We're always made to affirm, on pain of charges of "Islamophobia," that Islam is not a monolith, but rather a gorgeous mosaic notable for its multiplicity. The only things interfering with this inspiring picture are the recurring death threats against those Muslims who attempt to soften some of Islam's sharper edges. Islamic Tolerance Alert and an update on this story: "Javed Akhtar gets death threats," from Zeenews.com, May 15 (thanks to S.K.):
Mumbai: Noted lyricist Javed Akhtar received a spate of death mails, following his strong views against the Deoband seminary in UP, which recently came out with a fatwa against working women.The All-India Milli Council (AIMC), All-India Sunni Jamaitul Ulema and Raza Academy said that women should dress according to the Islamic laws. Talking to a news daily, Moonisa Bushra Abedi, an AMIC member, said, "Purdah is an integral part of Islam. Women should dress modestly and cover themselves if they have to work. It is unlawful if they work and talk to men who are strangers without wearing a veil."
Talking about working women, Abedi continued, "Their earnings are not 'haram' but if they do not follow principles while working, then it is."
However, Javed Akhtar strongly condemned such uncalled remarks, following which the scriptwriter was told to apologise or face strict action. "Both he and his wife do not follow Muslim law or consider themselves Muslims, why should they talk on Islam," said Abdul Qayyum Shaikh of the All- India Milli Council, which further added that Muslims working in films are 'haram.'
Earlier, on a news channel, Javed Akhtar had called muftis "insane".
Not insane. Just evil.
it is funny how muslims like this Javed can say what he wants more easily living in a nation where muslims are not in control or the majority, ie the pak.
But why doen't THE GREAT JAVED AKTAR leave islam ?
he's married to an educated muslim woman or two or three... not sure of the number but it's in the plural....
why does he remain a muslim when he knows its a rubbish way of life ?
why doesn't he and his family just get out of islam once and for all after having a collective educated meeting of free minds ?
if this guy and his educated brood did a high profile eject out of this insane cult .....insane is the right word, just ask any frank sane person....the whole thing will just crumble... it will be the muslim twin-towers falling, the begining of the end of islam from the inside...
muslims need to go to the press when they leave islam and list their heartfelt real reasons by giving the evil written IN THE MUSLIM ARABIC BOOK as evidence for their departure...their displeasure with the muslim master document of flaws....
then islam will either have to come out and murder them or let them in peace for PR reasons.
if this poet with multi wives just does the right thing he'll be remembered for more years than that mohahamad guy who started this evil cult.
what say Mr.JAVED AKTAR ?? ....POET ETC BUT STILL A MUSLIM....STILL SUBMITING.
ISLAM MAKES A FOLLOWER BEND OVER.
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS :)
free speech is Un-Islamic...
Islams thrives on death to keep its insane "religion" alive...Islam is becoming the number one cause of death on the planet.
Mr Javed Akhtar is part of India's Bollywood, being a song writer for Bollywood movies. He has only one wife, an aggressive Muslim woman who has also been a celebrated actor in Bollywood. He used to be married to another woman but they parted and thereafter he married his present wife - Shabana Azmi.
While Mr Akhtar is not a fanatic fundamentalist in the Deobandi mould, please note the following about him:
1. He is vociferous in his opposition to anyone who opposes Islam and Muslim bodies, such as Hindutva ideology in India.
2. He insists he is a "secularist" (Indian code for one whose ideology is similar to "liberals" in the US). He spews venom against Indian conservatives and anti - jihadists.
3. He believes that Islam is a religion of peace, by and large good and benign and that violence is committed by a tiny minority of extremists, largely in reaction to violence against Muslims.
4. He believes that Deobandis are distorting "real" Islam and that Islam is flexible and meant to bring succour to masses, especially "oppressed" people and that instead of reading scriptures "literally", the ulema should interpret Islamic scriptures in light of modern knowledge, and thereby modernize Islam. I have never seen him attempting an answer to how clear cut injunctions, that lend no other interpretation, but enshrined in Koranic verses, can be "interpreted" differently, such as legitimacy of slavery and beating of women.
On the whole, he constantly vituperates against those Indians who are critical of Islam or of even fundamentalists like Deobandis. His problem with Deobandis is more that they weaken people like him, rather than that they are doing something wrong.
So no hope of his apostasizing. No hope of his joining the anti - jihad ranks. His overall public utterances and actions have the effect of carrying out a sort of stealth jihad (something he will deny vehemently).
We have to deal with the entire spectrum of them - from the likes of Javed Akhtar to Deobandis to Lashkar terrorists to criminals like Dawood Ibrahim and Pakistani people and government.
While it is noone's case that Javed Akhtar and, say, Dawood Ibrahim are allied in any way, they all serve Islam in their own ways and India's anti - jihad struggle has to be fought on all fronts.
Sanjay
Bangalore, India
oh mr. sanjay from bangalore...well said ....so if shabana azmi is his wife ...whose kids are farhan and zoya ?
Moonisa Bushra Abedi, an AMIC member, said, "...Women should dress modestly and cover themselves if they have to work. It is unlawful if they work and talk to men who are strangers without wearing a veil."
These are men made laws. Where are Islamic women who always say they dress the way they want it? Here you have it in black and white by a bunch of loon-toons telling in unambiguous term how Islamic women need to dress. In fact they refer to all women when you read between the lines. That could also be taken to mean that MoFolk think all women are MoBabes.
Sanjay_111, thank you for your always knowledgeable comments. While I recognize India to be an historic center and Hindus historic victims of jihad, frequently I do not know the specifics and details of that history or of contemporary Indian life. I appreciate the information you provide.
filthykafir, you are most welcome.
drmusic, Farhan certainly and probably Zoya also are kids of his first wife.
Sanjay
Re: "Abdul Qayyum Shaikh of the All- India Milli Council, which further added that Muslims working in films are 'haram.'..."
I hope that this deters all the mullah actors of India - Sharukh Khan, Amir Khan and every other Khan. Almost all of them are anointed by muslim gangsters (Dawood is one) who have monopolized financing of the films in India. This is one reason why the US Customs stopped Shah Rukh Khan at NY Airport and the Govt. of India had to intervene on his behalf. In Bollywood, muslim boys are given the primegood acting roles by these gangster financiers. When these muslim boys are cut out, it will allow Hindu,Sikh and Christian actors to get a fair shake. I cheer the action of Moonisa Bushra Abedi and his AMIC organization. Go for it boys!
I think I shall take a moment to say how much I appreciate the contributions of our Indian non-Muslim correspondents.
Friends and allies: your insights and information are most illuminating.