Thwaka Ahmad Musliyar took charge over as the qazi of Mangalore almost a month ago. Born in Chembarike in Kasargod district on August 10, 1947, he pursued his religious studies at the Arabic College in Deoband in Uttar Pradesh as well at Al Azhar University in Egypt. He also has the experience of having served as Imam and Mudarris of Mosque of Sultan in Oman.
Thwaka Ahmad Musliyar is the nephew of C M Abdulla Musliyar, his predecessor, who passed away under mysterious circumstances at Chembarike in Kasargod recently. He also served as assistant Qazi to his uncle when the latter was bogged down by ill health.
Coastaldigest.com finds out more…
Excerpts from the interview :
You have been appointed as the new qazi for Mangalore after the death of CM Abdullah Muslyar. What are your responsibilities as the qazi of Mangalore?
Qazi: In an Islamic state a Qazi is a judge ruling in accordance with the shariah, the Islamic religious law. Qazis traditionally have jurisdiction over all legal matters involving Muslims. But, in a plural society like India, where Muslims are still a minority community the responsibility of qazi is different.
The qazidom of Mangalore has a history of around 14 centuries. Maalik-ibn- Deenar, who came to India in the early years of Islamic history, deployed a qazi in then Manjarur (Mangalore) for the first time in order to guide the Muslims, solve their internal problems including fiqh related doubts and cooperate with the Hindus, the majority community of the region especially in political affairs.
Thus, as a Qazi of Mangalore I have to deal with the local Muslims as an advisor and caretaker and also have to cooperate with majority community especially in political sector.
Do you actively take part in the religious and social affairs of local Muslims? How many jama’aths come under the jurisdiction of your qazidom? Do the local Muslims respect your decision?
Qazi: I cannot forcefully intervene in any internal conflict or problem of any Muslim individual or family. I can only advise those, who approach me and listen to me patiently. More than 110 jama’aths of Dakshina Kannada, Kasargod and Udupi have accepted me as qazi.
You said cooperating with the people of majority community especially in political affairs is among your responsibilities? How do you cooperate?
Qazi: Yes, I advise my Muslim brothers to cooperate with them in order to establish peace and security. We all live in a country, where coexistence and tolerance is very much essential.
What do you say about the reoccurrence of untoward incidents and communal clashes in and around the Mangalore? How can Muslims cooperate with majority community at this time? What do you have to say about the current propaganda against the Islam and Muslims?
Qazi: Bad relationship between Hindus and Muslims is very dangerous and that can lead this society towards worse consequence. Being minorities, it is our responsibility to foster a friendly relationship with the people of majority community. We can do this through understanding the historical truths. When Manlik-ibn-Deenar, a staunch follower of our beloved prophet (pbuh) came to India almost 14 centuries ago, Hindus welcomed him and many accepted his religion. It is because of his character and piousness.
But, nowadays many Hindus hate Muslims despite the fact that they are Indians. Do you think Muslims themselves are responsible for these circumstances.
Qur’an gives a clear message to entire Muslim ummah; “Thus you are appointed as the model community so that you may become witness against mankind and the Messenger is witness against you” (2:143).
Muslims have to be better role models for the people through their activities. The religion of Islam has the spirit of establishing peace, brotherhood, compassion and tolerance in the society. But, unfortunately Muslims have forgotten the teachings of Qur’an. So, it is quite natural that they face hatred of people living around them.
Recently, the local media has coined a term, ‘love jihad’. What do you say about this?
A Muslim boy even cannot have contact with a girl, whether she is a Muslim or non-Muslim. So called ‘love’ is a western trend, which penetrated into Indian society. Love jihad is a phrase framed by vested interests in order to tarnish the image of Islam. But they will not succeed if Muslims were true Muslims.
Are any efforts being made from your side to encourage the younger generation of Muslim community to play a role in promoting inter-communal harmony?
Qazi: There don’t seem to be any organised efforts as such, but I always call upon my Muslim brothers to work together with majority community for a better and more peaceful society. Islam teaches us to be a part of the society and respect all people irrespective of religion, caste or party.
But when we interact with people of other faiths we don’t do so with the intention of converting them or denigrating their religion. After all, everyone has the choice to follow the religion of his own choice. That’s his own business and his affairs are with God.
Countless misconceptions are spread across the society about the religion of Islam and its followers. How can we eliminate such misconceptions?
Qazi: Only through our deeds! A Muslim, if he is a Muslim in the real sense of term, cannot make way for misconceptions for others. The life of a true Muslim should be like an open book. All misconceptions that are clot in the minds of Hindus or Christians will be washed off, if the Muslims became true followers of Islam and practice the divine religion without harming anybody.
I think it is unnecessary to inviting people towards Islam. We can attract the entire world by our character and deeds if we adhere to the teachings of Qur’an. I call upon Muslim youths, who have moved far away from the teachings of Islam to come back to the fold of divine religion, thus most of the misconceptions in the minds of the people of other faiths will be erased.
What role do you think religious leaders of Muslims and ulamas should play in the current situation?
Qazi: I feel that religious leaders of Muslim community and ulamas have a vital role to play to uplift the community religiously and morally. Decline of morality can be defined as the decline of Muslims.
Promoting harmonious relationship with other communities in this situation is also the duty of our leaders and ulamas. As for myself, I try in my own small way to do this when I address gatherings.
What is the main problem of Muslim community of Dakshina Kannada?
Qazi: There are many problems I can point out. But, as far as common Muslims of the region are concerned, marriage has become an unbearable burden. The practice of dowry has destroyed thousands of innocent families. You cannot even imagine the condition of those parents who have two or more daughters. Dowry has become the most dangerous menace penetrated into our community.
The situation of Muslim women in our society is also very miserable. Many of the Muslims don't know what kind of status women have got from Qur’an and the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
You have declared ‘dowry’ as the most dangerous menace. Are you ready to issue a fatwa declaring it ‘haram’? Are you ready to lead a crucial campaign against dowry?
Qazi: (silence for a while) No, I cannot declare dowry as haram. But efforts are being made to eradicate this menace in a small scale. Many youngsters have come forward to fight against this by word and deed. It is a good development. But I am not ready to form a separate group in this cause, because I fear that it may become a new burden to the already out-of-order community.
Poverty and illiteracy have always been associated with Indian Muslims. What do you say about this phenomenon?
Qazi: Islam has the solution for all the problems of mankind. The main reason for almost all the problems of this community is in fact not practicing the teachings of Islam.
Islam considers knowledge as the most important thing in one’s life. There are two kinds of knowledge: Religious knowledge and Secular knowledge. These two are very important for a human being. Secular for day-to-day dwelling and religious for smooth life on earth and hereafter. The Holy Prophet of Allah (pbuh) has made it clear that, “Attainment of knowledge is a must for every Muslim.”
Islam has the solution for poverty and economic woes too. Islam has also introduced the system of zakaath. It should be distributed properly among the deserving. It is necessary to work towards effective distribution of zakaath as prescribed by the Quran. This can eradicate poverty and economic imbalance.
Muslims themselves are divided into many groups and parties. There is no unity among them. What do you say about this?
Qazi: Qur’an clearly says “Truly, God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves” (13:11). If the Muslims want change, they must change! This is my message to the younger generation of this community.
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