Curtain Riser English - Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind

WORLD PEACE CONFERENCE
Deoband, 13-14 December 2013
CurtainRaiser
IssuesbeforetheConclaveofUlamaDelegatesfromIndia,
Pakistan,Bangladesh,SriLanka,Maldives,Burma,Nepal,
UKandotherCountries
Sheikhul-HindEducationalCharitableTrust,NewDelhi
1.Role of Ulama inthe Freedom of Indiaand
othercountries
TheroleofUlamainthefreedomofIndiansubcontinentfromcolonialrulecan
neverbeforgotten.Thesagaoftheirrelentlessstruggleandsacrificehasveryfew
parallel in the annals of history. Even before the emergence of revolutionary
movements in France, America and Russia Shah Waliullah Mohaddis Dehlawi
revolutionized the Islamic intelligentsia in the subcontinent by propagating the
Islamic ideals of freedom, equality and social justice. It ultimately led to call for
freedom from colonial subjugation through the renowned FATWA issued by his
illustrioussonShahAbdulAzizin1803andlaunchofarmedstrugglebySayedAhmad
ShaheedandhisfollowersknownasBalakotmovement.Subsequently1857warof
freedomresonatedwiththesameFATWAwhentheprecursorsofDeobandmovement
HajiImdadullahMohajirMakki,MaulanaRasheedAhmadGangohi,MaulanaQasim
Nanotwi,HafizZaminShaheedandahostofUlemaconfrontedthemightofBritish
EmpireinthebattleofShamliandlaidtheirlivesfightingforthecauseoffreedom.
From 1857to 1947,Foundation of DarulUloom Deoband in 1866,Silk Letter
Movement of Shaikhul Hind Maulana Mahmood Hasan Deobandi in 1914-15,
Foundation of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind in 1919 and its leading role in the freedom
movement, Call for Non-cooperation and Boycott of British in 1920-21, Call for
SWARAJ in 1928-29, Quit India movement in 1942 and relentless participation
shouldertoshoulderwiththeIndianstalwartsoffreedommovementuntil1947form
theprominentgoalpostsinthemarchoffreedombyUlamaofthesubcontinent.The
Ulama made the participation in the freedom movement a religious duty of every
Muslim. Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani presented Islamic perspective on love of
motherland and composite nationalism, advocating brotherly relations among
differentreligiouscommunitiesandpeacefulcoexistence.
It isregrettable that the contribution ofUlama and theirsacrificesareon the
verge of oblivion. Our young generation is hardly aware of their ancestor's
achievementsthatcouldbethebestnaturalsourceofinspirationandrolemodels.
Thereisagreatneedtocreateawarenessaboutoureldersandancestorsthroughtext
booksandmassmedia.
2.DutiesandRoleofUlamatoEstablishPeace
Islammeanspeace.Itsmessageofpeacecoversthewholeuniverseincludingall
humanandlivingbeings.Islamadvocatesmutualcooperationandfraternalrelations
amongallnations.Itpreachesjustice,equality,benedictionandpeacefulcoexistence.
Itopposesaggression,violence,hatredandterrorization.Discriminationonthebasis
ofcast,color,raceandcreedistabooinIslam.ThesacredverseoftheHolyQuranis
oftenquotedtosaythatwhoeverkillsanyoneunjustifiablyitisdeemedasifhehas
killedallhumanbeings.Andifsomeonesavesalifeitisdeemedasifhehassavedall
humanbeings.[Qur'an,5:32]AllahTa'aladoesn'tlikeaggressionandanarchy.
UlamabeingtheinheritorsoftheProphets'legacy,itistheirprimarydutytostand
up against aggression and violence and to establish peace in the areas of their
jurisdiction.Everypreachermustpreachpeaceinordertodeliverthetruemessageof
Islam.
Forestablishingpeace,therearetwopre-requisites;
A) Identificationofthecausesofaggressionwhichcouldbelinguistic,ethnic,
racial,religious,sectarianornationalbias.
B) The strategy to counter aggression. It should be based on peaceful
resolutionofconflict,dialogueandpersuasion.
Thecampaignforpeacecanbelaunchedatindividual,social,inter-religious,intra
community, national and international level in accordance with the capacity and
status of the persons involved. Inter faith dialogues can play an important role in
bringingthedifferentcommunitiescloserandbridgingthegulf.Ulamamusttakea
leadinthisdirection.
3.Intra Community bonding in the light of
Islamic values and right of neighbors
propoundedbyIslam
Andbegoodtotheneighborwhoisyourrelativeandtotheneighborwhois
notarelative...[Qur'an,4:36]
Islamhasgreatrespectforthemutualrightsanddutiesofneighbors.TheHoly
ProphetMuhammadPBUHsaid:Jibrailalwaysusedtoadvisemetobegenerouswith
neighbors,tillIthoughtthatAllahwasgoingtoincludetheneighborsamongtheheirs
ofaMuslim.
TherightsofneighborhoodarenotmeantforMuslimneighborsonly.Ofcourse,a
Muslimneighborhasonemoreclaimuponus-thatofIslamicbrotherhood;butasfar
astherightsofneighborhoodareconcerned,allareequal.
Explainingit,theHolyProphetMuhammadPBUHsaid:Neighborsareofthree
kinds:
(1)Theonewhohasgotonerightuponyou.
(2)Theonewhohasgottworightsuponyou.
(3)Theonewhohasgotthreerightsuponyou.
TheneighborhavingthreerightsuponyouistheonewhoisalsoaMuslim
andarelative.Theneighborhavingtworightsistheonewhoiseitheranon-Muslimor
a non-relative Muslim. The neighbor having one right is the one who is neither a
Muslimnorarelative.Stillhehasgotalltheclaimsofneighborhood-rightsuponyou.
ThusProphetMuhammadPBUHhascommandedtobekind,helpful,lovingand
caringtoourneighborsandmakesuretheyareingoodhealthandletthemknowyou
arethereforthem.
Islam'smessagefortherightsofneighborsprovidestheguidelineandcodeof
conduct in the pluralistic societies of the contemporary world. Living together in
peaceandharmonyistheveryessenceofgoodconductrequiredfromagoodMuslim.
In order to be a good Muslim your neighbor must vouch for your good conduct
towardshim.ThatisthetestprescribedbyIslam.[Tirmidhi]
4. United and firm stand against bloodshed of
innocent people by terrorist groups and
communalforcesinthenameofreligion
UnfortunatelyIslamhasbeenassociatedwithterrorismandviolenceduetothe
actionsofafewmisguidedindividualswhoperpetrateviolenceinthenameofIslam.
TounderstandIslam'sstanceonterrorism,onemustrefertoitsoriginalsources,
theQuranandtheteachingsofProphetMuhammadPBUHwhichareexplicitintheir
prohibitionofanyformofinjusticeincludingthatofwantonviolencewhichseeksto
instillfear,injuryordeathtoinnocentcivilians.
The Quran turns our attention to the high value of human life, whether it is
MuslimorNon-Muslimandmakesitabsolutelyforbiddentotakeaninnocentlife
unjustly. Thegravityofsuchacrimeisequated,intheQuran,withthekillingofall
humanity.
“Onthataccount:WeordainedfortheChildrenofIsraelthatifanyoneslew
aperson-unlessitbeformurderorforspreadingmischiefintheland-itwould
beasifheslewthewholepeople:andifanyonesavedalife,itwouldbeasifhe
saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our
apostleswithclearsigns,yet,evenafterthat,manyofthemcontinuedtocommit
excessesintheland.”[Qur'an,5:32]
ThemessageoftheQuranisclearaswehaveseenthatthesanctityofanyhuman
lifeistoberespectedandanyviolationinthatregardisparamounttotheworstcrime.
MercyisattheheartoftheIslamiccall,“Wesentthee(OMuhammad)notsaveasa
mercyforthepeoples”[Qur'an,21:107];atotallydifferentmessagetowhatthe
terroristsaresadlyimpartingtohumanity.
DarulUloomDeobandonthebehestofJamiatUlama-i-Hindtooktheinitiativeto
issuetheFATWAagainstterrorismrelyinguponthedirectsourcesofHolyQuranand
PropheticTraditions.ThisFATWAhasbeenwellpublicizedinIndiaandthousandsof
Ulamaacrossthecountryhaveratifiedit.IthasimpactednotonlyMuslimsbutthe
wholeofIndiaandledtoperceptiblechangeintheirperceptionofIslam.Itishightime
that the message transcends Indian boundaries and spread throughout the
subcontinentandthewholeworldwiththesealofDarulUloomDeobandandratified
bytheUlama,spreadallovertheworld.
5.Extremeandviolentconflictsamongvarious
Muslim theological groups and
denominations
There are a number of reports in the Hadith related about the splitting-up of
MuslimUmmah.AsProphetMuhammadsaid,“TheJewssplit-upintoseventytwo
sects.AndmyUmmahwillsplitintoseventythreesects.Allofthemareinfireexcept
one.” They (companion) asked, “Who, O Prophet?” It is that which I and my
companionsareupon.”[MishkatP/30]
ThisHadeethinformsusaboutthedivisionofMuslimUmmahintoseventythree
sects and points out that only one of them would be righteous. Differences on
theological basis are inevitable. Among the followers of the same religion, the
differencesshouldneverbethecauseofhatredtoeachother.Everygroupshould
presenttheirviewspositivelyandneverslanderothers.Thereshouldneverbeviolent
conflict among the theological groups and none should be forced to follow them.
Keeping our theological conflicts aside, we should follow the way of our Prophet
MuhammadPBUHandhiscompanionsandpresentanexampletotheworld.
6.Protectionofrightsofminorities
Many States have minorities within their borders. Although no firm statistics
exist,estimatessuggestthat10to20percentoftheworld'spopulationbelongto
minorities.Thismeansthatbetween600millionand1.2billionpeopleareinneedof
special measures for the protection of their rights, given that minorities are often
amongthemostdisadvantagedgroupsinsociety,theirmembersareoftensubjectto
discriminationandinjusticeandexcludedfrommeaningfulparticipationinpublic
andpoliticallife.
WhenweobservethelifeofProphetMuhammadPBUHinthisperspective,we
findthathenotonlygavetheminoritiestheirduerightsbutalsomadethemfreeto
livetheirlivesinaccordancewiththeirbeliefs.Islamseekstoestablishsuchasociety
whereallcitizensofthestateenjoyequalrightsandreligiondoesnotbecomethe
basisforanydiscrimination.IslamiclawholdsbothMuslimsandnon-Muslimsequal
invariousrights.
Islamicauthorityisresponsiblefortheprotectionandsecurityofminorities.Ifit
hasenteredintoanagreementwithanothernation,theprotectionandsecurityofthe
latteralsofallsunderitsdomainofresponsibility.
7.Support of weaker sections, oppressed
classes,womenandchildren
IntheteachingsoftheHolyProphetofIslamMuhammadPBUH,rightsofthe
weaker sections of society, the orphans, the widows, the destitute and the
downtroddencanbedescribedasfundamentalhumanrights.Tocarefortheirneeds
andlookaftertheirwellbeinghasbeendescribedasavirtueofthehighestorder.
Inrespectofwomenrights,Islamismalignedagainstbythesocalledfeministand
free thinkers who are totally ignorant about the real status of women in Islam.
Howeverwecannotblamethementirelyfortheirignorance.Tosomeextentwealso
couldbeblamedaswehavefailedtoputacrosstherealissuesandinformthepeople
about the care and concern, shown to women. Many of the protective measures
recommendedbytheShariaharemadeouttoberestrictionsuponwomenfreedom
and progress.Thereisa great needofdialogueand removalofmisunderstanding
througheducation.
Womenhaveallalongbelongedtothecategoryoftheweakersectionofhumanity.
Assuch,asocietythattriestoupliftthestatusofwomenandinstallsthemonthe
pedestal of dignity, looking after their welfare and making provisions for their
protectioncanbeconsideredajustsociety.Atthisjuncturewoulditnotbeworthwhile
toexamine,inshort,whetherwehavetriedtograntwomentherightsthatmaylead
them to a better future, to a more peaceful just and dignified coexistence with all
humanbeings?
Islam makes the family the key social unit. All the members of this unit play
specificrolesforitswelfareandupkeep.Thepositionofwomenderivesfromthevery
premisethatthefamilyisthecornerstoneoftheMuslimsociety.TheIslamicsystemis
verysensitiveaboutprotectingandsafeguardingthefoundationofthefamily.Hence
thereisstrictprohibitionofextramaritalrelationsorindulgenceinfreesex,asthis
weakensthebaseofthefamily.UndertheIslamicsystem,discriminationongrounds
ofsex,powerorwealthisnotallowed.
ItisourgreatresponsibilitytomaketheworldawareoftherightsIslamhas
giventoweakersections,oppressedclasses,womenandchildren.
8.Mutual cooperation with the organizations
ofallreligionstocleansthesocietyofsocial
ev i l s s u c h a s s ex u a l ex p l o i t a t i o n , extravagance,alcoholism,drugs,indecency,
nudityandobscenity
Thecontemporarysocietyisonthevergeofcollapse.Itisengulfedbyevils
fromallsides.Ourfamilyandsociallifeisthreatenedbysexual,permissiveness,
nudity,obscenityandintoxication.Extravagantexpendituresonthemarriages
andexchangeofdowrybeyondavailablemeansandfemaleinfanticidearetoo
common.ItisnotachallengefortheMuslimsonlybutthewholesocietydemands
forreformativemeasuresandlaws.
Theleadersandorganizationsofvariousfaithsareworkingintheareasof
theirjurisdictions.ThestandofIslamandlegalsafeguardstohandletheseissues
arequiteclear,practicalandeffective.TheexamplesofvariousIslamicsocietiesin
respectofcontrolonsocialcrimescanbecited.
Islammeansuniversalmercy.Thereforeitisquitelogicalthatwecooperate
and unite with other faith leaders and organizations to root out the evils
threateningthehumancivilizationsandcultures.