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Building bridges through understanding
How do you build bridges? By consciously doing two things. One, focus on the commonalities. Two, see difference as a joyful discovery. Alright! Not joyful, then at least interesting. We must make the shift mentally that difference between people is precisely and only that – different. It is not good or bad, nice or nasty,…
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Madrassa education – Crying need for change
The present syllabus is totally inadequate both theologically and in a worldly sense. Add to that the fact that graduates come out with the title of A’alim, and an inflated sense of their own importance combined with an inferiority complex. Sounds crazy but it’s their reality. This happens when their Madrassa-inflated egos meet the real…
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Tajdeed-ul-Ummah bi Tajdeed-ul-Ulama
In my view the single most critical thing that distinguishes Islam from all other religions and ideologies is its focus and emphasis on knowledge. The only thing that Allahﷻ taught His Messengerﷺ to ask for increase in, is knowledge. It is for this reason that the scholars of Islam have a very special place in…
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State of the Nation – South Africa (Indian Muslims) in 2005
At the request of the General Secretary of the Jamiat ul Ulama, South Africa, I am writing this note with the following objectives: 1 . To present my assessment (SWOT Analysis) of the Muslims in Gauteng 2 . To present some solutions and courses of action I would like to state that whatever I say…
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Madrassa education in India – what needs to change
The purpose of this article is to help the graduates of Madaaris (Ulama) to become relevant in modern society and to be able to provide positive leadership to their congregations. I have tried to define the situation with Madrassa Education in India as I understand it and to propose a solution to the deficiencies and…