H-M synthesis in Gujarat: A learned Muslim 'Brahmin' who performs funeral rites for Hindus

by Guest Wed Sep 07, 2016 8:28 am

vadodara: sanskrit shlokas flow freely from the lips of abdulrashid ismael sheik. and his love for lord ganesha and other gods and goddesses of the hindu pantheon is quite well known in the city. regarded a scholar in hindu religion and philosophy and widely accepted as a 'brahmin' by virtue, abdulrashid ismael sheikh is now even called upon to perform the hindu funeral rites, something that only a chaste brahmin with specialised knowledge is allowed to do. sheikh is a man much in demand among the devout. if he is not seen at the temple near kevda baug where he stays, devotees send a man to fetch him. other temples in city also invite abdulrashid to 'satsang' and to give discourses on hindu religion. for last 30 years sheikh has been performing the ganpati sthapna pooja at m s university's faculty of technology and engineering. the tradition continued on the occasion of ganesh chaturthi this wednesday. "recently there was a death in the family of one of my acquaintances. they called me for the funeral rites. i went and performed the rites", says the 62-year-old abdulrashid.

despite having retired from university service, the faculty of technology and engineering calls abdulrashid for various poojas being performed in the faculty from time to time."i have special fondness for lord ganesha", he says while chanting sanskrit sholkas that can leave even a scholarly pundit awe-struck. "i have learned from influences on my life. i spent my childhood in a hindu neighbourhood. all our family friends and neighbours were hindus. we celebrated festivals together. i didn't know when i was drawn towards hinduism", he says.

abdulrashid's love for hinduism had initially raised the ire of members of his own community. but gradually they too started respecting abdulrashid's freedom to practice any faith. "i am a muslim by birth but a hindu by practice. i believe in both faiths but from childhood i was inclined to hinduism", said abdulrashid. sometime in his childhood he picked up sanskrit. he later experimented with bhakti songs or bhajans and started visiting 'tirth-sthans'.

he has been a regular visitor to nareshwar, garudeshwar, virpur jalaram temple, satadhar, parab vavdi tulsi-shyam and ajmer. "i was young and not conscious of the difference between the religion i was born into and the one i liked. i still don't feel the difference. the islam i know does not believe in discrimination. it stands for peace, universal brotherhood and teaches to respect all faiths", abdulrashid says. he says that his love for hinduism has not adversely affected his family. "my brother's family lives with me. my nieces have been married off in muslim families. they are treated well. islam is also about tolerance and love and there are ample examples of this", he says and walks on to attend another 'sating'.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/A-Muslim-Brahmin-who-loves-Ganesha/articleshow/1906707520.cms