News Analysis India

Tag: Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind

  • India belongs to me as much as it does to PM Modi, Mohan Bhagwat: Jamiat chief

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Mahmood Madani has claimed that India is the “birthplace of Islam” and asserted that the country belongs to him as much as it does to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

    Madani said it is wrong to suggest that Islam came from outside while claiming that the “first Prophet of Islam Adam descended here.”

    The Jamiat chief appealed to the RSS to urge its affiliates to shun “hate and enmity” and jointly work for making the country the most developed in the world. He also urged both Hindus and Muslims of the country to defy extremism and live with each other in peace.

    Madani’s remarks came during his two speeches, one Friday evening and the other Saturday afternoon, during the ongoing annual general session of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (Mahmood Madani faction) here at the Ramlila ground.

    “The distinction of this land is that the first Prophet of Islam Adam descended here. This land is the birthplace of Islam and the first homeland of Muslims. Therefore, to say that Islam is a religion that came from outside is completely wrong and historically baseless,” he said on Friday.

    “This is our country. As much as this country belongs to Narendra Modi and Mohan Bhagwat, it belongs to Mahmood. Neither Mahmood is one inch ahead of them nor are they one inch ahead of Mahmood,” he said.

    Islam is a religion of this country and it is also the oldest of all religions, he claimed.

    “The last Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, came to complete the same religion. So, I have no qualms in saying that India is the best place for Hindi Muslims,” Madani said.

    ALSO READ | ‘Here as family member, not as PM’, Modi tells Dawoodi Bohra Muslims

    In his remarks on Saturday, Madani expressed concerns about the alleged increase in incidents of Islamophobia and hate speech in the country. The Jamiat chief called on the RSS to jointly work with all for making the country the most developed and ideal in the world. “We want to make it clear here that we do not have any religious or ethnic enmity with the RSS and the BJP, but our differences are based on ideology,” Madani said.

    “In the current situation, Jamiat appeals to the RSS and its leaders to take practical steps in the light of the current ideas of their leaders and to convince their affiliated organisations to shed the cloak of hatred and sectarianism,” he said.

    “We have no grudge against the promotion of Santan Dharma, nor should you have any grudge against the promotion of Islam,” Madani said.

    Madani also stressed that the percentage of people spreading hatred in the country is very small and that the majority is still secular and believes in tolerance. “In the current dark atmosphere of hatred, we welcome and support all those who are trying to initiate a dialogue and understand each other’s ideas in order to foster stronger mutual relations,” Madani said.

    Mutual negotiation is the solution to all problems, he asserted.

    The plenary session of the event is scheduled to take place on Sunday. According to a release issued by Jamiat on Saturday, the prominent Muslim organisation also passed a 17-point resolution. Jamiat opposed the efforts to implement a Uniform Civil Code in India, the statement said.

    It argued that the UCC will have a direct impact on the country’s unity and diversity, and is contrary to the spirit of democracy and the constitutional guarantees given in Articles 25 to 29 of the Constitution. The Jamiat alleged that the government’s efforts in this direction are motivated by “vote-bank” politics rather than the protection of fundamental rights. It called on Muslims to remain steadfast in implementing Islamic Shariah and protecting the rights of women according to Islamic teachings, the statement said.

    ALSO READ | All people living in India are Hindus, claims RSS chief 

    In its 34th General Session, Jamiat also recommended measures to protect the freedom and autonomy of madrassas Despite their contributions to the country, a section of society and even some Muslims are spreading misconceptions about madrassas and blaming them for terrorism, Jamiat said.

    The meeting recommended various steps to address the situation including utilising the media to correct the “distorted” image of madrassas, protect them from terrorism and anti-national activities and adhere to the laws of the country for their management.

    In its resolutions, Jamiat also expressed concern about the alleged rise of Islamophobia and incitement against the Muslim community in the country. The organisation called for immediate action, including a separate law to give strict punishment to those who spread hatred and incite violence against minorities. The organisation also warned youth and student organisations to be cautious of anti-patriotic elements and to avoid organisations that propagate extremism and violence in the name of Islam.

    “The general session of the Jamiat condemned the Islamophobic campaign carried out by the media,” the statement said.

    The Jamiat also expressed concern about the protection of Muslim endowment (Waqf) properties and their income. It raised the issue of alleged “forced evictions” of homeless people, arrests of thousands “in the name of child marriage” and incidents of attacks and “mob lynching” of Dalits and Muslims.

    NEW DELHI: Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Mahmood Madani has claimed that India is the “birthplace of Islam” and asserted that the country belongs to him as much as it does to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

    Madani said it is wrong to suggest that Islam came from outside while claiming that the “first Prophet of Islam Adam descended here.”

    The Jamiat chief appealed to the RSS to urge its affiliates to shun “hate and enmity” and jointly work for making the country the most developed in the world. He also urged both Hindus and Muslims of the country to defy extremism and live with each other in peace.

    Madani’s remarks came during his two speeches, one Friday evening and the other Saturday afternoon, during the ongoing annual general session of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (Mahmood Madani faction) here at the Ramlila ground.

    “The distinction of this land is that the first Prophet of Islam Adam descended here. This land is the birthplace of Islam and the first homeland of Muslims. Therefore, to say that Islam is a religion that came from outside is completely wrong and historically baseless,” he said on Friday.

    “This is our country. As much as this country belongs to Narendra Modi and Mohan Bhagwat, it belongs to Mahmood. Neither Mahmood is one inch ahead of them nor are they one inch ahead of Mahmood,” he said.

    Islam is a religion of this country and it is also the oldest of all religions, he claimed.

    “The last Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, came to complete the same religion. So, I have no qualms in saying that India is the best place for Hindi Muslims,” Madani said.

    ALSO READ | ‘Here as family member, not as PM’, Modi tells Dawoodi Bohra Muslims

    In his remarks on Saturday, Madani expressed concerns about the alleged increase in incidents of Islamophobia and hate speech in the country. The Jamiat chief called on the RSS to jointly work with all for making the country the most developed and ideal in the world. “We want to make it clear here that we do not have any religious or ethnic enmity with the RSS and the BJP, but our differences are based on ideology,” Madani said.

    “In the current situation, Jamiat appeals to the RSS and its leaders to take practical steps in the light of the current ideas of their leaders and to convince their affiliated organisations to shed the cloak of hatred and sectarianism,” he said.

    “We have no grudge against the promotion of Santan Dharma, nor should you have any grudge against the promotion of Islam,” Madani said.

    Madani also stressed that the percentage of people spreading hatred in the country is very small and that the majority is still secular and believes in tolerance. “In the current dark atmosphere of hatred, we welcome and support all those who are trying to initiate a dialogue and understand each other’s ideas in order to foster stronger mutual relations,” Madani said.

    Mutual negotiation is the solution to all problems, he asserted.

    The plenary session of the event is scheduled to take place on Sunday. According to a release issued by Jamiat on Saturday, the prominent Muslim organisation also passed a 17-point resolution. Jamiat opposed the efforts to implement a Uniform Civil Code in India, the statement said.

    It argued that the UCC will have a direct impact on the country’s unity and diversity, and is contrary to the spirit of democracy and the constitutional guarantees given in Articles 25 to 29 of the Constitution. The Jamiat alleged that the government’s efforts in this direction are motivated by “vote-bank” politics rather than the protection of fundamental rights. It called on Muslims to remain steadfast in implementing Islamic Shariah and protecting the rights of women according to Islamic teachings, the statement said.

    ALSO READ | All people living in India are Hindus, claims RSS chief 

    In its 34th General Session, Jamiat also recommended measures to protect the freedom and autonomy of madrassas Despite their contributions to the country, a section of society and even some Muslims are spreading misconceptions about madrassas and blaming them for terrorism, Jamiat said.

    The meeting recommended various steps to address the situation including utilising the media to correct the “distorted” image of madrassas, protect them from terrorism and anti-national activities and adhere to the laws of the country for their management.

    In its resolutions, Jamiat also expressed concern about the alleged rise of Islamophobia and incitement against the Muslim community in the country. The organisation called for immediate action, including a separate law to give strict punishment to those who spread hatred and incite violence against minorities. The organisation also warned youth and student organisations to be cautious of anti-patriotic elements and to avoid organisations that propagate extremism and violence in the name of Islam.

    “The general session of the Jamiat condemned the Islamophobic campaign carried out by the media,” the statement said.

    The Jamiat also expressed concern about the protection of Muslim endowment (Waqf) properties and their income. It raised the issue of alleged “forced evictions” of homeless people, arrests of thousands “in the name of child marriage” and incidents of attacks and “mob lynching” of Dalits and Muslims.

  • UP all set for private madrassas survey, proprietors fear repressive action 

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: With the Uttar Pradesh government set to conduct a survey of private madrassas, proprietors of the theological schools fear that their institutions may be declared illegal and “run over by bulldozers”.

    According to sources, the fear was expressed by them on September 6 in New Delhi at a meeting of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, one of the leading organisations of Islamic scholars belonging to the Deobandi school of thought.

    However, state minister Danish Azad Ansari said the apprehension has no basis.

    The Muslim body’s president Maulana Arshad Madani said, “Nobody has any objection if the government wants to conduct a survey of private madrassas but care should be taken so that it doesn’t interfere in their internal matters.”

    The sources said it was decided at the meeting that views of the Muslim community will be placed before the government, a close eye will be kept on the exercise and a steering committee be formed to protest any wrongdoing.

    It was also decided to hold a meeting on September 24 in Darul Ulum Deoband to chalk out the future course of action. Earlier, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi and BSP supremo Mayawati had raised questions over the exercise, for which teams were to be formed by September 10.

    The government has maintained that the exercise is aimed at streamlining private religious seminaries so that students there could learn science and computers.

    AIMIM chief Owaisi had described the exercise as “mini NRC” (National Register of Citizenship).

    BSP supremo Mayawati has alleged that the government is trying to interfere in the internal matters of the seminaries with an intention to “terrorise” Muslims.

    Meanwhile, UP’s Minister of State for Minority Affairs Danish Azad Ansari assured us that no centre will be razed.

    “Those expressing such an apprehension should tell if any madrassa was brought down by any bulldozer in the previous five years of the state government. The anxiety has no basis,” he said.

    The lone Muslim minister in Yogi Adityanath’s government said the state government is working honestly to bring madrassas into the mainstream. “The purpose of the survey is to know the actual condition of the madrassas and help these in lifting their standard,” he added.

    The minister said during the survey, owners of private madrassas will be asked which schemes of the government they wanted. They will also be given information about development programmes run by the government for minorities.

    “Relevant papers and forms regarding schemes for minority communities will be made available to them during the survey so that welfare schemes reach villages and towns deprived of them till now,” Ansari said.

    Ansari asked critics to stay away from politics “if they are supporters of Muslim upliftment”.

    All-India Muslim Personal Law Board member and Lucknow city Qazi Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli too criticised Owaisi for dubbing the survey as “mini NRC” and said everything should not be politicised.

    He, however, said before carrying out the survey of private madrassas, the state government should strengthen the arrangements in government-affiliated madrassas and a similar survey be conducted in every primary school run by the government.

    The Uttar Pradesh government had on August 31 taken the decision to conduct the survey to assess basic facilities available in private madrassas. There are 16,461 such theological schools in Uttar Pradesh at present, of which 560 are registered with the government and getting financial assistance.

    Teams formed for the survey will include the deputy commissioner, district basic education officer and the district minority welfare. They will complete the exercise by October 15. The DMs should hand over the reports to the state administration by October 25.

    Sources said basic information like the name of a madrassa, its owner, whether it is run from rented premises, the number of students enrolled, and arrangements of drinking water, toilet, power supply and furniture will be collected.

    It will also seek information about the number of teachers in every theological school, syllabus followed, source of income and whether the institutions are linked with any NGO.

    LUCKNOW: With the Uttar Pradesh government set to conduct a survey of private madrassas, proprietors of the theological schools fear that their institutions may be declared illegal and “run over by bulldozers”.

    According to sources, the fear was expressed by them on September 6 in New Delhi at a meeting of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, one of the leading organisations of Islamic scholars belonging to the Deobandi school of thought.

    However, state minister Danish Azad Ansari said the apprehension has no basis.

    The Muslim body’s president Maulana Arshad Madani said, “Nobody has any objection if the government wants to conduct a survey of private madrassas but care should be taken so that it doesn’t interfere in their internal matters.”

    The sources said it was decided at the meeting that views of the Muslim community will be placed before the government, a close eye will be kept on the exercise and a steering committee be formed to protest any wrongdoing.

    It was also decided to hold a meeting on September 24 in Darul Ulum Deoband to chalk out the future course of action. Earlier, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi and BSP supremo Mayawati had raised questions over the exercise, for which teams were to be formed by September 10.

    The government has maintained that the exercise is aimed at streamlining private religious seminaries so that students there could learn science and computers.

    AIMIM chief Owaisi had described the exercise as “mini NRC” (National Register of Citizenship).

    BSP supremo Mayawati has alleged that the government is trying to interfere in the internal matters of the seminaries with an intention to “terrorise” Muslims.

    Meanwhile, UP’s Minister of State for Minority Affairs Danish Azad Ansari assured us that no centre will be razed.

    “Those expressing such an apprehension should tell if any madrassa was brought down by any bulldozer in the previous five years of the state government. The anxiety has no basis,” he said.

    The lone Muslim minister in Yogi Adityanath’s government said the state government is working honestly to bring madrassas into the mainstream. “The purpose of the survey is to know the actual condition of the madrassas and help these in lifting their standard,” he added.

    The minister said during the survey, owners of private madrassas will be asked which schemes of the government they wanted. They will also be given information about development programmes run by the government for minorities.

    “Relevant papers and forms regarding schemes for minority communities will be made available to them during the survey so that welfare schemes reach villages and towns deprived of them till now,” Ansari said.

    Ansari asked critics to stay away from politics “if they are supporters of Muslim upliftment”.

    All-India Muslim Personal Law Board member and Lucknow city Qazi Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli too criticised Owaisi for dubbing the survey as “mini NRC” and said everything should not be politicised.

    He, however, said before carrying out the survey of private madrassas, the state government should strengthen the arrangements in government-affiliated madrassas and a similar survey be conducted in every primary school run by the government.

    The Uttar Pradesh government had on August 31 taken the decision to conduct the survey to assess basic facilities available in private madrassas. There are 16,461 such theological schools in Uttar Pradesh at present, of which 560 are registered with the government and getting financial assistance.

    Teams formed for the survey will include the deputy commissioner, district basic education officer and the district minority welfare. They will complete the exercise by October 15. The DMs should hand over the reports to the state administration by October 25.

    Sources said basic information like the name of a madrassa, its owner, whether it is run from rented premises, the number of students enrolled, and arrangements of drinking water, toilet, power supply and furniture will be collected.

    It will also seek information about the number of teachers in every theological school, syllabus followed, source of income and whether the institutions are linked with any NGO.

  • Editors Guild, Press Club condemn scribe Muhammad Zubair’s arrest, Jamiat calls it ‘discriminatory action’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Editors Guild of India and the Press Club of India on Tuesday described the arrest of Alt News co-founder Muhammad Zubair on charges of hurting religious sentiments as “extremely disturbing” and demanded his immediate release.

    Both the media bodies pointed out that the action against Zubair came on a day when India joined G7 and four other countries to protect free speech, “online and offline”.

    “It is apparent that Alt News’ alert vigilance was resented by those who use disinformation as a tool to polarise society and rake nationalist sentiments,” the guild said in a statement here.

    Zubair was arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on Monday on charges of promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and deliberate acts to outrage religious feelings.

    “Zubair has been arrested under sections 153 and 295 of the Indian Penal Code.

    This is extremely disturbing because Zubair and his website Alt News have done some exemplary work over the past few years in identifying fake news and countering disinformation campaigns, in a very objective and factual manner,” the guild said.

    It demanded that the Delhi Police release Zubair immediately.

    “This is necessary to buttress the commitments made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the G7 meet in Germany to ensure a resilient democracy by protecting online and offline content,” the guild said.

    The Press Club of India said: “The action by the Delhi Police in hastily arresting Muhammad Zubair showed the blatant violation of the country’s commitment on the global platform given by none other than the prime minister himself.”

    Earlier, a body of digital media organisations had condemned Zubair’s arrest and asked the Delhi Police to withdraw the case against him immediately.

    In a democracy, where every individual possesses the right to exercise the freedom of speech and expression, it is unjustifiable that such stringent laws are used as tools against journalists, who have been accorded the role of playing a watchdog against the misuse of the institutions of the State, a statement issued by the DIGIPUB said.

    “The use of such stringent laws as tools against journalists who are considered the fourth pillar of democracy must be stopped. We stand with Zubair,” it added.

    Prominent Muslim organisation Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind on Tuesday termed the arrest “discriminatory” and demanded that the government take “fair action” in the matter respecting the country’s reputation at the international level.

    Jamiat president Maulana Mahmood Madani also wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah saying “the discriminatory nature” of the functioning of law enforcement agencies is condemnable.

    “On one hand, people who openly deliver hate speeches and make genocide calls are roaming free, while on the other hand journalists who are tirelessly working in exposing such hate-mongers are being systematically harassed and intimidated,” Madani said.

    “There is no doubt that the people accused of hurting religious sentiments of other people’s faith, their holy saints and holy books with the intention to cause communal disturbance must be dealt with firmly as per the provision of the law.

    However, there must not be any discrimination in dealing with such people on the basis of their particular faith,” the Jamiat chief said.

    In the case against Zubair, Madani alleged “discrimination and religious persecution”.

    “We solemnly appeal to you as the guardian of the law enforcement to kindly make sure that absolute equality and impartiality is exercised by the law enforcement agencies in dealing with the hate mongers irrespective of their faith,” Madani said in his letter.

    “We demand that the government take fair action respecting the country’s reputation at the international level,” he said.

  • Gyanvapi mosque row: Jamiat appeals to people not to hit streets, avoid demonstrations

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Amid the Gyanvapi mosque row, prominent Muslim organisation Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind on Wednesday appealed to the people, specially members of the community, not to hit the streets over the issue and avoid all kind of public demonstrations.

    The Gyanvapi mosque is adjacent to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi and a local court is hearing a plea by a group of five Hindu women seeking the court’s permission for daily prayers before the idols on its outer walls.

    In a statement, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Mahmood Madani said some “mischievous elements and biased media” are trying to create strife between the two communities by fanning religious emotions.

    In such a situation, the Jamiat appeals to all the people of India, specially Indian Muslims, that they should not hit streets over the issue of the Gyanvapi mosque and all kinds of public demonstrations should be avoided, it said.

    ALSO READ | AIMIM leader held over ‘derogatory’ post on ‘Shivling’ inside Gyanvapi mosque complex

    The Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid is a party to the matter in various courts of the country and it is believed that they will fight this case vigorously till the end, the statement said.

    Other organisations of the country are urged not to interfere directly in this case in any courts, the Jamiat said.

    If they want to provide help or assistance in the case, they can do through the ‘masjid intezamiya committee’, it said.

    Ulema, scholars, speakers and TV debaters are urged to refrain from participating in debates and discussions on this issue, the statement said.

    The case is sub-juidice, so provocative debates and social media speeches are by no means in the interest of the country, the Jamiat said.

  • Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind opposes co-education; says non-Muslims should also not opt for it

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prominent Muslim body Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind on Monday advocated setting up of separate schools and colleges for girls and said non-Muslims should also refrain from giving co-education to their daughters to “keep them away from immorality and misbehaviour.”

    In a statement issued after the working committee meeting of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (Maulana Arshad Madani faction), its chief Arshad Madani said the kind of religious and ideological confrontation that is playing out across the country cannot be countered by any weapon or technology, and the only way to counter it is to equip the new generation with higher education.

    He alleged that all post-independence governments had excluded Muslims from the field of education under a set policy.

    He said, “It is also a fact that Muslims did not deliberately withdraw themselves from education, because if they were not interested in education, why would they establish madrasas. I would like to repeat my words once again that Muslims must equip their children with higher education at any cost. We desperately need schools and colleges in which our children, especially girls with religious identity, can get higher education in the world without any hindrance or discrimination,” Madani said.

    In its statement, the Jamiat appealed to the influential and wealthy people of society to set up separate schools and colleges for girls in their respective areas.

    Madani said no religion teaches immorality and obscenity and they have been condemned in every religion of the world.

    “Therefore, we will also ask our non-Muslim brothers to refrain from giving co-education to their daughters to keep them away from immorality and misbehaviour, and to set up separate educational institutions for them,” he said.

    He said good madrasas and good higher secular educational institutions in which these poor children can be provided equal opportunities for education are needed in today’s situation.

    On recently reported incidents of mob violence in various parts of the country, the Jamiat said all political parties, especially those who call themselves secular, should come out openly and call for a law against it.

    Referring to the reported mob violence incidents, Madani claimed that all this was being done in a planned manner and was aimed at uniting the majority against the minority by inciting religious extremism.

    He alleged that such incidents suddenly escalate when elections are due in states.

    Madani demanded that the government take practical action against such incidents to protect its reputation, and the civilisation and culture of the country.

    Apart from Madani, Mufti Syed Masoom Saqib, general secretary of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind; Maulana Abdul Aleem Farooqi, vice president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind; Maulana Syed Asjad Madani and Maulana Abdur Rasheed Qasmi and others attended the meeting.

  • Eid-ul-Adha on Wednesday, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind urges Muslims to offer prayers following Covid norms

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Prominent Muslim body Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind on Saturday urged the people of the community to perform Eid-ul-Adha prayers on July 21 in mosques or at home following all Covid-related guidelines issued by the health ministry.

    Jamiat chief Maulana Arshad Madani said it is better to offer sacrifice after the sermon and prayers quickly and the waste should be buried in such a way that it does not cause malodour.

    In a statement, he said coronavirus is not over yet and in view of fears of the third wave of the pandemic, Muslims should perform Eid-ul-Adha prayers in mosques or at home following all guidelines of the health ministry.

    He also cautioned Muslims against sacrificing any animal forbidden by law.

    Eid ul-Adha, also called the festival of sacrifice, will be celebrated on Wednesday.