The Himandhoo School board of North Ari Atoll Himandhoo has decided the school song will no longer be sung during the school assembly as ”it would be more useful to give a speech by school heads and recite the meaning of Quran rather than singing the school song,” according to chairperson Abdulla Jameel.
Jameel said the decision was made after a meeting with Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the school’s teachers.
He said the decision was not made on religious grounds, and claimed a news report by television station DhiTV was misleading the public by claiming otherwise.
”In our school we sing a song written especially for Himandhoo Madharusa, but there is doubt over whether our school’s name is Himandhoo Madharusa or Himandhoo school,” he explained.
”We asked the education ministry to clarify it, and then we came to know that it was called Himandhoo School.”
Councilor of Himandhoo Ali Naseer said the school song was no longer sung during the assembly because it contained verses saying the school name was Himandhoo Madharusa and the school colors was red, green and white.
”We discovered to know the school’s name was Himandhoo School and the logo was red,” Naseer said, “but we only have the audio recording of the school song we use to sing. We cannot cut out the verses which say Himandhoo Madharusa and says the colours are green, red and white.”
Jameel said the school might sing the song ‘Lhafathuga Ungenema’ (a song sung in every school of Maldives during assembly) instead, but for the time being had decided to give speeches on the meaning of Quran during the assembly.
Deputy Minister for Education Abdulla Nazeer said the ministry’s policy insisted schools must sing the school song during the assembly.
”As per our policy all schools must sing the school song,” Naseer said, warning that ”if any school goes against our policy we will take action against them.”
Jameel said that the school board had sent a letter to the education ministry and ”would decide what to do when they respond.”
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Of course. Giving religious lectures is in NO WAY related to religion. Not on the most conservative island in the entire nation.
This is just one more way in which the island is regressing, moving away from normal Maldivian societal values and towards Saudi ones. They've already changed what they can without infringing upon government authority, so no they are taking the next steps.
Little by little, this island is implementing Salafi ideology. Soon they'll ask that they be allowed to secede from the Republic of the Maldives and be Annexed by Saudi Arabia.
As Jeffrey suggests we should try take our young ones as further away from Salafi ideology and Saudi values, to a more western ideology and to more barahanaa values.
Teach them nothing of Islam and make them as ignorant as possible about Islamic values and culture. but in doing this we should be careful. we should go step by step slowly. baby steps .....!!
Salaam and May Allah forgive us all and Guide us and our young ones to the true path of Islam, Ameen.
The only solution to Himandhoo extremism is to force its population out of this island and divide them among other parts of the country and ask everyone to leave this Island. This Island is going to cost a lot to our economy soon!!
Next thing we know, they're going to 'drop' the curriculum altogether.
Nothing to religion, of course. Just that the PTA decided teaching science wasn't the way to go.
Salim Waheed should understand everybody has the right to live by what they believe..its a basic human right.
May be Male' will be annexed by England soon.
Dont talk rubbish. In comment you talk of freedom and the next you criticize people for having the same.
Freedom isnt just what you believe what freedom is...It is everybody's right.
Himandhoo back again!
Mr. Jeffrey Waheed is making a mountain of the issue. This is one of the fundamental problems that creates more troubles. The school has stopped the School Song as there was some problems in the song itself. The school name is Himandhoo Madharusaa but in the song it says Himandhoo School & also a change in the colour of school.
The current measure is a temporary one till things can be resolved as said by the chairperson of school board.
In another note, why should there be a problem if the board wants to substitute school song for a short speech (not necessarily a religious).
@erdnom
a basic human right? LOL
as if you have respect for any such value
I don't criticize them from exercising their rights. I criticize them for infringing upon the rights of others. For propagating the sexual abuse pf children through underage marriage. For systematically trying to erode our national culture and heritage.
What I am saying is that that they are moving towards Salafi Ideology which is completely against our history. Against our culture. And against our identity. They are trying to systematically mold a new identity for the Nation.
I am fine with them believing what they want. I am fine with them practicing what they want. But when they try to change government policy and affect the rest of us, that is when i have a problem.
I believe Islam is a pure and true religion that makes allowance for tolerance - that was never supposed to be used for repression. But these Salafis, Wahhabis, and violent Jihadists would not allow those of us who are more moderate to voice our views if they had a choice. They will slowly and surely close their hands around our throats till we suffocate and finally just lie still and let them do what they will.
Do not invoke God or the Qur'an and think that you are more pious than another. Every soul is precious and every human being has rights.
Deport all radicals from Maldives to Afghanistan and let them enjoy their dream life there. That is the solution to these radical b******.
Thanks to all commenters....
My first quest is why are you so afraid of Saudi's... muslim's.... aren't they humans...?
My point is before speaking about an issue we should think all the possible behaviors relating to that. The school song had being sung for almost more than 50 years... what was the result..??? student behaviors are going backwards.... this is a proven fact... no one can deny this...
Make a research... How many present day students are singing that...? very few... Most of the students I've seen so far abuses the school song.... so why should we sing that........????
Some argue that it unites students and creates a good environment for teaching and learning???? which theory said that.... what was this nation's result...???
So, today our problem is not the school song... but teaching methodology and leaning environment..... our students are still having the encient millitary models of classroom.... especially in islands.... only foolish ones beilive that it creates economic problems....
all round, all are free to make decisions for their life issues... YOU have to respect it....
Better to be Saudi's than English....
"Verily, You will be gathered in the day of Qiyamath with those whom YOU followed...."
Saud
The article is balaced...democratic...tranparent...its good
There has to be somewhere in between 'barahanaa'and salafi. Whatever happened to being rational thinking Maldivians.
We can just leave these people alone and let them decided for themselves. But in doing that we are ignoring the fact that 'them' is not a solid entity and that there are people in the island who's rights are infringed upon by some who claim to be speaking on behalf of them. Surely not every single person in the island is a fanatic. But these people who disagree might not be able to voice out their concerns due to social pressure.
It's a tricky situation for the education ministry and I wouldn't exchange jobs with them for anything.
I hope and pray that the less abrasive people in the island are able to practice their moderate faith without being harassed by the nut jobs.
Jeff - come back and live here for a while to get a feel for the evolving realities on the ground on all fronts. Unfortunately media does not seem to necessarily always portray an accurate picture or capture the nuances of various developments, especially in such a politically charged environment.
this seems to me a battle of sytaxic terms ie. why is the "madrasa" now called a "school".
On the same note can somebody explain to me why east timor has suddenly become "Timor Leste" according to the President's Office, while for the West Bank we still call "Hulhangu Asseyri" instead of the Arabic "loffatul gharbiyya"?
Dear SS,
I spend at least three months every year at home. Recently I've spent nine altogether. I am constantly surrounded by those who are politically active, and our nation's current decision makers. The last time I was there, I did research into extremist activities and its founding - and much of my current biases against the institutional capability to address extremism was formed in the treatment of Dr. Salih Yucel - an Imam who's been preaching for over 35 years and a Professor in Australia.
I'm not making a big deal out of nothing. This is just one more step out of dozens that Himendhoo have been taking towards conservative ideologies. If it was any other island in the nation - it would not be as big a deal, though still indicative of the same conservative trend.
My biggest fear is that it may already be too late for us to stand against this tide of conservative mentality. This current conservative religious change. And if this is true, then God help us all.
same old minivan news, just writing something about islam so that these western mind washed idiots can abuse islam
Salim Waheed- Son of Dr Waheed(Vice President...What do you know of Maldivian identity and Maldivian culture? What do you know of Islam? What do you know of humanity? Firstly since birth you have been out of this country and "exposed" and "brain washed" with "athesit mentality..(mind you its not western verse conservative islamic ideology..there is nothing called conservative islam..there is one Tawheed. Secondly when was the last time you prayed well..and read the meaning of quran? when was the last time you gave arms to poor? when was the last time you sincerely thought of the purpose of life? Thirdly, you seriously think the so called Athesits whome you are defending behind the veils of Islam have humanity? Look at what US is doing in Afganistan and Iraq or what they did in Japan and Philipines..or look at who is protecting the kingdom of Saud in SaudiArabia or who is protecting Egypt's dictatorship regime? Look around the very city you are in...why are women so degraded ..to force themselves to go into open prostitution, alcohol and drugs? Why the double standard? Open your eyes..and see whats happening around the world..and promote true peace and tolerance ..don't be blinded by your past and the pop media propaganda! try to be humble and simple..you will see things in a different light! My sincere duva's are with you! insha Allah you will find the true path..
Dear Salim Waheed,
Go spread your moderate Islam somewhere else.We don't need hypocrites dressed as Muslims in a nation which loves Islam as a religion.
We know that the your moderate Islam is to give religious freedom in Maldives to all other religions,Unveil Muslim women , Open places and opportunities for both sexes to mingle and have illegal sex , teach students how to have safe sex , celebrate unislamic cultures here , ban those who follow the sunnah,make political ties with the number 1 terrorists(Israel)in the world , sell alcohol in public places and sell our religion to the western cultures.
You guys cannot take this any more dho?What you call fundamentalists are spreading fast.That is because they are on the right side and they have the guts to stand up by the will of ALLAH (SWA).You guys could only shout hiding behind a website and send panties of your wives,daughters and sisters to sheik's.This is how low you guys have become.Selling your sisters just to satisfy your own worldly desires.
If you wanna see real men look at the sheiks who had gathered huge number of citizens just hear their sermons and look at the youth who had given all their worldly desires for ALLAH (SWA).They are the real men.
Dear "Extremist" and Rilwan,
I am completely against sexual relations between anyone under the age of 18. That is why I am completely against underage marriages where children are sexually abused.
You say you're in the right? That oppression, abuse, and repression is okay. That all we can do is shout and hide behind websites.
Well, do you see me hiding? I will not be intimidated by extremists or conservatives. I will not back down from our true cultural heritage. Our history. I have traveled from one corner of our nation to the other and seen first hand how the populations have been scared into conservatism. When the Tsunami came, conservatives sent DELEGATIONS to tell them that the Tsunami was God's wrath for them living immoral lives, and to scare them into submission.
I will not give in to fear. I will not accept intolerance. Unlike you, I have love for my fellow human beings. I have faith in our enduring spirit as a nation. And I believe that we can move past the oppression of the past.
Our nation was not liberated from dictatorship to fall under the yolk of theocracy. I know my life's direction. I treat those around me with compassion and love. And I do not try to enslave them. I believe that I am a better Muslim than the two of you, but I am not calling for you to leave. I am not calling for you two to be thrown out of the country or oppressed. All I advocate is that you, and people like you, are not allowed to impose your views on anyone by force.
But if want to throw your tantrums, go ahead. If you want to call me a hypocrite or an atheist, go ahead. Islam is between you and God. It is not a religion that you wear on your sleeve, just to claim fake piety. To grow your beards, and where feminine Capri pants. God will decide. And neither I, nor any Maldivian, nor any Muslim has anything to prove to the likes of you.
I don't have anything to gain. Only that when I have children, that they can grow up in the home that I was forbidden. We've had our era of tyranny. I'm determined that the next generation sees an era of hope and prosperity.
Jeff, a noble cause, one that many (including me) identify with, but you have to accept that having a cause and getting to that desired end is different. Also as Nadya said, there is a large space between salafi and barahaanaa and most Maldivians probably fall somewhere in between. And that culture and religion are different, although one very often gets confused for the other. And that culture also evolves. It is upto us to define the extent and direction it evolves. Today we have gone so far beyond middle ground in both directions, and that is what is reflected in most of these discussions.
Would be interesting to hear how you would address the situation, given the claim that the government is using a policy of appeasement, which will get Maldives nowhere other than deeper into crisis.
Mr. Jefrey Salim:
For you sexual intercourse between two consenting adults maybe okay. In fact, as you say, to be encouraged. For you homosexuality & lesbianism are alternative life styles. For you incest (of course consenting adults), anal intercourse, orgies & bestiality (if you consider animals need not give consent) may be okay.
For you to have physical relations between girls & boys in the name of dating maybe okay. For you to wear clothes as you deem fit maybe okay. For you to pray as and when you are free maybe okay. For you to drink a glass of wine or eat pork with your non-Muslim friends maybe okay.
But not for us. For the Muslims who want to revert back to the true and correct teachings of Islam. The teachings of Holy Qur'an & Sunnah. For us anything that contradicts with Islam should be shunned. It does not matter how "Maldivian" you or anyone elsemay think about.
You may label anyone who defy to embrace the western immorality & sexual promiscuity as an extremist or a conservative. That is your definition. We aint bothered by it. For we fear Allah (swt) alone. And we follow His Commandments. {Not everything in West is bad. The problem is your kind find only those things that are detrimental to be brought into our country leaving the good things in those societies)
Do not think we will be threatened by your status to voice out against you. We do not care. Wherever we might be we are Muslims. And we will stand against those Kuffar ideologies that the people like you are spreading into our Islamic societies. For most Maldvians the ilk of you maybe new. But we have seen people like to rise & fall. And surely, you will fall too, inshaAllah.
Islam is between oneself & God. But as we will judge by the apparent. That is what we are told to do. The rest is upto to Allah(swt) on the Day of Resurrection.
Dear Salim Waheed,
Do you think that giving sexual education will prevent under age sex?If u think so u need to travel from one corner of the world to the other corner one more time with your eyes open. Sexually abusing is different from under age marriages.Months ago HRC did investigate a case what they named "mission concubine" but what came to light was something different.They wanted to defame the fundamentalists what you called but that turned out to be a slap in their face.Plus prove us that under age pregnancy had increased due to increased fundamentalists.If you can prove it i will give up my claim.
Please tell me the name of a sheik who had abused and repressed YOU.If you have the guts you wouldn't hide behind a website.We don't need to intimidate you.You have been living in intimidation from the start.
YOU ARE SAYING YOU LOVE OUR CULTURE AND OUR HERITAGE.IF SO WHY DON'T YOU TAKE OUT THE IDOLS IN THE MUSEUM AND START WORSHIPING THEM INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BRING OTHER RELIGIONS HERE.THE ONE WHO LOVE OUR CULTURE WANNA BUILD A GODLESS COMMUNITY WHICH CLAIMS THAT THE ONLY PURPOSE HERE IN THIS WORLD IS TO FORNICATE AND MAKE MERRY.IF YOU HAVE READ THE QURAN WITH OPEN EYES YOU WILL KNOW THAT HOW MANY NATIONS ALLAH(SWA) HAD DESTROYED IN THE PAST WHEN THEY DISOBEYED THE COVENANT OF ALLAH(SWA).SINCE YOU HAVE TRAVELED FROM ONE CORNER TO THE OTHER YOU MUST HAVE SEEN THESE NATIONS WHICH HAD PERISHED BY THE WRATH OF ALLAH(SWA).
I DON'T KNOW WHO IS TRYING TO IMPOSE HIS VIEWS.ITS NOT ME WHO BROUGHT SALIH YUCEL TO THE MALDIVES.ITS NOT ME TRYING TO WORK EVERY LITTLE THING AGAINST THE MUSLIMS IN THE COMMUNITY.ITS NOT ME WHO IS TRYING TO IMPOSE WESTERN CULTURE HERE IN THE MALDIVES.ITS NO ME WHO SUPPORTS SENDING LADIES PANTIES TO SHEIKS.
IF YOU HAD NOTHING TO PROVE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE WRITTEN THE REPLY.YES WE LOVE OUR BEARD AND WE LOVE OUR FEMININE CAPRI.BUT WE WEAR THEM NOT IMPRESS ANY HUMAN BEING WE DO IT TO IMPRESS THE ONE WHO CREATED THE WHOLE UNIVERSE.
I THINK YOU NEED TO GAIN ONE THING.THAT IS THE SALVATION FOR YOUR CHILDREN.I PRAY TO ALLAH (SWA) THAT THEY WONT END UP LIKE YOU MISERABLE AND LOST NOT KNOWING THE ONE WHO EVEN CREATED YOU.THE NEXT GENERATION HAD SEEN THE LIGHT AND HOPE.A LIGHT AND HOPE THAT IS ONLY ATTAINED BY BELIEVING IN ONENESS OF ALLAH(SWA).
Hi Rilawan, I am ready to defeat your arguement, if you are willing, please give me your e-mail.
haha. I'm sorry, but you two are ridiculous. Anal? Bestiality? Idol worship? Destroying nations? Dirty ridiculous people. I'm done placating the two of you.
You two are the parodies and representation of a situation out of control.
Dear SS,
I believe our way forward is through dialog. Creating a space for open discussion of the issues. And to create a safe environment for this to happen. Many conservatives and radicals are against it because our culture and heritage is inherently liberal (yes, across the nation, not just in Male'). Because allowing these views or debates to occur will reduce fear - thereby reducing their power. This is the way we move forward.
Hi Rilwan,,,,,,,,
You are great.... littel effert may bring these western fellows into real islam.... they blindly think muslims are terrorists... who are these pagons to speak about ISLAM?????
Everyone commenting, including me, is concerned with the situation especially since it is Himandhoo. Someone has to check if the reason stated in the artiacle is true. Then approval should be given to re-name the school and change school colors to be consistent with the school song or change the school song. There is nothing wrong or extremist about this request. We should be able to think rationally without pre-conception.
I do agree with Rilwan. I do not know why Moshaib wants to have an email address to give his views which is supposed to defeat anothers argument. Aren't we all giving our sides online for everyone to read and think upon already? So if people want to talk the truth, it should be where others can read too so that they can benefit from it too right? Hope Moshaib will give light to his view here as we all would like to know. Ofcourse I myself would like it if it is backed up by facts since I learnt even at uni that without a good source, any argument would be weak.
I see all these accusations against Islam as childish now. Mostly is due to lack of knowledge in Islam and its history. So Rilwan and others have been giving advise and warnings after another so that those that hates Islam can repent because once we die (at any moment), we really cant help you. Allah (swt) has warned the hypocrites of this as well in the Quran and Hadith, but since one does not take the time to learn himself and only blame without knowing.. all we can do is try and persuade you to learn before its too late.
We all are born a Muslim due to our parents being Muslims, but it does not make us a believer since our knowledge is weak.. and when our knowledge is weak, our faith is weak.
May Allah (swt) guide us all.
Salim Waheed,
For a person who lived a whole life in Maldives, I would like to enlighten you into Maldivian ways.
We are bunch of people who just don't care, and sorry! But we intend to be like that.
Now if a bunch teenager goes sit in a coffee shop and rolls them a few and smoke it up we don't mind. Few youngsters go and have a drink at nearby resort or have a barbecue and serve themselves drinks we don't mind. Few people being gay, that too we don't mind. Few people trying to revoke one another still we do not mind. Why? Cause it's their freedom and their right to do what they want.
As such I would like to tell you that, whatever himandhoo people are practicing we don't mind.
So you spending your majority life in another country and coming out here and talking about our lives, culture and ways of living. Well look who's talking eh! Try to have a bit more respect. Whatever you say Islamic ways cannot be adjusted. It’s either you do it, or you don’t.
For us we love having a smoke, few drinks, chatting up with girls, having a poker night, go get crazy. So what! We don’t give a f*** what they think, what they want or what they practice. Just calm yourself down and let it be.
As of today, I am giving up trying to engage in any form of conversation with people who are simply too paranoid to be reasoned with.
The whole world is a CIA conspiracy? Wahhabis are the only true Muslims? The rest of us are evil American brainwashed bestial idol worshipping atheists?
AS YOU WISH!
Muad, in Islam you can't discuss about any issue critically. If you know anything about Wilders, Salman Rushdie, Wafa, Robert Spencer, you understand how ill you guys are.
Dear Salim Waheed,
Now you are talking.If that is what you want,i don't know were we can fit that into our culture.
You said that you love our culture and heritage.Yes,for a person who had lived his whole life in Maldives will know what is our real culture and what is our real heritage.For a person who had lived in foreign country scared and intimidated will know nothing.
As far as i know you got serious problems.I don't think any Maldivian who really loves Maldives will allow the GANG BANG you want here in the Maldives.
PLUS ONE MORE THING YOU CRITICIZED SHEIK ILIYAS HUSSAIN WHEN HE SPOKE ABOUT THE WINE AND WOMEN IN THE PARADISE.HE TALKED ABOUT THOSE THING BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE THINGS WHICH ARE ALWAYS IN THE MIND OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU.I CAN SEE THAT FROM YOUR COMMENT.FOR THAT IS THE THING THAT IS IN THE MIND OF MOST YOUNGSTERS.LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY UNDER AGE PREGNANCIES AND DRUG ADDICTS IS GROWING EVERY YEAR.SO THE SHEIKS SPEECH HIGH LIGHTS THAT THESE THINGS ARE IN THE HEAVEN WHICH WILL BE FOR WHOLE ETERNITY AND THAT YOU WONT GET SICK LIKE YOU GET HERE IN THE WORLD.
I THINK ITS YOU WHO ARE RESTLESS AND WORRIED THAT ISLAM HAD ROOTED IN OUR CULTURE AND HERITAGE.AS LONG AS WE BELIEVE IN ALLAH(SWA)WE HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY.
GOOD LUCK.
Salim Waheed:
You exactly prove my point. When people like you grow up in environments that are alien to Islam & to make matters worse, whose parents are extremely secular, they find the moderate teachings of Islam conservative & extremist in nature. You grew up knowing that pre-marital & extra-marital sexual relations are okay if the involved parties are consenting.
People like you grew up learning that religion is between you & god. And what is important is in heart. NOT the actions of limbs. Believing in Islam is sufficient. There is not need to observe the five daily prayers (esp. the dawn prayer).
So when you come back to the Islamic world (or an Islamic society) what you find is utterly alien. Dumbstruck, you ask your parents & they tell you they are conservatives or extremists. You hit books. Find "scholars" who speak for what you believe in. Not necessarily the reality or truth. You follow their words. You dismiss any scholar who differs from your programmed ideas without even looking into the proofs he is giving. You aim is to find another "proof" that is disprove him. Your intention is not finding the truth. Rather to enhance what you believe in. That is the story of people like you.
In Islam homosexuality is a grave sin. There are people who had rejected Islam simply because they wanted to be gay. And then they start attacking Islam in all fronts.
Mr. Jeffrey. You may try to fool people that you are fighting for the true Islam. We know what your kind in reality wants. We do not want the type of "moderate" Islam that you so badly want to spread.
Dear Moshaib,
[email protected].
Hi Rilwan, thanks man, I will start my debate soon.
Rilwan,
Remember "Those who desire Heaven".
Logically speaking if Heaven is a place where all good people go then there should be no such things. Cause those who honestly desire heaven will not be thinking about those things but thinking more about how to continue the faith they have. The people who goes through hell, get sealed and then enters heaven would not think of such things because they wouldn't want to go through the same pain.
As well, Islam is not a religion based on what you get in Heaven. In fact Islam is the one and only religion which is based on nothing but Faith only. So why do you, or your beloved scholars be talking about pin pointed breasts, rivers of wine and virgin women to attract more people to the religion. Now that’s a perverted way to think about a religion, and I think you guys are far off from religion cause you pray and do the good deeds to get high and enjoy with perfect women. Only because you desire that, doesn’t mean your arguments are justifiable.
Now check this! When I go to heaven I want my own world to operate. I literally mean world eh! For me to run and for me to watch, now that’s a good feeling!