The Coronavirus Crisis Exposed Our Weakness

Abrar A bi-monthly newsletter published by the Abrar Islamic Foundation

45 CrawfordEdior: Place, DrLondon Saeed W!H Shehabi 4LP A bi-monthly newsletter Tel:Published 020 7724 by the 3033 45Fax: Crawford 020 7724 Place, 7219 LondonEmail: W1H 4LP Vol 16, No 19 (379) 1st—15th April 2020 [email protected] Tel: 020Website: 7724 3033 The coronavirus crisis exposed our weakness www.abrar.org.uk The ongoing health crisis in the world, as exem- bers of the sick are increasing in an environment Email: plified by the onslaught of the coronovirus is where there is no cure for the disease. abrarhouse causing fear and anxiety among the people. While history books contain horrific accounts of @hotmail.com While China may have started its road to recov- the plague (black death) in the 17th century and Website ery after enormous governmental and public other strains of influenza especially the Spanish www.abraronline.net efforts, the world is still struggling to contain its flu of 1918, the current situation has become Charity no. 293802 spread. It is widely believed that the Western pandemic according to the World Health Organ- world has failed drastically to prepare for the isation (WHO). All individual and collective disease despite having ample time to prepare for efforts must be directed to stop the spread of the it after it had struck China. Most countries are virus. The experience of China has proven to be struggling to stop its spread as thousands suc- effective in halting it. The Chinese have started We stand for: cumbed to this killer virus. The UK Government helping other countries with both experience has been accused of proper management of the and equipment. This positive approach reflects • Inter-faith and inter- situation with deep reluctance to undertake dras- political and human maturity and deserves civilisational dialogue tic action such as the total shutdown of the sys- praise. The present human environment needs to tem including closing down schools, banning be overhauled morally, scientifically and tech- • Respect for the human gatherings of any size and breaking people's life nologically. The hope is that after this episode race and rights to a standstill. Promises by the government of has subsided new efforts will be made to cleanse an active and effective policy have not material- the world of negative tendencies such as selfish- • Cooperation for the ised. As the number of victims escalated so is ness, exploitation, hatred, prejudice and political good of people the anxiety of people and possibly the fear of arrogance. The ongoing predicament is a serious • Moderation fatal consequences. Large scare fear and anxiety challenge to humanity as a whole and must be contributes to reduced immunity against the addressed collectively with a good degree of • Modernity disease while hope and positive attitude lead to responsibility and morality. more constructive approaches to the crisis. The religious authorities in the Middle Eastern • High standards of It is probably one of the unique times that the region have done their part to ensure safer envi- spirituality world has experienced in modern history. Since ronment. They banned almost every religious the Second World War, there has never been a activity that brings people together like mass disaster at this gigantic scale. The world has daily and Friday prayers, seminars and any other experienced local or regional earthquakes, psu- congregation. They issued decrees making it In this issue namis, flooding, rising temperatures, bush fires compulsory for people to follow the instructions as has happened recently in Australia, hurri- of the doctors and other medical authorities. canes and serious downfalls. But it has not ex- This is in addition to special prayers for an end Local Events 2 perienced anything like the ongoing episode of to this horrible disease. The public must rise to the coronavirus. As the world tries to come to a their responsibility and contributed positively to Muslim Affairs 3 grip of the disease, life has almost come to a the efforts that aim to stop the disease. Everyone standstill. Airlines have stopped their journeys, has a positive role and play and can contribute What Islamic hygienic 4 airports closed or deserted, big events like foot- to the collective efforts by governments and practices can teach to ball matches and smaller gatherings have all professional bodies. It is a religious and human counter coronavirus been stopped. The idea is to reduce the number duty to undertake this role in the most serious

of people exposed to the virus that has wreaked way. The Chinese have taught the world lessons Mosques, Islamic havoc on communities in perseverance, tol- and threatened the erance, seriousness centres close down 5 lives of many especial- and cooperation. Fur-

ly the sick and the el- thermore their posi- Faces of Muslim wom- derly. Businesses have tive contribution to en throughout history 6 stalled as more people other stricken coun- either voluntarily or tries has set new high Story: forcefully "self- levels of humanity Enemy becomes friend 8 isolate". Limiting con- that has become a tacts with others help source of pride to the reduce the risk of in- inhabitants of this fection. Yet the num- planet. Page 2 Local Events

Anniversary of 17th uprising Some of our brothers had linked that Dr Abdul Karim Al Najjar presented event with the suspicious visit by the his version of the events that took place On Thursday 12th March the weekly British foreign secretary, Lord Carring- on 17th Rajab. He said that following meeting of Abrar was addressed by ton, to Baghdad in the first week of June. the detention of Al Sadr the people two speakers who presented their The detention of Ayatullah Al Sadr hap- erupted in anger and started protesting memories of the events that had taken pened few days later. in several cities of Iraq; Najaf, Bagdad, place in Iraq in 1979. Abdul Karim Al In the few months between February and Al Hurriyah, Grai’aat, Kadhemiyah, Najjar and Ghanem Jawad remem- June 1979 the regime released some pris- AlNa’maniyah, AlKhales and Jadidat bered, for the sake of documentation, oners, mostly Islamists. This was inter- Al Shatt. When the news of the arrest the events surrounding the detention preted as an attempt to please the people was confirmed by the BBC I rushed to in the holy city of Najaf. of the promi- and contain their emotions. the Kadhemain mosque where I saw nent scholar, Sayed Mahommad Baqir Following the detention of Al Sar, pro- hundreds of young people entering Al Sadr in June of that year. tests erupted in several places. Two plac- from AlMurad and Bab Al Qibla gates. Ghanem Jawad es were prominent: They were chanting: kicked off the de- The first is Imam Al Kadhem Mosque at Al Sadr lives, Islam bate saying that our Al Thawra city (Al Sadr city now). It is always victorious. Arabic and Islamic was led by Sayed Qassem Al Mubarqa The security mem- culture is oral, not and was attached first by the Ba’thists, bers left the court- written; we do not then by the security forces. I participated yard of the mosque master the art of in the protest of Kadhemiyah where I and the uprising last- written documenta- prayed behind Sayed Hussain Al Sadr. I ed for one hour. The tion. Secondly the noticed the presence of large numbers of protesters did not memoirs of promi- security personnel. When the prayers enter the inner part of nent figures were generally written finished, one man shouted that Al Sadr the mosque, just the courtyard. When after their death, not in their life. This has been released, so the people reacted they heard that Al Sadr had been re- depends on individual memories and with joy. The crowds left the mosque leased they dispersed. Some were de- probably short notes. We both lived and were attacked by the security forces. tained as they left the mosque. I left the that event and interacted with it. But There was also some shooting outside Al place and went back to my office (of there are no real studies of those Murad Gate. I did not see the inured. the national oil company). It appeared events that were the beginning of the Then I went with some friends to Dr that they were not aware of what had massive anti-regime campaigns that Hassan Raja’s house at Aameriya Dis- happened, so I was not asked why I followed. Fear was one of the factors trict. Abdul Karim Al Najjar (the other was late. Many groups went to visit Al as people would be asked when they speaker) was driving the car and we were Sadr to express solidarity. The were detained about any book in their followed by the security forces. We man- regime’s agents took photos of those possession. aged to reach the house. Our meeting delegations and arrested many of them Abdul Karim Al Najjar said that the was attended by Dr Hussain Al in the following weeks. They were Islamic movement, headed by the Is- Shahrestani and Mohammad Saleh preparing for the eventual liquidation lamic Da’wa Party played a leading Fakhri. We were discussing what could of Martyr Mohammad Baqir Al Sadr. role in the 17th Rajab uprising (12th be done to maintain the momentum. My June 1979). The previous uprising was duty was to monitor the communications Coronavirus shutdown that the Safar uprising in 1979. On as I was working with the Post and Tele- that day Ayatullah Sayed Mohammad phone Directorate. I managed to identify The Coronavirus crisis forced the clo- Baqir Al Sadr was led away from his some telephones that were being moni- sure of almost every aspect of social house in Najaf to Baghdad. tored. I then informed their owners. The and religious life in many countries. In Ghanem Jawad said that following second duty was to inform Sayed Musa, UK before the lockdown had been an- the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 grandson of Ayatullah Al Khoei to tell nounced by the government, the Islam- the political equations changed dra- and tell him what had happened and ask ic centres and mosques decided to matically. Dictators became fearful for him to support the people. Then Abdul cease their activities. Daily and Friday their own positions and lives. The Karim Al Najjar, Dr Shahrestani, Dr prayers were cancelled, but some reli- Revolution had proven that change Hassan Raja and Mohammad Saleh gious lectures and teachings were held was possible and that a religious Fakhri were arrested. Al Najjar was re- online. The churches and other worship scholar could spearhead the change. leased but the others were sentenced to places also closed down. The medical There was also the fear that the sparks death. Three years later I met Al Najjar advice has been largely implemented. could move to other countries. Thus in Abu Dhabi and he informed me that Religious scholars issued edicts ban- they took drastic precautions to stop the brothers had asked him to throw re- ning anyone flouting the medical ad- any popular movement taking place. sponsibility on myself. He then left Iraq. vice or endangering the lives of others through carelessness or reckless adven- turism. Abrar Islamic Foundation has closed down its headquarters completely and cancelled all events. But its online activities have continued, including the daily updating of its website, and the production and distribution of its Ara- bic and English bi-monthly newslet- ters. We pray that our society, and for that matter, the whole human community, come out of this unprecedented situation soon. May God bless you all. Muslim affairs Page 3

UN chief expresses hopes sanctions at this desperate time.” people will live with limited access to on Nowruz Meanwhile, an electronic petition creat- water, with more than 1 billion of them ed on UK Parliament's website reiterated living in cities. United Nations that under the current conditions, remov- Guterres' message released on the occa- Secretary-General al of the sanctions is a humanitarian sion of the World Water Day was Antonio Guterres move. emailed to IRNA by the United Nations in his message on In the meantime, Iranian Foreign Minis- Information Center (UNIC) in Tehran. the occasion of ter Mohammad Javad Zarif said in an The full text of his message reads as Nowruz the inter- interview with Brazilian media ‘Folha follows: national day, 21 de S.Paulo’ that the US Medical Terror- The world’s water resources are under March 2020, said ism impeded Iran's effective reaction unprecedented threat. Today, some 2.2 he hoped that amid against corona pandemic. billion people lack safe drinking water sadness over coro- The US maximum pressure against Iran and 4.2 billion people live without ac- navirus, Nowruz blocks exports "so, we have less re- cess to adequate sanitation. Unless we will bring harmony, celebration of com- sources for investment", he added. act with urgency, the impacts of climate mon humanity. change are projected to exacerbate these Coronavirus has infected about 17,361 Prayers at Jerusalem's figures. By 2050, between 3.5 and 4.4 people in Iran, from whom 1,135 have Al-Aqsa Mosque suspended billion people will live with limited lost their lives, according to the Ministry access to water, with more than 1 bil- of Health and Medical Education. lion of them living in cities. Following is the full text of Guterres’ This year’s World Water Day focuses message for the International Day of on water and climate change. With Nowruz, a copy of which was emailed to 2020 a make-or-break year for climate IRNA by the United Nations Information action, this focus is timely. Water is the Center (UNIC) in Tehran: primary medium through which we see Every year, we mark Nowruz as a day of the effects of climate disruption, from new beginnings, when we step into a extreme weather events, such as new year with hope and joy. We cele- droughts and floods, to glacial melting, brate the renewal of nature and the first saltwater intrusion and sea level rise. day of spring. All Muslim prayers at Jerusalem’s Al- This year, for many, Nowruz comes at a Aqsa Mosque compound will be sus- EU will support Iran to receive time of sadness and anxiety. The novel pended from Monday until further no- loan from IMF: Borrell coronavirus, COVID-19, is casting a tice in an effort to prevent the spread of shadow around the world, including the coronavirus, religious officials said on High Representa- regions that mark this ancient festival. I Sunday. tive of the EU for send my deepest condolences to those “It was decided to suspend the arrival of Foreign Affairs and who have lost loved ones, and my best worshippers to prayers through all the Security Policy wishes to all who have been affected. gates to Al-Aqsa Mosque starting Mon- Josep Borrell said I hope the festival of Nowruz will pro- day,” said a statement issued by the that Brussels would vide a welcome break to relax and spend Ministry of Endowments and Islamic support Iran's re- time with close family, enjoy the beauty Affairs in Jordan, which acts as custodi- quest from the In- of the changing seasons, and to remem- an of the site, the third holiest in Islam ternational Mone- ber and celebrate our common humanity. after Makkah and Madinah. tary Fund for assis- The new edict suspends the outdoor tance in fighting coronavirus. British anti-war body calls for prayers as well. Those sessions usually "We are going to support this request ending sanctions against Iran draw large crowds, though the numbers because these countries are in a very have dwindled in recent weeks. difficult situation mainly due to the US ‘Stop the War Coalition’ in a statement Palestinian Director of the Mosque sanctions that prevent them from having referred to the unprecedented impacts of Sheikh Omar Kisawni confirmed the income by selling their oil," Borrell said coronavirus on the world as well as Iran decision to Reuters. after talks with EU foreign ministers. and called for ending inhumane sanctions Religious leaders at other holy sites in The bloc is preparing to send 20 million imposed by US on the Iranian nation. Jerusalem’s walled Old City, such as the euros' (USD 21.5 million) worth of hu- “The COVID-19 virus has had an un- adjacent Western Wall and the Church manitarian aid to Iran and Venezuela in precedented effect on the entire world of the Holy Sepulchre, have also set the coming weeks, he said. and Iran is no exception,” the statement precautionary limitations. The com- Tehran and Caracas are both under reads. pound’s religious workers and guards swingeing US sanctions aimed at starv- “Iran is being ravaged by the virus and will continue to be allowed entry and the ing their regimes of income, Borrell now has more cases than any other coun- Muslim call to prayer will continue as said, stressing that shipments of food, try in the world with the exception of normal, said the Waqf Council, which medicine and medical equipment China and Italy,” it added. oversees Jerusalem’s Islamic sites. should not be affected. “Millions in Iran are likely to die, not "This has to be reaffirmed because just because of the virus but because US UN Chief warns against water many believe that if they participate in imposed sanctions are preventing count- limitations by 2050 this kind of humanitarian trade they can less innocent people from accessing vital be sanctioned," he said. medical care.” United Nations Secretary-General Anto- "This is not the case but it has to be “Write to your MP to force the British nio Guterres in his message on World reaffirmed in order for everybody to government to put public pressure on Water Day, 22 March 2020, announced understand that they can participate in Trump's administration to end inhumane that by 2050, between 3.5 and 4.4 billion this kind of humanitarian help."

Page 4 Great personalities

What Islamic hygienic practices can teach to counter coronavirus Rose S. Aslan* ty or when a woman completes her men- At this time, Islamic practices that em- As outbreaks of the coronavirus spread strual cycle. A Muslim woman should not phasize purity of body could help reiter- throughout the world, people are remind- pray during her menstrual cycle. To purify ate the importance of hygienic practic- ed over and again to limit physical con- oneself after such an impurity, a Muslim is es along with the use of soap or hand tact, wash hands and avoid touching their required to take a shower, called “ghusl.” sanitizer, to reduce one’s vulnerability to face. The recent Netflix docuseries A person needs to wash their entire body, the virus. “Pandemic: How to Prevent an Out- from head to toe, including their hair. *Assistant Professor of Religion, break” illustrates how the Islamic ritual Spiritual actions California Lutheran University washing, known as “wudu,” may help Preparing for prayer by washing one’s spread a good hygiene message. body using water can be a deeply spiritual Muslim protesters The series focuses on Syra Madad, a act for Muslims. Islamic studies schol- Muslim public health specialist in a New ar Paul Powers argues it isn’t “empty ritu- ordered to sign York hospital, who takes a break to say alism,” but an embodied practice that ‘good behaviour’ pledge her prayers at the Islamic Center of New helps the individual center on an inner York University. Before entering the religiosity. Thousands of Muslim men have been prayer room, Madad stops to perform Similarly, another Islamic studies schol- forced to sign “good behaviour” bonds wudu, and washes her mouth and face as ar, Marion Katz, explains in her 2002 by police or face arrest as part of a well as her feet. book “Body of Text” that the importance crackdown on protests. Islamic law requires Muslims to ritually of wudu lies in its symbolic cleansing. It Officers in Uttar Pradesh, northern In- purify their body before praying. As a does not always cleanse the parts of the dia, have ordered youths to sign a pledge scholar of Islamic studies body that are “physically involved in the not to join demonstrations for at least six who researches ritual practices among pollution act.” months. A handful of Hindus have also Muslims, I have found that these practic- Ritual purity is different from hygienic been told to sign but the scheme has es contain both spiritual and physical practices, although Islam also emphasizes overwhelmingly targeted Muslims, who benefits. good hygiene. Muslims take care to wash have also borne the brunt of a crack- Ritual purity often, including using water after going to down in which at least 25 people across The Prophet Muhammad left detailed the bathroom. the state have died. guidance for Muslims on how to live Aligning with public health guidelines Uttar Pradesh is governed by Yogi Ad- their lives, including how to pray, fast In view of the coronavirus risk, Muslim ityanath, a radical Hindu cleric from the and stay ritually pure. This guidance is leaders around the world, including in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The re- available in collections called the Hadith. U.S., have aligned their religious opinions gion has experienced violence since According to Islamic law, there are mi- with public health experts. Narendra Modi, the prime minister, nor and major impurities. Minor impuri- Muslim institutions have begun passed a law in December that is said to ties involve urinating, defecating and to recommend that people make sure to discriminate against Muslims. The Citi- sleeping, among other practices. A per- wash their hands for 20 seconds with soap zenship (Amendment) Act led to nation- son of Muslim faith is supposed to per- before doing wudu. Emphasizing that wu- wide protests, and retaliation by the se- form a ritual washing of their bodies be- du alone cannot prevent the virus from curity forces and Hindu mobs. More than 50 people were killed in Delhi last fore praying to get rid of these minor spreading, other Islamic institu- month in religious riots. impurities. tions recommend that mosques supply Mr Adityanath ordered police in Uttar Wudu is to be performed, as was done by extra soap and hand sanitizer near the Pradesh to clamp down on the protests. the Prophet Muhammad, in a specific washing area. There have been reports of torture and order before praying, which takes place They have issued rulings to cancel Friday police brutality, which the authorities five times a day. Before each prayer, prayers, urged Muslims to wash their have denied. Muslims are expected to wash them- hands with soap regularly, refrain from Since December the Adityanath admin- selves in a certain order – first hands, touching their face and practice social istration has increased pressure on Mus- then mouth, nose, face, hair and ears, and distancing. lims, issuing court orders threatening to finally their ankles and feet. While people have cleared local store seize the property of those accused of While washing with water is required shelves of hand sanitizers, wipes, cleaning violence. Billboards were also used to when it is available, if a person has lim- supplies, gloves and masks, basic hygiene publish the names, photographs and ad- ited access to water, then a Muslim is practices remain the best way to prevent dresses of alleged protesters. permitted to symbolically “cleanse” their the spread of the coronavirus and other The courts told the governor to take hands and face with dust or sometimes viruses. down the hoardings, saying that they sand or other natural materials. incited mob attacks, but he refused. A Quranic verse says: “And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, God is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.” A hadith from the prophet also describes the Earth as a purifying agent if there is a scarcity of water for washing. Major impurity is defined in Islamic texts as occurring after sexual activi- Open Forum Page 5

Mosques heed MCB’s call to suspend activities, including prayers 17 March 2020 “We all have a public duty to protect cluding prayers, events and weddings. The Muslim Council of Britain has issued one another from harm, and it is evident The decision has not been taken lightly, a strong recommendation for Muslim the most effective way to do this now is given the centrality of prayer and con- communities across the UK to suspend all to avoid social contact as much as possi- gregational prayer to Muslims. congregational activities, given the latest ble. This includes all walks of life, Among these are some of the biggest advice on the coronavirus (COVID-19). whether social, work or the mosque. mosques in Britain, including East Lon- This unprecedented step comes after pub- The response to this appeal was good. don Mosque, which holds 7,000 wor- lic health advice of stopping “non- Over 375 mosques and prayer facilities shippers, London Central Mosque essential contact” with others and the suspend congregational activities to safe- which sees over 5,000 people, and Bir- Chief Scientific Advisers advising the guard Muslim communities mingham Central Mosque which regu- public to avoid gatherings “big or small”. Ahead of Friday congregational prayers larly hosts over 2,500 people on Fri- The obligation for Friday prayers is very today, over 375 mosques, community days. This figure is based on those that important to Muslims up and down the centres and prayer facilities in the UK have been identified by MCB Britain as country. Given the overwhelming majority had confirmed the suspension of congre- having suspended services but is by no of Muslims identify with their local gational prayers. This comes in the week means the total. There are expected to mosque, its centrality to communal activi- that the Muslim Council of Britain called be many more mosques and prayer fa- ties should not be understated. The choice for the suspension of all congregational cilities who will have also suspended therefore to suspend all congregational activities in Muslim communities, in- congregational activities. activities, is not one that has been taken lightly. The Muslim Council of Britain has taken Prayers and Coronavirus into account views from all key sources: – The UK’s Chief Scientific Advisers, Craig Considine disease—old age." who have called for extraordinary social The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing govern- Perhaps most importantly, he knew when to distancing measures. ments and news sources to provide the most balance faith with reason. In recent weeks, – The British Islamic Medical Associa- accurate and helpful advice to the world's some have gone so far as to suggest that population, as the disease is indeed global in prayer would be better at keeping you from tion, representing Muslim medical and reach. Health care professionals are in high the coronavirus than adhering to basic rules health professionals, who bring together a demand, and so too are scientists who study of social distancing and quarantine. How knowledge of communities as well as the transmission and effect of pandemics. would Prophet Muhammad respond to the medical expertise, and who have said it is Experts like immunologist Dr. Anthony idea of prayer as the chief—or only—form “unsafe and harmful to continue business Fauci and medical reporter Dr. Sanjay Gup- of medicine? as usual, or even with significant adjust- ta are saying that good hygiene and quaran- Consider the following story, related to us ments”. tining, or the practice of isolating from oth- by ninth-century Persian scholar Al- – Many Muslim scholars, consulted ers in the hope of preventing the spread of Tirmidhi: One day, Prophet Muhammad through groups such as the British Board contagious diseases, are the most effective noticed a Bedouin man leaving his camel of Scholars and Imams, as well as a num- tools to contain COVID-19. without tying it. He asked the Bedouin, ber of institutions and international bodies, Do you know who else suggested good hy- "Why don't you tie down your camel?" The believe that the individual obligation to giene and quarantining during a pandemic? Bedouin answered, "I put my trust in God." perform Friday prayers in mosque congre- Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, over The Prophet then said, "Tie your camel gations be temporarily lifted. 1,300 years ago. first, then put your trust in God." While he is by no means a "traditional" Harun Khan, Secretary General of the Muhammad encouraged people to seek expert on matters of deadly diseases, Mu- guidance in their religion, but he hoped Muslim Council of Britain, stated: hammad nonetheless had sound advice to they take basic precautionary measures for “Muslim communities up and down the prevent and combat a development like the stability, safety and well-being of all. country, like others, have been carefully COVID-19. Muhammad said: "If you hear In other words, he hoped people would use considering how best to continue with our of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not their common sense. regular social and religious activities, enter it; but if the plague outbreaks out in a Dr. Craig Considine is a scholar, professor, whilst trying to minimise the spread of the place while you are in it, do not leave that global speaker, and media contributor coronavirus. With the increasing rate of place."He also said: "Those with contagious based at the Department of Sociology at transmission and the number of deaths, diseases should be kept away from those Rice University. He is the author of The medical and scholarly advice all points who are healthy." Humanity of Muhammad: A Christian towards the limitation of social contact as Muhammad also strongly encouraged hu- View (Blue Dome Press, 2020), and Islam the key towards reducing the spread. man beings to adhere to hygienic practices in America: Exploring the Issues (ABC- that would keep people safe from infection. CLIO 2019), among others. Consider the following hadiths, or sayings of Prophet Muhammad: "Cleanliness is part of faith." "Wash your hands after you wake up; you do not know where your hands have moved while you sleep." "The blessings of food lie in washing hands before and after eating." And what if someone does fall ill? What kind of advice would Muhammad provide to his fellow human beings who are suffering from pain? He would encourage people to always seek medical treatment and medication: "Make use of medical treatment," he said, "for God has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one Page 6 Women issues These are the faces of Muslim women throughout history

By Rafia Zakaria to this day. Similarly, the lamists who opposed the rise of Paki- Thomas Roe, Britain’s envoy Prophet’s wife Aisha, nick- stan’s prime minister Benazir Bhutto in India during the 1620s, named the “ruddy-cheeked trotted out these possibly apocryphal wrote of Empress Nur Je- one,” was instrumental in words as a rationale. han’s power over her hus- questioning patriarchal say- “A History of Islam in 21 Women” is band, the Mughal emperor ings attributed to the Proph- an act of reclamation on several fronts. Jehangir, that she “governs et. In later life, it was For Muslim women, it provides an em- him, and wynds him up at Aisha’s rising power that powering and exhilarating genealogy of her pleasure.” prompted a man named Abu strong forebears whom they can con- The story of Nur Jehan, who Bakra to recount that he had nect to their contemporary journeys of was born to migrant parents heard the Prophet say, empowerment. For Western readers, it and rose to a position where she unoffi- “Those who entrust power to a woman exposes the untruths that have charac- cially ruled jointly with her husband, is will never know prosperity.” terized Muslim women as deferential just one of the intriguing tales that It is a saying that has haunted Muslim beings in need of rescue. make up Hossein Kamaly’s eminently women and Muslim feminists — includ- There is still more work to be done. “A readable collection “A History of Islam ing Fatima Mernissi, a Moroccan sociol- History of Islam in 21 Women” pro- in 21 Women.” Besides Nur Jehan, we ogist, who points out that “Abu Bakra vides the substance of a feminist narra- hear of the Prophet Muhammad’s wife must have had a fabu- tive that has always ex- Khadija, who saw the promise of an lous memory” be- isted within Islam. The orphaned young man and was the first cause he didn’t recall question remains: Will to accept Islam, and the Sufi ascetic this line until a quar- Kamaly’s book will be Rabia Al-Adawiyya, who insisted that ter century after the relegated to the margins, women were the spiritual equals of Prophet Muhammad shelved away under men. Later on came the Yemeni queen died. Still, it has been “other” feminisms, or Arwa, who ruled for seven decades and a handy tool for the will it be integrated into even issued coinage in her own name, patriarchy. Hundreds the larger history of and also Noor Inayat Khan, the Sufi- of years after Abu feminism, now dominat- Muslim British spy who went into Nazi Bakra’s revelation, ed by white and West- -occupied France to radio enemy move- the 16th-century Sa- ern women? ments back to Britain. favid queen Pari Rafia Zakaria is the au- Indeed, the Muslim women recounted Khanum was removed thor of “The Upstairs by Kamaly (who teaches Islamic stud- from power because Wife.” Her new book, ies at Hartford Seminary) are a feisty the new king believed “Against White Femi- and intrepid bunch. Collectively, they that a woman han- nism,” will be published constitute a foil against the persistent dling the affairs of next year. myth that Muslim women are simpering state is “demeaning to A HISTORY OF IS- sorts awaiting rescue. This Western the king’s honor.” As LAM IN 21 WOMEN “rescue” fantasy and the would-be sav- recently as 1986, Is- By Hossein Kamaly iors it creates were duly debunked by the Columbia professor Lila Abu- 'Shaheen Bagh Was Not an Event or a Tent, it Made In- Lughod in her book “Do Muslim Wom- en Need Saving?” But while Abu- dian Muslim Women Partners in National Affairs' Lughod’s work provides a theoretical The women of Delhi's Shaheen Bagh locality are aware of the threat of novel coro- critique of Western insouciance and navirus. So they modified their mode of protest to ensure social distancing as they obstinacy in holding on to the myth of were wary of withdrawing completely with their demands remaining unmet. Muslim helplessness, Kamaly’s book The Delhi police on Tuesday evicted the protesters, and removed every art instal- hands up the lived examples. Here in all lation put up by the demonstrators over the period of three months. their gutsy glory are women whose Gone are the tall map of India rejecting the CAA, NRC and NPR, the library at the voices have not received the promi- bus stop, the detention centre model, the India Gate image, portraits of freedom nence that is their due within the story fighters and makers of modern India, and the stage from where the women spoke of Islam. and resisted the controversial changes by the Centre in the country's citizenship This is a pity because, as Kamaly rules. demonstrates, women have been crucial “We didn’t know that the players in some of the most defining government considers us moments of the faith. There is the also as some kind of a Prophet Muhammad’s daughter, Fati- virus. Every piece of art ma, who chastised his feuding followers and installation has been after his death: “You have left the body removed but they don’t of the Apostle of God with us and you realise the attack has been have decided among yourselves, with- made on the symbols of out consulting us, without respecting idea of India,” said Shaista our rights.” It turned out to be a conse- Bano, who has seen the quential sidelining; the schism between visuals of police evicting those who believed the Prophet’s male the protesters and packing heirs should inherit leadership of the away or whitewashing faith (Shia) and those who believed that every article of protest. Fatima should (Sunni) remains pivotal She has participated in most of the demonstrations in the past three months. Off the Shelf Page 7

Arab Political Thought: Past and Present Minister of Finance. He has published extensively on the contempo- Georges Corm from the outdated politico-religious rary history of the Middle East and Published in Association with the image it has acquired. relations between the Arab world Aga Khan University Institute for Author and the West. the Study of Muslim Civilisations Georges Corm is Professor at the Reviews This book demonstrates the vitality Institute of Political Sciences at ‘Not since Albert Hourani’s Arabic of Arab political thought and its Saint-Joseph University in Beirut, Thought in the Liberal Age has there major controversies. It shows that Lebanon. He was formerly a public- been such a comprehensive and ac- the key players involved, far from sector economist and an internation- cessible monograph as Georges being constrained by a theological- al economic consultant. Between Corm’s erudite account. Focussing political straitjacket, have often 1998 and 2000 he was Lebanese on twentieth-century Arabic and demonstrated strong critical think- French literature, this is a welcome ing when tackling religion and phi- update written by a leading Arab losophy, anthropology and politics. intellectual and economist.’ — Jens Setting these thinkers and their Hanssen, Associate Professor of Ar- works within two centuries of up- ab Civilisation, Department of Near heaval in the Arab world, Georges and Middle Eastern Civilizations, Corm demonstrates how Arab criti- University of Toronto cal thought has been marginalised ‘An invaluable account of the intel- by powerful external forces: the lectual currents within the Arab military, the academy and the me- world and beyond, bringing this rich dia. In its place has risen a hege- and seminal scholarship closer to us monic Islamist thought, used canni- here in the West. Indispensable for ly by certain Arab regimes and their those interested in the politics of the Western protectors. Closely tracing region and its underlying fabric of the successive transformations of ideas.’ — Arshin Adib-Moghaddam, modernist Arab nationalism, Arab Professor in Global Thought and Political Thought offers a blueprint Comparative Philosophies at SOAS, for understanding the libertarian University of London, and author Arab Spring, as well as the counter- of On the Arab Revolts and the Irani- revolutions and external interven- an Revolution and A Metahistory of tions that have followed. the Clash of Civilisations. This invaluable guide comprehen- Publisher: Hurst sively distils the complexity of Ar- Hardback 367pages £35.00 ab intellectualism, which is both ISBN: 9781849048163 • critical and profane, and a far cry Date published: January 2020 • Generations of Dissent the uprisings were rooted in multi- ple generations and arious acts of Intellectuals, Cultural Production, and the State resistance decades prior to 2010–11. in the Middle East and North Africa Firat and Taleghani’s volume maps the complicated trajectories of artis- Edited by Alexa Firat, R. Shareah tic and creative dissent across time Taleghani and space, showing how artists have Situated in the fields of contempo- challenged institutions and govern- rary literary and cultural studies, ments over the past six decades. the ten essays collected Alexa Firat is assistant professor of in Generations of Dissent shed Arabic studies at Temple Universi- light on the artistic creativity, cul- ty. She has published articles and tural production, intellectual move- reviews on Arabic cultural produc- ments, and acts of political dissi- tions. Her translations can be found dence across the Middle East and in The Book of Gaza, Beirut North Africa. Born of the contribu- 39, Words without Borders, tors’ research on dissidence and and New Voices of Saudi Arabia. state co-option in a variety of artis- R. Shareah Taleghani is an assis- tic and creative fields, the tant professor and director of Mid- volume’s core themes reflect the dle East Studies at Queens College, notion that the recent Arab upris- City University of New York. ings did not appear in a cultural, Publisher: Syracuse Univ Press political, or historical vacuum. Ra- Paper $29.95 ther than focus on how protestors ISBN: 9780815636793Add to cart “finally” broke the walls of fear Hardcover $75.00 created by authoritarian regimes in ISBN: 9780815636694Add to cart the region, these essays show that Publishing date: April 2020 Page 8 Words of Faith Enemy becomes a friend 67. When distress seizes you at sea, In the sixth year after the hijrah, the Prophet, The Prophet then approached Thumamah those that ye peace be upon him, decided to expand the hoping to encourage him to become a Mus- call upon - be- lim. "What do you have to say for yourself" sides Himself - scope of his mission. He sent eight letters to leave you in the rulers in the Arabian peninsula and surround- he asked. lurch! but when ing areas inviting them to Islam. One of these "If you want to kill in reprisal," Thumamah He brings you rulers was Thumamah ibn Uthal. replied, "you can have someone of noble back safe to land, Thumamah was one of the most powerful blood to kill. If, out of your bounty, you want ye turn away (from Him). Most Arab rulers in pre-Qur'anic times. This is not to forgive, I shall be grateful. If you want ungrateful is surprising since he was a chieftain of the Ba- money in compensation, I shall give you man! nu Hanifah and one of the rulers of al- Yama- whatever amount you ask." 68. Do ye then feel mah whose word no one dared to challenge or The Prophet then left him for two days, but secure that He disobey. still personally sent him food and drink and will not cause When Thumamah received the Prophet's let- milk from his camel. The Prophet went back you to be swal- ter, he was consumed by anger and rejected it. to him and asked, "What do you have to say lowed up beneath He refused to listen to the invitation of Truth for yourself" Thumamah repeated what he the earth when ye are on land, or and goodness. More than that, he felt a strong had said the day before. The Prophet then left that He will not desire to go and kill the Prophet and bury his and came back to him the following day. send against you mission with him. "What do you have to say for yourself?" he a violent tornado Thumamah waited and waited for a conven- asked again and Thumamah repeated what he (with showers of had said once more. Then the Prophet turned stones) so that ye ient time to carry out his design against the shall find no one Prophet until eventually forgetfulness caused to his companions and said, "Set him free." to carry out him to lose interest. One of his uncles, howev- Thumamah left the mosque of the Prophet your affairs for er, reminded him of his plan, praising what he and rode until he came to a palm grove on the you? intended to do. outskirts of Madinah near al-Baqi' (a place of 69. Or do ye feel In the pursuit of his evil design against the luxuriant vegetation which later became a secure that He Prophet, Thumamah met and killed a group of cemetery for many of the Prophet's compan- will not send you the Prophet's companions. The Prophet there- ions). He watered his camel and washed him- back a second time to sea and send upon declared him a wanted man who could self well. Then he turned back and made his against you a lawfully be killed on sight. way to the Prophet's mosque. There, he stood heavy gale to Not long afterwards, Thumamah decided to before a congregation of Muslims and said: drown you be- perform umrah. He wanted to perform tawaf "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah cause of your in- around the Ka'bah and sacrifice to the idols and I bear witness that Muhammad is His gratitude, so that ye find no there (The people of Makkah, before becom- servant and His messenger." He then went to helper. Therein ing Muslims, placed hundreds of idols in the the Prophet, upon whom be peace, and said: against Us? Holy Ka'bah. These idols were later destroyed "O Muhammad, by God, there was never on (Isra', The Night by the Prophet). So he left al-Yamamah for this earth a face more detestable than yours. Journey) Makkah. As he was passing near Madinah, an Now, yours is the dearest face of all to me." incident took place which he had not antici- "I have killed some of your men," he contin- pated. ued, "I am at your mercy. What will you have Groups of Muslims were patrolling the dis- done to me?" tricts of Madinah and outlying areas on the "There is now no blame on you, Thumamah," www.abraronline. lookout for any strangers or anyone intent on replied the Prophet. "Becoming a Muslim causing trouble. One of these groups came obliterates past actions and marks a new be- net upon Thumamah and apprehended him but ginning." This is our website. they did not know who he was. They took him Source: "Companions of The Prophet", Vol.1, Have visited it: It to Madinah and tied him to one of the col- By: Abdul Wahid Hamid. will put you face- umns in the mosque. They waited to-face with an al- for the Prophet himself to question ternative world, full the man and decide what should be done with him. of spirituality, mo- When the Prophet was about to rality coupled with enter the mosque, he saw Thu- modern outlooks mamah and asked his companions, and perspectives. "Do you know whom you have We want to hear taken?" "No, messenger of God," they re- your views on its plied. contents, layout "This is Thumamah ibn Uthal al- and general quality. Hanafi," he said. "You have done well in capturing him." The Prophet then returned home to Join us in our Noon his family and said, "Get what food and Afternoon you can and send it to Thumamah prayers ibn Uthal." He then ordered his Everyday camel to be milked for him. All this was done before he met Thumamah at 12.00 or had spoken to him.