'Let's Follow Islam in Kerala, Not Islam of Middle East': Muslim Education Society Bans Burqas on Campuses

[velu]

 

Thiruvananthapuram: The Muslim Educational Society (MES) in Kerala has banned all face-covering attires, a circular issued on April 17 said.

The Kozhikode-headquartered MES that runs over 150 educational institutions in the state banned all face covering attires from their campus from the upcoming academic year 2019-2020.

 

MES President Fazal Gafoor, a medical professional, issued the circular last month and directed that this should be strictly adhered to by both students and teachers in all their educational institutions.
 

 

"Let's follow the Islam in Kerala and not the Islam of the Middle East," Gafoor told News18 Kerala. "For the last five years orthodox Muslim groups have been imposing their dress code in Kerala institutions...we have decided to curb this menace. We have a dress code — salwaar kameez for females."
 

 

"There is no need for any controversy as the circular states that the dress code should be decent and the face should not be covered. This is our view and it will be implemented," he added.

Set up in 1964, MES runs more than 150 institutions including more than 50 schools, a number of postgraduate colleges, women's colleges, professional institutions like engineering colleges, medical college, nursing college and dental college.

However, Sayyid Muhammad Jifri Muthukkoya Thangal, president of the popular Muslim organisation Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, said these are all religious issues.

"MES cannot decide on religious issues and it's not right in what they have done," said Thangal.

The circular has led to protests among other Muslim organisations, who say it goes against the religious tenets and sentiments of the community and the educational society should consult various organisations before taking such a decision.

On Wednesday, the Shiv Sena in its mouthpiece 'Saamana' asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to follow Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's footsteps and ban burqas and other face-covering garments in India considering the threat it poses to the nations' security.

Responding to the editorial, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi hit out at Shiv Sena saying that the fight against terrorism does not entail the dress, but the mindset.

 

https://www.news18.com/news/india/lets-follow-islam-in-kerala-not-islam-of-middle-east-muslim-education-society-bans-burqas-on-its-campuses-2125721.html?ref=hp_top_pos_6

 

 

[DHONI_FANN]

Doesn't matter as long as Kerala keeps producing ISIS recruitees 

[sandeep]

What a quality decision.  

[Tibarn]

LOL, there is no Kerala version of Islam. Islam is universal and perfect, for all of humanity, according to both its followers and leaders, and this is by design. It doesn't get a special Mallu flavor in Kerala, a Gujju flavor in Gujarat, Bong flavor in Bangladesh/WB, etc etc. Those flavors, if they exist, are only temporary, and must cede the space to true Islam. 

[Gollum]

I like this decision, credit where due. 

[Alam_dar]

1 hour ago, Tibarn said:

LOL, there is no Kerala version of Islam. Islam is universal and perfect, for all of humanity, according to both its followers and leaders, and this is by design. It doesn't get a special Mallu flavor in Kerala, a Gujju flavor in Gujarat, Bong flavor in Bangladesh/WB, etc etc. Those flavors, if they exist, are only temporary, and must cede the space to true Islam. 

It is very true. 

 

One has to understand the basic issue here, and then we will be able to understand the ban upon face covering in Kerala better. 

 

Traditional Indian Muslims (both Barailvis and Deobandis) are followers of Imam Abu Hanifa. 

And Imam Abu Hanifa differed with other Imams on issue of face covering for free Muslim woman. He issued a fatwa that it is NOT obligatory for a  free Muslim woman to cover her face. 

 

Nowadays, it is Salafiism (Wahabism) which is spreading in India and all over the world. And they are very clear that Sharia demands free Muslim woman to cover their faces too and they are allowed only to uncover a SINGLE EYE. 

 

This single eye thing is so impractical and so difficult that even Salafi women are not able to act upon it. Thus normally they are letting both eyes open (or sometimes they take full Niqab which covers both eyes). 

 

Anyhow, returning to Kerala Islam ... actually it is nothing else than following Imam Abu Hanifa which that Mullah gave the name of Kerala Islam. If fatwa of Abu Hanifa had not been present, then it would have been impossible for him to ask the lady students to uncover their faces. There exists no such thing as Kerala Islam. He has made no new REFORM in Sharia which shows he is really moderate and want to reform Islam according to the time and situation.  I don't think he deserves any credit for this. 

 

Islam is as it is and reforming Islam is almost impossible. 

 

In my opinion, credit should go only to those who really want to reform Islam. For example, there are few Muslims who argued that Hijab is absolutely not needed today, while Hijab was introduced only to differentiate between the free and the slave women. Since slave women don't exist today, thus Hijab is also not needed by free women today.

 

 

Edited May 2, 2019 by Alam_dar

[Straight Drive]

This guy seems to be moderate or atleast is pretending to be. Indian Muslims are more casual in following religion and probably they too are not interested in becoming as religious as in Middle East. Hence his version is likely to go down well with Indian Muslims.

[Alam_dar]

12 minutes ago, Straight Drive said:

This guy seems to be moderate or atleast is pretending to be. Indian Muslims are more casual in following religion and probably they too are not interested in becoming as religious as in Middle East. Hence his version is likely to go down well with Indian Muslims.

There is a bitter sectarian competition between the traditional Indian Muslims (both Barailvis and Deobandis) and the new comer Salafies/Wahabies (imported from Saudia). 

This guy is a traditional Indian Muslim. 

[Straight Drive]

3 minutes ago, Alam_dar said:

There is a bitter sectarian competition between the traditional Indian Muslims (both Barailvis and Deobandis) and the new comer Salafies/Wahabies (imported from Saudia). 

This guy is a traditional Indian Muslim. 

How much time have you lived in India ?

 

[rkt.india]

45 minutes ago, Alam_dar said:

There is a bitter sectarian competition between the traditional Indian Muslims (both Barailvis and Deobandis) and the new comer Salafies/Wahabies (imported from Saudia). 

This guy is a traditional Indian Muslim. 

FYI, Taliban are deobandis.  

[Jvoxx]

Indian Muslims are very moderate and progressive. 

[Gollum]

Hope the person who took this decision doesn't meet the same fate as Professor Joseph. 

@Alam_dar since you are interested about Islam in India, you ought to know the story of TJ Joseph from Kerala.

[Alam_dar]

6 hours ago, rkt.india said:

FYI, Taliban are deobandis.  

Yes, off course. 

Let me think how to make things more clear between Deobandi and Salafism.

Ok, let me present one example so that this difference could become more clear. 

 

Taliban and Deobandis, who are the followers of Imam Abu Hanifa. And Imam Abu Hanifa gave the fatwa that Mushrikeen will not be killed, but Islamic State could also collect Jizya from them like the people of the book (i.e. Christian/Jews/Zoroastrians). 

 

That is why Taliban didn't kill the Sikhs and the Hindus in Afghanistan. They took the Jizya, they do humiliated them by asking to wear only the saffron clothes so that they could be recognised as Kafirs. But still they didn't kill them.

 

On the other hand, ISIS is a  Salafi movement. And their fatwa is this that all the Mushrikeen should be killed according to Quran. Therefore, ISIS took Jizya from the Christians of Iraq and they let then alive. But ISIS didn't take any Jizya from the Yazidi people, but they killed all the men, and took their women as slaves. 

 

Now both Taliban and ISIS are radical. But still there is a difference that Taliban are less radical, while ISIS is even more radical. 

 

Same is true with Deobandies and Salafies in India. One is less radical, while other is more radical. 

 

For example, Zakir Naik became Salafi and he preached the Salafi teachings. Under his influence, a lot of Indian Muslims also became Salafists. 

 

And for Salafists, it is obligatory for woman to hide her face (except for one eye). There are lot of debates between Deobandis and Salafists on this topic in Pakistan. 

 

5 hours ago, Jvoxx said:

Indian Muslims are very moderate and progressive. 

Yes. 

 

In Karachi, we have a big population which came from India. They are/were indeed moderate and progressive as compared to the Pakistanis of other  parts, especially Pashtoons. 

 

Nevertheless, whole of Pakistan is in a "back Gear" in case of religion. They are becoming more and more radical. It is a universal phenomenon and not only limited to Pakistan. Be it UK or Europe, be it Indonesia/Malaysia, be it Arab countries, .... people became more religious during last 3 decades.  And Indian Muslims could not be an exception to this universal phenomenon. Alone Zakir Naik has millions of followers, just like Tableeghi Jamaat and others. 

[WC2011INDIA]

All i know is that I like girls who wear salwar kameez. Gori chitti ladkiya in Salwar kameez...nothing but love.

[MechEng]

15 hours ago, Alam_dar said:

Yes, off course. 

Let me think how to make things more clear between Deobandi and Salafism.

Ok, let me present one example so that this difference could become more clear. 

 

Taliban and Deobandis, who are the followers of Imam Abu Hanifa. And Imam Abu Hanifa gave the fatwa that Mushrikeen will not be killed, but Islamic State could also collect Jizya from them like the people of the book (i.e. Christian/Jews/Zoroastrians). 

 

That is why Taliban didn't kill the Sikhs and the Hindus in Afghanistan. They took the Jizya, they do humiliated them by asking to wear only the saffron clothes so that they could be recognised as Kafirs. But still they didn't kill them.

 

On the other hand, ISIS is a  Salafi movement. And their fatwa is this that all the Mushrikeen should be killed according to Quran. Therefore, ISIS took Jizya from the Christians of Iraq and they let then alive. But ISIS didn't take any Jizya from the Yazidi people, but they killed all the men, and took their women as slaves. 

 

Now both Taliban and ISIS are radical. But still there is a difference that Taliban are less radical, while ISIS is even more radical. 

 

Same is true with Deobandies and Salafies in India. One is less radical, while other is more radical. 

 

For example, Zakir Naik became Salafi and he preached the Salafi teachings. Under his influence, a lot of Indian Muslims also became Salafists. 

 

And for Salafists, it is obligatory for woman to hide her face (except for one eye). There are lot of debates between Deobandis and Salafists on this topic in Pakistan. 

 

Yes. 

 

In Karachi, we have a big population which came from India. They are/were indeed moderate and progressive as compared to the Pakistanis of other  parts, especially Pashtoons. 

 

Nevertheless, whole of Pakistan is in a "back Gear" in case of religion. They are becoming more and more radical. It is a universal phenomenon and not only limited to Pakistan. Be it UK or Europe, be it Indonesia/Malaysia, be it Arab countries, .... people became more religious during last 3 decades.  And Indian Muslims could not be an exception to this universal phenomenon. Alone Zakir Naik has millions of followers, just like Tableeghi Jamaat and others. 

Are muhajirs happy there? Did they get what they migrated for?