Wednesday, February 9, 2011

The Houses On Which Votes And Democracy Thrives

168,738 items / 1,314,345 views

the engines of politics
on road side slums
arrives a single vote
that keeps the netas
hopes alive later on
the soul of these
slums tenements
tractors
will drive uprooted
new towers for the rich
no trace of the
earlier human
beehive
humanity once again
deprived tears on the
soul of the poor contrived
accursed democracy
a silhouette of sufferings
human archives
as god and his
godliness nosedives

The Long Winding Road Recyled Blogs

Two Friends Shot By Marziya Shakir 3 Year old On The Nikon D 80

The Barefeet Blogger of Bandra Shooting Hope And Humanity

Reunion


Reunion, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

The Signature Collection of Humanity Shot By a Photo Blogger

Shia Kids of Mira Road Hyderi Chowk

The Healing Hands of Jafari United Social Troop India Just Boyz

168,649 items / 1,313,879 views

Because the Jafari United Social Troop Boys also known as JUST India , have saved me many a times after I cut my head with a dagger or a sword , I decided to shoot exclusive pictures of them , administering First Aid to the matamdars, the zanjir wounds have to be pressed and cleaned as clots form , and are not easy to get rid off.

The kama wounds too are cleaned , sometimes the Doctor present with the Just boys will stitch the wound or in serious cases send the wounded person to the local hospital.

As I am a diabetic , when I cut my head my bleeding takes a lot of time to stop, and after several bandages one on top of the other the bleeding does not abate.

But I avoid anti septic shots ointments , only water does for me , I avoid stitches on my head..because people around me stop my kama zani in time I dont have much problem.

I have bled the most during Athvi in Lucknow when I cut my head with a sword and again at Hussain Tekri Chehlum this year.

My wounds on the head have not healed as yet, and once in a while blood trickles out...

So this is my humble tribute as a photographer who does Kama Zani to the holistic healers of Mumbai.. the Just Boyz of India.

My Humble Tribute To Jafari United Social Tropp India.. The Just Boyz

168,649 items / 1,313,879 views

Because the Jafari United Social Troop Boys also known as JUST India , have saved me many a times after I cut my head with a dagger or a sword , I decided to shoot exclusive pictures of them , administering First Aid to the matamdars, the zanjir wounds have to be pressed and cleaned as clots form , and are not easy to get rid off.

The kama wounds too are cleaned , sometimes the Doctor present with the Just boys will stitch the wound or in serious cases send the wounded person to the local hospital.

As I am a diabetic , when I cut my head my bleeding takes a lot of time to stop, and after several bandages one on top of the other the bleeding does not abate.

But I avoid anti septic shots ointments , only water does for me , I avoid stitches on my head..because people around me stop my kama zani in time I dont have much problem.

I have bled the most during Athvi in Lucknow when I cut my head with a sword and again at Hussain Tekri Chehlum this year.

My wounds on the head have not healed as yet, and once in a while blood trickles out...

So this is my humble tribute as a photographer who does Kama Zani to the holistic healers of Mumbai.. the Just Boyz of India.

Why Do Shias Cut And Bleed During Moharam ?

168,648 items / 1,313,879 views



We don't hit ourselves because of the death of Imam Hussain (as) and his companions, we do it because of the pain they suffered to save Islam. Owais Qarni (ra) knocked all his teeth out when hearing that the Prophet (saww) lost one tooth, and the Prophet (saww) praised Ovais Qarni very highly. The Prophet (saww) loved Imam Hussain (as), and Allah (swt) loved Imam Hussain (as). The narration of the Prophet (saww) is that Hussain (as) is a part of me, this means that this wasn’t just the murder of Hussain (as) but in fact, the murder of the Prophet (saww). Imagine the pain the lovers of Imam Hussain (as) have when hearing that he was slaughtered, his companions were slaughtered, his 6 month old baby was beheaded alongside the rest of the companions, imagine when you hear that the 4 year old daughter of Imam Hussain (as) had her earrings torn off her ears and was slapped by Shimr (la), imagine hearing the story of the women of the house of the Prophet (saww) having their Hijabs taken off and their tents burnt and then taken to Damascus barefoot with chains around their necks and feet. These things bring tears to the eyes, and just like you perhaps have seen footage on the TV where the Palestinian or Iraqi, or as I have seen before, even Pakistani individuals are beating their chests or heads over the death of their loved ones, regardless of being a Shia or Sunni, we also do matam over the martydrom of Imam Hussain (as) and his companions. You can even find traditions showing the Prophet (saww) beating his chest over a matter, or Imam Ali (as) hitting his thighs (when he saw the dead bodies after the battle of Jamal). When the news of the blindness of Yaqoob (as) was told to Yusuf (as) by Jibraeel, Hazrat Yusuf (as) started to hit his head, and he wished that his mother didn’t give birth to him so he would not have been the cause of such sadness to his father. All the above points are in Ahlul Sunnah sources, but last but not least, it is recorded that Ayesha mourned and cried for the Prophet (saww) by beating her chest and head as well. Matam is just a manifestation of the utter grief that we feel. When one person dies in any household, isn't the environment sorrowful? If this is the feeling we have for humans, Imam Hussain (a.s.) was the holy Prophet's grandson and the leader of the youth of heaven. And each time we remember this event we mourn over it, and the Prophet (saww) had already said that a group of people will mourn for Hussain (as) and commemorate his martyrdom each year in every century. That is the phenomena of the tragedy, for after so many centuries have past from the incident it still moves the hearts of men, women, children and even non-Muslims alike. Every single time one hears the incident that took place in Karbala it brings tears to the eyes. We even forget the grieve of losing even the most dear ones in our lives, memories may bring sadness but not tears after many years, but our tears never end for Imam Hussain (as) and the family of the Prophet (saww) – who are not just limited to the events of Karbala. On the day of Ashura Imam Hussain (as) was left all alone at the end and he cried out ‘Hal min nasir yansurna?” which means “Is there someone who will come for my help?” Scholars and philosophers have pondered over this sentence, and one of the explanations is that our Imam (as) was calling upon all Muslims till the Day of Judgement and urging them to rise against evil and stand up for the oppressed people whenever they can. Today, by this concept of Azadari we are replying back, InshAllah. There is an annual event called the Muslim Congress, and there a convert was present and he gave his conversion story based on the fact that he saw the Shias do matam and that was the sight that gave him that final push to convert, because he felt that these people must believe in something really strongly to be doing such a thing. That’s just one person’s experience, not everyone shares the same view. Some may say it gives Islam a bad name, but then again, so do a lot of other matters of Aqaaid give Islam a bad name to the non-Muslims, like Hijab, which is seen as oppression, and the list goes on... I hope you understand. Salam.

Madeha Batool Yahoo Answers

Volunteers of JUST India Offering First Aid at Mira Road

Volunteers of JUST India Offering First Aid at Mira Road

168,641 items / 1,313,872 views

The JUST Boys Jaafari United Social Troop India do a great job, taking care of the wounds caused by scourging or kama matam, they holistically heal and all with water or rose water..serious self inflicted injuries are given first aid and the person sent to a nearby local hospital.

In South Bombay it is Habib Hospital the have for the Shia matamdars.

People like Habib and others need stitches as their sword wounds are gaping holes in the flesh wall.

See the Wounds of the Deadliest sword & Kama Matam Muharram Shab-e-Ashura in Mumbai, India. Dec2010

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvcwcw4Zyl8&has_verified=1

You have to be over 18 to see this video...

My Documentary of Pain Continues

168,545 items / 1,313,719 views


i shoot pictures
as i saw them
blood red in hue
this is a blog
that differs
completely
from tomorrow
mornings news
the shia pain
ghame hussain
a path we choose
we curse the
killers of hussain
we need no excuse
we are calm quiet
peace loving
chains on our
bodies we use
through our blood
the chapters
of karbala
we reopen
our history
we produce
for our children
you rightly deduce
tabarah is our birthright
a pain we induce
they pelt us with stones
we dont blow our fuse
we are Muslims
but to be the kind
of Muslims
they want us to be
we simply refuse


penned by a poet
in a crowd
also a total recluse

Shi'a Islam in India

168,471 items / 1,313,441 views

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Shia Muslims are a large minority among India's Muslims. However, there has been no particular census conducted in India with regards to sects, but Indian sources like Times of India and DNA reported Indian Shiite population in mid 2005-2006 between 25% to 31% of entire Muslim population of India which accounts them in numbers between 40,000,000[1][1] to 50,000,000[2] of 157,000,000 Indian Muslim population[3]. However, as per an estimation of one reputed Shiite NGO Alimaan Trust, India's Shia population in early 2000 was around 30 million with Sayyids comprising just over half of the entire Shia population[4]. According to some national and international sources Indian Shia population is the world's second-largest after Iran[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13], Shiite population was also acclaimed publicly as second largest by the 14th Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh quoted in the year 2005.[14][15] One of the lingering problems in estimating the Shia population is that unless the Shia form a significant minority in a Muslim country, the entire population is often listed as Sunni. For example, the 1926 rise of the House of Saud in Arabia brought official discrimination against Shias. The Shia-majority areas of Al-Hasa, Qatif and Hofuf on the Persian Gulf, Western Arabia provinces of Jizan, Asir, and Hejaz that had large Shia minorities have officially been completely stripped off their religious identities.[16] Shiites are estimated to be 21-35 percent of the Muslim population in South Asia, although the total number is difficult to estimate due to the intermingling between the Muslim Sects and practice of taqiyya by Shiites.[17]

However,some external sources like the Pew Research Center figure them between 10 to 14 percent giving the numbers between 16,000,000 to 24,000,000[18]. However, the Pew Research Center report is not considered authentic by many Shiites and also national and International reports after taking into consideration the report released by Britannica Book of the year in 1997 which put the estimates of Shiite population in India in 1996 over 26,000,000[19][20][21] out of entire Indian Muslim population of 103,000,000 at that time.[22][23]

There are many big and small towns and villages with majority Shiite Muslim population in India. Many Sayyids between 12th to 16th century migrated to the Indian subcontinent to escape the persecution of Shias in mostly Sunni ruled Middle East. Prominent places in India with majority or considerable Shiite Muslim population are Kargil, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Barabanki, Lucknow, Hallaur, Sadaat Amroha and Naugawan Sadat. Shias in Hallaur, Sadaat Amroha and Naugawan Sadat are majority Sayyids. Among the Shias of India an overwhelming majority belongs to the Ithna Ashari (Twelver) division, while the Shias among the Khoja and Bohra communities are Ismaili.[24] Dawoodi Bohras are primarily based in India, even though the Dawoodi theology originated in Yemen. India is home to the majority Dawoodi Bohra population most of them concentrated in Gujarat out of over 1 million followers worldwide.[25]


There is no certainty as to when the Shia community first established itself in India. As per historical evidences and the genealogy maintained by the Sayyids who migrated to India from Middle East the history of Shia Islam traces long back around 1000 years. The rulers of various dynasties of India and also in the 11th century the rulers of Multan and Sindh which are now part of Pakistan were adherents of Shia Islam.[26] The Nawabs of Awadh and Hyder Ali & Tipu Sultan of Mysore, who were rulers in India, were also Shia Muslims.[27]

Shia culture and belief has left its influence all over India with Imam al Husain ibn Ali becoming the revered personality in India not only for the Shias but also from non-Muslim communities, especially the Hindus of northern India who participate in ceremonies commemorating Husain ibn Ali's martyrdom on the day of Ashura.

Shaykh al-Mufid writes that before the Battle of Karbala, Husain ibn Ali and the commander of the enemy forces, Umar ibn Saad, met at night and talked together for a long time. After that meeting Umar ibn Saad sent a letter to the Governor of Kufa, Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad in which he wrote that Husain ibn Ali has suggested that he go to ‘one of the border outposts’ of the rapidly expanding Muslim empire as a way of resolving conflict.[28] Other traditions name that border outpost as Al Hind or India. Even though Husain ibn Ali himself was not able to go to India, some of the Shia did emigrate there for various reasons, including those who came as refugees from Umayyads and Abbasids persecution.[29] These refugees brought with them rituals which kept alive the remembrance of Karbala and their Shia Identity.[30]

Its narrated by Abd al Razzaq al Muqarram in his work of Maqtal al-Husayn that prior to his martyrdom, Al Abbas ibn Ali while asking water for Mohammad's family from the Yazid's army expressed his desire to go either Rome or to India. This made some people wept in the army of Yazid[31].

It has been believed that in 7th century few ladies from the household of Prophet Mohammad after Battle of Karbala came in Punjab province of India which after the partition of 1947 became a part of Pakistan. One of the prominent of them was Ruqayyah bint Ali, the daughter of Ali bin Abi Talib through his wife Ummul Banin, Ruqayyah bint Ali was the sister of Abbas ibn Ali and wife of Muslim ibn Aqeel. Still her shrine in Lahore, Punjab of Pakistan, is visited by people all around and she is referred as Bibi Pak Daman.
[edit] Persecution

Shiites in India faced persecution by some Sunni rulers and Mughal Emperors which resulted in the martyrdom of Indian Shia scholars like Qazi Nurullah Shustari (also known as Shaheed-e-Thaalis, the third Martyr) and Mirza Muhammad Kamil Dehlavi (also known as Shaheed-e- Rabay, the fourth Martyr) who are two of the five martyrs of Shia Islam.

Shias also faced persecution in India in Kashmir for centuries, by the Sunni invaders of the region which resulted in massacre of many Shias and as a result most of them had to flee the region.[32] Shias in Kashmir in subsequent years had to pass through the most atrocious period of their history. Plunder, loot and massacres which came to be known as ‘Taarajs’ virtually devastated the community. History records 10 such Taarajs also known as ‘Taraj-e-Shia’ between 15th to 19th century in 1548, 1585, 1635, 1686, 1719, 1741, 1762, 1801, 1830, 1872 during which the Shia habitations were plundered, people slaughtered, libraries burnt and their sacred sites desecrated.[32] Such was the reign of terror during this period that the community widely went into the practice of Taqya in order to preserve their lives and the honor of their womenfolk.[32] Village after village disappeared, with community members either migrating to safety further north or dissolving in the majority faith. The persecution suffered by Shias in Kashmir during the successive foreign rules was not new for the community. Many of the standard bearers of Shia’ism, like Sa’adaat or the descendants of the Prophet Mohammad and other missionaries who played a key role in spread of the faith in Kashmir, had left their home lands forced by similar situations.[32]
[edit] India's role in battle of Karbala

Nathanvilal Wahshi, a Hindu Writer narrated about the arrival of a helper for Husain’s cause on the eight day of Moharram. Husain ibn Ali welcomed him and immediately confirmed his Indian Identity. Husain ibn Ali then goes on to praise India and its people in the following words:

"The perfumed fragrance entered the realm of love from your country The cool breeze came to my grandfather Mohammad from that garden."[33]

Upon asking more about the guest’s background he finds out that he is an Indian merchant residing in neighboring city of Basra, his father had been entrusted with the treasury of the war booty by none other than Ali bin Abitalib. For this reason the merchant holds himself morally responsible for assisting Husain ibn Ali in any possible way when the later is in trouble. Husain ibn Ali appreciated gesture, but discouraged the merchant from taking up arms in following words:

"Brother, in my opinion you are the beloved of the world In this country you are the treasure of India."[33]

Munshi Premchand further narrates the perception of this merchant on the part of Imam as suspicion about Husain ibn Ali’s sincerity because of being a Hindu.

With tear filled eyes the traveler said: ”I am a Hindu, perhaps my fidelity is not convincing Master! Even though this heart is the land of Idol Temple In it is also lit the light of affection”.[33]

Husain ibn Ali said : What have you said in passion, Why should my eyes doubt your fidelity? My lord is aware of my conscience. What’s the difference between Hindu and Muslim is the quest for truth. This has the guiding principle for the People of the Cloak or Ahl al-Kisa. ”.[34]
[edit] Shia Muslim Dynasties in India

Shiite Islam has deep rooted influence in present and history of India from North to South with various Shia Muslim dynasties ruling Indian provinces from time to time.

Few prominent ones of the Indian Shia Muslim dynasties are as follows:

* Bahmani Sultanate (1347–1527 AD)

The Bahmani Sultanate also called the Bahmanid Empire or Bahmani Kingdom was a Muslim state of the Deccan in southern India and one of the great medieval Indian kingdoms.[35] Bahmanid Sultanate was the first independent Islamic and Shi'ite Kingdom in South India.[36]

* Sharqi Dynasty (1394 CE to 1479 CE)

The Sharqi sultanate was an independent medieval Shia Muslim dynasty of North India, one of the many kingdoms that came up following the disintegration of the Delhi Sultanate.[37] Between 1394 CE to 1479 CE, Sharqi dynasty ruled from Jaunpur in the present day state of Uttar Pradesh.

* Berar Sultanate (1490-1572 AD)

On the establishment of the Bahmani Sultanate in the Deccan (1348), Berar Sultanate was constituted one of the five provinces into which their kingdom was divided, being governed by great nobles, with a separate army. The perils of this system becoming apparent, the province was divided (1478 or 1479) into two separate provinces, named after their capitals Gawil and Mahur.

* Bidar Sultanate (1489-1619 AD)

Bidar Sultanate was one of the Deccan sultanates of late medieval India. Its founder, Qasim Barid was a Turk, domiciled in Georgia. He joined the service of the Bahmani sultan Muhammad Shah III. He started his career as a Sar-Naubat but later became the Mir-Jumla (prime minister) of the Bahmani sultanate.

* Qutb Shahi dynasty (1518–1687 AD)

The Qutb Shahi dynasty was a Turkic dynasty (whose members were also called the Qutub Shahis). They were the ruling family of the kingdom of Golconda in southern India. They were Shia Muslims and belonged to Kara Koyunlu.

* Adil Shahi dynasty (1527–1686 AD)

The Adil Shahi dynasty ruled the Sultanate of Bijapur in the Western area of the Deccan region of Southern India from 1490 to 1686. Bijapur had been a province of the Bahmani Sultanate (1347–1518), before its political decline in the last quarter of the 15th century and eventual break-up in 1518. The Bijapur Sultanate was absorbed into the Mughal Empire on 12 September 1686, after its conquest by the Emperor Aurangzeb.[38]

* Nawab of Awadh (1722-1858 AD)

Of all the Muslim states and dependencies of the Mughal empire, Awadh had the newest royal family, the Nawabs of Awadh. They were descended from a Persian adventurer called Sa'adat Khan, originally from Khurasan in Persia.

* Najafi Nawabs of Bengal (1757–1880)

The Najafi Dynasty of Nawabs of Bengal were Sayyids and were descendants of Prophet Muhammad through Al Imam Hasan ibn Ali, ruling from 1757 until 1880.

* Nawab of Rampur

Rampur, former princely state of British India. Previously ruled by Shiite Muslim Nawabs of Rampur, it was incorporated into the state of Uttar Pradesh in 1949.

* Nizams of Hyderabad State(1724–1948 AD)[39]

The ruling Nizams of Hyderabad State patronized Islamic art, culture and literature and developed railway network in Hyderabad. Islamic Sharia law was the guiding principle of the Nizams' official machinery.
[edit] Present circumstances

India, the only non Muslim nation in the world with Shiite population of 3-4 percent of its entire population, has recognized the day of Ashura listed as Moharram as the Public Holiday in India. India also has the Birthday of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib as public Holiday in states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, whose capital Lucknow is considered as the centre of India’s Shiite Muslim community. The Birthdate of Ali bin Abi Talib is not recognized by any country in any of its states other than India and Iran as public Holiday. It is also a known fact that when Saddam mercilessly quelled a Shia uprising in 1992. The world media remained silent and damage to the shrines of Husayn ibn Ali and his half-brother Al Abbas ibn Ali, in the course of Baathist attempts to flush out Shia rebels was a tightly kept secret of the Saddam regime but Indian media Doordarshan was the only network in the world to have shown that footage[40].

However, there has been reports about the Moharram procession being banned and Shiite people protesting against the ban were beaten up by the Indian Army.[41] Main procession is banned in Srinagar since the eruption of militancy in 1990s,[41] the ban is protested by Shiites every year during Moharram who condemn and blame Indian government for suppressing their right of religious freedom in Jammu and Kashmir, which is a Muslim majority state.[42]

Apart from the reign of few Mughal Emperors, there have been no reports of specific targeted persecution of Shias in India unlike the neighboring Pakistan and few Middle Eastern countries. India being a secular country, Shiite Muslims in India practice their religion freely without any restriction, except for few areas like Kashmir where their religious freedom is suppressed by Indian government[41]. However, in post Godhra riots a Shia Ex Member of the Parliament Ehsan Jafri was reported to be burnt to death by Hindu mob in his own residence in the state of Gujarat in 2002.

Shias also claim to be sidelined in India, hence the All India Shia Personal Law Board was formed after segregation from the All India Muslim Personal Law Board in 2005 to address the legal needs of the Shia population. AISPLB feels that there should be a national policy for the Shias to prevent their exploitation by vested interests. The attitude of the government towards Muslims especially in Maharashtra came in for criticism.[1] The newly formed All India Shia Personal Law Board had 69 members at the time of formation compared to 204 members in the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.[43] The Shia body had the support of the erstwhile royal family of Lucknow, some 2000 descendants of the family claim to have extended their support. Shias claim they have been sidelined by the Sunni-dominated law board, which was set up in 1972.[44] Maulana Mirza Mohammed Athar, president of the breakaway All India Shia Personal Law Board explained the reason for segregation saying that, Shias have formed a forum of themselves because the All India Muslim Personal Law Board never took interest in their well being." Shias and Sunnis do not interpret family laws in a similar way. Shiites also have different Mosques and Burial grounds in India.[44]



Azadari or the mourning practice of Imam Husain ibn Ali is very much prevalent across India.[45] One thing which is worth noting in Indian Azadari is the participation of non Muslims in Shia rituals on the day of Ashura.[45][46][47]

The Hindu rulers of Vijayanagar during the 16th and 17th centuries even donned blackened garments and helped to arrange the Kala Tazia (Black Tazia) processions. Even the Scindias of Gwalior and the Holkar Maharajas of Indore conducted Majlis or Muharram congregations[48]. In Lucknow Hindus regularly join Muslims in the Azadari and Alam processions. The Sufi saints of India along with the Shi'ite Scholars encouraged the mixing and merging of indigenous elements from the rich cultural heritage of the land to that of Muharram thus proclaiming the message of peaceful co-existence among communities and united resistance to tyrannical authority[48].

The carrying of Alams through fire by men is more common. There are several occasions when these are traditionally practiced particularly in the town of Vizianagaram 550 km outside of Hyderabad where 110 Alams are taken through the fire. A significant aspect of firewalking in the context of Moharram commemorations in Andhra Pradesh is the participation of Hindus in the ceremonies. In Vizinagaram 109 of the Alams are carried by Hindus.[49]
[edit] Notable Shia Muslim Personalities of India
[edit] Religion

* Grand Ayatollah Ghufran Ma'ab - One of the leading Ayatollah, India had ever produced.
* Sayyid Ahmad al Musawi al Hindi - Grandfather of revolutionary Iranian leader Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah al Musawi al Khomeini.He was born in Kintoor Barabanki UP
* Qazi Nurullah Shustari - Executed by Mughal Emperor Jehangir, is regarded as the third among the five martyrs of Shia Islam.
* Al-Allamah, Al-Faqeeh, Al-Adeeb Ayatullah Shaikh Ali Hazeen Lahiji ( Four Hundred Years ago)
* Mirza Muhammad Kamil Dehlavi - Executed by Sunni Ruler of Jhajhar, also known as the Shahid Rabay or the fourth martyr of the five martyrs of Shia Islam.
* Ayatollah Sayyid Mir Hamid Hussain al Musawi Kintoori Lakhnavi - Leading Indian Cleric of his time.
* Moulvi Khursheed Ali Khan, Famous Landlord, Founder Jamia-e-Imania, Banaras (1287/1866)
* Ayat-ul-Ilm-e-wat-Tuqa Ayatullah Syed Imdad Ali, First Ameed Jamia-e-Imania, Banaras.
* Jawad-ul-Ulama Ayatullah Syed Ali Jawad Al-Husaini (Banaras) Mu'aasir wa ham-jama'at Sahib-e-Abaqaat.
* Mir Anis - Legendary Urdu poet and renowned Marsia writer all over the world. He was born in Faizabad in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in 1803 and died in 1874.
* Mirza Dabeer - Leading Urdu poet of India who excelled and perfected the art of Marsiya writing and is considered the leading exponent of Marsiya writing along with Mir Anis.
* Munaitiq-e-Zaman Ayatullah Syed Mohammad Sajjad Al-Husaini, Founder Jamia Jawadia, Banaras (1928)
* Qudwat-ul-Fuqaha Ayatullah Syed Sibte Husain, Jaunpur.
* Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mohsin Nawab Rizvi Mujtahid - Vice Principal of Sultanul Madaris, Lucknow, former Principal, Madarse Aliya (Oriental College), Rampur, and Madarse Nasirya, Jaunpur.
* Ayatollah Najmul Millat - Leading Ayatollah and father of Maulana Syed Mohammad the founder of Madrasatul Waizeen
* Alam-ul-Aalaam Ayatullah Syed Muzaffar Husain Al-Husaini, First Haadi (Supreme Authority) Jamia Jawadia,Banaras (Wafat 1944).
* Ayatullah Agha Hajji Mirza Mahdi Puya Yazdi - A Twelver Shia Muslim and an Islamic scholar, most notable for his famous tafsir of the Qur'an.
* Ayatollah Syed Mohammad Abul Hasan – Founder of Sultanul Madaris son of Ayatollah Syed Ali Shah.
* Aal-e-Jawad-ul-Ulama Maulana Mulla Syed Mohammad Tahir Al-Husaini (1920-1971) Ameed Jamia-e-Imania / Haadi Jamia-e-Jawadia
* Grand Ayatollah Ali Naqi Naqvi - Leading Mujtahid of modern India.
* Ayatollah Syed Ali Shah – Father of Grand Ayatollah Syed Mohammad Abul Hasan.
* Ayatollah Syed Aqeel-al-Gharavi - Leading Shia scholar and community activist of India.
* Syed Kalbe Hussain - One of the senior clerics of India.
* Maulana Muhammad Rizvi - Twelver Shia Cleric, son of Maulana Sa'id Akhtar Rizvi and author of the book Shī‘ism Imāmate & Wilāyat. Canada: Al-Ma‘ārif Books. 1999. ISBN 0-920675-11-5.
* Maulana Sa'id Akhtar Rizvi - Indian born, Twelver Shī‘ah scholar, who actively promoted Islam in East Africa.
* Syed Sibte Hasan Naqvi - Shia Cleric and father of Syed Mohammad Waris Hasan Naqvi
* Syed Mohammad Waris Hasan Naqvi - Shia Cleric form Lucknow, India.
* Maulana Kalbe Abid(late) - Mujtahid from Lucknow, India and father of Maulana Kalbe Jawad.
* Late Maulana Sayyid Aqa Hasan Naqvi - Mujtahid from Lucknow
* Maulana Kalbe Sadiq - Senior member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board and brother of Maulana Kalbe Abid(late).
* Maulana Kalbe Jawad - Leading cleric of India, leader of Friday prayers in Asafi Imambargah and son of Maulana Kalbe Abid(late).
* Ustaz-ul-Asatizah Maulana Syed Mohammad Husaini (Zaeem Hauza-e-Ilmiyyah Imania,Banaras)
* Maulana Mirza Mohammad Athar - Leading Orater of India, and the first president of All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB).
* Syed Hamidul Hasan - Cleric from India and one of the students of Ayatullah al-Uzma Syed Muhsin al-Hakim and Ayatullah al-Uzma Syed Abul Qasim al-Khoei.
* Maulana Syed Ghulam Hussain Raza Agha Mujtahid ul Asr - Leading scholar and head of ulema of Hyderabad
* Raja Amir Mohd. Khan (Raja of Mehmoodabad)-Famous Marsiyakhan
* Maulana Sayyid Urujul Hasan Meesum - Cleric from India

[edit] Business and politics - present and past
Azim Premji, CEO of India's 3rd largest IT company Wipro Technologies and the 5th richest man in India with an estimated fortune of US$17.1 billion.[50]

* Dr. Hamid Ansari - Incumbent Vice President of India.
* Azim Premji - Indian business tycoon from Gujarat state and Owner of one of India's largest Software development Companies Wipro.
* Fakhruddin T. Khorakiwala - Dawoodi Bohra, Chancellor of Jamia Millia University, former Sheriff of Mumbai and owner of Akbarallys and Wockhardt.
* Zoher Khorakiwala and Komail Khorakiwala - Dawoodi Bohra, owner of Monginis Bakery Chain
* Sir Sultan Ahmed - Indian barrister and politician
* Zafar Ali Naqvi - Indian politician and Member of the Parliament of India
* Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi - Former Indian Federal Minister and Member of the Parliament of India
* Ehsan Jafri (1929 – February 28, 2002) - Indian politician and ex-Member of the Parliament of India, killed during Gulbarg Society massacre
* Syed Sibtey Razi - Governor of Assam state and former Governor of Jharkhand state.
* Ali Yawar Jung - Former Indian diplomat and former Governor of the state of Maharashtra from 1971 to 1976. He played a significant role in full scale establishment of Azadari in Mumbai.
* Nur Jehan - Mughal Empress, considered mastermind behind Jehangir's rule, family origin in Persia
* Mumtaz Mahal - Wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan I buried in Taj Mahal in Agra, India.
* Bahmani Sultanate rulers.
* Sharqi Dynasty rulers
* Berar Sultanate rulers.
* Bidar Sultanate rulers.
* Qutb Shahi dynasty rulers.
* Adil Shahi dynasty rulers.
* Nawab of Awadh rulers.
o Begum Hazrat Mahal - Wife of Wajid Ali Shah, last Nawab of the princely kingdom of Awadh
* Nawab of Rampur rulers.
* Najafi Dynasty Nawabs of Bengal.
* Hyderabad State Nizam rulers.
* Mahabat Khan - prominent Mughal general and statesman, perhaps best known for his coup against the Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1626.
* Sayyed Mahmud Khan - Military general of Mughal Emperor Akbar's army.
* Siraj ud-Daulah - Last ruler of Bengal before British intrusion.

[edit] Bollywood

* Kamal Amrohi - Bollywood film director, screenwriter, and dialogue writer
* Meena Kumari - Bollywood Actress and Urdu-Hindi Poetess.
* Farida Jalal - Bollywood Actress.
* Jagdeep - Bollywood Actor and Comedian, father of Javed Jaffrey and Naved Jaffrey.
* Feroz Khan - Indian Actor, Film editor, Producer and Director in the Bollywood film Industry.
* Saeed Jaffrey - Indian Punjabi British actor.
* Sanjay Khan - Actor turned film producer and director
* Akbar Khan - Film actor, screenwriter, producer and director.
* Fardeen Khan - Indian established Bollywood actor and son of legendary Feroz Khan.
* Zayed Khan - Indian Bollywood actor and son of Sanjay Khan.
* Javed Jaffrey - Bollywood actor and comedian.
* Naved Jaffrey - Co-producer of Boogie Woogie series.
* Emraan Hashmi - Bollywood actor
* Farah Khan Ali - Gemologist and renowned jewellery designer of India
* DJ Aqeel - DJ, singer and composer

[edit] Sports

* Syed Kirmani - Former Indian cricket captain who was awarded Padma Sri in 1982
* Jalaluddin Rizvi - Former field hockey player who represented India in the 1984 Olympics and 1982 Asian Games
* Sania Mirza - Indian tennis player. She began her tennis career in 2003. In 2004 she was awarded the Arjuna award by the Indian Government.

[edit] Journalism

* Saeed Naqvi - Senior journalist and Distinguished Fellow at Observer Research Foundation, 20 Rouse Avenue, New Delhi. Visiting Professor at Academy of Third World Studies, Jamia Millia and Senior Advisor at Centre for Culture, Media and Governance, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi.
* Nikhat Kazmi - Senior correspondent writing for The Times of India since 1987

[edit] Others

* Amir Rizvi - Indian designer
* Ali Hyder Tabatabai - Poet, translator and scholar of languages
* Safi Lakhnavi - Urdu poet
* Saghar Khayyami - Urdu poet leading humorist and satirist

[edit] Shia organizations in India

* All India Shia Personal Law Board
* Jamia Nazmia
* Sultan al Madaris
* All India Shia Yateem Khaana
* All India Shia Husaini Fund
* All India Shia Conference (1930s)
* Anjuman Haideri Hallaur

And The Shia Bleeds In Malaysia Too

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www.islamicinsights.com/news/international-news/shias-unw...
Tuesday, 04 January 2011 19:29 Hadi Abdul Nour



Shias Unwelcome in Multicultural Malaysia

Even though I personally don't agree with Shia teachings and even frequently criticize and debate with them, I cannot accept the approach of the allegedly democratic Malaysian government in denying the people's right to practice their faith."

(Dr. Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, former Mufti of Perlis, Malaysia, commenting on the Ashura roundup of Shia Muslims, 18 December 2010)

The inclusive, multi-ethnic, multicultural nature of Malaysian society was not expansive enough to afford 200 Shia Muslims a December night's peace as they commemorated the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Hussain.

At an Ashura mourning ceremony at the Ali al-Ridha Hussainiyah in Seri Gombak, Selangor where mostly Shia Malays had gathered, state officers from the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) burst in and ordered all attendees detained for having breached Islamic law. It was one of the largest mass arrests on religious grounds in recent Malaysian history.

In a nation where Christians, Chinese Buddhists and Indian Hindus can freely and openly worship, the Malaysian government precludes the Shia from doing likewise, deeming them a "deviant" sect. As will be discussed, the nature of the allegations leveled against the mourners betrays the raid's real instigators.

Shia community leader Kamil Zuhairi Abdul Aziz relayed, "The officers broke into and damaged our prayer hall, a private property where we were having special prayers for the Prophet Muhammad's grandchildren… We were condemned, criticized, slandered and threatened in local media just because we practice what had been preached by our ancestors who were Shia and have lived in Malaysia for centuries."

The participants were eventually released on bail but will soon face trial in the Malaysian Islamic Court on charges of following a banned "movement" which carries a penalty of two years incarceration. In the interim, community representatives appealed to the government-backed Human Rights Commission for assistance. A spokesperson for the watchdog group confirmed their help had been solicited to prevent further crackdowns from occurring.

"If other communities like Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Sikhs and others have their right to worship and practice under the constitution, then why not us?" asked Abdul Aziz.

Indeed, in a country of 28 million, why are 40,000 Shia singled out?

The JAIS director, Datuk Muhammed Khusrin Munawi, stated that Shias pose a threat to national security because the school permits the killing of Muslims from other schools of thought – a belief repeatedly echoed by state media.

According to Munawi, the mourners violated the Mufti of Selangor's fatwa in which he decreed that Shi'ism is antithetical to the teachings of the Ahlul Sunnah wal Jama'ah and the "true Islam."

Munawi went on to say (with a straight face, we assume): "Hajj is not compulsory for them; visiting Imam Hussain's shrine is sufficient for them to get into heaven; they can combine prayers at any time, Zuhr and Asr together, Maghrib, Isha and Fajr without…conditions like travelling 90 'Marhalah'; some of them which are fanatic and believe that we [Sunnis] are not Muslims and our blood it is 'Halal' for them; it is a jihad if they could kill Ahlul Sunnah wal Jama'ah…for me, this makes them the most dangerous deviants compared to other deviant teachings."

Promulgating misconceptions and outright falsehoods like those described by Munawi is the trademark of the party that regularly incites this type of Fitna (division between Muslims). So who are they?

In the Arab world's notoriously anti-Iranian, secular dictatorships, persecution of Shia Muslims is justified based on their alleged Iranian sympathies. They are regarded as "fifth columnists" disloyal to the state (although the actual fear is over the little tolerance they have for unjust, despotic rule and their penchant to rise against it). But such political considerations are absent in Malaysia, an ostensible Islamic state with courts that rule according to Shari'ah law.

Instead, what occurred on the night of Ashura in Gombak points to the ominous and encroaching influence of Wahabism in Southeast Asia – one that habitually distorts and derides Shia Islamic practices or any act promoting the teachings of Ahlul Bayt.

As Dr. Zainul Abidin remarked, "Malaysia is trying to become a country a la Taliban that only allows one school of thought."

It is hoped that the Human Rights Commission will play a constructive role in mediating between the Shias, the government, and the courts – for it is time to debunk the ridiculous myths being peddled about the Shia and extend the welcome mat to all of Malaysia's confessionals groups, equally.

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