Bakhabar, April, 2013 - Bihar Anjuman

Reference-News Item: How to buMaulanas – Ask Nitish KumarMoulvis. No doubt they are called “Imaams” when they leadthe prayers in the mosques. But they are rarely respected astrue Imaams. Imaam literally means leader.Most peopleconsider them as inferiors. In most of the mosques they livein the mosques. There are no separate arrangements in themosques or outside for them. Also, in most of the mosquesthey do not get any regular salary. They have to raise fundsfor themselves by moving around in the locality from houseto house every month. At times people tell them to visitagain after few days on some pretext or the other. They haveno right to argue. They have to accept whatever is given (ornot given). In certain societies there is a tradition ofproviding them daily food by the households of the locality,especially if they live alone i.e. without family. But the food isgenerally not delivered to them at their places (mosques).The Imaams have to visit the households to eat or to fetchtheir food. Again, it is more like begging than being treatedas the leaders of the society. We do pray behind them. Butwe treat them more like beggars.I do not want to expand the issue further although there issufficient scope. My purpose is to attract the attention of theMuslim community towards the plight of the Maulanaas andMoulvis in our society. If under these circumstances they tryto behave irresponsibly, we too have to consider ourselvesresponsible for their behaviour and attitude. In Bihar and atsome other places if they can grab some posts, naturallythey will go to any extent to get those positions. Also, theywill remain obliged and indebted to the ‘systems’ which canprovide them such opportunities. Some Maulanaas andMoulvis also try to earn in some other way. For example, fewyears back a TV Channel did a sting operation with hiddencameras in UP. Illogical Fatwaas were obtained from some ofthe Maulanaas and Moulvis on payment basis. They werequite happy to give those Fatwaas, as shown by the TVchannel. The story was broadcast on national level again andagain. Obviously, the entire episode was highlyembarrassing for the entire Muslim community. But thequestion remains the same. No doubt our Maulanaas andMoulvis are responsible for what they do. But is thecommunity also not equally responsible for the irrationalbehaviour of the Maulanaas and Moulvis?I would like to close this matter with a real life incident. Afriend of mine, who is the CEO of a State Wakf Board, oncetold me that his driver told him about a person who was anImaam in a mosque appointed by the Wakf Board. That daythe Imaam was very happy and he distributed sweets as hecould get appointment as a peon in the same Wakf Board.Reason was obvious. The Imaams were paid only fewhundred rupees as salary by the Wakf Board, while the peonwas entitled to handsome salary as per Govt. rules. Also, thepeon was entitled to other benefits which the Imaams weredenied, even if they were appointed by the Wakf Board. Thatwas the case with an Imaam who was getting some salaryfrom the Wakf Board. How about the other Imaams who arenot paid anything on regular basis by the Wakf Boards or anyother organization? We need to consider their plight and findways to improve their conditions. Only then we can expectthat they will behave like real Maulanaas and Moulvis.*********Honesty in Job:An IslamicPerspectiveOffice time andeverything in office isAmanah and job is acontract.Hence be cautiousabout it.Don'ts- Receiving frequentand prolong personalcalls- Not choosing bestoption in favor ofcompany/client forpersonalconvenience- Wastingprints/tissue/water- Side job if prohibitedin contract letter- Using office time and - Doing overtimephone for makingwithout actual need orpersonal callsapproval- Frequent and long - Lying about currentpersonal mailssalary during interviewreading/replying/forwarding- Lying aboutexperience &- Taking personal prints qualification duringinterview- Using/bringing officestationary for personaluse- Favoring in selectionof employment- Doing personal work Dosduring office hour- Work sincerely using- Listening music during full potentialwork- Keep your promise- Frequent Tea/coffee about deliverablesbreak and chat/ gossipwith colleagues- Taking more thanallowed time for lunch- Do not be late in possiblereaching the office- Use idle time toimprove professionally- Take prints both sideof paper wheneverBakhabar18