By Afroz Alam and A Mirsab, TwoCircles.net,
Delhi: In a shocking development for the Muslim community at large, follower of the two senior leaders of Tablighi Jamaat clashed physically purportedly over the issue of assuming top most leadership at the world headquarters of Tablighi Jamaat at Bangle Wali Masjid located in Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi.
The clash between the two group that left many injured occurred on Sunday June 19th. Eleven were taken to the hospital and police were deployed in large numbers.
People familiar with the incident informed TwoCircles.net that last Sunday, after Iftar and maghrib prayer the groups belonging to Maulana Saad and Maulana Zuhair ul Hassan were discussing the issue of Amarat (leadership) and soon it turned into brawl leading to violent clashes inside the mosque. The situation became so aggressive that police was called from eight police stations to control it. As many as 11 injured were taken to hospital for first aid.
The situation became so sensitive that Anil Yadav, ACP and Mandip Yadav Randhva, DCP had to keep a close eye on the events whole night.
In an audio clip of 2 minutes and 54 second that was made available to TwoCircles.net clearly suggests that one group was unhappy with Maulana Saad Kandhalwi from inheriting the leadership from his father and wanted to have a ‘shura’ council instead and the situation deteriorated resulting into raising of voice and brawl.
The isseu of leadership of the world-wide Tabligh movement is not new. Since the passing away of Maulana Inaam ul Hassan popularly known as Hazrat ji, a shura was appointedd instead of one Ameer. Shura consisted of Amir of Tablighi Jamaat Pakistan Haji Abdul Wahhab, Maulana Zubair ul Hasan who is the son of Inamul Hasan, and Maulana Saad Kandhalwwi son of Maulana Yusuf Kandhalwi, the second Amer of the group. Since the passing away of Maulana Zubair ul Hasan in 2014 Mauala Saad has become the Ameer.
Son of Maulana Zubair ul Hasan Maulana Zuhairul Hasan has laid a claim to the leadership, his followers have asked Saad to reconstitue the Shura which was rejected by Maulana Saad.
Maulana Saad in a speech condemned the violent incident and claimed that it has nothing to do with Tablighi Jamat markaz but the fighting was done by the outsiders.
In order to take stock of the situation, TwoCircles.net tried to speak with the people outside Banglewali Masjid who confirmed such event did take place inside the mosque and police was deployed to handle the situation.
Sultan Ahmad, who was appointed couple of months back to look after Markaz’s office told TwoCircles.net, “There have been fights in everytime, there were instances of fights in Sahaba (companions of prophet) too. But it is better that you don’t report about this feud.”
Rashid Hussain, who is responsible for taking care of Delhi camp for Markaz says people from outside Markaz are eyeing huge donation that it receives because many people come here and donate, “They want to become Amir so that they can have hand over the donation of Markaz”.
“The Markaz receives Crores of rupees and there is no accounting of such donation. People want their own Amir so that they can benefit from this money”, he adds.
Najmuddin, a shop keeper outside the mosque confirms the incidence and says, “When there are two strong contenders then the fight is bound to occur. This is not new here, similar things have happened here quite a few times”.
A young skull cap seller says on the condition of anonymity that people from across Yamuna and Mewat had come here and they clashed.
Chand Bhai, a tea seller says, “Although this is not new here but this time the fight went out of control that even police had to enter the mosque to control the situation.”