True spirit of Islam as well as that of Ramzan is brought about at the holy shrine of Ajmer

By Firoz Bakht Ahmed*
The dargah (shrine) of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is a revered shrine amongst Muslims and Hindus alike. It is said that barren wombs sprout life and stubborn ailments disappear, if the faithful prays at the shrine.
But it wasn’t this aspect that overwhelmed me about the shrine during the last Ramzan. It was that the iftari (material for breaking fast) that was not only prepared but even shared by the Hindu brethren living in the area. Accompanying me was Malini Khatri, a senior English teacher of Modern School who had come to Ajmer with her students for participating at a debate at Mayo College.
It was indeed touching the way I noted Sunil Dutt of Dilli Durbar Guest House at Ajmer distributing the usual khajur (date palm), pakodis (snacks), kachalu (mixed fruit) and food at the shrine to all. Assisting him was Kamal Tilvani, another Sindhi hotel owner from Ajmer. At the time of iftar, some white skull capped Muslims, turbaned non-Muslim Rajasthanis and also Sikhs sat at the shrine’s dastarkhwan (feast). In fact it was India at her best!
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Minister of Ministry of Minorities, states that since time immemorial, Hindus and Muslims have gelled well in all walks of life in India under the different regimes and adds that this is the beauty of India that in Ramzan, we have "Ram" while in Diwali, we have, "Ali"!
“Fasting the whole day is truly a challenge, I get tired a lot faster and the days seem to be longer. Having no relations with my wife throughout the day is a bit difficult,” stated Abdul Karim Umar, an Ajmer born academician who has been fasting for 21 years and married for 6 years. He considers it a boon to come to India and fast at his hometown!
Similarly Sheikh Musa Ahmed, a top-notch graduate from Al-Azhar, the Islamic University in Cairo, Egypt, received his degree in Shari’a. He is also a hafiz (one who remembers the holy Quran by heart) and accomplished this milestone before reaching the age of 12. Sheikh Ahmad then furthered his education by receiving a Master’s degree in Law from Wayne State University.
The month of Ramzan brings multiplied blessings for those who do good. Most deeds are multiplied by 700 during this holy month, as opposed to the factor of 10 that usually applies. On the reverse side, it brings multiplied sins for those who do bad. Muslims believe the devils are shackled during this Holy month, which frees us from their influence to do other than what is good. Giving to the poor during this month is obligatory–Zakatul fitr.
The Prophet (pbuh) told Muaz Bin Jabal (one of his companions), “I love you Muaz. Can I show you the gate of goodness?” Muaz answered, “Yes.” The Prophet then said, “The first category is fasting, which is a shield from hellfire. The second category is giving charity for the sake of Allah, which extinguishes sins as water extinguishes fire. The third category is standing in prayer throughout the last part of the night.” Then the Prophet recited the following verse from the Holy Quran: “They forsake their beds supplicating their lord in fear of Allah and hope for what they want.” (Chapetr: 32, Verse: 16).
In fact the true spirit of Islam as well as that of Ramzan is brought about at the holy shrine of Ajmer. Those who fast know that His boundless blessings will always work for their highest good, no matter how difficult it may seem at that time. Whenever they would need God's help, He would come for them and oblige them. Every time this faith has been proven true; as time passes this faith matures into conviction. They hope that this conviction will translate in terms of action into the rest of their life and in every month.
---
*Commentator on social, educational and religious issues

Comments

Dalit woman student’s death sparks allegations of institutional neglect in Himachal college

By A Representative A Dalit rights organisation has alleged severe caste- and gender-based institutional violence leading to the death of a 19-year-old Dalit woman student at Government Degree College, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, and has demanded arrests, resignations, and an independent inquiry into the case.

Domestic vote-bank politics 'behind official solidarity' with Bangladeshi Hindus

By Sandeep Pandey, Faisal Khan The Indian government has registered a protest with Bangladesh over the mob lynching of two Hindus—Deepu Chandra Das in Mymensingh and Amrit Mandal in Rajbari. In its communication, the government cited a report by the Association of Hindus, Buddhists and Christian Unity Council, which claims that more than 2,900 incidents of killings, arson, and land encroachments targeting minorities have taken place since the interim government assumed power in Bangladesh.

From colonial mercantilism to Hindutva: New book on the making of power in Gujarat

By Rajiv Shah Professor Ghanshyam Shah ’s latest book, “ Caste-Class Hegemony and State Power: A Study of Gujarat Politics ”, published by Routledge , is penned by one of Gujarat ’s most respected chroniclers, drawing on decades of fieldwork in the state. It seeks to dissect how caste and class factors overlap to perpetuate the hegemony of upper strata in an ostensibly democratic polity. The book probes the dominance of two main political parties in Gujarat—the Indian National Congress and the BJP—arguing that both have sustained capitalist growth while reinforcing Brahmanic hierarchies.

NYT: RSS 'infiltrates' institutions, 'drives' religious divide under Modi's leadership

By Jag Jivan A comprehensive New York Times investigation published on December 26, 2025, chronicles the rise of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) — characterized as a far-right Hindu nationalist organization — from a shadowy group founded in 1925 to the world's largest right-wing force, marking its centenary in 2025 with unprecedented influence and mainstream acceptance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi , who joined the RSS as a young boy and later became a full-time campaigner before being deputized to its political wing in the 1980s, delivered his strongest public tribute to the group in his August 2025 Independence Day address. Speaking from the Red Fort , he called the RSS a "giant river" with dozens of streams touching every aspect of Indian life, praising its "service, dedication, organization, and unmatched discipline." The report describes how the RSS has deeply infiltrated India's institutions — government, courts, police, media, and academia — ...

From protest to proof: Why civil society must rethink environmental resistance

By Shankar Sharma* As concerned environmentalists and informed citizens, many of us share deep unease about the way environmental governance in our country is being managed—or mismanaged. Our complaints range across sectors and regions, and most of them are legitimate. Yet a hard question confronts us: are complaints, by themselves, effective? Experience suggests they are not.

2025 was not just a bad year—it was a moral failure, it normalised crisis

By Atanu Roy* The clock has struck midnight. 2025 has passed, and 2026 has arrived. Firecrackers were already bursting in celebration. If this is merely a ritual, like Deepavali, there is little to comment on. Otherwise, I find 2025 to have been a dismal year, weighed down by relentless odds—perhaps the worst year I have personally witnessed.

Celebrating 125 yr old legacy of healthcare work of missionaries

Vilas Shende, director, Mure Memorial Hospital By Moin Qazi* Central India has been one of the most fertile belts for several unique experiments undertaken by missionaries in the field of education and healthcare. The result is a network of several well-known schools, colleges and hospitals that have woven themselves into the social landscape of the region. They have also become a byword for quality and affordable services delivered to all sections of the society. These institutions are characterised by committed and compassionate staff driven by the selfless pursuit of improving the well-being of society. This is the reason why the region has nursed and nurtured so many eminent people who occupy high positions in varied fields across the country as well as beyond. One of the fruits of this legacy is a more than century old iconic hospital that nestles in the heart of Nagpur city. Named as Mure Memorial Hospital after a British warrior who lost his life in a war while defending his cou...

History, culture and literature of Fatehpur, UP, from where Maulana Hasrat Mohani hailed

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Maulana Hasrat Mohani was a member of the Constituent Assembly and an extremely important leader of our freedom movement. Born in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, Hasrat Mohani's relationship with nearby district of Fatehpur is interesting and not explored much by biographers and historians. Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri has written a book on Maulana Hasrat Mohani and Fatehpur. The book is in Urdu. He has just come out with another important book, 'Hindi kee Pratham Rachna: Chandayan' authored by Mulla Daud Dalmai.' During my recent visit to Fatehpur town, I had an opportunity to meet Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri and recorded a conversation with him on issues of history, culture and literature of Fatehpur. Sharing this conversation here with you. Kindly click this link. --- *Human rights defender. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vbrawat , X @freetohumanity, Skype @vbrawat

Epic war against caste system is constitutional responsibility of elected government

Edited by well-known Gujarat Dalit rights leader Martin Macwan, the book, “Bhed-Bharat: An Account of Injustice and Atrocities on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-18)” (available in English and Gujarati*) is a selection of news articles on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-2018) published by Dalit Shakti Prakashan, Ahmedabad. Preface to the book, in which Macwan seeks to answer key questions on why the book is needed today: *** The thought of compiling a book on atrocities on Dalits and thus present an overall Indian picture had occurred to me a long time ago. Absence of such a comprehensive picture is a major reason for a weak social and political consciousness among Dalits as well as non-Dalits. But gradually the idea took a different form. I found that lay readers don’t understand numbers and don’t like to read well-researched articles. The best way to reach out to them was storytelling. As I started writing in Gujarati and sharing the idea of the book with my friends, it occurred to me that while...

Search This Blog