| Author | Topic |
StudyingIslamUK
UNITED KINGDOM
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 Topic initiated on Sunday, August 17, 2008 - 9:33 AM 
Some tips of Peace from Sikhism
We received this from our local community volunteer colleague and we thought we must share with you all.
"Bound in worldly affairs and entanglements, the blind one does not understand; he acts like a murderous butcher." Guru Nanak Dev Jee, Raag Malaar, Guru Granth Sahib, Pannaa 1273
"Everyone chants the Lord's Name, Raam, Raam; but by such chanting, the Lord is not obtained...One who enshrines love for God within his mind,never forgets the Lord; he continually chants the Lord's Name, Har, Har, in his conscious mind. THose whose hearts are filled with hypocrisy, who are called saints only for their outward show - their desires are never satisfied, and they depart grieving in the end. Although one may bathe at many places of pilgrimage, still, his ego never departs." Guru Amar Daas Jee, Raag Gujree, Guru Granth Sahib, Pannaa 491
The murder of Surjit Athwal hit global headlines in July 2007, when two figures from the Sikh community (a mother and son) were convicted by the UK's Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey, London). Both of the figures were closely aligned and active in the Akhand Keertani Jatha, a well-known organisation popular with a particular section of Sikhs in the UK and many western states.
Surjit Athwal was 27 years old at the time of her death, and mother of two young children. She was married into the Athwal family, in Hayes, west London. Surjit was a British Panjaabi female, from a family in Coventry comprising a mixture of committed and non-committed Sikhs with an enduring history of activism in Sikh affairs. Surjit had seriously fallen foul of her Athwal in-laws, by dissenting against the unhappy conditions of her married life and demanding divorce after 10 years of marriage.
This landmark case spanned over eight years, from Surjit's sudden disappearance in Panjaab in December 1998 during a trip with her mother-in-law to the court conviction of her and her son, in July 2007. Surjit's blood family in Coventry, immediately suspected she had been murdered by her in-laws. They campaigned vigorously for investigations and exposure of this and other concealed murders in the Sikh community of females who fell foul of the constricting, punishing rules of Panjaabi-Sikh family life.
So what does the Akhand Keertani Jatha have to do with this? Well, several things.
Firstly, the perpetrators of Surjit's vicious murder, were both closely associated members of the Akhand Keertani Jatha in the UK. Surjit's husband, Sukhdave Athwal, was a regular coach driver of AKJ rehansabhai coaches. His mother, Bachan Athwal, was a regular participant in AKJ events; and AKJ senior members were periodically invited to the family home in Hayes, west London, to perform keertan, ardaas and other such customary practises.
Surjit's suspicious disappearance rapidly became a well-known news item, both in the Panjaabi and mainstream news media. Her blood family campaigned widely to expose her concealed death, and raise public awareness and profile about these honour related murders of young British females in overseas countries like Panjaab. Surjit's family approached a senior figure in the AKJ to assist and intervene in the case, given the open fact that the two prime suspects were both closely aligned to the AKJ. Requests for AKJ intervention to investigate and probe what had happened to Surjit, had no effect. Instead, a persistent and paralysing silence followed. Despite Sikhi vigorously condemning such acts of murder, and urging us to take positive action them; the AKJ, a proclaimed bastion of true pure Sikhi, remained silent and passive.
Even though Surjit's suspicious disappearance had all the usual Panjaabi hallmarks of a suspected murder, senior AKJ figures did not consider it pertinent to broach the subject with the Athwal family. Their visits to the Athwal family home, from where Surjit's murder has been planned and organised, remained ongoing after Surjit's 'disappearance'.
Notably, admist, all this, a pandit was called to the Athwal home, to perform a special ceremony with fire to cleanse the family of the problems being caused by Surjit's campaigning family. A photo of Surjit and her father were handed to the Pandit to burn in the fire, as a means of destroying their impact on the Athwal family. "The priests dance, play music, and decorate themselves in different characters....The foolish scholars, for love of money, engage themselves in mental tricks and quibbles." Guru Nanak, Asa dee Vaar, Guru Granth Sahib
Persistent campaigning by her family and the co-operation of the UK police, finally brought the quest for truth and justice to the UK courts in May 2007. Following a long police investigation into the denials and cover ups by the Athwal duo (Sukdhave Athwal and Bachan Athwal), and a compelling 13-week trial; both were convicted by a unanimous jury verdict of MURDER. Judge Giles Forrester described their actions as 'vicious' and 'heinious' and the 'compelling evidence' against them. Both before and during the trial, various individuals, with their ultra-religious long white beards and dastaars; stood with the accused family. Interestingly, in the final compelling days of the trial and on the day of the jury verdict, all these figures had become doubly conspicuous by their absence.
A key prosecution witness, who was pressurised by various sources not give evidence, said she was urged by a leading AKJ member against giving evidence. She says he urged her to withdraw her witness statement, and not get entangled in the death of Surjit as she was dead and there was nothing that could be done about that now.
Throughout this whole painful, torturous saga, much has been revealed about the hidden, insidious, mind-sets that lurk in the Sikh community. Experience in this particular case and beyond, reveals that ultra-religious long white beards and dastaars, conceal a lot of untruth, falsehoods and deceptions. A practise that Guru Nanak jee in the 15th century condemned the religious and political elites for.
"You keep your fasts to please Allah, while you murder other beings. You look after your own interests, and so not see the interests of others. What good is your word?
O Qazi, the One Lord is within you, but you do not behold Him by thought or contemplation.
You do not care for others, you are a religious fanatic, and your life is of no account at all. Your holy scriptures say that Allah is True, and that he is neither male nor female.But you gain nothing by reading and studying, O mad-man, if you do not gain the understanding in your heart. Allah is hidden in every heart; reflect upon this in your mind." Bhagat Kabeer jee, Raag Aasaa, Guru Granth Sahib, Pannaa 483
"Kings and queens sing their parts and utter all sorts of chatter. They wear ear-rings and necklaces worth hundred of thousands of rupees. But the bodies on which they are worn, O Nanak, shall be reduced to ashes....Sin is the king. Greed the minister. Falsehood the mint-master. And lust the deputy to take counsel. Together they sit and confer." Guru Nanak, Asa dee Vaar, Guru Granth Sahib
Throughout this whole saga, all Sikh and Panjaabi organisations and Gurdwaras have had opportunity to stand up and vocalise their condemnation of this murder and others like it. They could have sent out a powerful and unified message across the Panjaabi-Sikh community. Instead, the voices have been fragmented, confusing and divided. All lead Gurdwaras have remained silent. Major organisations like the Akhand Keertani Jatha who have particular alignment with the convicted duo and proclaim themselves as lead propagators of Sikh ethics, remained stunningly silent.
The concluding fundamental question is, after all this eight year traul; what do the senior ranks of the Akhand Keertani Jatha think about the murder of Surjit Athwal? It didn't happen? It is made up? It was wrong? It is unjustified and horrific? She is still alive and hiding? She deserved to die for breaking the code of honourable conduct? What? Given that the Akhand Keertani Jatha has it's own highly specialised, exclusive form of Sikhi, please would it share with us mainstream imperfect Sikhs, it thoughts on this crucial issue.
"If a robber robs a house and offers the proceeds of his theft to his departed ancestors. The property will be recognised in the next world and bring forth a charge of theft on the ancestors. Justice will require that the hands of the intermediary Brahmin be cut off." Guru Nanak, Asa dee Vaar, Guru Granth Sahib
jagdeesh singh, slough |
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aboosait
INDIA
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Posted - Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 8:21 AM 
quote:
"1. If a robber robs a house and offers the proceeds of his theft to his departed ancestors.
2. The property will be recognised in the next world and bring forth a charge of theft on the ancestors.
3. Justice will require that the hands of the intermediary Brahmin be cut off."
Guru Nanak, Asa dee Vaar, Guru Granth Sahib
All the three points in that quote are unislamic. What prompted the "studying islam team" to post it here?
Kindly clarify as to what you wish your students to learn from that quote.
(the points numbered by mefor convenience in learning.) |
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hkhan
UNITED KINGDOM
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Posted - Saturday, October 18, 2008 - 12:58 AM
| A; its an interfaith forum where all faiths' intro. is given for info. regardless of what islam says about it. check out our courses on site for the latter. |
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aboosait
INDIA
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Posted - Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 3:26 AM
quote:
A; its an interfaith forum where all faiths' intro. is given for info. regardless of what islam says about it. check out our courses on site for the latter.
Jazakallahu khair.
Thanks for that clarification though not so convincing as far as my question to you is concerned because if you copy and paste someone's statement how could a dialogue take place? Interfaith members should themselves post their views here for a "dialoague". Otherwise the person who posts will have to argue on behalf of the author.
Edited by: aboosait on Sunday, May 10, 2009 11:11 AM |
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hkhan
UNITED KINGDOM
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 Posted - Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 7:17 AM
nopes  |
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aboosait
INDIA
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Posted - Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 12:30 PM
quote:
nopes
For most people Islamic websites are like fast food joints where they can grab instant information on Islam. Therefore the person who posts someone else's ideologies should clearly state his/her stand on the issues dealt with unless of course he/she agrees with the author's views.
As I said earlier the object of quoting someone is either to publicize it because the person who quotes agrees with the views of the author or to make known to others as to where the author has gone wrong so that the readers stay potected.
Edited by: aboosait on Friday, October 24, 2008 6:25 AM |
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mbellos
NIGERIA
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Posted - Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 11:48 PM
Assalamoeleikumwarahmatullah. DearAboosait India.Please try to use this opportunity for learning about other religions and for Islamic Studies you have many other sources including the courses on this Website.
If you want to have a dialogue with other faiths, I think you are allowed to do it here. |
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aboosait
INDIA
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Posted - Friday, October 24, 2008 - 6:42 AM
quote:
Assalamoeleikumwarahmatullah. DearAboosait India.Please try to use this opportunity for learning about other religions and for Islamic Studies you have many other sources including the courses on this Website.
If you want to have a dialogue with
other faiths, I think you are allowed to do it here.
Dear Mbellos,
Wa alaikum assalam w.r.w.b.
We in India dont go to the Chemistry professor to clarify doubts in biology or to learn English grammar..
Similrly for learning about other religions we go to their websites.
This site is called "studying Islam...." so we come here to know more about Islam.
Interfaith dialogue being a part of our 'dawah' we do welcome dialogue with intefaith people but not among ourselves.
Edited by: aboosait on Friday, October 24, 2008 6:45 AM |
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hkhan
UNITED KINGDOM
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 Posted - Monday, November 3, 2008 - 7:48 PM
| A; u may send ur suggestion to admin |
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aboosait
INDIA
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Posted - Tuesday, November 4, 2008 - 3:58 AM
quote:
A; u may send ur suggestion to admin
My dialogue above was with a co-member. I suppose the learned administrators dont need my advise.
Moreover the first post in this thread is from StudyingIslamUK which I believe is no way different from the administrators.
As a member of this forum I can spare my time to reply to the posts or open a new thread which would help me and other members to improve our knowledge of Islam and thereby improve our actions in a way that would attract the good pleasure of Allah.
Edited by: aboosait on Sunday, May 10, 2009 11:19 AM |
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StudyingIslamUK
UNITED KINGDOM
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Posted - Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 11:11 PM
In the name of Faith.Honour Killings.JUSTICE FOR SURJIT
www.surjeet.org.uk
PRESS RELEASE: 10th March 2009
Contact: Jagdeesh Singh | 07827-321036
Banaz Mahmoud and Surjit Athwal Honour Killings
return to Public Fore
"Murderers roaming about in communities, aided and abetted by 'community leaders"
"females sent to their deaths under the noses of the British Police and British Government."
Two major ‘honour’ killing cases in England will return to the public domain this week - Banaz Mahmoud and Surjit Athwal.
Both cases have rallied public and police attention to the horrific nature of 'honour' murders in England, and across the UK. Both cases were the subject of major criminal prosecutions in the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey, London), in 2007.
On Friday 13th March, the Banaz Mahmoud case will be the focus of an Independent Police Complaints Commission PUBLIC MEETING. It will discuss the proceedings of an official investigation into the contentious police response to Banaz's calls for help, shortly prior to her murder. Lead campaigner on the case, Diana Nammi (07862733511), from the Iranian and Kurdish Womens Organisations (IKWRO) and other campaigners will be contributing to the meeting (see link further below).
On 11th and 12th March, the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) is hearing an appeal by the convicted killers of Surjit Athwal.
According to Jagdeesh Singh, campaigner on Surjit's case: "The extent of the honour killing problem in Britain, is far bigger than we realise. It is pervasive and extremely well concealed. It is socially acceptable across Sikh, Panjaabi, Kashmiri, Kurdish, Somali, Muslim and Arab populations.. Murderers are roaming about in these communities, aided and abetted by 'community leaders'."
He says, "Many killings, like Surjit's, are deliberately outsourced to India and Pakistan where the criminal justice systems are inept, corrupt and often collude ." He stresses: "Outsourced murders of British born females is not yet on the British government radar. British Sikh, Panjaabi, Arab, Muslim, Kashmiri, Kurdish females are being sent to their deaths under the noses of the British Police and British Government."
Campaigners are petitioning Gordon Brown to bring outstanding killers, in both Surjit's and Banaz's cases, who remain free overseas, to justice:
http://www.ikwro.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&;view=article&catid=25&id=245 |
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aboosait
INDIA
|
Posted - Sunday, May 10, 2009 - 11:23 AM
quote:
In the name of Faith.Honour Killings.JUSTICE FOR SURJIT
www.surjeet.org.uk
PRESS RELEASE: 10th March 2009
Contact: Jagdeesh Singh | 07827-321036
Banaz Mahmoud and Surjit Athwal Honour Killings
return to Public Fore
"Murderers roaming about in communities, aided and abetted by 'community leaders"
"females sent to their deaths under the noses of the British Police and British Government."
Two major ‘honour’ killing cases in England will return to the public domain this week - Banaz Mahmoud and Surjit Athwal.
Both cases have rallied public and police attention to the horrific nature of 'honour' murders in England, and across the UK. Both cases were the subject of major criminal prosecutions in the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey, London), in 2007.
On Friday 13th March, the Banaz Mahmoud case will be the focus of an Independent Police Complaints Commission PUBLIC MEETING. It will discuss the proceedings of an official investigation into the contentious police response to Banaz's calls for help, shortly prior to her murder. Lead campaigner on the case, Diana Nammi (07862733511), from the Iranian and Kurdish Womens Organisations (IKWRO) and other campaigners will be contributing to the meeting (see link further below).
On 11th and 12th March, the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) is hearing an appeal by the convicted killers of Surjit Athwal.
According to Jagdeesh Singh, campaigner on Surjit's case: "The extent of the honour killing problem in Britain, is far bigger than we realise. It is pervasive and extremely well concealed. It is socially acceptable across Sikh, Panjaabi, Kashmiri, Kurdish, Somali, Muslim and Arab populations.. Murderers are roaming about in these communities, aided and abetted by 'community leaders'."
He says, "Many killings, like Surjit's, are deliberately outsourced to India and Pakistan where the criminal justice systems are inept, corrupt and often collude ." He stresses: "Outsourced murders of British born females is not yet on the British government radar. British Sikh, Panjaabi, Arab, Muslim, Kashmiri, Kurdish females are being sent to their deaths under the noses of the British Police and British Government."
Campaigners are petitioning Gordon Brown to bring outstanding killers, in both Surjit's and Banaz's cases, who remain free overseas, to justice:
http://www.ikwro.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&;view=article&catid=25&id=245
What has that post to do with the topic of discussion? Would someone explain? |
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