Hindus participate in Muharram

Interesting News published today in The Times Of India

A hindu sect claims that their ancestors have fought along side Imam Hussain (AS) in the battle field of karbala and they call themselves Hussaini brahmin.
Interesting enough is the date of Aashura given in some books, it is 10 of october 680 AD according to these texts.
Hindus participate in Muharram
21 Jan 2008, 0355 hrs IST , Faizan Ahmad , TNN

MUZAFFARPUR: On the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of Islamic calendar, Shia Muslims across the world spend the day in mourning to commemorate the 1327-year-old martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, his family and followers. Here on Sunday, a group of Hindus participated in the Muharram procession with equal veneration.

They claim their lineage to Hussaini Brahmin sect. And, from this year, they have revived their centuries-old tradition of shedding tears in the memory of the martyrs of Karbala — which their ancestors used to do. Mostly Bhumihars, the group marched barefoot from Bara Imambara in Brahampur locality here beating their chest and chanting “Ya Hussain”.

They also carried a banner proclaiming their sentiments towards the Imam and his martyrdom. “Our ancestors also fought in support of Imam Hussain and sacrificed their lives in Karbala and we are equally pained at the historical martyrdom,” said Bhumihar Brahmin Mahasabha convenor Arun Kumar Sharma.

References in several books and records confirm that some Hindus did join Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, when he was through a bloody battle against Yezid at Karbala (in Iraq ) on October 10, 680 AD.

The sect, which was later named Hussaini Brahmin, had settled on the banks of river Euphrates . Subsequently, they returned to India and assumed various titles like Datts, Mohiyals, Tyagis and many others. They also practised an intriguing blend of Islamic and Hindu traditions.

This was the first time in recent memory that the people claiming the lineage joined the Muharram rituals in this part of the country. The late Sunil Dutt, who belonged to Hussaini Brahmin sect, used to attend Muharram processions.

Asked why this practice remained discontinued for decades Sharma, a practising lawyer, said: “We can say this was the fault of our fathers and grandfathers who did not teach us about this aspect of our historical and cultural heritage.”

Marching in the procession ahead of the band of young Shia youths injuring their chest and back with blades fixed to chains, small daggers or even razors, Upendra Prasad Shahi said, “The battle of Karbala was a war to save humanity and faith. We are proud that our ancestors, too, sacrificed their lives.”

Legend has it that Rahab Sidh Datt had fought on behalf of Imam Hussain in the battle of Karbala, sacrificing his seven sons in the process. Rahab was the leader of a small band of career-soldiers living near Baghdad at the time of the battle of Karbala . In his novel ” Karbala “, Munshi Prem Chand mentions about Hindus fighting for Imam Hussain and referred to them as descendants of Ashwastthama, son of Dronacharya.

The Hussaini Brahmin sect is today a rapidly vanishing community. The younger generation of the clan are said to be abandoning their ancestral heritage, some seeing it as embarrassingly deviant. “We should, rather, feel proud of this tradition,” said Sharma who has painstakingly pursued his caste people to help revive this heritage. “Before the advent of Islam, we had blood relations with the people of the Arab world,” Sharma claimed. 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Hindus_take_part_in_Muharram_in_Patna/articleshow/2716459.cms

Non Muslims’ Rights to Life with Dignity

Non Muslims’ Rights to Life with Dignity

By S.M.Masoom Abidi

Allah says in the glorious Qur’an:
We have honored the children of Adam, carried them on the land and the sea, given them pure sustenance and exalted them above most of My creatures. (Al-Qur’an 17:70)

he aspect of dignity of humankind in general is stressed upon by the Prophet (pbuh) in his saying “Whenever you see a funeral procession, stand up till the procession goes ahead of you…”

Moreover, the Prophet himself practically demonstrated what he said. “Once a funeral procession passed in front of the Prophet and he stood up. When he was told that it was the coffin of a Jew, he said, ‘Is it not a living being (soul)?’ “ (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 2, Hadith 399)

As a result of such teachings,Annie Besant writes in her book ‘The Life And Teachings Of Muhammad’:

“It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of the great Prophet of Arabia, who knows how he taught and how he lived, to feel anything but reverence for that mighty Prophet, one of the great messengers of the Supreme. And although in what I put to you I shall say many things which may be familiar to many, yet I myself feel whenever I re-read them, a new way of admiration, a new sense of reverence for that mighty Arabian teacher.”

It is amongst the rights of Non-Muslims that their “gods” are not mocked. Says Allah in the Qur’an: “ Believers, do not say bad words against the idols lest they (pagans) in their hostility and ignorance say such words against God. We have made every nation’s deeds seem attractive to them. One day they will all return to their Lord who will inform them of all that they have done. (6:108).” (Al-Qur’an 6:108)

I believe that there is no religion on the face of the earth other than Islam that gives more rights to the people of other faiths. No matter in what traditions, civilizations or nationality other than Islam man lives and has lived in any era, mankind has never achieved, nor will ever achieve a higher status than that which he would achieve in the shade of Islam, the religion of truth.

The Will of Babar

Babar was the First Moghul Emperor. Babar was an Afghan, who invaded India, settled in Delhi, and is buried in Kabul.

The following is His advice to his son Humayun.
Do not demolish or damage places of worship of any faith and dispense full justice to all to ensure peace in the country. Islam can better be preached by the sword of love and affection, rather than the sword of tyranny and persecution. Avoid the differences between the shias and sunnis.Hazrath Ali(a.s) says in nahjulbalagha”

“Man is either your brother in religion or your brother in humanity”

(Imam Ali – successor to the Holy Prophet)-

BY Syed Mohammad Masoo Abidi

Flowers are raining outside the Eidgah ,Sikh community welcomes the Muslims

The flowers are raining outside the Eidgah. The beauty of this picture lies in the fact that Sikh boys are welcoming the Muslims coming out of Eidgah after offering the Namaz, with flowers.
The Sikh community welcomes the Muslims after Namaz in Bhopal, as a goodwill gesture. For decades the office-bearers of local Sikh organisations have been greeting Muslims ‘Eid Mubarak’ in this manner.Naturally, such a gesture overwhelms the other community. Reaching out to the other community is the need of the hour. We must celebrate the festivals of the other community and spread the message of harmony.

Such photographs are rare as people are getting narrow-minded and don’t prefer interacting with other communities and groups. Working relationships are okay but family ties are not as strong as they used to be in the past.
Here there is no political platform but the ordinary Sikhs meeting ordinary Muslims. And this is the spirit of Hindustaniat. Kudos to the Sikh organisations who take this extra step towards reaching to the other community.

This photo has a lesson for everybody among us to learn. Will we?

Taken From

Allah and Om at eftaar party

Sri Swamiji hosted Iftaar party to the Moslems on 14th December. This was the second year where such historical event where a Moslem festival was held in a Hindu Ashrama. More than 700 Moslems came. They broke their fast in this holy month of Ramadan and offered Namaaz prayers. Sri Swamiji too joined the moslems in offering Namaaz prayers,. Kneeling on the ground while the deputy Sir Khaji chanted prayers, Sri Swamiji offered Namaaz with all. Two young boys offered the recitation of holy Koran. Swami Manasa Datta gave welcome speech and he extolled that it was time where people of different faiths attended each other’s festivals. He said that everyone was there to partake in the garden of Love grown by Swamiji. Dr.Sheikh Ali, noted historian and former vice chancellor of Mangalore university spoke on the importance of Ramadan festival. Dr.Khudratulla, Deputy Khaji of Mysore spoke on the greatness of Swamiji in inviting the Moslems and giving them feast. Sri Ramdas, MLA spoke on the importance of universal brotherhood especially in India where different communities co existed for centuries. Sri Swamiji speaking in the end said that he was happy that Moslems came for the Iftaar held in Ashrama and that goes to show that the communities indeed loved each other. Sri Swamiji said that Data Peetham’s character was its universal outlook. Sri Swamiji conveyed wishes and greetings to the Moslems for the holy Ramadan festival. Then a feast was arranged for all.

Moslems break the fast in Ashrama’s Annapurna Mandir on 14th December 2001 in Ashrama.

Sri Swamiji joins the Moslems in Namaaz – prayer

After living for many centuries with Muslims

How shameful and apologetic it is that after living for many centuries with Muslims we are still practically unaware of their history? One of the reasons of Hindu-Muslim dislike for each other is also that us Hindus have absolutely no ideas about the great characters of Muslim history. Whenever there was a mention of a Muslim King our eyes saw only the image of Aurangzeb. But good and bad characters have been part of every society and will continue to do so. Muslim community have also produced many a great leader, asthetics, alm-givers and Hindus would do well to learn and know about them.

– Munshi Premchand