The NCPCR directive for strong legal action against the seminary just before Lok Sabha elections is viewed in some circles as a tricky issue which has a potential of stirring up trouble.
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – Darul Uloom Deoband, world renowned Islamic seminary in Uttar Pradesh and the iconic educational institution which played a prominent role in India’s freedom struggle, has come into the headlines due to a 15-year-old fatwa (religious edict) on ‘Ghazwa-e Hind’.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has written a letter to the Saharanpur administration and directed it to register an FIR against the seminary over the fatwa posted on its website.
The NCPCR claims the fatwa validates ‘Ghazwa-e Hind’ and glorifies “martyrdom in the context of India’s invasion.”
The child rights panel wrote to the Senior Superintendent of Police and the District Magistrate of Saharanpur, seeking necessary action. In the letter, the commission said that the “fatwa is exposing children to hatred against one’s own country and eventually causing them unnecessary mental or physical suffering.”
Issuing the fatwa, Darul Uloom Deoband referred to the book Sunan Al-Nasa’i of Sahahe Sitta. In this chapter, a Hadith (saying of Prophet Muhammad) is narrated from Hadrat Abu Hurairah.
The NCPCR has taken Ghazwa-e Hind’s fatwa seriously and claims that Darul Uloom Deoband is imparting anti-national education to children and the anti-national teachings are promoting Islamic fundamentalism.
The NCPCR termed this fatwa as a violation of Section 75 of Juvenile Justice Act. It said the fatwa has caused confusion.
A report from Deoband revealed that the issue stemmed from a fatwa put online by Darul Uloom Deoband 15 years ago.
The NCPCR directive for strong legal action against Darul Uloom Deoband just before Lok Sabha elections is viewed in some circles as a tricky issue which has a potential of stirring up trouble.
Reports reaching here said the district administration and the police are engaged in investigation and preparations are on to file a case against the seminary in Deoband.
A team of administrative and police officers met with Darul Uloom officials and discussed the whole situation. Vice Chancellor of the seminary, Maulana Mufti Abul Qasim Naumani, stated his position before the police, administration, and media and said that there is no fixed time in the prediction of the Ghazwa-e Hind by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
He said that there is a commentary on the ghazwa in the books of Hadith, which are presented by vested interests who interpret it wrongly to target the Muslims.
Maulana Naumani said no statement or fatwa was issued recently. In 2009, he said, the text of a Hadith was copied in reply to a question from one Hafiz Faizan Abbasi. The text does not even remotely raise any question of wrong education entering the minds of children or its negative effects, he said.
Maulana Naumani said it has been made clear several times that fatwa is a Shariah opinion and nobody is forced to follow it.
Darul Uloom has been a bastion of India’s freedom fighters and it has always taught patriotism and is playing an important role in the construction and development of the country, he said. Maulana Naumani questioned the NCPCR directive and said it has harmed the reputation of the institution.
District Magistrate of Saharanpur Dr. Dinesh Chandra acknowledged receiving the NCPCR letter and said local officers were sent to Darul Uloom to investigate.
