“WITHDRAW immediately the schemes of sex education in the educational institutions. Instead, moral education should be included in the curricula. It should contain moral values common to all religions so that the curricula do not have a stamp of a particular faith only,” the Islamic Fiqh Academy of India has urged the Indian government. The 17th Fiqh Seminar, organized by the Islamic Fiqh Academy of India, was held from 5-7 April 2008, at the renowned Islamic Educational Institution Darul Uloom Shaikh Ali Muttaqi, in the historic city of Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, Central India. About 400 Muftis (scholars having the authority to issue religious decrees) and some experts in relevant subjects participated. Representatives of every region from Assam to Gujarat and from Kashmir to Kerala attended the seminar. Eminent Ulema from almost all religious seminaries (Madrasas) and scholars representing various Islamic schools of thought were also present at the seminar. Apart from the State of Qatar, a delegation of jurists from Iran also participated. There were eight sessions in all and the participants discussed different religious issues including sex education and environment. The Seminar adopted important resolutions on the topics that came up for in-depth discussion. Here we give its recommendations on sex education and ecology. Sex education The issue of sex education in the educational institutions was deliberated upon at the seminar. According to a resolution, the human life passes through various stages. One of the important stages of life commences when boys and girls attain the age of puberty. The passions and desires that surface with the onset of adulthood are natural and generally need no proper education in this regard. But the pre and post-puberty changes and the perception of these passions and impulses that emerge during this period sometimes lead one to immoral conduct. The seminar, therefore, expressed its deep concern over the schemes of introducing sex education in the educational institutions in India and resolved unanimously the following: u Sex education for the boys and girls at the primary and middle stages is, in fact, “not only alien to the Islamic values but also goes against the Hindu traditions of our country as well as the Oriental morality. The government of India should desist from such a policy; else the moral consequences would be undesirable. u What is actually needed is moral education and awareness that would save the young generation from illicit relationship and sexual perversion. The best way to protect people from AIDS and other similar diseases is to avoid illegal sexual contacts and abide by moral values. This is the positive approach. To teach boys and girls the methods of safe illegal sex is a negative way and is nothing but a call toward sin and vice and is physically morally and detrimental to the society. u This seminar demands the government of India to withdraw immediately the schemes of sex education in the educational institutions. Instead, moral education should be included in the curricula which should contain the common moral values of all religions so that the curricula does not have a stamp of a particular faith only.” Ecological conservation Another important issue, which was discussed and deliberated upon at the seminar was ecological conservation, especially issues related to the environment. The scholars observed that Allah Almighty has created this earth to be inhabited by human beings. He has also created conditions conducive to make it compatible with human life. But an injudicious use of the earth's resources may cause pollution. The Lord of the Universe has also created means that work to dissolve pollution and save humankind from the injurious effects of the pollution through this process. After dissolution these elements work for improvement of the natural balance of this Universe. “There is no doubt that the industrial revolution has provided ample comforts of life to humankind but at the same time it has caused huge amount of air, water and sound pollution. It has adversely affected the climate balance. Various new diseases have cropped up. The scientists are of the view that if the environmental pollution were not controlled the consequences would be disastrous for the humanity. They have also suggested the ways to neutralize the factors causing pollution. But to get maximum production from minimum expenditure the industrialists are not putting those systems to use. It is something undesirable in terms of Islamic and humanitarian values,” the seminar observed. Keeping this in perspective, the seminar unanimously adopted the following resolutions: u This seminar demands the government of India that all companies, whether national or multinational, must be obliged to abide by the laws enacted to keep the environment pollution-free. u The dangers the world is faced with due to environmental pollution can be laid mostly at the door of the developed countries. To earn more and more profit and to market cheapest products, they did not care to make their industries environment-friendly, nor did they use the means to tackle pollution, so much so that now when the pollution has become a formidable threat, they are unwilling to shoulder their responsibility. This seminar urges them to realize their responsibilities toward humanity and appeals to the government of India that being the largest democracy in the world and a major world power, it should try to persuade the developed countries to shoulder their responsibilities. u All our countrymen are also urged to keep their environment pollution-free. They must avoid doing anything that causes pollution in their localities and is annoying to others such as to answer the call of nature in the open; to make open drains outside their houses; to throw dirt or filth in the stored clean water, etc. It will save the society from dangerous diseases and other problems.” __
