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Jamiat Ulama - I - Hind

Report by Hazrat Maulana Amirul Hind Margoobur Rahman Sb. Jamiat 01-05-2008

M.Muzaffa

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Report by Hazrat Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani   30-05-2008

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OATH OF ALLEGIANCE 

We support the declaration of this Anti Terrorism Global Peace Conference of Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind and other organizations. We are bound by the Fatwa of Darul Uloom Deoband and undertake that we shall condemn terrorism and spread the Islam’s message of global peace.

Ref: 814 B

Subject: Seeking Fatwa  

These days, a sinister campaign is going on in an organized manner, to tarnish the image of, and to malign against Islamic faith, Holy Quran and teachings of the Prophet (PUBH), by linking terrorism with Islam and distorting the meanings of Quranic verses and the Prophet traditions. Therefore, please clarify what is the clear stand of Islam towards world peace? What are the guidelines issued to humanity in Quran and Prophet’s traditions about this matter?  

Mahmood Asad Madani 

Fatwa issued on the letter head of Darul Uloom Deoband. 

Signed and sealed by the Grand Mufti and his three Assistants in the Fatwa Department of Darul Uloom Deoband. 

Ref: 685 B

In the name of Allah, most gracious and most merciful 

Answer (with the blessings of Allah): Islam is the religion of Peace and security. In its eyes, on any part over the surface of the earth spreading mischief, rioting, breach of peace, bloodshed, killing of innocent persons and plundering are the most inhuman crimes. In several places in the Holy Quran strict prohibition has been prescribed against breach of peace “Do not mischief on the Earth after it has been set in order” (Surah Aaraf, V. 56) and in another place condemning the mischief mongers it has been said  “When he turns he back, his aim every where is to spread mischief through the earth and destroy crops and progeny but Allah loveth not mischief”  (Surah AlBaqarah V. 205) in another place Quran says “And do no evil nor mischief on the (face of the) earth” (Surah alBaqarah V. 60) In the eyes of Quran and Islam killing of one innocent person is equivalent to killing of the whole humanity. Because when this door opens no body is able to control while saving one life is equivalent of saving the whole humanity. Allah Taala had said “On that account: We ordained for the children of Israel that if any one slew a person-unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land- it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life. It would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.” (Surah Maidah, V. 32) in another place it has been clearly ordered, “and don’t kill any one whose killing has been prohibited except in just manner.”

Islam’s love for peace is so extended that while giving permission of self defense to the oppressed it prescribes that no excess should be committed in retribution nor any innocent person should be targeted. Thus, Allah Almighty says, “Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors”.

Therefore, in the traditions of the Prophet (PUBH) it is provided that even in the state of war, human rights must be fully observed. Such details are provided in the Prophet’s traditions. In addition, it is the teaching of Islam that all the creatures of Allah are one family and who ever treats the family of Allah with compassion and mercy he would be loved by Allah most (Baihaqi). Our Prophet Hadhrat Mohammad Mustafa (PUBH) has said that those who take mercy upon others Allah takes mercy upon them. You treat the inhabitants of the earth with mercy and the inhabitant of the Heaven (Allah) shall take mercy upon you (Tirmizi, Abu Dawood). In short, Islam rejects all kinds of unjust violence, breach of peace, bloodshed, murder and plunder and does not allow it in any form. It is the principle of Islam that cooperation should be done for the cause of good but no cooperation is to be done for committing sin or oppression. Allah Almighty says “Help ye one another in sin and rancour.” It is proved from the clear guidelines provided in the Holy Quran that allegation of terrorism against a religion like Islam which preaches and guarantees world peace is nothing but lie. The religion of Islam has come to wipe out all kinds of terrorism and to spread the message of global peace. Allah knows the best. 

Signed by: 

Mufti Habibur Rehman

Grand Mufti, Darul Uloom Deoband 

Ratified by: 

1.         Zain ul Islam Qasmi (Deputy Mufti, Darul Uloom Deoband)

2.         Mufti Waqar Ali (Assistant Mufti Darul Uloom Deoband)

3.         Mufti Mehmoodul Hasan Bulanshehari 

Issued under the seal of Darul Ifta, Darul Uloom Deoband

Islamic seminary Dar-ul Uloom has issued a fatwa denouncing terrorism and declaring it the “most inhuman crime”. “In its (Islam’s) eyes... spreading mischief, rioting, breach of peace, bloodshed, killing of innocent persons and plundering are the most inhuman crimes,” reads the fatwa, which was endorsed by leaders of several religions at an anti-terrorism conference in Delhi on Saturday. The conference was organised by the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind. (AP picture)

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Deoband_first_A_fatwa_against_terror/articleshow/3089161.cms

The Times of India, The Economic Times

(The Times of India publicises itself as the largest circulation English newspaper in the world. Its most probably true, considering its editions from more than a dozen cities in India alone have a circulation of a few million. The Economic Times is India’s second largest circulation English newspaper.)

Deoband first: A fatwa against terror
1 Jun 2008, 0000 hrs IST,TNN

 

NEW DELHI: For the first time ever, Islamic seminary Darul-Uloom Deoband issued a fatwa against terrorism on Saturday, stating Islam had come to wipe out all kinds of terrorism and to spread the message of global peace. The Darul-Uloom had denounced terrorism for the first time in February, but had not issued a fatwa so far. (Watch , http://broadband.indiatimes.com/videoshow/3090022.cms)

 
Saturday’s fatwa, signed by Darul-Uloom’s grand mufti Habibur Rehman, asserts that "Islam rejects all kinds of unjust violence, breach of peace, bloodshed, murder and plunder and does not allow it in any form".

Citing the "sinister campaign" to malign "Islamic faith...by linking terrorism with Islam and distorting the meanings of Quranic Verses and Prophet traditions", Mahmood Asad Madani, leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, had wanted Deoband to spell out the stand of Islam on world peace.

The fatwa, issued before a huge gathering of Muslims in Delhi’s Ramlila Ground for the Anti-Terrorism and Global Peace Conference, went on to say, "It is proved from clear guidelines provided in the Holy Quran that allegations of terrorism against a religion which preaches and guarantees world peace is nothing but a lie. The religion of Islam has come to wipe out all kinds of terrorism and to spread the message of global peace. Allah knows the best."

The conference was addressed by Jamiat chief and Darul-Uloom’s deputy rector Hazrat Maulana Qari Sayed Mohammed Usman.

He called the conference historic as Muslims of different sects and ideologies — including Nadwatul Ulama Lucknow, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and All India Muslim Personal Law Board — ratified the fatwa against terrorism.

The exclusively-male turnout that read an "oath of allegiance" to the fatwa cheered most lustily as speakers attacked the US.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind leader Madani, an MP, stated that the fatwa should be welcomed by the entire Islamic world.

"Killing of innocent people is not compatible with Islam. The biggest challenge faced by us today is terrorism (which) threatens to strike at the very root of the secular structure of our society besides causing irreparable loss," stated Madani.

Notwithstanding the caveats like "unjust" and "innocent", which may make it appear falling short of an unequivocal condemnation of terrorism, the fatwa is viewed by many as a significant step forward towards rallying the public opinion against terrorism.

Coming after the February 25 denunciation, it is seen as reflective of the growing recognition on the part of clerics to counter misgivings about interpretations of scriptures.

Deoband has lately been under intense focus because many of the terrorist groups — from Taliban to Jaish and Harkat — are widely perceived to be Deobandi in orientation.

However, it was when the deputy rector of Deoband, Usman, came down heavily on "the dual policy of America" that the massive crowds cheered the most. "Whenever Christian and American interests are hurt in any part of the world, they take prompt action to set things right even at the cost of human lives. They maintain silence though when Muslims are the victims," he said, further criticizing the US for its support to Israel.

According to Usman, Jamiat recently held a series of conferences and meetings with madrassas in Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Surat, Varanasi and Kolkata to carry forward the anti-terror movement which was initiated at Deoband in February. Usman said that many people, especially in the West, were carrying out a propaganda that terrorism was synonymous with jehad.

He said that while terrorism is destructive, jehad is constructive. "Terrorism is the gravest crime as held by Quran and Islam. We are not prepared to tolerate terrorism in any form and we are ready to cooperate with all responsible people," he said.

(The above report was also published by the sister publication The Economic Times, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Deoband_first_A_fatwa_against_terror/rssarticleshow/3089426.cms.

The Hindustan Times

(Has a circulation of well over 300,000 in the nation’s capital alone).

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=7eb3aacb-4c2c-4b22-b88a-c87971dd192d

Darul’s global fatwa on terror

Zia Haq , Hindustan Times

New Delhi, June 01, 2008

Islamists from various sects, numbering around 10,000 (gross underestimate. PTI, the conservative national news agency no. one in India said 70,000), were on Saturday administered a Quranic pledge to "stay away from terror" by the rector of influential Darul Uloom seminary Maulana Marghoobur Rahman at a peace conference in the Capital.

"What has been promised, must be accomplished," Rehman said, quoting from the Quran, after "formalising" Darul's anti-terror declaration issued on February 25 into a globally applicable fatwa.

With this, Darul Uloom, led by Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind, has officially issued the world's first fatwa against terror. The fatwa, signed by Darul chief Riyasat Ali Bijnori, has been endorsed by all Muslim sects in India, especially the Barelvi, Khankahi and Sufis. In February, HT was the first to report about Darul's intention of coming out with an anti-terror fatwa.

"This fatwa had become necessary to save Islam and stop Islam from being targeted as a religion that propagates terror," Jamiat leader Mahmood Madni said.

The fatwa assumes significance because of the Deoband (UP)-based Darul's wide influence across the Muslim world. After the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Darul is the most important centre of Islamic theology.

Aiming to ward off constant allegations of terror links, the seminary took two decisive steps that could have far-reaching effects in the Muslim world. It not only declared terror activities anti-Islam but also involved top clerics in defining terrorism in the light of the Quran and Shariah.

Madni said clerics from Darul had "analysed terror activities in Islamic light" and arrived at this definition of terrorism: "Any action that targets innocents, whether by an individual or by any government or by a private organisation anywhere in the world constitutes, according to Islam, an act of terrorism."

Saturday's anti-terror conference, held at New Delhi's Ram Lila grounds, was attended by leaders from various faiths.

The Asian Age

(A multi-edition newspaper with a modest circulation)

http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/news/india/darul’s-fatwa-against-terrorism.aspx

Darul’s fatwa against terrorism

BY PARUL CHANDRA

NEW DELHI

May 31: Barely three moths after issuing a declaration condemning all forms of terrorism and violence, the influential leading Islamic seminary Darul Uloom in Deoband on Saturday issued a "fatwa" denouncing terrorism. It stated that in Islam’s view, "spreading mischief, rioting, breach of peace, bloodshed, killing of innocent persons and plundering are the most inhuman crimes." The "fatwa" came during an anti-terror conference organised by the Jamiat-Ulema-E-Hind and Darul Uloom at the city’s sprawling Ramlila Grounds on Saturday evening.

The "fatwa" is not without significance given that the Deoband seminary enjoys the reputation of belonging to a radical school of thought as far as Islam is concerned. The Taliban as also others professing to follow the "jehadi" brand of Islam have often claimed to follow the teachings and views propagated by the Darul Uloom. But of late, the Darul Uloom seems to be trying to distance itself from this brand of Islam, the most recent instance being the anti-terror conference it had held in February wherein all forms of terrorism was condemned.

In Saturday’s conference, leaders from other religious communities as also hundreds of Muslim clerics too participated. The "fatwa" was read out by Deoband cleric Riyasat Ali Bijnori who read out a quote from the Holy Koran which says: "Do not mischief on the earth after it has been set in order." As for the fatwa, it said "Islam loves peace, Islam rejects all kinds of unjust violence....and does not allow it in any form." The fatwa moreover said that "the religion of Islam has come to wipe out all kinds of terrorism and to spread the message of global peace".

The chief rector of Darul Uloom, Maulana Marghoob-ur Rahman while delivering the presidential address said that Islam does not seek bloodshed and that it loves peace. Further, he said that terrorism has become a challenge that needs to be tackled together. Jamiat-Ulema-E-Hind leader Mahmood Madani, also a member of Parliament, drew attention to the fact that whnever an act of terrorism occurs, attempts are made to implicate Muslims.

The Statesman

(One of the leading dailies published from Kolkota (Calcutta)

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=206242

Clerics issue fatwa against terrorism

NEW DELHI, May 31: Condemning the misuse of the word “Jehad” for terrorist acts, Muslim clerics of major organisations today issued a “fatwa” against terrorism calling it an anti-Islam act and against fundamental rights of human beings.

Addressing a massive rally against terrorism, the clerics today urged people not to attribute the act of some individuals to the entire community. “To attribute terrorism to the Holy Quran is the worst form of terrorism,” the clerics said.

The rally was organised by over a dozen minority organisations and re-affirmed its support to the declaration adopted by the anti-terrorism conference held at Deoband by the Dar-ul-Uloom in February this year. SNS

Yahoo.com

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080601/india_nm/india338483

Darool-Uloom Deoband issues fatwa against terrorism

By Bappa Majumdar

Sun Jun 1, 4:10 AM ET

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - A radical Muslim seminary in India, said to have inspired the Taliban, has issued a "fatwa", or edict, against terrorism in a meeting attended by thousands of clerics and students.

The Darool-Uloom Deoband, a 150 year-old institute controlling thousands of smaller Islamic seminaries in India vowed to wipe out terrorism late on Saturday in New Delhi, an ageing rector said.

"Islam rejects all kinds of unjust violence, breach of peace, bloodshed, murder and plunder and does not allow it in any form," Habibur Rehman, a senior rector said.

Teachings of the Deoband school and its strict interpretation of Islamic law, have spread to many countries, including Britain and Afghanistan.

The Darool-Uloom Deoband, a 150 year-old institute controlling thousands of smaller Islamic seminaries in India vowed to wipe out terrorism late on Saturday in New Delhi, an ageing rector said.

"Islam rejects all kinds of unjust violence, breach of peace, bloodshed, murder and plunder and does not allow it in any form," Habibur Rehman, a senior rector said.

Teachings of the Deoband school and its strict interpretation of Islamic law, have spread to many countries, including Britain and Afghanistan.

The Darool-Uloom Deoband, a 150 year-old institute controlling thousands of smaller Islamic seminaries in India vowed to wipe out terrorism late on Saturday in New Delhi, an ageing rector said.

"Islam rejects all kinds of unjust violence, breach of peace, bloodshed, murder and plunder and does not allow it in any form," Habibur Rehman, a senior rector said.

Teachings of the Deoband school and its strict interpretation of Islamic law, have spread to many countries, including Britain and Afghanistan.

NDTV

(Among the 3 major English news channels in India)

Muslims issue fatwa against terrorism

NDTV Correspondent

Sunday, June 1, 2008 (New Delhi)

Around 15,000 Muslims from all over India gathered at Delhi's famous Ramlila Grounds to fight against global terrorism.

Not just ordinary Muslims but religious leaders, scholars and many different Muslim organisations joined in to take a pledge that they will work together to fight terrorists .

Since 9/11 there have been numerous statements, fatwas issued and seminars held against terrorism coming out of the US, UK, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and other countries. But never a mass rally, that too organized and led by clerics. A fatwa against terrorism was issued by Darul Uloom, Deoband.

''Terrorism is a scourge which must be wiped off from this planet. That is why Darul Uloom and Deoband have issued a fatwa against terrorism,'' said Maulana Mahmoud Madani, President, Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind.

Perhaps measures like this will stop people from branding communities and also try and end communal vote bank politics.

The Hindu

(Regarded the most influential newspaper in South India. Published from Chennai (Madras) and several other cities).

http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/01/stories/2008060159940800.htm

Jamiat fatwa against terrorism

Staff Reporter

“It has emerged the most serious challenge faced by our nation in recent times”

Aye to peace, nay to terror: Members of Darul Uloom Deoband and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind during an Anti-Terrorism Global Peace Conference in New Delhi on Saturday.

NEW DELHI: Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, one of the leading Islamic organisations, along with several other Muslim outfits owing allegiance to different sects and ideologies, issued a “fatwa” against terrorism at the Anti-Terrorism Global Peace Conference at Ramlila Grounds here on Saturday.

The “fatwa,” sought by Member of Parliament and Jamiat leader Mahmood Asad Madani and issued on the letterhead of Darul Uloom Deoband, read: “Islam is a religion of peace and security. In its eyes, on any part over the surface of the earth spreading mischief, rioting, breach of peace, bloodshed, killing of innocent persons and plundering are the most inhuman crimes.”

Welcoming the fatwa, Mr. Madani said: “Terrorism has emerged as the most serious challenge faced by our nation in recent times. It threatens to strike at the very root of secular structure of our society besides causing irreparable loss in terms of human lives and property. The conference today has provided the opportunity for the entire Islamic community to come on a single platform and raise its voice against terrorism.”

The conference, organised as part of a series of such public meetings across the country, adopted a seven-point declaration condemning the propaganda that “regards terrorism as synonymous with jehad.”

“There is a world of difference between terrorism and jehad. Jehad is constructive and terrorism is destructive. Jehad is for the establishment of peace…terrorism is the gravest crime as held by Koran and Islam,” the declaration said.

Addressing the huge gathering, Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind president Hazrat Maulana Qari Sayed Mohammad Usman said: “We appeal to the Government of India and international community that if they are sincere about rooting out the menace of terrorism they must strive to establish justice and fair play in society. The implementation of the Sachar Committee Report will help eradicate injustice and deprivation. The Government should take immediate action for its implementation.”

Social activist Swami Agnivesh said: “It is wrong to attribute the wrongdoings of a few individuals to the whole community. I would not mince words to say that the United States is the terrorist number one. To defame the Holy Koran and Islam is the worst form of terrorism. Islam stands for peace and brotherhood and there cannot be a bigger lie than saying that Muslims are terrorists. Who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi? Were their assassins Muslims?” he asked.

Press Trust of India

(India’s no. 1 news aganecy)

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1167802

Islamic body issues fatwa against terrorism

PTI (Press Trust of India)  

Saturday, May 31, 2008  21:52 IST

NEW DELHI: Thousands of Muslims gathered here on Saturday to denounce terrorism, with leading Islamic seminary Darul Uloom issuing a fatwa declaring it as the "most inhuman crime".

"In its (Islam) eyes, on any part over the surface of the earth spreading mischief, rioting, breach of peace, bloodshed, killing of innocent persons and plundering are the most inhuman crime," read the fatwa, issued here at an Anti-Terrorism Conference.

The conference, organised by Jamiat-Ulma-I-Hind, saw the participation of clerics, scholars and religious leaders of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs besides 70,000 people from across the country.

Reading out the fatwa, Deoband's cleric Riyasat Ali Bijnouri, quoted Holy Koran as saying: "Do not mischief on the earth after it has been set in order."

"Islam loves peace. Islam rejects all kinds of unjust violence... and does not allow it in any form," the fatwa said.

The fatwa further read: "the religion of Islam has come to wipe out all kinds of terrorism and to spread the message of global peace."

The conference, however, expressed deep concern and agony on the present global condition in which most of the nations are adopting an adverse attitude towards Muslims.

"It is a matter of greater concern that the internal and external policies of a country are getting heavily influenced by these forces," MP and Jamiat leader Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani said.

The gathering also condemned attempts to implicate Muslims and particularly religious institutions for terrorist facts.

"The disease (terrorism) has been diagnosed in a wrong way. Whenever there is any incident of terrorism, every possible attempt is made to link it to Muslims and particularly who have studied in madrasas and some religious institutions. This is totally wrong," Madani said.

The fatwa came against the backdrop of a declaration adopted by Darul Uloom in February this year which termed terrorism as "un-Islamic" and against the Islamic principle of "peace".

Madani, who read out the eight point declaration of the today's conference, said: "Jehad is constructive and terrorism is destructive."

The declaration called on the state agencies to rise above all prejudices and discharge their duties impartially for maintaining peace, law and order.

"Muslims of this nation desire to see India strong independent, peaceful and developed," it said.

"The administrative machinery should be asked to conduct impartial investigation in activities disturbing public peace in the country and to punish only those found guilty," it said.

Deoband's senior most cleric Maulana Marghoob-ur Rehman, in his presidential address, said: "Islam never desires bloodshed. It loves peace."

"Terrorism has become a challenge for us. We have to fight it together," he said.

Prominent Hindu leader Swami Agnivesh, who was also present, said: "There is a conspiracy to malign the image of Islam and its followers. Islam is a religion of peace. Those people who are real terrorists are blaming innocent people for such heinous act."

"First it was Afghanistan, then Iraq and now they are looking at Iran. They want to create unrest across the globe," he said, attacking the US and its allies and their policies.

(The same report pasted on among others,  http://www.aol.in/news/story/2008053112289022000002/index.html, and

http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/05/31/0805312232_islam-ld_terrorism.html)

Khabrain.com

http://www.khabrein.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14574&Itemid=88

Thousands of Muslims gather to denounce terrorism

By Syed Ubaidur Rahman

Darul Uloom, Deoband issues anti-terrorism fatwa

New Delhi, June 1: Thousands of Muslims from across north India gathered in historic Ram Lila ground here Saturday to denounce terrorism. They came in droves despite bad weather and light showers. It could have deterred many enthusiasts on any given day, but not today as they all gathered with a purpose and determination to thwart the menace of terrorism.

Jamiat Ulama-i- Hind that is spearheading the anti-terrorism campaign that has so badly maligned the community in the country had given a call and thousands of Muslims, a large number of them clerics from different madrasas with Darul Uloom, Deoband affiliation responded by gathering at Ram Lila ground.

The occasion also saw Darul Uloom, Deoband the most revered Islamic seminary in the country and South Asia issuing a fatwa against terrorism. It said that Islam was against terrorism and it came to wipe out terrorism. The fatwa was signed by grand Darul Uloom, Deoband Mufti, Maulana Habibur Rahman.

It was a historic conference in the sense that it brought together Muslims from different walks of life including different Muslim organizations on a single stage. Though it was a Jamiat show in full but the invitations sent out and ads issued had Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Muslim Personal law Board and other Muslim organizations as sponsors of the conference.

Mahmood Madani, the de facto head of the Jamiat said while speaking on the occasion that killing of innocent people is not compatible with Islam. The biggest challenge faced by us today is terrorism that threatens to strike at the very root of the secular structure of our society.

Qari Usman, the deputy rector of Darul Uloom and president of Jamiat said while speaking on the occasion that terroism is a scourge which must be wiped off from this planet. He said that this was the reason that Darul Uloom Deoband has come out openly against it.

The historic fatwa was read out by Mufti Riyasat Ali who read out a quote from the Holy Quran which says: "Do not mischief on the earth after it has been set in order."

Maulana Marghoobur Rahman, the rector of the historical seminary in Deoband said that Islam is the religion of peace, tranquility, brotherhood, tolerance, love and equality. Muslims of India and especially Ulama of madrasas have always played, and are playing, a very important role in developing the dear motherland, in establishing national integration, peace and tolerance.

The maulana added that Islam denounces all forms of bloodshed and killings and added that terrorism has become a challenge that needs to be tackled together.

The conference also denounced the illegal detention of Muslim youth in fake cases.

Several speakers said that Muslims for long have been a target of communal forces who during riots killed innocent Muslims and destroyed their businesses and houses, but now under anti-terrorism laws Muslim youth are being booked in fictitious cases. They demanded that this should come to an end.

http://rtv.rtrlondon.co.uk/index.html

INDIA

MOD-DATE: 05/31/08 19:29:31

SUBCONFINAL-MAY31-INDIA-MUSLIM CONFERENCE

SUBCONFINAL: STORY   SU619

MUSLIM CONFERENCE

NEW DELHI, INDIA

MAY31, 2008 

NATURAL WITH URDU SPEECH

DURATION:01:24

SOURCE:ANI

FEED HISTORY:SUBCONFINAL

INTRO: Influential Islamic body issues fatwa against terrorism.

TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS~**NONE**~

Influential Islamic body Darul Uloom Deoband issues a fatwa against

terrorism in a conference in New Delhi.

SHOWS:

NEW DELHI (MAY 31, 2008) (ANI-ACCESS ALL)

1.WIDE OF  MUSLIM CLERICS AND AUDIENCE IN THE CONFERENCE

2.AUDIENCE

3.MUALANA MAHMOOD MADNI, GENERAL SECRETARY, JAMIAT ULMEA-I-HIND, ADDRESSING

THE CONFERENCE

4.SIKH AND OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS SITTING

5.PARTICIPANTS TAKING PLEDGE

6.AUDIENCE

7.(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) MUALANA MAHMOOD MADNI, GENERAL SECRETARY, JAMIAT

ULMEA-I-HIND, SAYING:

   "We condemn and oppose terrorism at every possible way. Today Darul

Uloom Deoband from this platform of Jamiat Ulmea-I-Hind has issued a fatwa and

we also pledged that we would wipe out every kind of terrorism and we will

never bow to it (terrorism)."

8.WIDE OF THE CONFERENCE

STORY: Influential Islamic body Darul Uloom Deoband issued a fatwa against

terrorism in a conference in New Delhi.

The seminar to denounce terrorism was organised by Jamiat Ulmea-I-Hind.

Besides other religious leaders, tens of thousands of clerics, students

from across the nation attended the conference on Friday (May 31), and agreed

to take a tough stand against acts of terrorism.

"We condemn and oppose terrorism at every possible way. Today Darul

Uloom Deoband from this platform of Jamiat Ulmea-I-Hind has issued a fatwa and

we also pledged that we would wipe out every kind of terrorism and we will

never bow to it (terrorism)," said Maulana Mahmood Madni, general

secretary of Jamiat Ulmea-I-Hind.

Thousands of smaller Islamic seminaries, or madrasas, are affiliated to the

Deoband school in India alone, and Indian security services say some have

provided recruits for radical Islamist groups in India and neighbouring

Pakistan.

Its teachings, and its strict interpretation of Islamic law, have spread to

many other countries, including Britain and Afghanistan, where they are said

to have inspired the Taliban.

Indian Muslims were implicated in bomb attacks on packed commuter trains in

Mumbai in 2006 and in a failed attack in Britain last year.

The conference defined terrorism as any action targeting innocent people,

whether committed by an individual, an institution or a government.

Muslims make up about 13 percent of India's officially secular but

predominantly Hindu population -- giving it the third largest Islamic

population after Indonesia and Pakistan.

BACKGROUNDER

The meeting of Central Managing Committee of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind

Held on 5^th April 2008 at New Horizon Public School Campus,
Nr. Humayun Tomb, Hzt. Nizamuddin (E), New Delhi-25 

Importance of the Meeting of Central Managing Committee:

This meeting will not only decide who will be the President but it will deliberate on much wider and important issues. It will settle issues on which the survival of the organization and its future policies depend.

·                     Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind will be a democratic organization or will it be dominated by particular individual or family;

·                     Who will have the upper hand? Organization or Individual;

·                     Will an individual how ever highly placed he may be have the right to impose his wishes or the Working committee and the Managing committee will have the right to question;

·                     What will be the relation of the organization with the government and any political party? Can an individual mortgage the organization to a particular party;

·                     What will be mechanism to restrain the organization form being high jacked;

·                     Would there be transparency in the structure of the organization, its administration and accounts or not? The control would be institutional or individual?

·                     The meeting wills settle in one sentence whether there will be democracy, transparency and reckoning in Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the oldest and largest organization of Indian Muslims or would it become personal property?

Central Managing Committee, the Most Powerful Body:

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind is the largest and 90 years old organization of Muslims. It has played leading role in the freedom movement and thereafter, it has been in the forefront to raise the issues and challenges facing the community and country. It is a constitutional organization and its organizational structure is based on democratic principles. Its managing committee is the supreme body. It has right not only to formulate policies and programmes (Article 55A) but it can also reject or approve the resolution of the Working committee of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Article 55(C). This body can amend, add or abrogate the constitution (Article 89). As the managing committee has been made all powerful precaution has been taken to keep it safe from the domination of any individuals. Therefore, its members are elected by the local units at the lowest level who reach the Central Managing Committee through elections at district and state levels.

How the Members of the Central Managing Committee are elected?

First of all the local unit consisting of minimum hundred or more members elect members from the district level. The district level Managing Committee elects its members for the State level managing committee which sends one third of its members to the Central Managing committee. Thus the Central Managing Committee is constituted through elections under Article 43. The elected president has power to nominate 51 eminent persons to the Managing Committee under Article 54.

Review of the Constitution of Present Managing Committee:

Keeping in view the above mentioned organizational structure we would review how and when the present managing committee was constituted and how far and at what level it represents its electoral college.

There are seventeen state level units of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind. The election process has been completed in fourteen of them where in total 54 lakh 54 thousand 823 primary members have been enlisted. 1008 local units were constituted. They elected 216 district level managing committees and in turn they elected 8355 state level members. Out of these 2785 members were elected to the Central Managing Committee. The chart giving below presents the organizational structure and electoral process. In this meeting delegates from 14 states are participating.  

Why this meeting has been convened:

Since Maulana Arshad Madani continuously took steps repugnant to the policy of the organization, he dissolved elected units, disintegrated the democratic organizational structure and tried to establish personal rules, the working committee of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind took strong notice and expelled him on 6^th March 2008 and he was replaced by Maulana Qari Syed Mohammad Usman, who was declared interim president. Maulana Mahmood Madani remained its General Secretary.

Since Central Managing Committee is the supreme body the working Committee referred its resolution for ratification and thus this meeting was convened. Its agenda is as under:

1.                  Reading and ratification of the resolutions of the previous meeting;

2.                  Secretary Report;

3.                  Ratification of the decision of expulsion of Maulana Arshad Madani and election of Maulana Qari Syed Mohammad Usman, Dy. Rector of Darul Uloom Deoband as the president of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind.

4.                  Disciplinary action against members involved in anti party activities;

5.                  Resolution on Terrorism;

6.                  Election of two vice president and treasure;

7.                  Deliberations on Sachchar Committee and Ranganath Commission report;

8.                  Reservation for Muslims and demand for bill to prevent communal riots;

9.                  Dalit-Muslim unity;

10.              Protection of Muslim Aukaf;

11.              Islamic identity and social reform;

12.              Resolution against Israel aggression in Palestine;

13.              Budget and Accounts;

14.              Condolence Resolutions;

15.              Other matters.

The procedure for the ratification of the expulsion of Maulana Arshad Madani and election of Maualan Qari Syed Mohammad Usman. A completely transparent procedure has been adopted. All the participating delegates will vote in writing whether they agree with the decision of working committee or not. They will further express their choice through voice vote in the presence of the following panel as well as media. 

One of frontline Muslim organisations, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind today split vertically when a meeting of the ''working committee'' expelled its president Maulana Arshad Madani for anti-party activities.

A resolution to the effect was moved by General Secretary Maulana Mahmood Madani, who is also the nephew of Maulana Arshad Madani. The resolution was passed by a majority of 24 members out of 32 present in the meeting. The meeting also ''unanimously'' appointed Qari Mohammad Usman, vice-rector of Darul Uloom Deoband, as the new president of the Jamiat.

Maulana Arshad Madani staged a walkout from the meeting with his supporters terming the step ''against the Jamiat constitution''.

He also in turn expelled General Secretary Maulana Mahmood Madani and six of his supporters, claiming he was still the president under section 66 of the Jamiat Constitution.

The elevation of Qari Usman, who is a special invitee to the working committee, to the post of President would be formally announced at the General Council meeting to be held on March 26, Mahmood Madani told a news conference.

''Arshad Madani was working against the constitution of Jamiat and was trying to divide the party by annulling organisational elections in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh,'' he charged.

Maulana Arshad Madani took over the reins of the organisation after the death of Jamiat patron Maulana Asad Madani. A power struggle was on between Arshad and Mahmood Madani ever since.

A working committee meeting had been called on February 28 to resolve the differences between the two top leaders of the Jamiat but it ended inconclusive. The very next day Arshad Madani sacked 20 special invitees to the working committee and also annulled the organisational elections in Karnataka.

Posted May 29th, 2007 by Editor                                                                                                                                                                                         Indian Muslim

By Two Circles. net staff reporter

New Delhi :  The tussle between Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Syed Arshad Madani and its general secretary Maulana Syed Mahmood Madani had been simmering and simmering since the day, nay much before, the former was named the organisation's president under an agreement between the two following the demise of then president and father of Mahmood Madani last year. But it has now come to a boil when Arshad Madani chose to nullify the said agreement at a meeting of Jamiat's working committee held at its headquarters here Monday.

The meeting reportedly convened to contain the rising popularity of Mahmood Madani, was attended by only 7 out of the 20 members of the committee and 4 out of 21 special invitees. 13 members of the committee, including Ameerul Hind Maulana Marghoobur Rahman and Assam UDF leader Maulana Badruddin Ajmal and some other members from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Delhi did not participate in the meeting.

A report published Tuesday in Urdu daily Hindustan Express argues that Maulana Arshad Madani was named Jamiat president under an agreement and not through any electoral process. When he has got the agreement annulled, there is no question of his continuing to function in the capacity of Jamiat president.

The report also questions the very legality of the meeting of the working committee, for the quorum of the meeting was completed with Mufti Abdur Razzaq of Bhopal against whom the Jamiat was probing the allegation that he had openly supported Bhartiya Janta Party in the last election. "The question is whether an accused can sit in judgement of his own case. If this cannot be, why was the quorum completed with Mufti Abdur Razzaq?" the report questions.

In one resolution adopted in the meeting, the Jamiat withdrew the enquiry against Mufti Abdur Razzaq. The report claims that much of the decisions made in the meeting has not been released to the media. The Hindustan Express, in a front page lead story published Monday, had reported that Maulana Arshad Madani got the windowpane of Maulana Mahmood Madani's office broken just after Fajr prayer Sunday and sent a person inside the office through the broken window to search his office. The report alleged that he took this extreme step on the advice of his special adviser Qari Hammad. The paper also carried a clubbed photograph showing a person mounting a ladder and another person breaking the window. The Urdu daily Akhbar-e-Mashriq also carried a UNI report of this sad development. The paper, in a front page lead report published Tuesday, said the division in the 75-year old Jamiat is nothing new. When Maulana Syed Asad Madani was named president of the Jamiat after the demise of Maulana Hifzur Rahman, a group led by Mufti Ateequr Rahman Osmani launched a separate Jamiat. Then Maulana Syed Ahmad Hashmi and Maulana Waheeduz Zaman Kairanvi separated from the Jamiat to launch their own Milli Jamiat Ulema.