Deoband denounces terrorism in all forms

NI Wire

New Delhi

Tue, 26 Feb 2008: 

“Terrorism is un-Islamic and there is no place for terror and violence in Islam. No terrorist activity will be tolerated at any cost,” a historical message announced by the Muslim scholars at Deoband’s Darul Uloom in Saharanpur (UP) on Monday.

The clerics denounced terrorism in one voicand said Islam did not preach violence.

Instead it preaches the tenets of peace, harmony, brotherhood, and respect for mankind.

At the same time the clerics urged the people not to look every Muslims with doubtful eyes. It infuses pain. Whenever any incident of terrorism occurs any where, every possible attempt is made to link it to Muslim, particularly who have obtained its study in madarsas. The perception is completely wrong, they said.

“Even the faithful and right-thinking Muslims are living in fear because of some who think they are serving the faith by perpetrating violence. Allah will never have mercy on such elements,” said Abdul Khaliq Madrasi, the Darul Uloom vice-chancellor in its address note.

The Deoband declaration was adopted at the India Anti-Terrorism Conference at the internationally acclaimed school of Islamic learning, which said: “Islam is a religion of mercy for all humanity. Islam sternly condemns all kinds of oppression, violence and terrorism.”

“It has regarded oppression, mischief, rioting, and murder among severest sins and crimes. Islam prohibits killing of innocent people.”

The declaration was unanimously supported by different sects of Islam while lambasted terrorists, also called on the government to ensure innocent Muslims, living in constant fear, were not harassed in the name of quelling terrorism.

Though the message was clear and evident: Time has come for the Muslims to wage a war against terrorism.

The declaration have appeared from the most radical school of Muslim thought carries its own significance. In the last six months, Deoband has issued dozens of fatwas (directives). However, the authorities at the Darul Uloom clarified the declaration was not a fatwa.

The vice-chancellor quoted several episodes from the Koran and the Hadith to conclude the mindless violence could never be justified by those who swear by the holy book.

“In the Indian context, the declaration is significant as it reflects the growing anxiety among the clergy over the involvement of some Indians in alleged terror plots,” said political analysts Rasheed Kidwai

The declaration comes after a several incidents of global terrorist activity involving Indian Muslims.

Representatives from about 6,000 madarsas from the entire country, ulemas and representatives of different organisations attended the one-day conference.

Deoband’s philosophy

Deoband is a town in Uttar Pradesh, a hundred miles north of Delhi where a ‘madarasa’ (religious school) was established in 1867. The so-called 'Deobandi Tradition' itself is much ancient than the eponymous Dar-Ul-Ulum at Deoband. The Deoband madarasa brought together Muslims who were hostile to British rule and committed to a literal and austere interpretation of Islam.

The Deoband School from the initial period has sought to purify Islam by discarding un-Islamic growth to the faith. It tried to re-emphasise the models established in the Koran and the customary practices of the Prophet Mohammed. Deobandi are also opposed to the customary practices perceived through Western influences.

The fundamentalist Deoband Dar-ul-Uloom brand of Islam inspired the Taliban movement. Most of the Taliban leadership attended Deobandi-influenced seminaries in Pakistan.

This was also one of the reasons for calling such conference on “denouncing terrorism” as the general perception links deobandis supporting terrorism.