Amirul Hind, [1] Maulana Arshad Madani | |
---|---|
1st President of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind (A) | |
Assumed office 4 April 2008 | |
Preceded by | office established |
11th Principal of Darul Uloom Deoband | |
Assumed office 14 October 2020 | |
Preceded by | Saeed Ahmad Palanpuri |
8th President of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind | |
In office 8 February 2006 –6 March 2008 [2] | |
Preceded by | Asad Madani |
Succeeded by | "office bifurcated"
|
Personal | |
Born | 1941 (age 82–83) |
Religion | Islam |
Parent |
|
Denomination | Sunni Islam |
Alma mater | Darul Uloom Deoband |
Occupation | Islamic scholar |
Relatives | Asad Madani (elder brother) Usman Mansoorpuri (brother-in-law) Mahmood Madani (nephew) |
Arshad Madani (born 1941) is an Indian Islamic scholar and the current Principal of Darul Uloom Deoband. He succeeded Asad Madni as the eighth president of the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind. [3] [4] The organization split around 2008, and Madani continues to serve as the president of its Arshad faction.
Arshad Madani was born in 1941 (1360 AH) to the fourth wife of Hussain Ahmad Madani, whom he married after the demise of his third wife and the mother of Asad Madani. [5]
Madani began his education under Hussain Ahmad Madani's authorised disciple, Asghar Ali Sahaspuri, with whom he completed the memorization of the Qur'an at the age of 8, after which he completed a 5-year course in Persian at Darul Uloom Deoband. Then he started his Arabic education in Darul Uloom Deoband in 1955 [6] and completed the Darse Nizami in Darul Uloom Deoband in 1963 (1383 AH). [7] [8] [9]
His Hadith teachers include Sayed Fakhruddin Ahmad, Ibrahim Balyawi, Fakhrul Hasan Muradabadi, Naseer Ahmad Khan, Zahoor Ahmad Deobandi, Mahdi Hasan Shahjahanpuri, Muhammad Tayyab Qasmi, and Abdul Ahad Deobandi. [6] His other teachers in Deoband include Izaz Ali Amrohi, Jalil Ahmad Kairanawi, Akhtar Hussain Deobandi, and Wahiduzzaman Kairanawi. [6] He is the authorized disciple of his elder brother Asad Madani. [10]
After graduating from Darul Uloom Deoband, Madani started his teaching career in Jamia Qasmia, Gaya, in 1965 [11] and did teaching services there for about one and a half years. At the beginning of 1967, he went on a pilgrimage to Madinah and stayed there for about fourteen months. [8]
On his return from Madina, on the advice of his teacher, Syed Fakhruddin Ahmad, in Shawwal 1389 AH (1969 AD), he became a teacher at Madrasa Shahi, Moradabad, and stayed there for 14 years until 1403 AH (1983 AD). Apart from the secondary books, the teaching of hadith books like Mishkat al-Masabih, Sahih Muslim, and Muwatta Imam Malik were also assigned to him to teach. [12] On 21 Dhu al-Qadah 1391 AH, he was also made the convener of the Academic Council along with teaching. On 11 Jumada al-Ula, 1393 AH, he was appointed the Deputy Chief of the Academic Council, and due to his efforts, the advisory committee in Madrasa Shahi approved the classification of Dars e Nizami in 1396 AH, and the educational standard of the madrassa increased. Similarly, on 14 Sha'ban 1396 AH, he was elected as a member of Madrasa Shahi's Appointment Committee. [12]
Madani was appointed as teacher at Darul Uloom Deoband in Dhu al-Qadah 1403 AH (1983 AD). He served as the Deputy Chief of Darul Uloom's Academic Council between 1987 and 1990 AD, and then as the Head of the Academic Council from 1996 to 2008. [11] [13]
In Safar 1442 AH (October 2020 AD), he succeeded Saeed Ahmad Palanpuri as the Principal (Head of the Teaching Faculty) at Darul Uloom Deoband by Darul Uloom's Advisory Committee. [11] [14] [15]
Since 2012, he is a member of the World Muslim League. [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]
On February 8, 2006, Arshad Madani succeeded his brother Asad Madani following his death. [22] In March 2008, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind split into two factions. Arshad was dismissed as president in 2006, after which he formed his own faction, claiming it as the legitimate Jamiat. The other faction was presided by Usman Mansoorpuri. [23] [24] [25] [26]
In mid-2022, reports indicated that the two factions of Jamiat were moving towards reconciliation and a potential merger. Mahmood Madani's faction showed willingness to work under Arshad Madani as Jamiat president. In a significant step towards unity, Arshad Madani attended Mahmood Madani's faction's general body meeting in Deoband on 28 May 2022, where he emphasized the need for the Jamiat to unite in order to amplify their collective voice. [27] [28] [29]
Madani has criticized the partition of India and espoused Hindu–Muslim unity, stating: "Our elders from Hindu and Muslim communities went ahead on the path of unity and liberated the country from the slavery of the British, but unfortunately partition also took place. This partition has become a cause of destruction and ruin, not just for a particular community, but for both Hindus and Muslims." [30] He suggests that secularism is the only path to a cohesive and united India. [31]
In a February 2013 interview with India Today , Madani said that Narendra Modi was not credible or trustworthy to the common Muslims of India. Muslim hostility to Modi is not softening recently at all as some circles in the Indian news media have suggested. He questions whether Indian Muslims can forgive Modi for his assertion that he initiated and condoned the 2002 Gujarat riots and the ensuing violence against Muslims in India, which Madani calls a mass murder of Muslims. Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat at that time. [32]
On February 12, 2023, at Ramlila Ground in New Delhi, during a speech, Arshad Madani stated, "What Hindus worship as Om, Muslims worship as Allah." He drew parallels between religious concepts, saying that Adam in Islamic tradition is known as Manu in Hinduism, and that both Om and Allah refer to the same divine entity. He explained that different languages and cultures have different names for the same God. The statement sparked controversy, with some religious leaders expressing opposition to his comparison. [33] [34] [35] [36] [37]
On November 5, 2023, Madani praised Hamas for their courage, calling them freedom fighters rather than terrorists. He argued that the Palestinian struggle, including Hamas's actions, is a legitimate fight against Israeli aggression and criticized the international community for applying double standards to Palestinian resistance. [38]
In December 2023, Madani stated that he had declared decades ago that the Babri Masjid was not constructed on the remains of any temple, and his words were eventually proven correct. [39]
In February 2024, Madani claimed that the idols currently being worshipped at the Gyanvapi mosque complex were brought from outside and were not discovered during the Archaeological Survey of India's survey. He questioned the legitimacy of the ASI's findings, arguing that if a temple had existed there before, idols would have already been present. Madani maintained that neither the Gyanvapi mosque nor the Mathura site had ever been temples, asserting that such claims conflict with Islamic beliefs. [40] [41] [42] [43]
In August 2024, Madani alleged that unprecedented challenges were emerging in India, marked by repeated attacks on Islam. He criticized the BJP for trying and failing to divide Hindus and Muslims during the general elections. Madani also recalled that during Partition, the Congress party had assured Muslim organizations that the Constitution would uphold secularism and protect minorities. He expressed concern that this promise was now under direct threat, highlighting that the issue went beyond waqf matters to the broader constitutional guarantee of secularism and minority rights. [44]
Madani appealed to political parties like the TDP and JD(U) to consider the sentiments and welfare of Muslims regarding the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill. He expressed concern that this bill might make it easier to encroach on Waqf properties, including mosques and educational institutions, which are essential for the social and educational needs of the Muslim community. Madani stated that disregarding the sentiments of Muslims could potentially lead to a negative reaction. [45] [46] [47]
Madani, while commenting on the Supreme Court's decision against bulldozer justice , stated that the court has confirmed everything the Jamiat had been saying. He said demolishing someone’s house with a bulldozer is not a punishment but a crime, and only the judiciary has the authority to determine legality, not the government. He also reiterated that punishment should not be meted out to the family members of someone who commits a crime. [48] [49]
Muhammad Qasim Nanawtawi was an Indian Sunni Hanafi Maturidi Islamic Scholar, theologian and a Sufi who was one of the main founders of the Deobandi Movement, starting from the Darul Uloom Deoband.
As’ad Madani was an Indian Deobandi Islamic scholar and a politician, who served as the sixth general secretary and the seventh President of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind. He was a member of the executive body of Darul Uloom Deoband. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha, upper house of the Parliament of India representing Uttar Pradesh for three terms as a member of the Indian National Congress.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind or Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind is one of the leading organizations of Islamic scholars belonging to the Deobandi school of thought in India. It was founded in November 1919 by a group of Muslim scholars including Abdul Bari Firangi Mahali, Kifayatullah Dehlawi, Muhammad Ibrahim Mir Sialkoti and Sanaullah Amritsari.
Syed Fakhruddin Ahmad (1889-1972) was an Indian Sunni Muslim scholar and jurist who served as the Principal of Madrasa Shahi, and the sixth President of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind. He was a professor of hadith at the Darul Uloom Deoband.
Nizāmuddīn Asīr Adrawi was an Indian Sunni Muslim scholar, biographer, historian and author in the Urdu language. He established the Madrassa Darus Salam in Adari and served as the Officer In Charge of the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind in Lucknow from 1974 to 1978.
Muhammad Miyan Deobandi was an Indian Sunni Islamic scholar, academic, historian, freedom struggle activist, who served as the fifth general secretary of the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind. He wrote books such as Aseeraan-e-Malta, Ulama-e-Hind Ka Shaandar Maazi and Ulama-e-Haqq Aur Unke Mujahidana Karname.
Madrassa Shahi is an Islamic seminary in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. It was established in 1879 by the poor Muslims of Moradabad under the supervision of Islamic scholar, Muhammad Qasim Nanautawi, who also established the Darul Uloom Deoband. This started as Madrasatul Ghuraba, but gained recognition as Madrasa Shahi. Its first principal was Ahmad Hasan Amrohi.
Hafiz Muhammad Ahmad (1862–1928) was an Indian Muslim scholar, who served as the vice chancellor of the Darul Uloom Deoband for thirty five years. He was the Grand Mufti of the Hyderabad State from 1922 to 1925.
Maulana Marghoobur Rahman, also written as Maulana Marghoobur Rehman and as Marghubur Rahman Bijnori, was an Indian Muslim scholar and Vice-Chancellor of Darul Uloom Deoband.
Muḥammad Usmān Mansoorpuri was an Indian Muslim scholar who served as the first National President of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind's Mahmood faction. He taught hadith at the Darul Uloom Deoband and served the seminary as a working rector.
Muhammad Ismail Katki was an Indian Islamic scholar and writer. He was associated with the Khatm-e-Nubuwwat movement in India, particularly in the state of Odisha. He served as the first Ameer-e-Shari'at of Imarat-e-Shar'ia Odisha and the third president of Jamiat Ulama Odisha.
Ishtiaque Ahmad Qasmi is an Indian Islamic scholar, mufti, and writer. He has been serving as a teacher at Darul Uloom Deoband since 2008. He is an alumnus of Darul Uloom Deoband and Maulana Azad National Urdu University.
Muhammad Ibrahim Balyawi (1887–1967), also spelt as Muhammad Ibrahim Balliavi, was an Indian Sunni Muslim scholar who served as the 6th Principal of Darul Uloom Deoband. He spent almost 50 years instructing Hadith, Mantiq, Islamic philosophy, and other subjects at Darul Uloom Deoband.
Abdul Aleem Farooqui was an Indian Islamic scholar who served as the general secretary of the United Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind for seven years and as the general secretary of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (A) for 13 years. Lastly, he served as the Vice President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (A).
Naseer Ahmad Khan (1918–2010), also written as Naseer Ahmad Khan Bulandshahri, was an Indian Islamic scholar and muhaddith. He served as a professor at Darul Uloom Deoband for approximately sixty-five years, during which he taught Sahih al-Bukhari for thirty-two years.
Muhammad Jabir Qasmi, also written as Muhammad Jabir Qasmi Binjharpuri and Maulana Muhammad Jabir, was an Indian Islamic scholar, Sufi sheikh, and Muslim leader. He was the first president of Jamiat Ulama-e-Odisha (M) and a member of the working committee of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind (M).
Habibur Rahman Usmani (1860–1929), also written as Habibur Rahman Deobandi and Maulāna Habib al-Rahmān, was an Indian Islamic scholar, Arabic writer and poet, and an Islamic jurist. He served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, then Vice-Chancellor for the VC Office of Darul Uloom Deoband, for nearly twenty-three years. He succeeded Hafiz Muhammad Ahmad as Grand Mufti of Hyderabad State for about one year. His students included Shabbir Ahmad Usmani, Manazir Ahsan Gilani, Muhammad Shafi Deobandi, Habib al-Rahman al-A'zami, Muhammad Idris Kandhlawi, Atiqur Rahman Usmani, Qari Muhammad Tayyib, Badre Alam Merathi, Hifzur Rahman Seoharwi, Saeed Ahmad Akbarabadi, Manzoor Nomani, and Yusuf Banuri.
Habibur Rahman Azami, also written as Habibur Rahman Qasmi Azmi, was an Indian Islamic scholar, writer, and expert in the field of biographical evaluation of hadith narrators. He served as a professor of hadith at Darul Uloom Deoband. He served as the 6th editor-in-chief of Monthly Darul Uloom. He authored several books, including Shuyukh al-Imam Abi Dawud al-Sijistani fī Kitab al-Sunan, Tazkirah Ulama-e-Azamgarh, Ajodhya ke Islami Aathar, and Babri Masjid: Haqaiq aur Afsanay.
Salman Bijnori is an Indian Islamic scholar, senior teacher at Darul Uloom Deoband, and editor-in-chief of its monthly journal Darul Uloom. Affiliated with the Naqshbandi Sufi order, he is an authorised disciple of Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi. He also serves as the Vice President of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind (M).
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: location (link)