LETTERS TO EDITOR

The Jamia Masjid of Virajpet in Kodagu district of Karnataka is under construction for the last 16 years. The Mosque was first built in 1911. The space constrains compelled the Mosque committee to plan a multi-storeyed structure, hence the old structure was demolished in 1994 and work began on a four-storey building in right earnest. The original plot of land measures 110 feet x 77 feet and building is being constructed on an area measuring 90 feet x 37 feet to accommodate 1,200 namazis. Though construction has been ongoing for the last 16 years, at no stage the namaz was discontinued. The main structure of the building has been raised, the minaret and dome too have come up in finished form.

However finishing, plumbing and electrical and carpentry work is still pending. We appeal to the philanthropists to donate for completion of the remaining work which might need Rs. 25 lakh. The contributions can be sent favouring “President & Secretary, Jamia Masjid, Virajpet” Account no. 54011500840 in State Bank of Mysore, Virajpet, Kodagu district, Karnataka. More information could be had from Mutawalli Abdul Ghafoor, 08274-257596, Secretary, Mohammad Sikandar, 97401-76718. We will be thankful to the contributors for the cause.

I complement the Islamic Voice for carrying the valuable article as 'addressing the basics' (April 2010 issue). Indeed, Fuad Lokhandawala's job is a supreme act of service. It reminded me of a hadeeth wherein Prophet Muhammad(saw) had prayed for a person for his act of providing convenience to answer the nature's call. Do keep educating and enlightening us by highlighting such noble acts of service.

Editors Note: In response to several queries from readers, furnished below are the contact details of the Fumes International: Fuad Lokhandwala, Fumes International 67 Anand Lok, New Delhi 110049; fumes_international@ hotmail.com; Phones:91 11 2626 4661; Cell No. for Fuad Lokhandwala at Mumbai: 98101-81832

This refers to the lead story in the Islamic Voice February 2010 issue regarding Jamaat e Islami's entry into electoral politics. It is strange that the Jamaat which was so far opposed to politics is now poised to plunge into it and wants to do it through women to begin with. Is it right for a religious body like jamaat to enter politics for the sake of 'Social revolution'?

Death of Ms. Safia Iqbal (obituary, Islamic Voice, April 2010) is not only a personal loss for the hundreds of students and teachers whose lives she touched and transformed, but is also a profound loss for the Muslim community, which lost one of its foremost contemporary educationists, writer, poetess and women's activist. Rarely does a milieu produce a lady who was so multi-faceted, courageous, determined, talented and committed to her cause. She leaves a void we will find hard to fill.

At The Scholar School, her labour of love and commitment to the cause of an integrated system of learning, each and every aspect of our personality was carefully moulded. We were initiated into accepting Islam not just as a religion, but as a way of life in the true sense.

From the basics of Aqeedah to the Islamic etiquette of drinking water sitting down in three gulps, we learnt it all under her guidance. We studied Islamic history, enjoyed Islamic poetry which she herself wrote, learnt the Quran, Urdu and Arabic- subjects and languages that would be excluded in the course of our education had we been in another school. She worked night and day to afford every opportunity of exposure and an all-round development to her students, right from educational trips to horse-riding sessions to activities like the 'Community Service Day' we observed annually. She pulled all stops when it came to doing the best of anything. She made school so much fun that we dreaded the weekends.