Asghar Ali Engineer
Encyclopedia
Asghar Ali Engineer, an India
n Muslim
, is an reformist-writer and activist. Internationally known for his work on liberation theology
in Islam
, he leads the Progressive Dawoodi Bohra
movement. The focus of his work is on (and action against) communalism
and communal and ethnic violence
in India
and South Asia
. He is an advocate of a culture of peace, non-violence and communal harmony, and has lectured all over world. He is presently the head of the 'Institute of Islamic Studies' and the 'Centre for Study of Society and Secularism', both of which he founded in 1980 and 1993 respectively. He currently contributes to The God Contention, a web site comparing and contrasting various worldviews. Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer’s autobiography A Living Faith: My Quest for Peace, Harmony and Social Change was released in New Delhi on 20th July 2011 by Vice President of India Shri Hamid Ansari.
, Rajasthan
, India
as the son of a Bohra priest, Shaikh Qurban Hussain. He tried learning Qur'an
ic tafsir
(commentary), tawil
(hidden meaning of Qur'an), fiqh
(jurisprudence) and hadith
(Prophet's sayings), and the Arabic language
.
He graduated in civil engineering from Vikram University
in Ujjain
, Madhya Pradesh
), and served for 20 years as a sanitation engineer in the Bombay Municipal Corporation before taking voluntary retirement in 1972, to devote himself to the Bohra reform movement.
He began to play a leading role in the reform movement in 1972 when a revolt took place in Udaipur
. He was unanimously elected as General Secretary of The Central Board of Dawoodi Bohra
Community in its first conference in Udaipur in 1977. In 2004 due to criticism of the Dawoodi Bohra religious establishment he was expelled. In 1980, he set up, Institute of Islamic Studies, in Mumbai
, to create a platform for progressive Muslims in Indian and else where. Subsequently, through the 1980s, he wrote extensively on Hindu-Muslim relations, and growing communal violence in India
. Asghar Ali Engineer has been instrumental in publicizing the Progressive Dawoodi Bohra
movement through his writings and speeches. In 1993, he founded, 'Center for Study of Society and Secularism' to promote communal harmony.
Over the years, he has authored more than 50 books and many articles in various national and international journals, and is founding chairman of the 'Asian Muslim Action Network', director of the 'Institute of Islamic Studies', and head of the 'Center for Study of Society and Secularism' in Mumbai
, where he works closely with scholar and scientist Professor Dr Ram Puniyani
.
Today women are much more educated and much more aware and hence would consider it undignified to live with a co-wife and share her husband’s attention and love with her. Women today are smarter than the past and know that they deserve better rights, according to Engineer. He believes that people who support an unjust order, or remain silent in view of gross injustices is not a religious person. He goes as far to say that people need to wage jihad against all forms of exploitation and injustices and to Engineer women’s inequality is top on his priority list of injustices. However, there are people that suggest that his interpretations of the Qur'an are not strong enough to get people to change their beliefs surrounding women’s place in Islam. Sikand thinks that Engineer’s opinion is based on his interpretation of the Qur'an and his outlook on the 21st century instead of the interpretations that the Qur'an has now. “His understanding of Islam is indelibly shaped by his concern for social justice and inter-communal harmony, of course.” Engineer’s ideas are not as controversial as they used to be, because since the 21st century is big on attempting to make people equal; it has helped the equality of women, though not enough for Engineer’s standards. Engineer believes that women should be treated equally to that of men, because of his understanding of the Qur'an and because of the 21st century.
in 1993, the 'Communal Harmony Award' in 1997 and the Right Livelihood Award
in 2004 (with Swami Agnivesh
) for his 'strong commitment to promote values of co-existence and tolerance'.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, is an reformist-writer and activist. Internationally known for his work on liberation theology
Liberation theology
Liberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...
in Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, he leads the Progressive Dawoodi Bohra
Progressive Dawoodi Bohra
Progressive Dawoodi Bohra is a movement within the Dawoodi Bohra subsect of Mustaali Ismai'li Shi'a Islam. Their split with the mainstream Dawoodi Bohra is based not on religious beliefs, but on economic and social issues...
movement. The focus of his work is on (and action against) communalism
Communalism
Communalism is a term with three distinct meanings according to the Random House Unabridged Dictionary'.'These include "a theory of government or a system of government in which independent communes participate in a federation". "the principles and practice of communal ownership"...
and communal and ethnic violence
Ethnic violence
Ethnic violence refers to violence expressly motivated by ethnic hatred...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
. He is an advocate of a culture of peace, non-violence and communal harmony, and has lectured all over world. He is presently the head of the 'Institute of Islamic Studies' and the 'Centre for Study of Society and Secularism', both of which he founded in 1980 and 1993 respectively. He currently contributes to The God Contention, a web site comparing and contrasting various worldviews. Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer’s autobiography A Living Faith: My Quest for Peace, Harmony and Social Change was released in New Delhi on 20th July 2011 by Vice President of India Shri Hamid Ansari.
Biography
Asghar Ali Engineer was born 10 March 1939 in SalumbarSalumbar
Salumbar is a city and a municipality in Udaipur district in the Indian state of Rajasthan.-Geography:Salumbar is located at . It has an average elevation of 262 metres .-Demographics:...
, Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
as the son of a Bohra priest, Shaikh Qurban Hussain. He tried learning Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
ic tafsir
Tafsir
Tafseer is the Arabic word for exegesis or commentary, usually of the Qur'an. Ta'wīl is a subset of tafsir and refers to esoteric or mystical interpretation. An author of tafsir is a mufassir .- Etymology :...
(commentary), tawil
Tawil
Tawil , or al-tawil , is a compound meter used in classical Arabic poetry.Its form is as follows :...
(hidden meaning of Qur'an), fiqh
Fiqh
Fiqh is Islamic jurisprudence. Fiqh is an expansion of the code of conduct expounded in the Quran, often supplemented by tradition and implemented by the rulings and interpretations of Islamic jurists....
(jurisprudence) and hadith
Hadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
(Prophet's sayings), and the Arabic language
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
.
He graduated in civil engineering from Vikram University
Vikram University
Vikram University is a university in the city of Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India.Ujjain is known for its antiquity and its rich cultural and religious traditions.The university, which is named after the ruler Vikramaditya, was established in 1957...
in Ujjain
Ujjain
Ujjain , is an ancient city of Malwa region in central India, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River , today part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative centre of Ujjain District and Ujjain Division.In ancient times the city was called Ujjayini...
, Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
), and served for 20 years as a sanitation engineer in the Bombay Municipal Corporation before taking voluntary retirement in 1972, to devote himself to the Bohra reform movement.
He began to play a leading role in the reform movement in 1972 when a revolt took place in Udaipur
Udaipur
Udaipur , also known as the City of Lakes, is a city, a Municipal Council and the administrative headquarters of the Udaipur district in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It is located southwest of the state capital, Jaipur, west of Kota, and northeast from Ahmedabad...
. He was unanimously elected as General Secretary of The Central Board of Dawoodi Bohra
Dawoodi Bohra
Dawoodi Bohra is a subsect of Ismāʿīlī Shīʿa Islām. While the Dawoodi Bohra is based in India, their belief system originates in Yemen, where it evolved from the Fatimid Caliphate and where they were persecuted due to their differences from mainstream Sunni Islam...
Community in its first conference in Udaipur in 1977. In 2004 due to criticism of the Dawoodi Bohra religious establishment he was expelled. In 1980, he set up, Institute of Islamic Studies, in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, to create a platform for progressive Muslims in Indian and else where. Subsequently, through the 1980s, he wrote extensively on Hindu-Muslim relations, and growing communal violence in India
Religious violence in India
Religious violence in India includes acts of violence by followers of one religious group against followers and institutions of another religious group, often in the form of rioting...
. Asghar Ali Engineer has been instrumental in publicizing the Progressive Dawoodi Bohra
Progressive Dawoodi Bohra
Progressive Dawoodi Bohra is a movement within the Dawoodi Bohra subsect of Mustaali Ismai'li Shi'a Islam. Their split with the mainstream Dawoodi Bohra is based not on religious beliefs, but on economic and social issues...
movement through his writings and speeches. In 1993, he founded, 'Center for Study of Society and Secularism' to promote communal harmony.
Over the years, he has authored more than 50 books and many articles in various national and international journals, and is founding chairman of the 'Asian Muslim Action Network', director of the 'Institute of Islamic Studies', and head of the 'Center for Study of Society and Secularism' in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, where he works closely with scholar and scientist Professor Dr Ram Puniyani
Ram Puniyani
Ram Puniyani was a professor in biomedical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, and took voluntary retirement in December 2004 to work full time for communal harmony in India . He is involved with human rights activities from last two decades...
.
Beliefs on women's rights
An aspect of Engineer’s belief of women’s equality is that of his 21st century mindset, which can be seen throughout all of his opinions. The situation in the Muslim world reflects the status quo, according to Engineer. With respect to the suppressive, patriarchal nature of contemporary Islamic states, Engineer writes that “Women do not enjoy the status the Qur’an has given them in Muslim society today.” Engineer believes that in this day and age women should be equal to men. “Women had internalized their subjugation of men as the latter were the breadwinners. Since then women have become quite conscious of their new status.” Women are sometimes the “breadwinners” of the household while the man stays home, now. In the past it would be inconceivable to think that a woman was allowed out of the house, but now they are an active earning member of the family even in places like Saudi Arabia. Women have now been Prime Ministers, even against opposing views. However, women are not treated totally equally in all Muslim establishments, and that is what Engineer is fighting to change. He wants to see equality across the board, considering the present time.Today women are much more educated and much more aware and hence would consider it undignified to live with a co-wife and share her husband’s attention and love with her. Women today are smarter than the past and know that they deserve better rights, according to Engineer. He believes that people who support an unjust order, or remain silent in view of gross injustices is not a religious person. He goes as far to say that people need to wage jihad against all forms of exploitation and injustices and to Engineer women’s inequality is top on his priority list of injustices. However, there are people that suggest that his interpretations of the Qur'an are not strong enough to get people to change their beliefs surrounding women’s place in Islam. Sikand thinks that Engineer’s opinion is based on his interpretation of the Qur'an and his outlook on the 21st century instead of the interpretations that the Qur'an has now. “His understanding of Islam is indelibly shaped by his concern for social justice and inter-communal harmony, of course.” Engineer’s ideas are not as controversial as they used to be, because since the 21st century is big on attempting to make people equal; it has helped the equality of women, though not enough for Engineer’s standards. Engineer believes that women should be treated equally to that of men, because of his understanding of the Qur'an and because of the 21st century.
Awards
He has been awarded several awards, including the Dalmia Award for communal harmony in 1990, honorary D.Litt. by the University of CalcuttaUniversity of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
in 1993, the 'Communal Harmony Award' in 1997 and the Right Livelihood Award
Right Livelihood Award
The Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The prize was established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull, and is...
in 2004 (with Swami Agnivesh
Swami Agnivesh
Agnivesh is an Indian social worker, self-proclaimed Arya Samaj scholar, and a Hindu social activist. He is best known for his work against bonded labour through the Bonded Labour Liberation Front, which he founded in 1981...
) for his 'strong commitment to promote values of co-existence and tolerance'.
Some works
- Origin and Development of Islam: An Essay on Its Socio-Economic Growth. , by Asghar Ali Engineer, Asghar Ali Engineer Staff. Published by South Asia Books, 1980. ISBN 0-8364-0590-0.
- The Islamic State. Published by Vikas, 1980. ISBN 0-7069-1086-9.
- Sufism and Communal Harmony
- Islam and Its Relevance to Our Age. Published by Institute of Islamic Studies, 1984.
- On developing theory of communal riots. Published by Institute of Islamic Studies, 1984.
- Islam and Revolution. Published by Ajanta Publications, 1984.
- Islam and Muslims: a critical reassessment. Published by Printwell Publishers, 1985.
- Islam in South and South-east Asia. Published by Ajanta Publications, 1985. ISBN 81-202-0152-3.
- Indian Muslims: A Study of Minority Problems in India. Published by Ajanta Publications (India), 1985.
- Communalism in India, by Asgharali Engineer, Moin Shakir. Published by Ajanta Publications (India), 1985. ISBN 81-202-0153-1.
- The Role of minorities in freedom struggle. Institute of Islamic Studies (Bombay, India). Published by Ajanta Publications, 1986.
- Ethnic conflict in South Asia. Published by Ajanta Publications, 1987.
- Status of women in Islam. Published by Ajanta Publications (India), 1987. ISBN 81-202-0190-6.
- The Shah Bano controversy, Orient Longman, 1987. ISBN 0-86131-701-7.
- The Muslim communities of Gujarat: an exploratory study of Bohras, Khojas, and Memons. Published by Ajanta Publications, 1989. ISBN 81-202-0220-1.
- Religion and Liberation. Published by Ajanta Publications (India), 1989. ISBN 81-202-0264-3.
- Communalism and communal violence in India: an analytical approach to Hindu-Muslim conflict. Published by Ajanta Publications (India), 1989.
- Communal Riots in Post-independence India. Published by Orient Blackswan, 1991. ISBN 81-7370-102-4.
- Secular crown on fire: the Kashmir problem. Published by Ajanta Publications, 1991. ISBN 81-202-0311-9.
- Mandal Commission controversy. Published by Ajanta Publications, 1991. ISBN 81-202-0312-7.
- Rights of Women in Islam. Sterling Publishers, 1992.
- Communalisation of politics and 10th Lok Sabha elections, by Asgharali Engineer, Pradeep Nayak. Published by Ajanta Publications, 1993.
- The Bohras. South Asia Books, 1994. ISBN 0-7069-7345-3.
- Kerala Muslims: a historical perspective. Published by Ajanta Publications, 1995.
- Lifting the veil: communal violence and communal harmony in contemporary India. Sangam Books, 1995. ISBN 81-7370-040-0,.
- Problems of Muslim Women in India. Published by Institute of Islamic Studies, 1995.
- Rethinking Issues in Islam. Sangam Books Limited, 1998. ISBN 0863117686.
- Competing nationalisms in South Asia: essays for Asghar Ali Engineer, by Paul R. Brass, Achin Vanaik, Asgharali Engineer. Published by Orient Blackswan, 2002. ISBN 812502221X.
- Islam in India: The Impact of Civilizations. Shipra Publications, 2002. ISBN 8175411155.
- The Qurʼan, women, and modern society. Published by New Dawn Press Group, 2005. ISBN 1932705422.
- The State in Islam: Nature and scope. Hope India Publications, 2006. ISBN 8178711028.
- Islam in Contemporary World. Sterling Publishers, 2007. ISBN 1932705694.
- Islam in Post-Modern World. Hope India Publications, 2009.
Further reading
- Islam in Democracy
- Dr Asghar Ali Engineer's Articles Rutgers UniversityRutgers UniversityRutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
- Madrasa education myth and reality- TCN News