Untold Facts

Sycophancy at Worst

Sycophancy seems to be at the worst of late hitting hard the Islamic belief in Bangladesh. The government controlled Islamic Foundation had a seminar that the speakers are known to have spoken for and urged the government to have Friday Prayer Khutba (Sermon) each week to have included the name of the biological father of the present Prime Minister (P.M.) of Bangladesh. That was how a news item published in a Bengali daily in Dhaka on the 18th October (09. The speakers so doing must have elated the P.M. Sheikh Hasina not only to have perks and promotions but also firmly confirmed their identity as noted sycophants.

To common people’s estimation, however, they have raised questions of fidelity against basic Islamic belief. Islam’s practice of giving Khutba during Friday Jumaa prayer that does not provide any such provision for any person of political stature except that mentioning Salam for the Prophet and the four Kulafa e Rashedeen of the seventh century A.D.

The political leader in question of Bangladesh was in no way a leader of any Islamic party, much less anybody of religious divine. Further that he was well known to be a non-spiritual ‘secular’ person representing a secular political party more or less akin to Indian caste based secularism of Sanatan culture. The secular 1972 Constitution of Bangladesh he promulgated in the country was condemned by all Muslim scholars as anything but not Islamic. That was his image among the people. That is why when he fell from the State power somewhat tragically in mid August 1975, the fall had no sympathy and he was condemned almost universally by all Muslim people in jubilant mood.

It’s true that the present government has brute majority in the parliament, and so the worthy daughter can do and undo anything possible except ‘making a man a woman and a woman a man’. Should that power of brute majority go for interfering into the pristine and heavenly belief of the 150 million Muslim people of the country, the ramification could be disastrous.

It may be mentioned here that there is a strong rumor that the Government has already given verbal instructions to all D.C.s and UNO.s that in the far-flung areas the Imams of local mosques must have approval of the Khutba contents prior to delivering them during Jumaa prayers.

The rumor had substance as could be assessed from the venting of opinion in the relevant matter by the speakers on the 17th at the government controlled Islamic Foundation, Dhaka.

Should the venture is implemented, I am afraid, the 150 million Muslims of the country somehow would soon rise to oppose the un-Islamic venture and to foil the evil measure. One must wonder if the sycophants of the present ignorant generation making the ill thought suggestion are at all aware of the huge misdeeds of the person and of the consequences that may follow their suggestion in the matter.

Author: Dr.M.T. Hussain