Descent In Discourse

Muslim Murasu, June 2012

Quran is an Arabic book. Lengthy training, expertise in grammar, knowledge of timelines and history and grasp over contemporary needs are needed to give discourse on Quran. No religious institution can impart such training within few years. It is important that learner has deep interest. One person can give sermon. It is better that all others stay silent and listen. However, speaker should relentlessly look for successors, next generation candidates. In the time given for him, speaker can invite promising candidates to don the dais for few minutes. Their mistakes can be corrected and their skills honed. Once the training is complete, they can be blessed and sent to new Mohalla to give discourse there. Producing ten candidates from each Mohalla will remove the paucity in discourses in Tamilnadu. It is the responsibility of the people of the Mohalla to make sure that the preacher has no unmet personal needs or issues. Preacher should be given a permanent residence, electricity expenditures, necessary rations, dresses and marriage needs should be addressed. People seeking to learn religion shall learn Quran completely. Ignoring Quran and getting attached to some other books won’t help any Mohalla.
In spite of a long term veteran giving Quran discourse in Chennai Ice House, which inhabits a lakh Muslims, hardly 30 Muslims assemble. Audience are left in the lurch because of discourses not conducted regularly. Haj is a duty to be undertaken once in a lifetime. Because some philanthropist donates money and friendship, preachers rush to Haj and Umra pilgrimage. Weekly Quran discourse in the Mohalla is left to suffer. Sometimes absence is due to visit to native place. Death of a relative, wedding occasions and illness sometimes become impediments to weekly discourses. Listeners who wait and feel disappointed prepare themselves to ignore the session altogether in future. Preacher’s job does not end with giving sermon. He should knock each door in the Mohalla and invite everyone personally. The fact that the elder has come to their home will weigh on their mind and force even a lazy person into Quran circle. Preacher, after earning some fame, money and influence, jump to next bigger Mohalla. Gathering crowd should not be the intention. Thrusting the message is important. Quran discourses organized by organizations, trusts and movements have failed miserably. Rather than attracting servants of God, target shifts to enrolling cadres for the organization. Everyone should analyze the reasons of the descent in Quran discourse.