam, atheism, whatever). If you have to be sensitive, it could not be from any sense of honor or respect; it could only be for saving yourself from the followers of that injustice.You need to stop calling people arrogant, when they do not respect idiotic, unjust and hateful minds.Now let me tell you why you should oppose unjust edicts from any religion (including the one where your mind has been brain-washed to belong). For example, when a man allows his daughters, sisters or mother to be like possessions of men, he does not have a sense of honor. How could you expect any justice for you from him?Your respect, indifference and sensitivity for the unjust and dishonorable minds would only contribute to perpetuating injustice and dishonor in the world.SuBain===============================From: QR <qrahman@netscape.net>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2014 5:24 AM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Do Hindus respect their women? Any Mukto monas beating their wives and having multiple mistresses?
Sure. You are welcome to "Educate me". However in order to do that, you have to know about the subject you are discussing.
If you can pin point where I can be educated, I am open for knowledge from any source.
QR's kind of minds need serious re-education to see that a good human world cannot respect religious edicts that take away people's rights/dignity.
>>>>>>> That is your opinion. However if you cannot respect another person, do not cry if they do not appreciate your arrogance. My position is simple. I do not support caste system but as a non-Hindu I do not wish dictate billions of Hindus about how they should practice their faith.
If a Hindu reformer (We had Raja Ram Mohan before us) wish to dissolve caste system, I'll support that. But being sensitive to religion followed by billion people is good manner.
Now tell me WHERE was I wrong???
Shalom!-----Original Message-----
From: Sukhamaya Bain <subain1@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tue, Feb 11, 2014 6:25 pm
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Do Hindus respect their women? Any Mukto monas beating their wives and having multiple mistresses?
Mr. Chakrabarty has made perfect sense below, but addressed to the wrong person. There is no point in talking rationally about religions with people like QR whose minds are slaves of their religions. QR's kind of minds need serious re-education to see that a good human world cannot respect religious edicts that take away people's rights/dignity.SuBain=======================================From: Subimal Chakrabarty <subimal@yahoo.com>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2014 10:36 PM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Do Hindus respect their women? Any Mukto monas beating their wives and having multiple mistresses?I will touch only one point. I don't know what you mean by your statement that I see every thing through religious glass. Did you mean that an atheist should be indifferent to whatever is going on in the name of religion? I don't think so. Even a sensible believer should not be indifferent. As a responsible member of the society everybody should give his opinion.Regarding showing respect to a religion by the state, you are fundamentally wrong. By making polygamy legal only to show respect to a religion, the state is discriminating against our women. According to you, by making Hindu caste system illegal, the Indian government is showing disrespect to Hindu religion.You are really confus
