TCN in Deoband
By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,
Deoband: Deoband is a place where programs and symposiums are not new. Because of South Asia’s greatest Islamic seminary Daraul Uloom on its land, Deoband has witnessed several kinds of religious and other programs time to time. But it is first time in the 90-year-history of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) when it is organizing its 30th Ijlase-Aam (general conference) in Deoband. But the seminary is officially keeping itself aloof from the program, making it clear that it does not want to take side of either faction of the oldest Muslim organization in India.
A large number of people especially Ulema and dignitaries from across the country have gathered here at the call of JUH to deliberate and find out the solution of the problems of Muslims in India and all over the world.
The national president of JUH Maulana Qari Usman inaugurated the first session of three-day program in the evening on Ist November by hoisting Jamiat’s flag followed by recitation of its song.
The conference formally began with the recitation of the Quran by Qari Shafeeq sahib, teacher of Darul Uloom Deoband while Maulana Usman Muzafferpuri recited some copulates in the praise of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him).
The president of the reception committee, Maulana Haseeb Siddiqi who is also the chairman of Nagarpalika Parishad of Deoband presented the welcome speech. He thanked the delegates from across the country for their cooperation with JUH.
“During last days of his life late president of Jamiat Maulana Asad Madni handed over leadership of JUH to his son Maulana Mahmood Madni and presented him as a future leader of JUH. I remember that after the demise of his father when he took responsibility of JUH he said that he dreamed to see the Muslims to live their lives in the country with dignity and respect and he has been trying much to get his dream true” said Maulana Siddiqi.
The senior leader of JUH and MP Maulana Mahmood Madni said: “JUH has been guiding Muslims and will do the same. It worked for the welfare of the community and country since its foundation and will be doing in the future. We are here to decide what to do in next.”
He also said that JUH is not only a platform of Muslims but also a sign of proud for the country.
“JUH is not a political organization and nor will it be so in future but it will be taking decision for the welfare of the community and making efforts to solve the problems” he added.
Maulana Hakeemuddin, the general secretary of JUH, presented the annual secretly report.
“To serve their wrong purposes and greed some extremist elements tried to link Muslims with unlawful activities, so, Jamiat Ulema-e Hind has been defending on the behalf of Muslim community. For that it has been holding conferences in different part of the country which have left positive impact.” said Maulana Hakeemuddin adding “Last year Jamiat held its 29th ijlase-e-aam on 8&9 November in Hyderabad which was attended by then AP chief minister YS Reddy who announced to remove the problems of constructing of masjids in the state. Afterwards Bangalore, Mumbai and Bhoneshver conferences were organized that created peaceful environment and sent positive message to the world.”
Maulana Qari Usman, president of JUH urged the people to come with Jamiat to defeat communalism and terrorism and to promote secularism.
“After the discussion with Ulema and leaders we will put the problems of the community before government and will appeal to them to solve as soon as possible” he said.
An especial issue of weekly ‘Al-Jamiat’ Ydgar Majallah was also inaugurated on the occasion by the JHU president.
It is to be noted that Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind has special relation with Darul Uloom Deoband because most of its founders and presidents as well as officials from the day of establishment till the date have been products of Darul Uloom. That is why when any program was held by Jamiat in the past, whole Darul Uloom participated in that actively.
But after the death of ex-president of JUH, Maulana Asad Madni dispute was erupted between two products of Deoban – Asad Madni’s brother Maulana Arshad Madni and son Maulana Mahmood Madni – for the presidential post. Since then both have claimed the leadership of the organization and eventually caused faction in it. It was time for Darul Uloom to take strong decision to separate itself from this infighting. Executive committee of Darul Uloom in a landmark decision issued notice to both to accept either post of Jamiat or Darul Uloom. Thus it separated itself from the dispute.
Now today when one group of JUH is holding the conference in Deoband, Darul Uloom once again took a good decision to separate itself from that. Though teachers and any individual were not banned to attend the program there is no changing in daily routine of educational activities in the seminary. Consequently, teachers and students are busy in academic schedule as usual.
This must have hurt the organizers if they had thought that holding of this program in Deoband will send a message across that the seminary is with them.