I WOULD like to draw the attention of the people to the universal misuse of the word ‘maulana’. The word means ‘my master’ or ‘my sardar’.
How has the word acquired the meaning ‘a scholar of Islam’. A scholar is worthy of adoration, respect and veneration. Political consequences of popular misunderstanding are right before our eyes.
Can we all please pause and think when exactly we want to use this word? Remember, words influence our behaviour.
MIAN AMIN Karachi
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Comments (9) Closed
Mussa achakzai
Aug 25, 2013 08:36am
They are the production of Gen Zial ul haq factory
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Nizamuddin Ali Ahmad
Aug 25, 2013 09:08am
Maulana and Alim is the most abused word in India and Pakistan. Also in Trinidad/ Tobago and Figi. understandably, because they are British Raj time Indian migrants. People shpould use the word Imam instead. The imams who are have no religious training or fromal traing usedbthis word as a crutch to gain acceptibility in the society. I have senn extreme abuse of influencei
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sarfaraz
Aug 25, 2013 09:47am
Also the word "shaheed". According to the holy book, only those who fight and die in the cause of Islam are supposed to be "shaheed". Here in Pakistan, we see an army of "Shaheeds" even if died while committing crimes and sorts.
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uzeir
Aug 25, 2013 01:10pm
Please suggest an alternative term to 'maulana'. Words morph to acquire alterrnative meanings over the years depending on their popular usage. Why not leave 'maula' to refer to 'master/sardar' and 'maulana' to refer to a person well read on islam.
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Akram
Aug 25, 2013 02:18pm
That's very interesting and to be honest it explains a lot about where we have gone wrong.
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silah
Aug 25, 2013 07:52pm
thnx for making our attention towards it.but u should mention instead of maulana what word we should use.
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M. Siddique
Aug 25, 2013 08:11pm
Well said.
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nina
Aug 26, 2013 02:58am
word Maulana has so much exploit by some fake(so called)''Scholars'' of our country..nd we call Mullaaa to those who are real Alim nd Maulana..unfair,is'nt???
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fida sayani
Aug 26, 2013 04:34am
Mian Amin has correctly called the meaning of Maulana. Maulana or Master applies only to Almighty God. Using Maulana in front of the name of individual like Maulana Maudodi is a Blasphemy.
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