Raza Academy

Last updated

Raza Academy
Formation1978
Type Nonprofit
Legal statusActive
HeadquartersRaza Academy 52 - Dontad Street, Khadak, Mumbai - 400009
President
Muhammad Saeed Noori
Key people
Muhammad Saeed Noori
Website www.razaacademy.com

Raza Academy is a Sunni Muslim [1] fundamentalist [2] Islamist [3] [4] [5] group based in Maharashtra, India. It was formed in 1978 by Alhaj Mohammed Saeed Noori as a small publishing house, and later became known for protests for the rights of Muslims. The group publishes books of Barelvi scholars in various languages, the Kanzul Iman translation of the Quran, and Fatawa-i Razawiyya . The group also conducts charity and advocacy work for the Muslim community.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Early history and publishing

Raza Academy was founded in 1978 by Alhaj Mohammed Saeed Noori, who has served as the organization's president since 1986. [6] According to a report,[ specify ] "It maintains a web portal from as early as 1998 that includes directories of associated institutions and ulema." [7] The Academy has published several hundred books of Ahle Sunnah scholars in various languages. Kanzul Iman, a translation of the Quran, is being published by it in Urdu and in English. It has also published Fatawa-e-Razvia in 25 volumes. The books on life and works of Imam Ahmed Raza Al Qadri and biographies of other Sunni Sufi scholars were also published by the Academy. [8]

Relief and charity work

In 2012, Raza Academy and All India Sunni Jamiat ul Ulema formed the Sunni Relief Committee to help distribute relief materials collected from various parts of West Bengal and Maharashtra among the riot victims in Assam. [9] The organisation distributed relief material during 2018 Kerala floods [10] and facilitated the burial of Muslim COVID-19 victims in Mumbai. [11]

Advocacy and protests

In 2006, in the Bhiwandi suburb of Mumbai, two policemen were killed after protests organised by Raza Academy. [12] [13] On 11 August 2012, Raza Academy held a protest against the riots in Assam and attacks on Muslims in Myanmar at Azad Maidan in Mumbai with two other groups. The protest ended in the Azad Maidan riots, in which two people were killed and more than fifty injured. [14] [15] [16] Raza Academy was blamed for the widespread violence [17] and a court asked them to pay 3 crore (30 million rupees) in property damage. [18] In November 2021, the group organised a protest of the violence in Tripura which also turned violent and was brought under control after the imposition of a curfew. [19]

The organisation has protested the women's rights programs of Taslima Nasrin and Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. [20] It deemed the enactment of The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 – which declared triple talaq (instant divorce) as a criminal offense – to infringe upon the religious rights of Muslims in India. [21]

In 2015, Raza Academy issued a fatwa against music composer A. R. Rahman and Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi for making a film on Muhammad. [22] In 2018, it called for the ban on the public dissemination of the viral song "Manikya Malaraya Poovi" from Oru Adaar Love, which allegedly insulted Mohammed and his wife. [23] [24] In February's 2021, it lodged a complaint against the BBC for publishing picture of Muhammad. The BBC revised the video and removed the contents that hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims.[ citation needed ]

In 2016, Raza Academy held protests calling for the ban of Indian Muslim preacher Zakir Naik following allegations that the perpetrators of the 2016 Gulshan attack were inspired by Naik. [25] [26]

Raza Academy held solidarity marches and demonstrations against Pakistan after the 2019 Pulwama attack and 2019 Balakot airstrike. [27] [28] [29] On 29 October 2020, Raza Academy stamped posters of French president Emmanuel Macron on Mumbai roads in reaction to Macron's remarks on Muslims. [30]

Raza Academy handed a memo to the Superintendent of Ajmer Police Station demanding Ban on Ajmer 92 films and stated that it harms the trust and faith of Muslims on Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. [31] They stated if it is not banned they'll launch a great protest. [32] [33]

On 3 July 2023, Raza Academy protested against Sweden. Raza Academy demanded death penalty for the person who burnt Quran. Academy President Muhammad Saeed Noori was leading this Protest. [34]

On 12 November 2021, Raza Academy called statewide protests in Maharashtra against the alleged burning of a Mosque in Tripura. The protests turned violent in Malegaon, Amravati and Nanded. The protestors damaged public properties and stone pelted the Police. [35]

See also

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maulana Azad</span> Indian politician

Abul Kalam Ghulam Muhiyuddin Ahmed bin Khairuddin Al-Hussaini Azad ; 11 November 1888 – 22 February 1958) was an Indian independence activist, writer and a senior leader of the Indian National Congress. Following India's independence, he became the First Minister of Education in the Indian government. He is commonly remembered as Maulana Azad; the word Maulana is an honorific meaning 'Our Master' and he had adopted Azad (Free) as his pen name. His contribution to establishing the education foundation in India is recognised by celebrating his birthday as National Education Day across India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barelvi movement</span> South Asian Islamic revivalist movement

The Barelvi movement, also known as Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaah is a Sunni revivalist movement that generally adheres to the Hanafi and Shafi'i schools of jurisprudence, and Maturidi and Ash'ari schools of theology with hundreds of millions of followers, and it encompasses a variety of Sufi orders, including the Chistis, Qadiris, Suhrawardis and Naqshbandis as well as many other orders of Sufism. They consider themselves to be the continuation of Sunni Islamic orthodoxy before the rise of Salafism and Deobandi movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zakir Naik</span> Indian comparative theologian

Zakir Abdul Karim Naik is an Indian Islamic public orator who focuses on comparative religion. He is the founder and president of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and Peace TV. He is a well-known figure in the Islamic world, and while he does not claim to be a follower of any one school of thought in Islam, he is most closely associated with the Salafi school of thought.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ARY Qtv</span> Pakistani television channel

ARY QTV, formerly known as Quran Television (QTV), is a Pakistani television channel with a Sunni Islam belief, that produces programs mainly having focus on the Ahlesunnat wal Jamaat. QTV is part of the ARY Digital Network of Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qamaruzzaman Azmi</span> Islamic scholar and leader of World Islamic Mission

Qamaruzzaman Azmi, also known as Allama Azmi, is an Indian Islamic scholar, philosopher and speaker. He is president of the World Islamic Mission. From 2011 to 2021, he was listed in The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought due to his efforts to build organisations and institutions, mosques, colleges, and universities for over five decades. He is the patron in chief of Sunni Dawat-e-Islami, an Islamic movement having branches around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdul Qavi Desnavi</span> Indian writer, critic, bibliographer, and linguist (1930–2011)

Abdul Qavi Desnavi was an Indian Urdu language writer, critic, bibliographer and linguist. He wrote many books on Urdu literature. His works included about Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Mirza Ghalib and Allama Muhammad Iqbal. He was awarded with several awards for his literary works.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Assam violence</span>

In July 2012, violence in the Indian state of Assam broke out with riots between indigenous Bodos and Bengali Muslims in the Bodoland region of North East, India. The first incident was reported to have taken place on 20 July 2012. At least 108 people died and over 400,000 people were displaced into 270 relief camps, after being displaced from almost 400 villages. Eleven people have been reported missing.

Syed Naeem-ud-Deen Muradabadi (1887–1948), also known as Sadr ul-Afazil, was an Indian jurist, scholar, mufti, Quranic exegete, and educator. He was a scholar of philosophy, geometry, logic and hadith and leader of All India Sunni Conference. He was also a poet of na`at.

Azad Maidan Riot refers to a riot by Indian muslims, organised in Azad Maidan on 11 August 2012 to condemn the Rakhine riots and which started as a protest and later turned into a riot. The riot reportedly began as the crowd got angry either after hearing an inflammatory speech or after seeing photographs of Rakhine state riots. The riot resulted in two deaths and injuries to 63 people including 58 police officers. Mumbai Police estimated that the riots caused a loss of 2.74 crore in damages to public and private property.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi</span> Indian Scholar (1909–1970)

Akhundzada Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Hazarvi was a Muslim theologian, jurist, and scholar of ahadith in Pakistan. He was active in the Pakistan movement, member of Council of Islamic Ideology. He was the companion of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and separatist leader Maulana Zafar Ali Khan and was active in the independence movement of Pakistan against the British Raj. He was a Sufi of the Chishti Sufi order and the founding member of the religious Barelvi Sunni strain political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP). He became its president in 1948. He was also a political figure in Pakistan and was the first recipient of Nishan-e-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan. He was also the chairman of Majlis-e-Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwwat, an organisation opposed to the Ahmadiyya Movement that waged a campaign against Mirza Ghulam Ahmed's claim of prophethood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind</span> Council of Indian Muslim theologians

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri</span> Leader of Ahle Sunnat movement and 20th-century Indian Islamic scholar

Mustafa Raza Khan Qadri (1892–1981), was an Indian Sunni Muslim scholar and author, and leader of the Sunni Barelvi movement following the death of its founder, his father Ahmed Raza Khan. He was known as Mufti-Azam-i-Hind to his followers. He is widely known as Mufti-e-Azam-e-Hind. On his death date his follower celebrate Urs name as Urs-e-Noori on every 14th Muharram of Islamic Year.

Muhammad Saeed Noori is an Indian Sunni leader, activist, founder and president of the Raza Academy, based in Mumbai. The Raza Academy has published books, treatises and journal articles. He has also done relief and charitable activities during Gujarat Riots, Bareilly riots, Kashmir flood, Nepal earthquake and in Kerala 2018 Flood. He has organised rallies and protests on various issues around the country through Raza Academy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Citizenship Amendment Act protests</span> 2019–2020 protests in India

The Citizenship Amendment Act (Bill) protests, also known as the CAA Protest, CAB Protest or CAA and NRC protests, occurred after the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was enacted by the Government of India on 12 December 2019. The move sparked a widespread national and overseas ongoing protests against the act and its associated proposals of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The protests first began in Assam and spread swiftly in other states such as Delhi, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Tripura on 4 December 2019. Protests broke out rapidly across the country, although the concerns of the protesters vary.

Saeed Ahmad Palanpuri, was an Indian Sunni Muslim scholar and author who served as Shaykh al-Hadith and Principal of Darul Uloom Deoband. A number of his books are required readings in Darul Uloom Deoband.

Zia ul Mustafa Aazmi Qadri Razvi Amjadi is an Indian Islamic scholar, teacher, orator, debater, Muhaddith and Faqih and is currently serving as Naa’ib Qaazi ul Quz’zat fil Hind under Mufti Asjad Raza Khan, who is considered to be the Grand Mufti Of India by the Barelvi movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ibrahim Raza Khan</span> 20th-century Indian scholar

Muhammad Ibrahim Raza Khan Qadri Razvi (1907–1965), commonly known as Mufassir-e-Azam-e-Hind and Jilani Miyan, was an Indian Islamic scholar, Sufi mystic, orator, author, and leader of Sunni Muslim’s Barelvi movement of Sunni Islam in the Indian subcontinent. He was the elder brother of Hammad Raza Khan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaif Raza Khan</span> 21st century Indian scholar

Muhammad Kaif Raza Khan, is an Indian Islamic scholar, activist and cleric who belongs to the Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat Movement. Khan is a descendant of Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi. He is the president of Dargah Ustad E Zaman Trust.

Sunni Dawate Islami is an Indian Non-governmental and socio-religious organisation which works for sunni muslims of India founded by Muhammad Shakir Ali Noori in 1990. It is headquartered at Mumbai, Maharashtra and other offices abroad. They organise International Sunni Ijtema at Azad Maidan, Mumbai for 2 days. It completed its 20th Annual Conference in 2010 and 30th Annual Conference in 2022. It takes out a great procession of Juloos-e-Muhammadi on the occasion of Eid-ul-Milad-un-Nabi every year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asjad Raza Khan</span> Indian Muslim cleric

Muhammad Asjad Raza Khan Qadri, He is also known as Ameer-e-Ahle Sunnat, and Huzoor Qaid-e-Millat, Is an Indian Islamic scholar who belongs to the Barelvi movement and a descendant of Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi and son and successor of Akhtar Raza Khan, former Grand Mufti of India. He is the Principal of Jamiatur Raza.

References

  1. "World: South Asia Rushdie effigies burned in India". news.bbc.co.uk/. BBC Online.
  2. "From Bangladesh, with courage". frontline.thehindu.com/. Frontline.
  3. "SC slaps ₹50k fine on plea to remove Quran verses, says 'absolutely frivolous'". Hindustan Times. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  4. "Islamist group in Mumbai protests against opening of Cinema halls in holy city Madina – Mysuru Today" . Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  5. "Sushant Rajput, Aryan Khan, Param Bir Singh — 2 yrs of MVA govt dominated by Centre-state rows". ThePrint. 28 November 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  6. Mohammed Wajihuddin (2 September 2012). "Saeed Noori: Raza Academy just a protest dukaan: Cleric | Mumbai News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  7. Eisenlohr, Patrick (8 June 2018). "3. Aspirations in Transnational Religious Networks". Sounding Islam. University of California Press. pp. 38–58. doi:10.1525/9780520970762-006. ISBN   9780520970762 via www.degruyter.com.
  8. "All writings of Raza Academy, Mumbai". Rekhta.
  9. "Raza Academy spearheading relief work in Assam". 25 September 2012.
  10. Malayalam Manorma, 28 Sep 2018
  11. "Raza Academy to facilitate burial of COVID-19 victims in Mumbai". ANI News.
  12. "All 18 accused in 2006 Bhiwandi arson attack case acquitted". timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
  13. "Charred bodies of two cops found in Bhiwandi after riot". archive.indianexpress.com/.
  14. "Protest against Assam riots turns violent in Mumbai". The Times of India . Mumbai, India. IANS. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  15. Chandavarkar, Rohit (12 August 2012). "Assam riots: 2 killed, 20 injured as protestors go on rampage in Mumbai". The Economic Times.
  16. 2 dead, 54 hurt in Mumbai protest over Assam violence. Indian Express (2012-08-11). Retrieved on 2012-08-14.
  17. "Azad maidan riot: Reconsider notice to Raza Academy, HC tells state". indianexpress.com/.
  18. "Won't pay Rs 3 crore fine for Azad Maidan riots: Raza Academy". mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/.
  19. "Raza Academy in focus as protest rallies turn violent in Amravati, Nanded, Malegaon". Hindustan Times. 13 November 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  20. Wajihuddin, Mohammed (2 September 2012). "Raza Academy just a protest dukaan: Cleric". Times of India . Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  21. Ray, Chandrakana (29 December 2017). "'Instant triple talaq bill' against religious rights: Raza Academy". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  22. "Fatwa against A R Rahman and Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi for film on Prophet". Indian Express. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  23. "Raza Academy Demands Ban On Priya Varrier's Video of Manikya Malaraya Poovi". News18. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  24. Mayuresh Ganapatye (15 February 2018). "Raza Academy writes to CBFC to ban Priya Varrier's viral video from Oru Adaar Love film". India Today. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  25. "Muslim institution Raza Academy protests against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik in Mumbai". ABP Live. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  26. "NIA Will Questiones Islamic Preacher Zakir Naik After Return". Dainik Bhaskar. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  27. "Mumbai erupts in anger over Pulwama attack through bandhs, protests and candle marches | Mumbai News - Times of India". The Times of India. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  28. Joshi, Anushree (16 February 2019). "Mumbai unites to express solidarity". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  29. "Mumbai: Celebrations amid high alert". The Indian Express. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  30. "Macron's posters pasted on roads removed by Mumbai police". The Indian Express. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  31. "रज़ा एकेडमी ने 'अजमेर 92' फिल्म के खिलाफ एसपी को दिया ज्ञापन, मुहम्मद सईद नूरी ने विरोध प्रदर्शन की चेतावनी दी | Journo Mirror". 8 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  32. "Raza Academy on Ajmer 92 Film اجمیر 92 فلم کے ذریعے نفرت پھیلانے کی سازش رضا اکیڈمی". ETV Bharat News (in Urdu). Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  33. "Protests intensified as soon as the poster of Ajmer 92 files surfaced accused of tarnishing the image of Dargah Sharif | "अजमेर 92 फाइल्स" का पोस्टर सामने आते ही विरोध तेज, दरगाह शरीफ की छवि खराब करने का आरोप| Hindi News, अजमेर". Zee News (in Hindi). Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  34. India, GalliNews (3 July 2023). "Quran Sharif Jalane Par Sweden Ke Khilaf Mumbai Me Raza Academy Ka Protest". GalliNews India. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  35. "How the Raza Academy is again at the centre of Maharashtra violence". India Today. Retrieved 1 March 2024.