Dear Sister,

Assalamu alaikum.

I appreciate your forwarding the mails in connection with my posting. I read dear brother Sumair's comments several times, but after reading it several times I decided not to give a response to him addressing the details he brought up. Partly because you have already preempted a good part of what could have been my own response and you have done so effectively and conscientiously. That your response did not help at all with his notion or opinion is saddening, but these days I am not surprised with the way Muslims often act.

The other reason I did not want to respond to Br. Sumair in regard to his details is because of two basic problems. First, he wrote:

>This article was absolutely pointless.

This is the starting sentence of his posting and the starting point of his basic error. What he commented on was not an "article." An article is something that forms an independent part of a publication or compendium. My posted message was just a "reply" in a continuous dialog. Without understanding what was discussed before and after that message over the last three years on a forum where the participants know each other quite closely, it is easy to find a particular message "pointless." Had Br. Sumair understood that it was NOT an article (and I have no explanation as how he missed this basic distinction), whether compelled by professional standards and experience or by Islamic norms, he should have exercised better judgments in making those comments.

If the participants of the forum where it was originally posted came across the comments of dear brother Sumair, they wouldn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Secondly, he wrote:

>The author poses a baseless question and then says, "I dont know, but >I
don't think so."

I went back to my message and re-read as to where did I say "I dont know, but I don't think so." As everyone at these levels of discussion ought to know that it would interpreted that Br. Sumair is QUOTING me here. But those who are interested and re-read my message can confirm themselves that that sentence in quotation mark is not from me, rather from Br. Sumair himself. Is it an example of unfamiliarity with basics of communications, or something else? As a Muslim, I give the benefit of doubt to my brother that it is either simply unfamiliarity or negligence, but not something else.

The way he jumped to conclusions is symptomatic of Muslims today. No wonder even the message of the Qur'an and the life of the Prophet (s) is being lost on so many of us so egregiously. Br. Sumair did not merely miss a point or the point of my message, he missed the BOAT altogether. Simply because, he JUMPED to conclusions. In his case, he jumped too quickly, and this is one of the longest jump I have seen in a long time.

As you have already answered most of what I might have answered, I would like to add only some personal information to help understand how dear brother Sumair may have missed the boat.

My entire discussion and comment were motivated and inspired within the framework of Islam. My oldest daughter (13) goes to public school in the USA with her head covered. Even she would have laughed at irrelevance of the comments of brother Sumair.

As far as attacking our Ulama, I can only say this. One of persons I mentioned raising question whether he foot-raced his wife or not was Maulana Maudoodi. Does that constitute an attack on him? It might be worthwhile to mention that in 1981 my first full-length book "Notun Biplober Padodhoni" [The Oncoming Revolution] was published by the Islamic Foundation of Bangladesh. Who did I dedicate my book to? None other than Maulana Maudoodi. My respect for Maulana Maudoodi has not changed before, after, or since publication of that book. Some of the specific names I mentioned, I respect deeply and some I revere. However, as you have quite correctly pointed out that our respect and reverence for any specific individual, however great the scholarship and piety of that person, is not total and absolute.

I have some articulated thought on some of these issues in an "article" . In that article I also mentioned:

"... The essential source of Islamic guidance is the Qur'an and the Sunnah. We are to be respectful of the opinions of our pious and capable ancestors and their valuable contributions. However, we are not to imitate or follow them, if in conscientiously understanding, interpreting or practicing Islam in contemporary time, we need fresh thinking and solutions."

But this is beside the point of my message. My message was that our scholars have been more active in identifying what is permissible and impermissible. In parallel, in some important areas they have neglected to articulate what ARE Islamic alternatives. For example, my beloved mother, grandmother, and several relatives have arthritis. While they were young there was no systematic physical exercise other than the routine activities of daily life. Unless I have missed, let me know which scholar has said that it is important that our women must also exercise for taking care of our health, which is a blessing and trust from Allah. I am not saying that scholars merely say that something is permissible, but also encouraging and facilitating what is important.

Consider another more critical example. We all know the Hadith stating "Seeking knowledge is incumbent upon every Muslim" [Ibn Majah, #223] Please enlighten me as to the contribution of the Ulama, including some of the ones I respect myself and mentioned their names, in regard to what they have done to reduce illiteracy from our society, let alone illiteracy among women.

Is it disrespect to and attack on these Ulama, if these deficiencies in some of practical areas are pointed out?

I am raising another question! Let me conclude the same way as I did in the message to which Br. Sumair responded. I said:

>If you want that question answered in your mind, the answer is already
>there. If want me to answer it for you, it is of no value.

Apparently, Br. Sumair missed the meaning of the above statement too. The above two sentences simply mean that there is no point in stating the obvious.

May Allah help us all in His Path and guide us to His abounding mercy and blessings. May He also forgive me for my errors and shortcomings.

Fi amanillah.

Farooq

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Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq
Associate Professor of Economics and Finance
Upper Iowa University