Main Agar Kahoon

In the vast and diverse area of Indian Islamic studies, there are some individuals who stand out even though time has concealed them. Vakkom P. Muhammed Maitheen is one of them. He was a linguist, a thinker, and a translator who created history by translating the Holy Qur'an into Malayalam for the very first time. His grand achievement, though not appreciated enough during his time, has immensely influenced the Muslim community in Kerala for centuries. This article considers the life and legacy of Muhammed Maitheen. It illustrates how his work of translation enabled Malayalam-speaking Muslims to relate to their religion. It also examines the social, political, and intellectual issues he encountered, and how his valuable work continues to influence the study of the Quran in the region. Kerala's Islamic Intellectual Tradition Kerala is situated on the south-western coast of India and has a thriving Muslim community. They trace their lineage to Arab traders and missionaries who ha...

A Syrian Islamist president recently met with former U.S. President Donald Trump and was formally recognized by the European Union (EU). This is a significant development in world affairs. Islamist forces were considered enemies or threats to most Western nations for decades. Now, things are gradually beginning to change. This action would make Islamist parties part of the mainstream politics. This action also brings up significant questions: Can Islamist parties be accepted everywhere in the world? What are the issues that they would face? What does this imply to the world and to the Islamist parties? And how can the parties adapt themselves to be more acceptable? All of these concepts are explained in easy-to-understand terms in this article. 1. From the Margins to the Mainstream: A New Opportunity The Syrian Islamist president and the Donald Trump summit is not just about one country. It proves that the Islamist politics can be embraced globally if they are not violent. Previously, ...

Banu Mushtaq’s  Heart Lamp  winning the Booker Prize in 2025 is a historic and symbolic moment in global literature. For decades, the Booker has honoured works of powerful storytelling, often centred in Europe or North America. This win marks a significant shift—it acknowledges not only a literary masterpiece but also a voice from the margins: a Muslim woman from India writing about faith, gender, and inner resilience in a world that often overlooks such narratives. The recognition of  Heart Lamp  challenges stereotypes about Muslim women. It shows that literature rooted in faith and modesty can be as revolutionary as bold political manifestos. Mushtaq’s calm, reflective prose stands in contrast to the fast-paced, often sensational literature that dominates today's publishing world. Her win proves that quiet resistance, spiritual honesty, and cultural rootedness are just as deserving of global attention. At a time when Islamophobia, patriarchy, and identity politics ...

Dabistan-i-Mazahib: A Hidden Gem of Interfaith Pluralism from Mughal India In a time when religious intolerance and sectarianism are just routine fare in the headlines, the discovery of books like Dabistan-i-Mazahib is a cause for renewed optimism. The title of the book literally means "School of Religions," and this 17th-century Persian text tells a wonderful story of religious pluralism that once thrived in early modern India. The author is anonymous, but the Dabistan-i-Mazahib follows the history and thought of the different religions and groups that lived together in the Mughal Empire. It is written in an inquiring, generous, and often sympathetic voice—a precious commodity for its time, and perhaps even more for ours. This article explores where the Dabistān originates, how it is structured, and what it contains. It shows how it provides commentary on different religions and concepts. It also examines how it remains relevant today, particularly to multicultural societies...