My second post, itself a follow up, on Farah’s Pandith’s name and appointment have solicited more interesting comments…
Naina writes:
…So in Kashmir the advent of Islam changed moral and social fabric and conduct of the people but with this transformation many people who adopted the new religion they carried on the name of their race or tribe with them which was sometimes rooted in their professions also. So there is no contradiction among Muslims or Kashmiri Muslims when they continue with their pre-Islamic tribal name with them. But Kashmiri Muslims belonging to Pandit dynasty do not write ‘H’ with it.
Point taken. My argument is that certain names should be dropped, regardless of traditional or origin. Pandith is one such name. It has much deeper connotations than others and gives rise to misunderstandings and misplaced expectations.
However as Kashmiris we would like to watch the role of Farah Pandit as Muslim-American in building useful relations between west and Islam. No doubt she cannot deviate from American policies but she can use her genius to remove prejudices spread by vested interests against Muslims and the demands of Kashmiris for their just cause.
I agree with you. I want to see Farah build a more pro-active relationship, but her role will hardly amount to anything more than a talking head within the administration, unfortunately. I think it is unreasonable to expect any traction on the Kashmiri issue, however.
Syed now writes (and more incoherently)…
Obviously you are an imbecile.
What’s new?
You did not get my point at all.
I didn’t? Or, perhaps vice versa?
So I will explain it to you like I would a child. Hope that you have the intellectual capacity to understand what I say.
I am ready, Master Syed.
1. Salman Al Farsi was a great muslim.
2. Al Farsi was not an Arab nor was his name.
Salman is clearly a Muslim name, derived from Prophet Suleiman’s. Al Farsi merely represents his city of origin, much like Al Basri.
3. Malcolm X was a great muslim.
4. X is not a muslim last name.
El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz was his Muslim name. Malcolm X was his Nation of Islam pre-reversion. Get your facts right.
5. Michael Jackson became a muslim.
6. Jackson is not a muslim name.
First, he wasn’t born a Muslim, unlike Farah. Second, he changed his first name to Mikaeel. Third, Jackson doesn’t denote a Hindu priest.
7. Elijah Muhammad is muslim name but he was not a muslim.
We are talking about Muslims with un-Islamic names, not non-Muslims with Islamic names. The complete opposite. The other way around. Ulta. Capiche?
8. Qadiani is a muslim name but was not a muslim.
Qadiani merely denotes the person to be from Qadian, a city in Punjab. It is not exactly a Muslim name.
9. Musalimah is a muslim sounding name but he was a false prophet.
See 7 above.
10. India’s president Kalam. Muslim name. But is he one.
He was born a Muslim. His actions might differ. Your point?
Sheikh Abdullah. Muslim name but was he.
Passing a judgment … again?
All the dictators in the muslim world. Muslim names but are they muslims. The Aga Khan muslim or not?
So, what’s the point?
And I can give you more examples but I don’t know if it will help given your intellectual capacity.
I am only beginning to achieve intelligence under your tutelage, your lordship.
… Moreover, unless you are a descendant of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) your ancestors were not muslims but most likely pagans.
Oh, pagans? Damn. (As a side, religious epithet – check.)
Plus it all makes sense given that you are a Boombai.
Racial epithet – check.
You were raised among pagans and obviously have pagan influences.
Obviously.
You need to re-embrace Islam and try and understand it.
Man, I’ve been astray all this while.
Sufi-ism is not Islam.
Perhaps, you need to “re-embrace Islam and try and understand it” yourself. If “sufi-ism” is not Islam, care to explain how Islam was spread across most of the world?
120 Million so called muslims in India and ruled by pagans. Never in the history of your country India, did your ancestors ever assert their Islamic identity.
Now, all Indian Muslims have been indicted. Good job.
“Muslim must be known by his name. Character only comes later.” You are a muslim? You are a moron. What are the conditions of Shahada? Do you even know? Do you have enough knowledge to make takfir? Do you know what that is even? Why are you a muslim? Because your father was. You are a disgrace to the Ummah of Rasool Allah (saw).
Not the way to win an argument. This is the very reason Muslims are the laughing stock of the whole world.
Go study the deen.
Yes, sir.
Islam is not one eyed.
No?
You are as much a muslim as Amitabh Bachan, Sharukh Khan, Amir Khan, Salman Khan.
Well, well, well.
You boombai moron.
Racial and developmental epithets. Check, again!
Go back to Bollywood. DB.
DB? Care to elucidate?
Syed, ad hominem attacks never win you any sympathy or points, for that matter. Stop criticizing the writer. Attack the arguments.
Learn to be like Naina. Make her your role model.
Next round, please?
