Insights into Islam
Humra Quraishi

M. I. H. Farooqi’s Muslim Societies—Rise and Fall examines the changes in the community

LUCKNOW-based Dr M. I. H. Farooqi is a well-known botanical scientist who retired from the National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, as head of its Plant Chemistry division. He has authored several books, the latest being Muslim Societies – Rise And Fall (Sidrah Publishers, Lucknow). He is also the founder-secretary of the Sir Syed Scientific Society, which he has set up with the purpose of creating a "scientific temper in the society, in general, and Muslims, in particular."

Excerpts from an interview:

The book highlights the Islamic world’s progressive as well as negative attitudes

Why did you, as a botanical scientist, decide to write this book?

I am a plant scientist with more than 36 years of experience in plant chemistry and economic botany.`A0 Owing to this experience, I got interested in the plants mentioned in the Koran and prophetic traditions and this interest led me towards history (Decline and Rise of the Muslim Society). Since childhood, I had some idea of Islamic history because of my father, the late Maulana Abrar Husain Farooqi, a scholar of repute of his time and a classmate of Dr Zakir Husain.

The indifference of the Muslims towards science, for which they were the torch-bearers for several centuries during the Middle Ages, as claimed and accepted by European scholars like Brifault, Sarton, Brown etc.

Their progressive attitude in religion and quest for knowledge as against the bigotry and superstitions of the Europeans during the Dark Ages.

Dismal, mainly because of their disproportionate emphasis on religious education (madarsas) and rejection of the Sir Syed Movement for acquiring modern education. Of course, some adverse effect of the Partition, too.

Responsibility for the backwardness in all fields of human activity lies mainly with the community itself. Intellectuals amongst them remain silent when misguided religious leaders arouse passions and raise unnecessary emotional issues, which, in fact, hurt the cause of the Muslims. They openly reject progressive steps like the formation of the Madarsa Board or the Right to Modern Education (RTE). Alas, secular and enlightened Muslim leaders do not assert themselves by opposing retrogressive thoughts of misguided elements. Saiyid Hamid, an intellectual of great integrity, has rightly commented in the preface of the book, that Muslims desperately need "change" in their attitude and for this end unambiguous support from the ulemas is required who, rightly or wrongly, wield immense influence among the masses. The state also recognises their influence. `A0Muslim intellectuals are actually marginalised.

In my opinion, the time has come when young Muslims must assert and reject all edicts in the form of fatwas, restricting them from carrying out positive roles in modern society. What Muslims need today is not only science but also the scientific temper. Religious education in madarsas must be associated with modern knowledge. Muslims should also insist on the opening the doors of Ijtihad i.e. reorientation of Islamic Laws (Shariah) so as to face the challenges of the modern times. Allama Iqbal and Sir Syed had advocated the need and urgency of these reorientations long back.

Your book also focuses on some major personalities and some crucial 'turning points' for the Islamic world. Comment on a few of them.

Unfortunately, the policies of enlightened and progressive personalities like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Mohammed Abdahu, Jamaluddin Afghani, Syed Sulaiman Nadvi, and Allama Iqbal were not followed by the Muslims. Even today, their ideas and contributions are not given due recognition.

The lack of education both amongst Hindus and Muslims is the cause of population explosion and, therefore poverty, in our country. This is also true of the Islamic world. Several Muslims countries, however, have adopted family planning.

The claims of ulemas that many civil rights have been given to women in Islam are correct as far as the written word is concerned, but in practice, their position in Muslim society is pathetic. They are generally deprived of modern education and rights of ancestral properties. In India, the Shah Bano case greatly harmed the cause of Muslim women.

There are many prophetic traditions which emphasise the importance of fruits and vegetables like dates, grapes (fresh and dried), watermelon, cucumber, gourd, ginger etc. You may find those traditions in my book entitled, Medicinal Plants in the Traditions of Prophet.

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