BaKhabar, October 2010, Page-3

better light a candle than curse the darkness

My Experience at RAHBAR Coaching Centre (RCC), Jamshedpur [13th August 2010]

... Yogesh Kr. Wahati* (wahati@yahoo.com)

RCC Jamshedupr website: http://jamshedpur.biharanjuman.org/

There are a few things which struck me when I reached there, one was the hospitality (Car Pick up; Bouquet; Light refreshment to Guest during Ramadan) and courteousness that was exhibited by the hosts and the second was the fairly large presence of the girls in the class where I delivered my lecture.

RAHBAR Coaching Centre Jamshedpur, 1st Awards Ceremony

RAHBAR Coaching Centre Jamshedpur, 1st Awards Ceremony

It was quite a surprise for me at the outset because I had this perception that the Muslim Girls were not encouraged to go to school. The next thought that struck me was that there are at least three possibilities of study one is to have a basic education so that the girls can be married , the other was that the parents genuinely wanted their children to study or thirdly the girls themselves had come off age and were eager to learn. Whatever be the reason the very fact that they had attended the session showed an inclination to establish Peer contact, which in my view is a great learning experience in itself. I must therefore confess that the project that has been taken up is a good intentioned one and one that will surely fructify into a large tree in the years to come and yield rich dividends for individuals and society at large.
The other aspect that must be appreciated is the people who are driving such a project and the participants (Principal, etc) who have accepted to be a part of the change are doing it with a “ Heels to the Ground approach” . What I mean by that is that this project is set in a local environment and run by volunteers for whom Money is not the only motive. What this does is that in its local setup it brings forth its own Heroes who can stand out and serve as a beacon to others as well that “Look even u can be part of the same” if u choose. This is something which happens very silently. I am sure that this will lead a slow transformation of the people with whom such students interact.
Coming to the content point of view I had a feeling that due to the nature of the time (Ramadaan) we had to do finish the lecture in a hurry hence I would think that I was not able to do justice to the subject. However what I noticed that even though Girls were greater in number, the boys were more outwardly spoken and seemed to understand more quickly. This is an area I feel where the teachers have to spend greater effort to make the girls understand the subject. I am sure that is possible.
The infrastructure was decent and the organization was good so as to deliver on the project deliverables. I am always of the view that if the teachers are passionate, infrastructure can never come in the way of teaching & education. This is also one of the toughest challenges facing education & teaching at large.
Lastly I must say that criticism is easy to do but creation & passion are difficult. I am sure that with Project in good hands, More Good than Bad will emerge at the end of Journey. The Journey is well begun.
Best of luck to the entire team associated with the project!

* The author worked with Tata Steel for over 25 years, left in 2009 as a senior manager. He was on a day’s visit to Jamshedpur, in which he accommodated a one-hour session of teaching Physics to Grade-10 students, at RAHBAR Coaching centre, and encouraging the students and management as chief guest. Bihar Anjuman and RAHBAR are grateful to him, for his noble gesture.

Prayers in Islam, Part-8

Gheyas S Mahfoz Hashmi, Jeddah
(hgheyas@savola.com)

……. Continued from previous issues.

In June 2010 issue we have specifically discussed about the significance of performing 5-time obligatory prayers (Nimaz) in congregation at Mosque. Although obligatory prayers at places other than Mosque are acceptable there is warning from our prophet (s) against its missing from Mosque without any legitimate reasons as prescribed in Islamic Shariah.

Prayer (namaz): No excuse, anywhere!!

In last 7 parts we have discussed the value of 5-times obligatory Nimaz which performance is same as Eman, that is to say the second name of Nimaz is Eiman. It is based on Allah’s commandment “And establish prayers, and be not of those who ascribe partners unto Him” (30/31), and our prophet ‘s saying “Between Kufr & Eman is missing of prayers”. Let us have views of some scholars in regard to a negligent Muslim of Nimaz as follows:

1.    His slaughtering (Zabiha) is Haram
2.    His Nikah if married is broken
3.    He will not be buried in Muslim graveyard
4.    According to 3 schools of thoughts, he will be beheaded.

There are 15 prescribed punishments for those who ignore prayers, 6 punishment in his life, 3 at death time, 3 in graveyard and 3 at the day of resurrection.

Prayer (namaz): No excuse, anywhere!!

It is the prayer (Nimaz) that was decreed before any obligatory worship through prophets to their nations (Ummah). All prophets have willed it to their Ummah prior to their final departure from this temporal world to the eternal world. Our last prophet said: Be cautious of the responsibility towards prayers and servants. It is reported when our prophet was in agonies of death, he kept on telling, Nimaz, Nimaz, Nimaz. It is the first Ebadah which will be asked about at the day of judgement. If it is perfect, there is hopefully salvation, if not there is no escape.

May Allah Almighty guide us to understand the importance of prayer (Nimaz) which is not even forgiven at a dreadful moment like battle-field.

……. To be continued.

For Islamic materials: http://islam.biharanjuman.org/