check www.outlookindia.com/20000228/affairs5.htm
and www.outlookindia.com/20000228/affairs2.htm
I know Asghar Ali Engineer personally and besides the fact that he is a deeply learned and religious man also know that he is honest, mild, upright, and very worthy of respect. He has just told me about this last episode and I hope to meet him again in a few days. People like him are rare jewels, and I abhor these terrorist attacks he has been subjected to several times in the last few years. Thank you ZZ for posting this site.
Since ZZ has posted this without any comments, I’d like to see if anyone can explain these taxes – I’ve read about Agha Khani taxes, no wonder they are so rich, they have a very smart tax system. So is this Islamic?
Is it ok that a ’Seydna’ has so much power to order a social ban against another Muslim?
Shouldn’t there be a difference between aqeedat and ghulami or bewakoofi?
How does any Government handle a person with so much support and ’respect’ from local ppl?
The Syedna’s authority extends to economical matters too. A Bohra pays seven taxes. Zakat and fitra are for the poor, sabil goes towards the repair of mosques, nazar mukam is vow money, salaam is paid to get permission for something from the Syedna, sila is an offering to the hidden Imam, haqqun nafs is death duty. Not paying can mean a denial to enter Bohra places of worship. A ruku chitthi, or a letter from the Syedna after death, recommending a place in Paradise, could also be refused. Or there might be a social boycott like against Engineer, who’s no longer considered a community member. "Even my mother and sister can’t talk to me," he says.
(Ps. Lets for a moment forget that this has happened in India)