Jihad is a pious word; we are fighting for the real meaning of jihad. The term is being used to abuse Islam in a very planned manner, says Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind chief Maulana Mahmood Madani
NEW DELHI — Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind chief Maulana Mahmood Madani, under a vitriolic attack from Hindutva elements and a section of the so-called Muslim intelligentsia, over his recent comments on the plight of the Muslim community, has reiterated that jihad is a “pious” struggle against injustice, wrongdoing and terrorism. Unfortunately, he said, the term has often been skewed and given a negative meaning by the Centre and several state governments.
Maulana Madani said the word is being misused in public discourse and accused those in power of deliberately promoting phrases such as “love jihad,” “land jihad,” “spit jihad” and “vote jihad” to target the entire Muslim community. “The entire ministry, whether at the centre or in the states, has decided that if anything negative related to Muslims comes to light, it will be called jihad. Jihad is a pious word. We are fighting for the real meaning of jihad. The term is being used to abuse Islam in a very planned manner,” he was quoted by ANI as saying.
When asked whether his earlier comments had created confusion, Maulana Madani said he accepted responsibility for how his words have been understood. “It is correct that some confusion has been created, but if you see it in context then you will not misunderstand it. It was my responsibility to ensure no misunderstanding happened and I could not fulfill that responsibility. You can blame me for that,” he told the interviewer.
The concept of jihad, Maulana Madani said, has many interpretations in Islam. “The biggest jihad is to have a clear vision of your aim and work on yourself. If there is injustice, raise your voice against it. This is also jihad,” he said. “Linking the term to terrorism is wrong and that the correct word for terrorists is “fasaadi”, he said. “We consider jihad as fighting the terrorists. I have always said, they are fasaadi and we are jihadi,” he said.
He added that Muslims are often seen as synonymous with the word jihad, which then leads to them being viewed as fasaadi as well. “It became my responsibility to explain what jihad really is,” he said.
Speaking at his organisation’s National Governing Body meeting in Bhopal at the weekend, Maulana Madani said that expressions like “love jihad,” “land jihad” and “spit jihad” are being used to malign Muslims. He said, “Enemies of Islam and Muslims have made jihad synonymous with abuse, conflict and violence,” and added that even responsible people in government and the media use these terms without hesitation.
Madani said the Quran describes jihad in several ways, including personal effort and public welfare. “Whenever there is oppression, there will be jihad,” he said, linking it to the duty to resist injustice.
The Jamiat chief cited the Supreme Court judgments on the Babri Masjid, triple talaq and several other issues and said they clearly point towards the government pressure on the judiciary and poses serious question on the integrity of the judicial system. “…After the verdict into Babri Masjid, triple talaq and several other matters, it seems that courts are functioning under government’s pressure for a few years now…We have several instances before that have raised questions on the character of courts…Supreme Court is eligible to be called supreme only when it follows the Constitution and when it upholds the law. If it doesn’t do that, it doesn’t deserve to be called ‘Supreme’”, he said.
Maulana Madani said Muslims across the country were being targeted for their religious attire, identity, and lifestyle. “Despite being equal citizens, they (the Muslims) face growing barriers in education, employment, and social mobility,” he said warning that Muslims are being made to feel insecure, citing “bulldozer action, mob lynching, economic boycotts, and hate campaigns” as examples.
Maulana Madani’s remarks drew strong reactions from BJP leaders and members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker and national spokesperson Sambit Patra said the Supreme Court never makes any judgement based on religion, and asserted that the apex court take suo motu congnisance of Madani’s remarks.
Madhya Pradesh’s Minister for Cooperation, Sports and Youth Welfare, Vishwas Sarang, slammed the Jamiat chief’s remarks on the Constitution and the Supreme Court. “If someone who breathes India’s air and drinks its water questions Vande Mataram, it is an insult to the Constitutional system,” Sarang said. “Madani has been playing sectarian politics for too long. Disrespecting the Constitution and now attacking the Supreme Court is unfortunate.”
BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma invoked historical texts like the Babarnama and Akbarnama, arguing that even Mughal rulers recorded temple destruction. “If courts today restore temples, what is wrong in that?” he asked.
Muslim leaders from the BJP have also criticised Maulana Madani for his remarks on Vande Mataram and the concept of jihad. Former union minister and BJP stalwart Shahnawaz Hussain and Muslim Rashtriya Manch’s Shahid Sayeed argue that Maulana Madani’s statements push Muslims away from the mainstream and fuel hatred. Others, like Maulana Qari Abrar Jamal Qasmi, question why Madani remains silent on terrorism, which damages Islam’s image.
