Sowing and Reaping of Destiny

attitudes towards women. Issues of this nature contribute to increasing cases of
matrimonial disputes.
Issues related to career choice, especially for women, call for a detailed study
and constant review. Input from women sharing their practical experiences
would be of great help to the emerging younger generations. This trend is not
an exclusively Khoja experience. It is common with other communities also.
MARRIAGE
Children go to schools and attend Sunday classes where they develop friendship
across the sectarian, religious, racial and ethnic divide. They are not burdened
with the prejudices known to their parents. As a result, the ratio of intermarriage
where boys and girls from Khoja community marry into non-Khoja, Shia and
Sunni Communities of Indo-Pak origin, into Hindu and other non Muslim
societies and also across the racial divide with Arab, Persian and those of
European origin are not uncommon. This trend appears to be on the increase. This
is an issue that is often brushed under the carpet as people are reluctant to discuss
their long term sociological impact on the society.
From an Islamic point of view there could be no objection to intermarriage
where it does not compromise faith. The overall guiding principle is
compatibility and ultimate welfare of their progeny. Here, cultural dichotomy
comes into play in numerous forms. Obligations of parents towards their
progeny for inculcating spiritual values cannot be ignored.
Laudable progress has been made by the community in the economic and
educational spheres over the past fifty years. Besides, commendable structured
organizations have been evolved worldwide to manage their social and
religious activities.
Despite this progress, one often notices an air of despondency pervading where
the broad masses somehow tend to sense unidentified inadequacies. While they
recognize that they may be better placed than many other communities with
similar background, somehow they do not appear to be fully satisfied with the
way the community functions. They yearn for more reforms and changes.
Something where they expect of some invisible hands to emerge that would
undertake the task on their behalf in which they, with typical 'silent majority'
attitude, would not come forward to soil their hands!
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