The Islam you may not know.

It was the year 2002. I was traveling by a suburban train in Mumbai from Andheri to Mumbai Central. Alongside me was seated a girl dressed in a smashing T- shirt and low hip jeans. I noticed that she was occasionally peering into a book by my teacher Dr Edward de Bono. I hesitatingly asked her if she liked the book.

‘Thank God you have spoken to me. I was wondering how to start talking to you. I am a fan of yours. I have attended one of your workshops on Lateral Thinking. Can you give me your autograph? ”she asked.

I obliged that was the first time someone had asked for my autograph. She introduced herself as Naseem. I was surprised that she was a Muslim considering her dress. We conversed about creativity and thinking skills. She told me some things that were eye openers for me.

I summarise her statements here:

[1] Prophet had said that an hour of thinking is better than a year of prayer and meditation.

[2] Prophet had also said ‘Don’t tell me how many books you have read. Tell me how much you have traveled’.

[3] Prophet received a delegation of Hindus from India. He appreciated their visit and was happy with one special gift they had brought— Adrak or ginger.

[4] Prophet remarked to the visiting Hindus that India was the spiritual capital of the world.

[5] Prophet told his followers not to follow his teachings blindly but to apply thought and evaluate them and decide if they appealed to them.

[6] Koran imposes an obligation on every true Muslim to respect every person’s right to follow any religion of his or her choice.

[7[ An Arabian proverb says ‘accept wisdom even if it comes from China’. It has to be interpreted to mean wisdom from any source.

Naseem and I became friends and our friendship has lasted all these years. She is now in the US.

Two days ago she rang me up and asked me to quickly switch on my TV and watch Al Jazeera channel.

I saw something unbelievable. A young Muslim girl was telling the anchor person in fine English that in the campus she is allowed to wear any dress including jeans.

What was amazing was that the campus was of the KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY [ KAUST]! This University has come up in a beautiful coastal location in Saudi Arabia.

It was stated that the King of Saudi Arabia had – as a part of his drive to modernise his kingdom — set up a S & T university in the country with world class professors. Within the campus there would be freedom to students and teachers to pursue academic excellence unhindered by Islamic restrictions.

The King has said that no funds would be denied to make KAUST a centre of excellence. I also am aware that the UAE is developing a similar campus too with the aim of rivaling the best that the U.S has to offer.

I recall history lessons that tell us of the scientific and artistic excellence that Islamic nations had achieved in the 6 or 7 centuries after the Prophet. Around the 13th century a sense of total piety and unquestioned and literal interpretation of scriptures overtook the Islamic world. That heralded the decline of science and technology.

If that can be revisited the world will benefit. I also believe – and experts confirm – that the most effective way to modernise a society and unleash forces of moderation and modernity is to educate girls. If the Saudi initiative is emulated by other Islamic societies and by countries like India there can be a significant change for the better.

What are the lessons for India from KAUST?
Readers may send me their responses.

By the way as the train neared Mumbai Central Naseem startled me. She quickly opened her bag and took out and dressed herself in a burkha covering herself from head to toe!

She has just sent me a photograph of herself with her husband on a trip to Grand Canyon. She looks smashing in jeans and low hip jeans.

K.R.RAVI
U.S.A