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Asghar Ali Engineer Biography

Asghar Ali Engineer

Asghar Ali Engineer (10 March 1939 – 14 May 2013) was an Indian reformist-writer and social activist. Internationally known for his work on liberation theology in Islam, he led the Progressive Dawoodi Bohra movement. The focus of his work was on communalism and communal and ethnic violence in India and South Asia. He was a votary of peace and non-violence and lectured all over world on communal harmony.

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Asghar Ali Engineer Quotes

People don't respond just because you are fighting for the truth. They take their interests into account.

Fighting, Interest, Interests, People, Take

I was told by my father who was a priest that it was the basic duty of a Muslim to establish peace on earth. . . . I soon came to the conclusion that it was not religion but misuse of religion and politicising of religion, which was the main cause of communal violence.

Earth, Father, Misuse, Peace, Violence

Quran says do not abuse others' gods, they will abuse Allah. But most people do not believe in this. . . they feel their way is the only right one. This is to maintain religious hegemony.

Abuse, Believe, People, Religious, Says

Jihad is misused by fundamentalists. The Quranic meaning is not meant for war at all, in the sense of killing.

Fundamentalists, Jihad, Killing, Meaning, Quranic, War

To protect one's identity is a Constitutional right.

Constitutional, Identity, Protect, Right

My personal belief is we should not bow to any object. But Islam was aware of this human weakness and fulfilled that need through Haj to kiss a stone. A stone is a stone but the vacuum was filled and it became the holiest object. I have performed Haj and seen the devotion of people braving stampedes only to kiss that stone.

Braving, Fulfilled, Islam, Kissing, People, Weakness

Physical wounds heal, but those on the soul are difficult to heal.

Soul, Difficult, Heal, Wounds, Physical

The Sufi saint Mazhar Jaan Jana of 18th century Delhi believed that the Quran condemns bowing before deities because in pre-Islamic idol worship stones were considered god. But Hindus pray to god through that idol, which is a reflection of god. In Vedas god is nirguna and nirankara, that is, he has no attributes and no shape, that is the real belief of Hindus. As Muslims visit graves, so Hindus worship idols.

Attributes, Bowing, Hindus, Islamic, Real, Reflection

History is full of instances of people who challenged the mighty forces of evil and they were not only fighting a lonely battle but were left alone to die.

Fighting, History, Instances, Lonely, People

Religion helps you relate with the universe. Buddha was indifferent to the concept of god yet he gave us values.

Concept, Helping, Helps, Indifferent, Relate

Those who take to guns could do so due to deprivation, suppression, or historical legacy. The Afghans have lived through violence for centuries, by the Mughals, the Russians, their own people, so they have always had to fight for freedom. . . we cannot take away the context. But they legitimised it by using jihad, a religious sanction, so they could be seen as mujahids, fighting for Allah. And you cannot say there is nothing concrete.

Fighting, Gun, Nothing, Religious, Seen, Violence

Real 'imaan' is faith in humanity, so those who deny goodness are kafirs.

Goodness, Humanity, Imaan, Real

Women's position includes so many pre-Islamic customs that have become an integral part of the Shariat. I am fighting that. Triple talaq is not mentioned in the Quran. Of course, there is a controversy; some maintain that the Prophet approved of it. Even if he did, maybe he had social constraints.

Constraints, Fighting, Integral, Islamic, Position, Quran

Atheists blame religion when priests do wrong. Anything can be misused, whether it is nuclear power or a matchstick. So, how can I blame religion? Patriotism too can be misused, by misinforming others and eliminating people, so do we start hating the country?

Atheist, Country, Hate, People, Wrong

I am not taking away the historical legacy, but it should not become a burden.

Away, Burden, Historical, Legacy

The individual cannot exist on his
her own and the collectivism should respect freedom of conscience. My struggle is about the freedom of thought.

Individual, Respect, Should, Struggle, Thought